History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 49

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020

USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 49

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

321

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

in this mellow glow, their venerable heads crowned with a radiance not of earth, their faces bathed with the golden mist-left them among their books and flowers, in an Arca- dia of their own. And now God hath taken him out of Eden to usher him into Para- dise. Well, it was an ideal life, without fret or friction, and yet too useful to be selfish. Our old professor teaches us something even in his death."

When the board of education was consid- ering the plans for a school building to be erected on the Panl Street school site, they

gracefully honored the memory of Prof. Kellom, by giving to the new building his name. Mr. F. R. McConnell, who was at that time a member of the board, and who had been a pupil of the public schools nnder' Mr. Kellom, made the motion to name it the Kellom School, and the motion was unanimously adopted. As an acknowledg- ment of the honor Mrs. Kellom presented the school with a beautiful American flag, which was raised upon the school building for the first time on the day of the formal opening of the school.

CHAPTER XXXV.

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS - YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION - PERSONAL SKETCHES OF BISHOPS AND PIONEER CLERGYMEN.

Omaha has ninety-two church organiza- tions-eighteen Methodist, fifteen Presbyter- ian, twelve Congregational, nine Baptist, nine Catholic, eight Episcopal, eight Evan- gelical Lutheran, three United Presbyterian, three Jewish, three Evangelical, two Chris- tian, one Unitarian, one Universalist and one Latter Day Saints. The first sermon preached in this city was by Rev. Peter Cooper, a Methodist minister of Council Bluffs, in August, 1854. The St. Nicholas Hotel, then occupied by Mr. and Mrs. William P. Snow- den, being utilized for church purposes on that occasion. Services were held the fol- lowing year in the capitol building on Ninth Street, by Rev. Isaac F. Collins, also a Meth- odist preaeher, and in September, 1855, he organized a church society. In 1857 there were seven churches in Omaha, viz: Trinity (Episcopal), Rev. George W. Woten, rector; St. Jolın (Catholic); Congregational, Rev. Reuben Gaylord; Methodist, Rev. J. M. Chivington; Baptist, Rev. J. W. Leach; Presbyterian (old school), Rev. W. W. Ber- gen; Universalist, Rev. Mr. Merritt.

The First Methodist Church was organized in September, 1855, by Rev. Isaac F. Collins, and the following year a small brick build- ing was erected, at a cost of 84,500, on the present site of the Omaha National Bank. This building was occupied about five years, and then gave place to a two-story business house built by the church society, and a brick chapel building erected in 1868, on Seventeenth Street between Dodge and Cap- itol Avenue, it being the design of the soci- ety to construct a large and expensive church edifice in connection therewith, at the south-

east corner of Seventeentli and Capitol Av- enue. Financial difficulties ensued, however, and the plan was not carried out, the church society practically losing this property and also the property on Thirteenth Street. A frame edifice was erected in 1876, on Daven- port just west of Seventeenth Street, which was occupied until June 8, 1890, when the basement of the new building at Davenport and Twentieth was occupied for the first time. The new edifice is of stone and brick, solid and massive, and imposing in appear- ance. The brick used in the walls are dark red, twelve inches long, and of less thick- ness than ordinary brick. The tower is 125 feet higli, adding greatly to the appearance of the building .. The interior is finished after the latest designs in church architect- ure. The auditorium seats twelve hundred people. The church is lighted by electricity, with combined lights in the basement. The eost of the building was about $100,000, and it was dedicated May 24, 1890. The original church records have disappeared, the earliest date now accessible being that of May 15. 1862, when the following named were the board of trustees: George W. Homan, P. A. Demarest, John Ritchie, Edwin Loveland, George C. Ritchie, J. W. Tousley, N. P. Isaacs, George W. Forbes and Samuel Burns. the last two named still being residents of this city. Following is a list of the pastors in their order: Isaac Collins, J. M. Chiv- ington, J. W. Taylor, W. M. Smith, H. T. Davis, David Hart, T. B. Lemon, W. M. Smith (second term), W. B. Slaughter, II. C. Westwood, G. W. DeLamatyr, G. W. Gue, Clark Wright, L. F. Britt, HI. D. Fisher, J.

