History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 65

Author: Warner, George E; Foote, Charles M., joint author; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota. 1n; Williams, J. Fletcher (John Fletcher), 1834-1895. Outlines of the history of Minnesota
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Minneapolis, North Star Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 684

USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 65

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Of the twenty ministers above named, all, so far as known, are still living.

Up to this date over four hundred different persons have held membership in the church, and of these about one hundred and twenty came in by probation. About thirty have removed from the charge and four have died during probation. Among the more than four hundred members only nineteen deaths are recorded, though quite a number are known to have died after their re- moval from the charge. Some of the nineteen who died here were comparative strangers, while some were well known.

J. J. Dugan died in December, 1865. He was a local preacher, and a man of great worth.

Abram Gress, with his family, came to St. Paul in 1857. IIe was born in 1793, and died in May, 1866. He too, was a local preacher, a man of pure, upright life, was loved by his brethren, and respected by all who knew him.

Kennedy T. Friend came to St. Paul about the beginning of 1857, and lived a consistent, Christian life until October 1, 1866, when, as the record says, "he died in great peace."

Benson Galaway died in January, 1857, and his excellent wife in November, 1868. They were preceded by a very lovely daughter, Anna, who died in January, 1864.

Asa Goodrich, a venerable and sweet spirited Christian, father of A: J. Goodrich, died in May, 1869, and was followed by Absalom Pumphrey, in July, of the same year.

Charles Lane died in his eighty-third year, in June, 1871, and James Pilkington, in December following, in early life. The former had lived long and well. The latter liad lived well, but

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was taken away in the midst of a career of great usefulness.

Hon. John Nicols died the 30th of July, 1873. He, with his excellent wife, had been members and liberal supporters of the church from the beginning. But for them, in some of its dark days, the enterprise would doubtless have been abandoned.

More recently Mrs. Thomas R. Brill, mother of Judge H. R. Brill, and Mrs. D. S. B. Johnston, have been called away-both women of rare ex- cellence.

"These all died in faith."

Of the present members, there are only five whose membership dates back to the beginning of the charge. These are Mrs. John Nicols, Mrs. Albert Armstrong, Mr. K. T. Friend, Mrs. A. J. Goodrich, and Mrs. Margaret Thomas. Among the early members were:

Joshua Dennison, a faithful Christian, and al- ways at his post. He removed to Northfield, in 1865, but after some years returned to St. Paul, and was a member of the Jackson Street church at the time of his death, in 1874. Mrs. James Davenport, who was afterwards transferred to Jackson Street church, of which she was a valu- able member at the time of her death. Stephen Hewson, a local preacher, who still resides in Anoka county, where he settled many years ago. Joseph Hare, also a local preacher, who was transferred to the Clinton Avenue charge in this city, where he still belongs. Benjamin F. Hoyt, who was transferred to Jackson Street church, where he belonged at the time of his death.

The Sunday school of this church has shared the vicissitudes of the church itself, yet was never permitted to die. And quite a number of the present members were there trained in the doc- trines and precepts of Christianity, and the prac- tices of Christian life. It is now in a prosperous condition, and promises much usefulness in the future.

Several members of this church, now living, are worthy of special mention, and the church will not let their names pass into obscurity when they cease to live on earth.

JACKSON STREET M. E. CHURCHI.

When the Jackson Street church building was erected, in 1856-7, business was prosperous and

money commanded a ruinous rate of interest. A debt of about five thousand dollars, bearing inter- est at the rate of thirty per cent. per annum, was left hanging over it. Of course, such a burden could not be borne very long under any circum- stances, and the financial crash which followed so soon afterwards, greatly increased the difficulty of removing it. Money was borrowed at a high rate of interest, and the property mortgaged to secure payment. And when the war of the re- bellion came on, aggravated in Minnesota by the Indian outbreak, every man and every dollar that could possibly be spared were employed in defend- ing the nation's life. It was not until 1864-5 that any effective steps were taken towards paying off the debt. During that conference year subscrip- tions were procured, which, with additions made afterwards, enabled the trustees to liquidate the debt and make some much needed improvements. This house is now far from satisfying the present and prospective wants of the congregation, and must either undergo very considerable changes or else give place to a new structure, and that soon.

