Moline Township (part 3 of 3)

In the face of such C(uiditions, and the lack of local banks, it was often difficult to finance the firm. Money had to he borrowed mostly from individuals. Largely for these reasons, there was no j)ay-day for the employes. Plows were traded to the merchants of Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, Muscatine and other nearby towns and orders given on them to the workmen for what they wanted. .Money was never ])ai<l out for wages, unless an employe left or was discharged. In such cases, any wages due were settled for in cash.

It was also difficult to transfer money, liecause exchange could be lun-chased onhoccasionally. In the summer time money was sent to St. Louis for this pin-pose by the steamboat clerks, but in winter, even this convenience was cut off.

Another difiiculty was to get the plows to the various agencies. It was necessary to ship them by river to distributing points and then liaid them by team to the merchants throughout the interior. This was a slow and uncertain i)rocess, but the only one available.

These illustrations serve to show the inconveniences that, in those days, handicapped the conduct of a business of more than local consequence. However, each difficulty and discouragement was surmounted. John Deere plows were winning their way and the firm gathered additional strength with every victory over these adverse conditions.

In 1852, both Mr. Tate and Mr. Gould retired from the firm, and .Mr. Deere continued the business alone. The demand for his plows steadily increased and the outiiut was increased as fast as jjossible, but could never be made to equal the demand, a condition which still exists. In 1857 ten thousand ]ilows were nninufactureil. This was considered an enormous out))ut in those days, and it was, conditions considered.

By 1868 John Deere's business hail grown to such proportitms that a. more comiilete organization of the manufacturing and selling departments became necessary. Accordingly Deere and Company was incorporated, with John Deere as president, V. H. Deere, his son, as vice-president and general manager, and iS. H. XeYie as secretary.

Deere and Company's growth has always been steady, sure, and in resp.mse to a demand for its jiroducts that has remained in advance of its ability to supply. The company has grown from an idea ile\-el;)|.)ed in a little country blacksmith shop, through the factory stage, into a great industry with magnificent manufacturing and selling organizations. It is a fittino' monument to .lohii

1^)day the lloor space of Deere and ('onipaiiy's tactiil'N' ('(|nals llie ai'c.-i of a good sized farm and a i-()m|ilele inipienient is tiii-iied out e\'ei'y llui'ty serunds of the worl-;- iiig year. In addition to this. o\-er a niilli<in |iiow shares are made annnally to e(|ui|i .lohn Deei'e jilows already- in use. ddiis one item alone e.\ceeds the entiri' output of many plow factories. Facilities are ample for ship[)ing fifty complete car loads of implements a day. The system of overhead tracdxs, upon which im]ilements and jiarts ai'c con\-eyetl from one ilepartment to tlie other, is so perfect that no handling is necessary fi-om the time they leave the paint sho]) until in front of the car door for shipment.'

(-ireat distrilniting comi)anies have been organized in the principal centers throughout the Country, some of tliese coniijaiiies being the largest of their kind in the world.

The Deere organizations furnish a livelihood to about twenty thousand jjeople, and cover the civilized world in their operations. \\'herever the American citizen goes, he finds that John Deere plows ha\'e precede<l him.

Agricultural success makes the railroads possible and keeps the wheels of industry and commerce in constant motion. The steel plow made agricidtnre a success. It emancipated the farmer from bondage to the soil, enabled him to l)uild public schools in which to educate his children and comfortable homes in which to enjoy the comforts of life.

^^'heu histoi-\' fiiKiU}- casts up e\ents and determines what is worth while, the faces of John and t'. H. Deere will be seen in the hall of fame.

Argillo \\'orks. one of tlie leading industries of Rock Island ('ounty. and located at C'arl)on Cliff, Illinois, was incorporated in 1S(3.") by William S. Thonuis, Adoniram L. Wait and .lereniiah Chandjerliu, with .a capital stoid< of .1i;i()(),(H)(). Jeremiah Chamberlain was the first ))resident, ha\ing been elected at the time the plant was launched, and serx'ing foiu' years. .Mr. Chandierlin was succeeded in 1 S(39 by >Ivlo Lee, who served fnun th.at time until 1S96.

To these two men can be attril)uted the success of the plant, as it was they who [liloted it through from a mere experiment to a well |3aying in\'estnient. The succeeding presidents up \uitil the present day have also given thoroughly capable service, and under their supervision the plant gradually increased its earning powers until now it is one of the county's most thri\-ing industries.

The Argillo WOrks manufactures clay products, principally fire bri(dc and farm drain tile, which are widely distributed throughout the state, and in fact all parts of the United States,

The Tri-City Manufacturers' Association was organized in the year 1900, with C. H. Deere of Moline as president, and l'>. H. Sleight of Moline as secretai'y.

The general object at that time was the ])roniotion of the interests of the three cities along nuuiufacturing lines. Although started with some enthusiasm, it soon languished and i^ractieally ceased to exist until two years later. When tlie machinists throughout the country struck for a sliorter workday, the Tri-City Manufacturers' Association awoke to life again, and ])ractically reorganized as a defense associaticui to dieck the rising tide of trade unionism. The movement here was sinudtaneous with otliers throughout the country, tlu' e\-er increasing and arbitrary demands of labor unions nudving it necessary for employers to unite in order to offer effective resistance.

The work of this association as indicated above, has been principally of a defensive nature, but it has also been influential in various other-ways. Its influence was exerted in belialf of the Interstate Commerce Bill, and in opposition to the so-called Uniform Bill of Lading, and an active campaign was carried on under its auspices for the cause of reciprocity.

The princijial membership of this association is in Moline, and while the association as a whole cannot act, yet the Molina members have frecjuently met for the consideration of matters pertaining to the welfare of their city. The Moline members of this association paid for a new private water main along the river front from the water works west, which forms a very important secondary water su]i]ily in case of fire; indeed superior to the Third Avenue main. A recent fire at the Mutual A\'heel \\'orks was checked by this new water main oidy, when the Third Avenue main had collapsed. It seems cjuite probable that a very disastrous conflagration would have l>een started had it not been for the new main.

The Moline mend)ers of this association purchased a lot and also advanced the mnney for a new fire station north of the railroad tracks. At their suggestion the city is putting down a new water main on Tinrd Avenue, for which the i3ro])erty owners are being assessed. These improvements, although ])aid for by the nuinufacturers or tlie property owners on Third Avenue, are f(]r the benefit

The members of the jManufacturers' Association have also contributed liberally to many jiublic objects. I might mention the new bathing house on P-ighteenth Street, also the various conventif)ns which come to this city, the Manufactiu'ers' Hotel, the Moline Theatre, etc.

Tri-City manufactiu'ers are liberal givers toward public functions and enterprises. The great victory in obtaining a handsome congressional a])])ropriation for a (lovernment lock was brought about largely through the efforts of the numufactiu'ers, and the establishment of such lock will prove of tmtold value to the community. .\ standing committee co-operates with other civic organizations in public benefactions, the reception and entertainment of conventions, and securing desirable and representative assemblages for local entertainment.

Information of general importance is communicated to the membership by a systematic series of bulletins from the secretary's office. From the same source items of general interest are bulletined from the association's affiliated organizations, including such far reaching associations as the National Association of Manufacturers, National Founders Association, National Association of Agricultural Imjilement and Vehicle Manufacturers, Metal Trades Association, Citizens Industrial Association, National Association of Credit Men, and others.

Along defensive lines mentioned above, our association defended against the machinists' strike in 1900 and the moul.lers' strike in 1903, successfully in both instances, and this we believe was not only on account of our firm froid, Ijut liecause we were essentiallv right in our position. The manufacturers conferred with the men and offered a reasonalile ccunpromise settlement, but in neither instance would the unions acce])t less

This arl)iti':iry stand iia\'e the inaiiut'acturers up, the import of which was that the associathe moral support of the ciuuniuiiity. and of tion was orijanized to sul)ser\'e and advance must look 1o themselves largely to nuiinlain places, lirst in the City Hall, then in Mctheir own rights, which no (Uie els(> will do if Kinnie Hall, MolineCluli Hall, l^lksCluh. and beeir the cause of ]irices advancing fully as The association is a meml)er of the I'ppefast as they lunc affected wages, that they ]\Iississip]M River Improvement As.^.iciat i ui.

been completed and was accepted by the National Government engineers on the 7th instant of this month (January, 1907). the deepening of the channel harbor and constrncting a landing, and the beautifying of River Side Park with trees, shrubbery, drives and walks, will all be completed this year, giving Moline a beautiful park, in the center of the city, on our river front.

Dvu-ing the last year it has undertaken and accomplished the building of a niddern theatre at a cost of $75,000, of which sum the association paid $10,000, raised through a seat sale and donations. The theatre was built entirely upon plans and under the svu'- veillance of the association. There is no more modern Iniilding of its kind, and of its size, outside of Chicago.

The unity of thought and action un the part of the members and the directors, with the financial assistance generously bestowed by our manufacturers and business men, has made it jiossible, and will in the future make it possible, to carry on the great work for which we are striving, namely, a Greater Moline.

Moline Retail Merchants' Association

This association, like the Retail Merchants' Association of Rock Island, affiliates with both the National and State organizations. Like other bodies of its kind its objects are to advance and protect the business interests of its members, to abate trade abuses and illegitimate ])ractices, to secure beneficial legislation, and in various ways produce a feeling of friendliness and co-operation between the varied business interests and the ])\U)lic as a whole.

