Moses P. Swett & the pie-shaped family plot

It's a little too chilly (minus-9 degrees) to chase tombstones this morning, so I'm going to revisit an old favorite in the Chariton Cemetery --- the octagonal stone at the center of a pie-shaped enclosure that marks the final resting places of Edward Ames Temple (1831-1909), founder of what now is known as the Principal Financial Group, headquartered in Des Moines, and his extended family. Among those buried here, in addition to Edward and his wife, Elizabeth (Swett) Temple, is his father-in-law, Moses Porter Swett, whose brief obituary I found last week in the Davenport Daily Democrat & News of July 23, 1860, republished there from a long-vanished edition of The Chariton Patriot.

There's not much to it --- obituaries tended to be briefer in the days of hand-set type; but it does provide the information that Moses died at age 53 of cholera, a great killer of the 19th and earlier centuries, generally caused by contaminated drinking water. Here's how it reads:

DIED,

At his residence in Chariton, Iowa, on the 27th day of June, A.D. 1860, of cholera morbus, MOSES B. SWETT, aged 53 years, 1 month and 12 days. The deceased was born in Springfield, Mass., on the 15th of May, 1807.

The above, taken from the Iowa Patriot, published at Chariton, tells of the death of another of the Pioneers of Iowa. It is pleasant to speak of the virtues of the truly good. By her, the partner of his bosom for more than a quarter of a century; by the large family of children he has raised, and who early learned to honor and love him; by his neighbors and all who became acquainted with him, is his loss most deeply felt. A true friend, a kind and affectionate husband and father, a sincere Christian and a valuable citizen. "Who shall not say a good man has gone?"

Moses, who was a tinner by trade and had lived previously in Fairfield, died before the Chariton Cemetery had been established, so would have been buried in one of two earlier graveyards, either Douglass Pioneer just southeast of town or the cemetery on Columbus School hill that was evacuated after the new cemetery was opened.

Others buried in the Temple enclosure in addition to Edward Ames Temple and Moses include Moses's wife, Abby, died 1865; their daughter-in-law, Matilda E. (Weaver) Swett, died 1877; little Porter George Swett, a grandson, died 1880; and their daughter, Elizabeth, also died 1880.

The innovative arrangement of graves probably originated when the remains of Moses P. and perhaps other family members were moved from other locations, but there's no way of telling when that might have occurred.

Edward Ames Temple was an especially devout Episcopalian and the stone, loaded with symbolism, probably reflects that. Each inscription is accompanied by a symbol, in Moses's case a shock of wheat. Although there's no way to prove this, other than excavation (frowned upon), it may be that Edward had the deceased arranged facing the central cross so that on that great resurrection morn they would arise facing it.

Good sermons --- when he happened to be sober

Fires and other disasters have deprived Lucas County of a local newspaper record prior to 1867, when The Chariton Democrat appeared. But sometimes it's possible to find related stories in other state weeklies or dailies, plucked from exchange issues that circulated between 1857, when The Patriot was established, and the advent of The Democrat.

I found his little essay about the county under "state correspondence" in The Davenport Democrat of Feb. 28, 1866, for example. The anonymous author identified himself as "Falcon" and some of the content is derivative --- similar material was published in the statewide Iowa State Gazetteer of 1865. But it's still interesting and proves, if nothing else, that the old log courthouse (above) still was standing just south of the alley on the east side of the square through the Civil War.

I suppose it was intended to be a promotional piece for a sparsely-settled county in the market for more residents, but in some cases "Falcon" was none too complimentary:

Chariton, Iowa

Feb. 23, 1866

Ed. Democrat: Chariton, county seat of Lucas county, has about thirteen hundred inhabitants, has the appearance of an old town, as most of the buildings seem rather ricketty, and not a few are badly in need of repairs. It was first settled in 1848, I believe, and has always been a point of some importance. The old log court house, built in 1850, still stands, and many fond recollections (to the old settlers) cling around it. Here the Rev. Mr. Barker held forth every Sabbath, and conducted many revivals --- here, daily went to school the youth of the village; here were held all the balls and parties, and here too exhibited all the slight of hand performances, magic lantern and other small travelling shows that honored Chariton with a visit. It served also as town hall, and many lawyers here put up their "shingle" --- (Metaphorically, for shingles were scarce in those days).

Many stories are told of Mr. Barker, the preacher --- he was said to be nearly as eccentric as old Peter Cartwright, but more liberal in his views, as he thought dancing no sin, and if the youth and maidens of the village chose to "trip the light fantastic" after meetin' --- which was often the case --- he not only permitted, but encouraged them in it, and many were the dances after, and large was the crowd, that went to Mr. Barker's meetings. He would frequently make appointments in the country, and one was invariably the signal for a gathering of all the racing stock and betting men within a radius of fifty miles.

Chariton now boasts of a good sized brick court house, erected at a cost of $20,000, and a jail. It has two drug stores, six grocery stores, one stove and tin shop, three bakeries, one boarding house, and but one hotel. The Chariton Patriot, the only newspaper, presents a very neat typographical appearance on the inside, and a very poor one on the outer; the secret being that one side is printed in Chicago ---- thereby saving the proprietors at least $300 a year, and giving their readers a better and more infinite variety of news that would otherwise be possible. I commend this plan to the county press generally.

The contract has been awarded, and work has actually commenced on the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad between Ottumwa and this place, and by next December the people expect to hear that sound so dear to Iowa town folks --- the locomotive whistle. Here is a good opening for business men of every description. More stores are needed, another hotel would pay immensely, and every trade would thrive. Surrounded by a rich and well settled country, Chariton is destined to an enviable future. There is not a vacant store or building of any description in the town and it is expected that  a great many new ones will go up in the spring. Those desirous of a good location should make haste, and secure an advantageous site.

Yours, Falcon

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I've not been able to track down further information about Preacher Barker --- he seems to have moved on fairly soon.

But here are a couple of other published references to the reverend gentleman, the first from the aforementioned 1865 gazetteer: "Barker was preacher for the new colony and it is said that he got off some very good sermons, when he  happened to be sober, which was seldom the case."

And from the 1875 Andreas Atlas of Iowa: "James Barker officiated as preacher for the new settlement, and it is said he could preach a very good sermon when he happened to be sober."

And finally, from Dan Baker's 1881 Lucas County history: "The latter gentleman (Barker) dispensed the gospel ... while there; but tradition says he did not remain very long, and therefore quite likely sought a more ample field for this theological efforts."

Bricks & mortar: The second First Baptist building

This is the last installment, for the time being, of Chariton First Baptist Church history --- this time, details about the congregation's second building, taken from a report of its dedication published on Aug. 17, 1894, in The Chariton Democrat.

This building was home to the congregation into the 1960s, but was replaced in three stages during that decade. The education wing of the current building was dedicated during March of 1962 after it was built on the site of a large frame house immediately south of the old church that was demolished to make way for it. Once that wing was complete, demolition of the old building commenced. The foyer link then was constructed and, finally, during November of 1969, the new church itself was dedicated.

