USA > Minnesota > Ramsey County > St Paul > History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota > Part 67
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Harvester .Works Chapel was organized in 1874. Mr. James R. Walsh was its first superin- tendent. Located near the works of the com- pany, about three miles front town. Sabbath school at that time met at 3 p. m .; average at- tendance 1875, 26. Preaching at 4:15 p. m. by the pastor of the church on the 3d Sabbath of each month, and by resident clergymen on the remaining Sabbaths. Average congregation about 40. Building erected by the company. Gothic, size 20x30 feet, with tower and bell. The chapel is under the direction and control of the House of Hope. The object is to afford facilities for religious worship to people living in the vicin- ity of the works as well as the employes of the works. They now have preaching every Sunday by resident clergymen of various denominations in the afternoon, and Sunday school after service; average attendance, 50; seating capacity about 75. For the last three years Dr. Boardman has been the superintendent. The people attending the chapel are of various denominations. It might be called a union chapel; although it is un- der the control of the Presbyterians, there are very few of that denomination attending there.
Fort Street Sabbath School, held at Fort street chapel, was organized July 4th, 1875. Mr. H. Knox Taylor was appointed superintendent May
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30tlı, 1875, and has held this position ever since. Location corner of Fort and McBoal streets, three-fourths of a mile from the church. Sab- bath school 9 a. m. every Sunday morning, at- tendance for 1875, average, 145. The building was erected for this special purpose and leased. Size of main room, 25x38 feet, with two addi- tional class rooms, each 12x12 feet, opening into the main room by sliding doors. The material used in the building is wood; cost of building about $1,000; seating capacity about 200. It is carried on under the direction of the House of Hope Presbyterian church. The present officers are as follows: H. Knox Taylor, superin- tendent; C. E. Otis, assistant superintendent; F. G. Ingersoll, secretary. The Sabbath school is the only English speaking religious service held above Third street.
THE DAYTON AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The history of this church properly dates from April 20th, 1871. On that day was held a meet- ing of the ministers and elders of the three Pres- byterian churches of the city, in the lecture room of the First church, to consider the feasibility of establishing a mission Sunday school and church enterprise on St. Anthony Hill. At that time a committee was appointed consisting of two mem- bers from each church, to select a suitable site and erect a building. The members of the com- mittee were D. W. Ingersoll and Richard Marvin from the First church, Gen. R. W. Johnson and Edward Webb from the Central church, Thomas Cochran, Jr., and S. J. R. McMillan from the House of Hope, and the Rev. F. W. Flint.
A lot was purchased at the corner of Dayton Avenue and Mackubin street, and, after some delay, a plain but substantial building with a seat- ing capacity of two hundred and fifty, was erected in the summer of 1873. A Sunday school, how- ever, had been previously organized, in August, 1872, and was held in rooms secured in an old building on Marshall Avenue, formerly known as the "Farmers' IIotel." Forty children and six teachers, viz., Messrs. Edward Webb, F. J. Hoff- man, W. L. Wilson, A. B. Johnson, and Misses Harriet N. Hoffman and Catharine G. McMillan were present on the opening Sabbath. General R. W. Johnson was elected superintendent. A prayer-meeting was also started about the same
time. Both school and social meeting, however, had to be suspended as winter approached, on ac- count of the impossibility of properly heating the room in which they were held.
During the summer of the following year (1873) the chapel was completed, and on the 27th of July the structure was duly dedicated, Revs. D. C. Lyon and D. R. Breed conducting the services. At this time the Sunday school was organized with twelve teachers and fifty scholars, Mr. D. W. Ingersoll, then of the First church, being chosen superintendent. An afternoon preaching service was also begun, the pulpit being supplied by various clergymen, principally the several Presbyterian pastors of the city. All this was previous to any church organization.
On Sabbath afternoon, April 19th, 1874, the Dayton Avenue Presbyterian church was duly organized by a committee appointed by the Pres- bytery of St. Paul for that purpose, consisting of Rev. John Mattocks, Rev. D. R. Breed and Elder W. L. Wilson. Rev. Mr. Mattocks presided and preached a discourse on 1 Timothy, III, 15th, last clause.