The first workers in the movement looking to the perfection of this organization were: B. H. Quick, S. S. HofTman. C. F. Dewend, Martin Carlson, Charles G. Hogberg, C. 0.

Lovejoy and William Carstens, who, with the help of the above gentlemen, did the first soliciting for membership. Such was their success that inside of ten days one hundred and fifteen business men liad signed the charter list.

The success of the Retail Merchants A.ssociation has been phenomenal. They have saved thousands of dollars, not alone to the members, but to the public, by protecting the honest ])(M)ph' from the dishonest. Further than this twenty per cent the reduction of freight rates in the State of Illinois, which amounts to about $20,000,000 to the people of the State, was Ijrought about mainly by the \inited efforts of the local and state associations.

Moline Club

Oi'ganized December 9, 1895, its object being for the advancement of social intercourse among its members and to promote the civic, business and industrial interests of the City of Moline. The membership consists of three classes: Resident, non-resident and honorary. The resident membenship being limited to three hundred members. Any male eighteen years of age or over, living within the City of Moline, shall be eligible to resident membership. Any male adult whose residence is without the limits of Moline .shall be eligible to non-resident membershi]i. Any person of public distinction shall lie eligible to honorary membership. The non-resident and honorary members shall enjoy all the privileges of the Club, except of those voting or holding ofifice. The annual meetings of the Club are held on the se('ond Tuesday in May of eaeh year, at 9 P. M. The officers of the Club are jiresident, first and second vicejiresidents, a secretary and treasiu'er. The various committees are the finance, membershi]). house and grounds, entertainment.

press, audit inti. ami c'wlc iiiipi'DXcment coinmittpo til further tho civic, Imsiness and industrial interests of tli(> City of Moline. Tlic ladies and minoi's iif every nieinher's family aic entitled to the privileges of the ('lull. -No liipior of an)- kind shall he allowed in the iduh house, or on its premises, nor shall !2aml)lin,<? lie permitted. The first <ilhcei's were: ('. 11. Deere, presidents'. .\. liarnard, \ice-p|-esideiit : E. H. Sleifiht, secretary; C". F. Hemen way . treasurer.

The WOnnin's Cluh of .Moline was founded May 2;5, lUOo. Iiy Mrs. Frank dates Allen, of IMolinc, who called the first meetiufi', secured the place and speakers and [iresented a plan of or.tianization which was adojited. The (lull's memliership j^rew rapidly, nuttii'owing the cajtacity of successi\e meeting places, until it has fi\e hundred and twenty-five mendjers and holds its re,i;ular meetings in one of the largest church buildings in Moline - the Fir.st Congregational.

The object of the Club, as stated by its constitution, "shall be to foster the interest of its mendiers in literary, scientific, musical, historical, and other topics of \'ital importance; to jiromote cultiu'e and cordial personal relations among «'omen. and to contribute to the welfare of the community." .\ny wonuin living in Moline^ or viciidty is eligible to meml)ershi[i in the Club. It has, conse- (juently, numy mendjers who live, in Rock Island, Davenport or the sm.aller towns nearby. Monthly meetings are held from October to ^lay imdusive. At tliese, reports of the departmental work are gi\'en, a ]irogram, consisting of music and the discussion of some live subject by an authority upon it, is presented and a short social hour follows.

The Club has several departments: Tlie nuisic departmeiil, formeil by the absoi-plion of the Moline P>eetlun'en Club, |iro\'ides music for each regular meeting and one or two I'ecitals each season. The |ihilanthr<i|iic department, formed by the absorption of the Moline Associated Charities, sujiports the Moline police matron, ami City missionary, and ]iro\ides for most of the rebel woi'k done for the poor of I he cit \'.

The ci\ ii's department encourages I he (deaning and beautifying of lots, streets and alleys, the opening of p.ai'ks. the abatement <if nuisances, and unsanitary conditions and the establishment of ]iublic play groiuids.

Th(> legislati\-e department keeps the Club in touch with legislation of interest to its mendjers, especially that which effects wcmien and children.

The Moline "^'oung Glen's (.'hristian Ass iciation was oi'ganizeil February 10, ISS,). At that time the old rink was secured as tem])orary cpnu'ters ami an etficient woid< carried on for se\'eral years. During the years of l.SS.S and ISSl) a binlding fnml was raised and a new structure erected \\lii<'h continued to be the home of the Association until destroyed some years later by fire.

On Janvuiry 1, 1903, the Association mo\'ed into the present quarters, where a steadily growin,g work has been nnuntain(>d in the \arious departments, and whose spacious. well lighted rooms have become the home of the young men of Moline in a \-ery special way. The Associatiiui is not alone his home, but as well his schoid roiun. his play giviun 1. and his |)lace of entertainment and Christian culture.

and advanced courses. Other courses in mechanical and architectural drawing, electricity, telegraj^hy. bookkeeping, commercial law, and vocal music have been taught in the night school. In connection with the educational department a debating society is conducted, in winch young men are trained in the art ol' pul)]ic speaking.

A physical department with well ecpuppcd gymnasium and e.xjiert ])hysical director is a second phase of the work, affording a place for physical development under wholesome Christian infhiences. This department is partici]5ated in by l)oth men and boys with great pleasure and ])rofit. The bath rooms which are used daily by large numbers of men are the finest in the city. Fully 6,000 baths are furnished annually to mendiers. No less than 35,000 visits are made to tlie rooms each vear.

The religious ])hase of the work is wide in scope, covering a vast field of religious education. Bible classes are conducted, men's meetings with helpful addresses are held on Sunday afternoons and on week days meetings arc held in tlie \-arious shops of the city' at the noon liour, where a large number of men listen to addresses and music by the best talent obtainable. Tliere is also a corjis of workers, comjirising a male quartette and speakers, who visit the \-arious churches and missions in sui)m'ban towns to conduct religious ser\'ices.

Diu'ing the years of its existence the Moline \'ouug Men's Christian Association has made a [dace for itself in the city of inestimable \-alue. Its aim has been to produce well i-ounded men in this and it has succeeded. The product of the Association has gone forth to raise the standards of moral li\-ing and to em'ich the world.

The river and harbor act of September 19. iNilO. made the first appro])riation for the c-onstruetion of the canal, and directed -work to be begun by the construction of one of the locks and dams in Rock River.

In accordance with this act work was begun in .Inly. 1S92, near the mouth of Rock River. on the construction of a canal around the lower rajiids of the river, and since that date has Ijeen ])rosecnted as rajiidly as the appropriation of funds permitted. The survey work in locating the canal on the gromid and proceedings for accpiiring title to the right of way have been comj)leted. anil the canal has been definitely located on the ground througliout its entire extent.

The river and harbor act of ]\Iarcli i?. 1905. authorizes the Secretarj- of War, in his discretion, to con^struct a fixed dam with movable crest in Rock River, in lieu of the lock and dam at or near Sterling, Illinois, pro- ^-ided for liy the approved project, the said dam with movable crest to be built from funds alreadj' appropriated or autluirized for the construction of the canal and to constitute a i)art of the project for its construction.

The ri\-er and liarboi- act of .June 3. 1896. placed the work under the continuing contract system and limited the average amount of contract lialiility to he incurred in any one fiscal year to $4(K).()()0. There has been expended on this work to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30. 190S. $7,319,563.39.

First. The acquisition of the right of wa\' for four and one-half miles around the lower rapids of Rock River and the completion of four and one-half miles of canal there, involving the construction of four and one-half miles of earthwork, three locks, one railroad and two highway swing bridges, seven sluiceways and gates, one arch cuh-ert, two dams feet long across the arms of Rock River, three lock-keepers' houses, one small office biiililing. a thorough riprapping of the canal luuiks (not included in the original estimates), and construction l>v contract of I\Ioline wagon bridge, at a cost of i?2o,000. which was not included in the original estimate.

Second. The acquisition of right of way for the main line and navigable feeder, com- |iletion of all railway and high\va_v bridges, locks, cidverts. aqueducts; execution of all earthwork and completion of dam and controlling works at head of feeder; erection of fourteen houses and jiartial completion of twenty-five houses for overseers and lock tenders.

The canal was filled witli water and formally opened to navigation October 24, 1907. Operating force has been organized and since Januarj- 1, 1908, the work has been maintained under the indefinite appropriation for operating and care of canals and other works of navigation, the completion of construction work progressing at the same time.

The entire work embraced in the original ])rojeet for the canal, as modified b}' subsequent projects and plans as the work has ])rogressed, may be summarized as follows;

Surveys and location upon the ground; acquisition of right of way and fencing; construction of - ninety-five and eight-tenths miles of earthwork; sixty-seven highway bridges; one farm bridge; three pontoon biridges; eight railroad bridges; nine aqueducts; fifty-two culverts (increased to sixtytwo); thirty-three locks; nine sluiceways and gates; three dams; nineteen houses (increased to thirty-nine); outlet to Rock River; new highway on mile sixteen; improvement of eight and five-tenths miles of Rock River; iMoline wagon bridge (not in original estimate).

Historic Roc K Island C 0 U N T Y.

