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Methodist Episcopal Church.—Previous to the laying out of Tipton, as a village (in the Spring of 1840), Rev. Chauncey Hobart and a twin brother preached in Washington Rigby’s house, in Red Oak Grove, during the years 1838-9, and a Rev. Mr. Brace, in 1840, preached in the house of Benjamin Fraseur, two miles west of the present site of the town, and possibly nearer; but Rev. Uriah Ferre came to the place in the Summer of 1841, as the regular Pastor of Spring Rock Mission, and early in the fall organized the first Methodist class, which was composed of the following persons: George Carle and wife, Washington A. Rigby, Margaret Culbertson and Martha Friend—five in all. Soon after, it was increased by Soloman Aldrich and wife, and Flavin Huff, her mother, Calihan Dwiggins and wife Patterson Fleming and wife, and others.
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Preston J. Friend being a Protestant Methodist, was always active in helping and giving to sustain the church. When it was attempted to send Rev. Uriah Ferre, in 1843, to Conference, at Chicago, no money could be found in the vicinity. Finally, Mr. Friend was applied to, and he produced his last five dollar bill. On this, by stopping with brothers along the road, Mr. Ferre made the trip.
The first quarterly meeting was held by Presiding Elder B. Weed, in the old jail building, about the first of May, 1842, which is remembered by many of the mothers, because the Elder spoke of crying children which disturbed him during the service.
The first Sabbath School in Cedar County was organized at Rochester in the Spring of 1841, by Rev. Chester Campbell, a regular Methodist circuit rider, though the school was a union school. A library of books, selected from a Methodist catalogue, was donated by Wm. Green, of Rochester. The first school organized was in 1846, in Tipton; was a union school, under and by the Rev. Ebenezer Aldern of the Congregational Church; Wm. Lee, of the Methodist Church, was the first Superintendent.
The first Methodist Sabbath School was organized by Rev. Ancel Wright, who was the Pastor, in the Spring of 1852. J. C. Betts was chosen Superintendent.
The first church building erected in the county, was by the Methodists of Tipton, in the year 1849. It was a plain frame building and was afterward enlarged, and a cupola built to provide a place to hang the first church bell brought to Tipton. It was procured by John Culbertson, after the citizens had placed in his hands some money, he securing the balance, in New York and Boston, while purchasing goods.
This first church, after nearly twenty years of constant use, was superseded by a two-story building, about 42x78, which is at present the most commodious audience room in the city, and is, under the labors of the present Pastor, A. A. Lee, being beautifully painted and thoroughly refitted.
The present membership of this church is about two hundred. The congregations are large, and the Sabbath School quite equal to the membership. It is favored with a good corps of teachers, having as Superintendent Luke D. Ingman, Assistants, Wm. Gilmore and T. L. Greenhow.
There are at present in the M. E. Church of Cedar County, nine regular Pastors and quite as many local ministers, who preach to about twenty churches, with an aggregate membership of about twelve hundred. Most of the societies have commodious church buildings.
The following are the names of the Pastors in the order of their serving in Tipton: Revs. Uriah Ferre, 1841-3; S. W. Ingham, 1843-5; John Hayden, 1845-7; Joel B. Taylor and A. Collins, 1847-8; Wm. Simpson, 1848-50; L. C. Woodford, 1850-1; Ancel Wright, 1851-2; E. H. Twining, 1852-3; J. T. Coleman, 1853-5; R. Ricker, 1855-7; W. W. Bailey, 1857-8; Edward S. Stout, 1858-9; A. H. Ames, 1859; J. T. Coleman, 1859-60; S. C. Freer, 1860-1; S. N. Fellows, 1861-3; S. Pancost, 1864-5; E. Skinner, 1865-7; J. M. Rankin, 1867-9; U. Eberhart, 1869-70; W. H. Brocksome, 1870-2; R. Swearingen, 1872-5; F. C. Wolf, 1875-6; and the present Pastor, Rev. S. A. Lee, 1876-8.