Twenty-three persons united at the organiza- tion, twelve of whom came from the House of Hope church, ten from the Central, and one from a church in another state. At the same meeting the term system of eldership was adopted, and Messrs. S. J. R. McMillan, W. L. Wilson and L. A. Gilbert were unanimously elected to fill that office. In June following, Rev. Maurice D. Edwards, a recent graduate of Auburn Theologi- cal Seminary, was chosen pastor, and entered upon his labors on July 19th. At the present writing (April, '81) he still remains the pastor.
Since its organization, this church has had a steady, though slow growth, being dependent for its increase upon the development of the portion of the city in which it is located. The member- ship, April 1st, 1881, was one hundred and twenty. The Sunday school numbers two hundred and twenty. Two additional elders, Messrs. D. W. Ingersoll and Edward Webb were added to the session in 1876. The present board of trustees consists of A. E. Clark, president; W. L. Wil- son, S. B. McConnell, W. A. Culbertson, H. J. McAfee, James H. Weed. Superintendent of Sunday school, Prof. S. G. Campbell. Church treasurer, W. L. Wilson.
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THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Miss Harriet E. Bishop arrived in St. Paul July 13th, 1847, and is believed to have been the first Baptist in St. Paul. On May 22nd, 1848, the number was augmented by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Cavender.
November 25th, 1848, Miss Bishop wrote to Rev. B. M. Hill, corresponding secretary of the Baptist Home Missionary Board, for aid to the Baptist cause in St. Paul, and it is alleged that on the same day and hour he was addressing a letter of inquiry on the subject to a resident in St. Paul, and the two letters passed each other in transit. The result was that on February 8th, 1849, Rev. John P. Parsons was assigned to this field, where he arrived early in the following May.
Late in 1849, a school-house was erected on Jackson street, and used by the Baptists as a place of worship. It was unplastered, and says Miss Bishop, "when lighted by two or three tal- low candles, more or less, which radiated from the speaker's desk, the frost gems on the walls gleamed as pearls of hope and urged to faith and prayer for the uprising of Zion's material walls." In this school-house, on the 30th of December, 1849, was organized the First Baptist church of St. Paul, with twelve constituent members, as fol- lows: Rev. John P. Parsons, Mrs. Matilda Par- sons, A. H. Cavender, Mrs. Elvira Cavender, Ly- man Dayton, Mrs. Maria B. Dayton, Charles Stearns, Mrs. Cornelia Stearns, Miss Mary G. Stearns, Mrs. Samantha Easton, William H. Townsend, Harriet E. Bishop, John B. Spencer and Mrs. Nancy Spencer.
On Sunday, December 31st, 1849, "the recog- nition services were held." The sermon was preached by Rev. William C. Brown of Stillwater, assisted by Rev. John Bates. "The pastor gave the hand of fellowship and served the double ca- pacity of pastor and deacon at the communion service," which followed.
Says Miss Bishop, who was present, "An epi- sode outside of the pastor's programme occurred during the most interesting stage of the exercises -an emphatic reminder of one who 'from going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down it,' was sure to come 'where the children of God were assembled together,' when and where least expected and least wanted. A mantle of in-
heritance had fallen upon old Hock-e-wash-ta, a deposed centenarian chief. The day was intensely cold and this relic of human antiquity proposed to get warm by the school-house stove. He knew no Sabbath, and expected to find a group of bright faced children as on other days. The door, which opened direct from the outside world, flew back, and in the same twinkling of the eye the lithe old man in unique dress, bounded into the hollow square formed by benches around the stove! Words cannot paint the scene incident on the un- timely intrusion. There was an order of exer- cise which his obtuse mind could not grasp, but in which his own 'hand of fellowship' must take part. So suddenly had the incongruous vision entered upon the sacred scene, that the right thought for the emergency seemed momentarily suspended. Finally an emphatic invitation to en-ton-ka, and his tour of the room was deferred and he remained a dazed looker-on until the close.
The pastor's salary was fixed at $600, of which the society was to pay $100.
In June, 1850, the Baptist church was organ- ized in St. Anthony, and five of the constituent members of this church residing there, became the constituency of that church. In the same year six persons were received into the church by letter,-a net gain of one. "That year a building lot was donated on Third street by H. M. Rice. Want of financial foresight overruled an exchange for one on Mount Pisgah, which name was after- ward, by common consent, lost in 'Baptist Hill.' Beautiful of situation and commanding in out- look of river, town and scenery, unsurpassed in loveliness, the location won public favor, citizens and strangers resorting to the eminence for sight- seeing."
