History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 114

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110

USA > Minnesota > Stearns County > History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 114

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ST. CLOUD CHURCHES.

First Baptist-First Methodist Episcopal-St. John's Episcopal-Presbyterian -Unitarian-German Evangelical-Swedish Baptist-Norwegian Luth- eran-Christian Science-Congregational-Universalist.

The First Baptist Church .- The first services of the Baptist society (also the first Protestant society) were held Decem- ber 28, 1855, at the residence of Leland Cram, in Lower Town, near the site of the present mill. There were eight constitu- ent members: Rev. A. C. Mclaughlin (a lay preacher), Dorchas McLaughlin, Le- land Cram, Henry Pratt, N. N. Smith, Mary P. Smith, J. E. West and Aletta West. Mr. Mclaughlin conducted services on Sunday mornings for a time. Such old settlers as H. C. Waite attended.

The following is quoted from the St. Cloud Journal-Press, published in 1888: "They (the eight previously named) wor- shiped for a time in the old Everett school- house. In 1863 they began the erection of a large building which from various causes was never finished, though they worshiped therein with the following pas- tors in charge: The Rev. T. E. Inman, 1856 to 1858, and the Rev. W. C. Phillips, 1863 to 1864."

The First Baptist Church of St. Cloud was organized in 1872 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Spicer, which still forms a, portion of Mrs. Spicer's residence at 403 Seventh avenue, south. Some of the first members were: Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Spicer, Mrs. John Rogers, Mrs. Julia Owen, Mrs. J. H. Raymond, Rev. and Mrs. John Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Z. H. Morse. Mrs. Cora P. Cram was baptized in 1874.

In 1872 to 1873 a chapel was erected on the site now occupied by the present church edifice. The Rev. W. E. Stanley, a graduate of Newton Theological Seminary, was called from North Attlebury, Mass., to become the first pastor. His ordination and the dedication of the chapel occurred the same evening, July 29, 1873.

A list of the pastors up to the present time, with the dates of service and present location (if known), follows: Rev. W. E.

Stanley, June, 1873-May, 1876, Eldora, Ia .; Rev. A. L. Cole, 1877-1878, deceased; Rev. J. E. Wood, January, 1879-April, 1880, de- ceased; Rev. R. R. Coon, Jr., December, 1882-May, 1888, Nebraska; Rev. G. H. Gamble, January, 1889-November, 1893, Rochester, Minn .; Rev. J. W. Crooks Feb- ruary, 1894-January, 1896, deceased; Rev. J. B. Utton, April, 1896-January, 1897; Rev. M. A. Summers, May, 1897-January, 1899, Oklahoma City, Okla .; Rev. K. N. Morrill, March, 1899-April, 1903, Oxford, Mich .; Rev .. C. O. Wright, November, 1903-Novem- ber, 1904; Rev. John Oliver, June, 1905- March, 1909, Selah, Wash .; Rev. R. W. Merrifield, April, 1909-July, 1913, Jefferson- ville, Ind .; Rev. W. M. Hull, September, 1913.

In looking over this list, it will be seen that the church since 1882 has never been a full year without a pastor. Each of these men has had a share in the upbuild- ing of the church and the prosperity which it now enjoys.

The present church building, valued at $10,000, was begun in 1886. After much planning and hesitation upon the part of the members, Samuel Marshall made the motion to "build a house of worship" December 14, 1885. The committee to se- cure plans included D. H. Spicer, J. H. Raymond and S. P. Howard. The build- ing committee was composed of S. Mar- shall, E. E. Morgan, H. McGregor, D. H. Spicer, F. Talcott, J. H. Raymond and E. Maybury. The church building was erected where it now stands on the corner of Eighth avenue and Second street, south, one of the prettiest corners of the city. It has a large audience room, which conveniently seats 250-450 with the bal- cony and prayer room thrown open, and three other Sunday-school rooms.