The Presiding Elders were in the following order: Benjamin Weed, 1841-3; Henry W. Reed, 1843-5; George Bowman, 1845-7; H. W. Reed, 1847-50; Alcinus Young, 1850-1; David Worthington, 1851-2; A. Young, 1852-3; Andrew Coleman, 1853-7; S. Pancost, 1857-61; H. W. Reed, 1861-2; J. . . .
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. . . C. Dimmit, 1862-4; George Clifford, 1864-5; I. K. Fuller, 1865-8; C. G. Truesdell, 1868-9; J. M. Rankin, 1869-72; J. S. Anderson, 1872-3; S. M. Henderson, 1873-6; Emory Miller, 1876-78.
Owing to the location of Tipton on the dividing line between Davenport and Iowa City Districts, it was frequently changed from one district to the other, thereby having visits from a greater number of Presiding Elders.
The Upper Iowa Annual Conference was very hospitably entertained in Tipton in the Fall of 1865. Bishop Matthew Simpson presided. The sessions were held in the Court House, it then being the most commodious room of the place. The sermon preached on the Sabbath, by the Bishop, from John, 20th chap., 21st verse, will long be remembered by those who had the privilege of hearing and feeling the eloquent appeals that were made to the heart and conscience.
First Presbyterian Church—This church was originally organized as the Red Oak Grove Presbyterian Church, in connection with the O. S. General Assembly, March 1, 1841. It was organized with ten members,viz.:
Robert Dallas, Mrs. Sarah Dallas, John Ferguson, Mrs. Isabella Ferguson, John Safley, John Chappell, Robert Pirie, Mrs. Elizabeth Pirie, Samuel Yule, and Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Charles Dallas. To these, immediately upon the organization, was added, upon examination, Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of John Safley.
Messrs. John Ferguson and John Safley were elected Ruling Elders.
For ten years this church was supplied by itinerant missionaries and occasional supplies.
Upon request of the Church, made to the Presbytery, Jan. 1851, the following action was taken, viz.:
“That the location of the Red Oak Grove Church be changed to Tipton, and that it shall hereafter be known by the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Tipton.”
The Church at that time, consisted of thirty members, and had no house of worship in Tipton. In May, of that year, Mr. Wm. R. Lyle and Mr. John H. Starr were elected additional Elders; and in September following, Rev. Geo. D. Porter commenced his labors as stated supply of the Church.
The first house of worship, a small, plain brick structure, was dedicated June 25, 1854.
Mr. Porter continued to supply the church until May 1, 1858, after which time the pulpit was not regularly filled until 1860. On the 27th of February of that year, Rev. Robert Carothers was called to be Pastor, and was installed the 14th of July following. Mr. Carothers retained the pastorate until June 26, 1866, when the relation was dissolved.
Rev. D. L. Hughes was called October 3, of the same year, and was installed Pastor the following November. This relation was dissolved May 11, 1869. The pulpit then remained vacant until the Fall of 1870, when Rev. E. L. Dodder was called. He was installed Pastor the 9th of November of that year. Mr. Dodder continued Pastor until September 30, 1873.
The present Pastor, Rev. Charles Axtell, was called in January, 1874, and was installed in May following.
In April, 1876, a new house of worship was dedicated. It stands on the adjoining lot to that from which the former was removed, and is commodious and tasteful.
There are now in the communion of this Church one hundred and seventeen (117) members. Besides those whose names are already given, there have served on the Eldership the following brethren, viz.:
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Gibson Agnew, James M. Chambers, Samuel S. Freeman, G. W. Logan, Wm. Kettell, Dr. C. L. Chambers, Calvin Mayes, Walter Sheaver, Jr., P. W. Neimann, James B. Piatt and James Newcomb.
During Mr. Hughes’ ministry, the “New York Church” was organized, six miles east of Tipton, on the prairie. When Mr. Dodder was called, it was to the joint charge of this with the Tipton church.
There was also, at this time, a Presbyterian Church, called “Hebron,” five miles south of Tipton, to which the Pastors of the Tipton churches ministered.
From various causes, these churches are now both disbanded.
