Shawnee County Churches
History of Shawnee County and Representative Citizens, James King, 1905
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.
There are 80 separate church organizations in Topeka, representing 17
different denominations. The First Congregational Church is the pioneer,
its organization dating from October 14, 1855. The first deacons were
Hiram W. Farnsworth and James Cowles, and the first trustees, Milton C.
Dickey, John Ritchie and H. P. Waters. Meetings were held in Constitution Hall and other places, occasional sermons being preached by Rev. S.
Y. Lum, Rev. Paul Shepherd and Rev. Jonathan Copeland. The first regular pastor was Rev. Lewis Bodwell, who assumed charge in October, 1856,
and on Sunday, November 2nd of that year, the communion of the Lord's
Supper was celebrated for the first time in Topeka. A donation of lots
by the Topeka Town Association, and a popular supscription at home and
in the East, enabled the Congregationalists to begin the first church structure in Topeka, at the northwest corner of Harrison and Seventh streets.
The walls were twice blown down by wind storms, but the building was
finally completed in 1861, at a cost of $7,000. In the year 1880 a new and
more substantial church building was erected at a cost of $35,000. Since
its organization, the church has had the following pastors: Lewis Bodwell,
Peter MacVicar, James G. Merrill, Linus Blakesley, D. M. Fisk and Francis
L. Hayes. Rev. Mr. Blakesley was pastor from 1870 to 1899 � nearly 30
years � the longest continuous service ever performed by any of the Topeka
pastors.
The Central Congregational Church, at the corner of Huntoon and
Buchanan streets, is one of the most famous in the West, by reason of the
personality of its pastor, Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, who came to the city
in 1889, and is best known perhaps, as the author of "In His Steps," a semi-religious novel which has had a remarkable circulation. Rev. Mr. Sheldon
also established a library and kindergarten in what is known as "Tennesseetown," a colored settlement in Topeka, and added to his fame in 1900 by
editing the Topeka Capital for one week as a distinctly Christian daily.
There are four other Congregational organizations in the city: North
Congregational, Rev. T. J. Pearson, pastor; Seabrook Congregational, Rev.
P. B. Lee, pastor; Swedish Congregational, Rev. Peter Persson, pastor;
and the Mission or Central Congregational Church, B. E. Crane, superintendent.
METHODIST CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church had an organization in Topeka in
1855, but was not regularly established until a later date. In 1859 the
Topeka and Tecumseh circuit was formed, and in 1861 Topeka was organized as a station, with Rev. J. Paulson as pastor. Religious services were
conducted prior to that date by Rev. J. S. Griffing. Other pastors of the
church have been : J. V. Holliday, T. A. Parker, John D. Knox, T. J. Leak,
Ira Blackford, James E. Gilbert, J. J. Thompson, O. J. Cowles, D. P.
Mitchell, S. McChesney, D. J. Holmes, W. G. Waters, J. A. Lippincott,
A. S. Embree and J. T. McFarland. Rev. W. C. Evans is the present pastor.
A church building was commenced in 1857, on lots numbered 157 to
169 Quincy street, donated by the Topeka Town Association. The lots so
donated were at the time covered with stone fortifications, which had been
erected to defend the town against an invasion of border ruffians. The
church was built during the period between i860 and 1867. It was enlarged in 1870 and continued to be the home of the church until 1881, when
a new building was erected on the southwest corner of Harrison street and
Sixth avenue, at a cost of $30,000.
Other Methodist churches and their pastors at this time are the following: Kansas Avenue, Rev. J. A. Stavely; Oakland, Rev. J. W. Reed;
Walnut Grove, Rev. F. E. Adell ; Parkdale, Rev. J. T. Sawyer; Lowman
Hill, Rev. J. R. Madison; German, Rev. H. Bruns; Asbury, Rev. J. D.
Smith; Mount Olive, Rev. J. S. Burton; Brown Chapel, Rev. J. M. Pope;
Euclid, Rev. J. J. Skinner; St. John's African, Rev. J. F. C. Taylor;
Wesleyan, Rev. C. F. Carkuff; Second Wesleyan, Rev. William Walters;
Free Methodist, Rev. C. J. Chaney; St. Mark's, Rev. J. W. Williams; and
Lane Chapel, Rev. J. W. Jacobs.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
Rev. A. T. Rankin organized the First Presbyterian Church, December
9, 1859, but it made indiiterent progress until the following year, when Rev.
John A. Steele, assumed the direction of its affairs. After his death, in
1864, Rev. S. T. McClure became the pastor, and he was followed by Rev.
John Ekin in 1866. Rev. Francis S. McCabe, D. D., became the pastor
January 1, 1869, and his long pastorate of 15 years was the most flourishing
in the history of the church. He was succeeded in 1883 by Rev. H. W.
George. Following Rev. Mr. George, the church had the services of Rev.