The first steandjoat that landed at Fort Snelling. Minnesota, was the Virginia. Captain Crawford, in 1S23. .She was one hundred and eighteen feet long and twenty-two feet wide. At that early day the coin-eying of sn|)i)lies to the forts on the upper Mississippi was about all the ti'aflic there was. During the few years immediately foUowin.g the arrival of the A'irginia there was but one boat a year. The Neville came in 1S'_'4: tlie I'utnam in 1 S'i.'i : the bawi'ence in ISL'tl: the I'ultoii in IN27: tlie l':cli])se in 1 S'JS. and the Uhudc Roxcr in I.S'iit. The Red Roxci-. Captain '!'lioc'hniort(m. m.-ule her fii'st appearance in the ( lalena tra<le in 1 S'.M). The master of this boat b\iilt and rommaiidetl the W'aii'ioi- in \S'.V2 ami pai't icipated in the lUack Hawk wai- at the battle of P>ad .\\. He always carried on his boat two foni'-ponndei's. His passenger cabin was a keelboat toweil alongside. He was a genial nuin and a gi'eat fa\- orite w ith all t he (dlicers at the forts. Captain Thoclimorton also built and connnanded a number <if other boats (.lui'ing liis long cai'eer as a steamljoat officer. The last craft he connnanded was a government Iwat. the Harnard, some time during the seventies.

The steamers .losephine, Captain J. Clark: and the iMissom'i I'^ulton, Captain Cuh-er, wei-e in the St. IvOuis and Galena trade in 1.S2S and

1S2!). In ls:?G the Missouri Fulton, Captain Orrin Snuth: and the Frontier, Captain Smith Harris, came up. The latter craft was Ituilt for the Ro(d<; River trade. The Palmyra. Captain Cole, also arrived bearing a ]>leasure party of some thirty ladies and gentlemen, and thei'e was the St, Peter, Captain Thochmorton. with a ])arty of St. Louis ladies, and the Rolla, bringing a delegation of the Sioux Indians on their way l.)ack from Washington, where they had made a treaty by which the \alley of the St. Croix was opened to the whites.

From 1S36 there were steamers passing up and down the river almost daily, taking su]i- ])lies for the \-arious small towns below (ialena and Dubiique. The boats that were in the trade Ijetween Oalena and Fort Snelling in ls:?7 were the l-'almyra, l)ubu(pie, Gipsy, Pa\illion, iMnerald, Wyoming, Olive Rranch, Ariel, Heroine, Rolla, I'urlington, Galena and Irene, The lioats during that season were the Duliuque, Rolla, I'hiierald aud Heroine. The steamer Brazil in 1841 was sunk on the Rock Island rajiids.

Hetween the lattei- ilate and 1.S47, a large nundier of boats wci'e engaged in the trade between St. l-ouis and Galena. .\m(mg them were the bme. Captain l,(d^)\' |)oilge: St. Croix. Ca])tain Hiram Rei'sie: W'ai' ivigle Ca]itain Smith Hai'i'is: h'alcon. C.-iptain 1.. Morehouse: Rock Ri\cr, Count .\. ilarasky; Monona, Captain 1']. H. (de\un: and Iowa, Captain 1). l'>. Moi'ehouse. In ]S47 the Argo, Captain William Lodewicd'C, started as ;i regular pa(d<et between (lalena and Fort Snelling. Captain I.udewick was an uncle of Mrs. HaiJey and Mrs. P>oyle, of Roidc Island. In 1 84S he was in command of the Dr. Franklin with Ca].itain Russell Blakely. my oldtime friend, as clerk. The I'ranklin was the first Ijoat belonging to the Galena and Minnesota Packet Company. Most of the stockholders in this company were Galenans. This steamer, the l''ranklin, was the nucleus fi'oiu which irrew the fleet of the (laleiui and St. Paul

In 1S54, when the Chicago and Eock Island Railroad reached the river here a big excursion \Aas run. bringing some 1,200 eastern men, including many prominent statesmen and newspaper men, and the Minnesota I'acket Company met them at the Rock Island wharf with the steamers Ciolden Era, Captain Hiram liercie: (!. W. Sparhawk, Captain 1.. .Morehon.se: War Eagle, Captain Harris, and the Oalena, Captain I). R. ^lorehotise. On the.se magnificent packets about 1,000 of the excursionists took a free ride to St. Paul. During the tri)) the stage of water was good and at times the boats would be lashed together in pairs so that the passengers could pass from one to the other. Taken all together this affair was most far-reaching in its effect in bringing to the notice of prominent eastern men the vast possibilities of the north. This magnificent excursion has never been equalled in size and results in the history of the river. .\ vast tide of emigration soon afterward began setting westward.

The Galena and Minnesota Packet Company was at the summit of its career from 1856 to 1860. It had a tine and large fleet of lioats running at that time. Two daily lines of packets were run from (lalena, a daily from St. Louis to St. Paul, a daily to Rock Island and a daily between the upper and lower i-apids.

In 1857 Caijtain Davidson organized another line of steamers to run on the upper river. This line ultimately was to swallow uj) and destroy in the end all others except the Diamond Jo Com])any. which still exists. This was known as the White Collar line. During this year the St. Louis and St. Paul steamboat men decided to inaugurate a daily serA-icc by running in rotation with the

Camida. Captain James Ward: W. I,. Ewing. Cai)tain "M. Green: Denmark, Ca])tain Dick (iray; ^letropolitan, Caiitain T. ]?. Rhodes; Penil)ona, Captain Thomas H. Griffith; Northerner, Captain P. Alford. and Lucy May, Captain J. P. Rhodes. Along in the early sixties these different boats were united under the ownershi]) of a stock company, and the Henry Clay, Cajjtaiii Charles Stephenson, was taken in. There' were then more lioats on the Mississippi River ])lying to and from St. Paul than ever before or since, some ninety-five in all. I might give the names but that would require too much space.

From 1856 to 1860 there was a very large amount of excursion travel coming from New Orleans and St. Louis to the cool shadj' retreats found around the lakes near St. Paul, many of the excursionists staj'ing two or three months. Often the boats would have their tqiper guards piled full of trunks. At night after eleven o'clock the cabin floors would 1)0 filled with cots. From eight to ten the colored cabin boys would get out their violins and dancing would be indulged in. With good boats, attentive and obliging officers and good table fare the time passed pleasantly. No hurry, no care, beautiful scenery all the way, jiarticularly along the banks of the U])per river. How many happy hours I have passed in this wa}' on the many trips I have taken since I first came west.

The Keokuk and McClure line A\hicli jilierl between St. Louis and Keokuk, united with the Northern line. After Davidson had wrecked the lines on the iqqier river and after the death of John McClure this line was left to be sold. Da\-idson liought it, thus acquiring control of the old reliable Northern line and of all the steamljoat interests on the ri\er. The holders of a ma,iority of the stock in the Northern line applied for a receiver to manage the biisiness. Davidson was compelled to fight for his property. This took so long that the cost of the litigation left him with little of value. The business was ruined

Hefore closing this sketch of steamb lat ing jiared to carry a large amount of freight. an<l mi the u|iper ri\er in thecildeii times I wdidd so arranged .also as to .accommoilate cornmention a few of the men 1 knew lust. fortably two hundred and three liundred Among them were Caiit.'im Orrin Smit h of t!ie ])assengers. .\ii hotel in any city surpiassed Brazil and Xomonee, Captain S. 1). Harris of their bill of fare. Their tables were furnished the V.'ar I'^agle and Gray Ivigle. Captain with the best that the markets could afford, Hiram Bersie of the St. Ci'oix, Golden I'a'a and and serveil in a mannei- unexcelled. Northern Light, Captain W . 11. (labbart of Steamboat ing fifty years ago was attended the Su(d\er State, Captain James Ward of the with many dilllcull ies, chief among tt'hich Metropiditan, and Captains Thomas Buford, was the lower rapids. There it was that T. B. Rhodes and John W. Rhodes. Amon.g through the major part of the floating season the clerks was Daniel \. Daw ley. who filled all freight and passengers had to be transthis ]TOsition for oxqy fift\' years (I knew him ferred over and around the portage. Each first in 1838 as clerk on an Ohio i{i\-ei- boat. luiat's cargo had to be removed and placed the W. W. Wells, and afterward in that on .great litters or flat boats, each one coverposition on the Sucker State); George R. ing about one-half an acre of river, so to .Meh'ille, Robert Meh'ille and Geor.ce C. P>rish. speak. These wcic towed o\cr the rapiils.

anil then the .u'dods were i-e])hieed al)i)aixl the boat on which tliev lielonfjeil. Then the steamer would i)roeeed on her journey. These were vexatious delays and attended by great ex)iense ;uul much labor.

The i)ilots on the river in those days were men who had the chart of the river and the of the channel anil the numerous difficult ero.ssings. the shoals, hidden rocks and other obstructions which lay in their bath, in their heads. It required years of constant practice and diligent study and close observation. To attain the vast and important knowledge they must know- the path on the darkest and stormiest night as well as in the light of day.

How different the condition of today. The lower rapids ha\'e been shot out - with a great stone wall that forms the outer bank of a ship canal, through which steamers pass with their cargo undisturbed. The reefs, sandbars, snags and (jther obstructions have been removed, the channel deepened and widened where required, stone piers and buoys in the river. ])rovided to mark the course of the channel by day. with lights in vast numljers to show the way by night. The government has ox)iended vast sums of money in the past years to improve na\'igatioii and encourage coiumerce on oiu' western rivers.

The office of the (iovernment engineer in control of the Government improvement along the Mississippi, from the iTiouth of the Missouri River to St. Paul, together with a number of adjacent natural artificial waterways, is located in Rock Island. Through its annual api:>roijriations, aljout -I.SOO.OOO are spent in the interests of improved navigation in t lie district indicated.