It was in the spring of 1858, that the two churches, the Market Street and Jackson Street, finally became independent pastoral charges. Cyrus Brooks, who during the preceding year had pastoral oversight of both churches, was con- tinued as pastor of the Jackson Street charge. He was followed in 1859, by James F. Chaffee. In consequence of a change from spring to fall, two sessions of the Minnesota conference were held that year, one in May and the other in Octo- ber, and the interval of less than six months, was reckoned as a conference year. A change took place in the fall of 1860, and James S. Peregrine was appointed to the charge. C. Brooks, at the same time, succeeded Mr. Bolles as presiding elder of the St. Paul district.

Mr. Peregrine was in feeble health, and though he retained the pastoral oversight to the end of the year, the active duties were performed during the summer by B. F. Crary, D. D., who succeeded him in 1861. Dr. Crary was at the same time state superintendent of public instruction, which of course interfered with his pastoral duties. In the latter part of the year, he accepted the chap- laincy of the Third Minnesota Regiment, and Edward Eggleston supplied his place to the end of the year. He was the appointee in 1862, and

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served until the next summer, when his health broke down; Andrew J. Nelson filled his place until conference. In 1863, Dr. Crary was again appointed to the charge, but served only until the May following, when he was elected by the gen- eral conference to an editorship, which took him away from Minnesota. The pulpit was supplied during the summer of 1864, by Prof. J. N. Mar- tin, but as he had charge of a female seminary in Minneapolis, he could render but little pastoral service during the week.

Of course it will surprise no one, that, under all these adverse circumstances, but little progress was made. As a matter of fact, though the church had made some gain financially, it was not as strong in numbers, nor in as good a condition spiritually as it was five years before.

In 1864, Cyrus Brooks was again appointed to the charge, and was succeeded in 1865, by Daniel Cobb; E. S. Gillett, followed in 1868; William Mckinley in 1869, J. W. McGregorin 1872, Chas. Griswold in 1874, Oliver Williams in 1876, John Stafford in 1877, J. F. Chaffee in 1878, and Sam- uel M. Davis, the present incumbent, in 1879.

In the early history of the St. Paul Methodist churches, the names on the books do not repre- sent very accurately the actual resident member- ship. Emigrants settling away from any church, would frequently hold temporary member- ship here, while their residence was possibly fifty or a hundred miles away. Considerable fluctua- tion was one consequence, especially in the Jack- son Street charge.

The earliest records of this charge have been sought for in vain thus far. But the membership in April, 1858, was not far from one hundred and twenty. A year later the number reported in full membership was one hundred and twelve. A small organization formed in the meantime on the west side of the river, had drawn off a few members from the churches of this side; and at a still later period, the organization of Grace church drew heavily of members and money from the Jackson Street charge. The lowest point was reached in the fall of 1864, when the annual report gave a membership of one hun- dred and three, with five probationers. The next year there were reported one hundred and twenty- six members, and twenty-seven probationers. Thenceforward the church has been growing, not

uniformily, but with only slight backsets, except when Grace church was organized, when a pretty large reduction in the membership took place.

The lost registry covers the period from the beginning up to October, 1862. Since that date over eight hundred persons have held mem bership in the church, besides quite a large num- ber of probationers that died or moved away during probation. Of these eight hundred mem- bers and more, over forty died in connection with the church, some others proved unfaithful, many moved away or united with other churches. The last official report gives a membership of two hun- dred and eighty-five, not more than twenty of whom were members in April, 1858.

Benjamin F. Hoyt was one of the earliest and most active members of the church in St. Paul He came here as a local preacher, but in 1856, re- signed his credentials, "in consideration," as the minutes say, "of the want of his services in ac- · tive duty at this station." He was a member of the first quarterly conference, held November 26th, 1849, and continued to take a deep interest in church affairs up to the close of his long and eventful life. He died September 3d, 1875. His excellent wife had preceded him some two years, having died in 1873.

Nathaniel McLean was one of the well known men of Minnesota, from its early territorial days. He had occupied honorable positions in Ohio, in church and state, and here he was respected and trusted. He was for some time Indian agent at Fort Snelling, and settled in St. Paul, in 1849. He, too, was a member of that first quarterly conference ever held here, and continued an office- bearer in the church until disabled by age and disease. He died in April, 1871. His venerable wife followed him in February, 1880.

