USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > The history of Buchanan County, Missouri > Part 48
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It appears that, about the period of the close of the year 1852, the meetings of this church were held in the court house.
September 20, 1852, Rev. W. F. Boyakin, of Illinois, was called to the pastoral charge of the church.
March 26, 1853, he accepted the call and immediately assumed the duties of pastor. At a regular meeting, held May 15, 1853, Rev. W. F. Boyakin was appointed to represent the First Baptist Church of St. Joseph, in the coming General Association of United Baptists, of the State of Missouri.
At special meeting, held September 15, 1853, Rev. W. F. Boyakin, R. W. Donnell, J. J. Penick, Boon, Keeson and Dutzschky were chosen a building committee, and appointed to procure funds for the erection of a building for the purposes of a church.
From 1854 to 1857 there seems to be a gap in the records of this church, and minute particulars of the occurrences in the history of the same, during that period, are not attainable.
In 1856, during the pastorate of Rev. Wm. Price, a minister origin- ally from Kentucky, the present (1881) brick structure of the First Bap- tist Church, which stands on the southeast corner of Sixth and Francis Streets, was built.
In November, 1859, Rev. William I. Gill accepted a call to the pas- torate of this church. This he resigned March 18, 1860.
June 9, 1860, a unanimous call to the charge of the church was extended to Rev. E. S. Dulin, D. D., L.L. D., and was by him accepted in the following month. In December, 1862, Dr. Dulin tendered his resignation of the pastorate ; but, at the unanimous desire of the con- gregation, was induced to withdraw his resignation. In March, 1864, he positively declined re-election, and was succeeded by the Rev. T. W. Barrett, of Leavenworth City, Kansas. On the 30th April, 1864, he entered upon his pastoral duties, which he continued to discharge till April, 5, 1865, when his resignation was accepted by the church.
On the 6th July, of the same year, Rev. Jos. R. Manton, of Provi- dence, Rhode Island, accepted a call to the pulpit of this church, which, in view of ill-health, he resigned in April, 1868.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
He was succeeded, in July, 1868, by Rev. Dr. Jas. Dixon, of Milwau- kee, Wisconsin, who continued in the pastorate till February, 1870, when he resigned.
In November, 1870, Rev. J. M. C. Breaker, a man of distinguished ability, accepted a call to the charge of the church, the duties of which he discharged till October, 1876, when his resignation was reluctantly accepted.
He was succeeded by the present incumbent, Rev. Wm. Harris, of Louisville, Kentucky, in May, 1877.
This, the First Baptist Church of St. Joseph, is a large and well appearing brick building on the corner of Sixth and Francis Streets, fronting on the former, from which it is approached by a flight of steps. In a lofty basement, extending beneath the entire building, is taught one of the largest Sunday Schools in the city. This has been (1881) for the past eighteen years, superintended by W. W. Bernard. Adjoining the church, in the rear, and fronting on Francis Street, is the parsonage, a neat and commodious two story brick residence, built in 1868, at a cost of $4,000. The estimated value of the whole of this church property is $18,000.
A prosperous Mission Sunday School in South St. Joseph is under the superintendency of H. G. Walker, Esq.
The First Baptist Church was incorporated under the State law in June, 1872.
THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH,
a neat frame structure on the corner of Twelfth and Penn Streets, was erected in 1871. It is generally well attended, and has always main- tained a prosperous Sunday School.
THE FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH
is reported in the New Year's papers of 1875 as having an organization, in charge of the Rev. James Hummer, at the Sixth Street Market House, in North St. Joseph. In the following year, they are reported as Free Communion Baptists, with the same place of worship, a membership of eighty-four and a Sunday School of 110 pupils, superintended by Dr. Blackburn.
The minister in charge of the church, at this time, was Rev. O. S. Harding. In January, 1877, Rev. Claib Williams is mentioned as pastor of the church, with a membership of eighty in his charge.
The New Year's report of 1878, referring to this church reads, "sixty members, no pastor and no building."
The report of 1879, speaks of "The Mission Sunday School," an organization under control of the First Baptist Church, and located on North Sixth Street, Dr. J. T. Westover, Superintendent.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE FRANCIS STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH (COLORED).
