USA > Nebraska > Lancaster County > Lincoln > Lincoln, the capital city and Lancaster County, Nebraska, Volume I > Part 31
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After the beginning of this church the place of meeting was soon moved to the old chapel, which was the church home until 1902, when the society moved into the basement of a proposed church building on the site of the present edifice and which was known as the "hole in the ground" church. After five years spent here the auditorium of the C. C. White Memorial Building was utilized until the con- struction of the present church building, which is one of the handsomest and most impressive of any similar building in the county. The new building was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on December 12, 1909.
Following is the list of charter members of the First M. E. Church of Uni- versity Place: Mrs. C. F. Creighton, Emma T. Cline, G. E. Giwits, H. E. Hanthorne, Myrtle Learned, O. P. Sheldon, Mrs. O. P. Sheldon, Mable Sheldon, T. W. Sprowles, Phillip H. Smith, W. H. Turrell, Mrs. Hannah R. Warfield, Hattie Warfield, Laura A. Weed, A. R. Wightman, Anna J. Wightman, Rev. C. F. Creighton, Rev. I. L. Lowe.
The Emmanuel Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln was founded August 15. 1888, Rev. W. W. Mallory being the first pastor. Services were first held in a building on T Street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth, known as the Red Rib- bon Hall. Soon after this J. M. Burks organized a Sunday school. The name Emmanuel was given by the presiding elder. W. G. Miller. In 1890 the congrega- tion moved from their hall to a church building at the corner of Thirteenth and U streets, which they used until the present building was completed. The corner- stone of this new structure was laid July 7, 1912, and the dedication occurred
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November 17, 1912; the total cost of the building was $12,500. Following are the names of the pastors who have served this church: Revs. W. W. Mallory, L. T. Guild. W. J. Calfee, T. W. Sprowles, O. W. Fifer, L. C. Lemon, F. A. Stuff. J. W. Embree. L. F. Smith, G. M. Gates, Peter Van Kleet, A. A. Randall, E. L. Barch, C. E. Carroll, S. B. Williams. The Emmanuel Church is located at 643 North Fifteenth Street.
The First Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln was organized July 8, 1889, in the home of August Kallstedt, 1919 O Street, by the district superintendent, Rev. Olin Swenson. Rev. J. B. Anderson was the first pastor and the successive pastors have been : Revs. A. F. Winell, A. R. Mellen, Peter Mun- son, C. A. Anderson, J. Gabrielson, O. G. Sandberg, Gustav Erickson and K. G. Norberg. The charter members of the society were: Gust Reynolds and wife, Leonard Tidstrand, Mrs. Sophia Hill, O. J. Linder, Carl John Malm, Miss Caro- line Larson, Miss Mary Dahlgren, Miss Mary Nelson, Miss Mary Erickson, August Kallstedt and wife, and Axel Segerholm. There are at present about one hundred members in the society. In 1891 the first church was built at Eighteenth and R streets. In the spring of 1892, when the Rock Island Railroad was built through Lincoln, the property was sold to them, a lot bought at Eight- eenth and J streets for $2,400. The old church was moved on to this lot and used for twelve years. In 1903 the present church was built, costing the sum of $8,000.
The Elm Park Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized as a Sunday School in May, 1906, in a store room at Twenty-seventh and Randolph streets, by Rev. W. W. MeGuire and was known as the Randolph Mission. There were less than a dozen enrolled, mostly children. It was in the summer of 1907 that the church was really organized and a building started on the corner of Twenty- ninth and Randolph streets. This building was dedicated March 9, 1908, by Bishop McDowell. The following have served as pastors here: Revs. J. H. Bounds, H. W. Cope, B. L. Story, Whitney, J. D. Hollister and L. L. Hanthorne. A modern parsonage was built in 1914. The present membership of the church is 200.