The old brick church is especially interesting, to me at least, because it was designed by Oran Alonzo Hougland (1859-1912). Hougland, who began his career in Chariton as a carpenter, was the first of two professional architects to practice here (the second was William Lee Perkins) and went on to design many church buildings across the south of Iowa before his premature death of a heart attack during 1912 at the age of 53.

The photograph at the top was taken soon after the new First Baptist was completed during 1894 and the inset image, about 1960. By the latter year, massive masonry steps had replaced the flimsy-looking original steps and the entrance in the southeast turret of the building had been closed. 

The August, 1894, dedicatory events lasted all day and some other churches in the city cancelled services so that their pastors and people could attend. I've lifted the following details about the building out of a much longer report:

The handsome new First Baptist church building at the corner of A Avenue and East First Street (now Linden Avenue and South Grand Street) was formally dedicated to the worship of God last Sunday. Work was commenced on this building a year ago last spring and on the 17th of June, 1893, the corner stone was laid. On Sunday evening, Dec. 31, 1893, the first services were held in the new church basement and lasted until midnight when the chimes of the bell were heard tolling the old year out and ringing in the new. At that time the basement only was completed, the work on the main part of the building not being finished until last week. The church and grounds were originally intended to cost $8,000, but the plans grew and expanded until $16,023.12 was used in the erection and finishing and furnishing of the property.

The plan of the building is an admirable one. There is a large galleried auditorium which will seat about 400. The seats are of oak and are arranged in semi-circle form, facing the west. Underneath the gallery is a class room which may be thrown into the auditorium by sliding partitions. Back of the pulpit is an alcove and this constitutes the baptistry. A beautiful painting representing John the Baptist and Jesus coming up from the river Jordan furnishes the background. On each side of the baptistry are dressing rooms, while upstairs is the pastor's study. The basement will be used as a Sunday school room. Two hot air furnaces will heat the building.

The windows are of stained glass. The large one on the north side of the church was presented by the Baptist Young People's Union, the one on the east side by the Maple family and the one on the south side by the Ladies' Aid Society. G.B. Routt and son had charge of the stone and brick work, O.A. Hougland, the carpenter work, and Louis Syberdrop of Creston did the frescoeing which is a marvel of beauty.

The grounds on which the church was erected cost $1,000, the building and improvements, $15,023.12, making a total cost of $16,023.12. They had received on subscriptions, $4,327.18; on sale of property and donations, $2,939.85; by donations of labor and material, $1,000; from ladies' aid society, $371.67. The ladies have also paid for carpets, etc., making the total amount paid out by them $733.59. On Sunday morning, $7,384.42 was needed to place the church out of debt. The call for this amount was made, and generous hearted people, without regard to sect of belief, responded with pledges to the amount of $5,360.92.

Where oh where is Winifred Wilhite?

Or Bill Ashby, for that matter? 

I have one more short dose of First Baptist Church history to administer, but decided to take a break this morning and share this photograph from the Lucas County Historical Society collection, reportedly taken during 1951 --- but I don't know what the occasion was.

It looks like the preacher said "OK, everyone outside and line up on the front steps" after services one Sunday morning --- and everyone followed instructions.

It's next to impossible to identify everyone in a photograph of this scale, but a list of some of the people in it (in no apparent order) accompanies the photograph.

So we can be reasonably sure that the following people are among those photographed; where they're at is another issue. If interested in playing along with this game, you can enlarge the photo to see faces more clearly by right clicking on it and opening in a new window.

Darlene Willits, Reverend Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Chilton, Bill Ashby, Merle Ashby, Perry Sellers, Louise Sellers, Mose McDowell, Walter Armstrong, Mrs. Wilhite, Raymond Ambelang, Louise Ambelang, Dorothy Bonnett Ellis, Lura Reeves, Dwight Sellers, Dave Halferty, Alva Halferty, Dorothy Halferty, Glen Halferty, Mr. and Mrs. Sames, George Bonnett, Dwaine Enslow, Jenny Yocom, Dick Young, Hal Sanders, Marvin Gardner, Fred Taylor, Noel McKinley, Betty McKinley.

Lester Gray, Lucille Hamilton, Leta McDowell, Olen Medearis, Dora Mae Medearis, Wilma Johnson, Mildred Long, Maxine Randal, James Guthrie, (?) Anderson, Paul Loger, Mae Gasser, Mildred Sanders, Mrs. Reid, Mr. Hutchinson, Winifred Wilhite, Miland Tuttle, Dorothy Tuttle, Cecil Tuttle, Cora Andrews, Margaret Askren, Helen Armstrong, Tarvin Gookin, Mrs. Tarvin Gookin, Jeanine Thompson, Dorothy Guthrie, Janice Gentry, Mary Rowe, Barbara Willitts, Francis Halferty Deveta Halferty.

New Year's Eve among the Baptists ....

Yesterday's post, which covered Christmas 1894 in Chariton at great length, also included mention of the fact that the congregation of First Baptist Church was spending its first holiday in a brand new church building (left), a magnificent brick structure designed by Chariton architect O.A. Hougland and finished and dedicated during August of that year.

What the post did not mention was the fact that the Baptists had been occupying the basement of their new building since New Year's Eve 1893, having moved there from their original church building a block southwest with considerable fanfare on Sunday, Jan. 31, 1893, just in time to ring in the new year with the church bell.

Sadly, I don't have a decent photograph of the old church at hand this morning, but the 1893 Sanborn Fire Insurance map (above) shows where it was located, just south of where the American Legion Hall now stands. It was a simple frame structure that had served for 30 years and then, once the new church was in use, was turned over to Dr. Thomas A. Bown, a veterinary surgeon, who located his offices and what perhaps was Chariton's first "animal hospital" there.

Another segment of the 1893 map, at the end of this post, shows the location of the foundation of the new church a block northeast.

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The Chariton Herald of Jan. 4, 1894, contained a lengthy report of the transitional services that took the congregation from one church building to the basement of its replacement on New Years Eve, as well as a good deal of the congregation's history. The whole thing follows.

But there's a little more to the church history than reported in The Herald article, which begins with its organization during 1853 by the Rev. Isaac M. Seay as Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.

The Samuel Martin home, where the congregation was organized, was located some six miles southeast of Chariton in the pioneer community known as Ragtown after Amos Ragsdale, one of its first settlers (only the Ragtown Cemetery at the west edge of the Ragtown neighborhood remains today). The Martins arrived there from Indiana during 1851 and apparently began gathering their neighbors for Baptist services soon thereafter.

According to Bertha (McKlveen) Schreiber, who prepared an historical sketch for the congregation's 90th anniversary in 1943, those early Baptists included Samuel and Elizabeth Martin, William and Nancy Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. William Anderson, a Mr. and Mrs. Prather, Mr. and Mrs. Amos Ragsdale and a Mr. Peck. They seem to have called themselves initially Bethel Baptist Church.