At the time of the organization of the church, the entire available capital of members, with the exception of two, who soon went out from it, "did not exceed $1,000." But a new church edi- fice was resolved on, the "foundation was laid" and the house enclosed, when work was suspend- ed until the close of the winter of 1850-'51. In May "the pastor went East to raise funds for its completion, having previously arranged with money loaners so that the work was resumed. Success attended the effort, the last needed dollar with a margin for a bell and other fixtures had
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been raised, the house was finished and awaited a formal opening." Mr. Parsons started from Boston on his return by way of New York, from which city the church received the message : "Drugged, robbed, found insensible in the street." He died on the Mississippi river while returning to his parish, and the first religious services ever held in that house, were the funeral services pre- paratory to his burial. The steamer on which he died brought him to St. Paul. ITis books showed over $2,300 collected and only $400 in drafts was found on his person.
"During these first years of church existence, A. II. Cavender was absolutely the man of all work, sexton, janitor and usher, dovetailing" into whatever his hands found to do. "Sunday morn- ing of all other days was witness to his early rising, often a draft from his own wood shed sup- plied the church stoves of winter ere yet the au- dience to come, had looked through their frost encased window panes. Having the only availa- ble Baptist turnout, Fanny lent her zeal to the cause during the interim of first and last bell, for the double purpose of keeping her owner from idleness and taking the aged and infirm to church, any in fact who could not otherwise get there." On march 7th, 1852, Mr. Cavender was regularly ordained a deacon of the church, an office which he continues to fill to this day.
"The first baptism in the church history oc- cured the first Sabbath in April, 1851, probably the first in the Mississippi river, north of the Iowa line, and the first in Minnesota." The ad- ministrator was Rev. J. P. Parsons, the candi- date, Thomas M. Fench. A scene so new, so novel to many, drew a large crowd of witnesses, including a conspicuous group of Sioux Indians. During the year the increase in numbers was four.
The second pastor of the church was Rev. T. R. Cressy, who was accorded a salary of $800 per annum, one fourth of which was to be paid by the church, which had increased in numbers to twenty-three. During his pastorate of two years the membership of the church increased to sixty, six of whom he baptized. Mr. Cressy re- signed the pastorate to become state missionary.
In November, 1854, the church having been closed from June to that year, the services of Rev. A. M. Torbit were secured on a salary of $1,000 per annum, $400 of which was to be paid
by the church. "Each year the demands on the church property had been met when due, and this year it was redeemed from mortgage," The original cost of this, their first church edifice, was about $2,500.
In 1857, after a pastorate of two years, and an increase in membership to eighty-seven, Mr. Torbit resigned to engage in an educational en- terprise.
In September, 1857, Rev. John D. Pope was secured as a supply, and a few weeks later settled as a pastor, on a salary of $800, which was sub- sequently increased to $1,500. In 1862, the stone chapel on Wacouta street was built at a cost, in- cluding the lot, of about $12,000. It was opened for service New Year's morning, 1863. Mr. Pope resigned in 1866. During his faithful pas- torate of nine years, the longest in the history of the church, the membership was more than doubled.
In 1867, the church again secured a pastor, in the person of Rev. R. A. Patterson, somewhat known as an Evangelist, who served' the church for three years. Early in his pastorate there was a revival of religion, and a number of additions to the church.
The sixth pastor of the church was secured in 1871, in the person of Rev. E. B. Hurlburt, a young man of good judgment, fervent piety and pulpit powers of a high order. His unselfish and zealous labors visibly affected his health, and be- lieving that he ought not to accept the abatement of labor which he so much needed, and the church cheerfully offered to accord him, he resigned, in 1874, to settle in San Francisco, after a period of rest, leaving a membership of 274.
The year 1875 was made memorable in the com- pletion and dedication of the elegant church struc- ture, on the corner of Wacouta and Ninth streets at a cost, including interest on temporary loans, of $93,850.95. To this should be added $16,000, the cost of the lot; $8,000, the contract price of the organ, and $800 the cost of the clock-the latter the generous gift of II. P. Upham and L. E. Reed-making a total of $118,650.95. It is not too much to say, that in the beauty of its lo- cation, solidity of construction, and architectural effect and adaptation to use, it is unequalled by any other church edifice in St. Paul.
