USA > Nebraska > Dodge County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 22
USA > Nebraska > Washington County > History of Dodge and Washington Counties, Nebraska, and their people, Volume I > Part 22
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The decorations were truly beautiful in design. The sides of the platform and the adjacent trees were festooned with black and white cambric, bouquets of bright flowers ornamenting the loops. In front were pictures of Grant, Lincoln and Garfield, all heavily draped with black. There were here and there crowns, harps, hearts and crosses made of lovely flowers. The speaker's stand was in jet black, sur- mounted with a bank of flowers, bordered with fragrant leaves and a line of scarlet geraniums at the top and bottom, amid a solid center of feverfew and the word "GRANT" brought out in blue ageratum. Above and back of all was the national flag drooping in graceful folds.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT MCKINLEY
Lincoln, Garfield, Grant-then the nation mourned the death of President William Mckinley, in the autumn days of 1901. For many days the whole people of the Republic were inquiring after the condi- tion of their beloved executive, after he had been shot while attending the Exposition at Buffalo, New York. His name was in everyone's mind, for he was a beloved man, stricken down by an assassin in days of supreme peace and prosperity. Finally the end came and "The President is dead" flashed from ocean to ocean and from lake to gulf.
A few days after his death, and as his funeral was being held in Canton, Ohio, every place of note in the Union held its memorial
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services. In Fremont, as is shown by the newspaper files of that date, services were held at the various churches on Sunday. Special memorials were held at the First Methodist Episcopal, the First Congre- gational and the Episcopal Church, where eloquent sermons were deliv- ered by the pastors. At the other churches fervent prayers were offered up to the Most High, asking for guidance of the new ruler of the nation's affairs.
At the Congregational Church beautiful decorations together with a large portrait of President Mckinley were very impressive. His last words were handsomely inscribed in white lettering upon a black card just above the likeness. The audience was made up of all classes, and professions and business callings. Members of the choir sang: "Lead Kindly Light," "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," and "Nearer My God to Thee."
Rev. William H. Buss, pastor, took for his text the words of Second Samuel 1:19-"The beauty of Israel is slain upon Thy high places : how are the mighty fallen!" Among the many touching tributes paid the departed President by Reverend Buss were the following paragraphs :
"Immortal is the scene of Mckinley's death-bed-no fear there. No fretting at God's will. No cry for vengeance. But the quiet of the spirit self-committed to the hands of the Almighty. A smile of deathless love for the weeping wife. A pressure of the dying hand. A faint singing, as of the very soul anticipating its reward and saying: 'Nearer My God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.' A lapsing into uncon- sciousness, and then after another waking the last farewell, that might well break and yet comfort the hearts of eighty million people he so loved; 'Good-by all, good-by! It is God's way; Thy will be done!'
"Ah, friends, here is the end of the Christian, and that end is peace."
At the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Fremont, Rev. F. H. Sanderson spoke eloquently from Second Samuel, 3:38. He delineated the career of Mckinley from his noble youth to the time he was slain by the hand of an assasin. He spoke of him as a boy, as a soldier, as a statesman. Continuing in his discourse, the speaker said he "earned his fame not alone by things written and said but by the arduous great- ness of things done. His personality was more eloquent than tongue, more commanding than pen. Measure his character in what we may, it stands in pre-eminent greatness."
At St. James' Episcopal Church in Fremont, on that memorable Sabbath, the Rev. H. B. Jefferson, rector, delivered an impressive address. He spoke from St. Mark, 4:24-"Take heed what ye hear." This was a discourse filled with appropriate remarks and especially that part touching on parents. He warned the parents present to care well for their children and not allow them to degenerate from liberty to license, but to keep them at home and give them careful training.
The services held in Fremont and other parts of the county on the occasion of the death of the lamented and universally beloved William .Mckinley will long be remembered by all who heard the above men- tioned addresses.
