History of Ramsey County and the city of St. Paul, including the Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, Part 68

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 68

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A meeting of the citizens of St. Paul was soon after called to meet at the residence of Mr. HI. A. Lambert, at which meeting the initiatory steps were taken looking to the building of a church.

The corner stone was laid on Thursday, Sep- tember 5th, 1850, by the Rev. E. G. Gear, clergy present and assisting in the services, the Revs. Messrs. Breck, Wilcoxson and Merrick. The building was rapidly constructed and was opened for services on Sunday, December 8th, 1850.

This first church was erected on the corner of Cedar and Fourth streets at a cost of $1,275. The church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., on the 20th of July, 1851.

In November, 1850, at a meeting of the mem- bers of the then organized parish, the following gentlemen were elected as the first wardens and vestrymen of Christ church: H. A. Lambert and J. T. Halstead, wardens; E. H. Halstead, B. W. Lott, Chas. F. Tracey, Henry Tracey, Chas. R. Conway, R. R. Nelson and J. E. Fullerton, ves- trymen.

The church was placed under the charge of the associate mission of the Protestant Episcopal church of St. Paul, which at that time consisted of the three clergy, Revs. Messrs. Breck, Wilcox- son and Merrick.

In April, 1852, the Rev. J. Lloyd Breck was elected rector of the parish. Dr. Breck retained the rectorship for a few months, when he resigned to establish an Indian mission in the northern portion of the territory. The Rev. Timothy Wilcoxson succeeded him in the rectorship and remained in charge of the church until the fall of 1854, when having resigned, the Rev. J. V. Van Ingen, D. D., was elected, and entered upon the rectorship in October of the same year.

The very acceptable and successful incum- bency of Dr. Van Ingen, continued until De- cember, 1861, when having accepted the chaplaincy of a New York regiment, he tendered his resig- nation, which was regretfully accepted.

In August, 1862, the Rev. S. Y. McMasters, D. D., accepted an election to the rectorship of Christ church, and entered upon his duties in a short time thereafter. His rectorship continued for a space of more than fourteen years, when he was taken to his rest, full of years and honors. To the Rev. Dr. McMasters, the present pros- perity of Christ church is largely due, and his memory will ever be cherished by the people of St. Paul of all denominations. The Rev. W. P. Ten Broeck succeeded to the rectorship in June, 1876, and remained in charge until October, 1880.

In January, 1881, the Rev. Mahlon N. Gilbert, having accepted the rectorship, entered upon the same, which position he still occupies.

The present church edifice was erected during the rectorship of the Rev. Dr. McMasters at a cost of $20,000, and was opened for divine service in November, 1872. This present is the third ed- ifice built by the congregation of Christ church. The second having been destroyed by fire just after its completion in 1871.

The communicants of the church number three hundred and twenty-five. The present ves- try consists of the following gentlemen: James Gilfillan and John Q. Adams, wardens; Reuben Warner, T. D. Barton, Charles Proal, John P. Larkin, J. B. Pond, C. C. Elfelt and W. J. Foot- men, vestrymen.

St. Paul's Church (Episcopal), was organized December, 1856. Corner stone laid July 14th, 1857. Material of building, limestone; cruciform in shape; has a seating capacity of four hundred and fifty people.

The first service was held in the Washington

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school-house on the first Sunday in July, 1857. There were present on this occasion the Right Rev. Alonzo Potter, bishop of Pennsylvania, who preached the sermon, and there were one hundred people present. The corner stone of St. Paul's was laid by Bishop Kemper, and the building was put in condition for worship on Christmas day of the same year, (1857); the number of communi- cants at that time was twenty-six.

The Spire was erected in 1860; the rectory was built in 1865, and is located near the church. An organ was purchased in 1870 at a cost of $3,500; the cost of the church building was $15,000; rec- tory $1,500; in 1880 an addition was built at a cost of $1,000. All the improvements were made under the direction of the first rector, except the last one, which was made under the direction of the present rector.

The first rector was Andrew Bell Patterson. D. D. During a rectorship of nineteen years he baptised 410 infants and adults, presented to the bishop 178 persons for confirmation, solemnized 146 marriages, and officiated at 248 funerals. At his decease his parish was considerably reduced on account of his long illness; it still numbered 130 families, 200 communicants; 650 souls.

The present rector, Rev. E. S. Thomas, was in- stalled July 1st, 1876. The addition which was built in 1880, was built under his supervision. During his rectorship the communicants have in- creased from 200 to 400; the number of souls from 650 to 1,100. The total receipts and disburse- ments average from $5,000 to $11,000 per annum. There are now connected with the church four missions.