The corner-stone was laid in 1886 and the building completed in 1888. Much

1452

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

credit is due the Rev. R. R. Coon, Jr., who led the people in what seemed an almost impossible undertaking at that time, and a great deal of praise should be accorded to the Rev. G. H. Gamble, who followed him. Probably no pastor has meant so much to the church as the latter, on ac- count of his buoyant spirit and ceaseless energy given at such a trying time. He has always remained a firm friend of the church.

The building was dedicated to the wor- ship of God, October 5, 1894, during the pastorate of the Rev. J. W. Crooks. The Rev. R. R. Coon, Jr., and the Rev. G. H. Gamble, former pastors, were present, as well as the Rev. E. V. Campbell, the vet- eran Presbyterian minister of St. Cloud. The Rev. W. H. Geistweit, then of Minne- apolis, but now of San Diego, Cal., preached the dedication sermon. In 1891 the chapel was moved from the rear of the church building to the lot south. There, under the management of Rev. G. H. Gamble, it was made into a comfortable eight-room parsonage.

Another incident, though not connected directly with the church building, should be mentioned here-the burning of the church mortgage. No happier time has been known in the annals of Baptist history here than was experienced on the evening of January 7, 1907. It was then that the mortgage on the Baptist property amounting to $1,008.59 was burned by Mrs. Cora P. Cram, assisted by Jessie A. Marshall. The Rev. E. R. Pope, the Rev. G. H. Gamble and the pastors of the city assisted the regular pastor, the Rev. John Oliver, in the services. The church owes Mr. Oliver a debt of gratitude for his un- tiring efforts in raising so large an amount and also the Home Mission Society for substantial reduction of interest owed them.

In 1909 the church was cleaned and re- decorated throughout; in 1910 a new fur- nace was installed, and in 1913 the whole property was painted, leaving it in good condition within and without at this writ- ing. Much credit is due the pastor, the Rev. R. W. Merrifield, for the standing the church has in the community.

This history would not be complete without making mention of those noble characters who have gone on before. In

this connection we remember with deep respect our two senior deacons, D. H. Spicer and John Palmer. Their lives live after them. Also are remembered with loving tenderness Mrs. J. H. Raymond, Mrs. E. E. Morgan, Mrs. E. Maybury, Mrs. Emma Marshall, Mrs. John Rogers, Mrs. Julia Owen, and others. Of the marriages within the church may be mentioned those of the Rev. A. L. Cole and Minnie Morse; the Rev. W. E. Stanley and Anna Spicer; James M. Brown, Jr., and Bertha Smith; Andrew C. Q. Oberg and Clara Cranston. The church feels honored in having had as three of its members a missionary and two pastors; Johannah Anderson went to Burmah and there gave her life; L. L. Mann, once a member, is now a valued pastor at Ipswich, S. D .; the Rev. C. G. Chandler, now of Bemidji, was also bap- tized at St. Cloud.

The present church membership is 135, 99 being resident members. The Sunday school attendance averages about 130, and is one of the encouraging features of the church. The young ladies' teachers' Training Class, under the leadership of Jessie Burrall, is a decided success. The average attendance of this class for the year is about 70. One of the great mis- sions of the church is the training of the young people, not only the resident young people, but the teachers and normal stu- dents along social service lines.

Among the older members who have moved away are: Walter Arnold and wife of Seattle, Wash .; W. F. F. Selleck and wife of North Yakima, Wash,; H. A. McGregor and wife of Missoula, Mont .; John H. Anderson and wife of Merriam Park, Minn., and Lars Anderson and wife of Moorhead, Minn. Some of those longest in service here are: Mrs. Mary J. Spicer, Mrs. Cora P. Cram, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Marshall, Mrs. Eliza Wasson, Mrs. J. D. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Oberg, Jessie Morgan and Mrs. Carrie Rogers Wilson. Mrs. Oberg has been church clerk since 1897. S. Mar- shall was elected deacon in 1885 and J. E| Oberg in 1890. They have held these offices ever since.

And now to the faithful pastors who have done and will do their best for Christ here; to the loyal self-sacrificing members who have worked and won for the church

1453

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

its place; to those who are now and will take the place of these noble workers; to the Home Mission Society; the state con- vention and to Dr. E. R. Pope, is dedicated this history of the First Baptist Church of St. Cloud.

