USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > The history of Buchanan County, Missouri > Part 46
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THE DAILY SUN.
The Daily Sun, founded by W. W. Davis and Phil. Schmitz, first appeared April 11, 1881. It expired April 23, 1881.
THE SATURDAY DEMOCRAT.
The Saturday Democrat, originally started in Savannah, Mo., Feb- ruary 14, 1880, by Geo. E. King, its present editor and proprietor, was a success from its first appearance. July 15th, following, without suspend- ing an issue, it uttered its first number in St. Joseph. It is a handsomely printed, fifty-six column quarto, the largest paper published in the city. As its nåme implies, it is Democratic in politics. Its columns are also largely devoted to literary, scientific and social matters.
COMMERCIAL ADVICES.
Commercial Advices, a weekly, issued every Saturday, made its first appearance February 9, 1878. It first appeared as a six column sheet, and was afterwards (January, 1881,) enlarged to a seven column. It still continues to be published by Dr. J. J. Jewitt, its founder.
ST. JOSEPH VOLKSBLATT.
The first German newspaper established in St. Joseph was the Volks- blatt, a Republican journal. It was started in 1856 by Leopold Marder, who, two years after, sold the paper to J. H. Buschmann. This was in 1858. Francis Rodman, afterwards Secretary of State, was editor. Wednesday, March 28, 1866, the daily evening edition, a five column paper, made its first appearance, this was started by Gustavus Heinricks. In 1868, R. L. Morgenstern purchased the paper and Leopold Marder became editor. November 8, 1868, Conrad Eichler and H. W. Kastor bought and conducted the paper. The firm was styled C. Eichler & Co. H. W. Kastor was editor. It was then enlarged to a six column, and, shortly after, to a seven column sheet.
November 8, 1875, H. Brunsing purchased the interest of C. Eichler. Since that period to the present time (1881) the publishers of the Volksblatt have been H. Brunsing & Co. H. W. Kastor is still editor.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
September 10, 1879, the paper was enlarged to its present size, an eight column sheet. It is the representative German newspaper of Upper Missouri and has a wide circulation. Leopold Marder, the founder of the Volksblatt, died in Omaha.
THE ST. JOSEPH ANZEIGER.
The St. Joseph Anzeiger, a German daily, made its first appearance August 25, 1879. It was a seven column sheet, established by Kurth & Schrader. Its brief life ended September 17, 1879.
We have spared no pains or expense in presenting a full and com- plete history of the newspapers and periodicals which have had an ex- istence in St. Joseph, beginning with the Gazette, which made its ap- pearance in April, 1845, and concluding with the Daily Sun, which was established in April, 1881, covering a period of thirty-six years.
During this period there have been thirty-five papers, averaging almost one for each year. For the sake of convenience we here give a list of their names and the dates of their first publication :
1845-Gazette. 1853-Cycle. 1856-Volksblatt. 1858-West.
1848-Adventure. 1856-Journal.
1859-Free Democrat. 1862-Herald.
1862-Evening News. 1862-Tribune.
1862-New Era.
1865-Vindicator.
1864-Union. 1866-Daily Commercial.
1870-Evening Tribune.
1871-3-Board of Trade Circular
1872-Evening Commercial.
1872-Reflector.
1875-Weekly Reporter.
1875-Chronicle.
1875-Weekly Standard.
1876-Evening Chronicle.
1877-Monday Morning News.
1877-College Chaplet.
1878-Illustrated Weekly News.
1878-Evening Reporter.
1878-Telephone. 1879-Good Way.
1878-Commercial Advices.
1879-Bugle and Standard.
1879-Anzeiger. 1880-Catholic Tribune.
1880-Advocate.
1881-Daily Sun.
1880-Saturday Democrat.
St. Joseph, as will be seen from the above list, has had during her brief existence of thirty-nine years, her full share of newspapers. No other city, perhaps, of her age and population can boast of having had a greater number, and none, we are sure, take them in the aggregate, have had a class of newspapers which have more faithfully and zealously advo- cated the interest of the city.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
St. Joseph has had, and has to-day, hundreds of enterprising and public spirited men, who are proud of their city and punctilious about her claims of respect and who have done much for her material prosperity, but had it not been for her newspapers, which have so ably and earnestly sustained them in their efforts to build up the city, the embryo settle- ment of thirty-nine years ago would have scarcely emerged from its chrysalis condition.