CHAPTER XVIII VARIOUS CHURCHES IN DODGE COUNTY
FIRST CHURCHES IN DODGE COUNTY-THE CONGREGATIONAL DENOMI- NATION-METHODIST CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY-FREE METHODIST CHURCHES - UNITED PRESBYTERIAN - PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES - BAPTIST CHURCHES-LUTHERAN CHURCHES-VARIOUS BRANCHES- CATHOLIC CHURCHES-CHRISTIAN CHURCHI-ADVENTIST CHURCH.
It can be truly said that the religious element has always predom- inated in Dodge County. This is not to be understood that all pioneers and those who settled here at a later date, were Christians or church members, for many were not, but a majority of them were of some one of the many religious denominations, owing to nationality and location from which they emigrated. The Catholics were early in the field, and the Protestant churches were well represented by those who came in from some one of the New England states, or possibly from the Middle and Southern states. The Methodists, here as everyhere, were among the pioneer band; also the Congregationalists, from York State and New England.
As soon as the various communities had built for themselves such buildings as were needed for residences and stables, they at once com- menced to cast about and agitate the matter of building schoolhouses and churches. Frequently the schoolhouses, though of logs, were built with the view of using the building for both school and church services.
The sturdy pioneer who came in from the East, having crossed the two great rivers-Mississippi, and Missouri-had left homes where the sound of the church-going bell still echoed in their ears, though here they had settled on a trackless prairie, far removed from chapel or church. They had been reared under religious influences and wanted to raise their sons and daughters in the faith of their fathers, hence assisted in providing convenient church edifices, when possible to do so.
FIRST CHURCH IN COUNTY
The distinction of having organized the first church in Dodge County must be credited to the First Congregational Church of Fremont. It was organized August 7, 1857, with seven members. From this small beginning it has grown to a strong active church of five hundred mem- bers, forty of which number are now absent members. This church was formed by Rev. Isaac E. Heaton, and seven persons as follows : Edward H. Barnard, William R. Davis, Nathan Heaton, Isaac E. Heaton, Mrs. Miranda N. Heaton, Mrs. Alice Marvin and Henry A. Pierce. Mr. Davis soon returned to his former home in Wisconsin and Father Nathan Heaton died the following October, so the good minister and wife, with three charter members, commenced in reality to build up the interests of the church-the first within Dodge County of any denomination. Rev. Isaac Heaton served as pastor twelve years during which he increased the membership to fifty. In the spring of 1869, Rev. Isaac Heaton resigned and in October that year, Rev. J. B. Chase was called and served two years. Following is a list of other
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pastors : Rev. Roswell Foster, three years, during whose pastorate the church edifice was enlarged; Rev. George Porter, one year; Rev. A. T. Swing, in 1878 a pastorate continuing eight years; and Rev. F. I .. Berry, who served two years. Rev. William H. Buss followed with a pastorate of nearly twelve years and was succeeded by Rev. John Doane whose service was of three years. He was succeeded by Rev. William H. Buss who conducted a second pastorate of twelve years resigning in 1918. The next minister was Rev. O. O. Smith who began September 1, 1918.
FIRST PARSONAGE IN NEBRASKA
The first few years after the organization of this church, services were held in a small frame building later incorporated into a resi- dence still standing at the corner of Eighth and C streets. An outline of the various places where services have been held by this church is as follows: While the above building was being used and in 1860, material was gathered for a church building. This was all destroyed by fire. Soon after (probably 1861), a small unfurnished dwelling was used for a church and continued to be used for a number of years. In 1868 a frame church was erected, its size was 28 by 40 feet. In this building's tower was placed the first church bell. In 1874 this church was enlarged, under pastorate of Rev. Roswell Foster. About 1880, the building was again enlarged under Pastor Swing, and during his pastorate a thousand dollar pipe organ was placed in the church.
In 1885 the present beautiful brick church was erected at a cost of $25,000 and the pipe organ formerly in the old frame building was transferred to the new edifice. In 1907, under the pastorate of Rev.