322

323

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

B. Maxfield, J. W. Stewart, Charles W. Sav- idge, R. N. Mckaig, T. M. House and P. S. Merrill. Rev. Frank Crane, of Bloomington, Ill., succeeded Rev. Mr. Merrill, September, 1892. During the war Mr. Chivington served on the plains as colonel of a Colorado regiment and attacked an Indian village with his command, on one occasion, under circumstances which excited much unfavor- able newspaper comment, Mr. DeLamatyr

T. H. Tibbles succeeded Rev. Adair in the pastorate, in 1874, and during his two years' service a parsonage was erected on the same lot with the church. Rev. J. P. Roe was appointed pastor in 1876, serving two years, one year without pay. In 1878, Rev. P. C. Johnson was assigned to this church and was succeeded the following year by Rev. D. Marquette, who secured a lot at the corner of Tenth and Pierce Streets on which a new

0000

HANSCOM PARK M. E. CHURCH.

was elected to Congress from Indiana, a few years ago, on the Greenback ticket.

The South Tenth Street Methodist Church was organized by Rev. J. M. Adair, who, in the summer of 1872, held meetings in the grove at Tenth and Pierce Streets. The lumber used for seats was paid for by a Sun- day collection and Mr. Paul Harmon made the seats gratuitously. In November of that year a little church building on the east side of Tenth Street, between Pierce and Pacific, then owned by Rev. Thomas McCague, was purchased and used for several years. Rev.

building was erected and dedicated on the 10th of July, 1881. Rev. J. W. Stewart succeeded Rev. Marquette in 1882, and re- mained two years, to be followed in 1884 by Rev. Edward G. Fowler. In 1886, Rev. T. C. Clendenning took charge of the church and was succeeded in April, 1888, by Rev. C. N. Dawson. Rev. A. Hodgetts is the present pastor. The church property is valued at $15,000.

Seward Street Methodist Episcopal Church was formerly known as the Eighteenth Street Methodist Episcopal Church, the

324

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

change of location being made in 1884. At that time the membership was only thirty, Rev. R. L. Marsh was pastor. Rev. Charles W. Savidge assumed the pastorate Septem- ber 9, 1885, and remained three years, dur- ing which period the membership reached nearly one hundred, and an addition to the building was found necessary. Rev. W. M. Worley succeeded Mr. Savidge in 1888, and remained one year, to be followed by Rev. H. A. Crane, who went as a missionary to

dedicated, March 6, 1887. This was occu- pied till the fall of 1892, when a new build- ing costing $20,000 was erected on the same site. The property is now worth $30,000. Rev. H. H. Millard was the first pastor, and was succeeded in September, 1887, by Rev. G. M. Brown, who served till September, 1892, when he was succeeded by Rev. Wil- liam P. Murray.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, lo- cated at Twenty-first and Binney Streets,

TRINITY M. E. CHURCH.

Bombay, September, 1892, and was suc- ceeded by Rev. D. K. Tindall.

The Hanscom Park Methodist Episcopal Church owes its existence largely to Mr. John Dale, who succeeded in raising the funds necessary for the work in 1886. The society was organized in October of that year, with twenty-two members, seven of whom were members of Mr. Dale's family. A lot was purchased at the corner of Geor- gia and Woolworth Avenues, and a church and parsonage erected, the former being

was organized in 1887 with sixteen members, and a building costing $16,000 was dedicated in October, 1888. Rev. Alfred H. Henry was appointed pastor in October, 1887; Rev. J.W. Robinson succeeding him in September, 1888. In September of the following year the pres- ent incumbent, Rev. W. K. Beans was ap- pointed pastor and is now serving his fourth term with this church. The present mem- bership is two hundred.