It should be stated in this connection, that the
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church was erected, very largely, through the lib- erality of the late IIorace Thompson, who gave liberally of his means, and, what was quite as valuable, he gave time and painstaking attention, extending even to the minutest details. In the councils of the church, he never arrogated to himself an influence which he did not cheerfully accord to others, and he deserves to be held in remembrance by all who may worship in that beautiful temple. -
In the same year, Rev. Henry Cross, of Coven- try, England, became pastor, and took part in the dedication of the new church. During a faithful pastorate of four years, the membership increased to 305.
In 1878, Rev. L. C. Barnes came to the church as a supply, and some months later was chosen pastor, a position which he continues to fill with conspicuous ability and acceptance to the church, which is now (July, 1881,) increased to a mem- bership of 362.
Swedishı Baptist church was organized May 18th, 1873; the church building, which was of wood, 20x38, with about 120 seatings, was erected in 1876. The first pastor was John Ong- man. Deacons, C. Schesby and O. S. Sundberg. Secretary, G. O. Ostergreen. Membership at or- ganization, 11; number of members at present, 97. There is a Sunday school connected with the church with about 40 scholars, and a young men's Christian association, for the purpose of religious instruction, the study of the Bible, and discussing religious topics, and distributing re- ligious tracts among their countrymen. Also a young woman's association for the same objects as above stated, of the young men's association. The congregation intend building a new and larger church some time during the year, (1881), as the present church is entirely too small to ac- commodate the people. The present pastor is A. B. Nordberg; treasurer, G. O. Ostergreen; secretary, G. King; trustees, Nils Nilson, C. Loun, HI. G. Hagevark, G. O. Ostergreen, E. Ostergreen.
The First German Baptist church of St. Paul was organized on the 3d day of Angust, 1873. The same day HI. J. Miller was ordained, and became its pastor; he served in that capacity until the first of August, 1874.
At the time of organization the society had a
membership of sixteen. The first officers were: F. Gernenz, treasurer; Abr. Janzen, Jr., clerk.
Mr. D. Kromer was elected treasurer on the first day of January, 1874, and continues in that office up to the present time, 1881.
Mr. Abr. Janzen, Jr., was elected clerk of the church August 3d, 1873, and has filled that posi- tion with honor to himself and profit to the church ever since.
Mr. D. Kromer has served the church as dea- con from the 4th of April, 1875, until now, 1881. Mr. F. Gehrmannsen has also been one of the deacons of the church from April, 1875, until the present time. Mr. E. Blum was one of the dea- cons of the church from April 4th, 1875, to the 14th of March, 1877.
The Rev. J. F. Hoeflin was pastor of the church from August 1st, 1874, until July 1st, 1879. The Rev. F. Heisig was then called and served the church from October 1st, 1879, to Oc- tober 1st, 1880. From December 1st, 1880, to April 1st, 1881, a student of the Theological Sem- inary of Rochester New York, supplied the church.
They have now engaged the services of the Rev. IIenry Schutz of Upper Alton, Ill., his ap- pointment commencing June 1st, 1881.
Pilgrim Baptist church, (colored), located cor- ner of Cedar and 12th streets, St. Paul. It was started in 1863 under the charge or Rev. Hick- man as preacher, by holding meetings in Music Hall on Third street. They drew good audiences, an average of 100 persons, white and black. They held their meetings in several places about town for about ten years before they were able to have a church building. In 1872 they bought a lot on the corner of Cedar and 12th streets, and put up a building 35x75, which will seat a con- gregation of 300 people. Material used in build- ing, stone and wood. Lot and building cost $2,400. They have at present a membership of 75. The Rev. Robert Hickman still holds the position as pastor. He was only a licensed min- ister until 1877, when he was regularly ordained.
There is a Sabbath school connected with the church with an average attendance of from 30 to 40 children.
Plymouth Congregational Church, St. Paul, was organized June 17th, 1858. Fifteen persons mited in the organization, prominent among
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whom were P. W. Nichols, P. P. Furber, Wm. L. Phinney, and H. C. Wilson. For several weeks prior to the formal organization of the church, public worship had been held in Concert Hall, Rev. J. J. Hill, of Glencoe, Minnesota, having preached the first sermon on Sabbath, May 16th, 1858. The Rev. Burdett Hart, pastor of the Congregational church in Fair Haven, Connecticut, who was sojourning in Minnesota, for his health, preached for the church twice dur- ing the summer, and then received, on September 9th, 1858, a unanimous call to become its pastor. He promised to spend the winter with the new enterprise, and began his work on November 4th, of that year. His ministry, though brief, was very successful, and as the result, a large con- gregation was gathered, and many valuable mem- bers were received.
