DAVENPORT PAST AND PRESENT

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CHAPTER XXIX.

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RELIGIOUS.

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Established in the Spring of 1838:  Pastor, James D. Mason;Members, one hundred and ninety; Church, forty-five by seventy feet, withbasement; Sunday School, about one hundred pupils; Volumes in Library, eighthundred and forty-one.

DAVENPORT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

This Church was organized on the 30th day of July, 1839, by Rev.Albert Hale, now pastor of a Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Illinois, andthen Agent of the "American Home Missionary Society."  TwoCongregational Churches then existed in the Territory of Iowa, those of Denmarkand Danville.  The same year a Congregational Church was formed inFairfield, and the next year one at Farmington.  These are the five oldestCongregational Churches in the State.  The original members of this Churchwere twelve in number.  All brought letters from other Churches-two fromthe First Congregational Church in Quincy, Illinois; three from the FirstCongregational Church in Brattleboro,' Vermont; four from the First PresbyterianChurch in Galesburg Illinois, and three from the First Presbyterian Church inDavenport.  Missionary explorers had reported a town here of "fivehundred" people, and that "Stephenson," in Illinois, had"six Hundred."  Those who united in the new Church organizationwere, at the time, sustaining a Sabbath School and a Prayer Meeting. "Principles, By Laws, Articles of Faith, and a Covenant," wereadopted, (Mr. Hale in the Chair,) and two deacons elected.  In all thesethings the pattern of the Orthodox Puritan Churches of New England was followed. At first, sermons were read by one of the deacons, on the Sabbath, in aroom hired for public worship.  The first ordained minister who preached tothem was Rev. J. P Stuart, of Stephenson.  Mr. S. was commissioned by theAmerican Home Missionary Society for "Stephenson and vicinity" inAugust 1839, and preached in Davenport, as part of that "vicinity."from July, 1840, to the beginning of winter.  In September, 1841, a callwas extended to the Rev Reuben Gaylord, since pastor at Danville, now at OmahaCity, N. T., which was not accepted.  The same month, Rev. A. B. Hitchcock,from the Theological Department of Yale College, was invited to minister to theChurch, and commissioned 'y the American Home Missionary Society as a missionaryfor this place.  The Church then numbered fifteen or eighteen members. Mr. Hitchcock remained till September 1843, when he accepted an invitationto take charge of a Church at Moline.  During his ministry thirty twomembers were received.  In 1844, Rev. Ephraim Adams, of Mount Pleasant, wasinvited to minister to the Church, and commissioned in November of that year. Mr. Adams was installed some time in the summer of 1847 as pastor.-thefirst pastor.  The Church was aided by the American Home Missionary Societyin sustaining its minister till November.  Mr. Adams continued pastor till1855.  During his ministry one hundred and seventy-eight persons were addedto the Church, forty-seven of whom united at the communion in March 1855, thelast preceding Mr. Adam's resignation.

The present pastor commenced his labors in June, 1855, wascalled to the pastorship in November of that year, and installed January 2d,1856.  During his ministry one hundred and thirty-two persons have beenreceived to the Church.  It now numbers two hundred and forty members.

Others, besides those mentioned above, have ministered to theChurch for shorter periods of time; among them Rev. Oliver Emerson, Jr., formany years since pastor at Sabula, during a number of months in 1841.

The place of worship has been several times changed.  TheChurch was organized in the small school building on the west side of Mainstreet, near Fourth, and opposite St. Anthony's, Catholic Church. Afterward, Sabbath service was held at the foot of Harrison street, on theLevee, then at the foot of Brady, then on Harrison, near Fourth, and then in theMain Street School House again.  The present Church building, on Fifthstreet, was erected in 1844.  It has been enlarged twice-in 1852, and in1855.  Its original dimensions were twenty-eight feet by thirty-eight;present size, forty by sixty-two feet.

The Church owns three contiguous lots on the corner of Fifth andMain street-on one of which the place of worship now stands-extending, in all,one hundred and ninety-two feet on Fifth street, by one hundred and fifty feeton Main street.  The corner lot on Main street was purchased in August,1855, with a view to the erection of a larger house of worship.  Thepresent edifice is altogether insufficient for the wants of the congregation.