The Lincoln Heights Methodist Episcopal Church was started about the year 1891. The first trustees were elected on March 19, 1891, and were : Ephraim Rife, H. J. Rickard, H. J. Phillips, W. C. Hook, George Camp, John Ferrier ; Rev. G. W. Miller was chairman of the meeting. The church was built in 1892, located at Seventh and Superior streets, and dedicated in February. 1893, by D. W. C. Huntington, D. D., with thirty-three members. For several years the church was quite prosperous and its membership increased until numbering eighty-five. After this the membership dwindled until in 1903 there were only eight left. During the pastorate of E. E. Bowen, a university student, the dilapidated church was moved to the present location at the corner of Eleventh and Nelson streets. The building was repaired and reopened on January 10, 1904. Since then the society had been growing steadily and the membership is now about one hundred and forty. The first pastor of the church was M. A. Wimberley, and since then the following have served: R. N. Orrill, R. J. MeKenzie, C. L. Myers, J. A. Nichols, A. D. Hull, R. C. Howard, J. W. Warfield, C. E. Rush, L. L. Gaither, J. Fowler, H. B. Seymour, A. S. Woodard, E. E. Bowen, C. E. Austin, J. MeVay, W. S. Ryle, C. G. Cole, O. L. Kendall, E. V. Price.
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The Free Methodist Church of Lincoln was started at Fifteenth and Vine streets in the spring of 1889 by Rev. W. W. Harris. The charter members were : Mrs. A. C. Baltzell, J. V. Parks, Mr. Marshall and Mrs. Eggar. In 1894 the first church was constructed at Thirtieth and Y streets. In 1905 the location mentioned above was sold to the Interurban Street Car Company and another location was secured on Twenty-seventh and Orchard streets. The first con- ference minister was Reverend Stephens, who was followed by Reverends Taylor, Josephine Ackerman, Deaxter, Hatfield, Steward, Barnes, Finch, Amspoker, Eggers, Bruce, Mary E. Stafford, McElfresh, J. L. Riley, C. L. Manning and C. L. Fike. The present membership is sixty-one.
Warren Methodist Episcopal Church at University Place was organized by Dr. G. W. Isham. He was appointed pastor for three successive years. This church was started in 1908. The present membership is 140.
The St. James Methodist Episcopal Church of University Place was organized in 1910 and now has a membership of thirty-five.
Normal Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1901 and now has a membership of 120. The church is located at the corner of South and Fifty-fifth streets.
The Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1890. The church building is located at 2900 Dudley. The membership is 170.
The Havelock Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1885 and has a membership of 280.
The City of Lincoln has two colored Methodist churches, the First African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Neumann Methodist Episcopal Church. The former was organized in the year 1873 and now has a membership of 130. The church is located at 1845 C Street. The Neumann Church was organized in 1895, has fifty members, and is situated at 733 J Street.
The statement has been truthfully made that the City of Lincoln has more Methodists "per capita" than any other city in the United States.
PRESBYTERIAN DENOMINATION
The First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln was organized on April 4, 1869, by Rev. J. C. Elliott, at that time a pastor in Nebraska City. There were eight charter members, namely: Howard Kennedy, Mrs. Maggie A. Kennedy, Paren England, Malinda W. England, John H. Baird, Mrs. Serena Baird, A. M. Mc- Candless and Mrs. E. A. Guy. Howard Kennedy was elected ruling elder and the church was declared duly organized. At first it was impossible to hold regular services as there was no regular pastor and no meeting place. But after a few months a frame building on O Street, near the present site of the First National Bank, was rented and the real work of the church begun. The first members were received in this building. the first adult baptized and the first com- munion service held. The first child baptized was Howard Kennedy. The first persons to unite with the church by certificate were: W. J. Turner, John N. T. Jones, Mrs. E. L. Jones, Cyrus H. Street, Charles McManon, Samuel Alexander, John Morrison, James Eckerman, Dr. L. H. Robbins, Mrs. M. A. Robbins, W. A. Kellogg. The first person received on profession of faith was B. M. Brake and
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the first death among the membership was that of A. M. McCandless, one of the charter members.