First Methodist Episcopal Church. There has been a Methodist church organization in St. Cloud since 1857. The first pastor was the Rev. John Pugh, who remained only about four weeks and again returned tc the settlement below. The next preacher was Levi Gleason, who was em- ployed by the presiding elder the first year, not then being a member of the conference. At the end of this year, 1858, he joined the conference and was returned to this work extending from Clearwater to Winnebago Prairie.

At St. Cloud at this time a good class was formed through the labors of Mr. Gleason, assisted by Presiding Elder Sterrett and Revs. A. J. Nelson and P. O. Light, which continued to prosper up to August 13, 1860, when it numbered 31 members and six probationers. The Rev. Bantley Blain served in this charge one year and the following year the Rev. S. T. Sterrett was appointed and stayed one year. The Rev. David Tice was his suc- cessor in October, 1865. After a journey of 200 miles he and his family reached St. Cloud October 16, 1863. On May 1 fol- lowing a church enterprise was com- menced and in four months and four days Bishop Kingsley dedicated the church on September 4, 1864, the building standing then on the southeast corner of Fourth avenue, south, and Sixth street.

The people up to this time had wor- shiped in the old seminary building located in the park and facing Fourth avenue, south. The church business wholly de- volving on the pastor, he was compelled to go east and raise money to pay up the embarrassments, the cost of this building being $3,003.87.

The building stood as built until the summer of 1873, when it was torn down and moved. A new structure built as the Methodist Church stood until 1910, when the present church was begun. The new building stood on the corner of Fifth ave- nue, south, and Third street. The lot was bought by the Ladies' Aid Society. The church was extensively repaired and

painted during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Atchinson in 1890. At this time the church was reseated with oak pews, the gift of Dr. Scruby. The beautiful art-glass window in front was given by Mrs. John Cooper. The side windows were donated by Mrs. Akers and daughter, Mrs. Bowing, Mrs. Marlatt and daughter. Miss M. Ellis gave the large rolling doors between the classroom and audience hall. The walnut . pulpit was the gift of Mrs. Bert Miller and Miss Blanch Gray. The red plush pulpit chairs were donated by the Ladies' Aid Society. The marble-top table and red stand were purchased in 1884, the red stand being used as a pulpit until the wal- nut pulpit was purchased in 1890. The larger organ was purchased by subscrip- tion previous to 1890. The organ used in the classroom was bought in 1894 at a cost of $25. The piano in the auditorium and also the one used in the social room were purchased and paid for by the Sunday school.

At the time the church was remodeled in 1890, it was reopened Sunday, July 22, with Bishop Joyce present, who preached from the text, 1 John 4:7, taking for his subject, "Present Conditions in China," in the evening.

The Rev. J. H. Dewart was pastor of the church for five years from 1891 to 1896, during which time it prospered as it never had before. Immediately following this, the Rev. L. W. Ray was pastor, and fol- lowing him the Rev. F. E. Ross came in May, 1898. He was followed by the Rev. C. W. Lawson, who stayed three years, being followed by the Rev. Charles Stark in 1904, who remained three years, when the Rev. Stanley Oadams came, who was followed by the present pastor, the Rev. F. W. Hill, who came in 1909. At this time the membership of the church was 175, and at this writing, 1914, the member- ship is 364. In 1909 the congregation was still worshiping in the building which for so many years stood on the corner of Fifth avenue and Third street. It was not long before congregations had so in- creased that the capacity of the building was more than taxed. The Sunday school, under the able superintendency of L. L. Erickson, assisted by a competent corps of teachers, began to enjoy an excellent growth. The normal training class, under

1454

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

the direction of Miss Blanch Atkins of the state normal faculty, soon numbered 90, and classrooms outside of the building had to be rented to take care of the Sunday school. This congested condition made necessary a larger building .. After much planning it was decided by the official board that the new structure be erected on the site of the old, using the former as a chapel in the new building.

