Atchison County Churches
Histories from "History of Atchison County, Kansas," Sheffield Ingalls, 1916
METHODIST
Methodism was introduced into Atchison by the Rev. James Shaw, who
had been a prominent member of the Detroit conference, both as pastor
and missionary among the Indians along the Lake Superior district, and
also as presiding elder. He preached his first sermon in Atchison on May, 1857, in the office of
S. C. Pomeroy, which was located on the corner of Third and
Commercial streets, and this was the first sermon from the lips of a preacher
of any denomination that was delivered in Atchison. He organized the
Methodist Episcopal church in January, 1858, with members from various
denominations. The first services were held in a room in the building on
the southeast corner of Second and Commercial streets. He later raised
$2,000 for a new church building, S. C. Pomeroy, O. F. Short and Robert
McBratney each pledging $500, on condition that the new building should
be located on the north side of Parallel street, near Fifth street.
Rev. I. F. Collins succeeded Mr. Shaw, and Rev. C. H. Lovejoy, who
had been preaching at Lawrence for two years, was sent to Sumner. Upon
the arrival of Mr. Collins, he at once began the erection of the new church
building on Parallel street, the two lots on which the building was
subsequently erected being donated by the Atchison Town Company. The
trustees of the church at that time were: John T. Dougherty, Edwin O. Collins,
Archie C. Master, David F. Beagle, William A. Butler, Joseph H. Cilbert,
Robert Hancock, Cyrus A. Comstock and Calvin W. Phelps. The church
building was completed in April, 1859, and was fifty-eight feet long and
thirty-two feet wide. It had a seating capacity of 350 people, and cost
$3,075. The structure was dedicated May 8, 1859, and Rev. Hugh D.
Fisher, the famous Free State Methodist preacher, came up from
Leavenworth and assisted in the dedication. During the first year in the new
church, two young men came to Atchison, who afterwards became successful and honored
citizens of the town, Samuel Gard and D. C. Newcomb. They
subsequently formed a partnership and conducted a drygoods store under
the name of Gard & Newcomb, which for many years remained one of the
leading firms of the city. Mr. Gard died many years ago, and in 1915 Mr.
Newcomb still lives. The Methodist church, perhaps, owes more to D. C.
Newcomb than any other man who was ever identified with it. His money,
business sagacity and consecration have made possible the success of
Methodism in Atchison. His motto has always been, "It is safe to do right, and F
unsafe to do wrong."
Butcher, Auld & Dean, famous contractors of an early day, who built
the first railroad between Atchison and St. Joseph, with their families, united
with the Methodist church and became stauch supporters of it. J. C. Reisner,
who came to Atchison in 1858, and his wife, Rebecca, were also prominent
early members of the church. They built the Tremont House, which for
a great many years was the leading hotel, located where the Burlington
freight house now stands. Rev. Dr. Christian F. Reisner, pastor of Grace
Church, New York City, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Reisner.
The fourth session of the Kansas-Nebraska conference, which met in Omaha
in May, 1859, returned Rev. Collins to Atchison, and during that year Mr.
and Mrs. John M. Crowell and the McCulley brothers united with the
church. In December, 1859, Abraham Lincoln, on his visit to Kansas, spoke
in the little church edifice on Parallel street, reference to which has already
been made in this history. In the fifth session of the Kansas-Nebraska
conference. Rev. Milton Mahen was appointed to Atchison. It was a critical
period in the history of the town, and the Rev. Mahen was admonished
to be very cautious on the question of slavery, but he had courage and
patriotism enough to order the Stars and Stripes hoisted on his church. That
year T. B. Davis and his wife, Kathryn, came to Atchison and became
useful members. "Grandma" Davis is living in 1916, and on February 21, 1915,
celebrated her ninetieth birthday.
ATCHISON CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The Christian church was organized in Pioneer Hall, corner of Kansas
avenue and Fourth street, May 20, 1882, with twenty-four charter members.