The pastors who have served since the first one, Rev. H. P. Peck, 1870-74, have been : J. W. Ellis, 1875-76; S. W. Weller. 1876-78; James Kemlo, 1879; J. O. Gordon, 1880-82; E. H. Curtis, 1883-95; W. M. Hindman, 1896-1902; H. C. Swearingen, 1902-07; W. W. Lawrence, 1908-13; L. D. Young, 1915 -. Reverend Stein supplied the church in 1914.
The first church edifice was erected at the corner of Eleventh and J streets, on lots donated by the state, and was dedicated on October 9, 1870, by Rev. T. H. Cleland, then of Council Bluffs, Iowa. This first .church cost the Presbyterians $5.000 and, with several improvements, continued to hold the society until De- cember, 1884. In April, 1884, ground was broken for the erection of the present church building at the southwest corner of Thirteenth and M streets. The vestry room was completed in September, 1885, and was occupied as a place of worship until January, 1886, when the main auditorium was finished. This church building, which had cost $40,000, was dedicated on July 18, 1886, by Rev. A. V. V. Raymond.
In October, 1888, a number of persons interested in the work met in a vacant store building near the corner of O and Twenty-seventh streets and or- ganized a Sabbath School. This was the beginning of the Second Presbyterian Church of Lincoln. At the meeting there were sixty-four persons enrolled as members of the school and Thomas Marsland was chosen superintendent, George G. Waite, secretary, and Almon Tower, treasurer. A full corps of teachers was organized and classes grouped. Preaching services were held every Sunday in this store room until February 14, 1889, when the school moved into the base- ment of a church being erected on the corner of Twenty-sixth and P streets, on lots donated in part by William M. Clark. On the evening of March 13, 1889. a meeting was held and a church formally organized, to be known as the Second Presbyterian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska. There were forty-six charter mem- bers. The first elders elected were: Myron Tower, Thomas Marsland. W. C. Cunningham and William MI. Clark. On April 1, 1889, Rev. Charles E. Bradt took charge of the work.
On May 16, 1890 at Warn's Chapel on Wood Street the Third Presbyterian Church was organized. J. W. McMillan and C. S. Clason were elected elders and Rev. C. G. A. Hullhorst was chosen as the first pastor. A chapel was constructed and work begun on the corner of Eleventh and Plum streets. In 1894 this chapel was enlarged. The Third Church is not now in existence, having disbanded sey- eral years ago. The building became the Knox Presbyterian Church, then, and now, the St. John's Lutheran house of worship.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church of Lincoln was organized at West- minster Chapel, Twenty-fourth and A streets, on February 12, 1905. Rev. Thomas L. Sexton, D. D., synodical superintendent of home missions, presided. E. R. Mockett was elected clerk. The sermon was preached by Rev. R. M. Stevenson. There were forty-one charter members of this church, namely: E. R. Mockett, Mrs. Ada C. Mockett, E. E. Mockett, Mrs. N. N. Mockett, Mrs. N. S. Nichols, Mrs. L. Schwind, Miss N. Schwind, Miss Faith Schwind, Mrs. M. Schlueter, Mrs. H. Needham, Mrs. L. Needham, A. E. Patch, Mrs. Bessie Patch, Miss Hazel Patch, Theodore Randolph, Mrs Alice Randolph, Mrs. M. L. Strother, Mary C.
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Young, Florence Ward, Nellie Ward, Lillian Ward, Dora Merritt, Frank Miller, Kate Dunkle, Il. A. Carr, L. J. Dunn, Clinton Hosick, Mrs. Anna Hosick, Mrs. Ellen Rowcliffe, Mrs. Mary E. Hutchinson, Miss L. Young, Miss Minnie Hutch- inson, Mrs. S. A. Betzer, Mrs. S. L. Lyman, Mrs. Mary L. Gabriel, John G. Bowers, Mrs. D. Bowers, Mrs. Susie E. Jones and Mrs. D. B. Abbott. The church building for the society was constructed in the year 1906. There are now 257 members. Following are the pastors who have served this congregation: Revs. R. M. Stevenson, Ralph H. Houseman, FI. V. Comir and Rudolph Caughey.