The Newman Methodist Church pur- chased, in 1889, the building vacated by the

325

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

St. Mary's Avenue Congregational Church in November, 1888, the first pastor being Rev. J. E. Ensign, who remained a year and was succeeded by Rev. Charles W. Savidge, at which date the membership of the society was one hundred and forty. This church was never regularly organized and in the fall of 1891 the property was turned over to those from whom it had been purchased and the society disbanded.

The following named have served as pastors: Rev. John P. Nulter, 1858; Rev. Henry Meyer, 1859; Rev. August Macke, 1861; Rev. Henry Muhlenbrock, 1862; Rev. Henry C. Dryer, 1864; Rev. Henry Brink- meyer, 1865; Rev. William Gemeck, 1866; Rev. P. J. May, 1867; Rev. J. J. Faust, 1870; Rev. J. L. W. Pauli, 1872; Rev. Daniel Welter, 1874; Rev. C. Brugger, 1877; Rev. H. Bruns, 1881; Rev. II. Krueger,

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- FIRST PROTESTANT CHURCH BUILT IN OMAHA. Located at Sixteenth and Farnam Streets.

The German Methodist Episcopal Church erected its first house of worship on Daven- port, near Fourteenth Street, in 1860, but incurred so heavy an indebtedness that it was found necessary to dispose of the prop- erty, and a lot on the corner of Jackson and Tenth Streets was secured and a small build- ing erected thereon. In 1886 this property was also sold and a more commodious edi- fice built at Eleventh and Center Streets.

1884; Rev. C. G. Becker, 1887; Rev. J. II. IIilmes, 1889.

An organization of the Swedish Metho- dist Episcopal Church was perfected Decem- ber 3, 1882, with twelve members, and the church building on Eighteenth Street, be- tween Cass and California, formerly occu- pied by a society known as the Eighteenth Street Methodist Church, was purchased for three thousand dollars. The present mem-

326

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

bership is one hundred. The first pastor was Rev. H. L. Lindquest, the second, Rev. J. O. Alven, the third, Rev. Olin Swanson and the fourth, the present pastor, Rev. P. J. Berg.

Rev. Reuben Gaylord secured the build- ing, in 1856, of the First Congregational Church edifice, a small brick building facing east, on Sixteenth, opposite the present site of the Paxton Block. The society was or-

ner of Nineteenth and Chicago, in 1870, which was occupied for sixteen years. In 1888 the spacious building on Davenport, now occupied by the society, was completed, at a cost of about sixty thousand dollars.

The Second Congregational Church So- ciety, known as "St. Mary's Avenne," was incorporated March 7, 1882, its membership being composed chiefly, at the outset, of former members of Dr. Sherrill's church.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

ganized May 4th, of that year, with nine members. Hle remained pastor of that church until 1865, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Rose, who remained two years. Rev. E. S. Palmer then became the pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. A. F. Sherrill. D. D., in 1869. Rev. Joseph T. Duryea, of Boston, became Dr. Sherrill's successor, in 1889. In the meantime the first building was sold and another erected, at the cor-

A lot on St. Mary's Avenue, just east of Twenty-seventh Street, was purchased for $1.200, and thereon was erected a small frame building, at a cost of $3,175, which was dedicated October 29, 1882. Rev. Willard Scott, of New York, preached his first ser- mon in the building December 10th, follow- ing, and was at once engaged as pastor. It was not until May 8, 1883, however, that he was installed, the church being formally

327

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

organized on that date, with a membership of sixty-five. An addition to the building was soon found necessary, but the continued increase of membership demanded still more room, and two lots directly opposite, with a frontage of 128 feet on the avenue, were bought for fourteen thousand dollars, in 1887, on which was built the house now occupied by the society, costing, furnished, and including organ, thirty-three thousand dollars. It is 65x96 feet, with pews for seven hundred in the auditorium, with chapel rooms on the first floor with seating capacity for 550. The first floor was first occupied on Thanksgiving day. 1888, and the main floor, March 10, 1889. Up to the present time about five hundred members have been received. With a present mem- bership of nearly four hundred, it is the largest of that denomination in Nebraska. Mr. Scott resigned the pastorate here in November, 1891, and now fills the pulpit of the South Congregational Church, Chicago. Rev. S. Wright Butler, of Port Chester, New York, accepted a call from this church and entered upon his duties as pastor here, May 1, 1892.

