the church building in question, the Germans rented a room on Second street. The church was finally organized June 1, 1855, by a committee of the Presbytery of Cedar, Iowa, composed of Rev. A. Van Vliet, of Dubuque, Rev. Samuel Baird and Elder I. S. Horten, of Muscatine. Bernhard Naeve and Friedrich Hacker were then elected elders and John Schmidt and Ernst Kudobe were chosen deacons. At a meeting held March 30, 1857, by the congregation, Rev. Jacob Kolb was elected the first regular pastor. The original members of the organization were Bernhard and Johana Naeve, F. Hacker and wife, Elizabeth Lowre, Heinrich Linke, John Schmidt and wife, Mary Reis, Wilhelmina Otto, Catharine Otto, William Jacob and wife, Ernest Kudobe, Mary Meis, George Schweinsberg and wife, Conrad G. Schweinsberg, Agatha Closer, Bernhard Kemper, Joseph and Margaret Looser, Johana Sywasink, and Elizabeth Briedenstein. At a meeting held May, 1857, it was decided to buy a lot and build a house of worship. To this end John Schmidt and F. Hacker were elected trustees. The church was incorporated by Rev. Jacob Kolb, Bernhard Kemper, John W. Sywasink, Henry Linke and Joseph Looser, July 3, 1857. The congregation came into possession, by trade, of the old Methodist church on Third street, which in 1876 they sold to the city, and built a church on Lucas street.

AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1850 but there are no records to tell by whom it was organized. The first meetings were held in a house on Front street. In the year 1851 they built, or purchased, a small brick building on the spot where the present building stands.

Among its prominent members were Hon. Alexander Clark, who died in Africa in 1891, and Ben Matthews. A man by the name of P. Anderson preached for them. They continued to hold their meetings, and although the way sometimes looked dark and discouraging, the little band clung together. After the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, the little band took on new life and as there was an inflow of people from the south, that strengthened the membership. Among the members who came about that time were: R. Haney, Rosetta Watson, Abram Seabrooks, Peter Townley, and Sawyer Lamb.

Among the pastors who have served the church are: Revs. Cooper, Alexander, Robbins, Barr, Benson, Nusom, Holley, W. R. Alexander, Williams, Harper, Pharris, Mathews, Rhinehart and W. A. Searcy. Probably the church enjoyed the best financial period under the pastorate of Rev. W. R. Alexander, who twice served the charge and died in Ottumwa in the spring of 1899. It was during his pastorate in 1885 that the present church was built. Probably the most spiritual season that the church enjoyed was under the pastorate of Rev. Williams, later of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

BISHOP R. H. KAIN.

In 1887 the death occurred in Washington city, of R. H. Kain, who was the fourteenth bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church. He served as pastor of the church at Muscatine during the Civil war and then removed to

Charleston, South Carolina, from where he was sent to congress, in the reconstruction days, and served two terms. Bishop Kain was a man of great energy and decided ability as a ready and eloquent speaker. He was a native of Virginia.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

In the summer of 1852 Indulged meetings of the Society of Friends had been held by several families and in September of that year the Preparative meetings were commenced, which were held in private houses until 1856. That year a regular house of worship was erected, Mrs. Emelia Barling was the first minister of the Muscatine meeting. The meeting house stands at the southeast corner of Fifth and Sycamore streets. Rev. Pliny Fry is the pastor.

THE MULFORD MISSION.

Over a half century ago an institution was founded in Muscatine, that has not only grown in proportions from a diminutive affair to one of enlarged activity and importance, but its fame abroad in the state has reached an altitude most gratifying to those immediately concerned and the people of Muscatine, irrespective of creed or church affiliations.

The mission's first work commenced in a shed, which was used as a meeting place, that stood where the kilns of the Hershey Lumber Company were afterward placed, and was then and for many years subsequently known as the Green Street mission. The society itself was organized, May 24, 1857, by Joseph Bennett, who commenced his labors of love for humanity and the cause of Christianity, with a corps of teachers, consisting of Pliny Fay, Miss Lizzie Fay, George H. Mahin, S. B. Hill, John Mahin, John Hayes, W. H. Hubbard and John O. Wilson.

The place of meeting was neither commodious nor inviting for anyone of fastidious taste, and it was far from being comfortable especially in inclement weather. Hence, in November, 1857, the little band of worshipers was driven by the cold into Butler's packing (pork) house, which was on ground now occupied by the Hershey planing mill.