The Memorial United Presbyterian Church of Lincoln was organized Decem- ber 22, 1800, at the corner of Sixteenth and R streets by Rev. J. A. Duff of Minden and Elder W. I. Brooks of Pawnee City. Albert Small and G. E. Sloss were chosen ruling elders. The charter members of this church were: Mrs. Mary Anderson, W. H. Boyd, Mrs. M. J. Campbell, Miss Alice L. Campbell, Miss Ella J. Campbell, Miss Emma O. Campbell, W. R. Carter, Mrs. Anna Carter, William Ellis, Miss Marion M. Embleton, Samuel R. Edmondson, Dr. F. A. Graham, Miss Jennie Graham, Alexander Hutton, Mrs. Mary E. Hutton, Thomas Hutton, Mrs. Sarah A. Hutton, Elmer S. Hutton, Miss Isabella J. Hutton, James Hum- phrey. Mrs. Nancy Humphrey, Mrs. S. V. Hubbard, Miss Eva M. Irwin, Mrs. O. S. Morrow, Miss Jennie Morrison, Mrs. Elizabeth McEwen, James McNerney, Miss Libbie McNerney, Mrs. Anna R. Stewart, Albert Small, Mrs. M. J. Small, G. E. Sloss, Mrs. Mollie Sloss, Mrs. E. J. Said, W. L. Said, Mrs. Underwood. Rev. O. S. Morrow was the first pastor of the church and was followed by Revs. E. E. Fife, D. E. Smith, W. M. Lorimer, J. A. Thompson, C. B. Gilmore, Albert Gordon and S. W. Woodburn. In 1890 a small frame building was constructed for church purposes. In 1893 the present church was completed and the parsonage in 1906. There are at present seventy-five members of this church society.
The Westminster Presbyterian Church of University Place had its start in 1907. In January of that year Reverend Thompson, pastor of the United Presby- terian Church of Lincoln came to University Place and preached a sermon in Beebe's Hall. After preaching for several Sundays and awakening spirit among the Presbyterians here the question of organizing a church was brought up. but was not favored owing to the fact that there were not enough people of the Presbyterian faith to justify it. Then Rev. M. Long of Lincoln came to Uni- versity Place and held services in the afternoons at Beebe's Hall for several months. On April 2Ist an organization was perfected with thirty-six charter members. On December 1, 1907, J. E. Weir was secured as the first regular pastor. Rev. I. Keener came next and is in charge at present. In 1910 the society erected a $10,000.00 church building. The cornerstone was laid May 15th and the dedication occurred September IIth. The membership is about two hundred.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Lincoln was organized October 10, 1902, and took the place of the First and Second churches that had already existed. About one hundred and twenty-five persons first met in the Farmers and Merchants Building and there proceeded to the organization. The membership book was opened for those who desired to enroll themselves as charter members
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and at the close of a thirty-day period 133 persons had written their names. The readers chosen to conduct the services for the first term of three years were llorace W. Hebbard and Mrs. Emma Hagenow. The hall in the fraternity build- ing was leased for the services of the society. The congregations for the first few months averaged between 300 and 400. The attendance steadily increased and it became evident before long that larger quarters would soon be necessary. Accordingly the question of building a church was agitated. About seven hun- dred dollars had been paid into the treasurey as a nucleus to a building fund at the time of the organization of the church. At the annual meeting on October 9, 1903, a building committee of five members was elected, namely: William M. Leonard. Arthur C. Ziemer, Royal D. Stearns, Elon W. Nelson and Horace W. Hebbard. The first work of the committee was the selection of a site for a church edifice. Several locations were discussed, but the committee finally decided on the two lots, corner of Twelfth and I streets, belonging to Dr. B. L. Paine. This was on March 14. 