USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > St Joseph > The Daily news' history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. From the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1898. Preceded by a short history of Missouri. Supplemented by biographical sketches of noted citizens, living and dead > Part 18
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The other Methodist Episcopal churches in the city are, Huffman Memorial, at Twenty-eighth and Seneca streets; Oakland Park church, corner of Twentieth and Highly streets; St. Paul's, 419 Dol- man street, and the South Park church.
The congregation of the German Methodist Episcopal church was organized in March of 1849. The communicants numbered ten and the first pastor was Rev. William Eliers. At a quarterly con- ference held January 13, 1851, a committee was selected to secure a
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lot on which to build. The site selected was on Edmond street, west of Sixth, on which a church was soon thereafter erected, which was wrecked in 1857 in an attempt to raise it. The old site was sold and a location purchased at Third and Robidoux, on which a brick struc- ture was built, under the supervision of Jacob Hauck, Peter Hammer and John Fink, which served the wants of the congregation for about twenty years. In 1867 a parsonage was built at the rear of the church at an expense of about $2,500, which is still the home of the pastor. For many years the congregation sought to build a new edifice more suited to the times, but it was not until 1887 that the old church was taken down, and the present handsome structure completed, the lot adjoining the old church on the south having been purchased in 1885. The new church was dedicated in the spring of 1888 by Dr. Liebhart of Cincinnati.
Of the African Methodist Episcopal Church there are two par- ishes. Ebenezer chapel, corner of Third and Antoine streets, is the principal edifice. Holsey chapel, Eighteenth and Beattie streets, is a modest frame structure.
THE BAPTISTS-The first records that can be found bearing upon the Baptist church in St. Joseph are dated September 28, 1844, and refer to an "arm of the Dillon Creek Baptist Church." On March 22, 1845, a sermon was preached by Elder William Woreley. There- upon the first Baptist congregation was organized. Elder Woreley was succeeded in July, 1847, by Elder James I. Robinson, who at first received $50 per annum and his board, and subsequently received $100 per annum and paid his own expenses. During all of this period there was no permanent place of worship. Meetings were held in private houses and rented halls. In 1848 the "old log church" was purchased from the Presbyterians for $100. This purchase did not include the ground. In January of 1852 the log church was sold at auction for $16.25. From this time until 1856 the Baptists wor- shipped in various places. A movement for a church building was begun in 1850, when the church was incorporated under the laws of the state. Real estate was acquired at the southeast corner of Sixth and Francis streets and, in 1856, a commodious brick structure was erected. In 1895 work was begun upon the present massive structure at Thirteenth and Francis streets, and in the spring of 1897 the base- ment of this building was occupied, the church at Sixth and Francis streets being abandoned.
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Rev. Isaiah T. Williams was chosen pastor in 1848. In 1855 Rev. J. Hickman of Kentucky was called, and in March of 1853 Rev. W. F. Boyakin of Illinois assumed the pastorate. When the church at Sixth and Francis streets was completed Rev. Wm. Price was pastor. In November, 1859, Rev. Wm. I. Gill accepted a call and served until June, 1860, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. S. Dulin, who served until March, 1864. Rev. T. W. Barrett of Leavenworth served one year after Dr. Dulin, and in July, 1865, was succeeded by Rev. Joseph R. Manton of Providence, R. I., who remained until April, 1868. Rev. James Dixon of Milwaukee followed and served until November, 1868. Rev. J. M. C. Breaker then took charge and remained until May, 1877, being succeeded by Rev. William Harris of Louisville, Ky. Rev. J. L. Lawless succeeded Mr. Harris in March, 1884, and served until January 1, 1891, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. J. Coulston, who remained until March 15, 1893. The pastorate remained vacant until September, 1893, when Rev. R. P. Johnston of Chilesburg, Ky., accepted a call. Rev. Johnston re- mained until 1898, when he went to St. Louis. He was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Cook, the present pastor.
In 1890 the First Baptist church built a fine edifice in Wyatt Park at Twenty-eighth and Seneca streets, and presented it, paid for in full, to the congregation.
The Savannah Avenue Baptist church, situated at the corner of Savannah avenue and Woodson street, was the direct outgrowth of the Young People's Mission Society of the First Baptist church, which caused the erection of a neat brick chapel in the fall of 1885. Two years later this building was enlarged to twice its seating ca- pacity, it having been found entirely inadequate to the accommoda- tion of the congregation.