Jonathan Frost was another of the pioneers; a member of the church, at its organization, on the 31st of December, 1848 .. He was soon after- wards appointed a class-leader, and continued to hold responsible positions in the church until early in 1865, when he removed to Illinois. He afterwards returned, and died here in 1870. Mrs. Mary Frost, his wife, died in January, 1864. She was one of the excellent of the earth.

Mrs. Mary Steeles, of whose descendents a goodly number still reside in St. Paul, died in September, 1864, aged eighty-three years. She

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was a most lovable character in all respects, and a fervent, exemplary, joyous Christian. She came to Minnesota, with her family, at an early day, and became connected with the church, in St. Paul, in 1851.

Parker l'aine established himself in business in St. Paul, as early as 1853. In the following year he was chosen a steward in the church, which, together with other offices, he continued to fill until his death, in August, 1875. His name is seldom missing from the records of the quarterly conferences, and his place was seldom vacant in the prayer and class-meeting.

Asahel F. Parker came to St. Paul in 1854, and was elected a steward in the church in July of that year. He continued to serve the church in this and other official relations during the re- mainder of his life. He was a man of upright life, strongly attached to the church, and liberal in its support. He was taken away in middle life, being only a little over fifty years of age at the time of his death. July 17, 1877.

Ira Bidwell became an extensive property holder in St. Paul, at an early day, but did not become a permanent resident until December, 1862. He was a man of considerable wealth, a good financier, and did much to relieve the church of its .financial embarrassment. He died in July, 1876.

Daniel Tanner came to St. Paul in 1856, and settled on a farm a few miles east of town. He was a modest, unassuming man, but of solid worth, and unbending rectitude. He died well, February 7th, 1877.

Rudolph H. Fitz came into the church by pro- bation in May, 1858. He was energetic, enter- prising and successful in business; and not less so as a Christian. He was a man to be trusted. His death seemed untimely, as he had hardly reached middle life when he died, in April, 1868. His wife, Mrs. Elmina Fitz, outlived him over nine years, but was also taken away in com- paratively early life. She died in September, 1877. Mrs. F. was a woman of rare excellence; calm, gentle, unobtrusive. Only those most in- timately acquainted with her had any correct idea of her real worth.

Robert Gibbons was mortally wounded in the tragic affair at Birch Coolie, September 2d, 1862, and died at Fort Ridgley shortly afterwards. IIe

was au early resident of St. Paul, and a class leader in the church from 1858 to the end of his life. His widow, Mrs. Ellen Gibbons, lived on, a devout Christian, until February, 1880.

Mr. Anthony Hoyt was a student of Hamline University, then at Red Wing, when the war broke out in 1861. He eulisted in Company F, First regiment Minnesota Volunteers, and was commissioned as second lieutenant. But his health was not sufficient for the hardships of mili- tary duty, and he returned a broken down mau, and died in July, 1864. He was a young man of great promise, and an exemplary Christian. IFis young wife lived only a little over a year after his death.

Henry Russell was of Swedish origin, but had become thoroughly Americanized in his tastes and habits. IIe was an early resident of St. Paul and an early member of this church. He died suddenly in 1870.

Two ministers have buried their wives, while serving the Jackson Street church. Mrs. Amy A. McKinley was the wife of Rev. William McKin- ley, and died in February, 1871, after years of suffering. As death approached she exclaimed, "All hail the power of Jesus' name." Mrs. E. A. Williams, wife of Rev. Oliver Williams, had also been a sufferer for a long time. She died in December, 1876, as the records say, "in glorious triumph."

Perhaps the first death that occurred among the members of the Jackson Street church was that of Mrs. Emily Parker, February 13th, 1859. She was a most excellent, earnest Christian woman, thoroughly conscientious, and was taken in early life.

So far as is known, it may be truthfully said of those who have died in connection with this church, "Our people die well."

Of the people still remaining many good things might be said, and many of those coming in more recently are well worthy of honorable mention, but the time for their obituaries is not yet. May it be long delayed.