Early in the spring of 1911 a contract was let for the erection of the new edifice. The corner-stone was laid September 10, 1911. Dr. E. H. Nicholson, district super- intendent of the Litchfield district, having charge of the exercises, and the Rev. E. A. Cook, of Renville, delivering the address. In the corner-stone was placed a copy of the Bible, two local dailies, the "Epworth Herald and Northwestern Christian Advo- cate," a copy of the Annual Minnesota Con- ference and a complete list of the subscrib- ers to the new building to date. Mayor P. J. Seberger delivered a fine address at the unveiling of the capstone of the gym- nasium, which was erected in connection with the new church.

The plan of the church is what is called the "Twentieth Century Institutional" building. The first floor contains a large gymnasium, shower baths, dressing-room and lockers, clubroom, kitchen and toilet, engine and fuel room. This floor has its main entrance on the sidewalk level. The second floor is approached by a main front entrance on Fifth avenue and also a side entrance on Third street which leads into the chapel and parlors of the church. The Fifth avenue entrance leads through a commodious vestibule into the new audi- torium, which has an inclined floor and seats about 400 people. Between the audi- torium and chapel are rolled partitions by the use of which the two rooms may be thrown together, making an auditorium which will seat, when crowded to its ca- pacity, 1,000 people.

The beautiful art glass is of the finest quality of opalescent glass. The design in the Fifth avenue window is "Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane," by Hoffman. The design in the window facing Third street the Good Shepherd," by is "Christ, Plockhorst.

This building is intended to afford facili- ties for Christian work and other activities

combined similar to that done by a Y. M. C. A. The athletic feature is at present under the management of a non-denomina- tional organization and to be used by those who desire, regardless of denominational affiliation.

The dedication services were held Sun- day, May 24, 1914, the sermon being preached by Bishop William A. Quayle, D. D., LL. D., from the text II Corinthians, 4:17. Following the sermon pledges to the amount of $5,333 were made to pay the debt of $7,600 remaining on the new building, and the official board agreed to take care of the balance. The formal dedication by the Bishop then took place. The follow- ing out-of-town pastors were present: Dr .. W. H. Jordan, district superintendent; the Rev. T. S. Oadams, La Crosse; the Rev. C. W. Stark, Minneapolis, former pastor; the Rev. James A. Geer, Ortonville; the Rev. E. A. Cook, Monticello; the Rev. B. Kuhn, Sauk Rapids; the Rev. S. L. Hart, Becker; the Rev. Lawrence Radcliff, Kim- ball; the Rev. F. J. Bryan, Clearwater. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon special Sunday school exercises were held, at which an address was given by the Rev. James Geer. At the evening service Dr. W. H. Jordan preached, taking as his text Psalm 8:4.

The church is in a prosperous condition, the Sabbath school with a large attendance and the services well attended.

Following is a complete list of pastors with terms of service: Rev. John Pugh, four weeks; Rev. Levi Gleason, 1858-59; Rev. C. G. Bowdish, 1859-61; Rev. A. J. Nelson, Rev. Bantley Blain, Rev. S. F. Sterret; Rev. D. Tice, 1863-65; Rev. Charles Griswold; Rev. J. R. Creighton, 1867-69; Rev. W. M. Satterlee, 1869-71; Rev. Harvey Webb, 1871-72; Rev. James F. Lewton, 1872-74; Rev. J. S. Hilton, 1874-75; Rev. J. W. Kleppe, 1875-76; Rev. Isaac H. Riddick, 1876-77; Rev. S. M. Marsh; Rev. M. O. McNiff, 1880-81; Rev. J. B. Starkey, 1881-82; Rev. Henry Frank, 1882-83; Rev. E. S. Ferry, 1884-84; Rev. W. M. Martin, 1884-87; Rev. J. W. Briggs, 1887-89; Rev. C. H. Brace, 1889-89; Rev. R. R. Atchison, 1889-91; Rev. J. H. Dewart, 1891-96; Rev. L. W. Ray, 1896-98; Rev. F. E. Ross, 1898-01; Rev. C. W. Law- son, 1901-04; Rev. Charles Stark, 1904-07; Rev. T. S. Oadams, 1907-09; Rev. F. W. Hill, 1909.