Edward C. Ray, Rev. S. B. Alderson, Rev. J. D. Countermine, and the present pastor, Rev. S. S. Estey. In 1864 the Presbyterians built a small brick
church at No. 230 Kansas avenue, which was afterwards sold to the city
for a school. In 1868 they built a chapel in the rear of the lots now occupied by the building of the Topeka Capital, enlarging it and adding a spire
in 1870. The present church, on Harrison street, was dedicated April
12, 1885.
The Second Presbyterian Church is located on Ouincy street. North
Topeka, Rev. John S. Glendenning, pastor; and the Third Presbyterian
Church on Fourth street, Rev. William M. Cleaveland, pastor. Other Presbyterian churches in the city are: Westminster, Rev. Frank Ward; Oakland, Rev. S. A. Alt; Cumberland, Rev. A. H. Kelso; Second Cumberland,
Rev. J. E. Cary; First United, Rev. J. A. Renwick, and Second United,
Rev. J. P. White. A new building for the First United Presbyterian Church
has just been completed, at the northeast corner of Topeka avenue and
Eighth street, at a cost of $12,000.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
About March 1, 1857, the First Baptist Church was organized by Rev.
David Seagraves, Joseph C. Miller, Jesse Stone, J. F. Merriam and William
Jordan, assisted by Rev. J. Gilpatrick, who had charge of an Indian mission
near Auburn. The first regular pastor was Rev. C. C. Hutchinson, author
of "Resources of Kansas." Services were held in i860 on the second floor
of a mercantile building at No. 191 Kansas avenue. A permanent site for the
church was donated by the Topeka Town Association, being the lots at the
northeast corner of Jackson and Ninth streets, where a building was erected
in 1871, at a cost of $15,000. This continued to be the home of the church
until 1905, when a more commodious structure took its place, upon the
same site. It is a magnificent edifice, built of bowlders of varying shades,
and crowned with a stately and symmetrical dome. The cost of the new
church was $40,000. The several Baptist pastors have been the following:
E. Ahvard, Isaac Sawyer, H. P. Fitch, E. O. Taylor, C. Monjeau, C. C.
Foote, T. R. Peters, J. B. Thomas, M. L. Thomas, P. W. CranneH and
Thomas S. Young, the last named being the present pastor.
Rev. J. Barrett organized the North Topeka Baptist Church, April 4,
1869, and was its pastor for many years. There are 10 other churches of
this denomination in the city, the principal ones being: First German, Rev.
Jacob Albert; Swedish, Rev. Gustaf Nyquist; Second Baptist, Rev. C. H.
Duvall; Third Baptist. Rev. W. P. Banks; "B" Street, Rev. W. H. Hart;
Central, Rev. H. W. White; Shiloh, Rev. C. G. Fishback; and Mount Hope,
Rev. A. B. Stoner.
CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
The Church of the Assumption was organized and the first building
erected in 1862, the first service being held on Christmas Day of that year,
conducted by Rev. James H. Defouri. The church was dedicated August
16, 1863, by Rt. Rev. J. B. Miegie. Rev. Elmira Fourmont, Rev. Eugene
Bonoveini, Rev. Felix Swembergh and Rev. Sebastian Favre were Father
Defouri's assistants during the early years of the church's history. The
present church building on Eighth avenue, opposite the Topeka Free Library,
was erected in 1882 at a cost of $20,000. One of the first workers in behalf
of the church was Daniel Handley, afterwards killed in the battle of the
Blue. A relic of the church is a bell presented by E. C. K. Garvey in 1862,
now used in the Catholic school. Father Defouri continued in charge of
the church for 14 years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Cunningham, who
remained until 1882, and was then succeeded by Rev. James O'Reilly. Very
Rev. Francis M. Hayden became dean and rector of the church in 1887 and
is still in charge. His sacerdotal silver jubilee was celebrated here May
17, 1900, and was attended by four bishops and 60 clergymen.
St. Joseph's German Catholic Church was established in 1889 through
the instrumentality of Rev. Francis Henry, who has since served continuously as its pastor. He has not only organized a large congregation but has
caused to be erected one of the finest church buildings in the city, at the
northwest corner of VanBuren and Third streets � a massive brick structure,
with double towers and cathedral chimes. Father Henry has been prominent in the charitable work of the city, and his general influence in the community is as strongly felt as that of any citizen of Topeka.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL.
A mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church was begun by Rev.
Charles Callaway in 1857, resulting in the organization of Grace Episcopal
Church, September 9, 1860, with Rev. Mr. Callaway as rector, the first
vestrymen being Charles C. Kellam, James Fletcher, John W. Farnsworth,
Cyrus K. Holliday and Joseph F. Cummings. Rev. N. O. Preston succeeded to the rectorship December 7, 1860. From 1864 to the present time
the church has had the following rectors and deans: R. W. Oliver, John N.
