USA > Missouri > Pettis County > History of Pettis County, Missouri > Part 19
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Arlington school, located at Tenth street and Arlington avenue, is another of the smaller schools. It is a frame building, has two large rooms and is well equipped. The building, grounds, furniture and equip- ment represent a value of about $4,200. The attendance this year is about eighty.
Franklin school, at the corner of Cooper and Moniteau avenues, is a large brick building. It has six large rooms and basement and is mod- ern. The building, grounds, furniture and fixtures are worth $21,000.
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This school was closed by the board of education this fall (1918) because of war conditions, coupled with the fact that the pupils here could be distributed among the other schools.
All the above-named schools are the ward, or grade schools, except the high school, and except Lincoln school, which is a grade school and high school combined. All of the Sedalia schools, without exception, are well disciplined and taught. There is not a city anywhere in the West where teachers are more carefully chosen, more competent, and more thorough in their work. The results are good, these schools sending out in life some of the leading men and women of the country today. These schools are supported by taxation and represent the public school sys- tem, one of the greatest American institutions ever inaugurated.
There are two parochial schools. Located on West Third street, al- most directly opposite the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, is the new Sacred Heart school, a two-story brick building with basement, in keeping with the imposing church. It was completed for the opening of the scholastic year in September, 1907, and will cost $20,000, this being outside of the furniture. The length of the building is eighty-eight feet, width fifty- nine feet and height sixty-one feet. The basement contains the club rooms, bowling alley, kitchen, shower baths and toilet rooms. The two large club rooms are located along the entire front. The school rooms are located on the first floor. They are four in number, high, spacious and comfortable. The size of each room is thirty-four by twenty-five feet, with ceiling thirteen feet from the floor. The second floor is used as a parochial hall. The length of the hall is sixty-one feet and the width forty-one feet, besides a stage twenty-eight by twenty-five feet. The height of the hall from floor to ceiling is sixteen feet. It is lighted by seventeen arched windows. There is on the second floor a parlor, ante-room, smoking-room and paraphernalia room. The entire building is equipped with electric and gas light, steam heating and water conduits.
The Dancing Academy of Mrs. Ben L. Walker, in the Sedalia Trust building is worthy of note. Mrs. Walker instructs pupils from three years of age to the grown up people. She has learned this art from the Eastern dancing masters and has no superior in Missouri, especially in the instruction of children. Little girls, in her class, three years of age, execute beautiful solo dances with a grace and exactness seldom seen on the metropolitan stage. During the World's War she took her class to the neighboring towns and gave entertainments, much to the delight
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of the audiences, and turned the proceeds over to the American Red Cross. No town in Missouri, outside of St. Louis and Kansas City, has so many artistic solo dancers as has Sedalia. The people of the county will remember the entertainment this academy's dancers gave at the State Fair Grounds on July 4, 1917, for the benefit of the Red Cross.
St. Patrick's Parish has a parochial school and has always had one in connection with the church, changing locations as did the church. Present school is a large two-story frame building, thoroughly modern and excellently taught and cared for. Attendance of the school will average 125 pupils.
George R. Smith, the Negro College, is one of the foremost institu- tions of that kind in central Missouri. It is a college teaching thoroughly the higher branches four years above high school and normal work. The building was opened for students on January 25, 1894. The building, grounds, equipment and furniture represent a value of $75,000.00. The heirs of Gen. George R. Smith gave the grounds and the Freedmen's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church built the buildings.
