of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 329-331
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. The first meeting looking to the organization of the church was held October 2, 1841, and the organization was completed October 30th of the same year, seven persons at that time presenting letters.
Elder Ezra Fisher was a missionary laboring in the vicinity and he preached once or twice a month for two years or so, when he started on west and in 1854 was in Oregon, where he spent nearly thirty years in active and profitable service until his death in November, 1874. After him came Jesse N. Seely and here was a minister of the true pioneer type. During the five years or more that he served the church, its ministers were absolutely devoid of all reference to salary except when he started east to solicit aid for the new building, he was allowed $25 per month for expenses. Previous to this the Baptists had occupied an old school room jointly with the Methodists but the latter denomination, getting a controlling influence, promptly ousted the Baptists who met at the several homes of members for a time and then purchased the rear part of the lot, where their building now stands, and here erected the first brick meeting house in Muscatine.
Stephen Headley burned and donated most of the brick for the new church and Elder Seely served in whatever capacity he might, going to Port Byron with a man and horse towing a scow and bringing back lime for the mortar, and in whatever way he could this very earnest pastor served, carrying mortar for the masons and in all sorts of menial service taking his full share, and after a life of service, ending with blindness and decrepitude, he died at Clinton. This building and lot was sold to a German church and a few years ago was torn down to make way for Clifford's photograph gallery.
In those early days discipline was dispensed with a generous hand and it occasions a smile at the trifle over which bitter contests raged, but withal one wonders if the churches would not be better today if the doors more frequently were swung outward for those who "cheated their fellowmen," were "dishonest in business," "circulated scandalous stories of their fellow members," "engaged in unnecessary labor on the Lord's day," "being intoxicated," and "railing against the church and its actions."
Under the pastorate of Rev. A. G. Eberhart, in 1853-56, the church enjoyed a marvelous blessing, over one hundred and fifty uniting to its membership in a little over two years. In 1864 Rev. S. L. Burnham being pastor, a new church was built, which was occupied for thirty-four years, or until remodeled and practically rebuilt in 1896, at a cost of $12,000. Rev. Eberhart was again pastor in 1877-78, with renewed blessing to the church, and the services of Revs. G. F. Linfield and S. E. Wilcox were productive of large increase in membership.
June 8, 1844, it was resolved to originate and support a Sunday school and James W. Reynolds seems to have been the first superintendent.
Previous to the organization of the church the wife of one of its charter members had been a Presbyterian and desired to have her child baptized after the rites of that church, and while the father did not object he refused to sanction the ceremony by his presence. This caused some family discussion and the father said that if he could be shown Bible authority for infant baptism and sprinkling, he would not only sanction the child's baptism but would himself join the church of the mother, and she began a zealous search of her Bible with the result that soon after the new church was organized. Sarah Headley, wife of Deacon Stephen Headley, presented herself for membership and on Sunday, June 21, 1842, she was immersed in the Mississippi, the first person to be baptized into the new church.
The pioneer member of the church was Burris Rankin. He in 1859 withdrew to assist in organizing Lake Prairie church at McCloud's schoolhouse, returning in 1863.
John Headley was baptized, February 22, 1852, and as a child attended the very first meetings of the church.
Of some of the early pastors John Cummins was ordained here December 2, 1858. George J. Miles died while acting as pastor, December 10, 1857, and Rev. C. H. Remington accepted the position of chaplain of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry and resigned to go to the front.
R. M. Burnett, who for many years served as deacon of the church, and also as superintendent of the Sunday school, gave much of his life to the church. He was a student and a man of warm heart and reached and drew masses of people to follow him. Undoubtedly the individual worth of T. B. Prosser was dimmed by the devotion he gave Mr. Burnett, being eyes to that man after his sight was gone and arms after his form had grown weak, but himself a man of spotless character and great force in the church. George W. Dillaway brought business and executive ability into the church, backed by the means to give largely and hence in many ways he was one of the very strongest members the church ever had.
The church is today on the high ground of prosperity. It has a membership of 970. In the Sabbath school are 750. In 1903 a parsonage was purchased, the property being situated on the southwest corner of Sycamore and Fourth streets, for which was paid $7,000. In the same year Trinity parsonage north of and adjoining this property was purchased, for which $7,000 was paid. This ground will be the site of a new church edifice to be built in 1912, at a cost of $75,000.
July 17, 1903, the consecration of a magnificent organ was consummated. This instrument was the gift of F. W. Swan, in memory of his wife, Mollie Howe Swan. Its cost was $3,000.
The following pastors have served in this church since its organization: Ezra Fisher, 1841-44; Jesse Seelye, 1847-48; Samuel P. Johnson, 1848-51; William Wells, 1852-53; A. G. Eberhart, 1853-56; George I. Miles, 1856-57; John Cummings, 1858-59; C. H. Remington, 1859-62; S. L. Burnham, 1863-66; Edwin Eaton, D. D., 1866-71; N. A. Reed, D. D., 1871-76; A. G. Eberhart, 1876-78; D. L. Richards, 1878-81; G. F. Linfield, 1881-83; S. E. Wilcox, 1884-91; E. F. Jordan, Ph. D., 1891-93; William Gilkes, 1893-95; A. T. Fowler, D. D., 1896-1901; H. Russell Greaves, 1902-93; George D. Adams, D. D., 1903, supply; A. Judson Kempton, June, 1903, to August 31, 1908, the time of his death; John Bunyan Smith, D. D., November, 1908, the present pastor.
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