MacKay, Thomas J.

MACKAY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 16:50:11

Thomas J. Mackay

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.522)
REV. THOMAS J. MACKAY, the present rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, was born January 8, 1844, in County Mayo, Ireland. Our subject was reared in his native county until his ninth year, when he came to America with his parents, locating in western Pennsylvania. When he was sixteen years of age, he engaged in the dry-goods business in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he remained one year. He then enlisted in the 42nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, serving six months, after which he again engaged in the dry-goods business in western Pennsylvania. Next he entered the St. Stephen's College, Amondale, New York, from which he entered the Cambridge Episcopal Theological School. He took his first parish in 1874 in Boston, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1877; thence he went to Fort Worth, Texas, where he erected a church and remained one year; next he went to Central City, Colorado; thence to Leadville, Colorado, where he erected St. George's Church, having held services in the opera building two years. He remained there four years, and then came to Council Bluffs, where he has since remained.

Mr. MACKAY was married September 1878 to Georgia COONS, a native of St. Louis, Missouri and they have three children: Odin C., Ralph R., and Robert M. Mr. MACKAY is a member of the Ivanhoe Commandery, K.T., No. 17; Bluff City Lodge, A.F.&A.M., and the R.A.M., No. 156. He has been Eminent Commander and Prelate of Ivanhoe Commandery and the Regent of the Royal Arcanum. In connection with this sketch, we will add a short history of his present church, the St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Council Bluffs.

The parish of this church was organized April 17, 1856, through the efforts of E. W. PEET, then in Des Moines, he being the first Episcopal minister to hold services in this county. The congregation worshiped at that time in the rooms now occupied by the American Express Company, corner of Broadway and Main Streets. The first vestry was composed of the following members: J. B. BESS, Horace EVERETT, W. C. JAMES, J. P. CONADY, D. C. BLOOMER, A. COCHRAN, J.P. TREYNOR, Samuel PERIN, and G. M. DODGE. Two of these, Horace EDVERETT and D.C. BLOOMER, have always been and are still members of the same vestry.

August 1, 1857 the cornerstone of the proposed church building was laid by the Right Rev. Henry W. LEE, the Bishop of Iowa, assisted by the Rev. George W. WATSON and the missionary in charge. A brief history of the parish, the newspapers of the city, a few coins and other interesting articles were deposited in a box prepared for the purpose, and over this a large stone was placed. The hard times coming on, nothing further was done toward the building of the church, and the cornerstone remained undisturbed with its contents until about three years ago, when someone overturned the stone and stole the contents. A small frame edifice was erected, however, on the same lot in 1860, and this building was enlarged in 1868 by the addition of transepts, and is still standing as a place of worship being used by the congregation of All Saints' Mission.

The first pastor was Rev. George W. WATSON, who took charge in February 1857, and who also had a charge in Omaha, dividing his time equally between the two. He remained in charge until 1862, when he was succeeded by Rev. Faber BYLLESBY, who remained from 1862 to 1865. The third rector was Rev. John CHAMBERLAIN, who resigned in 1871, and was succeeded by Rev. Theophilus BROOKS, who remained three years. The Rev. F. T. WEBB was then elected, and held the position until the fall of 1882, when he accepted a call in Helena, Montana, and the present rector, T. J. MACKAY, was called and entered upon his duties in January 1883.

The present edifice, the only church in the city built of stone, was erected at a cost of about $50,000 and is the finest, both in interior and exterior, in Council Bluffs and is surpassed by but few in the West. It was opened for services Sunday, September 5, 1886, and since that time the society has had a period of wonderful prosperity. A fine new pipe organ has been placed in the church, the services being equal if not superior to many of the old established churches. Since the accession of the present minister, Rev. T. J. MACKAY, the church has more than doubled its membership, and has now a flourishing mission church in the western part of the city, with a Sunday-school of over 100. The church building and grounds were the gift of Mrs. S. C. KEY, a noble-hearted Christian who is well known as a warm friend to all worthy objects. Another church, Unity Mission, is organized and at work in the eastern part of the city and the present rector hopes soon to have three self-supporting Episcopal churches in Council Bluffs. This church has the following healthy organizations: Ladies' Aid Society, Unity Guild of Unity Mission, All Saints Guild of All Saints Mission, Daughters of the King, and Missionary Host. The present officers of the church are: Rev. T. J. MACKAY, Rector; Rev. C. H. BOHN, Associate Rector; D. C. BLOOMER and M. DUQUETTE, Wardens; John BALDWIN, Horace EVERETT, J. F. KIMBALL, S. P. McCONNELL, H. C. BESLEY, Thomas CALVIN, W. J. JAMESON, M. E. SMITH, John T. STEWART, Vestry; J. F. KIMBALL, Treasurer; Charles CALVIN Secretary. The church has a membership of over 400.