Mississippi Street Mission, Rev. E. S. Thomas, rector; cost of chapel $2,000. There are twenty families connected with this mission.

Dayton Bluff Mission, Dr. E. A. Boyd, lay reader. Eleven families are connected with this mission.

Mounds View Mission, Dr. E. A. Boyd, lay reader, with seven families.

St. John's in the Wilderness, White Bear. Ser- vices weekly during the summer, by the rector. Services monthly (first Sunday), during the win- ter. Rev. E. S. Thomas, rector. There are eighteen families connected with this mission.

St. Paul's Guild. President, Rev. E. S. Thomas; vice-president, Gen. G. H. Simpson; secretary,

Mrs. Harvey Officer; treasurer, J. J. Parker. Lay readers: Harvy Officer, Dr. Boyd, Gen. Simpson. Advisory committee: Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Smyth, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Price, Mrs. Dr. Flagg, Mrs. Rhodes.

Ladies Sewing Society. Mrs. Oakes, president; Mrs. Brunson, vice-president; Mrs. Hale, treas- urer; directresses, Mrs. Hamilton, Miss Whiting, Mrs. Sargent, Miss Carrington. Object: church furnishing.

Ladies Missionary Society. Mrs. Breed, presi- dent; Mrs. Potter, treasurer. Directresses, Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Dalrymple, Mrs. Beardslee. Object: To send boxes to the mis- sionaries.

Sunday School Aid Society. Mrs. Becker, president; Miss Whiting, secretary and treasurer. Object; to clothe the poor Sunday school child- ren.

Saint Luke's Hospital owned and conducted by both St. Paul and Christ parishes, is a commo- dious brick building, costing about $10,000. Mrs. Henry Hale, president; Miss Braden, treasurer. Visitors from St. Paul's church: Mrs. Breed, Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. J. L. Merriam, Mrs. Dal- rymple, Mrs. F. B. Bass, Mrs. Rhodes, Mrs. Best, Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. W. R. Merriam, Mrs. Washington, Mrs. Belote, Mrs. Brunson.

Home of the Friendless. Managers from St. Paul's : Mrs. A. H. Wilder, Mrs. G. A. Hamil- ton.

Womans Christian Home. Managers from St. Paul's: Mrs. Rhodes, Mrs. Pitts.

The Brotherhood. The rector, president; J. J. Parker, treasurer.

Saint Cecilia Society. Mr. Draper, president; Miss Champlain, secretary. Organists : Miss Crocker, Mr. Rice, Mrs. Draper, Mrs. Thomas. Choir master, Mr. Dimmick. Meet first Mon- days in the month. Object: To furnish music for week day services.

There are two sewing schools connected with this parish, the objects of which are, to teach children of poor parents to sew, and present them with the garments made. There is a parish school connected with St. Paul's church, under the direction of Mrs. Mary G. Clinch, with twen- ty-five scholars.

The Sunday school connected with the parish numbers two hundred scholars.

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Parish of the Good Shepherd. In the book of records of the Church of the Good Shep- herd, is found the following passage, written by the rector, William C. Pope : "In the begin- ning of the year 1867, I was doing missionary duty at Orono, Hassan and Dayton. Dr. McMas- ters, who was rector of Christ church, who was also dean of the central convocation, sug- gested to me the idea of doing missionary work in the city of St. Paul, and establishing a free church. The idea was most favorably received by me ; indeed, it had been my desire for several years to do just such work in this city. Before I had taken orders, oftentimes had I, looking down from the bluff on which I lived, on to the 'flat ' at the rear of the capitol, thought, ' How admirable a place for a church !' and wished that when there should be a church built there, I might be its rector."

With the approval of the bishop, work was immediately begun. The first service was held in Mackubin's block, on the fifth Sunday after Easter, May 26th. The parish church was dedi- cated October 6th, 1869. The working body of the church is the guild, or body of the communi- cants, organized into a society. Its organization was effected August 2d, 1870. Of those who have given time, money and personal services to the advancement of God's glory, she who has given most, desires her name to be left unwritten, but her memory will be cherished long after she shall have been taken away from the scene of her labors of love and offerings of faith.

At a meeting of the guild, held August 7th, 1872, it was " resolved to establish Sunday Schools to be open on Sunday afternoons. Mr. Groves offered the use of his house for that purpose, and his services as teacher."

