of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 331-332
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The First Presbyterian church of Muscatine dates its history from 1842. The early history of the church is not materially different from the history of the other churches of the city tracing their existence from that early date. The sacrifice and self-denial of its early members made it possible. It was organized February 2, 1842, and Rev. John Stocker was the first pastor, who gave untiring effort to the new organization to get it on to its feet. The organizing members were: Elizabeth R. Stocker, Harvey Gillette, Azel Farnsworth, Jane Lathrop, Priscilla Burdit, William Hill, Isabella Ogilvie, Martha Vanatta, Rebecca Smith, Almira Lockwood and Ann Farnsworth.
HAD NO CHURCH EDIFICE. This organization had no house of worship at that date. They held their services in a meeting house known as the People's church. This edifice, which was a union meeting house, was located on the site now occupied by the Muscatine Journal. The organization used the old Episcopal church, which was erected in connection with the Masonic Order. A third building, a log school-house, was also utilized by the worshippers. The latter building was located near the present residence of Judge Brannan.
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING. In 1849 the first edifice owned by the Presbyterian denomination in this city was erected. Rev. John Hudson was then the pastor. He displayed a great deal of enterprise and energy in the work and the church owes much to his efficient generalship during this period of church history. He cleared the structure of all debt before he gave up the work. This building was located on Mulberry street between Third and Fourth streets and was 35x4O feet in dimensions. It was a substantial building and at first was adequate to all needs but in 1856 the church had outgrown the building.
THE PRESENT BUILDING. It was in 1856 that work was taken up on the building which stands today at the corner of Iowa Avenue and Fourth street. It was dedicated in 1859, Rev. W. S. Plummer, D. D., of the Western Theological Seminary, of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, delivering the dedicatory address. The auditorium of this church is a paradise for speakers, the acoustic properties of the room being such as to render it very easy for a speaker to make himself heard.
SUCCESSION OF PASTORS. Rev. John Stocker, 1842-45; Rev. Mr. Pratt, 1845-47; Rev. John Hudson, 1847-49; Rev. J. S. Umsted, D. D., 1850-53; Rev. H. Hutchinson, 1853; Rev. S. J. Baird, 1854-57; Rev. J. B. Stewart, D. D., 1857-58; Rev. E. L. Belden, 1858-64; Rev. John Armstrong, D. D., 1864-74; Rev. F. P. Dalrymple, 1874-77; Rev. J. H. Barnard, D. D., 1877-84; Rev. S. H. Parvin, 1884-1899; Rev. J. N. Elliott, 1899-1911.
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