History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 149

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 149

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1676

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

torate. Dr. Jeter was called April 30, 1849, and entered upon the discharge of his duties on the first Sunday in October following. He resigned in July, 1852, and in May, 1853, the Rev. Daniel Read, D.D., of Medina, N. Y., was called to the pastorate. Dr. Read resigned in October, 1856, to become president of Shurtleff College, at Upper Alton, Ill., and was succeeded by the Rev. E. H. Page, of Massachusetts. In January and February, 1858, Elder Jacob Knapp, the famous revivalist, labored with success, and in May, 1858, the Rev. Galusha Anderson, D.D., of Zanesville, Wis., was called to the pastoratc. He took charge on the second Sunday in September, 1858, and resigned in July, 1866, on account of ill health. During a portion of Dr. Anderson's pastor- atc the Rev. Dr. Kendrick was associated with him. Dr. Anderson's successor was the Rev. A. H. Bur- lingham, D.D., of New York, who took charge in December, 1866, and resigned in April, 1877, in order to become pastor of a congregation in New York City. Rev. W. W. Boyd was called to the pastorate in 1877, and commenced his ministration on the 1st of June in that year.

From the church at Third and Chestnut Strects the society removed to a second edifice erected by it on the corner of Sixth and Locust Streets, which cost, with the site, nearly forty thousand dol- lars, and was dedicated Aug. 13, 1848. The dimen- sions of the building were fifty-six by ninety feet, and the material was brick, with.a cut-stone basement in front. The audience-room seated seven hundred per- sons, and the basement from three hundred to four hundred. On the 11th of March, 1849, in the pres- ence of thousands of Germans, Dr. Peck baptized sixteen Hollanders, who had seceded from the Pres- byterian faith. During the pastorate of Dr. G. An- derson (1858-66) great activity prevailed in the church, and one hundred and forty-nine persons were added by baptism and two hundred and ninety-scven by letter. Dr. Anderson devoted much of his time and attention to the cause of church extension. He organized the Church Extension Society in 1865, which furnished material aid in building new churches and relieving others from debt, and assisted largely in promoting the growth of Baptist congregations in St. Louis. The church record states that " he was the organizer of the Baptist forces of the city; he was their great leader, and his retirement was regretted by all." The present site of the church was selected by William M. McPherson, E. G. Obear, D. B. Gale, Thomas Pratt, and Nathan Cole, a committee chosen for the purpose. It was purchased on the 10th of July, 1872, is one hundred and eighty by one hun-

dred and thirty-five feet in area, and cost about thirty thousand dollars. Ground was broken June 19, 1873. The chapel was occupied on Christmas-day, 1874, but was not dedicated (owing to the pastor's illness) until a month later. On Dec. 17, 1877, it was decided to erect at once the main edifice, and it was nearly rcady for occupancy when (Jan. 3, 1879) it was destroyed by fire. The work of rebuilding was begun at once, and the chapel was again occupied Aug. 10, 1879 .. In the mean time the congregation had worshiped in the Jewish synagogue, or Temple of the Gates of Truth, at Seventeenth and Pine Streets, by invitation of the rabbi, Dr. Sonnenschein. The completed edi- fice was dedicated Nov. 26, 1879, with services of a very interesting and impressive character. Hon. Nathan Cole, one of the deacons, presided, and Rev. George B. Taylor and Rev. Dr. J. B. Jeter conducted the preliminary service. William M. Page, another deacon of the church, then delivered an historical discourse, tracing the growth of the church up to that period, and was followed by the Rev. A. H. Burlingham, of New York, former pastor of the con- gregation, who described the embarrassments and dif- ficulties which had attended the erection of the build- ing. Dr. J. B. Jeter, of Richmond, Va., who had also been pastor of the church, Rev. George B. Taylor, of Rome, Italy, Rev. Dr. Boyd, Rev. J. F. Cook, presi- dent of Lagrange College, Rev. J. V. Schofield, D.D., and Rev. J. L. Burrows, D.D., of Cincinnati, also de- livcred addresses. Another session was held in the evening, at which the more formal dedication services were held. George T. Cram rendered the report of the building committee, and transferred the new church formally to the possession and control of the board of trustees.

