Maquoketa Baptist Church

TILLEY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/15/2007 at 20:18:12

Jackson Sentinel, April 27, 1871.

History of the Maquoketa Baptist Church.

For the following interesting statistics in reference to the early history of the Baptist Church in this city, we are indebted to Rev. W. Tilley-
The Society was organized Feb. 12, 1848, and has therefore been in existence 24 years. The original Society was composed of nineteen members as follows: C. E. Brown, David Sears, Ann Clark, Ebenezer Wilcox, Eunice Decker, T. W. Clark, Henry Munson, Jason Pangborn, Wm. Benson, William Y. Earle, Emma Pangborn, Sophia Blake, Betsy Ann Jackson, Frances L. Brown, Eliza Mallard, Daniel Rhodes. Rev. C. E. Brown was the first pastor of the church. The first church building was made of wood, was dedicated Dec. 10th, 1853, and stood on the corner of Platt and Olive Streets. The dedication sermon was preached by the Rev. Bates, of Cascade from the prayer of Solomon offered at the dedication of the beautiful temple at Jerusalem. The building was destroyed by fire on the morning of May 19th, 1859, along with several other buildings, and was the most destructive fire Maquoketa has yet experienced. The site is now occupied by the shops of Barnes Brothers. Of the original nineteen members, not more than a half a dozen are now living.