The regular Sabbath services are held in the morning andevening; and the afternoon of the Sabbath is devoted to the Sabbath School. The Monthly Concert of Prayer for the conversion of the world is held onthe first Monday evening of each month, and on other Monday evenings a YoungPeople's meeting.  Prayer meetings (for ladies) on Wednesday afternoon, and(for all) on Thursday evening.  Social meetings to promoted personalacquaintance are occasionally held.

The present officers of the Church are as follows:

Pastor, Rev. George F. Magoun; Deacons, DavidGower, F. B. Abbott, Charles S. Shelton; Sunday School Superintendents,Charles S. Shelton, E. Alden; Librarian, Jerome C. Lambrite; ChurchCommittee, John L. Davies, J. R. Shepherd, J. B. Sutton; Clerk, J.Smith Connor; Treasurer, H. L. Bullen.

The Sabbath School numbers something over two hundred scholars;library three hundred volumes; Church library one hundred and fifty-one volumes. There is a Young People's Association for doing good, of forty members. The benevolent contributions of the Church last year were three thousandsix hundred and thirty-two dollars.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

The organization of the Protestant Episcopal Church in theDiocese of Iowa was effected at Muscatine in August 1853; but the election of aBishop did not take place until the first of June, 1854.  The Conventionsat in Davenport, in the basement-room of the First Presbyterian Church, Trinitynow being ready for use.  The Rt. Rev. Dr. Kemper, Missionary Bishop of theNorth-west, presided.  The balloting resulted in the election of the Rev.Henry W. Lee, D. D., then Rector of St. Luke's Church, Rochester, N. Y. The Bishop-elect was consecrated in Rochester in October of the same year,and soon entered upon his new duties.  Having made his first visitation tothe Diocese, he selected Davenport as his place of residence, it being, in hisjudgment, the most eligible and covenient point with reference to his duties. The Diocese of Iowa includes the entire State; and from thirteen parishes,and eight clergymen in 1854, it has increased to thirty parishes and twenty-fiveclergymen in January, 1858.  Bishop Lee, at the present time, has also theEpiscopal charge of the Territory of Nebraska; this being, however, but atemporary arrangement.

TRINITY CHURCH

The first and regular services of the Protestant EpiscopalChurch were commenced in Davenport on Thursday, the 14th day of October, 1841,by the Rev. Z. H. Goldsmith, who was appointed as a Missionary to the Station bythe Domestic Committee of the Board of Missions of the Protestant EpiscopalChurch-his time being divided at intervals between Davenport and Rockingham,which latter place, at the time, promised to be of the most importance.  A.Parish was regularly organized at Davenport on Thursday, the 4th of November,1841, by the name and title of "Trinity Church Parish;" and a Vestrywas elected, resulting in the following choice:  Ira Cook, J. W. Parker, W.W. Dodge, Ebenezer Cook, H S. Finley.

The regular meetings of the Parish for public worship were heldduring a succession of years, and until November of 1853, in the small framebuilding still standing on the west side of Main street, between Fourth andFifth streets, occupying the middle lot of that half block, when it wasabandoned as no longer tenantable.  Divine services were held during thesame winter of 1853, and until April of 1854, in the store room at thenorth-east corner of Rock Island and Second streets, and from April, until thecompletion and occupancy of the new edifice of Trinity church, in August of1854, in the house of the present Rector, Rev. A. Louderback, known as theEmerson House, on Second street, between Rock Island and Perry streets.