At the end of the first year there were fifty-five members, and in April, 1884,
the church was incorporated under the laws of Kansas. The first church
edifice was located at the corner of Tenth street and Kansas avenue, and was
dedicated May 24, 1885, at a cost of $2,604. The building was much
enlarged during the ministry of W. H. White. In 1912, the congregation
having outgrown its old building, agitation for a new building was started,
and a new site was selected at Seventh and Santa Fe streets, and on August
19, 1914, a beautiful new church was dedicated, which cost $47,000. The
church also owns a lot adjoining the church, upon which a parsonage will
be erected. The present membership is 1,400, and the Bible school is next
10 the largest in the State. The Sunday school is thoroughly graded, with
eight departments, sixty-five officers and teachers, with H. P. Armstrong,
superintendent. The church has thirty deacons and elders. Miss Etta Beason, of Atchison,
and T. D. McCleery, of Effingham,
are the two surviving charter members.
The records show that as early as 1869 the Christian church had
followers in this community, and among the pastors who served in the early days
were William C. Rodgers, James E. Gaston and C. C. Band.
The names of the pastors who have served the church since 1882 are
as follows: M. P. Hayden, W. S. Priest, J. S. Myers, Rev. Cox, W. H.
White, Lowell McPherson, Rev. Ingram, M. E. Harlan, E. L. Ely, W. T.
Milton, Z. E. Bates. The present pastor of the church is Rev. Jesse M.
Bader, one of the most popular, aggressive and conscientious ministers in
Atchison.
PRESBYTERIAN.
The First Presbyterian Church was organized October 21. 1858, by a
committee from the Presbytery of Highland, Rev. Alexander W. Pitzer, of
Leavenworth, chairman. The number of persons entering into the
organization on that day was eight. Their names were as follows: William M.
Davies, Mary Davies, George B. Irwin, Rebecca Irwin, Annie Love, Andrew
Hamilton, Maximilla Ireland and Edward Hair. The following persons
have served the church as ministers: Rev. Julius Spencer, from April, 1858,
for about eighteen months; Rev. H. H. Dobbins, for seven months, from
September, 1863; Rev. T. P. Lemis commenced his labors in April, 1865,
and continued with the church until February, 1868; Rev. Edward Cooper
had charge of the church from December, 1868, until December, 1875; Rev.
J. H. Clark officiated as pastor from March, 1876, until June, 1878; Rev.
M. L. Howie began his labors in November, 1878, and continued with the
Presbyterian Church at Atchison, Kan.
church until November, 1882; he died in Chicago in August, 1913; Rev. D.
C. Milner began his work in December, 1882, and continued with the church
until September 23, 1887: Rev. M. L. Howie (second term), November 11,
1887, to 1897; Rev. J. D. Countermine, from 1897 to 1899; Rev. B. F. Boyle
came February 25, 1900, and continued as pastor until in the fall of 1911.
Rev. W. I. Alexander came in November, 1911, and continued his labors
until September, 1914. Rev. W. C. Isett was called in September, 1915.
The congregation began the erection of the present church building in 1880. The
corner stone was laid on September 15 of that year. About the time of
beginning the building, Mrs. S. Donald, Mrs. Judge Berry, Mrs. C. A. Stuart and
Mrs. A. J. North canvassed the city and secured large subscriptions to the
building fund. The building committee consisted of A. W. Simpson, A. F.
Martin and J. M. Covert. The elders in 1880 were as follows: A. B.
McQueen, A. J. North, J. M. Covert, J. W. Allen, J. S. Trimble, and Harry
Harkness. The deacons in the same year were as follows: B. F. Hudson, J.
Edward Lewis, S. D. D. Smith and D. M. Wynkoop. The trustees were
as follows: B. F. Hudson, president; A. F. Martin, secretary; David Lukens,
treasurer; E. K. Blair, R. B. Drury, A. W. Simpson, S. D. D. Smith.
Officers of the Sunday school were as follows: A. F. Martin, superintendent;
J. M. Covert, assistant superintendent, and J. E. Lewis, secretary and
treasurer. Officers of the Ladies' Aid Society were as follows: Mrs. A. J. North,
president; Mrs. W. C. North, secretary; Mrs. E. K. Blair, treasurer. Young
Ladies' Society : Miss May Seaton, president; Miss Tola Thomas, secretary ;
Miss Nellie George, treasurer. In the year 1858 the persons active in the
church at that time were: Mrs. Thomas Seip, Mr. and Mrs. William Davis,
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. McQueen. The first deaconesses were: Mrs. C. J.
Parmenter and Miss Anna J. North, ordained in 1888.
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