Central Business College, situate at Sixth and Massachusetts avenue, - is one of the largest business colleges in this section of Missouri. It teaches a general business and bookkeeping and shorthand and type- writing course and equips students for the business world.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SEDALIA CHURCHES
DENOMINATIONS REPRESENTED-ORGANIZATION-EARLY AND PRESENT DAY MIN - ISTERS-MEMBERSHIP-EDIFICES-OFFICERS-LOCATION-SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The Christian Church was originally located on the corner of Sixth and Massachusetts streets, where Robbins Business College now stands. The present church is one block south on Seventh and Massachusetts streets. The church was organized by Elder George W. Longan in May, 1861. Gen. G. R. Smith and daughters, J. W. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Logan Clark, Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Dobyns, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Read were among the charter members. Elder George W. Longan, then a citizen of Benton County, preached the first sermon ever delivered in Sedalia, and organized the first congregation. He preached in the store house built by A. T. Hodge, adjoining the old "Sedalia House" on the west, the last Sunday in April, 1861, and in May, following, organized the first congregation. A house of worship was not built till 1866, when a brick structure was erected under the superintendence of John DeJarnett, Henry Cotton, Dr. Logan Clark and G. R. Smith. Henry Cotton was the treas- urer. The original building was remodeled and repaired by Elder S. K. Hallam. At the present time there are but two of the charter members of this church living. They are Mrs. Sarah E. Cotton, daughter of Gen. George R. Smith, and Mrs. Melvina Rogers, both of whom reside in the city of Sedalia. Rev. A. W. Kokendoffer is the present minister. The membership at present is 800, with Sunday school attendance of 450. The building is a brick structure with a large auditorium which will seat about 600 people. In addition it has three other rooms on main floor besides pastor's study. These rooms are used for Sunday school pur- poses, and with upstairs rooms and parlors easily cares for a Sunday
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school of six or seven hundred. Besides the church also owns, as a gift from Mrs. S. F. Cotton, a small cottage on Seventh street just west of the church building. The main auditorium has cushioned pews, pipe organ and four pianos in the various rooms of the church. Officers are as follows : Elders, George W. Barnett, Peter Courtney, Dr. W. M. Carter, E. H. Weinrich, A. J. White and W. U. Crites ; deacons, T. R. Melton, C. L. Hanley, George M. Pemberton, J. H. Looney, S. M. Williams, C. L. Turner, F. W. Buente, H. O. Foraker, C. D. Warren, S. W. Embry, Ed- ward Heckman, W. W. Barrett, J. A. Fowler, Wm. Gentry, John Stuart, Sid Condit, J. W. Neal and Clay Harned.
The First Baptist Church .- The individual history of the First Bap- tist Church begins upon October 20, 1865, when, at the call of Rev. Mr. Brown, a meeting was held in the house of worship of the O. S. Presby- terian Church, on the corner of Second and Lamine streets. Rev. E. T. Hiscox, D. D., of New York City, general superintendent of the Home Mission Society's work in the West, spoke. The organization was then for- mally recognized as the First Baptist Church of Sedalia, Mo. The follow- ing are the names of those who entered as constituent members: John Q. Bridges, Mrs. Martha Bridges, George Galliher, Mrs. Melinda Galli- her, Rachel A. Bridges, Melinda J. Jennings, Mrs. Sabina Boyer, Barbara A. Kean, Elizabeth Tapman, John McKennan, Sarah J. Hansford, James M. Patterson, Mrs. Sallie Patterson, John Hubbard, Jennie Hubbard, J. A. Mitchell, Miles W. Barnard, Mrs. Elizabeth Barnard, Rev. E. T. Brown. The new church elected Rev. E. T. Brown pastor. Two lots were obtained on the corner of Fourth and Lamine streets-one lot being a present from Gen. George R. Smith, and in May, 1866, the house was completed. The dedication services took place May 13, 1866, Rev. A. C. Osborn, D. D., of St. Louis, preaching the sermon. The present church building, corner Sixth and Lamine avenues, is a large, pressed brick structure. The main auditorium will seat 700 people and the new Sunday school room will seat 400. Membership of the church is 1,130, with Sunday school at- tendance 600. No history of the First Baptist Church would be complete without mentioning, prominently, the name of Dr. J. B. Fuller, who was a great church builder and organizer and who was, for twenty-five years, the pastor of this church. Dr. Frank Campbell succeeded Dr. Fuller as pastor and served for six years and was succeeded by Dr. Robert Lee Davidson, who is now with the U. S. Army in France. The present pastor, Dr. S. M. Brown, of Kansas City, is filling the pulpit until Dr. Davidson
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returns. Officers : A. E. Wood, Louis Hoffman, E. M. Moser, Roy Melton, A. E. Cotton, E. L. Calvert, W. O. Stanley, J. M. Potter, Logan C. Thomas, M. H. Morris, Dan Dean, Frank Williams, Ralph Manker and Will Russ. The First Baptist Church has a mission church, Lawnsdale Mission, at 2601 South Ingram avenue. The officers of this church are the same as those of the First Baptist Church. The church and Sunday school attend- ance is good. E. L. Calvert is the Sunday school superintendent. The church building is a comfortable one and the church property is valued at $2,000.00. This mission was organized in 1915.
