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CHAPTER XVIII
THE CHURCHES It has often been said that "The sword follows the flag." The history of every nation seems to bear out this declaration. It is equally true that the missionary is not far behind the sword and many times he is some distance in advance of the flag. IOWA'S FIRST PREACHER The records seem to indicate that long before the white man thought to occupy this territory efforts were being made to Christianize the Indian. In 1842 Rev. David Lowery, who had been appointed agent for the Winnebago reservation, began the erection of a mission school at Old Mission. He was subsequently transferred to Minnesota, and though the mission was continued under other management, history does not record that any material advancement was achieved in the cause of Christianity. However, it is worth while to perpetuate the fact that Reverend Lowery was probably Iowa's first preacher. He was a Kentuckian and a Cumberland Presbyterian. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH The most trustworthy authorities available at this time give
to the Catholic church credit for the erection of the first church
edifice in Winneshiek county. At the risk of being accused of
repetition we refer to the paragraph in Harrison Goddard's sketch
of Washington township, written for Anderson & Goodwin's Atlas
and republished in the chapter on towns and townships. Mr. Goddard
says most of the settlers of 1849 were strict adherents of the
Catholic faith; that they purchased lands and Indian huts, and
that the largest of the huts was converted into a chapel, Father
G. H. Plathe being sent to minister unto them. In 1853, when this
little church was destroyed by fire, a site was secured at Twin
Springs. We refer the reader to Mr. Goddard's sketch for the full
details, which will be found interesting. Besides the Twin Springs congregation there are large and flourishing churches in Fort Atkinson, Calmar, Ossian, and Spillville. The Decorah and Bluff ton 173 PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 174 congregations, while .maintaining separate churches, are practically one parish with Rev. J. Hawe, assisted by Father Ranier, who was recently transferred from Marshalltown, at their head. The Decorah church was built in 1864 and occupied on October 22d. It cost about six thousand dollars. At the present time plans are maturing for the construction of a new church to cost $25,000, the old one having become too small. Plymouth Rock also has a church. THE FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, Close upon the heels of the Catholics came the Lutherans. The settlement by Norwegians, which began in 1850 and grew and spread rapidly in the next eight or ten years, naturally invited ministers of their faith to come and be pioneers with them. Rev. N. Brandt, who subsequently became a professor at Luther College, was probably the first minister of the Norwegian Lutheran church of America to visit the county. He was located in Wisconsin at the time and was doing missionary work over a wide and constantly widening territory. He is credited with visiting this territory and holding services, and it is well known that in 1850 he performed the first marriage to take place in Madison township.
As the country became more thickly settled others came to join him in his religious work, congregations grew up here and there and churches were built, but Reverend Koren's labors were not curtailed. Recognizing in him a leader, he was made president of the, Iowa district, later he became vice president of the Synod, and finally the presidency came to him both as a reward for and a heritage of his service. While he was performing his official duties he was also serving as pastor to the congregation that claimed him as their leader in r853. For fifty-six years he delivered a Christmas sermon to his flock, using as his text the story of the coming of the Christ child, each year drawing from it a new message. It was due to the foresight of Reverend Koren that Luther College
came into possession of the beautiful grounds where her buildings
are now located. Even before it was determined to move the college
to Decorah he had paved the, way to their acquisition, and the
Synod has many times been thankful that among their numbers there
was one whose judgment had been so wise and helpful. Reverend
Koren had a rare faculty with young men, and when he died in PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 177 1911 no man could have been more truly mourned. His influence was not confined to his own nationality, but extended to all who knew him. THE NORWEGIAN METHODISTS Not all of the Norwegians were of Lutheran faith, however, For a number of years there were several small congregations of Norwegian Methodists, but by the time the younger generations began to take the place of the pioneers they had acquired such facility in the English language that more and more they affiliated with the English churches, until the membership of the Norwegian congregations was completely absorbed. THE UNITED LUTHERANS Even among the Lutherans there was not a unanimous sentiment upon the matter of creed. Sixty years ago what was then known as the Hauge branch established a church on Washington Prairie, and through all the intervening years it has prospered and is today one of the strong congregations of the county. The differences that arose among members of the Lutheran Synod some thirty years .ago resulted in a division of congregations and the establishment of many new churches known as the United Lutherans. At the time it was feared that serious harm would surely follow; but the record of. the years does not bear out that prediction. There may have been-undoubtedly was-a temporary struggle in which the financial side of the controversy loomed large, but where there is spiritual strength to weather such a storm there need be little fear of the ultimate outcome. It is a matter of much gratification to all concerned that today both the Synod and United Lutheran congregations of this county are stronger than ever before, and there can be seen a day not far distant when the differences of the past will have been forgiven and forgotten, and their members will again be marching under one standard. THE METHODIST CHURCH "The Methodist Episcopal church was introduced into Decorah, Iowa, when there were but three so-called houses here, viz: Mr. Day's, Mr. Painter's and that of Father and Mother Morse. It was at the house of the last mimed that Rev. Albert Bishop knocked one rainy evening in September, 1851. Mother Morse opened the door, and seeing a stranger dripping with rain, was accosted as follows: 'Does Brother Morse live here? I am a missionary seeking for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' 'You have found them,' said she, 'this is the place, walk in.' " The foregoing is a quotation from an historical sketch of the
First Methodist Episcopal church of Decorah prepared by Rev. G.
