Part 82 (2/2)

Morrow. Their first building was located on the east side of Adams street, between Market and Sugar, and the princ.i.p.al thing mentioned by former church historians was that they had a bell weighing 800 pounds and their music was led by a cottage organ. Fifty years ago they reported fifty members. They report today 500 members, with a property valued at $60,000.00, and have been served by twelve pastors. Their present church was built in 1905.

It seems that the First U. B. church was organized in 1855 in the Dairy Dale district, which was probably then in the country. Rev. McWilliams was the pastor. They had thirty-five members at the time the city was incorporated. This church, however, later, went down for some years and was afterwards reorganized. They have today 260 members, church property valued at $25,000.00 and have been served by fifteen pastors.

Their present church was erected in 1879.

The Baptist and Congregational denominations had organizations on the west side prior to 1856 but both were too weak to live.

During the first decade of the city's history two more churches were started, viz., the Roman Catholic and First Baptist. Fathers Hanna and Emmons of Iowa City held services for some time before organization and they only had three adherents. This shows pluck and faith and devotion to their own church. The church was organized in 1857 and Father Gillespie was the first regular pastor. This church has had five pastors. Their present church was built in 1870 and is valued at $40,000.00. They report 1,500 members.

The First Baptist church was organized in Franklin hall, above Kilborn's gallery, on June 3, 1860, with twenty-seven members. Rev. A.

G. Eberhart was the first pastor. They purchased a lot on Eagle street, where their first church was built. Their present church was built in 1894 and is valued at $50,000.00. They have had fifteen pastors and have now 365 members.

The next decade four or five organizations came into existence. The first Lutheran services were held in the winter of 1855-56 and an organization was formally effected in the First Presbyterian church, on March 3, 1856, with about twenty-two members, under Rev. H. F. Ealy, minister, who walked from Iowa City to preach to the scattered Lutherans. Services were irregularly held by Revs. H. F. Ealy, Solomon Ritz, of Tipton, and J. G. Schaffer, of Lisbon, until 1868, when the organization was re-formed in the home of J. A. Hart, 211 Fifth avenue, with thirty members under the Rev. Cephas Baird as regular pastor.

The first church was built on the lot now occupied by the Cedar Rapids Savings bank, Third avenue and Third street, but this congregation refused to permanently locate there on such an expensive lot, which was then worth $300.00. This church has now 368 members and has been served by eight pastors. The present church was erected in 1881 and is valued at $20,000.00. A new church costing $35,000.00 is now in course of erection on the corner of Third avenue and Tenth street. It will be occupied early in 1911.

The Universalist society was organized in 1869 and the first pastor was the Rev. W. C. Brooks. For nearly seven years their services were held in a hall. Their present church was built in 1875 and has been served by eight pastors. They have approximately 100 members and property valued at $16,000.00.

The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1870, and the first pastor was the Rev. J. W. Lewis. They have had sixteen pastors and have now seventy-nine members. Their church was built in 1874 and is valued at $5,000.00.

In 1874 St. Wenceslaus church was organized and its first pastor was the Rev. Francis Chmelar. They began with a church family of sixty.

They have now 1,200 members, a church property erected in 1904 valued at $50,000.00, and have been served by five pastors.

On July 1, 1874, the Second United Presbyterian church was organized with the Rev. W. J. McCallister as minister. It continued in existence for about twenty-four years and its property is being used today by Suns.h.i.+ne Mission.

The First Christian church was organized August 1, 1875, with thirty-four charter members. Its first pastor was the Rev. N. A.

McConnell. Since the organization there have been eight pastors. The present church was built in 1882 and its value is placed at $15,000.00, although the original cost was $22,000.00. They have a members.h.i.+p of 350.

The Second United Brethren church was organized in January, 1876, under the Rev. Father Bookwalter, and did good work for a number of years, but has ceased to exist.

The German Evangelical church was organized April 30, 1877, and its first pastor was the Rev. C. C. Pfund. They have had twelve pastors and have now sixty members. Their church was built in 1888 and they have property valued at $12,000.00.

The Free Methodist church was organized in 1877 and they have had eighteen pastors. The first pastor was Rev. W. C. Thompson. Their church was built in 1878, is valued at $4,000.00, and they have forty-seven members.

The First Congregational church was organized on May 13, 1879, and its first pastor was the Rev. A. T. Reed. They have had seven pastors and have now 350 members. Their present church was built in 1889 and their property valuation is placed at $35,000.00.

The Zion Evangelical church came into being February, 1880, through the work of Rev. Ilion. The Rev. J. E. Stauffacher was the first regular pastor. They have had nine pastors and have now 175 members. Their church was built in 1905 and is valued at $23,000.00.

The German Lutheran church was organized August 24, 1884, with twenty charter members. Revs. Studt from Luzerne and Aron from Atkins, Iowa, preached for nearly one year on alternate Sundays when the Rev. J.

Denckmann, its present pastor, became the first regular pastor. They have a members.h.i.+p of 350 and a church property valued at $10,000.00.

The Swedish Lutheran church was organized November 8, 1885, and its first pastor was the Rev. C. E. Cesander. They have had six pastors and have now fifty-four communicants. The present church was built in 1891 and they have property valued at $10,000.00.

St. Patrick's church was organized April 18, 1886, with twenty-eight members. The Rev. T. F. Richardson was the first pastor. This church has had but three pastors. Its present church was erected in 1892 and the value of their property is $50,000.00. They report at present 1,000 members.

In the decade 1886-1896 the first church organization was that of Trinity Methodist Episcopal in 1887, with the Rev. Frank P. Shaffer as first pastor. The present church was built in 1890, and the value of all property held by this society is estimated at $20,000.00. They have 450 members and have been served by seven pastors.

Sinclair Memorial Presbyterian church was a growth out of a Sunday school fostered by Mr. T. M. Sinclair. Its organization was effected October 14, 1887, and its first pastor was the Rev. Alfred K. Bates.

They have had four pastors and now enroll 215 members. Their present church was built in 1902, the gift of Mrs. T. M. Sinclair, and is valued at $30,000.00.

The Bohemian Presbyterian church was organized in 1889. Its first and only pastor was and is the Rev. V. Hlavaty. They have now 257 members.

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