Immanuel Evangelical Church .- In 1875 the Rev. Charles Krafft, a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, of War- rensburg, Missouri, visited Sedalia and commenced the work of gather- ing a sufficient number of people to constitute a congregation. He was a tireless worker and his work bore fruit. In a short time a number had been gathered in and organized as the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sedalia. Rev. Krafft occupied the pulpit every alternate Sunday. A lot on the southwest corner of Main street and Washington avenue was purchased, and in 1876 the cornerstone was laid. In due time the house was finished. It was only a modest little church sixty by twenty. Rev. Krafft. was chosen pastor and removed from Warrensburg to Sedalia and entered upon the duties of his new field. For four years he continued in this work, and under his ministration his charge became well organ- ized. In July, 1880, he severed his connections with the church. The Immanuel Evangelical Church was formerly the German Evangelical Church. In 1890 the present brick structure, on Fourth and Vermont streets, was completed and dedicated. At the same time the parsonage, adjoining the church, was completed. The present minister, J. F. W. Helmkamp, has five sons in the Army and Navy. Membership of church is 300 with a Sunday school attendance of 125. Board of officers: Fred Grote, president; L. Brohnstrup, treasurer; F. Schultze, secretary.
The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, located at Sixth and Lamine avenues, was organized in 1862. Its present membership is ninety with a Sunday school attendance of sixty five. The present minister is Rev. E. C. Paustin. The present church was built in 1877 and is of brick. One large room will seat 250 comfortably. Has large platform, good piano. Acoustics are very good. The parsonage stands directly west of the church. 115 East Sixth street. Its board of officers consists of the following: Herman Bremer, Cord Brandt, Peter Brandt, Dr. Bohling, Ed Zoellig,
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Henry Dittmer, Walter Dittmer, John Bellmer, W. F. Ruegge, Miss Lydia Pregge, Mrs. John Bellmer, H. Schott.
The Jewish people have no synagogue in the city. The orthodox, Russian and Polish Jews hold regular weekly services in the Smith and Cotton building, in the hall in the third story. The Reform Jews hold services in the Powell-Crawford building on Fifth and Ohio streets. Their membership is about forty, with Rev. Moses Cohn, of Warrensburg, as their rabbi. Their Sunday school is held each Sunday at Union school for both orthodox and reform believers. The Sunday school attendance is about sixty.
Second Congregational Church, located at 702 East Fourteenth street, was organized August 16, 1891. The present building is that one used by the First Congregational Church, was located on Sixth and Ohio avenues and moved to its present site when First Congregational Church erected its new building. The first officers of the church were as follows : C. M. Woodward, S. D .; John Young, J. D .; May Woodward, secretary ; M. S. Dyer, treasurer. Rev. George Marsh was the first pastor. Mem- bership of the church is about fifty with Sunday school attendance of seventy. Present trustees are: S. C. Paxton, S. D .; J. E. Leiter, J. D .; D. D. Taylor, treasurer; Oscar Leislie and Fred Stuber. Miss Essie Broyles is clerk. Rev. W. D. Amack is the present minister.
First Church of Christ, Scientist .- Services are held on the fifth floor of the Powell-Crawford building. Sunday morning services are at 11 o'clock. Sunday school at 9:30 a. m. Wednesday evening services at 8 o'clock. Reading room on the fourth floor of same building, room 403. This church has had a wonderful growth in the last few years and num- bers among its members some of the best people of Sedalia.
The First Congregational Church was organized April 12, 1866, with the following original members: Rev. J. M. Bowers, J. H. Mertz, Aaron Brown, Mrs. Aseneth C. Brown, Thomas Tracy, Mrs. Sophia Tracy, H. L. Maynard, Mrs. Sylvia Maynard, Mrs. E. R. Newcomb. The call for a council to aid in the organization of this church was made March 10, 1866, and articles of faith were adopted at that meeting. The following named ministers and delegates responded to the call and aided in the organization: Rev. T. M. Post, D. D., St. Louis, also Mr. S. B. Kellogg and Mr. C. M. Saxton; Rev. L. Bartlett, Kansas City ; Rev. E. B. Turner, Rev. M. H. Smith, Warrensburg; Rev. L. Newcomb, Syracuse, and Rev. L. Jones. Rev. J. M. Bowers was ordained the first pastor of the church
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on the evening of April 12, 1866. A house of worship was built and dedi- cated in the spring of 1867, and its whole cost, including the lot, was $8,- 000. When this church was built, if the entire wealth of its members had been estimated in one sum, it would have fallen far below the cost of the church. The bell, the first in the city, made by Jones, of Troy, New York, weighed 1,100 pounds, and cost $600. The First Congregational Church of today has a membership of 250 and a Sunday school attend- ance of 150. The Rev. Raymond C. Swisher is the present minister. The present church is a substantial and attractive edifice built of Warrens- burg stone, in 1899, at a cost of about $30,000. The pipe organ in the church cost $3,000. The building is thoroughly modern. The church officers are as follows: W. H. Van Wagner, clerk; Arthur Hoffman, treas- urer; W. E. Hurlbut, superintendent Sunday school.