The first Governiuent engineer's office established for the imjirovement of the upper river was located in 1 )a\-enpoi-t , in fsfifi. and was in charge of (ieneral .lames H. U'ilson. The office was oriaimdlv intended to c<uitrol oidy the impro\ement of the Rock Island rapids. General AMlson was transferred to Keokuk, and the work of building the canal around the rapids there was placed in his charge. The Davenport office was left under Major C. ,1. Allen, who, about two years after it was originally established, removed it to Rock Island, quarters being taken in the Skinner Block over the reo])le's Xatioiial bank.

In 1870 Colonel John Macomb was placed at the head of the offices, and under him they were removed to the building at the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Nineteenth Street. Colonel F. V. Farquhar took charge in 1877, and under his direction, the year following, the general survey of the river made from the mouth of the Missouri to St. Paul was begun, from which a general line of improvement for the whole distance was later mapped out.

Colonel A. Mackenzie came (ui in 1S79 and the office was under his management for a period of fifteen years. In \S.'M qiuirters were taken on the fourth floor of the new Mitchell and I.ynde Building. Major Mackenj^ie continued in charge until his ]iromotion to assistant chief engineer at Washington. Colonel W. R. King, his successor, died afteia year's residence in the city, and Major C. McD. Townsend took charge in May. 189<S. The present tpiarters, on the second and third floors of the federal building, at the corner of Second Avenue and Sixteenth Street, were taken i)ossessif)ii oi January 9, 1S9().

Colonel James L. T,usk assummed charge in April, 1903. and was succeeded by Colonel Charles S. Riche in Ajiril. 190"). and who is still in general charge. Colonel Charles W . Durham, first assistant engineer since 1871: James D. DuShane, assistant engineer; \^'. A. Thompson, assistant engineer; Samuel Kdwards, assistant engineer; .lames McElherne. assistant engineer; Montgomery Meigs, a.ssistant engineer; A. L. Richards, assistant engineer; C. P. Comegys, auditor.

of Watertown, in Ivock Island County, on an I'ireproof consti-uction has been adopted in elevation aliout a ([uarter of a mile fi-om the all of the lar,n(" buildings which are con- Mississippi River and li\-e miles above stnieted of lirick (jr stime. Moline. Tn their primiti\e condition, the grounds Tlie corner stone was laid September 5, surrounding the buildings were wry ii-rcgular

1896, Governor Altgeld delivering the dedi- and tlie s((il was of such acharacter that each catorv address. Owing to the unfavorable raiii caused considerable damage. These weather, the insolvency of the contractors, natural dilliculties have in a lai-ge measure and an inadecpiate appropriation, the work been overcome and the inst it ut inn is now well proceeded slowly and when, on March IS, pi'o\ided wit h conci-el e w:dks, macadam roads

1897, the new trustees were .-ippointed, they and c.'uisiderable has been done l.iwanls found the buildings incomplete. With addi- beautifying tlie grcuinds. This h.-is (uil\- been ti(nial appropriations granted by the begis- acc.implisheil, howmcr, b\' ino\ing at least latnre, they were enabl(>d to resume opera- .")(), (100 cubic yards of earth, tilling u|i many tions and on -May l(i, ISiKS, the From w.-irds deep ra\-iiies, and b\- the exercise of constant were ready lor occupancy and three hundred xigilence to prevent washing by i-aiii.

to the water sii|i|ily and sewage system, its own carix-nter shop, machine shop, store l)uiUliiifi-. hiundry and refrigerating i)hiiit. printing ollice. tin shop and garment factory. Electricit>- is used entirely for light and power and llir hnildings are heated with the exlianst steam.

Thi' site, valned at $40,000, was paid for I IV the citizens of Rock Island County, oneliair in subscriptions and one-half by the sale of C'oimty bonds. Though somewhat inaccessible, the fact that the institution has never had a case of malarial or typhoid fever, more than compensates.

The board of trustees are F. W. Gould, l)resident, Moline, Illinois; Allan M. Clement, ("hicago, Illinois; and William Trembor, Freeport, Illinois. Doctor W. E. Taylor, of Monmouth, was elected superintendent in January, 1897, and has continued in charge of the in.stitution since that time.

And Poor House

In the early days the county poor were boarded out in various places, but the county ill about 18.50 or 1852 purchased the old Hinnah Wells farm, which was located at the I urn of the old Camden Mills road, about half a mile noi'th of the wagon bridge, across the Kociv l\i\-('i-. On this farm was a long twostor\- frame house, which was made oin- first County Poor House. November 20, 1860, Rock Island County purchased the farm of James M. Smith, near Coal \'alley, for a consideration of $3,000. Mr. Frederick Weyerhaeuser, who then lived in Coal A'alley, built the first jioor house on this [iroperty.

The first time it was erected it was forty by si.xty feet, though since its destruction byfire. December 2'.). 1902. a new Iniilding of brick, fifty-eight b\- one hmidred feet, and four stories high has taken its place. The new strticture was completod in 1903 at a cost of $20,000.

William S. Bailey was appointed steward of the poor farm September, 1860. At that time the infirmary contained but eighteen inmates. Mr. Pailey's salary at that time was four hiuidred dollars per year. By 1869 his salary had been increased to SI, 000 per 3'ear, the number of inmates having vastly increased by that time. Fxcejiting the year 1869 Mr. Bailey was superintendent of the infirmary until 1881, when he was succeederl Ijv Mr. A. Buttman. who served three years. Following Mr. P>utlmau came Mr. James Robertson, who served two years, then Mr. W. H. H. Dow, who served eleven years. December 15, 1897, Mr. John C. Swank was appointed superintendent, and lie has since officiated in that capacity.

First Methodist Episcopal Church

The first class of which there is any record, and which became the nucleus of the church, was organized Deceml)er 6, 1836. At an earlier date Rock Island, or as then known, Stephenson, was recognized as within the bounds of the Illinois Conference, which at that time covered the entire state. Services were occasionally held at an earlier dale tlian above mentioned, Peter Cartwright being jiresiding elder of a large territory. This noted pioneer preacher was a jjower in early ^lethodism. His autibiography is of thrilling interest. The names of those forming the first class are as follows: Michael Hartzell, class leader; Jane ]3rashar, Pera Vandruff, Nancy Trickell, Joliii Tindall, John Spencer, Elizabeth Saiiford, Lucy Bardwell, Ann Tindall, Nancy Hartzell, Eliza Spencer, John Sanford, Hanna Pendleton, John Tuttle, Mary- Butler, Esther Morris, Abigail Curtis, Mary McLaughlin, John Metzgar, Elizabeth Vandruff, Amos ^loore, Leali J5rashar, William T. Brashar, Catherine Vandruff, Nancy \^'ells, Morgan Ferguson and Thomas l^iittinnham .

exceeding power and Ijeantj' of diction. At this conference Chajilain AIc('al)e was present, delighting all l)y his beautiful rendering of Christian song. Reverend J-!. (<. I'earce followed Doctor McCord as pastor.

The personnel of the laity of the church is worthy of mention, but space forbiils the naming of more than on(>. wlio was notably zealous and full of good works. \-iz: Edward W. Spencer. His liirth antetlateil the organization of the church by two years. He was nurtured in a Christian home and at the altars of the church. He did nut disregard the obligations thus inipose<l ujion him. For nearly a third of a century he was Sunday school superintendent and choir leader. He organized and largely maintained by untiring feervice.s the young ])eoiile's and children's meetings, while other services of the church were a special care.

The semi-centennial jubilee of the church was held April 2-5 inclusive, INST, dui-ing the pastorate of Reverend G. J. Lucky. It was an occasion of great interest, and sjiiritual l)rofit to the church. The principal addresses made at that time fortunately are ))reserved in book form, entitled. Fifty Years of Methodism in Rock Island. There is no relation in life outside of the family, so close and tender as that experienced in the church, that which constitutes Christian fellowsliip.

Reverend (i. W. Cue followed Re\-erend l.uckey in the pastorate. Not later than the second year as pastoi-, he began to whisper in the ear of one here and there that the proper thing to do was to build a. new church. It was not a little thing to undertake, and, furthermore, xery many seenied ipiite satisfied to continue to worship in the old sanctuary, so long their s|)irifual home: as at its altars many have been born into the kingdom of their Lord and Savior; while from its doors loved ones had been borne to their last resting place. Hallowed associations made it precious. Ha^-ing put his hand to the work, Re\erend Gue was not one to turn back. He was persistent and continually at it, two very important elements in the accomplishment of a purpose. To write the history of this enterprise is more than now can be undertaken. Consumate thought sanctified by jjrayer and the earnest effort of all the peojjle made possil)le tlie accomplishment of the work undertaken. The coi-ner stone of the edifice was laid September '-'l, LSS9; Bishop Ninde, by invitation, was ])resent and made the principal address. ^lany of the pastors of other churches in the city were jiresent and 13artici]iated in the ser\-ice. A year and a month from the laying of the corner stone the church was dedicated, October 26, 1890. The long cherished hope had eventuated in ultimate fruition. The cost of the building was about $45,000, which amount was i:)rovided for previous to the dedication. At the end of four years as pastor Reverend Gue was transferred to Portland, Oregon. He has since, together with his estimable wife, passed to his final reward.

Reverend F. W. Merrell succeeded Reverend Gue as pastor. He served the church faithfully and well for five years, the memliership of the church being largely increased dm-ing that ]ieriod. Near the close of his jiastorate, at the instance of Captain T. J. Robinson, who made the donation, a new pi]ie organ was placed in the chui-ch. This necessitated cpiite a change in the auditorium which, together with other impro-\-ements. made an expense of about $7,000.