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William H. Buss, the new Austin pipe organ was dedicated. It was purchased through the efforts of the Ladies' Aid Society. Its cost was $3,200. The present church building stands on the same site of the former frame structure at the corner of Military Avenue and Broad Street. It was dedicated June 6, 1885. Its seating capacity is about seven hundred-five hundred in the main auditorium and two hundred in the social rooms.
Under the pastorate of Rev. William H. Buss, the church has celebrated both its fortieth and its fiftieth anniversaries, attracting prominent visitors from all parts of the country and adding luster to the annals of the organization. In each of these years large improve- ments were made in the property at the cost of thousands of dollars ; and the church made a record in the last quarter of a century for benevolence and membership growth. It also built a parsonage at Thirteenth and I streets that cost nearly four thousand dollars. This building was sold and an old parsonage property near the church was rebuilt in 1914 at a cost of $2,000 and in 1919, improvements in the church property were made to the value of $2,000. The entire property is now valued at $75,000.
THE SCRIBNER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The Scribner Congregational Church was organized in 1871 and now has a total membership of ninety-four. A building was erected in 1882 and was later enlarged to meet the demands of the growing congregation. The society also owns its own parsonage. The Sunday school connected with this church has an attendance of about one hun- dred and twenty. The present superintendent is E. H. Koch.
The charter members included these: (Rev. Thomas Douglas of Fontanelle, being the moderator of the organized meeting) Andrew and Sarah Warwick, Lina Clayton and Maria Wright.
The various pastors have been: Rev. Andrew Warwick, L. E. Bar- ton, Wallace Bruce, A. L. Seward, A. Doremus, M. B. Harrison, R. W. Birch.
THE DODGE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
A Congregational church was formed at the village of Dodge Febru- ary 14, 1887, by Rev. J. D. Stevenson. The first members included these: S. Lant, E. H. Lant, H. Stormer, H. S. Stormer, Helen Camp- bell, W. Hatton, A. A. Hatton.
At first services were held in the railroad depot but in 1887-8 an edifice was built costing $1,000.
A good parsonage was soon provided for the pastor, costing $640.
Among the earlier pastors here were Revs. J. D. Stevenson, Samuel Pearson, P. H. Hines.
This denomination has churches at Uehling, and possibly other points in the county not reported to the writer.
METHODIST CHURCHES IN DODGE COUNTY
Methodism was early in the religious field of Dodge County, coming only second to the Congregational denomination.
"The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Fremont" was organ- ized in the winter of 1857-58 with the following as charter members :
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E. H. Rogers, Lucy J. Rogers, Mary Flor, Wealthy Beebe, L. H. Rogers. The first pastor was Rev. J. Spillman. At first services were held at the residence of E. H. Rogers, but a frame church building was erected in 1866, which stood on the corner of Eighth and Broad 'streets, the site of the present edifice. This frame structure served well its pur- pose until the end of twenty years when the present frame church was erected, a portion of the edifice being worked into the new church. Its total cost, originally was $10,000. About 1900 the building was inade- quate for the growing congregation and it was enlarged considerably, but for a number of years it has been altogether too small for the con- gregation with the various departments of church and Sunday school work, hence the matter of rebuilding was agitated recently and it was voted to build a new edifice costing about $90,000. The preliminary work of raising funds is now (July, 1920) going forward. The build- ing will stand on the present site-opposite the beautiful city park- an ideal place around which clusters many a hallowed memory of earlier days in Methodism in the City of Fremont.
In 1875 a parsonage was erected at a cost of $1,000. In 1903 a new parsonage was built costing $5,500.
The charter members of this church are now all deceased. The present total membership is nine hundred and sixty (960) at this writing.
The present Sunday school has a membership of 500 and its capable superintendent is Miss Linna Barnett.