In the interval of time between the ministrations of Mr. Porter and the pastorate of Mr. Carothers, a church was again organized in Red Oak Grove, where the Tipton church was originally located. This church has since prospered under successive Pastors and supplies. The longest and most recent pastorate was that of Rev. J. S. Dickey. At present this church is supplied by Rev. J. D. Mason, by whom it was organized. Mr. Mason has been connected, more or less, with the beginning and maintenance of many churches in Tipton, and is still vigorously working, after forty years of service.
First Evangelical Lutheran Church.—This Church was organized August 12, 1855, by Rev. Solomon Ritz, who, a few months previous, had come to Tipton as a missionary. The organization consisted of but ten members, viz.: George Schmucker, Samuel Wampler, Sam’l Sissler, Benj. Bossert, J. S. McCally, Mary Schmucker, Adaline Ruth, Elizabeth R. Wampler, Catherine Sissler, Elizabeth B. Ritz.
Shortly after the organization, a number of other persons united with the Church and the following Church Council was elected: Elders, Geo. Schmucker, G. W. Smith. Deacons, Benjamin Bossert, Samuel Wampler and Samuel Sissler.
Rev. Mr. Ritz continued to serve the congregation until April 1, 1858.
Shortly afterward, a call was extended to Rev. A. M. Geiger, who became the Pastor. During his pastorate, a small congregation was organized at Inland, eleven miles east of Tipton, and became a part of the charge.
The congregation had hitherto worshiped in the Presbyterian church, but now, the membership having increased, it was determined to build a house of worship. This was done, and on September 25, 1859, a small frame building, 26x36 feet, costing about $1,400, was dedicated. Rev. Francis Springer, of Illinois, delivered the dedicatory sermon.
Rev. Mr. Geiger resigned in 1861, to become President of the Iowa Lutheran College at Albion, Iowa, and was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. J. G. Schaeffer, who, after a stay of two years, also left to connect himself with the same institution.
October 25, 1863, Rev. W. H. Wynn became Pastor, to serve but two years, being called in 1865 to the Presidency of Mendota (Ill.) College and the pastorate of the Lutheran Church in that place.
Rev. Mr. Wynn has been for a number of years Professor of English Literature in the Iowa Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and has been honored with the degree of Ph. D. from an Ohio college.
Rev. D. S. Altman became Pastor in 1866.
About this time, a congregation known as St. Paul’s, located six miles west of Tipton, became a part of the Tipton charge, and a house of worship was built. The charge grew quite rapidly during his pastorate, which closed in May, 1869. He was succeeded in the Fall of the same year by Rev. J. W. Henderson.
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In 1872, the church building was thoroughly repaired and a vestibule with bell tower was added, at a cost of about $1,600.
In 1874, Rev. Mr. Henderson was succeeded by Rev. J. K. Bloom, who served the charge acceptably for three years, closing his ministry in November, 1876.
In the Spring of 1877, a call was extended to Rev. J. Howard Stough, the present Pastor, who began his ministry, May 6, 1877.
At this time, the Tipton congregation severed its connection with the country congregation and has been sustaining its Pastor alone.
The report of the past year has been most satisfactory and encouraging. The membership has reached the number of 106. They have bought a bell weighing 934 pounds, at a cost of $320; have met all their expenses and closed the year with some money in the treasury.
Of this church may be said that which can be said of but few churches in the West—they have never received a cent of aid from Home Missionary Societies or any other outside source.
The officers of the church at present are—Pastor, Rev. J. Howard Stough; Elders, Geo. Schmucker, G. W. Smith, G. W. Geller, Jonathan Focht; Deacons, J. H. Reichert, W. T. Hepner, Herbert Hammond, J. C. Reichert.
The two Elders whose names head the list, familiarly called “Father Schmucker” and “Father Smith” were, by their brethren, elected “Honorary Elders” for life, they having justly merited that distinction by their long and faithful service; the former having been, in Pennsylvania and Iowa, a church officer for more than fifty years, and the latter for period of forty-three years.