The Patee Park Baptist church was built in 1889-90. As early as 1871 a congregation worshipped in a building at Twelfth and Penn streets. Under the pastorate of Rev. N. R. Pittman the present sub- stantial and modern edifice was erected on Tenth street, opposite Patee park. Rev. Pittman resigned in 1894 and was succeeded by Rev. J. L. Lawless, the present pastor.
The negro Baptists have two churches. The Francis Street Baptist church was organized in 1865, by Rev. B. F. Marshall, with seventeen members. For seven years they worshipped in a frame building on their present location, Francis street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets. In 1873 Rev. W. W. Stewart was called to the pastorate, in which he remained until 1889, during which time the
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present building was erected and the church increased.in membership to 350. In the fall of 1889 Rev. J. J. Lyons was settled as pastor. He remained nine months. Rev. A. M. Lewis was then settled as pastor supply. In August, 1891, Rev. E. M. Cohron was called to the pastorate, since which time the present building has been completed. Mr. Cohron is still the pastor.
New Hope chapel, on Sixteenth street, a frame building, was erected in 1884.
THE CHRISTIANS-In 1844 Elder Duke Young of the Chris- tian church preached a discourse in the residence of Mrs. Northcutt, The growth of this church was slow and meetings were held at vari- ous places until 1847, when Elder Young instituted a revival at the court house, where the congregation continued to hold its meetings until 1858. A church was built at Third and Robidoux streets. This structure is still in existence, though not used as a church. The present Christian church, at Tenth and Edmond streets, was built in 1870. Dr. S. D. Overstreet and Allen G. Mansfield were the elders. when the Third Street church was erected. Upon the death of Dr. Overstreet, Judge Joseph J. Wyatt was elected elder and filled the pulpit until Elder Moses E. Lard became pastor of the church. Rev. Lard resigned at the breaking out of the war and Elder Wyatt again took charge. Mr. Lard subsequently became prominent in the ministry in Kentucky and was one of the great lights of the Christian church. In 1866 Elder W. C. Rogers was called, remaining two years. Elder Wyatt again served until the arrival of Elder John Lindsay in 1869. Elder Lindsay resigned in 1870 and Elder Wyatt for the fourth time filled the vacancy, serving two years, and resign- ing to give way to Elder Thomas P. Haley. In December of 1876 Elder John H. Duncan succeeded Elder Haley. Elder John B. Cor- wine succeeded Elder Duncan, and was in turn succeeded in March, 1881, by Elder M. M. Goode, who served up to a year ago, when he was succeeded by Elder C. M. Chilton, the present pastor.
There is also a Christian church at Twenty-seventh and Olive streets, one at Tenth and Pacific streets, and a mission on St. Joseph avenue.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL-The first missionary service of the Episcopal church in St. Joseph was held in September of 1851. In the following year a parish was organized by Rev. M. M. McNa- mara. A small building, at the northwest corner of Third and Jule
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streets, was purchased and equipped. In 1856 the site of Christ church, at Seventh and Francis streets, was purchased and in August of 1857 the erection of a frame building, which fronted on Francis street, was begun. This structure was destroyed by fire on Christmas eve, 1876. The present church was erected as soon as possible.
Rev. McNamara remained in charge until March of 1854, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. N. Irish, who served until 1858, when Rev. W. R. Pickman took charge. In October of 1860, Rev. R. H. Weller succeeded Rev. Pickman and served until October 13, 1866, being succeeded by Rev. W. C. Hopkins, who served one year. In November, 1867, Rev. Pickman again took charge and served until April, 1869, being succeeded by Rev. Wm. Phillips, who served until January, 1871. The parish was vacant until June of 1871, when Rev. Dr. James Runcie was installed as pastor. Dr. Runcie served until his death, May 12, 1889. In the fall of 1889 Rev. H. L. Foote took. charge and served six years. He was succeeded by Rev. John Henry Hopkins, the present rector.
There are three missions connected with Christ church. Holy Trinity, the largest, is located at Eleventh and Monterey streets ; St. Mark's is located at Second and Market streets, and St. Matthias (colored) is located at No. 419 South Seventeenth street.
EVANGELICAL AND LUTHERAN-The German Evangel- ical Zion's church was organized in 1865, with Rev. A. H. Kirchoff as pastor. The old brick church at the northeast corner of Fourtli and Francis streets was purchased and services were held there until October, 1881, when the present church, at Ninth and Jule streets, was completed. Rev. Kirchoff was succeeded by Rev. Carl Nestel in 1874. Rev. Nestel recently gave way to Rev. Max Habeker of St. Louis.
The Second German Evangelical church was organized in 1874 and a building erected at Thirteenth and Montery streets. Rev. Julius Kramer was pastor until 1876, when he was succeeded by Rev .. F. Grabeau. Rev. F. Wellge succeeded Rev. Grabeau in 1880. Rev. R. Neumarker is the present pastor.