For a few months this church occupied jointly with the Congregation- alists, their church building; the Methodists here have been independent as a society and owned their own church property. The various pastors who have served this church are as follows :
Revs. Jerome Spillman, J. Adriance, 1858-59; L. W. Smith, 1859-60; David Hart, 1860-61: Theodore Hoagland, 1861-62; J. H. Alling, 1862-63; M. Pritchard, 1863-65; J. Adriance, 1865-67; Joel A. Van Anda, 1867-70; E. J. Mechesney, 1870: Charles McKelvey, 1870-72; G. W. De La Matyr, 1872-73; J. M. Richards, 1873-75; C. G. Lathrop, 1875-76; G. W. De La Matyr, 1876-78; L. B. W. Long, 1878-79; J. W. Shank, 1879-81 ; W. F. Warren, 1881-83; J. Fowler, 1883-84 ; George M. Brown, 1884-87; T. B. Hilton, 1887-89; J. W. Robinson, 1889-92; George M. Brown, 1892-94; F. M. Sisson, 1894-97; W. P. Murray, 1897-99; F. H. Sanderson, 1899-1905; John A. Spyker, 1905-08: Thomas Bithell, 1908-11; F. M. Sisson, 1911-17; Emory D. Hull, 1917-to the present date, 1920.
Other Methodist churches of Dodge County are located at Hooper, North Bend, Ames, Purple Cane, Bethel Church, southeast of Hooper and Nickerson. Some of the information blanks sent out to the churches have not been returned to the historian, hence only meager account is given of such societies.
THE HOOPER METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church was organized in 1872 by Rev. George De La Matyr. The first members were: Mr. and Mrs. Orlando A. Heimbaugh, Mrs. Andrew Baker, and either two or three other persons. The first meet- ings were held in the railroad depot. A neat frame church was built in 1884, at a cost of $3,200. This building was dedicated by J. B. Maxfield, D. D.
The present membership is one hundred and forty.
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The Sunday school connected with this church has an enrollment of 125 scholars ; its superintendent is George W. Heine.
The pastors who have served at Hooper have been: Revs. L. Charles, 1882; W. G. Pyle, 1883; W. A. Davis, 1884; Charles C. Wilson, 1885-86; J. E. Q. Flaharty, 1887-88; O. Eggleston, 1889-92; J. B. Leedom, 1893; William J. Hatheral, L. D. Matson, W. W. Shenk, William Esplin, 1895-98; B. B. Kiester, 1898; A. A. Luce, 1901; William Esplin, 1902-03; L. R. De Wolf, 1904; George B. Warren, 1905-06; J. H. Hard, 1907-08; C. O. Trump, 1909; T. E. Smith, 1910-12; B. F. Eberhardt, 1913; W. W. Whitman, 1914-15; A. H. Brink, 1916-18; E. H. Tipton, 1919, still serving in 1920.
NORTH BEND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church is unfortunate in having many of its earliest records lost, but from what can be now, at this late day, gathered from quite reliable sources it may be stated that the following is about the out- line history of this Methodist Church: It was organized in 1858 by the pioneer minister, Rev. Jacob Adriance. In 1869, Rev. J. Van Anda formed a Sabbath school, the first members of which were: Dora V. Johnson, Mary H. Skinner, Mrs. Benjamin, and Mrs. S. L. Lester. At first they assembled in the school house, but in 1872 a frame build- ing was erected for their use. The present (1920) total church mem- bership is 146.
The following have served as pastors of the North Bend Methodist Episcopal Church: Revs. John Van Anda, J. M. Adair, Reverend Charles, C. W. Dawson, D. Marquette, John Brooks, C. C. Wilson, Peter De Clark. No record at hand for further pastors except the present one, Rev. W. H. Jackson, whose salary the last year was $1,700.
The present church edifice was erected a few years since at a cost of $15,000, including parsonage and grounds.
NICKERSON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Up to 1888 religious services at Nickerson were held by various denominations at the school house but during that year the Methodists built a neat chapel costing $1,300. The railroad donated $200 towards the purchase of the lot on which to erect the church building.