Joseph Bennett, the founder of this mission, was its superintendent over twenty years and associated with him the greater part of the time was Henry Hoover. Others who filled this position with credit and benefit to the institution may be mentioned: George M. Whicher, W. H. Woodward, Lyman Banks and J. T. Kuechmann. A great friend and co-worker up to the time of his death was W. F. Johnson.

From the time of the first meeting, in 1857, to the present, the mission or Sunday school has had regular sessions with the exception of a period from 1886 to 1887, when it was closed on account of an epidemic of diphtheria. The school was reopened in July, 1887, by Misses Alice Mulford and Bertha Hoover, and has continued its services uninterruptedly to the present time. One of the chief benefactors and most diligent workers in behalf of the mission was Miss Alice Mulford, and it was through her efforts that the present beautiful building was made a possibility and brought into being, she having devoted a great

part of her time and means in its welfare. Through her efforts, and others in 1906 a new building for the mission was erected and the money obtained to pay for the same. The attendance at the school had become so large that a more commodious structure was absolutely necessary. Miss Mulford therefore took up the burden of raising funds and a soliciting committee was formed for the purpose. Almost $5,000 was pledged before the building was erected, the contract for which was let during the year. The new structure was finished and dedicated January 20-23, 1907, and today the Green Street mission, now the Mulford mission, is installed in one of the most attractive and useful semipublic buildings in Muscatine. It is located in South Muscatine and its doors are open to all, as the mission's great feature is its non-denominational foundation. At the time of the dedication Miss Mulford was the superintendent; W. F. Faulkner, assistant superintendent; Miss Kate Funk, treasurer; Miss Leota Randleman, secretary; Miss Lenore Eitman, chorister; Mrs. George Nietzel, organist. The teachers were: Superintendent, Miss Alice Mulford, assisted by Misses Cina McCoy, Bertha Hoover, Fannie McDaniel, Pearl Barnhart, Rosetta Wagner, Cora Funk, Lenore Eitman, Emma Freyermuth, Laura Mander, Ella Gertenbach, Grace Appel, Aura Appel, Frances Nietzel, Helen Stahl, W. F. Faulkner.

The home of the Mulford mission is a credit to Muscatine. The interior arrangements were especially planned to meet the requirements of its promoters and members. There are pleasant class rooms on two sides of the building, between which is the auditorium and gallery, which seat at least 400 people when thrown together. There is a gymnasium, library, kitchen and other accessories that complete the institution in a manner satisfactorily to all. The cost of the building was $6,000.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

St. Mary's congregation is originally a branch from St. Matthias congregation, but the separation of this branch from the mother church was planned long before 1875 and after overcoming many difficulties at last successfully carried out. The late John Knopp, who for his integrity and sincere character was highly respected by all citizens of Muscatine, and the venerable John Nester, the pioneer blacksmith, were the principal promoters of the separation, which was considered most necessary, because St. Matthias had not even enough standing room for all the Catholics of Muscatine.

Therefore, in 1863, during Father Laurent's sojourn in France, the German Catholics purchased some lots on Iowa avenue and Sixth street for $1,000, with the intention of building a church thereon as soon as practicable. When Father Laurent returned from France this place for a new church was condemned, being too close to St. Matthias church, and for other reasons. In 1872 the lots were sold to the school board of Muscatine, who needed them for the high school. The price paid for the lots was $2,000. With this money, under the wise management of Father Laurent, four to five acres were purchased from G. Schulz, of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1875. In 1876 the building of the new church was commenced, and completed the following year.

Vol. I-22

When Father J. L. Grieser came to Muscatine in 1879 to take charge of the new congregation, there was still a debt of $1,600 on the church, which was without any requisites for Catholic services except a temporary altar. In a comparatively short time the church was so richly furnished and beautified that it was second to none in the city.

In the spring of 1879 a neat and comfortable building was erected on the south side of the church for the residence of Father Grieser, and in the following fall a substantial brick schoolhouse was built. The school was placed in charge of Sisters of St. Francis, who are widely known as experienced and competent teachers. They bought the Hawley property for $2,900 and had a convent erected on it-a beautiful brick building, which is an ornament of West Hill. Under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters the school, in which not only all the branches of English education besides the German language and higher branches are taught, especially take care of the Christian education of its pupils who come from neighboring towns as Wilton, Nichols, Riverside, Seventy-Six and even Cedar Rapids to receive their education in St. Mary's school.

