Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-12-29

Green and Fourth streets, built largely |
through DR.. McElroys efforts, which
was the home Of the church until the
present magnificent structure was
built fifteen years ago at a cost Of
$4,000.
The Other Pastors.
In 1869, after fourteen years of SER
vice, DR.. McElroy was compelled to re-
sign, owing to failing health, and Rev.
H. B. knight was called to the pas
torate. He served until December,
1880, when he removed to Tacoma,
year DR.. B. e. S. Ely was installed as
pastor. 1t was during DR.. Ely's pas
torate that the present church was
built. DR.. ely resigned in July, 1894,
| to take up the work as pastor of the
Winterset Presbyterian church, and
was succeeded by DR.. F. w. Hinitt,
who served until August, 1900, when
| he accepted the high Office of president
4 of Parsons collegs at Fairfield. It
was almost a year until a choice to a
successor to DIR. Hinitt was made,
when DR.. r. r. Stoltz, the present pas
tor, accepted the call extended to-
him, and began upon his pastorate,
Il w
church officials and members.
Five Pastors In Fifty Years.
i Few churches there are with rec
ord of but five pastors in fifty years,
yet this is the record enjoyed by the
| First Presbyterian church and not
only will the first and two last pastors
be present at the jubilee celebration
tomorrow, but letters will be read from
, the other two, who were unable to
join in the services.
Sketch Of Rev. J. M. McEIroy.
Rev. ). M. McElroy, D. D., the first
pastor Of the First Presbyterian
church. was born, January 81, 1880,
near Greenfield, Ohio, and is thus near
ly "a years of age. DR.. McElroy first
4 attended district school in Ohio, enter
ing classical academy at S. Salem,
! Ohio. at the age of IA, In 1S49, he en-
tered the junior class at Jefferson col
:. lege, Pennsylvania, where he gradual
ed In 1851. The two years following
were spent at Princeton college in the
illogical studies. In September, 1855,
. DR.. McElroy was united in marriage to
Miss Agnes Greer at Murraysyille, Pa,
and three months later he was ordain-
ed by the Des Moines Presbytery and
: took the pastorate Of the Presbyterian
= church here.
! In 1869 he resigned his position ow.
: ing to i'll health and removed to Bata
i via, where he was pastor for thirteen
: years. This was DR.. McElroy's last
2 active charge, although he held ser
j, vices for some time in the East End
d chapel and was instrumental in orga,
Y nizing the East End Presbyterian
{ church. DR.. McElroy was county sup
b erintendent Of schools in 1854 and
? 1865 and was for FIVE years principal
a Of the Ottumwa Male and Female Sem
h mary. Although Dr. McElroy has lone
n since retired from the ministry, he is
I. yet often called upon to assist in var
ious religious movements and his aid
Q can always be relied upon in any pro
it ject which has for its goal the spread
j. ing Of Christianity.
g Rev. H. B. Knight, Second Pastor.
: The Rev. Hervey B. Knight, the sec
= ond pastor of the First Presbyterian
. church Of Ottumwa. is graduate o1
Washington and Jefferson college and
the Western Theological seminary
) Ottumwa was his first pastorate, he
= having been called to take up the work
= here at the close Of Rev. McElroy's
+ long term of service, after having serv
3 ed as stated supply the churches Of
= West Point and Pilot Grove, in Lee
y county. Rev. knight came to Ottum
wa in 1859 and his pastorate extended
to 1881. when he resigned to take the
= position Of general secretary of Par
'. sons college, Fairfield, which institu
!. ton he had already served as trustee
a since its organization.
VI AS general secretary and professor