The trust was accepted by the Hon. Nathan Cole, president of the board, who made a few remarks, in the course of which he mentioned in terms of warm commendation the munificence of Samuel C. Davis, of Boston, " who had at a critical moment come forward with a donation so liberal that it lightened their anxieties, and made easy that which seemed almost impossible." The 122d Psalm was then read by the Rev. Dr. Sawyer, after which the dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. John A. Broadus, D.D. The prayer of dedication was offered by the Rev. Dr. A. H. Burlingham, and the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. C. L. Goodell. The build- ing was modeled after that of Emanuel Baptist Church, at Albany, N. Y., the architect being C. C. Nichols, of that city. The total amount expended upon it was two hundred and sixty-seven thousand eight hundred and thirty-four dollars and forty-eight

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

1677

cents. The main building is seventy-one by one hun- dred and eight fect, and has a tower and spire two hundred feet high. The ceiling of the audience-room is fifty-two feet high. The chapel is forty six by one hundred and sixteen feet, and contains a lecture-room,

the style is a highly ornate English Gothic. The organ was contributed, at a cost of ten thousand dol- lars, by Mrs. D. B. Gale as a memorial to her hus- band, who was for many years treasurer of the church. The organist is Professor E. M. Bowman, and the

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.

Sunday-school rooms, pastor's reception-room, parlors, baptistery, reading-room, etc., with a dining-room and kitchen in the basement. The material of the build- ing is St. Louis limestone, laid up in ashlar, trimmed with Missouri gray sandstone from Warrensburg, and

singers composing the choir are among the leading musicians of the city. The present membership of the church numbers nine hundred persons, and the membership of the various Sunday-schools connected with the church numbers fifteen hundred.

1678

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

Rev. W. W. Boyd, D.D., pastor of the Second Baptist Church, was born in Chemung, Chemung Co., N. Y., Nov. 22, 1843. When he was about two years old his parents removed to Saco, York Co., Me., where for many years his father was superintendent of the York Manufacturing Company, an extensive estab- lishment for the manufacture of eotton goods. Being an extremely sensitive child, he was put under a tutor, instead of being sent to the public schools, until he was fitted to enter the High School. At the age of thirteen he was ready for college, but his health being delieate he relinquished study for several years. In 1858 he united with the First Congregational Church in Saco on profession of faith.

In 1859 his parents moved to Spring Vale, Me., and in 1861, on the death of his father, he was put in his place as superintendent of the Spring Vale Manufacturing Company. Although a youth of eighteen, he succeeded in condueting the business to the entire satisfaction of the corporation, most of the members of which resided in Boston, Mass.

To afford the operatives of the mills some oppor- tunities for religious cultivation, he reopened a little Baptist Church in the village, long elosed for want of a minister, and began on Sunday mornings to eonduet a Sunday-school and read a sermon from Spurgeon or Beecher to the congregation. At their solieitation he soon began to address them in his own thoughts, and for nearly three years preached regularly both morning and evening on Sundays.

A deep religious interest was awakened, a new church was erceted, and many persons asked to be baptized. He was still a Congregationalist, and felt unwilling to forsake the church of his parents, in which he had been reared, but after mature delibera- tion he united with the little Baptist Church, in com- pany with thirteen others, who had been won to the faith by his sermons.

In 1866 his mother, a most estimable woman, died, ,and the way now being open to pursue his long-eher- ished desire for a collegiate education, he resigned his business position, reviewed his studies, and in 1867 entered the freshman elass of Harvard College. For four years, by preaching and teaching, he sueeeeded in paying his expenses, and was graduated in 1871, with special honors in philosophy. In his sophomore year he received the first prize for excellence in ora- tory ..

Immediately upon his graduation he went to Ger- many, spending one semester in Berlin University, one in Heidelberg, one in Göttingen, and two in Zürich, pursuing special courses in theology, Greek, and phil- osophy.

On his return he was appointed a proetor of Harvard College, where for a year he taught as a private tutor, continuing his special studies in Hebrew and theology.

In 1873 he was ordained pastor of the First Bap- tist Church of Charlestown District, Boston, Mass., in which pastorate he continued until called to St. Louis in June, 1877. His work in Charlestown re- sulted in the addition of nearly four hundred members to the ehureh.

On his arrival in St. Louis he found the Second Baptist Church worshiping in a chapel, and imme- diately began to agitate the question of ereeting the main edifiee. The large increase of the congregation soon made this movement a necessity, and on Jan. 3, 1879, the magnificent building, nearly ready for occu- paney, took fire from the earelessness of a workman, and with the exception of the walls was completely destroyed. On the very afternoon of the fire, while the ruins were yet burning, the building committee voted to rebuild and gave out two of the contracts, and on Nov. 26, 1879, the reconstrueted edifiee, free of debt, was dedieated.

In June, 1878, Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Ill., conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. He is a trustee of Shurtleff College, and of La Grange College, La Grange, Mo., and holds many official denominational positions.