The church has enjoyed the advantage of a most excellent choir, which justly stands at the head of the musical talent of the town. The family of Mr. Willard Hammond, having taken an active interest in the church for many years, have served as a nucleus, and have been assisted by Prof. W. S. Woodis, whose taste and skill in musical matters is well known throughout the county.
There has been for years a Sabbath school in connection with the church, of which Mr. Austin Parsons was the first and for years in succession the only Superintendent. To him, probably, as much as to any other one person, the present prosperity of the school is due.
Mr. Parsons was succeeded by Mr. G. W. Geller, G. W. Smith, Rev. Mr. Bloom, Mr. J. J. Johnson, Rev. Mr. Stough and Mr. L. A. Brandenburg, the present incumbent. The school now numbers about one hundred scholars, and is flourishing. Two German classes, principally adults, have been formed and are decidedly popular. A teachers’ meeting has also been maintained for some time with interest.
Episcopal Church.—The Episcopal Parish connected with Grace Church, Tipton, was organized on the 9th day of May, A.D. 1858, at which time the following Vestrymen were elected: Jos. K. Snyder, S. J. Crew, A. S. Lybe, S. C. Starr, Daniel Clapp, J. Calkins and E. A. Bird. The necessary funds to erect a church were raised by subscription, and a church was erected upon lots donated by E. Cook of Davenport.
In the month of May, 1858, Grace Church was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Lee, and during the same month the services of the Rev. W. L. Campbell were secured as Rector of the Parish.
A lady of Baltimore, Md., presented the new church, for the use of the Rector, a beautiful morocco bound Oxford Bible, a neat Prayer Book and a handsome surplice. The Rev. Mr. Johnson succeeded the Rev. Mr. Campbell, . . .
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. . . and in 1868, the Rev. T. H. Eddy accepted an invitation to take charge of the Parish.
In 1873, the Rev. James Allen was called to the charge. During the time he presided over the Parish, an institution of learning for the education of young ladies was started in connection with the church, under the care of Mrs. Allen, and Miss Helen Scribner and sister. In 1877, the Rev. Prof. Curry, of Lyons, Iowa, and the River Side Institute took charge of the Parish by making occasional visits and conducting service. A Sunday school has been kept up in connection with the church, and in the Fall of 1877 a new organ was purchased by the school for the use of the church. On the 22d day of April, 1878, the following Vestry was elected: I. C. Prescott, H. C. Carr, H. H. Maynard, H. C. Brown and S. V. Landt. The Rt. Rev. Bishop William S. Perry made his first visit to the Parish April 25, 1878, at which a number of young persons were confirmed.
St. John’s Reformed Church.—In September, 1859, this society was organized by Rev. J. Raile, with the following seven persons as members: Isaac Neiman, Eliza Neiman, Lydia Millhouse, Harriet Neiman, Eliza Bingaman, S. W. Neiman and Susan Neiman. Isaac Neiman was chosen Elder and Samuel W. Neiman, Deacon.
The society worshiped in different churches until the Summer of 1866, when they erected a church edifice on the corner of Cedar and Eighth streets. The church was dedicated September 23, 1866. Present membership, fifty-one, twenty-five of whom are baptized members. Officers—Pastor, Rev. D. S. Fouse; Elders, Josiah Swinehart and John Uhler; Deacons, William H. Johnson and Adam Birt.
Since the organization of the church the Pastors have been Revs. J. Riole, J. C. Klor, F. Wall, J. Riale, J. B. Shontz and D. S. Fouse. A Sabbath school is in connection with the church. Superintendent, J. Uhler; Assistant superintendent, S. R. Neiman; Secretary, Jerome Swinehart; Treasurer, W. H. Johnson.
Universalist Church.—The first Universalist society in Tipton was organized in 1859, under Rev. J. P. Sanford, with fifteen members, also a Sabbath school of about twenty members. Meetings were held in the old Court House, with occasional preaching by Rev. Joy Bishop and J. P. Sandford. A. Shaw, Secretary. Re-organized in March, 1871, under Rev. B. F. Snook, as Pastor, with forty members. A Sabbath school was also organized of about sixty members. The basis of this organization being the Winchester Confession of Faith, adopted by the General Convention of Universalists at Winchester, N.H., A.D. 1803, to wit:
ARTICLE 1. We believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the character of God, and of the duty, interest and final destination of mankind.