Plymouth Congregational Church began its work as a Sunday School, January 6, 1884, conducted by members of the First Congre- gational Church, with some assistance from the Young Men's Christian Association, the church society being formed March 1, 1885, with sixteen members. The first pastor was Rev. George S. Pelton, who resigned No- vember 30, 1886, and was succeeded by Rev. Alford B. Penniman, November 21,1888; he resigned and the present pastor, Rev. Dr. A. R. Thain, assumed charge, February 2, 1889. The first church building was erected in 1884, at the corner of Spruce and Nine- teenth Streets, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. The property was sold to the board of education in 1887, for seven thousand dollars. Two lots in Kountze Place were then donated the society by Mr. Ilerman Kountze, and on those a building

was erected, at a cost of eighteen thousand dollars, with a parsonage adjoining, costing $3,556. The present membership is 135.

Rev. George S. Pelton, pastor of the Third Congregational Church, organized the Saratoga Congregational Church, January 24, 1886, and for nearly a year thereafter services were held in the Saratoga school house, Rev. John A. Milligan being chosen pastor in March 1887. In the fall of that year a lot at the corner of Ames Avenue and Twenty- fifth Street was bought, at a cost of $1,100, and a chapel erected thereon, costing five hundred dollars. In June 1888, Rev. F. S. Forbes became pastor of the church, to be succeeded in 1889 by Rev. H. N. Smith, pastor. Rev. George A. Conrad, the pres- ent pastor, has been in charge since the early part of 1891.

The Hillside Congregational Church was organized November 30, 1886, with a mem- bership of twenty-two and Rev. II. C. Crane as pastor. Since that date two hundred ad- ditional members have been received. The Sabbath School, held in a grove in 1886, has an enrollment of four hundred. The Christ- ian Endeavor Society of the church has a membership of one hundred, and there is also a society for the encouragement of cul- ture connected with the church, forty-five members of which are pledged to graduate at some educational institution. In 1887 an addition to the church was built and also a parsonage, and the property, corner of Thir- tieth and Ohio Streets, is valued at $10,000. Rev. Dr. Sherrill and his church and Rev. J. L. Maile, superintendent of Home Missions, were activein the establishment of the Hill- side Church. Rev. H. H. Morse was pastor for a few months in 1890, and was succeeded in June, 1892, by Rev. G. J. Powell.

Park Place, or Eighth Congregational Church, of Omaha, has its place of worship at No. 3029 California Street, and the par- sonage joins it on the east, the two build- ings, which were crected in 1887, costing about four thousand dollars. The society

328

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

was organized December 27, 1887, with only ten members. The present membership is ninety-five. The Sunday School of this church has been made an important feature and has nearly 250 pupils enrolled. Rev. M. L. Holt was the pastor from its organiza- tion until August, 1890, when he resigned to to take charge of the prohibition work in

zation consisted of Samuel Moffat, senior warden; Charles W. Hamilton, junior war- den; Thomas B. Cuming, A. J. Hanscom, Jonas Seeley and A. F. Salisbury, vestry- men. Until July, 1860, Rev. G. W. Watson, of Council Bluffs. officiated as rector. A lot at the southwest corner of Farnam and Ninth Streets was leased for a term of years,

TRINITY CATHEDRAL.

Omaha. Rev. William S. Parke has been pastor of this church since the autumn of 1891.