The Rev. Mr. Seay (1816-1911) had been licensed to preach in the Missionary Baptist Church in Missouri during 1847, ordained two years later and by soon after 1850 was working a mission field in southern Iowa. He also is credited with organizing First  Baptist Church of Corydon during the year that followed organization of the Lucas County congregation.

It's not clear what organization he was affiliated with, but during 1856 the Rev. Mr. Seay was commissioned as the Iowa Baptist State Convention's first missionary and devoted the remainder of his life to organizing and serving congregations in south central and southwest Iowa. He died and is buried at Clarinda and was still alive, well and working during 1894, but apparently was overlooked when a list of living former pastors was compiled.

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Here's the report from the Jan. 4, 1894, Herald, published under the headline, "After 40 Years of Struggle and Work the Baptists Enter a new Sanctuary; the Warp and Woof of Social Life Shows a Blending of Joys and Sorrows; Out of the Old, Into the New": 

Sunday was a day of rejoicing with the people of the First Baptist church of Chariton, which will be long remembered in the history of the church and among the many friends in the community who joined them in the various services throughout the day. The weather was all that could have been desired and the bright sunlight seemed a harbinger of bright days in store for the people just entering a new and beautiful sanctuary. The time chosen for the change was very fitting, casting off the old tabernacle with the closing year and entering the new building at the threshold of the new year, with all its grand possibilities of development and growth.

To understand all that this means to the Baptist people the reader should know something of the history of this church, which for 40 years has had a name and existence in this community.

By searching the records and with valuable assistance from Clerk Edwards and other members of the church, the Herald is enabled to give the material facts concerning the early history of the church.

What is now known as the First Baptist church of Chariton was organized on December 23, 1853, by Isaac M. Seay and Daniel Winters, and Rev. Seay was called to the pastorate. The organization was composed of nine members at that time, whose names are as follows: William Anderson, Samuel P. Martin, William Wilson, Margaret Anderson, William Peck, Lucy Wilson, L.D. Martin, Lucinda Peck and Helen Peck.

The meeting for the purpose of organization was held at the home of Samuel P. Martin on December 23, 1853, when it was resolved to organize a church, to be known as the Mt. Pleasant United Baptist Church of Christ. Rev. Seay was chosen as pastor, the other officers elected being as follows: Wm. Wilson, deacon; Samuel P. Martin, clerk. At that early day the financial problem was not deemed of sufficient importance to require a treasurer, at least none was elected at this meeting. it was resolved to hold meetings the fourth Saturday afternoon of each month, and for some years the stated meetings were thus held at the homes of members.

In 1857 the name of the church was changed from Mt. Pleasant to Chariton. Articles of incorporation were drawn up and adopted November 26, 1864. The lot on which the old church is located was purchased in 1863, and at a meeting held Sept. 23, 1865, the trustees were appointed a building committee. The building was commenced in 1866 but was not completed until 1867, and in the year 1868 it was dedicated by Rev. Morgan Edwards, of Burlington. The records show that new articles of incorporation were adopted in 1875.

Just when the name of the church was changed to its present title is not definitely known but probably at the time of the change from Mt. Pleasant to Chariton as the first articles of incorporation, adopted in 1864, recognize the organization as the First Baptist Church of Chariton.

Of the original charter members two are still living. The first deacon, Wm. Wilson, the grandfather of Mr. T.E. Edwards, still resides in this county, making his home with Cyrus Scott, two miles from this city; his membership is at present with the church at Tarkio, Missouri, where he resided for a time.

Samuel P. Martin, at whose home the church was organized, still holds his membership here but is at present absent from the county.

During its 40 years of existence twenty-one pastors have served the charge and have shared with the people the ups and downs experienced by such organizations, especially in their earlier history when the country was new and the population constantly changing. The path of these pioneer preachers was by no means one of flowers and ease in a financial sense, for we learn from the records of one of the meetings along in the sixties that it was decided that "on account of the advance in cost of clothing, breadstuffs, etc.," it was decided to raise Pastor Hildreth's salary to $180 a year. 

The records show the following named pastors, with their respective terms of service attached: I.M. Seay, Dec. 23, 1853, to March 27, 1855; A. Green, Oct. 28, 1855 to May 14, 1856; James Frey, April 25, 1857, to Aug. 23, 1857; J.W. McDonald, Jan. 22, 1858, to March 27, 1858; Wm. Whitehead, May 22, 1858, to April 23, 1859; John Warren, Dec. 25, 1859, to July 21, 1860; Isaac Christie, Jan. 25, 1862, to March 22, 1863; I.L. Coles, March 22, 1863 to Oct. 24, 1863; Wm. Hildreth, Jan. 23, 1864, to Feb. 25, 1865; P.S. Whitman, March 8, 1867 to Oct. 26, 1867; L. Casier, Jan. 25, 1868, to Oct. 23, 1868; L.S. Livermore, Sept. 24, 1869, to April 9, 1870; W.S. Hickman, Dec. 23, 1870, to Nov. 4, 1871, and Feb. 3, 1872, to May 4, 1872; Wm. Sturgeon, Aug. 31, 1871, to Jan. 17, 1876; A.N. Sutton, Nov. 26, 1876, to June 25, 1877; B.F. Mace, Feb. 1, 1879, to Feb. 7, 1881; F. M. Archer, May 17, 1881, to Jan. 1, 1883; N.H. Daily, Feb. 4, 1883, to April 9, 1885; F.M. Archer, Sept. 27, 1885, to Oct. 17, 1886; A.H. Post, Dec. 5, 1886, to Nov. 6, 1887; E. Packer, May 1, 1888, to June 1, 1891; and A. Jacobs, Nov. 1, 1891, and still serving.

Of these devoted workers six are known to be still in the work, as follows: Rev. Wm. Sturgeon, at Bentonville, Iowa; Rev. B.F. Mace, at Albia; Rev. F.M. Archer, at Maquoketa; Rev. N.H. Daily, at Charles City; while Rev. E. Packer is connected with the May Baptist Church. Letters were read from all of these gentlemen except Rev. Packer, who was present answer in person.

The present officers of the church are A. Jacobs, pastor; H.S. Glenn, Samuel McKlveen, C.W. Rose, J.M. Kneeland and T.E. Edwards, deacons; H.S. Glenn, Wm. Schreiber and J.H. Curtis, trustees; T.E. Edwards, clerk; Samuel McKlveen, treasurer; T.J. Garland, incidental treasurer; J.M. Kneeland, chorister; and Mrs. Nota Kneeland, organist.

THE FAREWELL SERVICE

Sunday forenoon, the services were held in the old church and the meeting was one of unusual interest. Rev. A. Packer, the former pastor of the church prior to the coming of Rev. Jacobs, was present and occupied the speaker's stand with the pastor. After the reading of scripture and song by the congregation and prayer by Rev. Packer, a brief history of the church was read by the clerk, Mr. T.E. Edwards. The list of pastors was also read and letters were read from Rev. Sturgeon, Post, Mace and Daily, former pastors, and remarks were made by Rev. Packer.