The East Broadway Christian Church was organized during the ministry of Rev. Meyers of the First Christian Church and by him and Rev. Cook. The present church building was built in 1897, is strictly modern and one of the best church buildings in the city. It is a large brick with main auditorium and lecture rooms adjoining, seating 400 people. Present membership is about 300 with a Sunday school enroll- ment of 200 and an average attendance of 135. The elders are: R. F. Truman, chairman; T. V. Money, clerk, and Jack Davis.
Broadway Presbyterian Church, on Broadway and Kentucky avenue, represents an amalgamation, or union, of the First Presbyterian Church, The Old School Presbyterian Church and The First Cumberland Presby- terian Church. The last named organization, a few years ago, sold their church building on Seventh and Osage streets to the Masonic organiza- tions of Sedalia, turned the proceeds over to Broadway Presbyterian Church and transferred the membership there. The Broadway Presby- terian Church has also furnished the nucleus for the remaining Presby- terian Churches in the city. Some years ago there was some dissatisfac- tion in the Broadway Church and about 120 of its members asked the right to withdraw and form an organization of their own. They did withdraw and organized the Central Presbyterian Church, now located on Fifth and Lamine streets, the Broadway Church giving the new or- ganization the lot where the new church now stands. A few of the members withdrawing from the Broadway Church to form the Central Church did not enter the latter organization but organized another church now known as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 1608 South Har-
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rison avenue. Hence the three Presbyterian churches in the city at the present time, the Broadway Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian and Cumberland.
The First Presbyterian Church .- Soon after the beginning of the war, in 1861, Rev. John Montgomery, D. D. (father of Attorney J. T. Montgomery), walked from Georgetown to Sedalia and preached one of the first sermons ever delivered in the town, in a small wooden house that had been brought up on the Missouri Pacific railroad, then being constructed. Dr. Montgomery continued to preach occasionally in Se- dalia as did also Rev. Mr. Barbee. The latter induced the friends to buy a house that had been used as a church in Syracuse, and remove it to Sedalia. This building was moved and rebuilt in the spring of 1865. This was the first house of worship erected in the town, and was on the corner of Second and Lamine streets. It was built for a Presbyterian Church, but for several years was occupied by the different denominations. The First Presbyterian Church was not formally organized till August 11, 1865, Dr. Montgomery presiding. The following persons were enrolled as members: Dr. Thomas J. Montgomery, John S. Brown, J. J. Monahan, Abram Meyer, Julius Huffman, Mrs. R. Monahan, Mrs. Adaline Meyer, Joseph P. Landes, Mrs. Sarah E. Staley, John F. Philips, P. G. Stafford and William B. Wallace. The following were elected elders : Abram Meyer, W. B. Wallace and J. S. Brown. Dr. Montgomery continued to preach for the church till February 25, 1868, when Rev. C. H. Dunlap was em- ployed and began his labors, April 5, 1868, and closed them March 3, 1872.
The Old School Presbyterian Church .- The organization was affected February 18, 1870, and from that date Sedalia had, besides the Cumber- land, two Presbyterian Churches. William Groesbeck, Dr. T. J. Mont- gomery (father of John Montgomery, Jr.) and Col. Philips were elected elders. The following named persons constituted the original member- ship, enrolled February 18, 1870: William Groesbeck, Harriet Groesbeck, Mary E. Groesbeck, Annie Groesbeck, Mrs. Mary Philips, Mrs. Mary A. Barrett, J. F. Jenkins, Adam Ittel, Mrs. Ellen M. Ittel, J. R. Stewart, Mrs. Mary H. Stewart, Miss Mary E. Shannon, Mrs. Mary Sneed, J. A. Wallace, Mrs. Minnie Wallace, N. S. Henry, Miss M. C. Bush, Mrs. S. E. Staley, Miss Anna J. Leet, Mrs. S. M. Cronks, John F. Philips, Mrs. Fleecie Philips, Louis Kumm, Mrs. Rosalie Kumm, Mrs. Madora Willis, M. M. Lampton, Mrs. E. M. Lampton, Miss Augusta Lampton, A. B. Barrett, W. H. Alli- son, Dr. W. C. West, Mrs. W. C. West, Mrs. Stella Wood, Mrs. A. J. Mont-
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gomery, Dr. T. J. Montgomery, Miss Mollie Smith, Miss Cammie Mont- gomery, Mrs. Emma Arnold, George R. Keill, Mrs. A. E. Keill. All the foregoing were by letter from the First Presbyterian Church of this city. Mrs. George G. Vest and Mrs. Mary Hogue were received by letter from Danville, Kentucky, and Platte City, Missouri, respectively. The first pastor was the Rev. John Montgomery, D. D., one of the pioneer preachers of this county. He had aided in the organization of many churches in the vicinity, having preached the first discourse delivered in this city, and was a prime mover in the organization of the First Pres- byterian Church. Dr. Montgomery was pastor about two years, when he resigned and Rev. J. E. Wheeler was installed pastor in the fall of 1872.
