The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-10-12

History OF the Carthage Presbyter-
Ian church, which was completely de-
stroyed by fire on Friday, October
6th, 1916. which was used by Miss
Gladys Marie Ball, as the subject of
her theme. upon her graduation from
Carthage high school, in 1915. cover
ing the history up to the time OF the
recent fire.
The First Presbyterian church OF
Carthage was organized Janury l,
1853, by the Reverend T.. M. Walker
and Elder Thomas Geddes. of Foun-
tain Green. There were only seven
charter members at the beginning,
namely: John Mack, Mary A. b.
Mack Catherine Mack, Mary Mack.
Mary j.. Swan, Mary NJ. Baird, Mary
Marshall, Elizabeth NJ. A. Marshall
and Jane Marshall These members
came from their home in Ohio to
Illinois, to found a church at Car
thage.
The first church building was a
little frame structure, having only
one large room. This little church
was built only after great hardship
and privations, by thirty members and
,, at the time OF its dedication had about
sixty members. Afterwards, since
the membership had increased still
more, the members decided to make
an addition to the church. A little
brick chapel was Joined to the west
side Of the building, thus giving the
members more room and making the
church more convenient.
The first minister to serve in this
church was the Reverend B. c. Swan.
serving from February ~. 1858, till
1850. The ministers following MI.
Swan were: Chauncey Leavenworth,
1S61-1862; Samuel S. Hart. 1S62-1SS6;
William S. Knight, 1866-187O; George
N. Johnston, 1S701871; William 8.
Magner, 1s72-1S76; Matthew Walder-
meyer, 1877-18S0; Daniel N. Moore.
1380-1SS1: DR.. s. H. Hyde, being the
tor of the church, serving from April
8. 1882, till August I, 1899; F. ].
Tower, was the second pastor to be
installed, beginning his services
October 4, 1899, and staying until the
year of 1905.
Sunday, April /. 1900, was the last
Sunday in the old church building,
the communion OF the Lords supper
being held, the Rehabilitation of two
elders for three years, and ten new
members being received into the
church that Sunday. The last Sunday
is well remembered, and was fittingly
observed.
Being crowded for room, COM
mittee of seven was appointed at the
annual congregational meeting to
formulate plans for the building OF a
new church. The cost was not to
exceed ten thousand dollars. It was
decided that part of this old building
should be torn down. leaving the
brick chapel. which had been added
prior to 1900, and rebuilding the main
part. The brick making and almost
all the work was done by members
of the congregation. This new struc-
ture was OF buff pressed brick, while
the Sunday school addition was OF
sheeting painted to match the brick
WORK. The extreme length was one
hundred thirty-one feet and the ex-
IRENE width eighty-four feet. 1t con-
tanned a main auditorium sixty-two
by forty-six feet. which seated about
three hundred persons; Sunday
school room sixty-four by forty-two
feet, seating about two hundred sew
enty-five persons; q chapel seating
eighty, and a primary department.
seating about one hundred twenty
five. On special occasions when all
these rooms were thrown together.
about one thousand persons could be
seated. This church was heated with
hot air asd lighted with electricity.
After much sacrificing and many
hardships, the new building was COM
pleted and dedicated November IL.
1900.
During Mr. Towers ministry in the
year 1903, the fiftieth anniversary Of
the Presbyterian church was cele-
brated. About this time w. A. Sun
day, the evangelist, who was holding
meetings here. had a great effect
upon the increasing of the member
ship Of the Presbyterian church. At
one time the membership numbered
about six hundred.
On Tuesday evening. August 16.
1904, four years after the dedication,
this second church was completely
destroyed by fire. The loss was esti-
mated to be about twenty thousand
dollars Nothing much was saved,
except one piano and a few seats.
The fire was supposed to have been
caused by the carpenters who had
just started a new addition, having
cut the electric wires and displaced
them. This was however, not true.
because the carpenters had not touch
ed the wires, and the fire started full
ly sixty feet from the place where
they had begun to work.
After the church had been de-
stroyed, plans were again made for a
new building No time was wasted,
but everything was accomplished as
soon as possible. This new church