Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-06

Sunday school superintendent in the
county. Bishop Joseph Hartzell of the
Methodist church is a son af Mrs. Hart
Zell, and was present yesterday at the
celebration of her natal day. Mrs. Holt
is said TO be the first child born in the
city of Rock Island after its incorpor-
alton as such.
our own money being of the wild cat
specie of foreign countries. The new
church was built in 1851, and Joseph
Jackman elected superintendent of its
Sunday school. The c., B. & O.
freight depot on Sixteenth street would
hardly be recognized as one-time
church building, but it is the old First
Congregational-the first of that de-
nomination to be built in our county.
First Leader mt Port Byron.
DR.. jeremiah H. Lyford was the first
Port Byron; and again the zeal of true
Christian spirit shows itself. He came
here in 1886. In time the Methodist
church was under construction, and,
shortage of funds for carrying on the
building. The doctor had assembled
lumber for a new residence for himself
and family, but the Lords business
was first; personal comfort was sacri-
Ificed; the doctor and his wife donated
the lumber for the completion of the
church, and the new residence awaited
"a more favorable time" This home
made further sacrifice when Eugene
Lyford, a son.. who had in the course
of time been elected superintendent of
the same Sunday school, resigned his
Office, went to war, and was killed in
battle at Stone River In it's first
sided over by Elder Rutledge, a Bap-
fist minister from across the river.
The first Sunday school in Rock
Island we mean, of course, what
was afterward called Rock Island, for
it was then called Stephenson-was a
union school, organized in 1897, in an
old frame school house. on the site of
which the Second ward school building
now stands, just below the court house.
Mr.. Bracket, an Episcopalian from
Philadelphia, and a Mr.. Coffman were
the leaders, the former being superin-
ltendent, reelected for one year, when,
because of failing health, he returned
Ito his eastern home John Morse fol
lowed as superintendent, and was sue
lcessively reelected until the fall OF
l1S43, when he died at the home OF
REV. Samuel Cleiand, with whom he
boarded. This union Sunday
lschool was moved, probably in 1889 OF
I1S40, to the more commodious and bet
ter furnished school room of the Rock
Island university which was
the large frame building that stood un
til a few years ago at the northeast
corner of Third avenue and Eleventh
Istreet'
"This union school was moved, as
near as | can learn, in 1S41 or 1912
from Mr.. Woodruff's university schoo
room to a room over the postoffice il
the old frame building torn down some
, years ago.
I'm 1S43 another union Sunday schoo
, Twas organized in an old building nortl
of the present site of the Harper house
Mr. Talcott of the New School Presby
lterians was made superintendent, the
division into old and new school hav
, ing just been made. Mr.. Talcott short
Ily after located on Rock river, and tn,
formation of UNCONVENTIONAL schools il
1914 absorbed this school.
"In the older union school, upon tn
death of John Morse in the fall o
l1843, Mr.. Spring became superintend
lent and remained in charge until 1S47
when Marcus B. Osborne was elected
Mr.. Spring was afterward superintend
ent of the Old School Presbyterian
lSunday school upon its formation il
l1S47, and continued in charge until h
. removed to Chicago. This veteran
! Sunday school worker left his impress
upon the Sunday school, and all hi
lold associates, by word or letter, spea'
ibis praise.
Baptists Organize i'm 1874.
: "The Baptists organized school i
: 1874 in a building which stood abou
! the middle of the block, on the mort
Iside of Second avenue, between Eigl
, Iteenth and Nineteenth streets A ten
lporary organization was effected Marc
10, and Horace Anthony was elected s,
: Iperintendent, Ezra Fisher assistant S,
: Iperintendent, and Harmon G. Reynold