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church .- This church was first organized by Rev. R. S. Reed about the year 1869. In 1875 Rev. J. W. Riggins held a protracted meeting in Georgetown, which resulted in the resuscitation of the old organization and its removal to the town of George- town. The work of reorganization was accomplished by Revs. H. R. Smith and David Hogan; Elders Dr. H. E. Depp, W. M. Richey, Milton Hume; Deacons Clarke Bouldin, J. H. Kuykindall and Samuel Sprecher. The congregation under the new administration seemed to prosper for a. few years and then the period of depression came again. In June, 1881, Rev. A. H. Stephens was called to the pastorate of this church, it then being a mission under the care of New Lebanon Presbytery. The church was reorganized July 17, when Capt. S. W. Ritchey and Dr. J. P. Gray were elected additional elders, and Messrs. L. M. Trumbull and J. E. and W. H. Ritchey were elected deacons.
Broadway Presbyterian Church building is in every way modern and up to date. The furnishings are of oak. Church has an excellent pipe organ. The new building, just south of the church on Kentucky avenue, was completed a few years ago. It is a large, two story brick, with fin- ished basement, called the Social Service building and is used for Sunday school, social service and physical development. Church membership, April 1, 1918, was 376 and the average Sunday school attendance is 160. Rev. W. B. Chancellor is the present minister and the following gentle- men constitute the board of officers: William B. Chancellor, moderator; John Montgomery, Jr., clerk ; S. P. Johns, R. F. Harris, Robert M. Johns, Dr. F. M. Fulkerson, John Baker, John A. Collins, William S. Sneed, F. F. Combs, P. L. Deweese, C. A. Shaeffer.
Central Presbyterian Church, located at Fifth street and Lamine
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avenue .- The following sketch has been furnished the author by the Rev. John C. Giffen, present pastor of the church: The history of the Central Presbyterian Church dates back to 1865, in August of which year the First Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. John Montgomery in a little school house, on what is now West Jefferson street. The first church edifice was erected in the year 1865 at the corner of Second and Lamine streets, the present site of the Terry Hotel. The organization pros- pered until 1870, when a part of the congregation withdrew to organize what was called The Old School Presbyterian Church, the new organiza- tion retaining the old site and building. The first church removed to the corner of Fifth and Lamine streets and there erected the building now used by the manual training department of the Sedalia High School. In this edifice the congregation worshiped until 1888. The Old School Church continued at Second and Lamine streets until it became formally con- nected with the Presbyterian Church, South, at which time it received the name of the Broadway Presbyterian Church and removed to Broad- way and Kentucky streets and there erected the edifice in which they still worship. The two churches continued their separate work until 1888, when the Broadway Church was transferred to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., and the First Church was merged with it-the latter losing corporate name and existence. This arrange- ment continued for about two years, until 1890, when another division took place and the Central Presbyterian Church, composed largely of members of the old First Church, was organized. The Presbytery, how- ever, declined to revive the name First Church and gave the name Cen- tral Church instead. The new organization returned to the old building at Fifth and Lamine streets, which had never been disposed of, and in that edifice continued to worship until 1911, during which year the present beautiful church building was erected. Since 1891 the succession of min- isters has been as follows: Rev. Rollin A. Marquie, 1891-1898 ; Rev. James D. Catlin, 1898-1899; Rev. Andrew A. Boyd, 1899-1909; Rev. Joseph D. Prigmore, 1909-1917, the latter minister resigning to enter the service of the U. S. Army in Y. M. C. A. work. The present minister, Rev. John C. Giffin, was called in January, 1918, and was formally installed on May 1 of that year. The present membership of the church is 175 with a Sun- day school enrollment of about 150.
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, at 1608 South Harrison avenue, was organized in 1910 and the present building, a substantial concrete
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Sacred Heart Church
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structure, completed in September, 1911. The building will seat about 350 people. Church membership is about sixty-two with a Sunday school attendance of 123. Rev. G. W. Petty is the present minister. The elders of the church are: George Emo, A. T. Woodson, George Lyon, R. L. Dav- enport, R. A. Johnston, and R. L. Owley. W. C. Byler is a deacon. Earle F. Brummit is clerk of the session and superintendent of the Sunday school. Mrs. Emily Withrow is secretary.
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