The German Evangelical Lutherans organized a church in Au- gust, 1881, and erected St. Paul's church at No. 1019 South Tenth street. Rev. M. Grosse, the first pastor, is still in charge. A paro- chal school is also maintained.
St. Peter's German Lutheran church, of which Rev. Traugott Meyer is pastor, is located at 2104 North Fourth street.
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Emmanuel church, German, of the Evangelical Association, is located at Twelfth and Lafayette streets, and Rev. C. F. Erffmeyer is the present pastor.
The First English Lutheran church was organized in August of 1894 by Rev. Edward F. Treffz. Until the erection of a building, east of the Custom house in 1895, services were held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium.
There is also a Swedish Lutheran congregation, now occupying the building at Tenth and Patee streets, formerly used by the Metho- dists.
CONGREGATIONAL-On May 12, 1867, the Congregational Church of St. Joseph came into existence with only ten members. In October of that year Rev. W. L. Bray was called to the pastorate. He remained three years and was succeeded by Rev. Jonathan Crane, who served only a short time, however, being succeeded in the same year by Rev. F L. Kenyon, who remained eight years. From 1878 until 1882 no permanent pastor was maintained. Rev. Frederick S. Hayden served from 1882 until 1888, being succeeded by Rev. Albert Bushnell, the present pastor, who began his work February 1, 1889.
In 1870 a frame chapel was erected on the south side of Edmond street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. This was abandoned in 1891, the present substantial edifice at Thirteenth and Jule streets having meanwhile been erected.
There is also a Swedish Congregational church, located on Mes- sanie street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets.
UNITARIAN .- In November of 1867 those who were in- clined to the Unitarian belief held their first meeting. The service was read by John S. Crosby. For several years various clergymen came and preached to the society. Rev. Mr. Finney served one year as pastor and Rev. E. H. Danforth served two years. Rev. Joseph A. Chase, Rev. A. F. Abbott, Rev. Charles B. Roberts, Rev. J. F. C. Grumbine served successively until 1891. The pulpit has been sup- plied since that time by Rev. J. E. Roberts of Kansas City and others. Services were held in various halls and churches until 1888, when a modern building was erected on Ninth street, between Felix and Ed- mond streets.
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THE Y. M. C. A .- On May 2, 1882, at a meeting in the Baptist church, the St. Joseph branch of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion was formed with forty members. Quarters were rented in the building at the northwest corner of Fifth and Edmond streets, and John W. Hansel of Peoria, Illinois, was installed as general secretary. In October of 1885 Rev. Sam Jones and Rev. Sam Small held a re- vival in the city. Sunday, October II, was set apart as Y. M. C. A. day. A movement for a building had been in progress for a year or more. Upon this occasion Rev. Jones made an especial plea for a permanent home for the association, and before the meeting ad- journed $39,000 had been subscribed. Later this sum was increased to about $60,000. As a result the Y. M. C. A. building at Seventh and Felix streets was occupied in 1887.
THE Y. W. C. A .- In the summer of 1887 the Young Women's Christian Association was formed. The object of this association is to unite all young women interested in physical, social, business, in- tellectual and spiritual development. The physical department in- cludes a gymnasium, where proper instructions are imparted by a thorough teacher. A reading room, with a rapidly increasing library, is a feature. The business department seeks the advancement of young women in the business world, and an employment bureau, for the benefit of the employer and employe, is established and success- fully conducted. The special features are the gospel meetings, par- ticipated in by members of the association. Since 1891 the organiza- tion has occupied quarters in the Corby block at Seventh and Edmond streets.
JEWISH-In 1859 the congregation Adath Joseph erected the synagogue at Sixth and Jule streets. In the beginning services were . held in a hall on Felix street. In 1857 a church building, which stood upon the site of the Hotel Donovan at Sixth and Edmond streets, was purchased and fitted up. This building was destroyed by fire. Rev. S. Kauffman was rabbi in charge of the synagogue until 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. S. Gerstman, who served until 1879, when he gave way to Rev. Isaac Schwab, the present rabbi.
There is also an orthodox congregation, known as Sharrah Shalem. There being no synagogue, the faithful worship in a rented hall at Sixth and Angelique streets.
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OTHERS-The St. Joseph branch of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints was organized in 1870. Services were held in public halls and at the court house until the erection of the church building on Seventeenth street, north of Faraon street, in 1890. Rev. Mark H. Forscutt was the pastor for some years and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Terry, the present pastor.
