History of some Churches in Wapello

pg 369

The Methodist Episcopal church of Wapello is said to have been organized in 1839. by Rev. Joseph Kirkpatrick, a missionary sent from the Illinois conference. The Iowa conference was not organized until 1844. Thomas M. Kirkpatrick is also said to have been one of the early preachers at this place, ...

pg 369

... and following him was John Hayden. The first mention we find of Wapello in the Methodist conference reports is for the year 1845. At this time the membership is given at 112, and Robert Rice was the local preacher. In the year 1840. this territory belonged to the Rock River conference, and we find that Joseph L. Kirkpatrick was located at Crawfordsville, and Thomas M. Kirkpatrick at Mt. Pleasant; and it is probable that one or both of them supplied this pulpit. The next year John Hayden was located at Crawfordsville; in 1842. Joseph L. Kirkpatrick was located at Grandview, and John Hayden at Crawfordsville. In 1843, Luther McVay was located at Grandview, Micajah Reeder at Crawfordsville, and Joseph L. Kirkpatrick at Yellow Springs. In 1844, Laban Case was located at Grandview, Micajah Reeder at Crawfordsville, and Joseph L. Kirkpatrick at Yellow Springs. The conference records for the year 1846 show the Wapello membership to have been 209, but no preacher is named at this point, though we find the name of Robert Rice as located at Crawfordsville. and John H. Dennis at Grandview. We find no further mention of Wapello in the Iowa conference reports until 1854, when we find the name of G. W. Teas, and Henry Clay Dean is given as the local preacher at Wapello in 1855. Other ministers from that time to the present were: Joseph Paschal, L. A. Smith, J. G. Thompson, I. M. McClosky, A. S. Prather, Dennis Murphy, Jesse Craig, J. A. Wilson, F. H. Burris, N. H. Mitchell, B. A. Wright, J. D. DeTar, C. L. Stafford, S. S. Murphy, W. M. Brown, G. W. Byrkit. A. Kershaw, C. F. Williams, F. R. Holcomb, J. C. Kendrick, O. P. Light, W. P. Elliott, A. B. Shipman. F. Ashpole, F. M. Mahurin. J. C. Goodrich, J. C. Willits, G. W. Younkin. T. S. Pool, R. L. Patterson, W. C. Chew, M. E. Reusch, J. E. Newsom, E. C. Brooks.

It is said that the first services held by the Methodists in Wapello were held in the dining room of the Drake Hotel. Some time later they were held in the old brick courthouse, and still later in a small frame building which stood about where the present German church stands. In 1852, the Methodists commenced the erection of a brick building which was completed in about a year, at a cost of nearly $2,000.00. In 1876 a frame building took the place of the old brick church and cost about $3,500.00. In February of 1902, the remodelling of the frame church was completed at a cost of about $3,600.00. The church membership at the present time is about 125.

From quite an early day there have been a great many German families in and around Wapello, and they have a strong church organization here.

It is said that the first church built by the Germans in Wapello, was a small frame on the lot now occupied by their church. Soon after that a German church congregation was organized on Long creek, and it and the Wapello church were supplied by the same ministers. The ministers who have officiated in the two congregations are as follows: Th. Schulze, 1846-1847: F. Blank, '47-‘48; I. I. Young, '48-'49; Ph. Funck, '49-'50: H. Fiegenbaum, '50-'52: A. Salzer and F. Merton, '52-53: Rev. J. Haas and C. Shuler, '53-'54; Rev. Senn, '54-'56: C. Bernreuter, '56-'57: F. W. Conrath, '57-'58; Rev. J. Rinder, '58-'60; J. W. Roecker. '59-'60; Theodore Miller, '60-'61; J. Schnackenberg, '61-'62; W. Winter, '62-'63; F. Heinz, '63-'66; F. Fiegenbaum, '66-'68; J. P. Faust, '68-’68-‘69: W. Zuppan. '69-‘72: J. Feisel, '72-75; F. Arnsberger, '75-’77; George Plitt, '77-78: R. J. Tillman.’78-’81; S. Segesser. '81-'82; H. Ross, '82-'85; F. ...

pg 370

... L. Litzrodt, '85-'87; J. P. Wilhelmi, '87-90; J. H. Knehans, '90-'95; H. Zimmerman, '95-'98; E. W. Simon, '98-‘99; J. B. Schweitert, '99-'01; W. C. Schultze, '01-'04; J. P. Hehner, '04-'07; F. J. Sternberg, '07-10; David Froeschle, '10—.