What, indeed, could St. Joseph have done without her newspapers ? What was it during her past struggles for recognition that was ever faithful and full of hope? What is it, with unabated persistency that has constantly sent out its silent, yet potent messengers, through all the towns and cities of the East, inviting hither, with their thousand elo- quent tongues, capital, labor and skill ? What is it that has been chiefly instrumental in swelling her population, encouraging business and caus- ing St. Joseph to be known throughout the country as a thrifty city ? Need I say it is the St. Joseph press? Deprive her of her press and you at once inflict a death-blow to her prosperity.
Her people appreciate the fact that newspapers are the great educa- tors of the masses and constitute the only book of the millions, hence they believe in fostering and sustaining good and wholesome journalism.
The editor of this work acknowledges himself greatly indebted to the Gazette, for much of the material which composes this history; in fact, we hardly know what we could have done without its friendly aid and assistance. Being published cotemporaneously with the events as they have occurred in the city and county since 1845, and being the only file intact since that period, we have found it replete with invaluable facts and data, from which we have made frequent and copious extracts.
."THE LEVER THAT MOVES THE WORLD."
SWARE
THIRD STREET, ST. JOSEPHI, LOOKING SOUTH.
CHAPTER VII.
CHURCHES OF ST. JOSEPH.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
In 1838, a wandering Jesuit priest visited the obscure and lonely trading post at Blacksnake Hills. Here, in the rude log house of Joseph Robidoux, a primitive altar was extemporized from a common table, and, in the presence of the wondering red man and the scarcely less unculti- vated pioneer, was celebrated the sacrifice of the mass. This was the small beginning of the march of Christianity in our midst.
In 1840, another transient priest made his appearance at the settle- ment, who elicited no small degree of comment, from the singular mark of a cross on the back of his coat. This was the Rev. Father Vogel. On the 17th of June, 1847, the foundation of the brick church on the corner of Felix and Fifth Streets was laid. Services were held in this building before its completion, and in the same year, in September, the house was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Kendrick, of St. Louis. In 1848, the two-story vestry was erected (brick) and in 1853 an addition of twenty-two and a half feet was made to the church. The lot was donated . by Joseph Robidoux.
At the organization of the church there were about twenty families, two of which were Irish and the balance Canadian French. In 1847, there were about three hundred members. The first permanent pastor in the church was Rev. Thomas Scanlan, who began his labors in 1847. His first service was in a frame building, belonging to Mr. Robidoux, on Jule Street, beyond the Blacksnake. He was succeeded by the Rev. D. F. Healy. Rev. Francis Russie succeeded Father Healy, and he, in turn, was succeeded by the Rev. S. A. Grugan.
In 1859, the Rev. James Power assumed the duties of assistant min- ister, which position he filled until the removal of Father Scanlan, in 1860. In 1860, Rev. John Hennessey took charge of the pulpit, and con- tinued the charge of the same till 1866, when he was promoted to the See of Dubuque. His successor in St. Joseph was the Rev. James Power. The house of worship was abandoned in 1871, and used for a while there- after as a court house. "In 1868, St. Joseph was erected into a diocese, and the Rt. Rev. John Hogan was constituted Bishop of St. Joseph.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
The cathedral building on Tenth Street, near Robidoux, is 88x166 feet. The principal material used in its construction is brick. It is of plainest Corinthian style, but substantial and chaste in appearance, costing about $70,000.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception, on the corner of Tenth and Angelique Streets, was completed in 1868, costing $10,000. It is a gothic brick building and has a fine appearance.
On Twelfth Street, near Monterey, in South St. Joseph, is the ele- gant ecclesiastical structure of St. Patrick's Church. This is a hand- some brick building of the Romanesque order, faced with cut stone. It was finished at a cost of $20,000. In 1873, the Rev. Eugene Kenny had charge of the church as pastor.
In 1874 and 1875, the Cathedral is reported in charge of Rt. Rev. Bishop Hogan, assisted by Rev. Thos. Denny.
Of the German Church of the Immaculate Conception, Very Rev. Charles Linenkamp was pastor in charge during the above mentioned period, and Rev. Eugene Kenny filled the pastorate of St. Patrick's Church.