Meanwhile, work was begun on the chapel, in Goodrich street, which was completed, paid for and dedicated November 4th, 1859. Mr. Hart concluded his labors with the young church in April, and returned to his former home, in Con- necticut. Rev. A. P. Fiske, a graduate of Am- herst College, was next called to the pastorate, and entered upon his labors in May, 1859, and was installed as the first pastor of the church, on July 6th, 1860. He remained not quite two years, resigning in April, 1862, to enter the army as Chaplain of the Fourth Regiment of Minnesota Volunteers. Years of struggle and darkness en- sued, marked by faith and sacrifice on the part of those who were members of the church and so- ciety. Rev. Silas Hawley supplied the pulpit for one year after the departure of Mr. Fiske. After him came Rev. J. F. Dudley, a graduate of Dart- mouth, and of Bangor Theological Seminary. He remained with the church a little more than three years, leaving in August, 1866. Though never installed, his ministry was characterized by great faithfulness, and attended with success. Under him the church grew in strength, and though it had many difficulties to contend with, held its own, and prospered not a little. Rev. J. L. White succeeded Mr. Dudley. and as acting pastor ministered to the church from November, 1866, to April 30th, 1881. He was a graduate of Oberlin and Andover. These years were marked by alternations of light and shade. Yet notwith- standing the earnest efforts put forth. and the
fidelity of those who stood by this church, which alone, in the growing city, represented the faith and polity of the New England pilgrims, it did not fulfil the promise of its earlier days. It was overshadowed by older and stronger churches, was inconveniently located in a chapel which was small and uninviting.
In August, 1871, Rev. C. M. Terry, of . New Bedford, Massachusetts, supplied the pulpit a few Sabbaths. Just about this time the question of removal and of building a new church began to be discussed, and the first pledges to the build_ ing fund were received. In October, Mr. Terry received a unanimous call to become pastor of the church, which he accepted in March, 1872. In the following June he took up the work of the pastorate. His coming and efforts gave a new impetus to the project of building. Lots were purchased on the corner of Wabasha street and Summit Avenue, and the corner stone of the new edifice was laid June 27th, 1872. The chapel was completed and occupied for public re- ligious service October 6th, 1872. The remain- der of the building was finished in March, 1873. The dedicatory exercises were held July 19th, when Mr. Terry was also installed pastor. The to- tal cost of the grounds and the building, with its equipment, amounted to about $33,000. This achievement indicated the growing strength and enterprise of the church, which society was in numbers and wealth by no means large. Mr. Terry's ministry was a most useful and successful one, though failing health greatly interfered with the work which had grown upon his hands. He was, in consequence, compelled to resign his pas- torate, which he did, August 26th, 1877, and was dismissed the following September.
Rev. Dr. Dana; of the Park church, Norwich, Connecticut, was then called, to succeed Mr. Terry, and began his labors with the church in March, 1878, and was installed pastor May 9th, the same year. Under Dr. Dana the church took a new start and entered upon a period of un- precedented prosperity and growth. The church membership was very largely augmented, during 1878 and '80; the church debt was paid, and a high degree of efficiency in every department of church work attained. At last the dreams of the pro- jectors of this Congregational church were fully realized, and finally established, and with a com-
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manding position, it now is recognized and felt as a church of power throughout the city and com- monwealth. Already, though, in its mission operations, it is reaching out, planting the seeds of a second Congregational church, in the east part of the city. The names of the goodly workers, who through days of weakness and struggle nurtured this church to its present estate, are gratefully cherished.
CHRIST CHURCH-EPISCOPAL.
Christ church is the "Mother Parish" of the diocese of Minnesota.
In the month of June, 1850, the Rev. Messrs. J. Lloyd Breck, Timothy Wilcoxson and J. V. Merrick, arrived in St. Paul and proceeded at once to establish a mission of the protestant Episcopal church, The population of the town was then about twelve hundred. The first ser- vices of the church were held in a school-house on what is now West Third street, conducted by Rev. Messrs. Breck, Wilcoxson and Gear, on Sunday, June 30th, 1850.
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