In place of the old Long Creek or Sand Prairie church the Germans have now a neat church edifice about a mile and a half south of the old church site.

The present church building of the German M. E. church in Wapello was originally built in 1871, when Rev. Zuppan was pastor. William Archibald was the builder. In 1902, when Rev. W. C. Schultze was pastor, the building was entirely . remodeled at an expense of about $4,400. W. S. Isett was the builder. The building was rededicated, with impressive ceremonies, on Sunday, November 30, 1902.

The Church of Christ

The history of the Church of Christ, or Christian church, in Louisa county, dates back to pioneer days. The first preachers of what was called the "Reformation," sometimes called the "Restoration Movement of the Nineteenth Century," was John Rigdon, perhaps; a little later came Aaron Chatterton, who was an itinerating evangelist all over southeastern Iowa. A church was established in Columbus City sometime in the early forties. It was first organized in the log cabin of "Uncle Barstow" Williams, who lived some three or four miles south of Columbus City. This church was at one time one of the strongest organizations in the state. Such men as John Errett, Jonas Hartzel, J. K Cornell, F. Walden, L. C. Wilson, J. Madison Williams, Simpson Ely, J. H. Painter and other prominent preachers and evangelists labored in this church.

Along in the sixties an organization was formed at what was known as Concord, about two and a half miles northwest of Morning Sun. Here a union house was built, owned jointly by the Methodists, Church of God and the Christians. For many years the work was fairly prosperous, but the shifting of country population and the building up of churches in the towns left the work to languish and die. For a number of years the old Concord stone church stood practically unused. In 1895 Dr. Wm. M. Semones, then a medical student in the State University, at Iowa City, who was also a good minister of the Gospel, visited the church, where a Sunday School had been organized, and for some months preached in the community, at Concord and at a schoolhouse about four miles southwest of Wapello. It was out of this Sunday School and a short meeting held by Dr. Semones at the schoolhouse, that the church in Wapello grew.

The Church of Christ in Wapello

The Church of Christ in Wapello was organized by Evangelist Simpson Ely. then of Kirksville, Mo., following a meeting which was held in the courthouse park. The charter members numbered 57 and the date of organization was September 29, 1895. The following May, Evangelist Ely held another meeting, adding some to the membership and closing with a subscription of $1,500 for the erection of a church building. This building was begun the following year and completed in 1897, giving them a property valued at $8,000, now free of debt, owing largely to the liberality of James E. Blanchard, one of the charter members, and father of Charles Blanchard, the latter being the active elder of ...

pg 371

... the congregation from its organization until the removal of the family to Des Moines in the fall of 1910.

The membership of the church has shifted with removals and the unfaithfulness of some, but has always been fairly active in the work, in the Bible school, Christian Endeavor (the latter having been one of the largest and best C. E. societies in the county for many years) and in the benevolent and missionary and civic activities of the community.

Among those who have supplied the pulpit, or occupied it as regular pastors, are the following: Wm. M. Semones, A. B. Clark, I. H. Fuller, D. L. Dunkleberger, J. K. Ballou, G. L. Brokaw, S. B. Ross, A. L. Hill and Wm. A. Hunt. The following evangelists have held meetings: Simpson Ely, R. A. Omer, J. G. H. Bennett, J. H. Bryan, Mrs. Clara Hazelrigg, Charles G. Stout, Arthur Long and "Thompson, the Egyptian." The present pastor is Rev. O. I. Bennett.

History of the First Presbyterian Church of Wapello, Iowa
(Contributed)

It was early in the fifties that the movement was inaugurated which has resulted in the Presbyterian organization of Wapello of today.

It was a company of women who first discovered that our Lord had arisen from the dead. Some may be unwilling to concede that women lead in church work, but however that may be, it is certain that it was the efforts of a woman which resulted in the organization of the Sabbath School which was the forerunner of the work since accomplished by the Presbyterian church.