The incumbency of the Rev. Z. H. Goldsmith continued until thespring of 1849, when, in the following year, he was displaced from the ministry,and continued to reside here until his death, which occurred in the summer of1853.  The resignation of the Rev. Z. H. Goldsmith, which occurred on thefirst of April, 1849, was followed by the call and settlement of the presentRector, Rev. Alfred Louderback, as Rector and Missionary, on the 5th of Mayfollowing, making a vacancy of one month in the Parish-since which time he hascontinued in uninterrupted charge of the Church.  When he assumed thecharge of the Parish and Station, at a salary of two hundred dollars per annum,with a like sum from the Domestic Committee, he found the Parish in debt someseven hundred dollars-or twice the amount of what the church lot and buildingwere then considered worth-with about nine communicants in all, and an immenseincreasing prejudice against the Church, and with but little prospect of itspermanent and successful establishment.  Patient, continued, andpersevering efforts, however, amidst no ordinary discouragements, have met withsuccess.  For, frequently, after careful preparation for the duties of thepulpit, there would not be over ten or fifteen persons present to join in theservices, and listen to the sermon; while, at the same time, the Parish waswithout a Surplice, or Communion set, a Melodeon, a Sunday School library, orany of those external appliances and aids so necessary to give effect andinterest to the public services, because the poverty of the congregation wouldnot admit of procuring them.  At the expiration of the second year thesenecessary aids were obtained, and also a complete set of plans from Mr. FrankWills, of New York city, who generously furnished them at a trifling cost. A subscription was, at the same time, started with a view to building thepresent edifice of Trinity Church, and on the 5th of May, 1852, just three yearsfrom the time the present Rector assumed charge, the corner-stone was laid bythe Right Rev. Bishop Kemper, D. D., then in Episcopal charge of Iowa, as yetunorganized into a Diocese.  The walls rose to their proper height duringthat year, and remained bare the following winter, until the spring of 1853,when the roof was put on, and the building plastered and floored, and thewindows roughly closed up, in which condition it stood until the spring of 1854,when it was determined to finish it off.  Contracts were made accordingly,and its occupation entered upon by the congregation on Sunday, the 20the day ofAugust, of the same year, 1854.  The original cost of the two lots in 1851,and now owned by the Parish, was five hundred dollars-the cost of the edificeabout ten thousand dollars-the organ, one of Erben's buildt of New York city,and the generous gift of Gen. George B. Sargent, seven hundred dollars--inaddition to which, the Parish holds about eight or nine acres of ground, being apart of the "Pine Hill Cemetery," as a burial ground for theirdead--being, in all, a property worth, at the lowest estimate, over twentythousand dollars, and all in a perfectly safe condition.  In conducting thepraise are due to the untiring interest, generosity, and zeal of Mr. EbenezerCook, who has been the constant friend and liberal supporter of the Parishthroughout its entire history, without mentioning what is due to the efforts ofthe Rector.

The whole number of communicants, which have been connected withthe Parish, at various times, is about one hundred and forty.  Number ofbaptisms-adults, twenty-two; infants, one hundred and nineteen; making in allone hundred and forty-one.  Confirmations, thirty-four; marriages,thirty-eight; burials, eighty-one; present number of communicants aboutsixty-five.  Size of the Church at present, about seventy-five feet long,by thirty-five feet broad, in the clear, exclusive of chancel recess, with aview to enlargement, at a future day, by the addition of transcepts, so as tomake a cruci-form building, Capable of seating about three hundred persons atpresent; when enlarged, as plans call for, affording sittings for about onethousand persons.  Parochial Library, for the reading of the congregation,mostly imported English works, of near four hundred volumes, the generous giftof Ebenezer Cook.  Sunday School Library of about one hundred and fortyvolumes.  Sunday School scholars, about sixty; teachers, six; Rector,superintendent.  "Parochial Association" meets the first andthird Tuesday evenings in every month, except during Lent, at the houses ofParishoners, with a view to promoting acquaintance, and sociality among themembers of the congregation, and exciting a deeper interest in the welfare ofthe Parish.  Church chairs purchased, from the avails of that association,at a cost of about one hundred and seventy-five dollars, being the contributionof one dime per month from members, with one dime, also, as entrance fee.

On the 2d of April, 1856, canonical consent being asked for theorganization of a new Parish by a few families formerly connected with TrinityChurch, and others uniting, the requisite leave was granted, which resulted inthe existence of St. Luke's Parish, without any detriment to the oldorganization.

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

Established April 4th, 1856; Pastor, Horatio N. Powers; Numberof members, forty; Size of Church one hundred and twelve feet by forty-five,with basement fourteen feet high, containing five rooms.  Size of SundaySchool, thirty scholars.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Established June 1st, 1842; Pastor, Geo. Dixon Bowen; Members,three hundred and seventy five; Church, forty-four by sixty-eight feet, withbasement; Sunday School, one hundred and seventy-five pupils; Volumes inLibrary, three hundred.