Then followed the call of the roll of deacons who had served the church since its organization and those present answered to their names with appropriate scripture selections or words of experience, congratulation or exhortation. The roll of membership was then called, and all present answered by scripture selection or by words expressive of the varied emotions felt by each on leaving the old church home. This service lasted for nearly two hours and it was near one o'clock when the large audience which filled every pew and the chairs which filled all the aisles, was dismissed.

THE EVENING SERVICE ...

... was held in the basement of the new church and fully four hundred people assembled. A pleasing song service was held while the audience was gathering, followed by remarks from the pastor outlining the plan of the meeting. Then after devotional exercises, Rev. Packer made an address full of excellent thoughts of helpfulness and encouragement. The meeting was then thrown open for remarks by all, and many words of gratitude were spoken by various members expressing the thanks of the church to the sister churches, to the businessmen of Chariton, to the architect who had given them such excellent building plans, to the building committee which had borne the load so nobly, to the public press and to all the agencies that had been instrumental in forwarding the work. Many members of other churches were present and words of good cheer and fraternal congratulation were not lacking.

At about 9:30 slips of paper were passed and the names of all present were secured for record in a book to be preserved for future reference, after which those who desired were given an opportunity to retire. Many remained, however, to listen to the excellent program which followed, being opened with a charming duet by little Misses Anna Barger and Maud Stodghill.

Miss Kittie McKlveen gave an impressive recitation, and little Miss Goldie Edwards captured all hearts by her winsome rendition of a recitation.

Miss Edna McKlveen recited a difficult selection to which added expression was given by frequent selections from sacred music, and both in music and recitation her work was pleasing and effective.

Mr. James Kneeland sang a solo, followed by Miss Flossie Edwards with a selected reading, and little Stella Johns brought tears to many eyes by her pathetic recitation about how New Year came to the dying boy.

Another opportunity was given for retirement but many remained to watch the old year out, and Pastor Jacobs preached an able sermon, from the text, "Watchman, what of the night." A brief consecration meeting closed the old year and the bell tolled out the new year and rang in the new.

The new church thus asupiciously opened is a handsome structure with substantial basement and superstructure of pressed brick. The plans were drawn by Architect O.A. Hougland and the completed structure reflects credit upon his skill. The foundation was laid in the fall of 1892 and the bulding completed in 1893. The basement portion is all that is at present finished and that portion will be used until next year when the auditorium will be finished and the Baptist people will have a church of which they may well be proud. The basement as now in use gives an assembly room capable of accommodating 300 or 350 people comfortably, with class rooms for Sunday school purposes and parlors adjoining. It is a cosy, homelike place finished in hard pine and oil with hard finish walls.

There has been excellent financial management in this enterprise and to the present time all work and material has been paid for. The church when finished and furnished will have a cost in the neighborhood of $12,000.

The Chariton Herald angel sings: Christmas 1894

This incarnation of Chariton's First Baptist Church, torn down and replaced many years ago, was brand new back in 1894 --- and the finest church building in town at the time --- on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1894, mild and autumnal, quite unlike this year's frigid, snow-covered holidays.

We know that because Charles D. Brown, editor and publisher of The Chariton Herald, outdid himself when compiling a wrap-up of  Christmas activities for his edition of Thursday, Dec. 27, 1894.

All of the congregations he visited --- or at least touched base with --- still are operational, save the United Presbyterian which eventually merged with what now is First Presbyterian. Some have undergone name changes, however. St. Mary's now is Sacred Heart, for example; the Swedish Lutheran, now First Lutheran.

But none of these congregations are housed in the buildings they occupied back in 1894, including First Baptist, whose fine brick building was constructed during that year. It was torn down 50 years ago and replaced by the current building.

A couple of other changes are worth noting. There was no midnight Mass at St. Mary's, for example; parishioners gathered at 6 a.m. on Christmas morn instead and the circuit-riding priest then hopped aboard a train and traveled to Osceola to celebrate Mass there. And Swedish Lutherans still had the disconcerting habit of arising well before dawn on Christmas Day to celebrate, which explains why the Sunday school program was held on Christmas evening.

Here is Charles Brown's report:

CHRISTMAS CHIMES

Merrily Ring in the Homes and Churches of Chariton.

Many of the Churches Indulge in Christmas Trees and Other Festivities.

How the Day Was Observed in Chariton --- Business Quite Generally Suspended.

It seems to be a matter of universal comment in the section of this mundane sphere in which we are located that the seasons are continually changing and that our winters do not begin until much later in the season than during the good old days of long ago. So far as the weather is concerned it could hardly be said that Tuesday was a typical Christmas for this clime. There was no jingle of sleigh bells and the snow king failed to make his appearance. There was a grey atmosphere and a damp chill in the air the night preceding which merged as the day passed into a very pleasant atmosphere and the weather in the afternoon was a typical Iowa autumnal day. It was a good day to be outdoors, or in; and the people were moving in all directions, on foot and in vehicles, enjoying the bracing and enlivening effects of the day and occasion.

There were a number of family gatherings, neighborly visits and small parties of congenial friends. Movements in business circles were quiet and our merchants quite generally passed the day in social enjoyment with their families. The churches joyously celebrated the Christmastide, bringing gladness and good cheer to the hearts of both old and young with their entertaining and mirth-producing programs. With the exception of the Swedish Lutheran and Catholic, the different churches held their festivities on Christmas eve.

AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, "Santa Claus' Dream" was the title of a cantata given by the pupils of the Sunday school, under the able charge of Mrs. Don E. Lewis. The cantata consisted of choruses, recitations, and dialogues; some parts being very amusing while others assumed more of a pathetic nature. Santa Claus, in the peerson of Stant Hatcher, was well represented, with long flowing hair and beard, clothed in the regulation habitiment of that grim personage in whom the little folk take so much interest. The decorations were profuse and attractive. The evergreen tree, heavily laden with beautiful gifts, well filled a corner in the front of the church, while evergreen was festooned in pleasing effect about the room. "Peace on earth, good will to men" was the motto that adorned the front wall while on the sides could be seen a pretty anchor and Roman cross. The program was an excellent one and those participating seemingly enjoyed the merriment as did the large audience assembled.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN: The anniversary of the Savior's birth was fittingly observed by this congregation with an old time fireplace and cross section of a New England cottage, and the interior of the church presented a strikingly realistic appearance. The program was inaugurated with devotional services by the pastor and the choir. A very entertaining program was executed by the members of the Sunday school that elicited the plaudits of the large audience assembled. Santa Claus, that grim old fellow who brings cheer to many a heart and comfort to the disconsolate, came in a pantomime appropriate for the old fireside and was curiously watched through all his maneuverings. The presents were not numerous as the treat was principally for the little folks. Those having charge of the program, as well as the participants, have reason to be proud of the success achieved.

CHRISTIAN: At the Christian church the commemoration took the form of a large evergreen tree laden with suitable presents for old and young, the distribution of which was preceded by recitations from the little ones by classes, interspersed with songs by the school and selections by the choir, all of which formed an enjoyable occasion highly appreciated by the large audience present. Mr. F.C. Wood was master of ceremonies, and Bro. Fuller was quite conspicuous in his absence (he was portraying Santa).