Trinity Cathedral, Episcopal, as Trinity Church, was organized July 13, 1856, by Bishop Kemper, of Wisconsin, who, during that summer, visited Omaha in company with Bishop Lee, of Iowa, and Rev. W. N. Irish, of Missouri. The first parish organi-

and a small brick church built thereon. This building became the property of the lot owner in 1869, and has been used since that date, in conjunction with the grounds sur- rounding, for a natatorium. In 1867, the church society erected a large frame build- ing, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars, on the corner of Eighteenth and Capitol Ave- nne. November 10, 1869, this building was

Hun allacher tiens Rubens St.G Lanhran

329

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

burned down, and a temporary structure erected on the site. A handsome stone ca- thedral now occupies this ground, costing about one hundred thousand dollars. The following named have been the rectors of this church: Rev. George W. Watson, Rev. John West, Rev. O. C. Dake, Rev. William HI. Van Antwerp, Rev. George C. Betts, Rev. John. G. Gossman, Rev. A. C. Garrett, Rev. John D. Easter, Rev. Frank R. Millspaugh, Rev. Charles H. Gardner. Mr. Henry W. Yates has been a vestryman of this church continuously for twenty-five years.

St. Barnabas Episcopal Church was organ- ized in June, 1869. It has now a handsome church edifice and commodious rectory at the corner of 19th and California Streets, the total value of ground and building amount- ing to about twenty thousand dollars. The original membership of twenty has grown to two hundred and fifteen. The first rector was Rev. George C. Betts, who was suc- ceeded in 1873 by Rev. Hammond, who re- mained two years, and for the two years fol- lowing the pulpit was vacant. Rev. John Williams became rector in June 1877, and still retains that position.

St. John's Episcopal Church was organized in June, 1885, by Rev. William Osgood Pearson, with twelve members. The follow- ing year a church building was erected at the corner of Franklin and Twenty-sixth Streets, at an expense of six thousand dol- lars, including furniture. There are ninety- one communicants. Rev. Mr. Pearson re- signed in 1890, and was succeeded by Rev. J. O. Feris, the present rector.

All Saints Church (Episcopal), corner of Howard and Twenty-sixth, was organized in November, 1886, by members of Trin- ity. The society, now numbering 190, owns a handsome property, with church building and rector's residence, costing abont eighteen thousand dollars. The former residence of James M. Woolworth, a substantial build- ing which stood for many years on Howard Street, near Twelfth, was moved to the lot

adjoining on the south the one occupied by the church building, and practically rebuilt for a parsonage. Rev. Louis Zahner, the first rector, resigned in the spring of 1891, and later was succeeded by Rev. T. J. Maekay, the present pastor.

Rev. Henry W. Kuhns, D. D., still a resi- dent of Omaha, came here in 1858 as a mis- sionary in the service of the Alleghany (Lutheran) Synod of Pennsylvania. Find- ing some Lutherans in the town, he organized nine of them into a congregation, and held services first in the Methodist Church, on Thirteenth Street, and afterwards in the Congregational Church, on Sixteenth. In 1860, two lots on Douglas Street, now a part of the site of the Millard Hotel, were bought for church and parsonage purposes, upon which a brick church was erected that year and a parsonage the next year. In the belfry of this church was placed the first church bell brought to Omaha. Dr. Kuhns remained pastor of this congregation for fourteen years, and was succeeded by Rev. Billman, who remained but a year. Rev. W. A. Lipe was the next pastor, and re- mained until 1879. Rev. H. L. Baugher, D. D., succeeded Mr. Lipe, but returned to the East in 1880. - At this time the Douglas Street property was sold, and two lots at the northeast corner of Harney and Six- teenth Streets were bought for $3,500-now worth $100,000-and a proposition made by Augustus Kountze, of New York, to duplicate any amount the congregation might raise towards the erection of a build- ing was promptly accepted. The result was the erection of a handsome brick building at a cost of fifty thousand dollars, named the Kountze Memorial Church, in honor of the deceased father of Mr. Kountze. Upon the completion of this building Rev. George F. Stelling, D. D., became the pastor. He died in January, 1884, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Detweiler, D. D., who resigned the pastorate recently, Rev. A. I. Turkle being his successor.