SCENES ON THE MISSISSIPPI ABOVE ST. CLOUD

1455

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

St. John's Episcopal Church .- On Febru- ary 17, 1856, the first service of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in St. Cloud was held at the home of John H. Taylor. On April 12 in the same year St. John's Parish had its begining. On that date ten per- sons drew up and signed the necessary articles of conformity and agreement to "the order, liturgy, constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church." This instrument bears the signatures of L. B. Johnson, John H. Taylor, W. B. Crane, E. C. Johnson, A. I. Judd, Wm. S. Judd, James C. Shepley, Mary F. B. Shepley, B. R. Palmer and James Mowatt. The organiza- tion was effected under the direction of the Rev. J. S. Chamberlain, one of the pio- neer missionaries of Minnesota. L. B. Johnson and John H. Taylor were chosen wardens; J. C. Shepley, Wm. S. Judd and W. B. Crane, vestrymen. The constitution was prepared by the Rev. Mr. Chamber- lain. The vestry immediately organized by electing John H. Taylor clerk and treas- urer.

The first church edifice was erected on Fourth avenue, South, between Sixth and Seventh streets. The cornerstone

was laid on the twentieth day of August, 1856, by the Rev. D. B. Knickerbocker, later Bishop of Indiana. The building was con- secrated May 11, 1858, by the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, Missionary Bishop of the Northwest. This was the first church edi- fice in St. Cloud. In 1864 it was moved to the site of the present church. In 1892 it was moved to the rear of the lot, fitted up for the use of guilds and the Sunday school, and a new granite block veneer church erected. This building was consecrated November 17, 1892, by the Rt. Rev. Mahlon N. Gilbert, D. D., assistant Bishop of Min- nesota.

In 1867 the parish opened a day school in a district school building. The first teacher was F. C. Coolbough, later a clergy- man. In 1868 an unused church at Neenah (now St. Augusta) was moved to St. Cloud, placed on the northeast corner of Third avenue, South, and Fourth street, and fit- ted up for the parish school. The follow- ing year the school was discontinued and the building converted into a rectory. In 1892 this property was sold, the building moved one-half a block south, where it now (1915) stands, and additional ground

bought adjoining the lot where the church stood. A new rectory was built that same year. In 1908 the basement of the church was fitted up for the purposes for which the old church was used and that build- ing demolished.

The church at Sauk Rapids was organ- ized about the same time as that at St. Cloud, and from the beginning the two have been under a joint pastorate. The Rev. Mr. Camberlain looked after the new work until 1858 when the Rev. Dudley Chase of Chicago became the first rector. The prime mover in getting the church started was John H. Taylor. At the time of organization he was the only male com- municant in the town. His death, during the rectorship of Mr. Chase, was a loss to the church and the community.

The first organized guild was the "Church Aid Society." This was an or- ganization of women and had its begin- ning in 1869. On the twenty-fifth day of August in that year the first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. H. C. Waite. The following were the first officers: President, Mrs. S. E. Tollman; vice-president, Mrs. T. C. Alden; secretary, Mrs. J. W. T. Tuttle; treasurer, Mrs. H. C. Waite. In 1875 the name was changed to "St. John's Aid So- ciety." Later it was merged into the "Im- provement League," an organization still (1915) active in the parish.

The following clergymen have served as rectors: Rev. Dudley Chase, 1858; Rev. George L. Stewart, 1864; Rev. George L. Chase, 1865; Rev. John Scott, 1867; Rev. Samuel K. Stewart, 1868; Rev. J. Taylor Chambers, 1872; Rev. George H. Davis, 1876; Rev. Philip McKim, 1881; Rev. C. A. Cummings, 1885; Rev. C. H. Plummer, 1891; Rev. H. F. Parshall, 1895; Rev. John R. Atwill, 1907; Rev. Arthur W. Farnum, 1910; Rev. Lewis R. Levering, 1913 (pres- ent rector).

The life of the parish has been marked by a healthy progress and it has always been identified with everything that looked to the welfare of the community. Its membership now (1915) numbers 315 bap- tized persons, of whom 190 are communi- cants.