Reverend C. O. McCulloch succeeded Rexerend Merrell as jjastor. His ser\-ice for a ]ieriod of five years was fraught with gi-eaf l)lessing to the church. During the fourth }-ear of his ministry a new parsonage was l)uilt, at a cost of $4,000. To secure that

The e(ud'ei-euc(^ that met foi- t he fourth time Titus Gillel, Zacli:u-iah ('o(d<, Barbara Cook, in Hock Island, September 11-lN, l!l(l7. Lemuel l.udden, Silah l.udden, Phoebe Skinthrough its presidin.ii bisho]i, \\i\v\ Ci'anston. ner and Xancy Taylor, They selected Revt;a\e him the appoint ment to t he Rock Island ereiid Titus (lillet as pastor, .Meetings were charge for the se\'euth consecutive time. held in ])rivate houses, ami later in the Court This action which was in actcord with the House. ( )n June S, IN44. the"bri(d< school recpiest of the local cjuarterly conference for house," then standing mi 1 nion Square - his return, makes fiu'ther comment on his now Spencer S(iuare was |iurchased for pastorate unnecessary. S4."),.'^4 '4, and litt(>d as a place of worship.

organized in \SKi; and tlie I^pworth League, Tlie church h.'is had a long and \aruMl with other minor organizations, are all work- history, having numljered in its meiiiliersliip iiig to the one end, the upbuilding of Christ's many of whom the city has been jiroud, and kingdom. The Sun(la\' school, the most who have gi^-en character and helpfulness to important arm of service, must not be o\('r- the entire community. The largest memberlooked; indeed it is from this s(mrce. UKU'e ship at any time «as September 23, 1 !)()(), largely than any other, that the (diiirch when the total reached foiu- hundi'eil. recruits its membershiii, -As a distinctively- The church is entii'el\- free of delit, au.l all Methodist Sunday school it was organized in departments of the wdrk are in acti\e ami l<S4o. J. \^^ X'anSant being elected sniierin- successful oper,'il ion. The property is caretendent. lu the years that h.-ive iuter\eni'd fully ke]jt by a board of ti\e trustees, and is much earnest effort has l)een put forth. all in first class (-(mdition. The organization is in a thoroughly ]irosperous (-(uidition. and is doing an aggreswive \voi'l< in the cxangelization and Christian teaching of the community.

Re\'erend J. C Alleniann came to Rock IsLind, Hlinois, in ]S5(), started to organize a church and began liiiilding in the Summer of 1851^ a stone church, the si/e being fort}' Ijy sixty-six feet, and dedicated it St. James Churcli, it laeing the first Catholic Churcli in Rock Island, .and Re^-ereiid .T. (1. .-\llemann being the first ])astor.

Reverend J. (i. .^Uemann getting advancetl in years, in May, 1856, was succeeded by Reverend .John 1'. Donelan, he remaining as assistant to Reverend .lohn P. Donelan until 1859, when Reverend .John P. Donelan was transferred to Rockford, Illinois. Reverend P. ,J. R. Mur])hy taking Reverend .John P. Donehin's jiarish here and remained jnistor until the Summer, of 1861, when he was appointed chaplain of the Fifty-eighth Illinois Regiment. Next came Reverend 1'. .1. Mc- Elherne, who succeeded Reverend I'. J. R. ]\Iurphv.

St. .James' congregation grew so large that Reverend V. J. McElherne began the building of the present St. Mary's Church, now occupied by the German Catholics. The building was begun in 186.'] and ccuiipleted in 1865. Reverend P. T. ^McElherne remained as pastor until 1870, when Reverend J. P. Roles was appointed pastor.

In, 1874 Reverend .1. P. Roles transferred St. Mary's Church to the German Catholic and bought the Presbyterian Church, corner Fourteenth Street and Second .\venue, and dedicated it St. Josejih's Church. In 1877 Reverend J. P. Roles was transferred to Chicago, Illinois, and ReA-erend Thomas Mackin was a|)pointed to fill the A-acancy of Reverend J. P. Roles.

He remained here until his death, which occurred February 22, 1904, when Reverend .1. Roach came here as tem])orary pastor until October, 1905. when Dean .1. .1. Quinn, from Chatswortii. Illinois, was appointed the ])resciit jiastor.

Trinity Episcopal Church

.Some time ])rior to 185.3, Reverend Louderback held Ei)iscopal services in Rock Island; the first recorded vestry meeting being held at Trinity parish November 12. 185.3. The organization of Holy Trinit\- Church was effected about this ]ieriod. Among the original memljers were Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Harris, Mrs. Langley, Mrs. .loseph Brackett, Mrs. Goldsmith and Mr. Haih'y I)a\-en]K)rt.

The fir.st chm-ch was finished June 11, 1857, at a cost of .'$2,000. The present chm-ch was completed January .30, 1870, at an original cost of $16,000. Reverend L. Goodall was elected first rector October 18, 18,54. Trinity Episcopal Church belongs to the Quincy diocese, and is one of the most representative of the Episcopal denomination in this state. Reverend Granville H. Sherwood succeeded Doctor Richard F. Sweet, deceased (see biogra])hy elsewhere), who was rectin' for twentj-seven years.

The United Presp.Yterian Church

The United Presbytei'ian Church of Rock Island, Illinois, was organized as an Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Jidy 1, 1854, by clirection of the second A. R. P. Presbytery of Illinois.

The Reverend Matthew Rigger, together with Ruling Elders John Colins and William Haverfield, met in the seminary building, in the rear of the iMemorial Christian Church. The organization was effected by admitting into memberslii]) fourteen menil)ers from the A. R. P. Church, fi\-e members from the

Tlie serx'ices wei'c held in the seminary huildin.i;' and in the Court House for the first six months. In the meantime, liy the hard woik and self-ilenial of the nctini; pastor, lie\erend .1. R. McCalister and the membership, a plain frame huildin,ti was hiiih on the site of the pi'esent church. This Ituildin.ii; \\,-is remo\ed in isr^i to tlie c<irner of I''ii'th Avenue and I^leventh Street, where it yet stands, doiiif^- serxdce for the <!erman Presbyterians first, and now for the Swedish Free {''vangelical Church,

The building was entered the first Sabliath of ,Iannai'\-, IS.").'), 'J'he ]iulpit furniture was not upliolstered, for the Reverend ,T. K, Mc- C.-dlistei-'s pulpit sofa was a nail keg with a boaril across it, while the pul|)it itself was a dry goods box, 'idie pews w ei'e ])Ianks l;iid acro.ss nail kegs or boxes. The lights were ])lain tallow candles. iMost of the work on the building was done by tlie members, under the ilirection of Mr, .lames Todd, wlio is with us today, thoiigli his menibersliip has not been with us all these years. Hy degrees the pews were made, and grained by other members. They are still in use. Their l.iacks were not very high, and ^\ere anytliing but comfortalile.

Reverend .1, R. McCalister cimtinued .as stated supply until .Inly 1. ISIJO. In the mean time tlie congregatimi of f )a\eiipoi-t was organi/.eil ,-ind he siipjilied both congi'egations, I'ifty-four persons vvere receixcil into the membisehip during this pastorate. .\mong them was .\. Conner, who .aftei'ward became a iniinstei', but was unable to c(mtinue ill the ininistr\' long on account of ill he.-dlh.

following .Mr. ,Mc( 'allistei' was He\-erend W . II. .lefferes, who continued for (ifteen months. Then the congregation was without a regular pasloi- until .April, iSli:^, when Re\-ereiid Heniw Wallace was calleil anil continued until .\pi-il, 1N71.

During the pastorate of Doctor Wallace there were seventy-lix'e persiuis receiviMl into membership, \'et the decrease seemed to be as great as the incrt^ase. on account of I'emo\als,

.As tlie clinrch building was not \-ery in\itin.g, there was an e.'fort m;iile t:i build a new church, so in the Spring of IS7H ti.e pi'esenl building was planned ami begun, but was net entirely fini.shed until 1S7(). by which time the membership had increased to seventy nieailiers. The cost of the n(w\ clmich was SKl.- ()()(), of which amount the people paid nearh' S7.(l()(l, The balance was from the board of church extension ;iiid outside help.

.At the close of Doctor Reynold's pasfor.ate the membership was ninety. Immediately followin.g Docto]- iieynolds, Re\'erenil .i. II. J)own, Doctor of Divinity, took \\\) the work, continuing for llii'ee years, after which there was a season without a jiastoi-. In the .'-!iiinmer of l.S,S9 Reverend T, H, McMichael. Doctor of Divinity, then a student, tilled the pulpiit, and in the Fall of iSSd Reverend II. C. Afarshall became stated snppl}- and continued eight years.

M.any of the members li\'ing in .Moliiie desired eifliei' then' letter to connecl witii some church there oi' tliat we gi\-e 1 1 em preaching, so a mission was started in I Ml."), which was afterward formed into ,i clinic .May 14, FS9S;, with tw enty-se\cii inenibe s from the liock Island congregal i:ui, and bec:illie indepiMideiil in l',)(ll. \\ the close of the Reverend H. C. Marshiill's ijastorate the membership was about one hunch-ed and thirty, counting tlic two fields, Moline and Rock Island.

Again we were without a jjastor for a year, when in Sejjtendjer of 1898 the Reverend D. b. McNary became stated .svipply, devoting his time to the two congregations for a time, until Moline became independent.

