of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 309-312
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In the spring of 1839, the Rock River (Illinois) Conference of the Methodist church sent Rev. Brace as a missionary to the field that included Bloomington, now the city of Muscatine, and while he met with some support in his work, generally he was antagonized by the inhabitants. His was a most discouraging and difficult work, yet his persistency and tenacity told, and the little mission grew, though very slowly at first. In the month of July of that year a class was organized--it could hardly be termed anything else--composed of seven members, as follows: Mr. and Mrs. George Baumgardner, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Morford, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Parvin, and Miss Mary Williams. At the next session of the Rock River conference Rev. Brace was returned and an assistant, Rev. Cartright, was sent back with him. The field of their labors at this time embraced all of Muscatine county, a portion of Scott and some of Louisa county, a four weeks' circuit having been established. These ministers of the gospel received compensation scarcely sufficient to clothe them. The collections for one-quarter amounted to the small sum of $17.35 from the entire district.
FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL. The first Sunday school was established in 1839, the Methodists, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Baptists uniting, as none was of sufficient numbers to conduct a school independently. This system continued until 1844, when the Methodist church organized a Sunday school of its own. Joseph Williams was the first superintendent. At the Rock River conference in 184O the circuit as above referred to was changed somewhat, Rev. Henry Sommers having been placed in charge as presiding elder, while Rev. Nathan Jewett served the community as its minister. During that year the first baptisms were made, including the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Williams, Mr. and Mrs. John Lilly, Mr. and Mrs. William Parvin and one adult, Sarah Morford.
FIRST QUARTERLY MEETING. The first quarterly meeting, or conference as it is now termed, was held in Bloomington, October 3, 1840, and could its minutes be read, they certainly would prove of interest. The following constituted its membership: Rev. Sommers, Rev. Jewett, M. Reeder, George Baumgardner, John Lilly, Gabriel Walling, William Reeder and Joseph Jeans. The following were appointed stewards: J. A. Parvin, Charles A. Warfield, Joseph Williams, T. S. Battelle and Robert Benneuel. At this time George Baumgardner was appointed a local preacher. The following, taken from the minutes of the recording steward, J. A. Parvin, at this meeting shows what Muscatine's predecessor must have been: "Here in these ends of the earth, the country new, the town small, but few members in class, and we all appear to think too much of this world's goods and too little of our soul's salvation. There are two organized societies in Bloomington, the Methodists and the Presbyterians. The citizens are very much addicted to Sabbath breaking, grog drinking, gambling, swearing, etc. O Thou who holds the destiny of nations and individuals in Thy hand, send salvation to Bloomington!"
This was in 1840, and no doubt there was some reason for the appended plea. The annual conference in 1842 set off Bloomington from the circuit, and the presiding elder appointed Rev. James L. Thompson as the pastor. In 1843 the first revival meetings Bloomington experienced were held and it is shown that about fifty conversions resulted, though little detail is given to the meetings, or as to who conducted them. Rev. E. S. Norris was the pastor at Bloomington station, as it was then called. The information concerning the early history of the church comes from notes made by J. A. Parvin, in 1880, and still preserved.
THE FIRST TRUSTEES. At the annual conference in 1845 the first board of trustees of the Methodist church was appointed, the members being Joseph Williams, George Baumgardner, John Lilly, T. S. Battelle, T. Morford, G. Earle, J. A. Parvin, Z. Washburn and S. C. Hastings. G. B. Bowman was presiding elder and David Worthington the local preacher. The board of trustees at this time launched a movement for a church, the congregation up to this time having no edifice of its own. The movement was carried to a successful conclusion, and the little congregation built as its place of worship the structure that is now occupied as the city hall. The church was built in 1851 and dedicated August 15th of the same year. The building proved a model at that early day; few, when it was dedicated, anticipating that in less than twenty years the membership would outgrow its quarters and thus make another structure imperative.
THE SECOND CHURCH. About 1867 the agitation for a new church became very pronounced and received the support of a large proportion of the membership. The movement gathered impetus until a definite plan of action was adopted, resulting in the decision to erect another home for the congregation. Ground was broken for the new building, May 9, 1868, at the corner of Third street and Iowa avenue, and work progressed somewhat slowly perhaps until the first floor was completed, May 30, 1869, exactly one year after the cornerstone was laid. The building was not formally dedicated, however, until August 29, 1869, when elaborate dedicatory exercises were held, Bishop Thompson delivering the sermon. Dr. W. F. Cowles, well remembered by some of the older residents, was the pastor at that time.
The First Methodist church has grown in numbers constantly ever since its organization, and it finally became necessary to establish the Musserville Methodist Episcopal church, which was followed by the branch on Park avenue, and it might be well to state here that both the smaller institutions are in a flourishing condition. The members of the Musserville church showed their worth like those of the parent church, when their house of worship was completely destroyed by fire about thirteen years ago.
The first church has enjoyed the services and direction of many brilliant men, among them Dr. Cowles, and their work is indelibly written in the history of the church.