The present total membership of this church is 275; present Sunday school membership 201; value of church property $1,700. The present pastor, Rev. E. O. Johnson, receives a salary of $400 a year from this church.
AMES METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
No data was furnished the historian from which to compile a his- tory of this church organization. Conference reports in 1919 gave the . membership at 114; its pastor Rev. Frank L. Reeder, salary, $1,110. The total value of the church property is $11,500.
BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This church is situated in Maple Township, Dodge County, and was organized February 16, 1874, by charter members as follows: Edgar Adriance, Anna Adriance, Louisa Bemar, James Hanson, Sr.,
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James Hanson, Jr., Charles Brown, Catherine Brown, and Ann Brad- bury. At first services were held at the Brown schoolhouse, but in 1878 a neat frame church was erected and was dedicated by Presiding Elder Slaughter. This building was built on the southeast corner of section 4, township 18. In 1891 there was a total membership of forty persons here.
Among the earlier pastors of this church may be recalled: Revs. Jacob Adriance, Reverend Dans, J. Q. A. Flaharty, W. G. Harrigan, J. Adair, Peck, W. J. Pyle, W. S. Davies, C. C. Wilson, and Rev. O. Eggleston. (No record.)
The present pastor is Rev. H. S. Grimes; membership is 98; salary, $1,250; value of church property, $1,250.
JAMESTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This was organized in October, 1888, by Rev. T. C. Clendening and the first members were: J. Adriance and family, T. Craig and wife, R. Kemp and wife. The schoolhouse was first used as a meeting house for this society, but in the fall of 1890 a frame building was erected and dedicated by Rev. P. S. Merrill, of Omaha. The build- ing referred to stood on the southwest quarter of section 20, township 18, range 7, east. The facts concerning this church since the nineties is unknown to the compiler of this chapter.
OTHER METHODIST CHURCHES
Besides the above churches of this denomination there are others at country stations where services are held in schoolhouses.
THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA
March 19, 1903, there was organized at the City of Fremont a Free Methodist Church under the above auspices. Its charter members included : William McElfresch, J. P. Dibble, W. S. Johnson (trustees) ; A. S. McClure, Ida McClure, Maud McClure, James McCreath, Mrs. McCreath, Etta Guthrie, Joseph Dibble, Dellia Dibble and S. Anderson.
This society now has a membership of sixty, with a usual congre- gation of 150.
A frame church was built in 1913, as well as a neat frame parsonage at the same date.
The Sunday school has for its superintendent Alice Pettit; the attend- ance is about ninety.
The pastors who have thus far served this church at Fremont have been : Rev. A. S. McClure, W. McElbreth, T. W. Rutledge, H. Hayden, W. McElbreth, Mary McIntire, F. E. Miller. L. M. Rutledge, H. Wil- liams, F. E. Miller, W. W. Whyte, H. C. Williams, L. M. Roby and present pastor, W. M. Adams.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
There was a society of this denomination organized at North Bend in 1861. The exact date was July 19. Rev. Thomas McCartney was organizer of this church. The charter members were as follows: Alex- ander Morrison and wife, John Miller and wife, Mrs. W. S. Cotterell, George Young, James Slass and wife, Robert Graham and wife, James Graham, Thomas Patterson, Edward Johnson.
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There are now 225 members in this church, with 150 attending Sunday school, with Mrs. Gertrude Johnson as superintendent.
The pastors have included these: Revs. Joseph G. McKee, T. P. Proudfit, Isaac A. Wilson, Robert Campbell, David Inches, L. W. Williamson, G. T. Scott, Peter Swan, Charles W. Ritchie, James Black, J. A. Kennedy, D. D., W. C. Davidson, D. D.