The place of worship of this organization is a handsome brick struc- ture, on Francis Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Streets. The lot on which it stands cost $900. The building measures 72x38 feet. It was commenced in 1874, and afterwards completed at a cost of about $10,000. Rev. W. W. Stewart, the present (1881) minister, has been for many years pastor in charge of this congregation, which is said to be the largest in the city. A numerously attended Sunday School is also a feature of this church. The colored Baptists of St. Joseph had a large organization in the city long prior to the building of this church.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This great and rapidly increasing religious organization was initi- ated in 1809, by Thomas Campbell, a preacher of piety and distinction among the Seceders, aided by his son Alexander, to whose ability and energy its successful progress is mainly attributed, and by whom it has been chiefly directed.
In the year 1844, Elder Duke Young, of the Christian Church, preached the first discourse in the then village of St. Joseph, at the pri- vate residence of Mrs. Northcutt, on Second Street, near the Market Square. In 1845, Mr. Shackleford, a private member of the church, made an effort to gather the few members for social worship in what was known as the Kemper school house. At the first meeting there were only three persons present, to wit: Mr. Shackleford, Mrs. Boyd and Mrs. Preston Moss. These meetings were continued through the summer and fall of 1845. In 1847, Elder Duke Young held a protracted meeting in the court house. The congregation continued to hold its meetings from house to house till 1850, when the church was organized.
Dr. S. D. Overstreet, and Allen G. Mansfield, were the elders. The meetings, after the organization, were held in the court house, until 1858, when the church edifice on the corner of Third and Robidoux Streets, was erected. During these years, the conversion of Elder J. J. Wyatt occurred, and from the time of his conversion until 1858, he supplied the pulpit, with occasional assistance. On the death of Dr. Overstreet, Mr. Wyatt was elected to the eldership, and filled the pulpit until 1859, when Mr. M. E. Lard became the pastor of the church. Mr. Lard resigned after the breaking out of the civil war, when Elder J. J. Wyatt again served the church until 1866, when Elder W. C. Rogers was called. Upon the resignation of Elder Rogers, Elder Wyatt again supplied the pulpit until 1869, when Elder John Lindsay succeeded him. Elder Lind- say resigned in 1870, and Elder Wyatt again supplied the pulpit until 1872, when he voluntarily resigned. October Ist, 1872, Elder Thomas
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CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
P. Haley took charge of the church. He was succeeded by Elder John H. Duncan, in December, 1876, who in turn was followed by Elder John B. Corwin. Elder M. M. Good is now (1881) pastor.
The new Christian Church, on the corner of Tenth and Edmond Streets, was built in 1874-75. The lot on which it stands was purchased from Isaac Curd, for the sum of $2,200.
The building is a handsome brick edifice, with a seating capacity in the main audience room of 700. Its cost was about $15,000. John DeClue, the contractor, took in part payment, the old church building on Third Street, at a valuation of $3,500. The membership of this church is large, and a correspondingly large Sunday School is attached-
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
On the 14th day of September, 1851, the first missionary service of the Episcopal Church was held in St. Joseph, in a small room on Jule Street, afterwards occupied as the residence of Wm. A. Davis, the post- master. There were but five members in the place at that time. These included Mrs. Nancy Taylor, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Jas. Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Cargel. On the 14th of April, 1852, a parish was organized, and a small frame building on the northwest corner of Jule and Third Streets, was purchased and fitted up at a cost of about $1,000.
The Rev. M. McNamara remained in charge of this church about fourteen months. In March, 1854, the Rev. W. N. Irish, on the resigna- tion of Mr. McNamara, took charge of the parish. He administered his first communion to four persons, the membership numbering only seven. In 1856, a lot on the northeast corner of Francis and Seventh Streets, was purchased for a church building. In August, 1857, the corner-stone of the new building was laid. The foundation was subsequently aban- doned.
In November, 1858, the Rev. W. R. Pickman took charge of the church. In February, 1860, a neat frame building was erected for a par- sonage on the corner of Francis and Seventh Streets, at a cost of $1,700. Mr. Pickman remained in charge of the church till October, 1860, when he resigned, leaving a congregation of fifty-three communicants.
In October, 1860, the Rev. R. H. Weller, became rector of the church. On the 20th of December, 1862, the parsonage was accidently destroyed by fire. A lot north of the church, 60x120, was purchased with a frame building for a parsonage. In June, 1864, the church build- ing was extended twenty-five feet in the rear, forming an addition of chancel, choir, vestry room and twenty-two pews, which cost $2,000.