EPISCOPAL: The decorations at St. Andrews Episcopal church were probably as elaborate as at any other church in the city on Christmas eve, this being the distinguishing feature of their festivities. Evergreens tastefully arranged on a background of white adorned the several windows. A well proportioned and beautifully decorated fir tree was the center of attraction for the juveniles. Several crosses of green and white suspended near the pulpit served to give the decorations a very pretty effect. The program of exercises was not long, and in nearly all the numbers the Sunday school as a whole participated. The excellent music was a pleasing feature. After the distribution of gifs the congregation was dismissed with the benediction by the rector.

The four holy days are being observed by this congregation, beginning with Christmas when Holy Communion was partaken of. Wednesday was St. Stephen's Day. Today (Thursday) is St. John's Day and tomorrow will occur the commemoration of the Holy Innocents. The hour of the services is 10 o'clock a.m.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL: Novel and entertaining was the program at the Methodist church and the exercises which were in charge of the Sunday school, as at the other churches, was well attended by an appreciative audience. A snow tree handsomely decorated and bearing presents for the young folks was the attractive feature, and no pains were spared to make the occasion one of rare enjoyment to both young and old. Sparkling music and recitations, songs., etc., occupied the time. About 9 o'clock the well satisfied audience was dismissed and they repaired to their homes with the thought that they had been royally entertained by the Methodists.

BAPTIST: At the church the fine new edifice was filled to its upmost with light-hearted participants in their holiday festivities. There was a tree laden with dainties and a treat for the Sunday school scholars. The Sunday school took part in the cantata which proved very entertaining and quite novel. Santa Claus, typically portrayed by J.M. Kneeland, had in charge the distribution of the holiday offerings which found their way into the hands of the larger number of those present. The literary features of the entertainment were highly enjoyed.

SWEDISH LUTHERAN: At the Swedish Lutheran church, the Sunday school had a fine time on Christmas night. The handsome decorations were the admiration of all. In the front of the church was the pretty fir tree. A large arch over the pulpit bore burning candles and vari-colored tissue paper. Then in each window were candles, brightly iluminating the spacious room. A large number of the members with their children were present, also many other churches who came to see how their Swedish brethren observe the Christmastide. The program was somewhat lengthy, though well rendered, and was greatly enjoyed by all. The distribution of the large consignment of presents left by Kris Kringle was a joyful feature of the entertainment and the excellent singing by the choir was worthy of special mention.

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC: The people of this denomination had no Christmas tree. Their services were held Christmas morning. High Mass was observed at 6 o'clock, nearly the entire congregation partaking of communion. Rev. Father Leonard delivered a fine sermon. The music and singing on this occasion were highly enjoyable. Still Mass at 9 o'clock was well attended and it was at this meeting that the little ones received their Christmas treat of sweetmeats and gifts. The church was tastefully decorated with Christmas greens. Father Leonard went to Osceola on No. 3 to conduct High Mass at that place.

Glaedelig Jul!

This Christmas card was shared for the first time more than a century ago when it was handed to a little girl named Julia Johnson. I have no idea who gave it to her, but it has survived for a very long time. I've shared it digitally a number of times --- using technology Julia could not have dreamed of.

Julia lived on a farm near the little Winnebago County town of Thompson, Iowa, and attended West Prairie Lutheran Church --- a magnificent white frame building with soaring steeple, long gone, that stood alone on the prairie southeast of town. Her parents were immigrants from Norway.

On the card, birds fly toward a Julenek attached to the ridgepole of the little house. A Julenek, which means "Christmas sheaf," is a sheaf of grain --- oats or wheat --- traditionally attached on Christmas morning to a pole like that shown on the card, or attached to a pole driven into the ground, or just hung somewhere. The idea was (and is) to provide a Christmas meal for the birds, too.

The Julenek in various sizes remains a popular holiday decoration in Norway, although I'm guessing somewhat disassociated now from its original purpose as food and shelter for feathered friends.

May the spirit of Christmas fill your day and be carried forward throughout the year. Glaedelig Jul! It's cold out there this morning. Feed the birds.

Note: Some will know that a West Prairie Lutheran Church still stands in Winnebago County, west of the little town of Leland. This old Lutheran parish divided a century ago in a spat over doctrine and neither faction was willing to give up the name. "East" West Prairie, the newer church, still stands; "West" West Prairie was torn down after its parishioners moved to another building in the town of Thompson.

Chariton Junior College & its freshmen, 1937-1938

This photo turned up last week as I was spending a few hours cataloging memorabilia related to Chariton High School graduating classes of the 1930s. The subjects are members of the 1937-38 Chariton Junior College freshman class and the photo was taken for the 1938 "Charitonian" yearbook.

While copies of old yearbooks survive, and we have many of them at the museum, the photos taken professionally for them rarely did. Few prints were made and a majority of those eventually were thrown away. So this is kind of a rarity.

The Chariton Junior College program enrolled its first students during September of 1927, ten years before this photo was taken. Fully accredited by the state, it gave students who hoped to earn college degrees an opportunity to complete their freshman and sophomore years inexpensively while, for the most part, living at home. Credits earned in Chariton then would transfer to any public or private college or university in the state.

Tuition for those first junior college students was $50 per semester, payable in advance. Thirty were enrolled in 1927, bringing total enrollment in the Chariton School District to 1,369 (including 457 in the high school, where junior college classes were held).

The program continued for 16 years and in general prospered before it became a casualty of World War II. The last class, of 1942-43, was made up of seven students, all women. Most eligible young men had gone to war and many of the young women who might have enrolled also had enlisted or taken jobs in war-related industries.

The program was discontinued with a pledge from the state that it could resume after the war, but when peace returned various issues prevented that from happening. By 1946-47, the high school building was full and overflowing --- no room for junior college students. The school administration explored the possibility of erecting temporary structures --- surplus Quonset huts, for example. The state said "no." In addition, the state now required that junior college instructors hold master's degrees. That proved to be a recruiting challenge; Chariton Junior College did not survive the war.

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The scholars pictured here are (first row from left) Stanley Zahller, Bob L. Stewart. Bob J. Straup, Burdette Dunshee, Roderic Turbot,  Glenn Carlson, Alfred Agan and Jack E. Miller; (second row from left) Gwen Evans, Catherine Rosa, Arlene Strandberg, Audrey B. Cunningham, Donald Frederick Fuller, Colene Baker, Mary Frances Hunter, Louise Van Dyke and Ruth Isenberger; and (third row from left) Paul Pastovich, Don Glasgow, David Martin, Clair M. Gurwell, Harold Kendall, William H. Hamilton, Robert Trost and Bill Stuart.

And here's the Chariton Junior College calendar for 1937-38, which commences with the introductory words, "We Went ...."