DURING LATER YEARS. The men of the early period who served the pastorate here were men of sturdy character, faithful to their calling and indefatigable in their efforts. The imprint of their great work is still evident and the mold they formed has been refilled to overflowing by the capable men that have followed them. The church has been fortunate, immensely so in that respect, and its good fortune is exemplified in its present fearless spirit and general flourishing condition. Of the later pastors reference might well be made to Rev. W. G. Wilson, Rev. J. F. Robertson, Rev. J. W. Hackley, Rev. C. L. Stafford, one of the most brilliant men in the conference, Rev. J. W. Potter, Rev. J. C. Willits and Rev. Thomas Osborn. The present pastor is Rev. L. M. Grigsby.
Following is a list of pastors who have served the church from 1839 to the present time, 1911: 1839-40, Rev. Mr. Brace; 1840-1, Nathan Jewett; 1841-2, Joseph Kirkpatrick; 1842-3, James L. Thompson; 1843-4, E. S. Norris; 1844-5, Elisha S. Norris; 1845-6, D. Worthington; 1846-7, J. B. Hardy; 1847-9, John Harris; 1849-50, L. D. Dennis; 1850-1, W. Hulburt; 1851-2, Henry Clay Dean; 1852-3, Joseph Brook; 1853-5, J. H. White; 1855-6, John Harris; 1856-7, John W. Sullivan; 1857-8, John Harris; 1858-60, D. Worthington; 1860-2, F. W. Evans; 1862-4, John H. Power; 1864-5, W. P. Watkins; 1865-7, G. N. Power; 1867-70, W. F. Cowles; 1870-73, J. B. Blakeney; 1873-6, J. W. McDonald; 1876-8, G. N. Power; 1878-80, D. Murphy; 1880-83, John Haynes; 1883-6, H. E. Wing; 1886-91, W. G. Wilson; 1891-96, J. F. Robertson; 1896-9, J. W. Hackley; 1899-1904, C. L. Stafford; 1904-06, J. W. Potter; 1906-07, W. P. Stoddard; 1907-08, J. C. Willits; 1908-10, Thomas Osborn; 1910, L. M. Grigsby.
THE FIRST REGULAR MEETING PLACE. The first house of worship occupied by the Methodists was a small frame building about 20x40 feet in dimensions, originally intended for a schoolhouse. It became, however, a meeting place for political gatherings, conventions, lyceums, spelling bees, church festivals and many other purposes, thus indicating the absence of caste and exclusiveness among the pioneer men and women of that period. The structure was one story in height. The gable end faced Iowa avenue, was windowless and had one plain front door. Four windows, facing north and south, permitted the light of day to fill the small inclosure, wherein were plain benches for the congregation. When abandoned by the church in 1851, the building served as a stage and livery barn until in August, 1868, when it gave way to a home erected for the Journal. Notwithstanding the crudities and inconveniences of this first church building, it was thoroughly appreciated by the communicants and worshipers at its shrine, and they felt an advance had been accomplished in the settlement toward improving the condition of things religiously. They made favorable comparison with their church and the time the small and weak congregation met at the unfinished home of a member on Second street, between Iowa avenue and Chestnut street. On this occasion the day was very warm and part of the worshipers were sitting or standing in the yard. The minister took his station in the doorway. He labored under serious difficulties in his endeavor to face the people in the house and in the yard, but this was of small moment when compared to the contemptuous actions of a "distinguished" citizen in the yard who, while the servant of the Master eloquently expounded "the law and the gospel," sat close by and complacently read a newspaper.
THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING. The first building was erected in 1851 and dedicated on Sunday morning, the 15th of August of that year, by Bishop Vaughn of New York. This structure was erected on the northwest corner of Sycamore and Third streets and the papers of the day designated it as "a splendid brick church, the largest in the city, being 65x45 feet, spacious and seating 600 people. The Sunday school rooms are on the lower floor." The noted orator, preacher, lawyer, politician, rebel sympathizer and eccentric character, Henry Clay Dean, was the pastor the ensuing year. When abandoned by the society, the building became the property of the city and has been since known as the city hall.
THE SECOND CHURCH BUILDING. Having secured the lot on the northwest corner of Iowa avenue and Third streets, whereon stood a carpenter shop, the Methodists in 1867 demolished the shop and proceeded to erect a new church. May 30, 1868, the cornerstone was laid and formal ceremonies commemorative of the occasion were held in the old church, the audience hearing addresses by Dr. Ferris, of New York, and Dr. Moore, of Maine. The pastor, F. W. Cowles, also was interesting in remarks pertinent to the occasion.
This structure cost about $25,000. In 1888 a parsonage was built at a cost of $5,000. At that time the membership was 500.
BUILDING IN COURSE OF ERECTION. In the spring of 1911 ground was broken for a new church building to be erected on the northwest corner of Fourth street and Iowa avenue, at a cost of $75,000.
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