The Clinton Avenue M. E. church is located corner Clinton and Elizabeth streets, West St. Paul. In 1869 the Young Men's Christian As- sociation started a union Sunday school. In the summer of 1870 the school was changed into a Methodist Sunday school, and a Methodist

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church organized with twelve members. Rev. Mr. Haskell was first pastor. The church was connected with the Pine Bend circuit. The building was erected in the summer of 1873, under the charge of Rev. HI. P. Satchwell, the church was dedicated the next fall by Bishop Merrill. The church cost $3,000. Size of church, 30x50 feet; class-room, 16x24 feet; seating capacity, 250. The church since its erection has been served by the following clergymen : Rev. F. L. Tuttle, John Stafford, N. M. Learned, D. Tice, J. G. Teter; the present incumbent is Rev. David Morgan; the present membership, 200. There is a Sunday school connected with the church, with an average attendance of 105 scholars. A mis- sion is about to be started under the auspices of Clinton Avenue church this present spring, to be located on the river flats near the bridge. There ia a parsonage belonging to the church, located on Elizabeth street, near the church. Size of main building 20x28, two stories, with an L,16x20; valued at $2,000, including lot.

Grace Methodist Episcopal church is located on Hopkins street, between Bradley and Burr, St. Paul. It was organized in 1873. Rev. F. L. Tuttle served as the first pastor for one year. Rey. John Stafford served three years, from 1874 to 1877. During the first year, (1875), of his work the church was built. Material, frame, size (about) 38x70, cost, including lot, $6,000. The church has grown from a mission Sunday school of six pupils, begun in 1867. Present membership of school, 200; membership of church, 175. The church also owns a mission chapel on Maria Avenue, worth $1,000, with a school of 100, and where regular services are held. This enterprise was begun in March, 1880. Rev. H. J. Crist became pastor in 1877, serving two years, was succeeded in 1879 by the present pastor, II. C. Jennings. They have the usual number of church and social gatherings, and in addition a very useful church lyceum is in opera- tion. Grace church ranks as the first Methodist church in the city in her benevolences.

First German Methodist Episcopal church. This society was organized in 1851, Rev. J. Haas being the first minister in charge of this young mission among the Germans of St. Paul. Only eight members constituted the first organi- zation. At present the church is the strongest

and most influential of German Methodist organi- zations north-west of Chicago.

In 1853, the first house of worship was built for the society, on the corner of what is now Broadway and Sixth street. It was a plain frame chapel 28x40, which has been remodeled and changed into a parsonage since the present brick church, on the corner of Rosabel street was erected. The ground owned and occupied by the church and parsonage of the society, are among the most valuable in the city, presenting a frontage of one hundred and sixty-five feet on Sixth street, and of one hundred feet each on Broadway and Rosabel street.

The present house of worship, the lower story of stone, the upper story of brick, was built in 1860, under the administration of Rev. Philip Funk. The lower story is used for Sabbath school purposes, social meetings, and the pastor's study.

The main audience room up stairs has a seat- ing capacity of four hundred and fifty people, is plainly frescoed, and supplied with a good Estey organ. In 1871, the necessity was felt of organizing a second society in the city, conse- quently quite a number of the members of the First church started what is now the Second German Methodist Episcopal church, on Bradley street, Brunson's addition. The pastors of the church have all been members of the North-west- ern German Conference of the Methodist Episco- pal church. Rev. Ernst F. Stroeter is the present pastor. The memberhip at present is two hun- dred and forty.

The Sabbath school connected with the church numbers one hundred and seventy-five scholars, with thirty-five officers and teachers. The pres- ent superintendent is Mrs. Martin Pfaff. The library of the Sabbath school numbers 435 vol- umes.

The estimated value of the entire property of the church will range between $20,000 and $25,000.

A very interesting feature in the life of this · church is a Young Peoples Christian Association for the purpose of the spiritual and intellectual development of the large number of youths con- nected with the church.

German Methodist Episcopal church,located 64 Bradley street, was organized in 1872, under

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the charge of Rev. Emil Uhl, pastor, with a mem- bership of sixty. The present church was erected under the charge of Rev. John Schneider, size of building, 34x50 feet with a very fine tower and spire. The material used in its construction is stone and brick, the cost of building was $4,000; they have a nice organ, costing $200; there is also a parsonage connected with the church, valued at $1,000. Corner stone was laid in 1875, and the building finished and occupied the same year; the present membership is one hundred and fifteen, the church has a seating capacity for two hundred and seventy-five persons. There is also a Sabbath school connected with the church with twelve teachers, and an average attendance of seventy-five scholars. The Rev. H. Schnitker is its present pastor.