On the 15th of October, 1866, the Rev. R. H. Weller resigned his charge of the parish and removed from St. Joseph. On the 18th of October the Rev. W. C. Hopkins commenced services as rector of Christ Church. About this time an aid society was organized from among the
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
members of the church. Between January and May, 1867, more than $2,000 of the parish debt was paid. In March of the same year, a par- ish school was commenced in the parsonage, with the Rev. C. F. D. Lyne, who had just been elected assistant minister of the parish, as principal.
In 1867, a library association, of young people of the parish, was organized in the parsonage, for mutual, literary, social and spiritual improvement, and for the accumulation of a good library for adults. On the 30th of August, 1867, the Rev. W. C. Hopkins tendered his resigna- tion, to take effect November 15, 1867, which was accepted. On the 2d of September, the parish school commenced Michaelmas term, in a room over Sandusky's grocery store, on the corner of Edmond and Sixth Streets, with the Rev. Lyne, principal, assisted by Mrs. G. M. Teale.
In January, 1867, the Mission Sunday School was revived with about eighty pupils, and afternoon services were commenced in the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad station house. On the 8th of July, 1867, the Rev. Lyne began his missionary work at that point. On the 18th of October of the same year, was organized Christ Church Branch Co-operative Mis- sionary Society. Between the 12th and 15th of November, following, the convocation of North Missouri met in Christ Church. Nine clergy- men were present, including the Right Reverend T. H. Vail, Bishop of Kansas, who confirmed thirteen persons. On the 15th of November the first service of the St. Joseph Mission was held in P. A. Huxley's new hall. Rev. W. C. Hopkins preached here his last sermon. During the period of his ministry, fifty-seven were added to the church, and forty- two were baptized. The Rev. Lyne resigned as assistant minister.
In November, 1867, Rev. W. R. Pickman was recalled, and served as rector until April, 1869, when he resigned. Rev. Wm. Phillips suc- ceeded Mr. Pickman, and served until January, 1871. From January Ist, 1871, to June Ist of same year, the parish was vacant. On the Ist of June, 1871, Rev. Dr. Runcie took the pulpit of the parish, and has remained in charge to the present time (1881). He also superintends the large Sunday school of this church.
December 24, 1876, the old, patched-up frame building of Christ Church was destroyed by fire. The only article of value saved from the flames was the organ, and this was recovered in a damaged condition. The present edifice was speedily erected on the site of the burnt build- ing, the new church fronting on Seventh, instead of on Francis, as did the original building.
The new edifice of Christ Church, which was completed about a year after the fire, is, with the exception of the Cathedral, the most spacious, and, in point of design and finish, the most elegant ecclesiastical struc- ture in the city. It is of brick, trimmed with free stone, and its graceful and towering spire renders it a conspicuous object of the town.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
The seating capacity of this church, exclusive of the organ loft, is seven hundred and twenty-five. The cost of this building was about twenty thousand dollars.
The corner-stone was laid in July, 1877, and the first services were held in November of the same year. The building was completed Feb- ruary 1, 1878. This church has a large membership.
HOLY TRINITY MISSION OF CHRIST CHURCH,
For several years a prosperous Sunday School organization, holding services in the German Evangelical Church, in South St. Joseph, com- pleted in the spring of 1881, a neat frame church structure, on the north- east corner of Thirteenth and Monterey Streets. Services are held here by Rev. Dr. Runcie, rector of Christ Church.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The church of which the present congregation is a development, was organized on the 12th of January, 1854, by a committee of the Presbytery of "Upper Missouri." The organization was effected in the parlor of Mrs. Susan N. Combs. The following are the names of the or- iginal members of this organization : Dr. O. Brown, C. C. Carson, James Dysart, Mrs. Susan N. Combs, Mrs. E. Carson, Mrs. L. Dysart, Mrs. L. Fore, Mrs. L. Fulkerson, Dr. James E. Hewlett, Francis Irwine, James M. Irwine, Mrs. Louisa C. Irwine, Mrs. N. D. Langford, Mrs. Hettie Monroe, John Montgomery, Mrs. E. Montgomery, Mrs. Wm. Sublette, Mrs. S. S. Sublette, Wm. Varnarsdale and George C. Venable.
The first elders of the Church were: Dr. O. Brown, C. C. Carson and James Dysart, and others were chosen as the church grew, the names of whom, as far as can be ascertained, are as follows: John Colhoun, 1854; James E. Hewlett, 1855 ; James McConnell and Alexan- der Smiley, 1856; Joseph Venable and J. B. Howard, 1857 ; J. F. Bruner, John Williams, Charles W. Campbell and E. E. Bacon, 1864 ; Thomas R. Smith and J. B. Lorance, 1868.