As a result of this action, we have now the Chapel of the Resurrection, with an adjoining house occupied by the lay reader in charge-he who offered his house for a Sunday school build- ing. The following year the parish school came into existence. Its object is, first, to mold the characters of the scholars, by training them in a manner conformable with the principles of Holy Writ; and secondly, to present facts to them as they are seen by the church.

The Mission of the Ascension, at West St. Panl, was next established, with W. W. Hoyt as lay

reader in charge. It was afterwards given up for want of a place to hold services.

Mr. Hoyt died in the fall of 1877. Respecting him the following is found in the book of min- utes of the vestry. "We desire to enter on our book of records the expression of our sense of loss in the decease of our brother, the senior warden. There are but few minutes of meetings since the organization of the parish in which his name does not appear. With his decease closes a chapter of the parish history. The parish will be a fortunate one if it shall in the future have vestrymen as conscientious and intelligent as he who has gone to rest."

The Mission of Ascension was re-organized in 1880. The clergy that have been connected with the parish since its organization, other than the rector, are the Rev. J. Berne, the Rev. II. Kitt- son, and the Rev. James St. Lawrence. The parish church is located on the corner of Cedar and 12th streets. The membership numbers over 200.

There is also a parish school connected with the church under the supervision of the rector, Rev. W. C. Pope. The school numbers about 40 pupils.

St. John the Evangelist Church was organized as a mission in January, 1881. Services first held that same month in the Dayton Avenue Presbyterian church.

Frame chapel was built in May same year, on the corner of Ashland and Mackubin streets, was organized as a parish in April of the same year, Rev. II. Kittson being its first rector.

TRINITY CHURCHI.

German Evangelical Lutheran, the mother church of all Evangelical Lutheran churches in St. Paul. The beginning of this church was in 1855, when the Rev. Mr. F. Wier preached his first sermon in the court house and continued to hold services there from time to time until 1857.

The Rev. C. F. Hyer succeeded Mr. Wier, who held his services in a school-house on Fort street, preached his first sermon November 22d, 1857, his audience consisted of about 30 persons. He also preached several times in the English language in a school-house on 8th street. IIis German congregation increased so that on the first day of January, 1858, they organized a church and

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called it the Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church, or in the German language, Die Kirche der Dreieinigkeit, Evangelisch Lutherisch.

In February, 1858, they bought a lot on the corner of Wabasha and 10th streets for $1,000, on which they commenced building their church. They at first only built and finished the basement, in which they held services for some time, the Rev. Mr. Hver preaching the first sermon in this basement to a very large German audience. The Rev. Mr. Hyer having been sent by a missionary society to start this church, he having accomp- lished his mission, departed, and Rev. G. Facht- mann, a member of the Lutheran synod of Wis- consin, took his place May 4th, 1862. The con- gregation had increased to such an extent as to enable them to complete the church, which was accomplished October 18th, 1863, on which day the dedication services were held. The church is built of stone, size, 50x80 feet, with seating capacity for 450 to 500 persons. Cost of building, $4,000. In October, 1867, Mr. Facht- mann resigned, and the Rev. J. H. Sieker took charge of the church. During his ministration an organ was put in the church at an expense of $1,200.

In 1871 the congregation had become so large that they deemed it best to divide, which they did, and forthwith built St. John's church, which may be called an offspring of Trinity church. In June, 1876, the Rev. O. Spehr was called by Trinity church to be its pastor; he was a mem- ber of the Missouri synod. He remained until 1879, and was succeeded March 15th, same year, by the Rev. M. Tirmenstein from New Orleans, who was also a member of the Missouri Lutheran synod, and who is still pastor of the Trinity church.

A parochial school has always been connected with the church for which purpose the basement of the church was used, until 1880, when they bought a lot on the corner of Wabasha and Til- den streets for $5,000, and built a school house 25x80 feet, (divided into four school rooms), at a cost of $4,000. Number of pupils attending school, about 200, with three instructors. Both English and German are taught. They also have a Sabbath school connected with the church, av- erage attendance about 350. Membership of church, 700 communicants. In 1861 the congre-

gation purchased two acres of land near Lake Como, for a cemetery, at $50 per acre. St. John's church uses the same burial ground. The present value of the land is $500 per acre.