Presbyterian Church .- This church was organized Saturday, November 19, 1864, by order of the Presbytery of St. Paul. The

1456

HISTORY OF STEARNS COUNTY

service was conducted by the Rev. James A. McKee, pastor of the Andrew Presby- terian church at St. Anthony, now East Minneapolis. The charter members were: James Biggerstaff, Mrs. Margaret Bigger- staff, Marshall McCombs, Mrs. Eleanor McCombs, Mrs. Perlina Richmond, Mrs. Ellen W. Lamb, Mrs. Frances Carlisle, Mrs. Mary E. Ketcham, Mrs. Elizabeth Syming- ton, Mrs. Laura A. Woolley. Mrs. Car- lisle, Los Angeles, is the only one of the ten living. At this time, Mr. Biggerstaff and Mr. McCombs were elected to be rul- ing elders and were ordained and installed the next day, Sabbath, November 20, and the first communion service was held.

A small building on the southeast corner of what is now Fifth avenue and Second street South was rented and fitted with seats. The pulpit was made of two up- right boards with one on the top, and the front was made of a width of green win- dow shade paper. Here services were held for a while. At that time St. Cloud was said to have 600 people. It was in every sense a frontier town-the Sabbath was the best business day of the week. Sa- loons were wide open; stores were open; everything was open. There were board sidewalks in places, up and down just as the ground happened to be up or down, and not a street light. Our nearest railroad point was Anoka; the rest of the way was The ruling eldership has been as fol- lows: James Biggerstaff, Marshall Mc- Combs, Gen. H. Z. Mitchell, Joseph Hill, Elder D. Moore, President T. J. Gray, Charles G. Wilson, M. D., Prof. C. W. G. Hyde, Lucian T. Troutman, William Aikin, Prof. M. D. Avery, Samuel H. Van Cleve, M. D., E. A. Noble. The present board of elders: Lewis Clark, H. C. Ervin, Sr., W. B. Mitchell, Geo. S. Clark, James E. Jenks, Charles S. Olds. made by stage and it took all day to come to St. Cloud. The nearest Presbyterian church was Westminster, Minneapolis; no kindred church South, West, or North un- til the Rockies were crossed. Our first duty was to erect a building in which to hold services; until that was done we were kindly permitted to use the Methodist church in the afternoon of the Sabbath. (The Methodist building was at that time on the corner of Fourth avenue and Sixth The superintendent of the Sabbath school is Mr. Olds; the superintendent of the Primary Department, Miss Eleanor Mitchell, and the superintendent of the Junior Department, Mrs. C. S. Olds. The school is organized upon the latest plans, being graded from the beginners through to the Home department, and faithfully us- ing the helps provided by the Board of Publication. street South.) The Presbytery recom- mended us to the Board of Church Erec- tion to the amount of $800.00; the rest of the money needed was secured from per- sonal friends in the eastern states, while $200 was pledged in St. Cloud. Messrs. Dam and Clark took the contract at a ven- ture, put up the building, and received payment in full when the last nail was driven. This building was dedicated to During all these years the effort has God on Sabbath, January 7, 1865. How . been constant to keep the church in touch plain and unpretentious this building was, with the work of the denomination at

may be inferred from the fact that it was called the Presbyterian warehouse.

During most of this time the young pas- tor had no man helper, as Mr. Biggerstaff had gone into the army and Mr. McCombs had returned to his old home at Pittsburgh, but the few women were faithful under all discouragements. A Sabbath school of seven pupils was organized and soon be- came quite respectable in numbers. The church building erected on the present Sixth avenue, near Second street South, was used for all church purposes until 1870, when a lecture room was added. About 1876 the building was brought to the present location, the front changed by adding a tower, a kitchen and library room added to the rear, and still later the north side was taken out and an addition of 29 feet width was extended the full length, 79 feet, thereby enlarging the auditorium and furnishing a fine dining-room. About eight years ago a pipe organ was installed and has given great satisfaction.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Stearns County, Minnesota, Volume II, Part 114

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843- Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper Number of Pages: 1110

Author: Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : H. S. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1110