W. Brindle, one of its ear1y pastors. The record goes on to state
that the next day the first religious service was held in the
Morse cabin, and during the week Elder Bishop remained here the
church was organized with a class of four, consisting of Philip
and Hannah Morse and E. A. Coger and wife. The missionary's circuit
included Lansing, Monona, and all the intervening territory. He
served for two years, being followed by PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 178 Reverends L. S. Ashbaugh and H. S. Brunson in 1853, and by Rev. John Webb and Brother Davis in 1854. In 1855 Rev. E. E. Byam was appointed to serve the Decorah congregation and during his pastorate he raised funds and built the first church building the town had known. It was completed and dedicated in 1856. L. L. Couse, as clerk of the church, has in his possession the original subscription list. Alonzo Bradish is the only survivor among the list of contributors. In the early '70's this church had become too small and the congregation decided to build a larger one. The building was sold to the late Co!. W. T. Baker and Edwin Farnsworth, who moved it onto lots directly south of the courthouse, where it served as the home of the Christian church. Later it was sold to John Breckenridge who converted in into a school building, though the Christian church continued to use it during the remainder of their short existence. The removal of this structure from its former location permitted the erection of the large brick building that has served the Decorah congregation since December 20, 1874, the date on which it was dedicated. Fire has twice damaged this building, and more recently it was damaged by wind and hail, but these have only served to test the faith and loyalty of its members, and in neither have they been found wanting. Among the men who have served as pastor here the names of Rev. G. W. Brindle, Rev. F. E. Brush and Rev. S. G. Smith are frequently recalled. Of this trio Rev. Smith is the only survivor. For many years he has been the pastor and leading spirit of the People's church of St. Paul, Minnesota, and has gained an international reputation as a pulpit orator and worker along sociological lines. The establishment of the church in Decorah was the entering wedge that was instrumental in its establishment in almost every center of importance in the county. As far back as forty years ago Freeport had its church building. Calmar, Ossian, Ridgeway, Burr Oak, Hesper, and Kendallville are served regularly, and Frankville occasionally. Ridgeway has a handsome little church built. a few years ago that is an ornament to the town. The German Methodists also maintain services at Decorah, Canoe and in Lincoln township, owning church homes in each of these localities. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH The Congregational church is now represented by one congregation-that at Decorah. Rev. A. M. Eastman came to Decorah only a few weeks after Elder Bishop in 1851, and established monthly meetings which were held in the log tavern of the Day family. In 1855 the church was organized, and Rev. W. A. Keith, living at Freeport, was the first pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Ephraim Adams in 1857, services being held in the courthouse until November 17, 1861, when a church building, which had been under construction during 1860 and 1861, was dedicated.
PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 181 New York City University, Union College, the Universities of Vermont and Yale. It may be doubted if any other group of men has exerted a tithe of the beneficial influence upon the life of the state that was exerted by those earnest workers. The two oldest educational institutions in the State owe their inception and establishment to the far-sighted plans and persistent self-sacrifice and promotion of Asa Turner and the Iowa Band. It [it] not extravagant to presume that it was the emulation aroused by those apostles from New England that created the 'passion for education' among the pioneers of Iowa, that resulted in the establishment of the fifty academies, colleges and universities between 1838 and 1852. From this fact doubtless Iowa came to be known as the 'Massachusetts of the West' "The election of James W. Grimes, Governor of Iowa, in 1854, and the revolution in the political control of the state which that event signified, first attracted the attention of the nation to Iowa. Prior to that date Iowa was regarded with but little interest by the people of the northern states. She was looked upon as a solid democratic state and was grouped with Illinois and Indiana in the alignment of political parties in the contest over the extension of slavery. * * * "In the accomplishment of this political revolution, New Englanders, energized and led largely by members of the 'Iowa Band,' were conspicuous, if not the preponderant factors." Reverend Adams remained with the Decorah church until 1872, when he resigned to take up missionary work, and until his health compelled him to cease his labors he was attached to the Iowa Home Missionary Society. Of that little band of fourteen he and Rev. William Salter of Burlington were the last survivors. Reverend Adams and his wife, who was his efficient helper as well as beloved companion through a long and happy service, rest in Phelps cemetery, Decorah. The Decorah church was subsequently served by Rev. H. B. Woodworth, for ten years. Rev. John Willard of Newtonville, Massachusetts, was, called by the church in December, 1882, and assumed the pastorate early in 1883. For the past fifteen years or more Rev. Mahlon Willett has, been pastor. Reverend Willett was a youth ill the Congregational Sunday School when Reverend Adams was its pastor. After graduating from theological school he served an Illinois church for a short time, going from there to Texas, where he was pastor of the first White Congregational church in that state, and thence to California where he held long and successful pastorates in several parishes. In 1895 a crisis faced the church. The building erected in 1860-61
had outlived its expectancy. It was not merely an old structure--it
was inadequate, and fears were entertained that it might fall,
its walls having become badly cracked. Subsequent events proved
these fears groundless, but the society decided the time had arrived
when their steps must take one of two courses, and they chose
the forward movement. A building committee was appointed and funds
were Two other Congregational churches were maintained at different
times in the county. One at Burr Oak was ministered unto by Reverend
Bent, father of PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY 182 George P. Bent, the Chicaga piano maker, and a German church at Fort Atkinson for many years claimed Reverend Hess, father of Mrs. W. M. Strand of Decorah, as its pastor, but these churches were never strong and their congregations gradually scattered. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH Grace church is the only Episcopal organization in the county. Its existence traces back into the '70's and for several years its services were held in the Congregational church, but in 1875 and 1876 the edifice on Broadway was built, and dedicated an March 14th. Its congregation has never been large, but its members have made up in faith what was lacking in numbers. Of its several rectors, Rev. F. J. Mynard, and Rev. Wellington McVettie, the present incumbent, have been the most successful, and the church today is in a healthy and flourishing condition. OTHER CHURCHES The Friends and Presbyterians are each represented by a congregation-the former at Hesper, where Rev. H. C. Carter is the pastor, and the latter at Frankville. At the time this sketch is being penned the Frankville church is without a pastor, but the society is maintained loyally. The Friends have maintained their church at Hesper since an early day. Many of the pioneer settlers were members of that faith and they were men of sturdy character. They and their descendants have died or moved away, but their places have been taken by others who zealously uphold the faith. In the chapter on towns and townships will be found a sketch of Springwater (Canoe township), by Mr. Edgar Olson of Faribault, Minnesota, and printed in the Decorah Republican of August 21, 1909, at the time of the Home Coming. In it are mentioned the names of many of these Quaker pioneers. The Seventh Day Adventists are represented by a congregation
at Burr Oak that has had a long existence. Accessions to their
ranks have been numerous, though the services of a pastor have
not been maintained at all times. During the past two years services
have been held in Decorah and a small congregation has been organized. At Castalia the United Brethren have a prosperous church, and services are held by the Christian Scientists in Decorah, so it may be truly said that Winneshiek county is not lacking in churches or devotion to religious work. As a general rule the various denominations contribute liberally to the support of benevolences' such as home and foreign missions, etc. The work of the Sunday school is maintained by most of the organizations, and societies of Christian Endeavor, Epworth League and Luther League flourish in many of the towns. At the present time there is no Baptist congregation in the county. In 1891 the society organized a church in Decorah which flourished for a time and built a church building, but for several years it has been inactive and the property reverted to the state organization. The Unitarians were also active in Decorah for some years during the '90's and up to four or five years ago. Last year their church home on Main street was sold to the Decorah Lodge of Elks, and during the present year it has been remodeled and enlarged into a lodge home. |
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