The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-06-03
THE SEM|-CENTEN|AL
The Baptist Society Celebrates
Fifty Years Of Organization.
TEN CHARTER MEMBERS.
j. W. Oenison Founder of This Town
the First Pastor.

The first Baptist church of Denison
is celebrating to-day fifty years Of
existence in our community. 1t was
back in the days when there was not
railroad whistle within hundred
miles or more that a band of ten
Baptists decided to organize church.
1t was one Sunday in October, 1857
that they met in the office room of
the Denison hotel and took the steps
which founded the society. The first
members were Rev. j. w. Denison
A. F. Bond. Oscar Gates, George Calk-
ius. Thomas H and Mrs Isabella,
Manners also Wilson B.. Anna NJ,
and Margaret Manners. Rev. Denison
is dead, Mr.. Plimpton at Salida Colo.
Mr.. Bond is yet resident of Deni-
son and in attendance at the anniver-
sary gathering to-day.
The Denison House stood or lots
at the rear Of the site of the Ger
mania Hall. and was used as hotel
until the latter part of the seven
ties. 1t was in the Office room OF
this hotel that the services were held
for some time after the organizing
of the church. Mr.. Denison was
the pastor and being busy man he
was not always in town On Sundays
and when not there was no preaching.
The first school house was built on
lots where the residence of Mr.. w.
A. McHenry now stands, and when
completed religious services were held
there. In 1859 the court house was
ready for use and the Baptists held
meeting there.
Rev. George Scott was the second
pastor. He was typical pioneer
preacher. laboring with his hands in
the week days and preaching on Sun
day. During the year 1868 he and
his people built their first church
building on lots on Main street where
the brick block occupied by johnson
jewelry store, Kelly's shoe store
and Denison Clothing store now
stands. 1t was a frame church of
goodly size having large audience
room and prayer meeting room on the
ground floor and kitchen or pastors
study above the prayer meeting room.
OF course there was baptistry under
the pulpit platform. There is story
extant that MIR. Abner Graves. who
was at the time running a furniture
store in the Crawford house where
the German Methodist church now
stands. attended the dedication SER
vices End that there was a drag at
the end in the efforts to raise the sum
needed to clear the debt. Abner was
getting hungry and therefore impa-
tient and called out. 81 will pay the
balance myself if you dismiss in five
minutes. He was taken at his word
and the meeting adjourned in haste.
AS Abner had his eye on good Bap-
fist girl, Miss Dow. daughter Of
Hon. s. E Dow who worshipped then
at the Denison Baptist church he
made his WORD good and later mar
ried TIE young lady.
There is another story also which
came from the experience of Elder
Scott. He relates that as he was with
all energy working one day on the
new church. Mr.. Bullock came along
and remarked chat he need not be
putting so much enthusiasm into
the building for when the people had
a new church they would want new
pastor. Elder Scott said experience
proved this to be true. Before many
years there was new pastor Rev. A.
M. Duboc studious bright French
man. who secured the pastorate and
married Julia the lovely daughter of
Mr.. Denison.