Zion Church, Evangelical Lutheran, is located corner Ninth and Rosabel streets, St. Panl. The church was founded in December, 1863, the con- gregation at that time consisting of thirteen mem- bers. In the winter of 1864, the lot on which it stands was purchased, upon a part of which the pastor's residence was built the following spring. In October of the same year the first church build- ing, a small frame structure twenty-four by forty, was completed. In 1865 a parochial school was opened, the first class numbering about a dozen · pupils, were taught by the pastor in his residence. During the following summer a small school- house was erected in the rear of the church. In 1868 Mr. Carl Hesserli was engaged to teach the class, which had increased to a large number. At this time II. C. Fischer was instructor. In 1872 a new school-house was built, which fur- nished accomodations for seventy scholars. Dur- ing the past few years the class has numbered on an average from fifty to sixty scholars. Re- ligious instruction is given every morning in Bib- lical history and the Lutheran catechism is ex- plained, the other studies are such as are taught in the common schools, both in Englishi and Ger- man. The church, which was started on so small a scale, has grown steadily from year to year, and now consists of about one hundred and seventy members. In the fall of 1880 the church was en- larged and many improvements made, a tall and graceful spire added, and it is now one of the nicest little churches in the city. The Rev. E. Rolf has been pastor of the church during the past eighteen years. Mr. Rolf is a graduate of the Lutheran Concordia Seminary of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The church has its own cemetery adjoin- ing the city burying ground, containing five acres of land and is beautifully situated. The church building is of wood, twenty-four by seventy-four feet, with a seating capacity of 250, costing about $2,500. The whole church property, including par- sonage and school-house, is now worth $10,000. There is a Sunday school in connection with the church with au average attendance of sixty scholars.

St. Johns German Evangelical Lutheran church

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was organized in 1872 with about one 150 mem- bers. It is located on East Eighth street. The corner stone was laid in June, 1872, and the building was finished ready for worship the same year. The material used in its construction is stone for the foundation and basement, and wood for the upper part; it has a nice tower and spire. The basement contains two good-sized rooms. and is occupied by a parochial school through the week and by the Sabbath school on Sunday. The size of the building is forty by eighty feet and has a seating capacity of 500 persons. The cost of the structure was $7,000, and a parsonage on the same lot is valued at about $1,500. The pres- ent membership is 350. The first officers of the society were as follows: President, W. Lindeke; treasurer, G. Hess; secretary, Charles Passavant; trustees, H. Kroeger, G. Hess, W. Lindeke; war- dens and vestrymen, W. Geiselmann, L. Sutmar, Theo. Wehmezer, C. Hilker, W. Schulenburg. The present officers are: President, W. Lindeke; treasurer, G. Hess; secretary, C. Heinrich; trus- tees: W. Lindeke, Charles IIermeyer, C. Hess; wardens and vestrymen, W. Geiselmann, L. Sut- mar, Ch. Schmidt, C. Ililker. The first pastor was W. Streisgut, from 1872 to 1880; the present pastor is O. Iloyer. The school connected with and controlled by the church, has seventy-four scholars. Both English and German are taught by Mr. O. Benz, the present teacher. The Sun- day school has an attendance of about one hund- red and fifty scholars and meets every Sunday, when the Lutheran catechism is explained. The congregation owes allegiance to the Evangelical Lutheran synod of the state of Minnesota. The present value of the church property, including the parsonage, is $15,000. The congregation owns a cemetery in connection with Trinity Lutheran churchi, which contains twenty acres of land. near Lake Como. It is in a very fine location and is beautifully laid out, and also has some beautiful monuments.

Immanuel church, German Evangelical Luther- an. Is located on Caroline street, West St. Paul, was organized in 1872, with seven members. Present membership twenty-five. First officers: president, W. Erdmann; treasurer, J. Reimers; secretary, A. Hoppe; trustees, W. Kautak, W. Zinke.

The church was built in 1873, size 24x32. Rev.

J. II. Sieker of Trinity church, German Evan- gelical Lutheran, at first took charge of the con- gregation. as its pastor. In 1876, Rev. E. Achil- lis was elected pastor, but owing to ill health he discontinued his services and at present Rev. O. Hoyer, pastor of St. John's church has charge of the congregation. This church is also under the control of the Evangelical Lutheran synod of Minnesota.

First Swedish Lutheran Evangelical church. On the 25th of March, 1854, religious services in the Swedish language were held for the first time in St. Paul, at the house of F. Mobeck, near "Moffet's Castle." John Swanson read a ser- mon from a book. After that, services were held at the same place until the arrival of the Rev. Erland Carlson from Chicago. On May 6th, 1854, he organized the congregation, and rented a school-house on Fourth street, in which ser- vices were held. At that time the congregation numbered between thirty and forty. In 1855, Mobeck went to Chisago county, and Johan John- son became leader of the congregation. Services were held in Washington school-house on Eightlı street, and in Martin Nelson's house on Olmsted street. The congregation was incorporated in 1858. About 1861, Rev. E. Norelius was pastor for a short time, but the congregation being too poor to pay his salary, he had to leave, and Johan Johnson again became leader.