The deacons: James E. Hewlett, Wm. Sublette, George Venable, E. B. Neely, George Lyon, Cyrus E. Robst, E. A. Hitchcock, John A. Varnarsdale, E. E. Colhoun, John Williams, Louis Huggins, Thomas E. Tootle, Edward Welsh, Robert Douglas, Christian Kessler, Nelson P. Smith, Thomas R. Smithi, C. B. France, Wm. E. Hosea, R. L. McDonald, Walter P. Sanders and Daniel McDonald.
This church had no regular pastor till the fall of 1855, when the Rev. A. V. C. Schenck took charge of it, occupying as a place of worship a hall over the Market House. The Rev. Mr. Schenck was installed in February, 1856, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, then located on the corner of Third and Felix streets. During the winter of 1856, Mr. Schenck resigned his pastorate, and in April, 1857, his pastoral rela- tion was finally dissolved by the Presbytery. In the spring of 1858, the
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
Rev. John G. Fackler became the pastor. At that time a small room was used by the congregation over the drug store of Mr. Stuppy on Fifth Street. Number of communicants at the time, was fifty-four. The congregation soon secured a larger room, in the second story of a build- ing on Felix Street, which was occupied by the church in July, 1858. The services were held here until 1860, when the congregation moved into the basement of the church on Sixth Street.
Previous to this time, the church had been known and designated simply as "The Presbyterian Church, (O. S.) St. Joseph, Missouri," but thereafter the organization was known and called " Sixth Street Church." The civil war coming up, the building was not completed. In the winter of 1863, fourteen members withdrew for the purpose of forming the "Westminster Presbyterian Church." After a service of six years, in March, 1864, the Rev. John G. Fackler, in view of his declining health, resigned his pastoral charge. The Rev. A. P. Forman succeeded him in July, 1864, and remained in charge until 1870.
In 1867, occurred the painful division of the congregation, with which many are familiar. This separation took place on the basis of a friendly and equitable division of the property belonging to the congre- gation ; that portion of the church adhering to the General Assembly receiving the unfinished building on Sixth Street, while those adhering to the old Synod of Missouri came in possession of the parsonage. There exists between the two churches no unfriendliness or unkindness. At the time of the division, the church had 180 members, 54 of these, remaining under the jurisdiction of the General Assembly, and those adhering to the Synod of Missouri adopted the name of the "First Presbyterian Church of St. Joseph, Missouri." The congregation being without a house in which to meet, secured the Academy of Music, and continued their services here until their new church was ready for occu- pancy. In September, 1870, the Rev. John G. Fackler resumed his pas- torate labors.
The new church was dedicated on the 21st of January, 1872, with solemn and impressive ceremonies. The building, a brick structure, is one of the largest, most substantial, and tastefully finished churches in the West. It was completed in 1868, at a cost of near fifty thousand dollars. The main altar is wrought of pure white marble, and is an offering from the children of the church, bearing the inscription : "First Presbyterian Church-The Children's Offering, 1871." The bell of this church, which was cast in Baltimore, weighs over two tons, and cost, with fixtures, $1,500. The organ cost $4,500.
In 1876, the Rev. R. S. Campbell, D. D., a distinguished graduate of the University of Dublin, assumed pastorate charge of this church, which he still (1881) retains.
The Sunday school of this church is numerously atten led.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
was completed in 1881. It is a neat brick structure, on the north- west corner of Twelfth and Penn Streets. A very large and prosperous Sunday school is connected with this church.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The place of worship owned and occupied by this organization is a new gothic frame building, 40x60 feet, located on Edmond, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, and is provided with ante-rooms, choir loft, etc., and has seating capacity for three hundred persons. The building was erected in 1869, at a cost of about $6,000. The church was organ- ized on the 12th of May, 1867. The incorporators were L. L. Rich- mond and wife, Isaac Weightman and wife, E. Foote, Jr., and wife, Mrs. M. E. Montague, Mrs. M. W. Bliss, Mrs. E. M. and H. K. White, Esq. The first pastor of the church was the Rev. Wm. L. Bray. He served from November, 1867, to July, 1868, when, on account of ill health, he resigned. In July, 1868, he was succeeded by Rev. J. Crane, who remained till 1870, and then Rev. F. L. Kenyon took charge of the church, continuing till August, 1878, when he resigned.
