History of Linn County Iowa Part 59

Writing of the Iowa conference of 1845, Bishop Russell said: "Myself and wife left the state of Maryland in a carriage for Iowa. A tedious journey indeed. All went well until we got between the two rivers--Mississippi and Iowa. In the high prairie gra.s.s our trail ran out, and of course we were lost. How to get on the right course was the trouble.

"I went before, parting the gra.s.s, which was much higher than myself.

After I had gone a certain distance, I put my hat on my cane to guide my wife to the spot. Thus I continued for some time till we got right again."

THE UNITED BRETHREN AT LISBON

Our life and work at Lisbon date back to the faithful labors of Rev.

Christian Troup, who began preaching in this vicinity as early as 1836.

Hence the church at Lisbon had its beginning with the very beginning of our church in Iowa.

The work here grew slowly, however, for several years, Bro. Troup often advising his converts to join other churches on account of the weakness of the United Brethren in Iowa.

In 1847 Rev. Christian Hershey led quite a large colony, chiefly his own relatives, from Pennsylvania to Iowa, and settled in Yankee Grove, the section of country surrounding where Lisbon now stands.

This colony, being largely composed of United Brethren, made quite an addition to the United Brethren forces of this vicinity.

In August of the same year Rev. Luther McVay was appointed to the Yankee Grove circuit. During the summer of 1848 he held a camp-meeting on the knoll now occupied by the Washington school building of Lisbon, with good results. He then organized "the United Brethren cla.s.s in the Pennsylvania Settlement of Linn county, Iowa," with a charter membership of about forty, as nearly as can be determined from the original cla.s.s book. About twelve names were afterward added, the year closing with a membership of 52. The effecting of an organization was strongly opposed by many of the older persons who took an active part in the camp-meeting; not because of opposition to the church, but feeling that it was not right to formally organize and put the names on a cla.s.s book.

Of these charter members, two are yet members of the church, Mr.

Michael Blessing, and Mrs. Nancy Neidig.

On August 23, 1849, the Iowa annual conference was held here. Lisbon had just been platted, and homes were scarce. To meet the difficulty occasioned by the coming of so many ministers, a camp-meeting was planned; tents were built on the camp ground, and the conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting. There were a number of conversions, and at the close of the camp-meeting twenty-five persons were baptized in the Cedar river near Ivanhoe, by Rev. Josiah Lindsey.

Rev. Christian Hershey and Rev. D. Wenrich were received into the conference at this session upon their transfers. Rev. John De Moss, a.s.sistant pastor of Yankee Grove circuit, reported $26.55 received as salary and presents for the year.

The Lisbon cla.s.s proper, at first called North Yankee Grove cla.s.s, was organized September 5, 1850, by Rev. S. W. Kern, pastor. The original record shows 36 members of this cla.s.s, many of whom belonged to the "United Brethren Cla.s.s in the Pennsylvania Settlement in Linn county, Iowa," and several were new members. That there existed some difficulty in connection with the work at this place at that time is manifest from the following from Rev. D. Wenrich in an article in the _Telescope_ relative to the conference session of 1850: "On account of a peculiar state of things on Yankee Grove circuit it was asked that a good disciplinarian be appointed to the charge. The selection of Rev. S. W.

Kern and the adjustment of the difficulty proved the wisdom of the choice." Just what the difficulty was, whether it was among members of the church of a personal character, or whether it was something in connection with the administration of the affairs of the church, there is no record to show.

The annual conference of 1852 chose Lisbon as the place of meeting for the next annual session. Rev. Christian Hershey, who had been in an important sense the father of the Lisbon church, looked forward to its coming with great expectations. When the time arrived for making necessary local preparation, he joined most heartily in the work. After cleaning the church and putting everything in readiness, he proposed to a friend who was with him to go into the church and offer prayer for the conference. He was in great joy. But on August 3d, the day before the a.s.sembling of conference, very suddenly the death angel called, and Father Hershey pa.s.sed away. His death cast a gloom over the entire session. Rev. George Miller was chosen to preach the funeral sermon.

The conference in a body marched before his corpse to the church and to the grave. His remains were buried in the cemetery beside the church and afterwards were removed to the present Lisbon cemetery, where they now rest.

The growth of the church following the year 1849 was quite rapid. But it is impossible to determine what the total membership has been, on account of the mutilation of the early records. So far as we can learn the number of persons received between 1840 and 1870 was fully five hundred. Since 1870 the accessions have been quite numerous. A number of very successful revivals have been held. From 1870 to the present time, as nearly as can be determined, the number of accessions has been about 790, thus showing a membership of nearly 1,300 since the organization of the church in 1849.

The Lisbon charge has been favored with a number of most excellent pastors. So far as the records show, the largest increase of membership was during the pastorate of Rev. William Cunningham. During his service of eighteen months there were eighty-four additions to the church.