At the organization of this church, in June, 1842, the societyconsisted of about twenty members, and were possessed of no Church property ofany kind.  Since which time another Church has been formed from it, to wit,"Wesley Chapel," and the old organized Church now numbers threehundred and seventy-five members, with a neat and comfortable Church, forty-fourby sixty-eight feet, with end galery, and class rooms and lecture room below,the whole Church, above and below, lighted with gas.

There is also a Parsonage building on the same lot, twenty-fourby forty-five feet, two stories, with basement, and also on rear of same lot, aneat and comfortable house for the use of the Sexton.

The entire Church property is vested in Trustees, and is clearof debt.

WESLEY CHAPEL.

Established 1856; Pastor, D. C. Worts; members, sixty; Church,forty by sixty feet; Sunday School, ninety pupils; Volumes in library, twohundred and fifty.

Rev. J. P. Linderman organized the Society, and was its firstpastor.

FIRST ENGLISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Established November 25, 1855; Pastor, Jacob Steek; Members,twenty-five; Sunday School, seventy-five scholars; Volumes in Library, threehundred.

This Society has yet no Church edifice, but has one incontemplation, which will be finished next Summer.

FIRST ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This Church is situated on the south-east corner of Scott andEleventh streets, on a lot of ground donated by Mr. James McIntosh.  It isa neat, plain frame building, thirty-five by forty-five feet, and calculated toseat between three and four hundred persons.  It was founded A. D. 1856.

The congregation numbers about sixty members, and is under thePastoral care of Rev. Samuel M. Hutchison.  They have a Sabbath School ofthirty-one scholars, and six teachers, with a library of one hundred andseventy-five volumes.

It may be observed that this Church is in its infancy, and isthe only one of the kind in Davenport.  It belongs to a large andinfluential branch of the Presbyterian family, which originated in a union ofAssociate Presbyterians and Reformed Presbyterians, who came from Scotland andIreland, as Missionaries, prior to the revolution, and in the year 1782, theyunited together, and retaining their primitive names in one, have since beenknown by the name of Associate Reformed Presbyterians.  An effort has beenmade to unite this body with the Associate Presbyterians-if this provessuccessful, it may change the name of this Church to United or UnionPresbyterian.

SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, N. B.

Established May 4, 1857; Pastor, D. F. Packard; Members,twenty-one; number of Congregation, one hundred; Sunday School, twenty-fivepupils; Volumes in Library, two hundred and fifty.

SECOND BAPTISH CHURCH.

Established Oct. 7, 1851; Pastor, I. Butterfield; Members, threehundred; size of Church, forty-four by eighty-six feet; Sunday School, twohundred and twenty-five pupils; Teachers, twenty-three; (Mission School, onehundred pupils; Teachers, ten;) Volumes in Library, five hundred; MissionSchool, three hundred.

This Church was organized Oct. 7th, 1851, with sixteen members. They had no Pastor, or place of worship.

Their first Pastor, Rev. E. Miles, commenced his labors thefirst of the following June, and closed them June 1st, 1857, leaving the Churchwith one hundred and fifty members, and a well constructed house of worship,forty-four by eighty-six feet.

Their present Pastor, Rev. I. Butterfield, commenced his laborsJune 1st, 1857, since which time the congregation has more than doubled. They have also a Mission School of one hundred scholars, ten teachers, anda Library of three hundred volumes.

FIRST BAPTISH CHURCH

Established 1839; Pastor, N. S. Bastion; Members, eighty;Church, forty-five by seventy-five feet-brick, on stone foundation; Elizabethanarchitecture.  Sunday School, seventy scholars; Volumes in Library, sixhundred.

Church erected in 1855-corner Main and Sixth streets.

KUNIGUNDA CHURCH.

Established 1855; Pastor, Jean Bapiste Baumgartner; Membes,about three hundred and thirty-three; Church between Fifth and Sixth streets;Sunday School in the Church.  No Library.

ST. MARGARET'S (ROMAN CATHOLIC) CHURCH.

Established October 1856; Pastor, H. Cosgrove; Members, aboutone thousand; Church, forty by eighty feet; Sunday School, sixty children;Volumes in Library, four hundred and sixty.

This Church was built by Mr. A. LeClaire, and the block on whichit stands was given by the same.

ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH.