In 1867, a church was built on Stillwater and Woodward Avenues, which has been enlarged and is now twenty-eight feet wide and eighty feet in length, and has a tower seventy feet high. The church has two rooms; and a gallery is well furnished throughout. Rev. J. Ausland became pastor of the congregation in 1871, and continued until 1877, when Rev. A. P. Monten, present pastor assumed the charge.

The congregation numbers between seven and eight hundred, and there are five hun- dred communicants, the membership increasing with every month.

The attendance each Sabbath fills the church to its utmost capacity, and the society is contem- plating the purchase of lots and the erection of a new church edifice of larger dimensions. Services are held morning and evening of each Sabbatlı, and two evenings during each week. A Young Men's society has been organized under the au-

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spices of the church. The Sunday school in con- nection with the church numbers about two hundred scholars.

The church is connected with the Scandinavi- an Augustana synod, in which the Swedes of the whole United States are united.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Congregation, is located at numbers 70 and 72 Bradley street, St. Paul. The church was organ- ized on the first day of April, 1874, with a very few members. The name of their first pastor was A, Lidman, who remained with them only a short time, not quite a year. The church made but little progress under his charge. Their sec- ond pastor, Mr. A. Sundberg, was a man of con- siderable ability, but the church did not seem to prosper very much under his charge, and after two years' service he removed. The present pastor, Rev. John F. Soderstrom, is a man of more than ordinary ability, and is very earnest in his church work. IIe took charge of the church in 1877, and by his untiring devotion and zeal in the cause of the Gospel he has brought the mem- bership up to nearly seventy families. The

Sunday school attached to the church has an av- erage attendance of one hundred scholars. They meet every Sunday afternoon from 3:50 to 4:50.

St. Paul's Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church was organized and incorporated December 20th, 1869. Its first location was on Mt. Airy street. The present is on the corner of Canada and Thirteenth streets. This church, at its or- ganization, had about fifty members; it has grown very rapidly. Although a great many mem- bers have moved away, its present membership is two hundred and twenty. There is a Sunday school connected with the church, with an aver- age attendance of between forty and fifty scholars. The first pastor was the Rev. O. A. Normann; the first trustees were: R. Olsen, S. Jensen, A. Paulsen; B. P. Miller, treasurer; S. Peterson, secretary. The present pastor, W. M. II. Peter- son, is a young man of energy, and more than ordinary ability as a preacher. IIe is hard at work, among his congregation and outside of it, collecting funds to build a new church, which he has no doubt he will accomplish this coming summer. The new church will have a seating capacity of five hundred. The building to cost not less than $5,000. The present trustees are,

C. Larsen, O. O. Berg, A. Pederson, HI. P. Mohn, and P. O. Johnson.

The Emanuel church evangelical association was organized in 1856, by Rev. A. Tarnutzer, pastor, with twenty members. This small flock built a neat little church the following year (1857) on the corner of Pine and Eleventh streets, with a seating capacity for two hundred persons. On the eleventh day of October, the same year, the church was dedicated by the Rev. A. Blank, pre- siding elder of the Milwaukee district. At the dedication, the following clergymen were present and assisted in the ceremonies : J. G. Eshler, A. Tarnutzer, and A. IIuelster; the two last named, and several other pastors of country churches filling the pulpit alternately. The first trustees were Philip Feldhauser, Jacob Gabel, and Ferdinand Dieter. In 1875, the church was improved by adding a graceful spire. The congregation own a parsonage located in the rear of the church, on Pine street; they also have , a cemetery belonging to the church. There is also a mission chapel connected with the church, located on Goodrich Avenue, for the object of missionary and school work. Owing to the fact that every year more or less of the members moved away, the congregation did not grow as rapidly as it ought. The present membership is only one hundred and twelve. The following gentlemen have served the church as pastors since its organization : A. Tarnutzer, A. Huelster, J. Hammetter, O. Ragatz, L. von Wald, H. E. Linse, A. Strohmeier, C. Brill, A. Stoetzel, A. Knebel, E. J. Hielscher, II. Bunse, and A. Huelster, the present pastor in charge. Value of church property at the present time, including parsonage, six thousand dollars ; mis- sion property, about two thousand dollars.

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