ART. 2. We believe that there is one God, whose nature is Love, revealed in one Lord Jesus Christ, by one Holy Spirit of Grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness.
ART. 3. We believe that holiness and happiness are inseparably connected, and that believers ought to be careful to maintain order and practice good works, for these things are good and profitable unto men.
The trustees were Hon. C. P. Holden, H. Hammond and Dr. H. H. Maynard; Jesse James was secretary.
Under the present organization, they proceeded to build a church edifice. A lot was purchased of Jesse James, one block and a half southwest of the Court House Square, and a neat wooden structure, 60x32 feet, with spire, was erected, at a cost of $3,700. It will seat about three hundred persons. Build- . . .
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. . . ing Committee, H. Hammond, C. P. Sheldon, Wm. Elliott, O. W. Porter and Jesse James. The church was dedicated in October, 1872. Pastors, Rev. George G. Adiorne and Rev. C. F. Dodge. The present Trustees are J. W. Casad, H. Hammond and C. P. Sheldon; Secretary, A. Shaw.
The annual State Convention of the Universalist Society of Iowa was held in Tipton on Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and 13, 1855. The Pastor at that time was Rev. Shelton Riley.
Congregational Church.—This denomination afforded the first regular, settled pastor in Tipton, Rev. Ebenezer Alden, Jr., in 1844. He afterward returned East, and, on the death of Daniel Webster, in 1852, preached a commemorative sermon at Webster’s home, Marshfield, Mass.
Rev. Mr. Alden, then a Missionary of the American Home Mission Society, organized the Congregational Church of Tipton, May 5, 1844, in the old Court House. He was followed by Rev. William A. Keith, then by H. W. Cobb, in 1853 and ’54, during whose administration the first Congregational edifice was built on the southeast corner of the block west of Court Square.
Then followed, as Pastors, Rev. M. K. Cross, for ten years, and in 1866, Rev. C. S. Harrison.
At this time, the present church building was erected. It was dedicated on the second Sabbath in December, 1866, by Rev. J. E. Roy, of Chicago. Rev. George S. Biscoe followed, as Pastor, about 1868, and remained eight years, since when no regular Pastor has been supported, though the Sabbath school has been continued to the present time. A fine parsonage was erected on an adjoining lot during Rev. Biscoe’s pastorate.
The present officers of the church are as follows: Deacons, H. H. Lindsley and Peter Stryker; Treasurer, H. L. Dean; Secretary, S. Ensign; Trustees, S. Ensign, E. M. Brink and H. L. Dean.
By colonization to Nebraska, in 1877, the society lost several valuable members, among them Capt. E. H. Pound and wife, E. D. Smith and family, L. M. Mulford and family and N. Fairchild and family.
Catholic Church.—This society was formed in the Summer of 1855, under the direction of Father Lawrence, of Muscatine. Services were held in the house of John Madden, in the west end of the city, for a period of about one year, when a contract was made with Fred Hill to build a brick church for the society. The church was built just east of where their little church now stands, but as Hill did not fulfill his part of the contract, Father Lawrence refused to take the church off his hands.
The brick structure was taken down and removed by John Bierley about two years after its erection.
Father Emmons let the contract for the building of a small frame church to a man named Todd, and it was completed to the satisfaction of the members of the church.
A large new edifice is now in process of erection by John Worling, contractor. The Building Committee consists of Bernard Lang, Patrick Corbin, Michael Kirby, Matthew Thiel and John Meihan. The new church will be completed and occupied in a few months. Services are now held once a month. A Sabbath school is also in connection with the church. The membership consists of about forty families.
The officiating priests in regular order have been Rev. Father Lawrence, Father Emmons, Father Sullivan, Father Gellespie, Father Shonohan, Father Sullivan and Father McCabe.