June 2, 1880, he was married to Miss Cora A. Dunham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Dun- ham, of St. Louis.

Dr. Boyd's pastorate in St. Louis has been onc of great and uniform sueccss, the membership having inereased from about four hundred to one thousand. He is a gentleman of great energy and executive ability, and as a pulpit orator is eoneeded a foremost rank among the array of able elergymen now offieiat- ing in St. Louis. His congregations are uniformly large, and, as pastor of the largest white Baptist Church in the State, no man oeeupies a more honorable or responsible position in the Baptist denomination of Missouri. Still a young man himself, his influenee with the young is very great, and he is in the full en- joyment of all his youthful energies. Although, as a Baptist, he holds strongly to the cardinal doetrines of the faith, he manifests in matters not essential the utmost eatholieity, and erosses denominational lines with the greatest freedom, if by any means he may do good. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the community, and is frequently summoned to address his fellow-citizens on matters of a publie eharaeter. During his residenee in St. Louis he has made a deep impression, not only upon the religious thought of the city, but also upon its intellectual life and spirit.

Sincerely yours W. W. Boyd

L'RKAVY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

1679

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

North Baptist Church .- On the 20th of July, 1842, another Baptist Church was organized in St. Louis. The council consisted of Rev. I. T. Hinton, of St. Louis ; Rev. Dr. G. B. Perry, of Alton, Ill. ; and Rev. J. C. Herndon, of St. Louis County. Dr. G. B. Perry delivered the sermon and charge to the church, and Rev. I. T. Hinton gave the hand of fel- lowship to the new body. Rev. J. C. Herndon de- livered the concluding prayer. A church building was erected on what is at present Christy Avenue, and the congregation was known as the North Bap- tist Church. Rev. Gideon B. Perry was the pastor. He was succeeded by Elder S. H. Ford, who was fol- lowed by Elder W. F. Nelson, Professor in Coving- ton Theological Seminary. In 1846, however, this church merged back into the Second, in view of the movement to erect a new building in the vicin- ity.

The First German Baptist Church, southwest cor- ner of Fourteenth and Carr Streets, Rev. J. M. Hoefflin, pastor, was organized in January, 1850, by Elder S. H. Ford, D.D., Rev. J. B. Jeter, D.D., Rev. A. Sher- wood, D.D., and Rev. John M. Peck, D.D., with nine- teen members from the Second Church, the majority of whom were Hollanders, and the remainder Germans. Of these two were at once ordained to the ministry,- C. Schoemaker for the Dutch, and F. W. Glatfeld for the Germans. The church building was erected in 1863, but Was not finished and dedicated until May, 1865, the congregation having had a hard struggle against debt and difficulties. It has a seating capacity of five hundred, and cost fifteen thousand dollars. Rev. Mr. Glatfeld resigned soon after his appointment, and Rev. Mr. Schoemaker preached to both Dutch and Ger- mans until the fall of 1852. Rev. S. E. Küpfer served the church for six months in 1850, and in May, 1853, Rev. C. West became pastor. From March, 1855, until May, 1857, the church was without a pas- tor. In 1857, Rev. A. Häusler was appointed, but for two years subsequent to the fall of 1860 the pastorate was again vacant. Rev. J. S. Gubelmann, under whose leadership the church was built, took charge in that year, and remained until September, 1868. Rev. J. C. Haselhuhn assumed the pastorate in January, 1869, and resigned December, 1871, to take charge of the Baptist journal Der Sendbote ; the church was then successively supplied by Revs. C. Koos, W. C. Kahe, E. Tschirch, and H. Gellert. Rev. C. Ohl- gart was pastor from June, 1876, until September, 1879, and the present pastor took charge on the 1st of April, 1881. The present membership of the church numbers one hundred and forty-two persons, and it is doing extensive mission work, having two mission

stations and three Sunday-schools, with about four hundred scholars.

The Third Baptist Church, Fourteenth Street and Clark Avenue, Rev. J. P. Greene, pastor, was organized, Dec. 29, 1850, as a colony from the Second Church (then situated at the corner of Sixth and Locust Streets), whose pastor, Rev. J. B. Jeter, D.D., thought that there ought to be a Baptist Church " in the western part of the city." It is a significant fact in the history of the growth of St. Louis that when, a quarter of a century later, the Second Church de- cided to remove to a more central part of the city it chose a site some ten or twelve blocks west of where the Third Church planted itself and still remains at this location. At first the new colony, composed of thirty members, with Rev. Joseph Walker as pastor, met for worship in a hall on Market Street, between Centre and Thirteenth Streets, and was sustained during the first three years of its existence by the joint aid of the Southern Baptist Convention and the General Association of Missouri.