Of the original members, as far as is known, there are but two living. Mr. .James Tod<l and Mrs. Margaret Caughey, of Coal A'alley. Illinois, while J. M. I>ogan and wife of ^h(nnaouth, and Mr. .1. \\. .Johnston, of Los Angeles, California, were received in 18.55. There may be others we have lost track of.

Erskine McClellan, installed .July 1, Ls.54. withdrew Decemlier 7. b86.5; died .January, 1904; James Todd, installed Julv 1, 18.54 withdrew early in sixties; Hugh Warnock, installed July 1, 18.54, died May 12, 1898; Thomas McCall, installed August 17, 1864, died early in seventies; Samuel F. Cooke, installed March 20, 1867, withdrew January, 1898, died December 13, 1898; Joseph Mc- Kee, Doctor of Medicine, March 18, 1877, withdrew July 9, 1888; James McConnell, installed March 18, 1877, died February 9, 1881; Alex White, installed March, 1877, withdrew A])ril. 1878: Edwin B. McKown, installed No\ember 19, 1890, .Samuel H. Montgomery, installed November 19, 1890, withdrew May 14, 1898; James D. Warnock, installed November 19, 1890.

l'].)on our I'oU was the name of one who has been ap])ointed to a ])osition that will bring to him national, yea. world wide faine. if he shall be permitted to cai'i'v out the work our go\-ernm('nt has ])laced in his hands. The work he has done for \'arious railroads the ]iast twenty-five years bespeaks for him success. I refei- to Honorable John ]-'. \A'allace, Doctin' of haws, who was with us when the present chnrcli was being built, lb' lias l)een appointed eniiineer in charge of the Panama canal.

An interesting item we wish to speak of is that the three succeeding generations of the first superintendent, Mr. Hugh Warnock, are re]3resented in our school today in J. D. Warnock, our treasurer; Miss Mildred Warnock, one of our teachers; and Dorothy and Margaret Soule, who are enrolled in our primary department.

Our su]ierintendents since organization have been Hugh ^^'arnock, Reverend J. R. McCallister, Alexander White and E. B. Mclvown. Excepting about foiu- or five years Mr. Hugh Warnock served as superintendent for nearly thirty-five years.

Immanuels Congregation Religious Tenets

This body of Lutherans - as indeed the whole Missouri Synod, of which it is a part - takes a firm stand on the basis of the (,'hurch of the Reformation ; accepting the Scri]itures of the Old and New Testament, as being throughout the insjiired Word of tiod, and the only nde and standard of doctrin"e and life. It accepts, as a true and correct exhibition of the doctrines of Scripture, the entire confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Chiu'ch, as contained in. the Book of Concord of 1.580. Its central doctrine is: full atonement In' Christ, and justification l)y grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. Holding that two can not walk together except they be

During the following Winter and Spring a Professor V. Streckfuss, Reverend Pr()fess(Mneat brick church was erected b\- .Mr. (ieoi'ge 1.. \\ essel.

His successor, Reverend C. A. T. Selle, was installed in July, IS.IS. During his pastorate the congregation formally connected \\-ith the Missouri Synod. In 1861 he accepted a call as jirofessor of the Teachers Seminary at Fort Wayne, Indiana, later on at Addison, Illinois. He was succeeded by the present ])astor. Reverend C. A. Mennicke. This eminent divine, a graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, arrived at Rock Island, May 14, 1861. He jjreached his first sermon on V\ hit Sunday and was ordained the ninth Sunday after Ti-inity. He is still serving faithfully, sharing the joys and sorrows of his flock.

In 1880, his health being greatly inii)aired. he was granted a vacation for a trip to Gernniny. During his absence Reverend August Haensgen gratuituously served as pa.stor pro tvin. Upon his return he entered upon his duties witli renewed vigor. In 1S86 his son. Reverend A. C. Mennicke, was installed as assistant j^astor, serving in this capacity until April, 1892, when he accepted a call to Edford, Henry County, Illinois. In 1893 Professor Reverend Selle, having resigned his professorship, located at Rock Island and served as assistant pastor until March, 1898, when he resigned. Shortly afterward, while on a visit to Chicago, he departed this life; his remains were brought to Rock Island and interred in the Lutheran Cemeterj-.

The parish scIkxjI is as old as the congregation. It was taught by the pastors until the Summer of 1862. when Mr. F. Moeller was installed as teacher. He held this position for forty years, resigning in 19(12. He was succeeded by Mr. I. Kaspar.

In 1856 a second teacher was added in the l)erson of "Mr. H. Jirakesuehler; he was followed successi\-ely by the Messrs. Trcnhold, Kleinsteuber and Doescher. The latter resigned in 1873.

In 1866 a third teacher, Mr. A. Schoeverling, was called. In 1S69 he was succeeded by Mr. E. Selle, a giftecl educator, who is still in active service.

The schools were cari'lcil on separately, one on Twentieth Street ami one on Thirteenth Street, until 1876, when the Twentieth Street school was mo\'ed to Thirteenth Street. In 1885 the Thirteenth Street property was sold, and the schools were transferred back to Tweiilieth Street, \\here a commodious school bad been built.

In 1900 it was foimd necessary to branch (Hit. Teacher I'\ Moeller liegan teaching on the bluff. Teacher E. Selle retained in charge of the Twentieth Street school and Reverend E. I). Mennicke gathered and taught a class in the low(n- part of the city. Being successful a school hovise was built (ju Eighth Street (1901) and ph'iced in charge'of Mr. F. Lustfeld : he was succeeded by Mr. E. Rolf in the Svunmer of 1906. In 1903 a, new school was erect(>d on Thii'ty-sixlh Street, and placed in charge of Mr. I. Kaspar.

Fii't\- nieniber.s were received by letter from the niotlu>r Presbyterian church, now known as the Central, and seven united upon ]h-ofession of faith. These organization services were held in the l)asement of the Central Church, the atiditoriuin of which was in the hands of workmen repairing tli(> damages wrought b\- the tornado of Se|:>tember IS, ] 87.5.

Lots were purchased for the new chui'ch at the corner of Broadway and Spencer Streets, now Seventh Avenue and Twenty-third Street, and the name Broadway chosen. On May 9, 1875, a Sunday school was organized, with sixty-one scholars, in what known as Greenbiish Chapel, at the cornei- of Twentyeighth Street and Ninth Avenue. Doctor C. D. Nott, of the First Presbyterian Church, Davenjiort, ])reached on Sunday afternoons until the coming in Noveml)er, 1875, of Reverend T. H. Bench, who had been called as the first pastor. May '2. 1S7G. the cornerstone of the new church Imilding was laid. The Sunday school room of the new building was ready for occupancy Feliruarj- 11. 1877. Here the congregation worshiped until the auditorium was completed, in 1878.

Reverend ^^'. S. Marcpiis. who w;;s called in March. 1884. and installed as pastor on June 15, 1884. and who, u]3 to the present time (1908) is still ser^-ing the cluu-ch.

Among the more interesting and important facts in the history of this church, the following may be mentioned: The dedication of the auditorium. November 3, 1878; South Park Mission, organized July 15, 1888; South Park Chapel, dedicated October 7. 1 88S ; plans for (>nlai'gcment of chiu'ch and new Sunday school room adopted September 3. 1894; corner store of same laid and Twentieth anniversary celebrated April 29, 1895; Sunday school ro(jni dedicated December 8, 1895; Reverenil Orahaui Lee, a memlier of the church, oi'dained to the Ciospel ministry arui sent forth to Korea in 1894. now supported as the foi-.'ign mission pastor of Broadway church; Sunday school room used by the High school for one year after the burning of the High school building, February 15, 1901; Synod of Illinois entertained October, 1904.

Spkxcer Me-Morial Methodist Church

At a conference of the Methodist E])iscoijal Church for this district, held during the month of Sei:)tember, 1900, J. B. Rutter, the ]3astor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Milan, asked the Elder and the Conference f(u- the privilege of organizing a church in the Edgewood Park district, between the cities of Rock Island and Moline, and this permission was granted to him. and on the 25th day of April, 1901, he and his wife, Ella Alter Ruttei, organized a Siuiday school, with Mr. Rutter as pastor and Miss Maud Maxwell secretar\'. On June 5, he organized a society known as the Edgewood Park Ladies' .Aid. Mrs. M. E. Le\-erich was elected jn-esident. Mrs. J. A. Pauley vice-president and Mrs. Ella Alter Rutter seeretar\\ On the 7th day of October, 1901, at a meeting called for that j)urpose, the following person.s - David J. Sears, S. J. Ferguson, W. ¥,. Scott, J. A. Pauley, Andrew Olson, James Ciauley and T. C. Nutter - organized themselves into a board of trustees, and elected J. A. Pauley secretary. J. B. Rutter, the pastor, gave the name of Spencer Memorial Methodist Episcopal church

This organization then ado]:)ted the Sunda}- school as above organized, and the Ladies' Aid Society above organized, and together they became the congregation of the Spencei- ^lemorial Methodist Episcopal Cluu-ch.