MUSSERVILLE CHURCH.

In 1876, when the south part of the city was growing, reaching the height of its importance, the need of a Methodist church to accommodate the adherents in that part of town began to be felt, and a class was organized by A. V. Francis. This soon became the leading congregation in what was then known as the Musserville circuit. Some of the charter members are J. E. Hoopes, Mrs. Emily Nichols and John Kendig. The first meeting house was erected on the present site of the Musserville Methodist Episcopal church in 1876. The church grew and prospered and had gained considerable prominence in February, 1898, at which time the former structure was burned to the ground. Undaunted by this misfortune, the congregation set about immediately to build another place of worship, and it was dedicated and free of debt, July 10, 1898. The Rev. J. C. Kendrick was pastor at this time.

Rev. H. W. Munster, the present pastor, is the eighteenth since 1875. Since 1898 the following pastors have been appointed to the Musserville circuit: C. H. Montgomery, 1898; W. L. Clipp, 1900; E. C. Brooks, 1903; P. M. Conant, 1906; W. B. Ireland, 1908; L. A. Smith, 1909.

In 1908, at the close of the ministerial activities of the Rev. P. M. Conant on the circuit, Musserville and the Island point were placed in a circuit by themselves. This division has proved a good one. The Musserville parsonage was moved from up town to the neighborhood of the church and later the property at 909 Oregon street was purchased for a parsonage. The present pastor is the first to have full possession of the permanent parsonage.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION'S CHURCH.

The Evangelical Lutheran Zion's church was organized in 1885, its members having previously worshiped with the German Protestant Lutherans in their church on Sycamore between Third and Fourth streets. At this time

(1885) the church felt it had the necessary strength and financial ability to build a church edifice and support a pastor, so the separation was completed, a church erected at a cost of $14,000 on the corner of Sycamore and Sixth streets, and Rev. Henry Reinemund was installed as the first pastor. Mr. Reinemund had for some years previously served as pastor of the mother church, referred to above. In 1896 Rev. George Meier succeeded Rev. Reinemund, the latter's time being consumed in the superintendency of the Lutheran Old Ladies' Home. Rev. John Haefner, the present pastor, took charge of the church's spiritual affairs in the fall of 1910. The church is in splendid condition. The membership is composed of 200 families, or 700 souls.

GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The beginning of the German Methodist Episcopal church of Muscatine is left somewhat in darkness for the reason that some of the first records were lost. But it was about the year 1845 when the first German Methodist preacher came here in the person of Rev. L. S. Jacoby, D. D., and after visiting with the German people and preaching for them several times he made arrangements, he being a district superintendent, to have a preacher.come to hold services for them. About the first part of the year 1847 Rev. Schutze was placed in charge of the Muscatine mission. He was an intelligent and eloquent young man and soon gained the confidence of the German people. He was successful in bringing a small company together and organizing the German Methodist church. The next year he was sent to Burlington, being succeeded in Muscatine by Rev. John Mann. He in turn was followed by Rev. John Plank, who was a popular pastor among his people. His successor was Rev. Korfhage. By this time several appointments were added to Muscatine, which became a circuit and included Wilton Junction, Wapello, Iowa City and Illinois City. This greatly enlarged the field of labor, making it a very difficult task for the minister to supply them, as the only way to reach them in that primitive time was by horse and saddle. Up to this time the meetings were held in private houses. Five years after the organization of the church at Muscatine, Rev. Henry Fiegenbaum was sent as pastor. He was a very energetic man and in 1852 succeeded in raising enough money to build a church. At the time of the dedication his report was: "Cost of church, $1,049.95; money collected, $983.10; debt, $64.85." Among the leading members at that time were Conrad Mark and Henry Giesler. Later on Muscatine was again made a station, also the other appointments, Iowa City, Wapello and Wilton Junction, in connection with Pine Mills. Rev. Conrad Bernventer was the first pastor after Muscatine was made a station. The membership was increasing to such an extent that it became necessary to prepare for the erection of a new and larger church. Rev. Henry Schulte, the successor of Rev. Bernventer, had the honor to build the new church and to buy a parsonage, which together cost $7,000. About the year 1892 the present parsonage was built, while Rev. G. E. Heidel was serving as pastor of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Ross, and during his administration the new addition to the church was built and other improvements made at a cost of nearly $4,000. In the fall of 1908 the church was again renovated. The old