Samuel C. Davis was the first superintendent of the Sunday-school. The first baptism was performed on the evening of Feb. 7, 1851.

The second pastor was Rev. John Teasdale, who succeded in April, 1854, after a vacancy of nine months (Rev. J. Walker having resigned to accept a call as secretary of the Board of Missions). Mr. Teasdale was a man of great earnestness and power, and was among the most regretted of the victims of the Gasconade disaster. He raised the money with which was purchased the ground on which the church now stands, and of which (besides what was purchased) about fifty feet front on Clark Avenue was given by Judge Marshall Brotherton, D. B. Gale, and Hon. W. M. McPherson. During his pastorate was built what is now the chapel, Sunday-school, etc., which was dedicated for worship Dec. 31, 1854. Rev. Wil- liam Crowell became the church supply fifteen months later, and served for ten months. Rev. Washington Barnhurst became pastor in October, 1856. Failing health caused him to resign July 8, 1860, and he died April 29, 1862. Rev. Elias John Foote began to supply the church in August, 1860, and on Feb. 17, 1861, became pastor. He resigned in April, 1862. Rev. J. V. Schofield (now pastor of the Fourth Church) was called June 20, 1862. During his pastorate the present church edifice was erected. I was dedicated May 12, 1866, and cost forty-five thousand dollars. It was dedicated on the 15th of April, 1866. Its seating capacity was about eight hundred, and the lecture-room accommodated two hundred and fifty persons. Mr. Schofield resigned in

1680

HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

1869. Rev. W. Pope Yeaman, D.D., served as pastor from April, 1870, until October, 1876. Rev. George A. Lofton, D.D. (now pastor of Park Avenue Church), was his successor, and preached his farewell sermon July 16, 1882, in which he said, " During the less than six years of my pastorate I have attended over one hundred funerals, married one hundred and sixty couples, baptized over two hundred converts, welcomed as many into your midst by letter. When I came you were struggling with the trials of division, debt, and declension ; you have paid off over ten thousand dollars indebtedness, and we have grown in every form of active development." Rev. J. P. Greene began his pastorate Nov. 1, 1882. The present member- ship of the church numbers five hundred, and about six hundred scholars and teachers attend the Sunday- schools, which are held morning and afternoon.

The Fourth Baptist Church is situated on Twelfth Street, between Benton and North Market Streets. Rev. J. V. Schofield is the pastor. The society had its origin in the missionary efforts of Rev. Dr. J. B. Jeter and the members of the Second Baptist Church. On the 26th of January, 1857, the members of the Second Church selected Rev. J. B. Jeter and Messrs. S. C. Davis, P. G. Camden, D. J. Hancock, and A. P. Coons as a committee to choose a missionary for the northern part of the city. In July, 1851, Rev. E. J. Owen was employed as a missionary, at a salary of seven hundred dollars per annum, two- sevenths of which he gave to the society for church- building purposes. He preached his first sermon July 3d. On the 19th of September of that year twenty- four persons withdrew from the Second Baptist Church to constitute the new society. Only sixteen were admitted, namely, Robert S., Elizabeth, and Harriet Graham, Mary Beach, Sylvanus and Margaret Har- low, Caroline Tice, Charlotte A. Boggs, Sarah Hen- derson, David, Martin, David L. and Emma Latour- ette, Phoebe Twigg, Nathan and Rebecca Cole.

The permanent organization was effected on the 21st of September, 1851, and was styled " Zion Baptist Church," but subsequently the name was changed to that of the Fourth Baptist Church. The constituent members of the organization were William Jones, Mr. Graham, Dr. Martin, Miss Mary Martin, Mrs. Eleonora Caymore, Dr. Claggett, Mrs. Gordon, Miss Harriett Graham, Charles Conway, Mrs. E. Conway. For the first seven years the society wor- shiped in Sturgeon Market. The Second Baptist Church assisted the enterprise as far as practicable, but the congregation experienced several nearly fatal financial struggles, from which it was rescued by the perseverance of the lady members of the society, in

consequence of which it was known as " the Sisters'" Church. The corner-stone of the church building was laid on the 7th of July, 1858, and the basement story was dedicated April 24, 1859. On the 1st of January, 1861, the two Sunday-schools connected with the church were consolidated, and were thenceforward known as the Benton Mission, E. D. Jones being the superintendent. The main building was dedicated on the 9th of November, 1862. The lot has a frontage of ninety feet on North Market and Benton Streets, and a side front of one hundred and thirty-five feet on Twelfth Street, and is among the lots which sur- round one of the three circles in North St. Louis. The dimensions of the building are seventy by eighty- five feet. The main audience-room seats six hundred persons, and the conference-room four hundred. The structure is of brick, substantially built, with a large wooden stairway leading to the audience-room in the second story.

