IASCOTT-L Archives

From:
Subject: [IASCOTT] 1910 Dav Part 55 First Methodist Episcopal Church
Date: Thu, 9 May 2002 08:35:52 EDT

Chapter 6 cont. The Barrows History Chapter 4 cont.

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Although this church was not organized in Davenport until June 1, 1842, yet
its ever active and pioneer spirit had penetrated the valley of the upper
Mississippi and the gospel trumpet began to echo along our bluffs as early as
the spring of 1836.  The Rev. Mr. Gavitt, from Ohio, traveling through the
county, preached the first sermon in the house of D. C. Eldridge this spring;
but the first attempt by the settlers to hold divine service was in a log
cabin twelve feet square situated on the land now owned by Judge Weston back
of Rockingham.  The meeting was conducted by W. L. Cook, Esq., and held as a
prayer meeting.  There were eight persons present.

In August of this year there was a society formed at Rockingham by John R.
James, then connected with the Rock Island mission  under the control of the
Illinois conference.  The Methodist conference was held this fall at Alton
and the Rockingham sociery reported the wants of this region of counry, its
prospects for a wide field of labor, when the conference formed a circuit
extending from the mouth of the Iowa river to the mouth of the Wabesipinecon.
 Rockingham then being the largest town and the only one of any importane in
the circuit, it was called the Rockingham circuit, embracing all the country
west as far as settlements were made.  This circuit was about 200 miles
around and consisted of a few families along the river and among the groves.
 Chauncey Hovert was sent to this circuit as preacher.  He had been a soldier
in the Black Hawk war which had just closed and was well calculated to
traverse a country whose streams were unbridged and inhabitants widely
scattered.  He could swim creeks and sleep by the side of a log when night
might overtake him.  The first winter he had three appointments; one at
Rockingham, one at a little town near the mouth of the Iowa river, called
Black Hawk, and one at the cabin of Mr. Spencer, in Pleasant Valley, the
father of our fellow citizen, Roswell H. Spencer.  The appointments
multiplied the following year, but Rockingham was the center and probably
contained more members than all the balance of the circuit.

In the year 1839 B. Weed was presiding elder for the Iowa district.  About
this time the elder thought that there were sufficient members and
encouragement to commence a society in Davenport and have an organization of
the Methodist church in that place.  Accordingly he authorized Wm. L. Cook to
change his connection with the society and form a class if he could find the
requisite number of members.  His search among protestants resulted in
finding five members besides himself and wife who had been members of
churches in former days.  A time was appointed for a meeting to be held at
the house of Timothy Dillon, situated on Third street near Washington square.
 At this first meeting were present as members, Wm. L. Cook and wife, Timothy
Dillon and wife, Israel Hall, W. S. Ruby and Mary Ruby.  Here this little
band of Christians, longing for a closer union with Him in whom they trusted
in deep devotion, poured forth many desires for spiritual food in this
strange land; and in that little cabin, alone with God, they dedicated
themselves to Him and His service, renewing their, covenant vows and forming
the First Methodist Episcopal church in the then little village of Davenport.
 Such were the beginnings of the church that now worships on the corner of
Fifth and Brady streets with nearly 400 members.

>From this time meetings were continued every Sabbath, being generally
conducted by Mr. Cook.  The society increased until private rooms became too
small, and in the fall of 1840 the church, then numbering about twenty
members, thought best to erect a building.  Though its members were few and
poor, they purchased a lot on Perry between Fourth and Fifth, which was then
considered out of town, and built the first brick chapel, which still stands
on the same ground. This church was seated at first with slabs and split
saplings, flat side up and lighted with a "chandelier," composed of a block
of wood suspended by a rope from the ceiling in which were inserted some half
dozen tallow candles, and warmed by a stove that looked as though it might
have done good service  before the flood.  While thus seated, warmed and
lighted, it came near passing out of the possession of the society by reason
of an execution in the hands of the sheriff, issued upon a judgment for $15
for the purchase money of the lot.  But those days of darkness passed away
and the sun of prosperity, both spiritual and financial, dawned upon this
church and continued to shine and bless the efforts of the little band,
illustrating the truth of that saying, "We should not despise the day of
small things."

A petition was sent into conference in 1840 for a preacher, and F. A.
Chenowith was sent to the Davenport station, and in turn supplied the
Rockingham pulpit.  In 1853 the little brick church on Perry street becoming
too small, a large, commodious house was erected on the corner of Fifth and
Brady, which is now filled to overflowing, although a new church has been
formed from this, Wesley chapel, built in 1856, but it is now closed.  The
new church on Brady was dedicated in July, 1854.  It has an end gallery,
class and lecture rooms below, a Sabbath school and a library; also a
parsonage attached and sexton's house.  The whole church property is clear of
debt.


Debbie Clough G-erischer


G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/
Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County
http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/
List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L
Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L
EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L

This thread:

• [IASCOTT] 1910 Dav Part 55 First Methodist Episcopal Church by