1904. There was at that time about two thousand two hun- dred dollars in the building fund and the price of the lots was $7,000.00. The committee agreed to pay $3.500.00 in twenty days from the time of purchase. At the close of the time, owing to the liberal response, $5.000.00 was paid on the lots. Work was then started upon a fund to build the church, but shortly after- ward the building of the extension of the mother church in Boston was under- taken and the work of raising a fund for the Lincoln Church was suspended in order that aid might be more freely given to the mother church. In June, 1906, the Lincoln work was opened again. Plans for a church building submitted by S. S. Beman of Chicago to cost between $65,000.00 and $75,000.00 had been adopted, but as the church was not yet ready to undertake so extensive a work, the plan was presented of building a part of the structure, that part which would eventually be used as a Sunday School room, to be used for holding services until the main part of the building could be erected. On February 21, 1907, a con- tract was signed for the erection of this portion of the building and on Thanks- giving Day of the same year the first services were held therein. About the first of July, 1908, the stone foundation for the balance of the structure was com- pleted. At the semi-annual meeting on July 6, 1911, a contract was let to F. P. Gould & Son of Omaha for the completion of the church, for the sum of $54,- 400.00. The cornerstone of the new building was laid on October 6, 1911. The Christian Scientist Church in Lincoln is one of the handsomest buildings in the city, both in architectural beauty and finish. The church society is in a very prosperous condition and has a strong membership.
LUTHERAN CHURCHIES
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln was formally organized on December 20, 1870, by Rev. S. G. Larson of Saunders County. There were fifteen charter members, namely: A. Coppom, L. P. Lundgrenand and wife, John Nelson, A. G. Quick, John Lyon, Carl Lundquist, P. Bengtson, Alfred Anderson, Gustaf Bengtson, Miss Augusta Lusch, Miss Lotta Widen, Miss Thilda Bengtson, Miss Bengta Didrick and Miss Nilla Didrick. Rev. S. G. Larson was the first pastor of the congregation, although he never located permanently in Lincoln. He resided at Mead, Saunders County, Nebraska. The first resident pastor was
CHURCH OF CHRIST, BETHANY
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Rev. L. P. Ahlquist, who came in 1874 and remained one year. After his de- parture the church was vacant, being served by neighboring pastors and the- ological students until 1886, when Rev. G. Peters from Rockford, Illinois, took up the work. Rev. F. N. Swanberg was here in 1888 and in the summer of 1889 Rev. John Eckstrom came, remaining three years. Rev. G. Peters then returned and stayed for a year and a half. In the summer of 1896 Rev. Carl Christenson came here and remained about three years, and was succeeded in 1900 by Rev. E. G. Chinlund. The latter left in September, 1907. The present pastor, E. G. Knock, entered upon his duties July 26, 1908. The first church buikling was erected in the spring of 1871, costing $1,041.00. In the year 1886 a new church was constructed, the main building of frame and with a stone basement. The contract was let for $3,487.00. During the summer of 1910 the basement of the church was enlarged ; a pipe organ was installed in 1912. In the year 1905 this frame building was covered with a brick veneer and a wing added. The first parsonage, a cottage, was built in 1888 and in 1898 a second story was added. A new brick structure will be built in the spring of 1916. The total membership of the Swedish Lutheran Church is 274; the church property is valued at $27,000.00.
The Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln was organized November 24 or 27, 1881, with five members, Rev. F. Koenig presiding. Rev. H. Frincke, the first regular pastor, was called during the following spring, and served a long period, until July, 1895. In February, 1896, Rev. George Allen- bach assumed charge of the pastorate, coming from Independence, Kansas, and has remained continuously ever since. During the first year of the church's existence services were held in a small church on the corner of N and Thirteenth streets. The following three years the congregation assembled in the Universalist Church on Twelfth between H and J streets. In the spring of 1886 a new church was constructed, located on H, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. In the rear of the church a school room accommodating ninety pupils was built. In the year 1904 a new Gothic structure was erected and dedicated November 6, 1904. It is located at 1302 H Street. The membership of this church is 500.
The Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln was organized in 1883 by Rev. Peter Jensen, who also served as the first pastor. Following him the pastors who have served are : Revs. P. L. C. Hansen, C. H. Jensen, J. Markenssen, E. Pro- vensen, O. R. Olsen, A. C. Weismann, J. P. Christiansen and Christian Anker. The church building was erected in the year 1883. There are at present ninety-five members and the society is in good financial condition.
The Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church in Lincoln was started in 1909. Upon the request of twenty-three Lutheran families who had emigrated from the Wolga Colonies, Russia, the Home Mission Board of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states, Nebraska District, decided to begin mission work among the German Russians in Lincoln and called Rev. W. F. Baeder of Arapahoe, Nebraska. He was installed as missionary July 4, 1909, in Trinity Lutheran Church by Rev. C. H. Becker. As these people wished their children educated not only in all the branches of human wisdom, but especially in the Christian truths, a property was bought at Eighth and D streets for $4,200.00 and a chapel or school building was erected for $1,500.00. Beginning with Sep- tember Reverend Baeder opened a Christian day school and conducted it until
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January, 1910. On October 31, 1909, the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel con- gregation, Unaltered Augsburg Confession, was organized, the following being the charter members: Andreas Wambold, Georg Batt, Sr., August Bovk, Georg Ring, Jacob Ring, Heinrich Spomer, Alexander Kraft, Heinrich Klein, Heinrich Roemer, Balthasar Spomer, Georg Strauch, Georg Batt, Jr., David Schmidt, Wilhelm Friedrich, Victor Beader, and their families. In January, 1900, J. J. Troester took charge of the school which had an attendance of seventy-two pupils. In June, 1910, the first school building was moved and a new two-story brick building erected at Eighth and D, costing $14,000.00, and dedicated November 31, 1910. For the old school which had been moved W. J. Braun was called and opened the class with seventy-three pupils : J. J. Troester conducted the school at Eighth and D. On April 23, 1911, J. H. Brase of Cleveland, Ohio, was installed as principal of both schools. In February, 1913. he resigned and W. J. Braun was called to the principalship of the school at Eighth and D and Prof. E. C. Mueller, of Juniata, Nebraska, was called to the other school. During the winter of 1913-14 there were 325 children in attendance at the schools. Miss Helen Hase and Clara Baeder assisted the teachers. The attendance at present is 215. The present membership of the church is 250.
The Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in the old conservatory of music, Thirteenth and L streets, on June 9, 1890, under the leadership of Rev. Luther P. Ludden. There were thirty charter members. A Sunday School had previously been organized on Christmas, 1889. Reverend Luther acted as the first pastor of the church. Following him have served Revs. Jesse W. Ball, C. Rollin Sherck, Charles H. B. Lewis, Fuller, Bergstesser and R. M. Badger. After worshiping in rented quarters for some years, on September 24, 1893, the congregation occupied a small chapel erected at a cost of $800.00 on the corner of Fourteenth and F streets. On June 9, 1901, the present structure was dedicated, costing about ten thousand dollars. There are at present 250 confirmed members in the church.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Friedens Church in Lincoln was organized February 15, 1907, at Sixth and D streets, by Revs. E. Pfeiffer and L. Ludden. Prominent among the early members were: Adolph Lebsack, Jr., Conrad Stras- heim, John Hoff, Georg Stroh, Georg Sitzmann, Jacob Bauer, Jacob Rohrig, Jacob Lebsack, Peter Scheids. The pastors have been: Revs. J. F. Krueger, M. Koolen and R. Kuehne. The church building was dedicated December 1, 1907, and cost about seventeen thousand dollars. The church also owns a $5,000.00 parsonage.
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