The report of January 1877, shows that Rt. Rev. John J. Hogan, Bishop, was assisted during the previous year at the Cathedral, by Rev. C. Kearful, Rev. M. Milay and Rev. James Herbert. No change re- ported in the ministry of the other Roman Catholic Churches during that period.
January 1, 1878. No change in the ministry of the Roman Catholic churches for this year. A bell and a belfry was added to the Cathedral at a cost of $2,500. There was also reported St. Roch's Church, a wooden building, in the north part of the city, valued at $750, and used by the French Catholics. Rev. John Galvin, priest in charge.
January 1, 1879. Churches and ministering priests reported same as during previous year.
January 1880. Rev. Fathers Ignatius and Cullen reported as assis- tants in the Cathedral.
Since the death of Rev. Eugene Kenny, which occurred about the close of 1879, Rev. Thos. Walsh has had charge of St. Patrick's Church. The succeeding year shows no change.
One of the most noted ecclesiastical structures in Northwest Mis- souri, and indeed in the state, is the
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN, THE BAPTIST,
Erected by Mrs. Corby to the memory of her late husband, John Corby, of St. Joseph. This church is situated about two miles north of the city limits, near the road leading to Amazonia. This is, perhaps, the most elegant and complete structure of the kind in Missouri, while in point of
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
beauty of design, solidity of construction, and tasteful and artistic ele- gance of finish, it will compare favorably with any similar edifice on the continent. The principal material of which this rare specimen of archi- tectural beauty is constructed is our native limestone. The facings and interior stone-work are of a superior sandstone, brought from Carroll County, Missouri.
The church is a gothic structure, built in the shape of a Latin cross, measuring in the clear eighty-four feet nine inches in length, and forty- eight feet nine inches across the transepts, and is capable of seating an audience of three hundred and fifty persons. The aisles are separated from the nave of the church, or rather, the limit of aisles is marked by rows of massive cast iron columns, painted in representation of stone, the only feature of the entire building that is not really what it appears to be. These pillars support the elaborately decorated arches of the groined roof, which reflect with wonderfully beautiful effect the mellow light streaming through the variegated panes of the tall lancet windows by which the church is lighted. The pulpit, altar, font, etc., are all of massive sandstone. Even the mullions of the windows are of that solid material, while the window sashes are of iron. The aisles and chancel are paved with a beautiful variety of tesselated tiling of different colors, imported from the manufactory at Stoke-upon-Trent, in England. The doors, seats and light stairway leading to the organ loft, are the only features of the entire structure that are made of wood.
The building is absolutely incombustible. The sixteen windows by which the church is lighted are glazed with stained glass of very supe- rior quality and beauty of design. The frescoing of the groined arches is chaste and elaborate in design and reflects, in the execution, great credit on the artist. The walls of the aisles are decorated with full length paintings of the twelve apostles-six on each side. These are admirably executed, and all have the appearance of sculptures in alto relievo.
In the sacristy or vestry, north of the altar, are depicted on the walls, in the same style of art, two scenes from the life of Christ, viz .: the Women at the Sepulchre and the Ascension.
The external appearance of the builing is solid and massive, and suggestive of the character of the ecclesiastical architecture of the old world. The roof is of slate. There is no steeple. Nor does this appear in the least a defect. On the summit of the east gable, at which is the front entrance, rises a small, but massive belfry, plain and in perfect keeping with the solid character of the edifice. On the northwest corner of the building, below a niche in the outer wall, on a plain tablet of sandstone, flanked by two columns in bas relief, appears the inscription, " Erected to the Memory of John Corby, 1871." The cost of this structure, some- times styled the Corby Memorial Church, was nearly fifty thousand dol-
.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
lars. It is in the immediate care of an order of Monks, styled the "Fathers and Brothers of the Holy Cross."
NEW SCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The churches of a city, reflect in some measure, the social and religious life of its inhabitants. St. Joseph is a church-going city, and all the prominent religious sects, find here their representatives and exponents.
In the year 1843, the first church was established in St. Joseph by the New School Presbyterians. In September of that year, the first sale of town lots was had. The Rev. T. S. Reeve, a minister attached to this church, was present at the sale, and about the same time preached the first Protestant sermon within the limits of the newly organized town, in a log house kept as a tavern by one Mr. Beattie on the corner of Main and Jule Streets, the site of the present Occidental Hotel. Once or twice during the winter of the same year, he preached at a grocery on Main Street, and other times in private houses.