In 1892 Rev. H. S. Gekeler formed a congregation of the Re- formed church. Meetings were held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium for some time, until the church formerly used by the Congregational- ists, on Edmond street, was secured.
The First Church of Christ Scientists was formed in 1892. Rev. Charles M. Howe now conducts meetings at the Tootle theater. A substantial church building is now in process of construction at Twelfth and Felix streets.
The Salvation Army has maintained barracks in St. Joseph since the summer of 1885. During 1898 a detachment of "Volunteers of America" was also quartered in the city.
For many years Rev. M. G. McMahan has served as city mission- ary. He works in the slums and among the poor and destitute, and is maintained by private subscription.
There is also an undenominational mission, conducted by Rev. Eli Austin, who ministers to the poor and distributes charity.
CHAPTER XIX.
BUCHANAN COUNTY AND ST. JOSEPH IN WAR .- THE WAR WITH MEXICO .- DONIPHAN'S EXPEDITION .- THE OREGON BATTALION .- THE CIVIL WAR .- A MOB DESTROYS THE UNITED STATES FLAG .- SOME OF THE MEN WHO WENT SOUTH AND DIS- TINGUISHED THEMSELVES AS SOLDIERS .- THE UNION REGIMENTS THAT WERE ORGANIZED IN ST. JOSEPH, THEIR OFFICERS AND WHERE THEY FOUGHT .- THE "PAWPAW MILITIA;" ITS HISTORY AND HOW IT CAME INTO EXISTENCE .- THE MIS- SOURI MILITIA AFTER THE WAR .- THE NATIONAL GUARD OF MISSOURI .- THE WAR WITH SPAIN AND THE COMPANIES THAT WENT FROM ST. JOSEPH TO THE FOURTH REGIMENT OF MISSOURI VOLUN- TEERS.
Having reviewed the political history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, and touched incidentally upon commercial and social progress, it is deemed proper, at this point, to make a digression and to consider the various war periods. The war with Mexico, the civil war and the late struggle with Spain will be touched upon as far as they are related to the people of this county.
During the month of May, 1846, Governor Edwards called for volunteers to join the Army of the West in an expedition to Santa Fe under command of General Stephen W. Kearney General Kearney was the father of Charles W. Kearney, now a resident of St. Joseph, and the uncle of General Phil. Kear- ney. A number went from here, among them Wilard P. Hall, who was then a candidate for congress. Mr. Hall left a law practice and the campaign to take care of itself and joined the First regiment of Missouri cavalry as a private. This regiment assembled at Fort Leavenworth and elected as its colonel Alexander W. Doniphan of Liberty, who had also enlisted as a private. The regiment went with Colonel Kearney as far as Santa Fe. From that point its operations became known as "Doniphan's Expedition," an achievement that is
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famous in history, and that is frequently compared with the military feats of Xenophon, Hannibal and the first Napoleon.
The entire Army of the West, at the beginning of the campaign, numbered 1,658 men. The army, composed of dragoons and cavalry, marched across the plains in detachments, the first leaving Fort Leavenworth on June 29th, and the last on July 6, 1846. They rendezvoused at a famous trading post on the Arkansas River in Colorado, the present site of Fort Lyon, know then as Bent's Fort. After resting several days the reunited forces proceeded south, crossed the Raton mountains through the Raton pass and entered the city of Las Vegas without opposition on August 15. The alcalde and all other citizens of the place took the oath of allegiance to the United States. Here Colonel Kearney received his commission as general, forwarded by messenger from Washington.
Learning that Armijo, the governor of New Mexico, had fortified Apache pass, through which led the road to Santa Fe, and was oc- cupying it with a considerable force, General Kearney marched to meet him, in the expectation of battle. But at his approach the Mexicans retired without offering resistence, and the army went through the pass and on to Santa Fe, which they occupied unopposed on August 18, 1846.
General Kearney at once proceeded to organize a provisional government for the Mexican state, the capital of which he held. To Colonel Doniphan and to Willard P. Hall was assigned the duty of constructing and formulating laws for the newly acquired territory. They were given quarters in the "palace," as the residence of the governor of New Mexico has always been called, and went to work, each with four clerks and interpreters, in the room in which General Lew Wallace wrote "Ben Hur" a third of a century afterward. The result of their labors is known as the "Kearney code," which forms an important constituent of the territorial laws of New Mexico to-day.
It was while thus engaged that Willard P. Hall was notified by Colonel Doniphan, who had received dispatches, that he had been elected to congress over Judge Birch of Plattsburg.