The Swedish Methodist Episcopal congrega- tion begun in 1853, by a few christian people coming together and holding prayer meetings with John Sivlum for its pastor. The first pastor was C. P. Agrelius, services were at first held in a school-house on Jackson street. In 1855, they built a church on the corner of Tenth and Temperance streets, a frame structure with tower and spire, with a seating capacity of three hundred persons. Meetings have been from the beginning well attended, the church being filled every Sabbath, and quite a number of members added to the congregation, but owing to the fact that the Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church grew out of this, and continual re- movals of members taking place, the member- ship is not as large as it would have been if the congregation had not divided. There are eighty members in full connection with the church. Meetings are well attended and the church is in a prosperous condition. There is a Sabbath school connected with the church with an average attendance of fifty scholars; present pastor, J. O. Nelson.

The Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church of St. Paul was organized in 1872, with six mem- bers; the first pastors name was N. Christopher- son. In 1876, the church society bought a frame church from the German congregation, and moved it to its present location on the corner of Broad- way and Thirteenth streets; owing to the fact that a great many members have moved away, membership has not increased as fast as it would;

the present membership is forty-five. There is a Sabbath school connected with the church, with an average attendance of twenty scholars; there is also a dwelling for the pastor. The present pastor is B. E. Olive; the size of the building is 30x70 feet, has a seating capacity of two hundred.

The African M. E. church of St. Paul was or- ganized September, 1870, with six members; Thomas Wise, pastor, who received his appoint- ment from the Indiana conference, held in Chi- cago that year, (1870.) Trustees: Daniel IIard- ing, Daniel Johnson, Alonzo Rrown, Horace Carlyle. The church did not make much progress until Mr. Henry Marlay took charge in 1877, the membership had increased to twenty during the two years of his administration. Then Mr. HI. Simonds was appointed, who stayed two years, the membership increasing to twenty-seven. In 1879 II. Burton was appointed. Mr. Burton stayed only a short time; the society did not prosper very well under his charge, the membership having de- creased to seventeen. In 1880 the present pastor. W. H. Brown, was appointed by the Illinois con- ference, and took charge of the church; he is a hard worker and through his exertions the society has gained eleven members, making the member- ship at present twenty eight. The society intend to build a church building during the present year, having already seenred a site for the same. There is a Sabbath school connected with the church, with a regular attendance of about forty scholars. There is also a literary society con- nected with the church, the object of which is to aid in preparing its members for the higher branches of education. Present officers: pastor and superintendent of Sunday school, W. II. Brown. Trustees: II. Giles, R. Ragan, James Henry. Stewards: D. Harding and E. D. Mor- gan.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHI.

The first meeting called with a view to the or- ganization of a Presbyterian church in St. Paul, was presided over by the Rev. E. D. Neill, who had been commissioned by the American Home Missionary society, as its missionary in that city, on November 26th, 1849. A few days later, on December 5th, the church was organized, the Rev. E. D. Neill to occupy the pulpit, and W. II. Tinker and J. W. Selby being elected as elders.

On May 16th 1850, the house of worship, just

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after its erection on the corner of Washington and Fourth streets, was consumed by fire. A new house of brick was at once commenced and was occupied (before it was finished), the first time November 10th, 1850. This church edifice was erected on the corner of St. Peter and Third streets, commanding the beautiful view then nn- impeded, of the river and bluffs, to Fort Snelling. This property was sold some years later and is now occupied by stores.

Rev. E. D. Neill continued to minister to the church until the year 1855, when he left it to or- ganize the IIouse of IIope Presbyterian church in the same city. The Rev. J. R. Barnes then became the stated supply of the pulpit and was succeeded by Rev. John Mattocks of Keysville, New York, August, 1856, who became the regu- lar pastor, and remained in that position until the time of his death in 1875. In the meantime the congregation and membership had increased with the growth of the city.

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