Islaml and iMoline, ])laced the ciiurcii organ- ibsm in the J'^.dgewood Park district, ization in a ijosition to do legitimate church Iiusmess. 1 he liuilchng and loiindation. togetiier witii the e.\penses of obtaining the Rock Island has two well established and

III position and the congregation well or.gan- which to worship. The Beth Israel Congreized. yet it remained for the coiif(>renci' of the gatiiui. many years prior to the ciuistruction pro\ide for the raising of the enormous church present luuise of worship, another congregadebt. The new pastor, who replacecl .1. P. (ion was formed, so that the Hebrews in the manageable form. ;ind now at the last con- u])on to tra\erse the lout; distance intervenference held during tlie nioiilli of September. ing betxM'en the Het h Israel synagogue and

The l)nildin,i; was nioxcd to a lot on the corner of I''ifth .\\'enue and I-'oi'ty-fonrt h Street, donated by .Mrs. Pauline Sinnett; the parsonage, also donated by her, is on this lot.

German Kvangelical Fkiedens Congregation

Tills congregation, a niend)er of the German E\-angelical Synod of North America, Axas founded September S, 1895, by Reverend ('. F. Off, with thirty members. The first offieens elected were: Martin O.swald, Henry Fues, Herman Meese. ,Iohn Wendt. In .^pril, 1896, Reverend Theo F. Krueger. of Cumberland, Indiana, was elected as jiermaiient l)astor of the congregation. In the Summer of this year the congregation bought the chin-ch property of the English ;\Iethodist Episco|)al congregation, at .516 Ninth Street. In October. 1899, Reverend Krueger left the congregation, and Reverend J. F. C. Trefzer was elected as his successor. Under his management the jiarsonage was built soutii of the church. No. 520 Ninth Street.

When Reverend Trefzer left the congregation in October. 190;3. Reverend Ed E. Klimpke of Aurora, Illinois, the present pa.stor, was called to succeed him. He took u]i the work in the congregation the 1st of :\Iay. 1904. In 1905 and 1906 the church was rebuilt with a cost of $2,000. The officers of the congregation at present are: Reverend Ed E. Klimpke, pa.stor: John \A'ciidl, president; Carl Krueger, secretarv:

Herman .Meese, treasurer: Otto W'oest, secretary. The congregation has at present a membershi]) of about one hundred and fiftj'' The Ladies' Aid Society has seventv'-five members. The officers are: ]\Irs. Emma Kami, president : Mrs. Fennesy, vice-president: Mrs. Dora Krueger, secretary: Mr.s. I'^lise Seidel, treasurer; Mrs. Pomranke, financial secretary. The Yoimg People's Society has about thirty members. The officers are: Reverentl Va\ E. Klimpke, jiresident; Miss Olga Krueger, vice-])resident : Miss Martha Kilmpke, secretar}-; Mr. Arthiu Len.^,, treasurer; Miss Bertha Pomranke, financial secretary; Miss Martha .Schmidt, librarian.

First Churcli of Christ, Scientist, of Rock Island. Illinois, is a branch of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston. Massachusetts. It was organized on November 2, 1896, to take possession of and conduct service.s in the church edifice whicdi iiad been erected for its use by a few adherents of the Christian Science faith.

This was the first church edifice erected in the State of Illinois to be used e.xclusively for the Christian Science worship. Its location is on Twenty-third Street, near Ninth Avenue, and near the geograi>hical center of the city.

The dedicatory service, held on Novemlier S, 1906, was the first Christian Science Sunday service held in Rock Ishunl, the local Christian Scientists having jire\'iously attended church in Davenport, Iowa.

The Sunday services are held at 10;45 A. ;\I., and are conducted by two readers, who are elected every three years from the membership of the church. One of the readers reads from the Bible. The other from Science and Health with key to the Scriptures, the text book of Christian Science by Mary Baker G. luldy. Sunday school is held immediatelv aftei' the morning service.

St. Paul's Church, l(icaf('(l im Twentyfciurtli s'ti't'et and lughth auil a lialf A\-cnue, was opened for services for the first time on February 5, 1905. On that occasion the choir rendered beautiful unisic and the pastor, Reverend J. B. Ceuk'iuaiis, flelivered the sermon, in which lie spoke of the many ])re\'ious attempts which wci'c made to organize a parish in which the Jk'ljiian Catholics of Rock Island could \\()rshi|i together in a congregation all of theii' own peo])le.

Although their ])lace of worship is \'ery modest, it is cpiite at(racti\(' inside. The Reverend J. H. Ceulemans was born in liclgium, where he was educated and ordained a priest. In 1907 leather Ceulemans took charge of Sacred Heart ('hni-ch in Moline, and left Rock Lsland.

He was succeeded li\- another priest from IJelgium, Father beon iv \'anStoppen. This is the present i)astor, and who huihled the parsonage house, which is a fine inipro\elucnt to the church pi'uperlv.

The Sacred Heart parish was founded July 2S, 1898, by the Reverend John F. bocknc3\ It includes all the English speaking catholics between Twenty-third Street, both sides, to Forty-sixth Street. Father Lockney built a temporary church on Twenty-eighth Street and used it two years. He moved the ])arochial residence twenty feet east in order to have room to built the new church.

The corner-stone of the new church was laid in 1901, and the first mass in the new chiu'ch was Christmas, 1902. The new clnu'ch cost $36,000. Father Lockney bought the property for 15,500. The magnificent church, rectory and grounds are worth today S6(),0()(). The pastoi- and people have worked very zealously together and the parish in is a very flourishing condition. Father Lockney still presides over the destinies of the ]:>arish and is the longest resident Catholic pastor in Rock Island.

Churches Of Moline

Organized 1S44. First pastor, Reverend A. R. Hitchcock, a ^'ale graiiuate, and a man f)f great inlluence in the community. The first chorister was Anson M. Hubbard, and who organized the first brass band in the three cities. He dexeloped a strong chorus choir, the parent of all Moline's later musical organizations. The first church building was a suKill wooden strnctiu'e, now occupied as the freight de|)ot of the Rurlington railroad. A Ijrick structure was erected at Se\-enteenth Street and l''ifth Avenue in 1869, and this was remodeletl at an expense of $40,000 in 1900. The church is unusually complete in its ap])ointments, ha\-ing parlors, a ilining room and kitchen capable of serving three hundred people at once, gymnasium and sliower b.-iths for the hoys' clui), etc. The church has a iuai;nilicent organ of 1,500 ]5ipes, built on the l>ennett system, the gift of Sarah M. Atkinson, in memoi-y of her husband and son.

Among the ])ioneers in the church were John Deere, I). C. Dimo(dv, Charles Atkinson, Jonathan Huntoon, Joseph Huntoon, R. K. Swan, Thonuis Mcrryman, N. C. Tyrrell and W. H. Edwards. Tlie church has given birth to three otlier churches, tlie Second Congregational, now some eighteen years old, antl the Ridgeview and East Moline churches, organized three years ago. It has given several thousand dollars to the work of these organizations. The present pastor is Paul W. Rrown, who has been with the church since 1904.

The Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church

The churcli was organized in September, 1849, by Reverend Jonas Hedstrom of, it is said, seven members. Among them was Glaus Bengston, the first Swedish settler in Moline. The meetings of the church were held in Mr. Bengston's home for more than ten years. In 1 860 the first church was built on Park Street and Boardman Avenue, now Seventh Avenue and Fifteenth Street or "Five Points." That building was sold in 1871 and the old American Methodist church was bought and moved to the corner of Hemy and Lynde Streets, now Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth Street, whore the new church was built in 1889, diu'ing the jiastorate of Martin Hess. During all these years the church has had a steady growth and ])rogress, so from the seven first memljcrs the total number counts to date two hundred and twenty-five. If all the memlters who have joined and later moved to other places had held their membership here the church would now number more than twice its jsresent membership.

About twenty-five i)astors have served the church during the past sixty years. Among tlicni many of the pioneers in Swedish Methodism. The present ])astor is John P. Miller, who is serving liis fourth year. The ]>ars()nage was Iniilt al>out thirty-five years ago. The church projtcrty is woith today about $30,000.

Swedish Evangelical Lltheran Church

This church was organized with fifty members about LSoO. Its membership is considerably over a thousand, with over three hundred Sunday school scholars. Reverend L. P. Esbjorn, in charge at Andover, Hciu'v County, was pastor also of this church up to LS.56, and imder liis ministry the fii'st church was liuilt. He was succeeded by Reverend 0. C. T. Andrccii, till 1860; Reverend G. Peters, till 186.3; Reverend J. S. Benson, from 1866 to 1873; followed by the Reverend A. G. Setterdahl. The present pastor is Reverend Lawrence A. Johnston. The present church building is of brick, in the Gothic style of architecture, of very handsome design, costing nearly $30,000.

First Baptist Church

Reverend Joseph Elliot, a clergyman from Ohio came here in November, 1850, on a visit to his son, residing here. He was invited to preach, and did so; curiosity drawing a large congregation to hear the stranger. On the evening of Janiuiry 18, 1851, the church was organized, with twenty members, the Reverend Mr. Elliot being its first pastor, succeeded by Reverends Ebernhart, L. C. Carr, F. D. Rickerson, William Patterson, Isaac Newell, T. F. Borchers and G. F. Linfield, respectively. The jjresent pastor is the ReA'erend Benjamin F. Martin.

Church

The first Catholic priest to officiate at Moline was Father Allemann, of Pa)ck Island, in 1857. He held services at different places outside of his regular parish, at iloline, Hampton, and other ])oints. In 1858 the church was ])uilt in Moline.

Is located at the southeast corner of Tenth Street and Fourth Avenue. Reverend Joseph S. Kelly is rector, and Reverend Michael Gildea, assistant rector.