Sept. 13 --- to May's Grove for a picnic feed and treasure hunt, then to the school house to initiate the Frosh. (May's grove was located south of U.S. 34 a couple of miles east of Chariton.)

Sept. 23 --- to Osceola park for an athletic meet and picnic feed with Osceola Junior College --- then to see the Chariton-Osceola football game.

Oct. 29 --- to the City Hall for a Homecoming Dance after we had seen the Chariton-Centerville game.

Nov. 17 --- to the American Legion Hall at 8 p.m. where we entertained the Osceola Junior College at a Thanksgiving party of games, songs, dances and eats.

Dec. 23 --- to the Charitone Hotel for a 6:30 Christmas dinner and program --- had a hurried visit from Santa Claus (Marney Allen) --- gave each of us a gift.

Mar. 15 --- to the high school cafeteria for a 6:30 dinner in honor of the basketball and golf teams --- saw the Bluejays (junior college teams were the Bluejays) get their letter awards with Leck Young as captain --- then danced awhile.

April 12 --- to the stone quarry and Tipperary looking for fossils.

April 20 --- to Des Moines as guests of Drake University --- visited Colonial Bakery, Cowles Library, Rollins Hosiery Company, Equitable Building, KRNT, and the Register and Tribune.

April 22 --- to Whitebreast Creek on a geology field trip to look at formations along the creek bank --- afterwards had a weiner roast.

May 12 --- to the high school auditorium at 8 p.m. to see "Robin Hood" and get a chance to shake hands with the seniors from neighboring towns.

May 16 --- to Osceola park at 1 p.m. for a tri-school picnic and athletic meet --- Creston, Osceola, Chariton --- all participated in baseball and volleyball.

May 19 --- to the Charitone Hotel for a 6:30 "Happy Landing" banquet --- followed by a dance at the Country Club.

May 22 --- to Baccalaureate services.

May 24 --- to Commencement.

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A majority of the young men in this photo went on the serve during World War II and so far as I know, all made it home --- other than Paul Pastovich, a young man who grew up, as did my mother, in a farming neighborhood northeast of Williamson.

Paul was the only son among three siblings, born in Olmitz, to coal miner turned farmer Dan and wife, Anna (Braida) Pastovich. After completing his junior college education in Chariton, he went on to earn a B.A. degree at Iowa State University during 1941.

Paul's National Guard unit was called to active duty during the fall of 1941, he completed U.S. Army Air Corps training, earned his wings and was commissioned second lieutenant in June of 1943. A few months later, on Valentine’s Day 1944, he was piloting a B-24 bomber from Florida to North Africa when it went down in the Atlantic with all hands aboard after experiencing engine trouble.

He is commemorated with a cenotaph in Graceland Cemetery, Knoxville, where his parents are buried, and also remembered on Tablets of the Missing, North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Tunisia.

John Pence, Chariton and Pearl Harbor

The U.S.S. Pennsylvania, astern here of the remains of the destroyers Cassin and Downes, remained largely intact after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

John Pence seems to have been a memorable young man and it would be an honor to claim him as a Lucas Countyan. But John was an Osceola boy and when he died on Dec. 7, 1941, aboard the U.S.S. Pennsylvania at Pearl Harbor, he was the first among our neighbors to the west as well as somewhat indirectly from Lucas County, too, to give up his life during World War II. Osceola's Davis-Pence American Legion post is named in part in his honor.

He was, however, a 1938 graduate of Chariton High School and when his classmates met for reunions  as the years passed, they remembered him along with others in a class hard-hit by war. Beryl L. Clark, Prosdocimo "Dutch" Della Betta, Lucille Jervis, Andy Knapp and Lyle Mosbey, also were classmates who died. Knapp, in fact, was the first Lucas Countyan, although that would not be known until after the war was over.

John, born at Garden Grove in Decatur County on Oct. 16, 1920, was one of six children of Clarence B. and Nellie Pence. Clarence was a painter and decorator by trade and when John was four, the family moved to Osceola where he opened a small paint and wallpaper store.

John spent most of his high school career in Osceola, where he excelled academically as well as in athletics and theater. But the late 1930s were hard times and John worked to help support his family. During February of 1938, he found a job in Chariton that allowed him to work longer hours at a higher rate of pay than he could find in Osceola and attend school, too. So he found room and board in Chariton --- and moved east.

The Charitonian Quill, the student newspaper of March 8, 1938, noted his arrival as follows:

"John Pence, a former student of Osceola High School, after accepting a job in the Chariton Hatchery, entered C.H.S. a week ago last Wednesday to complete his senior year.

" 'I came to Chariton from Osceola because of the job in the hatchery. I believe I'll make more money here than I did in Osceola. In Osceola I published a paper with the help of a close friend of mine. We called in "The Thistle," ' stated John. By selling advertisements to the businessmen of Osceola the boys took in enough money to publish the paper and make a little profit for themselves. After the paper was printed, they distributed it on the streets gratis.

"John is short and slim, and has brown eyes and wavy black hair. He says he likes C.H.S. very much. He is taking Shorthand 4, Commercial Law, American Government and Typing 4, just as he did in Osceola."

An aspiring thespian, John almost immediately tired out for a role in the CHS Class of 1938's senior class play and won the plum role of "Tommy" in a play by the same name, presented on April 6.

The Osceola High School student newspaper, The Chief, reported in its edition of  April 12 that "John moved to Chariton February 21, last, and we are extremely pleased to learn of this honor accorded to him, especially since there were a large number of students who tried out for the parts."

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John continued to work in the hatchery at Chariton following graduation later than spring, but we don't know for how long. When he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the spring of 1939, he gave his parents' home in Osceola as his permanent address.

On April 6, 1939, The Osceola Sentinel published a letter that John --- now at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center --- had written to veteran Osceola physician, Dr. Frank W. Sells. I got a kick out of reading it, since the personality of the author seems to come through clearly, so here's the text:

"Dear Dr. --- I know you don't like beating around the trees, so I'll tell you exactly why I write you. I think you might be interested in knowing a few details of my navy life so far. First, I like it fine and that really means something. Second, we have one of the best commanders in the U.S.N. He reminds me very very much of you, Doctor. Now I am not trying to flatter you, because I know you don't like that.

"We were issued $99.97 worth of clothes gratis. I had my teeth all fixed up in first class condition by a good dentist. I get out of training in five and a half weeks more. I have 6 days furlough, then I return and we (by we I mean my company) go to Norfolk, Va., and then up to New York. From there we go to San Francisco via Panama Canal. From there we go to Hawaii. It makes a nice trip considering everything. Don't forget to patronize Pence's Paint and Paper Place when you are in need of paint or wall paper.

"Well, Doctor, I don't suppose you are so awfully interested in this letter so I'll close now. Hoping to hear from you soon, I am very sincerely yours, John W. Pence.

"P.S. --- Received a letter from Dr. J.N. Goodman, formerly of Osceola who lives in Milwaukee. Find it enclosed. Please return it if it is not too much bother. Love. John."