330

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Twenty-first and Burdette Streets, was organized December 12, 1886, with twenty-four members, the

in the summer of 1892 he was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Detweiler, D. D. The present membership is ninety, with over one hundred members of the Sunday School.

114

KOUNTZE MEMORIAL ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.

church building being dedicated June 12, 1887, with Rev. George H. Schnur as pastor. August 1, 1889, he resigned, and January 1, 1890, Rev. J. G. Griffith, took charge, and

The Shull Memorial Lutheran Church, also known for a time as the Southwestern Lutheran Church, was organized April 7, 1889, and incorporated on the 17th of that

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS.

month. On October 12, 1892, this church re-incorporated, and the name was changed to Grace Lutheran Church. The two hand- some and valuable lots on which the present chapel stands were donated by the Shull heirs for church purposes in' 1887, and are valued, with the building, at $11,000. The congregation was organized by Rev. Luther M. Kuhns, born in Omaha, a son of Dr. Henry W. Kuhns, the first pastor of the Douglas Street Lutheran Church. Rev. Luther M. Kuhns enjoys the distinction of being the first Lutheran minister born in Nebraska. The present church council con- sists of: Rev. Luther M. Kuhns, chairman; August Engel, secretary; W. II. Koenig, treasurer; L. II. Korty and L. P. Norberg, elders; and J. A. Swobe and R. W. Dyball, Jr., deacons.

In 1855 Rev. William Leach located in Omalia as a missionary for the Baptist Church denomination, and held services, more or less regularly, in the old capitol building, but it was not until 1859 that a minister of this denomination was regularly established here In that year Rev. Barnes orgamzed the First Baptist Church, and a small building was crected on Douglas Street between Fifteenth and Sixteenth. Three years later the society disbanded and sold its property, but in 1866 a re-organiza- tion was effected and Rev. W. J. Kermott engaged as pastor, and services held in the court house for several months. The brick church, one of the best buildings for this purpose in the city, was erected in 1870, but for several years only the lower portion of the building was used. The following named have served as pastors since the resignation of Rev. W. J. Kermott: Rev. J. W. Daniels, Rev. E. C. M. Burnham, acting pastor, Rev. J. W. Donnelly, Rev. O. T. Conger, Rev. E. H. E. Jameson, Rev. J. W. Harris, Rev. A. W. Lamar, since December, 1891, pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Galveston, Texas. August 1, 1892, Rev. W. P. Hell- ings, D. D., became pastor of the church.

The Calvary Baptist Church organization dates from November 25, 1886, when forty- nine persons, most of whom were from the First Church, banded together to build up a church society in the northwest part of the city. At the beginning, a mission chapel on Saunders Street, near Cuming, was used for holding services. Then a lot at the south- west corner of Seward and Twenty-sixth Streets was bought, at a cost of $5,700, the chapel being sold two years later to the Welsh Presbyterians, for six hundred dol- lars. A building on the Seward Street lot was completed in December, 1888. During the next year Central Park Mission was or- ganized, taking away many active members of the Calvary Church. Rev. A. W. Clark was the pastor from the time the church was organized in 1886, till 1891. Rev. S. K. Wilcox was pastor during a part of 1891, and until June, 1892.

The Beth-Eden Baptist Church, located on Park Avenue, near Leavenworth, was or- ganized in November 1886, and in March 1888, the church building, costing twelve thousand dollars, was dedicated. Rev. II. L. Hlouse, was pastor from the organization till April, 1891, and was succeeded (July, 1891) by Rev. E. N. Ilarris, of Milwaukee, who assumed the pastorate in October of that year. The present membership is 160.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 49

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020