Lee, John Bakewell, Henry H. Loring, J. F. Walker, Richard Ellerby,
James W. Cohvell, Percival McIntire, Assistant Bishop E. S. Thomas,
Henry L Bodley, John W. Sykes, and James P. deBeavers Kaye, the last
named being the present dean. Rev. J. F. Walker was the first dean, the
church having been accepted as a cathedral chapel in 1879. Services were
first held on the third floor of the Ritchie Block, corner of Kansas and Sixth
avenues, and then at the old Episcopal Female Seminary, corner of Topeka
avenue and Ninth street. A building was erected in 1863, at the southwest
corner of Jackson and Seventh streets, known as Grace Church. The building was enlarged in 1874, and while the improvements were in progress
services were held in Union Hall. The property at the corner of Jackson
and Seventh streets was subsequently sold and a guild hall and chapel erected
on Bethany square, where the permanent cathedral is to be built in the near
future. In connection with the cathedral are the churches of the Good Shepherd, Calvary Mission, and St. Simon the Cyrenian Mission, conducted by
Rev. DeLou Burke, canon.
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The English Lutheran Church, now known as the First Lutheran, had
its beginning April 7, 1867. It was organized by Rev. Morris Officer, and
had as its original members Rev. Josiah B. McAfee, John Guthrie, C. H.
Ellison, A. P. Benson, George Rubble, A. S. Halmburg and Hugo Kullak.
Rev. A. J. Hasson was the first pastor, followed by Rev. B. F. Alleman and
Rev. T. F. Dornblazer. Services were first held in Germania Hall. A small
frame church was built in 1871 on lots 163, 165 and 167 Topeka avenue.
In 1885 a large brick structure was erected at the northeast corner of Harrison and Fifth street, which is the present home of the church, with Rev.
H. A. Ott as pastor.
The German Lutheran Church, evangelical, has a building at the corner
of VanBuren and Second streets. Rev. H. F. Eggert, pastor. The Swedish
Lutheran Church has its home at the northeast corner of Fourth and Tyler
streets, with Rev. A. M. L. Herenius as pastor. This church was organized
in September, 1869, by Rev. A. W. Dahlsten, the succeeding pastors being
Rev. C. J. Scheleen, Rev. C. V. Vestling and Rev. John Holcomb. Another
of the Lutheran organizations is the St. Paul's German Evangelical, corner
of Monroe and Fourth streets, of which Rev. Silverman is pastor. Swedish
Bethel, on Polk street, is conducted by Rev. Mr. Peter Persson.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.
The First Christian Church is located in a handsome stone building on
the east side of Topeka avenue, between Sixth avenue and Seventh street,
the present pastor being Rev. Charles A. Finch. The church was established
January 1, 1881, by Rev. S. T. Dodd, with the following officers: Dr.
S. T. Dodd, pastor; Willard Davis, clerk; Alfred Ennis and W. D. Stone,
elders; J. A. Mullen, W. M. Hess and J. O. Leary, deacons; Ira Miller,
David Eckert, William Niccum, E. H. Roudebush and G. W. Fought, trustees; and Buel Shuler and A. A. Stewart, ushers. There are four other
Christian churches in the city, known as the North Topeka, Rev. J. T.
Purvis; Second, Rev. B. C. Duke; Third, Rev. F. E. Mallory; and Oakland,
Rev. N. Overman.
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The First Unitarian Church had its beginning in June, 1883, when the
society was organized by the following persons: Mr. and Mrs. George W.
Wood, Dr. O. B. Morse, Robert Pierce, Mrs. Anna G. Brown, Mr. and
Mrs. A. P. Wilder, Mr. and Mrs. George R. Peck, Miss Belle Wilder,
John A. Dailey, F. M. Hayward and Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Foster. The
first pastor was Rev. Enoch Powell. The present pastor is Rev. Abram
Wyman. The church building at Nos. 302, 304 and 306 Topeka avenue
was erected in 1885 at a cost of $8,200.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
In 1880 the Topeka Society of the New Jerusalem, Swedenborgian,
was organized, the first meetings being held at the home of Edward Wilder.
In the following year a chapel and parsonage were erected at the southeast
corner of Topeka avenue and Harrison street. The first ministers were Rev.
Howard C. Dunham and Rev. Frank L. Higgins. The church is now without a pastor and regular services have been discontinued.
CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST.
Topeka has two Christian Science organizations, with a rapidly growing
affiliation. The First Church of Christ is located at the corner of Huntoon
and Polk streets, in its own building, with W. C. Fisk as first reader. The
Second Church of Christ occupies leased rooms at No. io8 West Ninth
street, with Willis D. McKinstry as reader.
MISCELLANEOUS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
A church of the Evangelical (Albright) German denomination is
maintained at the corner of Fourth and Monroe streets, with Rev. Peter
Schuman as pastor, and the Seventh Day Adventists have a church at the
corner of Fifth street and Western avenue, with Rev. E. T. Russell in
charge. The Salvation Army conducts a shelter at No. 312 Kansas avenue,
in charge of Captain and Mrs. E. Stinnett, and its splendid work among the
poor is cordially cooperated with by the churches.
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