ยท At first services were held in schoolhouses but as the schoolhouse used mostly was a mile west of town, in 1869 a church edifice was erected at an expense of $1,700. It was erected on the corner of Eighth and Sycamore streets and was still owned by the church in 1893, but not used, as in 1885 a neat frame edifice was built on Ninth and Chest- nut streets. The belfry was provided with a clear-toned heavy bell. The cost of this edifice, aside from its furniture, was $5,000. Dr. John- son of College Springs, Iowa, dedicated this structure in February, 1888.
A parsonage was built in 1895 and the present one in 1920.
FREMONT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Presbyterian Church at Fremont was organized November 23, 1873. and incorporated April 12, 1874, with charter members including these: James G. Kinnier, Mrs. Annie Kinnier, John A. Kinnier, Robert G. Kinnier, Thomas S. Kinnier, James M. Kinnier (from a Presby- terian Church in Ireland), and William Porterfield, Mrs. Mary Etta Porterfield ( from Council Bluffs, Iowa), Mrs. Mary E. Fullinneider, Mrs. Clara B. Pilsbury (from the Congregational Church of Fremont).
A frame edifice was erected in 1875, which with the lot cost $3,600. This was built on Fifth Street, between C and Union streets. The present building was erected in 1910; dedicated December 4, 1910. The parsonage in use now was erected in 1914.
The present Sunday school superintendent is D. D. Rowe and the school has an enrollment of 275 scholars. For a number of years this church has supported Dr. J. F. Kelly on the foreign field in China and is known as a strong missionary church.
The only other Presbyterian Church in Dodge County today is the Webster Church in Webster Township in the northwest part of the county, located nine miles to the north of North Bend.
The pastors of the Fremont Presbyterian Church have been: Revs. Edwin Schofield, A. B. Byrons, P. S. Hurlbert, George M. Brown, R. M. I .. Braden, Daniel Blose, Noah H. G. Fifer, Nathaniel Chestnut, Clarence W. Meyer, J. Frank Reed, Nathaniel McGriffin.
THE FREMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
The largest church of the Baptist faith in Dodge County today is the one in the City of Fremont. This society was organized July 15, 1869, by Rev. George W. Freeman. The charter members included these: George H. Morrell, H. R. Harmon, William H. Wick, Grace M. Wick, Abraham Tice, James Tice, J. C. Blackman, H. C. Ward, Charles H. Lewis, Amanda A. Lewis, Miranda Condit, Maria Harmon, Mattie L. Harmon, Deborah Whittier.
The first services were held in the old courthouse. The first baptism was administered February 23, 1870. In the autumn of 1871 a church building was erected at a cost of about $2,500. It was built on Fifth and C streets. It was enlarged and remodelled several times and the property is now estimated to be worth $14,000.
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The present total membership is 350.
The Sunday school superintendent is Mrs. D. E. F. Manter, and . the attendance is about one hundred and sixty.
The pastors of this Baptist Church have been: Revs. J. McDonald, Reverend Guild, Thomas Jones, A. Hitchcock, J. H. Storms, J. W. Osborn, J. C. Lewis, E. R. Curry, H. W. Tate, C. W. Bringstad, T. L. Ketman, E. F. Jordan, H. B. Foskett, I. W. Corey, J. Batzle, R. B. Favoright, who came in March, 1918, and is still pastor of the church.
There is also a Baptist Church at the Village of Dodge, the partic- ulars of which were not forthcoming.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCHES
This denomination is well represented within Dodge County, and is divided into several branches and nationalities-German, Danish, Swed- ish, and Danish-Norwegian.
The City of Fremont has the following Lutheran churches: German Lutheran with a good frame edifice on the corner of Third and C streets and in the same block is a two story frame parochial school building, well attended and properly conducted. The Salem, Danish, Swedish, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran and Danish-Norwegian churches of this faith have good frame buildings and have regular pastors and services. Salem church just mentioned, has a frame building on the corner of Fourth and D streets, erected in 1902; the Danish Evan- gelical Church has a frame structure on the corner of Fourth and Union streets, erected in 1907.
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