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More than two years later, John had advanced to the rank of radioman 3rd class (E4) and was stationed aboard the U.S.S. Tracy, a Clemson-class destroyer. The Tracy had entered the navy yard at Pearl Harbor for overhaul earlier that fall and as Dec. 7 dawned, lay at Berth 15 with her machinery, boilers and guns dismantled. Only a skeleton crew remained aboard. The rest of the men, including John, were living in receiving barracks ashore.

As Japanese planes were attacking, some of the crew returned to the Tracy and hurriedly reassembled guns in order to fight back; others went to the U.S.S. Cummings to help man her guns. Others, including John, boarded the U.S.S. Pennsylvania to help operate the battleship's antiaircraft batteries.

The Pennsylvania, lead ship of the Pennsylvania class of super-dreadnaught battleships, was in drydock in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on Dec. 7 --- and one of the first ships in the harbor to open fire as Japanese dive and torpedo bombers attacked.

John, once aboard, joined a crew working at and supporting a 5-inch gun mount that was wiped out when a 1,000-pound Japanese bomb struck the starboard side of the Pennsylvania boat deck and exploded inside Casemate 9.

Although the Pennsylvania survived the attack, she lost 28 men --- including John and two of his mates from the U.S.S. Tracy, John A. Bird and Laddie John Zacek. Identifiable remains of neither John Pence nor John Bird were recovered; they are commemorated in the Courts of the Missing, Honolulu Memorial. John also is commemorated on the tombstone in the Garden Grove Cemetery that marks the graves of his parents.

For those who mourn: The longest night

St. Andrew's, last evening, served as host for Chariton's annual "longest night" service, sponsored by the Interchurch Council as a quiet time of candlelight, carols, lessons and prayer in a busy season when "Merry Christmas!" sometimes can seem like more of a command than a benediction.

It had been a gloomy day, spitting rain well into one of the longest nights of the year, following the winter solstice. My job was to light most of the candles (21 of them; I counted) since I'm the most adept at climbing to the top of a stepstool (before anyone arrives) in order to reach the "big six" that march across the back of the high altar. Also to serve as stand-in if one of the readers didn't show --- and sure enough, one who lives more than 20 miles distant decided to stay home by the fire rather than venture out onto rain-slick highways.

The point of the service is to acknowledge loss --- not just loved ones, although that's an important component and several were there to mourn, but also losses of security, self-confidence, health, peace of mind, even faith --- and the part these losses play in the lives of many at a time of the year we're often told should be the most joyful.

These services also are known sometimes as "blue Christmas." I tried to track down the source of the liturgy we used; it seems to be a simplified version of something developed several years ago by a young Episcopal priest, Heather Hill. But that's not especially important.

The little prayer that follows was not part of the service, but it is among my favorites in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. We call it the "compline prayer" because it is part of the liturgy for Compline, the final service (office) of the day in traditions where time still is shaped by the ancient canonical hours. We use it most often at St. Andrew's as Evening Prayer is ending.

By all means, wish everyone you meet a "Merry Christmas!" if it seems appropriate as the big day approaches, but remember that these words are intended to be prayerful, not an order.

If you're so inclined, pray too as evening settles in: "Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen."

The search for a troublesome (and troubled) priest

The Rev. Bernard J. Henry, Chariton's first resident Catholic priest, did not intentionally set out to trouble me when he more or less vanished during 1886 in St. Louis. I made the trouble myself after deciding I had to track the poor guy down and see what became of him before I could write about his successor, the Rev. Edmond Hayes, whose life is much more interesting and whose record is clearer.

The photo here of St. Irenaeus Church, Clinton, really has nothing specific to do with Lucas County --- other than the fact Father Henry apparently ended up serving this parish for a time after leaving Lucas County so one of his last known sightings was recorded here. St. Irenaeus, completed during 1871 in what then was the village of Lyons, was decommissioned during 2008, sold during 2010 to the Clinton County Historical Society and now functions as the St. Irenaeus Cultural Center.

Father Henry, recently ordained and given his first assignment by the Diocese of Dubuque, arrived in Lucas County during late August of 1878, as reported in The Chariton Leader of Aug. 31: "Father Henry, the Catholic priest, is stationed at this city and will hold Mass in his church every Sunday morning."

Prior to Father Henry's arrival, Chariton's parish (organized as a mission in 1869 as St. Mary's --- now Sacred Heart --- and served by priests headquartered at St. Patrick's, Georgetown) was part of a mission district that included a substantial chunk of southwest Iowa. By 1878, the responsibility for ministering to the faithful in the region had been reassigned to priests at St. Joseph's Church, Bauer, just north of Newbern and over the north Lucas line in Marion County.

In addition to serving the parishioners of St. Joseph and nearby Rosemount, those busy priests traveled a circuit that included Chariton, the South Irish and North Irish settlements in Decatur County, Mt. Ayr (Ringgold County), the Bohemian Settlement near Bedford (Taylor County), Osceola and Woodburn. Mass had been celebrated in Chariton, at best, twice monthly.

I wasn't able to find anything at all about the Rev. Mr. Henry's background, other than the fact that he had been born about 1847 in Ireland and was a resident of Dubuque when he enrolled at the Franciscan seminary of St. Bonaventure, Allegany, New York. He completed his studies there and was ordained when about 31 by Bishop Stephen V. Ryan, Diocese of Buffalo, during the early summer of 1878. He was assigned to Chariton immediately upon returning to Dubuque.

His arrival meant that Mass now was celebrated weekly at St. Mary's in Chariton, but he also was expected to help out with pastoral duties elsewhere in the district served by St. Joseph priests.

Father Henry apparently did little to attract the attention of Chariton newspaper editors, but The Leader of December 14, 1878, did contain a report that, "The friends of Rev. Father Henry, the pastor of the Catholic church of this city, will regret to hear that he is quite ill with Typhoid fever."

He apparently had recovered sufficiently, however, to be present at the courthouse the following Thursday evening when St. Mary's parish held a public supper and festival there that was declared to have been a considerable success in newspaper editions of Dec. 21.

Some months later, however --- less than a year after his arrival --- Father Henry left Chariton under less than favorable conditions.

The Patriot, in its edition of July 31, 1879, reported that "Father B.J. Henry, Catholic priest of this city, recently became insane from a protracted spell of sickness. A few weeks since, some burglars or tramps attempted to rob him in his room which, it is supposed, accelerated the attack. On Thursday he was taken by his brother to the Catholic hospital at Davenport."

There's no indication that Henry ever returned to Lucas County and a month later, the Rev. Edmond Hayes was sent from Dubuque to fill the vacancy his departure had created.

By the time the 1880 federal census was taken, Father Henry apparently had recovered sufficiently to be assigned as associate at St. Irenaeus. At least he was living when the census-taker called adjacent to the pastor of that parish, the Rev. William Dunn, in the part of the current city of Clinton still known as Lyons.