Among those who have a.s.sisted largely to the development and growth of the church, the following seem to deserve special mention: Christian Hershey, Michael Hoover, Sr., D. Runkle, John Neidig, Jacob Kettering, A. A. Sweet, Samuel Long, John Eby, Lawrence Easterly, J. E. Kurtz, D.

Dorwart, Henry Meyers, John Ringer, Sr., Elias Hahn, D. Buck, John Turner, George Graul, D. G. Zeigenfus, Thomas Runkle, C. H. Neidig, Abram Runkle, Adam Runkle, Amos Runkle, W. S. Furnas, Elizabeth Perry, Nancy Neidig, Sr., Mother Bressler, Anna Bitzer and Elizabeth N.

Runkle. The list could be greatly enlarged with perfect truthfulness.

But these are among the number who seem to have stood out with special prominence in the work of the church.

We would make special mention of Rev. S. E. Long, Rev. A. B. Statton, and Rev. M. S. Runkle, who were raised as members of our church and have gone into the ministry of the gospel.

Also Mrs. G. K. Little, daughter of Bro. J. Bittinger, whose sweet voice and loving life are living epistles for Christ, greatly a.s.sisting in the evangelistic work of her husband, Rev. G. K. Little, who for years was a faithful member here.

Rev. I. L. Buchwalter and his devoted wife, who have made Lisbon their home since he retired from the active ministry, have been active and liberal in their devotion to the interests and work of the church.

CHURCH BUILDINGS

In 1850 Rev. Christian Hershey built in Lisbon, chiefly at his own expense, the First United Brethren church west of the Mississippi river. This church, which still stands just north of Mrs. Mary Hoover's residence, was soon outgrown. In 1855 it was sold, and the proceeds were used in building the second church on the site occupied by the present edifice. This building served the church for twenty-six years.

During the pastorate of Rev. T. D. Adams and the early part of the first pastorate of Rev. I. K. Statton, the need of a more modern church became apparent. At the session of the quarterly conference on April 7, 1880, the first official steps were taken toward the erection of a new building. During the following summer the old church was torn down, and the present structure begun. It was completed at a cost of $9,200.00, and on January 23, 1881, was dedicated by Bishop Milton Wright. Great credit is due to the ever earnest and faithful labors of the pastor, Dr. I. K. Statton.

During the building of the new church, the congregation was favored in being granted the use of the Methodist Episcopal church for all its services.

PARSONAGES

The church during its history has owned three parsonages. The present building is an elegant frame structure of eight rooms, furnished with furnace, electric light, and city water. It was purchased during the summer of 1903 for $2,400, the old one being sold for $1,000.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday school was organized early in the history of the Lisbon church, probably in the spring of 1853. It was first conducted as a union school, and so continued for a number of years, its development into a United Brethren school being the result chiefly of the organization of other schools in town.

At the first it was divided into male and female departments, with five male and seven female cla.s.ses; among them were one female and two male spelling cla.s.ses, and one female infant cla.s.s. Among the first scholars were Henry C. Kurtz, and Solomon Kettering, who are yet living. The record of 1854 shows three infant cla.s.ses, one male and two female. In the male cla.s.s were two of our present members, Henry C. Meyers, and Jacob E. Meyers, with their father Henry Meyers as teacher.

The first secretary's record that is preserved begins with July, 1857.

The enrollment was 121, the attendance 118. The superintendent was A.

A. Sweet. May 27, 1860, is named as "the first day of the administration of B. [Benjamin] Hoover as superintendent, to which office he was elected last night." Other evidence states that Adam Runkle had served as superintendent, one year before this election.

Following this the record shows nothing as to who was superintendent till April 2, 1865, when it states, "Had our annual election last evening for officers. Adam Runkle was re-elected superintendent, D.

Dorwart, secretary, D. Buck, librarian." I. Scoles is the first secretary named, his election occurring May 2, 1858. The next named following him is J. E. Kurtz, who served a number of years, his term of office terminating with the election of D. Dorwart as above noted.

The enrollment did not increase rapidly, owing in part no doubt to the organizing of other schools. On January 1, 1860, it was 144; on January 6, 1861, 145, with 140 in attendance.

The record from 1857 to 1865 is rendered quite interesting by the recital of current events of the town and community. A few are here quoted:

July 26, 1857. "A stranger bathing last Sabbath in the Cedar river was drowned. Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy."

December 15, 1857. "Officers and teachers agreed to have a teachers' meeting monthly."

April 11, 1859. "The Lutheran church organized a Sunday school in the old church today."

July 9, 1859. "The school was opened at eight o'clock on account of the Methodist quarterly meeting in this house at nine o'clock."

November 6, 1859. "Small attendance on account of wedding in town, Mr. Joel Ringer and Miss Barbara Kurtz."

July 29, 1860. "Bishop Glossbrenner was here yesterday, and went to Western."

September 9, 1860. "We hear for the first time two bells ringing in town."

October 28, 1860. "Mrs. Easterly married to David Zeigenfus."

November 11, 1860. "Old Abe elected."

September 21, 1861. "Yesterday great military demonstration; young men leaving for the army."