The pastors have been Revs. Edward J. Owen, October, 1851, to March, 1855; Thomas Morton, December, 1855, to February, 1856 ; George Howell, for eight months from June, 1856 ; George Mitchell, December, 1857, to May, 1859 ; E. G. Taylor, for five months from October, 1860; W. B. Bolton, August, 1861; Thomas Morton, October, 1861, to May, 1862 ; A. C. Osborn, December, 1862, to Feb- ruary, 1869; D. T. Morrill, May 9, 1869, to 1875 ; H. M. Pogson, 1875 to 1876; J. V. Schofield, ap- pointed November, 1876. Connected with the church are a Ladies' Aid Society, organized in 1879 ; Ladies' Missionary Society, organized in 1880 ; and a Young Ladies' Society, organized in 1881. The present mem- bership numbers about three hundred persons. The average attendance is two hundred and fifty, of whom two-thirds are females. The Sunday-school, of which Hiram H. Post is superintendent, was formerly held in the afternoon, with an average attendance of three hundred and twenty-five. A change to morning ses- sions resulted in a falling off in numbers, there being now somewhat less than two hundred children, with twenty-five to thirty teachers. A regular Sunday evening collection realizes three hundred dollars. During the past five years the church has been re- lieved of a heavy mortgage.

The Beaumont and Bernard Streets Baptist Churches .- In 1859, Dr. Galusha Anderson, pastor of the Second Church, and the zealous promoter of church extension, established the Jefferson Mission at Twenty-fifth Street and Franklin Avenue, out of which grew the Beaumont Street Church, organized in 1866, with fifty-seven members, of whom fifty-five were dis- i missed for the purpose from the Second Church.

1681

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

It met for several years in a chapel on the northeast corner of Morgan and Beaumont Streets. Rev. A. A. Kendrick, D.D., president of Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Ill., was its first pastor, and under his ministry it attained a large membership. Rev. J. C. C. Clarke was the pastor two years. The congregation was without a pastor in 1876, and was soon after merged into the Second Church. The church edifice was a small one-story brick building, seventy by forty feet, and seated about five hundred persons. The building was rented on Jan. 1, 1878, to the congregation of Bethlehem Evangelical Church, and in 1879 was sold to the Turners, who now occupy it as their hall.

Bernard Street Church was organized in 1868, and occupied a small frame chapel on the southcast corner of Bernard and Emily Streets. Rev. J. C. Hickman was its pastor in 1875. The church has since ceased to exist.

Park Avenue Baptist Church is situated on the north side of Park Avenue, between Stoddard Avenue and Morton Strect. Rev. George A. Lofton; D.D., is the pastor. In 1867 the Baptist Church Exten- sion Society purchased from the Presbyterians the property now occupied by this church, and, after enlarging the building, established, in June, 1867, the Park Avenue Mission Sunday-school, with A. J. Conant as superintendent. At the end of the first year it numbered three hundred scholars. In the fall of 1868, Rev. J. M. C. Brcaker, of South Caro- lina, began preaching, and shortly after organized the present church, with seven members from the Second Church (Messrs. A. J. Gonsalves, W. P. Hancock, E. H. E. Jameson, John W. Allen, Mrs. Allen, Miss Mary Kelley, and Mrs. Margaret W. Jameson) and five converts from the mission. Col. E. H. E. Jameson was for many years superintendent of the Sunday-school, and was subsequently licensed to preach, and supplied the Park Avenue pulpit for several years. In the spring of 1876 he was or- dained and became pastor of the church, but resigned May 1, 1876. Assisted by Messrs. D. B. Gale, Wil- liam M. Page, D. J. Hancock, and a few others, he kept the church alive through many seasons of trial and despondency. The Church Extension Society went out of existence before the property was paid for, and the latter was sold to D. B. Gale, who gave its use, rent free, to the society until his death, since which time it has continued to occupy it at a nominal rent. The pastorate of the church has been successively filled by the Revs. J. M. C. Breaker, George Kline, M. L. Laws, E. H. E. Jameson, J. V. Schofield (supply), D. T. Morrill, after whom, for two and a half years, the pulpit was supplied by William E.

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History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 149

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358