This Sabbath School was founded by Mrs. Dr. T. G. Taylor. To the results of this school's influence we are indebted for the organization of the Congregational church, which afterwards became the First Presbyterian church of Wapello. The first services of the Congregational society were held in what was at that time the courthouse of Louisa county, a building which still remains standing in comparatively good condition. Rev. Mr. Wood was the first pastor of the newly formed Congregational society and preached for some time in the old courthouse. During his pastorate the old brick church on Second street was erected about the years 1853-4. Dr. Salter of Burlington, was present at the dedication services, participating in the same. The pastor, Mr. Wood, was ill at the time of these services and unable to be present, but at his request the church was dedicated in accordance with previous arrangements. Very soon it was found to the great sorrow of the congregation that the sickness was unto death. Mr. Woods died shortly after this house of worship was dedicated, and was buried in the cemetery near Wapello where he now rests in peace. On his monument is the significant inscription, "Bury me where I fall."

After his death the church became very seriously involved financially, the debt that had been incurred in the erection of the church remained an ever increasing burden. This burden was the means of the abandonment of the work in Wapello by the Congregational society. The church building was sold and was purchased by Mrs. Jane B. Underwood, from whom it was in turn bought by the Presbyterian congregation.

In the minutes of the meeting of the Presbytery at Keokuk, Iowa, held April 7, 1857, it is stated that a petition was presented from several persons in ...

pg 372

... ... Wapello, Iowa, asking to be organized into a church and that the request was granted. The committee appointed to complete such work was Revs. F. B. Dinsmore, B. Wall and T. Stearns, together with Elder Hamilton Brown, and in the minutes of the Presbytery held at Fairfield in October, 1857, it is recorded that the church organized and ordered that it be enrolled.

The sessional records record that the church was organized with thirteen members and two elders and it was ordered that the church be styled and known as the First Presbyterian church of Wapello. Of the original thirteen members, two are connected with the church at the present time; these persons. Mr. J. L. Sweeney and wife, Sarah A. Sweeney, have held continuous membership here for fifty-five years.

In 1858 permission was granted the churches of Wapello and Oakland to employ Rev. O. H. Miller, who was the first Presbyterian minister in charge of this church. He served as stated supply during the latter part of the year 1858 and during the years 1859 and 1860. In 1861 Mr. Miller was dismissed to the Presbytery of Blairsville and the church was reported vacant.

The important part which the Sabbath School played in the history of this church is worthy of mention. So far as can be learned the school has never been abandoned for any length of time and has been the means under God of holding the church together when there was no other bond. It was largely due to J. L. Sweeney, the only male member of the original thirteen now in the church, that the school was sustained for years, in the time when teachers were hard to find and when the superintendent was at the same time chorister, teacher, librarian and janitor.

The church being vacant during the years 1861-1865, Rev. D. T. Campbell was the stated supply. In 1865 Rev. Hill served as a supply for a short time. In 1866 the church issued a call to Rev. J. Baay which was accepted and Rev. Baay served the church as pastor for three years, 1867-1870. After Mr. Baay's departure the church was without a minister and regular services for four years from 1870 to 1874. The second pastor of the Wapello church was Rev. A. Heizer, who served the church from 1874 to 1879. During his pastorate the churches of Toolesboro, Wapello and Oakland were united into one charge. After Mr. Heizer's pastorate the church was without a pastor until the fall of 1889 a period of ten years when Rev. A. W. Cooper was installed. During these years the church was supplied by Rev. D. T. Campbell and Messrs. J. W. Foxe and E. M. Sharp, students. In 1889 Rev. A. W. Cooper became the third pastor. In 1890 he was dismissed to the Presbytery of Siam, where he is at present engaged in the foreign work. In 1891 Rev. J. H. Condit became the fourth pastor in the order of succession. He served the church until April, 1896, when he was dismissed to enter the mission work at Juneau, Alaska, thus making the third missionary sent out from this church, Prof. V. C. Gambell and wife having already entered the field a few years previous. It was during his pastorate that the present building was erected, the dedication service taking place December 11. 1892. Following the pastorate of Rev. Condit was that of Rev. T. N. Buchanan during the years 1896 to 1899. Rev. R. J. L. Matthews acted as stated supply from 1899 to 1903. The sixth pastor was the Rev. W. H. Cooper, 1903-1906 Following Rev. Cooper was Rev. M. E. Todd, pastor 1906-1907. Then came another supply in the person of Rev. Theo. Koopman. 1907-1908. The eighth pastor was Rev. W. J. Gerlach, who served from 1908 to 1910. The present minister, Rev. Carl Montanns, began serving the church in September, 1911.

Thus we have the history of the Presbyterian church for a little more than half a century. Since there is no such thing as stationary Christianity, either with individuals or with organizations, we can but say the church of God must "go forward," and with God for a leader, greater and better things are predicted for the future.

---