of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 335-336
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. This church was organized in 1850 but there are no records to tell by whom it was organized. The first meetings were held in a house on Front street. In the year 1851 they built, or purchased, a small brick building on the spot where the present building stands.
Among its prominent members were Hon. Alexander Clark, who died in Africa in 1891, and Ben Matthews. A man by the name of P. Anderson preached for them. They continued to hold their meetings, and although the way sometimes looked dark and discouraging, the little band clung together. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the little band took on new life and as there was an inflow of people from the south, that strengthened the membership. Among the members who came about that time were: R. Haney, Rosetta Watson, Abram Seabrooks, Peter Townley, and Sawyer Lamb.
Among the pastors who have served the church are: Revs. Cooper, Alexander, Robbins, Barr, Benson, Nusom, Holley, W. R. Alexander, Williams, Harper. Pharris, Mathews, Rhinehart and W. A. Searcy. Probably the church enjoyed the best financial period under the pastorate of Rev. W. R. A1exander, who twice served the charge and died in Ottumwa in the spring of 1899. It was during his pastorate in 1885 that the present church was built. Probably the most spiritual season that the church enjoyed was under the pastorate of Rev. Williams, later of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
BISHOP R. H. KAIN. In 1887 the death occurred in Washington city, of R. H. Kain, who was the fourteenth bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church. He served as pastor of the church at Muscatine during the Civil war and then removed to Charleston, South Carolina, from where he was sent to congress, in the reconstruction days, and served two terms. Bishop Kain was a man of great energy and decided ability as a ready and eloquent speaker. He was a native of Virginia.
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