The First Swedish Baptist Church

The First Swedish Ba])tist Cliurch of Moline, Illinois, was organized May 7, 1876. Those organizing themseh^es to a chiu-ch were before members of the Swedish Church in Rock Island, which was organized in 1S53.

from the Amoricaii Clnii-ch in Kcick Island; JU^\-cronil I'owcll, Hnckhausrli ami \\'illiains, from Davenport; Keverend L. L. FrLsk, P. Hallinjr, A. Y. Ynnson, P. Flodin and C. O. Yensen from the Swedish Baptist Church, of Rock Island; Reverend T. F. J5orches, Frank Sinnet and O. (iunnell, from the American Hapfist CliMrch, ]\Ioline.

Reverend T. F. J5orchcs was elected chairman and Reverend O. Lind clerk. The membershi]) of the new church at its organization was seventy-four. The following officers were elected: Deacons, Yohannes Anderson and Christ-offer Lofrjuist; trustees, Charles Carlson, Nels Rundquist and P. Erickson. Properties owned by the clnu'ch ai'e a church building, a parsonage and a house for the janitor.

The seating capaicty of the church is five hundred. It is built of i)rick. The jiar.sonage is located in the finest part of the city. The church has had a steady growth since its organization. Over three hundred have been baptized; about two hundred and twcidy-five received l)y letter and about lifty by e.xjjerience. The total nuiiibci- of members received since its organization is o\'cr six hundred. The membership at present is two hundred and thirty-fi\'e.

The ]iastor now ha\'ing charge of the church is Re\erend Detlof Lofstrom, who l>egan work in connection with tlie church April 6, 1905. He came here from McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate from the Swedish Department of the University of Chicago since Ajiril 14, 1S92. Reverend Lofstrom was l)orn in Sweden and came to this country twenty years ago.

The Second Methodist Episcopal

The Second Methodist Ei)isco])al Church was organized in the year 1890 by the Reverend Addis Alljro, who was then pastor of the Plrst Methodist I^piscopal Church, and PresidinglElder M. A. Head of the Rock

Island District. The Uiuted Rrethcrn chui'ch owned a building in Stewart ville, and their mcnd)crshi]i was fast becoming extinct, when they decided to dispose of their church property. The building was ]iurchased from the United Rrethern peo]ile, and steps w-ere taken at once to organize a Second Methodist t'hurch in Stewartville. now known as South Moline. Into this new organization were received forty-eight members from the First Methodist Episcopal ('hurch. The first ])astor apjiointeil was Reverend S. L. Guthrie. During the first year, revival services were held and sixty-six members were added to the roll. His pastorate was blessed with great results. The second year ]jlans were made to impro\-e the building. A league room was added at a cost of nearly $1,000. Reverend Guthrie was pastor two years. In September, 1892, Reverend J. W. Edwards was appointed ])astor, and remained one year. Reverend Idetclier DeClark was appointed pastor in \S'X]. He was followed in 1894 Ijy Reverend W. H. Crane, who was ])astf)r tw(j years. In 1896 Reverend R. G. Pearce was a]ipoiiiled pastor and renuuned one year and six months; owing to failing health he resigned. Januai'v ID. ls<)8. Reverend A. H. Smith was appointed pastor and ser^-ed the church two years and six months. Reverend G. II. Thorjie was the next pastor taking up the work June 2, ]9()(). Reverend C. C. McKown was appointed jiastor Septendicr, 1900, followed by Re\-erend A. E. loder, Sepfend)er 2.'>. l'.)l)l. September 26, 1904, the ])reseiit ])astor. Reverend I). S. Andrewartha, was assigned the charge.

During all these pastorates the church has steadily nuide gains. The mend^ers are earnest in their efforts, for the success of their church. At present improvements are being made, and when com])leted, will put the property in splendid condition, making it one of tlie most attractive churches for its size in the City of Moline.

Second Congreoational Church

Tlie Second Congregational Church of Mohne was started as a Mission Sunday School sometime l)ct\vcen ISSO and 1890. It was organized as a church June 7, 1891, Reverend J. M. ilcKiught being its first pastor. There were thirty-two members, twenty-six coming in by letter and six on confession of faith. The first clerk and treasurer was William Gamlile. The trustees were C. T. Guv, W. V. Richards, John Williams, J. Stofft and W. T. Ball.

Christ Church

The I'piscopal church was late in coining to Moline. It was organized May 22, 1891, as a mission under grant from Bishop Bui'gess. Sixty persons signetl the ap)ilication to the Bisho]) and called the Re\'erond Robert Hewitt as first jiriest in cliarge. I'or several years the organization met in the association rooms ill the auditorium. The congregation was iiicor].)orated under the laws of the State on Sejitember 11, 1891, anil adojjted a constitution. The first wardens were George B. Hull and John A. Mann. . Reverend L. Sinclair came frcnii Sudluiry, Ontario, to the charge of the jiarish in Septemljer, 1892, aiul remained until tiie spring of 1894, when a call was extended to lievereiid F. K. Howard of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to become rector.

Reverend Roliert Hewitt was again called to the jiarish in 1897 and remained in charge until June 1, 1SU9. The parish was then witliout the regular ministrations of a priest until June 1, 1900, when tlio Reverend Doctor F. H. Biirroll was called from Darlington, Wisconsin.

The Plymouth Congregational Church, East Moline, Illinois

In the Summer of 1903, the Reverend W. A. Elliott (under the auspices of the Congregational Sunday School Society, directed by Reverend W. F. McMillan, secretary), entered East Moline and succeeded in organizing a school. Although difficult, it has proven beneficial to the conimunity, and has been well attended, especially by the young. In December, 1903, under direction of the First Congregational Church of Moline, the Reverend Frank Hoover, state evangelist of the Congregational Home Missionary Society of Illinois, held a series of evangelical services, assisted by Reverend W. W. Willard of the First Congregational Church of iMoline, and Reverend J. W. Davies of Creston, Illinois; meetings lieing held in the John Deere School buildings. As a result the names of twenty-five peojjle were received for membership.

Organization was perfected January 15, 1904, and incorjioration February 28, 1905. The council unaniinou.sly voted to recognize the Plymouth Congregational Church of Ea.st .Moline, Illinois. An unusually pleasant evening of song service, scriptural reading and hand of fellowship was intUilged in, followed by an exceedingly finef sermon by Doctor A. M. Brodie, of Chicago, closing with prayer and benediction. Reverend J. W. Davies was the first ordained jxistor, followed by the Reverend Henry Flarris of Chicago, whose strong efforts and skill as an organizer and builder, with the assistance of the Reverend Paul Brown, the regular pastor, and his congregation succeeded in erecting a fine churcli of concrete lilocks. Reverend Walter H. North is the present pastor.

In yeptemher, ]!)()7, there was opened in connection with the clim'ch, a paroclnal school, numbering; at present two hnndred and sixty pupils. This school follows the pidilic school program in ;dl its grades and is free to children of all denominations.

The conn:re,siati(ni ]>ossesses at present a church and school edifice, a jiarsonage, and a residence for the Sisters conducting the school. The present piastor is Reverend J. I). Ceulemans, residence loOl Si.xteenth .'\\-enne, Moline, Illinois.

Cordova Churches

In the Fall of 1S4:L Elder Jesse N. Seeley, a missionary under the American Haptist Home Mission Society, held a series of meetings, resulting in the conversion of a number of pensons, ten of whom were baptized by Elder Jesse N. Seeley. Tliese, with others in this vicinity who were mend^ers of iJaptist chin-ches in other places, united in measures for church organization, and called a council of delegates from other churches for a. meeting on December 28, 1843.

The church letters wei'e then called for and ])resented l)y the following: Levi Ilnngerfoi'd and Betsey Hungerford, Madison, Ohio; Frances Swartwout. Francis J). Swartwout, Thonnis Swartwout, Clarissa Swartwout, Clarissa E. Swartwout. Elizal)eth Swartwout, Port P>yron, Illinois; William Aruisli-ong, liebecca Passmore, .Joseph R. Se.xttm, Maliala Sexton, J and L. Cool, Margaret Cool, Andrew S. Ege, Mary Ann F^ge. Cli.arity (Inldcii, Amanda Adams, these were liaptized by Reverend J. N. Seeley, and led to the organization of the chui'ch.

On August 24, 1S44, it w.as decided b) build a meeting housp, which on Febrn.ary I .'L 1X45, was dedicated. Sometime in 18.")t) a parsonage was built and the chiu'ch decided to bnild a new meeting Iiouse, and on November 17, 1858, the new meeting house was dedicated, which is the one used by the church today.

Tfie Port Byron Congregational

The Port Byron Congregational Church was organized in 1849, on the first and second days of September, through the instrumentality of Reverend Julius A. Reed, home missionary agent for Iowa. Previous to this time there had Ijeen Congregational preaching in the town once or twice.

was twelve and now it. is aljoiit one liundred and forty-nine. At jiresent we have no pastor, as Reverend W. l'>. Sliaw resigned October, 1907.

Port Ryron Methodist Episcopal

Tiiis church was oi'fjaiiized in IS^G, with a membership of six or eight, among whom were Arcliibald Allen, Candaee Allen, .1. II. Lyford and wife, and John Mitchell and wife. The earliest meetings were held in a log cabin, but a good church was built some years later, at an expense of $3,000. The chiu'ch is in a flourishing condition, with a good membership.

The Methodist Ejiiscopal Church of Bethesda, was built in 1859, by Reverend Stephen Odeli, Perry Henderson and others. It is located about a mile southwest of Hillsdale. It has a fair membership, with a good Sunday school attendance.