Established 1838; Pastor, J. A. M. Pelamourgues; Members, threethousand; Church, forty-four by eighty-four feet; School, four hundred pupils;Volumes in Library, five hundred.

GERMAN CONGREGATION.

Established July 19, 1857; Pastor, A. Frowein; Members,nineteen; Church, twenty-five by forty feet; Sunday School, thirty pupils;Volumes in Library, forty.

"CHURCH OF CHRIST," OR DISCIPLES' CHURCH.

Established July 28th, 1839; Pastor, Eli Regal; Members, onehundred and sixty-seven; Church, forty by seventy-five feet, with basement;Sunday School, fifty-five scholars; Volumes in Library, two hundred.

This Church was organized at an early day, and with but fewmembers, and although for many years without a preacher, yet it has steadilyincreased in numbers.  Since its organization, no serious cause fordisagreement has arisen among the members, but disclaiming human creeds andtraditions, and acknowledging the Bible as the only rule of faith and practice,all differences being thus referred, have been speedily and most satisfactorilysettled.  The Church is now in a healthy and highly prosperous condition.

FREE-THINKERS' ASSOCIATION.

On Sunday, March 14, 1858, a "Society of FreeInquirers" was organized, in the Court House-Jonathan Parker in the Chair,and Th. Guelich Secretary.  Dr. Hall, Robt, McIntosh, and Th. Guelich, wereappointed a committee on Constitution, &c.

SCOTT COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY

The Scott County Bible Society, auxilliary to the American BibleSociety, was organized in the city of Davenport on the 13th day of September, A.D. 1842, at which time a Constitution was formed and adopted, which continuedwithout material alteration or amendment until the present time.

The officers elected at the organization were -

Rev. D. Worthington, President; Charles Leslie, Secretary.

And at the subsequant anniversary meeting-the minutes of theSociety show the following election of officers:

In 1842, Rev. Z. H. Goldsmith, President; Rev. D. Worthington,Secretary; Wm. L. Cook, Treasurer.

Who continued until 1847, when-

Rev. Z. H. Goldsmith was elected President; Rev. Ephraim Adams,Secretary; Wm. L. Cook, Treasurer.

In 1848, Rev. Ephraim Adams, President; Asa Prescott, Secretary;Alfred Saunders, Treasurer.

In 1849, Rev. Ephraim Adams, President; Asa Prescott, Secretary;Rufus Ricker, Treasurer.

In 1850, Rev. J. D. Mason, President; Rev. Asa Prescott,Secretary; Rufus Ricker, Treasurer.

In 1851, Rev. J. D. Mason, President; H. Price, Treasurer; Rev.H. L. Bullen, Secretary.

In 1852, Rev. J. D. Mason, President; H. Price, Treasurer; Rev.H. L. Bullen, Secretary.

In 1853, Rev. J. D. Mason, President; Prof. D. S. Sheldon,Secretary; Jno. H. Morton, Treasurer.

In 1854, H. Price, President; Rev. J. D. Mason, Secretary; JamesL. Dalzell, Treasurer.

In 1855, H. Price, President; Rev. J. D. Mason, Secretary, Jas.M. Dalzell, Treasurer.

In 1856, Strong Burnell, President; Rev. J. D. Mason, Secretary;H. Price, Treasurer.

In 1857, H. T. Slaymaker, President; Rev. J. D. Mason,Secretary; H. Price Treasurer.

And the Treasurer's books show also that the aggregate receiptshave been eleven hundred and one dollars and forty-seven cents.  Thereceips for the first year were nine dollars and thirty-seven cents, and for thelast year three hundred and forty eight dollars, showing a steady increase inthe collections of the Society, equal if not exceeding the increase in wealthand population of the county.  

This money has all been expended in the purchase of bibles andtestaments in different languages, which have been distributed (except somewhich are now on hand,) among the inhabitants of this city and county, withoutany distinction of sect or party.

The Depository of this Society is at present at the PublishingHouse of Luse, Lane & Co., No 55 Perry street, between Second and Thirdstreets, Davenport.  The names of persons contributing to the funds of theSociety are registered on the Treasurer's book, and thereby become members ofthe Society.

RECAPITULATION-Church Members, 5,700; Sunday School Pupils,1,096; Sunday School Libraries, 3,819 volumes.