During the spring of 1844, the building of the first church was com- menced by the Rev. T. S. Reeve. It was a log building, twenty by thirty feet, near the corner of Third and Francis streets, on a lot owned by George Brubaker, and was finished during the winter 1844-45. The tim- ber for the church building, was donated by William Langston, who owned a tract of woodland near the town. Parson Reeve, attended by a number of assistants, shouldered his axe, led the way into the country, and with his own hands, assisted in cutting down the first tree.
" A stubborn, sturdy oak,"
for the building of the church. His wife did the cooking for the work- men during the progress of the building, the parson taking their dinners at the hour of noon.
On the 15th day of September, 1844, the following persons, at their own request, were, by the Rev. T. S. Reeve, the pioneer minister, organ- ized into a Presbyterian Church, viz .:
Abraham Brubaker, Mrs. Elizabeth Brubaker, Mrs. Nancy McMunn, Mrs. Luna Postal, George A. Smith, George Brubaker, Miss Julia A. Brubaker, Mrs. Jane McMunn, Mrs. Jane E. Reeve, and Mrs. Harriet Castle.
On motion, it was resolved that the name of this church be styled the Presbyterian Church of St. Joseph. As to ecclesiastical connection, it was resolved that this church be under the care of the Lexington Pres- byterian Church of the United States of America. The congregation then elected George Brubaker a ruling elder in the church, which office, Mr. Brubaker having been previously ordained, consented to assume.
477
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
The log church was first permanently occupied in the winter of 1844- 45. In the fall of the year 1844, the first Union Sabbath School was organized, and a committee of ladies sent out for the purpose of making collections for the school. Joseph Robidoux, the founder of the city, made the first donation of ten dollars in money for the school. This was the first time a subscription paper had ever been carried around, and it elicited some practical jokes from its novelty among those who subscribed, and who are now among the oldest citizens.
The log church was also occupied once a month by the Methodist denomination for some time, and twice a month, until their own church was built in 1846. In August of that year, trustees were appointed by the First Presbyterian Church, under the care of the Lexington Presby- tery, in connection with the "Constitutional General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church." During the same year, a building committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the erection of a new house of worship. Money was raised by subscription, and, in 1847, was erected the brick building on the northeast corner of Fourth and Francis streets, in dimensions fifty feet front by sixty feet. The first services were held in the church in the winter of 1849-50.
This building was used without interruption till the closing of the church and dispersion of the congregation in 1861, at the breaking out of the civil war. It then passed through various hands, till it finally became, by purchase, the property of the German congregation, now occupying it.
As soon as the brick building was ready for occupancy, in the winter of 1848-49, the old log church, the first ever built in St. Joseph, was sold to the First Missionary Baptist Society. When the New School Church was organized in 1843, it consisted of but the ten members whose names we mentioned in the beginning of this article. In 1851, the congregation numbered one hundred and five members, and from the date of its orga- nization to July, 1858, the number of names had increased to one hun- dred and seventy-two. During the existence of this church, from its organization in 1843 to its dissolution in 1861, there were entered on its books the names of one hundred and ninety-five communicants.
The Rev. T. S. Reeve, the first pastor of the church, continued his labors till the spring of 1855. From that time to the spring of 1857, the church was supplied by ministers from the Presbytery and traveling preachers in search of new locations. In 1857, the Rev. Frederick R. Gallager accepted a call from the church in St. Joseph, and began his labors in the summer of the same year, at a salary of one thousand dollars a year.
At the end of his pastoral year, he resigned, and the church was with- out a minister until the spring of 1860, when the Rev. P. E. Sheldon was called to the charge of the church. He discharged the duties of pastor
30
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
one year, at a salary of one thousand dollars. At the close of his annual term, the action of the Synod of Missouri, together with the difficulties occasioned by the war, resulted in the closing of the church and disband- ing of the congregation, many of whom then united with various churches in St. Joseph, several forming in part the present Westminster Church, some uniting with the Old School and others joining the Baptist, Con- gregational, etc.
The Sabbath School of this church, was in its day, one of the best attended and most successfully conducted in the city. It numbered at one time from one hundred and fifty to two hundred scholars. The existing church book shows the following record : One suspended and afterwards reinstated ; eighteen died; seventeen marriages took place ; fifty infants were baptized ; sixty-four adult baptisms took place in the church, snd seventy-six were dismissed by letter.
WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church was organized in St. Joseph on the 9th of May, 1863. The church, at that time, numbered but twenty members, and was, for several months, without a regular pastor, different ministers preaching as occasion demanded and opportunity offered.
On the 31st of January, 1864, the Rev. B. B. Parsons, D.D., of Illi- nois, preached his first sermon to this congregation, and in May follow- ing was duly installed pastor, in charge of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
The original elders of this church were: Joseph Lambright and Elbridge Gurney; the deacons were Captain George Lyon, Robert F. Maxwell and Guy C. Barton, Esq.
The church at this time occupied as a place of worship McLaughlin's Hall, on the corner of Second and Francis Streets. In January, 1864, John DeClue and Willis M. Sherwood were elected elders, which position they have held with credit to themselves and honor to the church.
In October, 1866, the stone chapel on Felix, between Seventh and Eighth Streets, was completed and dedicated. This was designed to serve the purpose of a wing to the main body of a building which it was the intention of the congregation to erect at some future period, as necessity demanded and ability warranted. The lot on which the build- ing stands was donated to the church by Mr. E. Gardney. This, with the building, was valued at $21,500; indeed, such was the actual cost.
The chapel is a small but massive stone structure of the Gothic order, and was, we believe, the first building roofed with slate in the city. Had the edifice been completed on the plan of its original design it would have presented one of the most attractive architectural features of the town.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
On the 10th of January, Dr. Parsons having resigned his pastoral' charge, was dismissed by the Presbytery. The Rev. Henry Bullard, the present (1881) minister in charge, began his pastoral labors in St. Joseph in May, 1868. In October, 1872, the church, having abandoned the idea of completing their new building on Felix Street, purchased the property known as the Sixth Street Presbyterian Church, located on Sixth, just below Faroan Street. The consideration of this purchase was the con- veyance of the Felix Street property, each being valued at about $20,000.
At the time of this tranfer, the Old School Presbyterian Church, on Sixth Street, generally known as the Sixth Street Presbyterian Church, was completed. For several years it had remained in an unfinished state -- nothing but a spacious and massive basement, with a temporary roofing of black composition, rising but a few feet above the neighboring sidewalks, and presenting a singularly gloomy and unattractive appear- ance. The superstructure that was raised on the basement compares favorably with any similar edifice in the city. It is a solid brick, 60x100 feet, chaste in design, and comfortably fitted up for an audience of four hundred. This church, in 1873, numbered two hundred and fifty mem- bers. In the spacious and commodious basement story, used so many years as a place of worship by the Old School Presbyterian Church, the Westminster Sunday School meets every Sunday, and is in a flourishing condition, having a large membership. The building was occupied in 1867, by the Presbyterians, who remained true to the General Assembly. Among their ministers, was the Rev. Mr. Gill, who remained two or three years, as did, also, Rev. Mr. Newell, who preceded him.
THE NORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In September, 1869, a chapel was erected and dedicated on the corner of Third and Isabelle streets. This was accomplished mostly by funds furnished by Westminster Church, under whose care a Sunday School was immediately started in the new building, with S. M. Markle as Superintendent. .
In October, 1873, this resulted in the organization of a church of eleven members, now located on the corner of Third and Isabelle streets and known by the name and style of the North Presbyterian Church, of which John F. Riggs and B. D. Elliott were elected Elders. On the 14th of October, 1873, the Rev. W. H. Isley was installed as pastor of this church. The building is a small frame 20x45 feet, and cost, with the lot, $1,600.
OAK GROVE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
is a small frame structure outside of the city limits, and on the eleva- tion beyond the New Ulm Gardens. It was built in 1870. Services
.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
were at first, from time to time, held by young ministers. The first reg- ular pastor was Rev. T. D. Roberts. At present (1881) services are held there every Sunday afternoon by the Rev. Henry Bullard, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in St. Joseph.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH.
In the year 1843, the Rev. Edward Robinson, preacher in charge of the St. Joseph Circuit, organized the first class in St. Joseph. The leader of this class was John F. Carter, and the other members of the same were Rufus Patchen, Clara Patchen, Mrs. Jane Kemper and Mrs. Sarah Jeffries.
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