In 1873, the trustees were E. G. Sheldon, W. H. Campbell, Esq., and Joseph Durfee. The deacons were Wm. H. Campbell, Esq., and Mr. Joseph S. Ford, and the clerk was H. K. White, Esq. The church, beginning with eleven members, had, during 1873, upwards of sixty. A large Sunday school has always been connected with this church. This, for some time past, has been ably superintended by H. K. White, Esq., a prominent attorney of St. Joseph.
Rev. W. R. Seaver, of Muskegon, Michigan, by invitation, assumed pastoral charge of the church in January, 1881.
HIEBREW CONGREGATION OF ADATH JOSEPHI.
The oldest religious denomination in the world is the Jewish Church. A striking peculiarity of this venerable body is the fact that it has main- tained its existence intact through the space of more than eighteen hun- dred years, ensuing the capture of the Holy City by Titus, and that without a recognized leader, or any system of union which approximates ' a general organization.
Previous to 1859, the Israelitish congregation of St. Joseph occupied as a place of worship, a temporary hall on Felix Street. They then pur- chased and fitted up a small church building formerly owned by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Sixth and Edmond Streets. This, shortly after its completion, was destroyed by fire. In 1859, the present synagogue was commenced and completed the follow-
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
ing spring. In occupies a site on the corner of Sixth and Jule Streets. Though the exterior appearance of the building is Gothic, of the plainest style, the interior is strikingly chaste, elegant and attractive.
Among the founders of the St. Joseph Synagogue, were Joseph Leo- pold, David Westheimer, Joseph Oppenheimer, Charles Eppstein, Schwabucher, and perhaps some others of whose names we are not at present informed. The Jews have numerous benevolent institutions throughout the United States. Prominent among these, is the widely extended charitable association known as the Sons of the Covenant. It consists of a grand lodge, which meets annually to direct the general interests of the order. The subordinate elements of the organization consist of the seven or eight districts into which the United States is divided. St.Joseph is in District No. 2, commonly known as the Cincin- nati District.
Rev. S. Kaufmann was rabbi of the synagogue till 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. S. Gerstmann, who served till 1879, when he was suc- ceeded by the present (1881) rabbi, Rev. Doctor Isaac Schwab.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL ZION'S CHURCH.
was organized in St. Joseph in 1865, with Rev. A. H. Kirchoff as pastor. The building occupied by them stands on the corner of Fourth and Francis. It was sold under a deed of trust and became the property of this church in 1865. The first pastor of the congregation was Rev. A. H. Kirchoff. He remained in charge till 1874, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. Nestel, the present (1881) minister. The congregation includes forty families. A prosperous Sunday School is attached to the church.
This was the "old brick church," built by the new school Presbyte- rians in 1847, and the second ecclesiastical structure of any kind erected in the city, the first having been the " old log church," mentioned in the history of the Presbyterian Church, and referred to in other sketches in this history.
In April, 1881, the German Evangelical Zion's Church sold this ancient landmark of St. Joseph, with the elevated lot 80x240 feet, on which it stands, to A. M. Saxton, for $11,000. The work of grading down the lot forty feet to the level of Francis Street, for the purpose of erecting a bank structure, was immediately inaugurated, Mr. Saxton permitting that portion on which the buildings of the church and parsonage stand to remain till October, 1881, when the congregation will move to their new church on the corner of Ninth and Jule Streets. The lot on which this is being erected cost $4,000, and the church and par- sonage will cost between $9,000 and $10,000.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
THE SECOND GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH,
organized in 1874, owns and occupies a neat brick building of recent construction. It stands on the corner of Thirteenth and Monterey Streets, and was completed at a cost of $5,000. Rev. Julius Kramer was pastor of the church till the close of the year 1876, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. F. Grabeau. January, 1878, Rev. F. Grabeau was still reported pastor with a membership of forty families, and eighty-five in the Sunday school. January, 1881, Rev. F. Weltge is reported as the successor of Rev. F. Grabeau, and the church as having a membership of twenty-five families.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
In 1875, this church occupied the building on the corner of Third and Robidoux Streets, formerly owned by the "Christians," and now (1881) used to accommodate a medical college. The report of January, 1876, gives a membership of twenty-five, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. Heineger, and a Sunday School of seventy-five scholars. No change is reported till January, 1879, when Rev. C. F. Kaessman appears as minister. The same report appears in January, 1880.
THE CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION,
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