On September 26, General Kearney started with his column of regulars for California, leaving Colonel Doniphan in command of Santa Fe. On September 28 General Sterling Price arrived in Santa Fe, followed by a force of 1,700 volunteers from Missouri. Colonel Doniphan, who, at his own request, had been ordered to join General Wool in Chihuahua, was preparing to move south, when an order reached him, sent back by General Kearney, to make a campaign
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against the Navajo Indians, who had been attacking Mexican villages on the Rio Grande. Turning his authority as governor of New Mex- ico over to General Price, Colonel Doniphan at once proceeded to execute General Kearney's order.
The Navajos were at that time a powerful tribe, numbering some 17,000, and inhabited what is now northeastern Arizona. They had long been the terror and scourge of the civilized inhabitants of New Mexico. Colonel Doniphan divided his forces, dispatching, Major Gilpin with 200 men northwest into the San Juan country, while he himself, with the remainder of his regiment marched to Albuquerque and thence west up the River Puerco to its headwaters. The Navajos were encompassed and surrounded by this movement and made a treaty in which they bound themselves to cease their depre- dations and become friends of the United States.
On December 14, 1846, Colonel Doniphan commenced his march to Chihuahua. His route lay through a barren desert of ninety miles, known as the Jornata del Muerto (Journey of the Dead). No water is to be found the entire distance. Over this plain Colonel Doniphan successfully marched his troops in detachments, each re- quiring about thirty hours in the passage, and occupied the town of Dona Ana without resistance.
Leaving half his regiment here to guard the river crossing, Col- onel Doniphan pushed south, and at Brazito met a Mexican force from Chihuahua that had advanced to oppose him. A sharp skirmish followed in which the Mexicans were routed and followed to El Paso, which was captured with its military supplies.
In the enemy's baggage here taken were found dispatches impart- ing the information that General Wool, instead of proceeding west to Chihuahua, had gone south to join General Taylor at Monterey. Colonel Doniphan was therefore confronted with the alternative of returning to Santa Fe or marching 1,200 miles through a hostile country to Monterey to effect a junction with Wool. He decided to go on and sent back for artillery. In response he was joined by a Missouri battalion of artillery and by the Laclede rangers of St. Louis, increasing his force to about 1,000 men with six pieces of artil- lery.
Before him lay the city of Chihuahua, rich, populous and pro- tected by a strong garrison. Colonel Doniphan marched south with- out serious opposition to the pass of Sacramento, sixteen miles north of the city of Chihuahua, which the Mexicans had fortified and where they were then awaiting his coming with 4,200 men, cavalry and
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artillery. The Mexican flank was protected by a deep and precipitous ravine, difficult of passage.
The following incident is related by the venerable Francis Carrol Hughes, now of Agency Township, who was Colonel Doniphan's quartermaster sergeant. Doniphan had not slept during the night before the battle of the pass and was seated in front of his tent early in the morning of February 28, 1847. The men had not slept much either and were seated about the camp fires talking. When Sergeant Hughes approached his commander, Colonel Doniphan requested him to go about among the men and ascertain what they were talking about. Doniphan had serious doubts of the result of the impend- ing engagement; in-fact he expected the worst, for the odds were overwhelmingly against him.
"What are they talking about, sergeant?" he asked eagerly when Hughes returned.
"Why, colonel," said Sergeant Hughes, "they are talking about the massacre of the Alamo and cursing the Mexicans."
Doniphan's face lit up at this, and slapping his hands upon his knees, he jumped up and exclaimed prophetically, "By heaven, ser- geant, we are going to win !"
Thus inspired, Colonel Doniphan gave the order to advance as soon as possible. He crossed the ravine, above mentioned, under fire, with his mounted troops, and on the other side was met by the Mexi- can cavalry, which was repulsed. Then he ordered a counter charge, which was successfully made, and drove the Mexicans from the field. He captured eleven pieces of artillery, forty prisoners and the enemy's baggage, and entered the city of Chihuahua in triumph. The Mexi- can loss was 300 killed and wounded, while Doniphan's loss was one killed and eight wounded.
Reports were sent to Generals Taylor and Wood and the march to join the former at Monterey began. This expedition, in a hostile country, far from any base of supplies, had to rely wholly upon its own resources for existence, exposed equally to the attacks of the Mexicans, whose country they were invading, and of the predatory bands of Indians which roamed over Northern Mexico. Over arid plains, through mountain passes, in which Mexican guerillas lay in ambush, and through fertile valleys as well, the expedition continued its triumphal march, defeating and dispersing all who opposed it, until on the first of May, 1847, it moved into Saltillo with banners flying, and joined Taylor.
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