The last reference to the Rev. Mr. Henry that I was able to find was published in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch of April 21, 1886, under the headline, "A Demented Priest." I have no proof that the subject of the story was our Bernard J. Henry, but it certainly seems to have been. Here's the report:

"After disposing of the case of Capt. Clubb, the jury in the Probate Court last evening heard the evidence in the case of Rev. Bernard Henry, a Catholic priest, formerly of Iowa, and for some time past a patient at the Alexian Hospital in this city. He was examined and afforded ample proof of his unsound mental condition, declaring that he was the successor of Pope Pius IX, a nephew of Queen Victoria and possessed of thousands of gold and silver dollars. After hearing medical testimony, the jury found that the reverend gentleman was insane, and Lorenz Padberg was appointed guardian."

After that, the trail grows cold. Lorenz Padberg was a prosperous St. Louis merchant active in the Catholic community who frequently ended up as a court-appointed trustee or guardian in cases heard by his brother, a judge. So there's no family significance here. And, so far as I could find, no further trace of Chariton's first resident priest.

A joyful Catholic, frigid Presbyterian Christmas 1878

I've been spending a little time during this pre-Christmas season back in the 1870s with Dan Baker, then-editor and publisher of The Chariton Leader. Primarily because he most likely was the most entertaining, although not necessarily the most accomplished, gentleman ever to publish a newspaper here. 

Although Dan had the ability to infuriate a substantial percentage of his subscribers at one time or another --- and relished doing it --- he generally had a disarming twinkle in his eye --- and somehow everyone managed to remain friends.

A religious skeptic who finally, in California, settled into the Unitarian fold, Dan looked around Chariton as Christmas 1878 approached and found some things to please him, other things not so much.

The parish of St. Mary's (established in 1869 as a mission of St. Patrick's, Georgetown; now Sacred Heart) had just acquired its first resident priest, the Rev. B.J. Henry. The church, a modest frame structure, was located northwest of the square on Brookdale Avenue, in the neighborhood of what now is the C.B.&Q. Freight House. But there was no rectory, not was there a cemetery.

The postcard view here shows the original church at new location near the intersection Auburn Avenue and North 7th Street where it was moved on skids during 1881. This photo was taken not long before the current Sacred Heart was built in 1914. The rectory itself was new, a replacement for the 1880s version built next to the relocated church.

Anyhow, developing a cemetery, improving the church building and building a rectory required cash. So fund-raising was the principal reason for a festival held on Thursday evening, Dec. 19, 1878, in the second-floor assembly room of the 1858 Lucas County Courthouse. Here is Dan's report, headlined "The Festival."

"The Catholic Festival, in the Court House on Thursday night, was an exceedingly pleasant affair, besides being a splendid financial success. The oysters were good, and all other refreshments of the best. The crowd was large, good natured and happy.

"The most interesting feature of the evening was the balloting for the most popular ladies and gentlemen in the city. A fine, silk hat was the prize for the most popular married man in town, and upon this issue a handsome sum of money was realized. Messrs. John Welch and Bill Reed were the popular candidates, and after considerable animated voting, at 10 cents a vote, John won the prize, and in truth John is as much entitled to it as anyone we know. He certainly has the pleasure of knowing that he owns the costliest silk hat ever sold in the city, as over 50 dollars were paid for it.

"Mrs. Thos. Volland won the pair of vases for being the most popular married lady. Miss Abby Freel won a neat writing desk for being the most popular young lady, and Mr. Bernard, a young telegraph operator, won the cane for being the most popular young man.

"We must not omit to mention the fact that ye editor of The Leader received a vote for being the most popular married man, and much regret that we were not there so that we could have received one more.

"Father Henry, in behalf of his church, returns to the public his warmest thanks for their kind patronage of the festival; also his thanks to the Cornet Band for the fine music they furnished during the evening. The receipts of the evening were over $225."

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Christmastide 1877, a year earlier, had been a muddy mess. But when Dan looked outside as the holiday neared during 1878, he found the scene more pleasing:

"The keen air of the past week and the deep snow have convinced everyone that we can have a little winter in this country when we all do our level best for it. There is more snow on the ground now than fell here all last winter. While the steady unchangeable cold, sharp but not severe weather, indicates a beautiful winter season. Sleighing is the best ever we saw in Iowa."

Other aspects of the season, Dan found less pleasing.

There had apparently been some damage to at least one rural school in Lucas County during the course of a religious revival meeting. Remember that by 1878 there still weren't that many rural church buildings scattered around the county; many congregations, actual or aspirational, were using school buildings for their meetings. Dan administered a scolding:

"As steady cold weather with its usual accompaniment, hard times, becomes a fixed fact, the religious revival business in the country starts up with great ardor and enthusiasm," Dan reported "The consequence is that some of the school directors fear that more harm than good results in the violent spiritual ebullitions manifested in some of the school houses, as the broken benches and seats, defaced blackboards, and crumbling plastering bear testimony. Revivalists should remember that tearing around over a school house in a frenzy of excitement, and smashing up seats and furniture like an escaped locomotive, is stronger evidence that a man is possessed of a devel than of a holy spirit."

Meanwhile, in Chariton, Dan had kind words for two congregations; extraordinarily harsh words for another:

"The Episcopal and Methodist churches of Chariton are preparing to have Christmas trees at their respective churches on Christmas Eve. Now why don't our pious Presbyterian friends occasionally get up something in the way of a pleasant surprise for their little fellows and permit them at least once in the year to feel a ray of sunshine through the icy coating of puritanic austerity that envelopes the little rats raised under their frigid teachings. Come, you solemn professors who go through life like dismal funeral processions, inspire a little life into your organization and make the little fellows happy for once in their lives."

Ouch!

Slogging through the mud at Christmas, 1877

Look at the street as it appeared during the winter of 1869 in front of the Methodist Church and parsonage, then as now located at the intersection of North Main and Roland, and you'll get some idea of the situation as it still existed a few years later, at Christmas 1877.

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Dan Baker, editor and publisher of The Chariton Leader, seems to have had a less than satisfactory Christmas back in 1877. Here's how he described it in The Leader of Saturday, Dec. 29:

"Christmas in this city was one of the gloomiest days we ever saw in Iowa. The weather was foggy and misty, and the roads almost bottomless with mud. A few disgusted and disconsolate looking men were seen perambulating the streets, seeking comfort from each other in discussing the weather, while occasionally a troop of neglected boys marched sadly, like a funeral procession, from one business place to another endeavoring to remind the proprietors that Christmas had come. No one seemed inclined to doubt it but the most of them appeared to regret the fact. Upon the whole all felt rejoiced when the day had passed and gone, for it brought us one day nearer spring and better weather."

Dan hated Iowa weather --- and that year's issues had not been snow and cold but rather moderate temperatures, rain, and mud. In fact, he disliked Iowa's weather extremes so much he moved himself and his family to southern California a few years later and stayed there.

Here's how he summed the situation up elsewhere on the page: "We have nothing to say about the weather; we tried to do it justice last week but failed, and this week the English language is simply inadequate to describe the horrible mud, rain, mist, fog, and cheerless gloom that enshrouds creation. We therefore waive the question. We pass."

His lament of the previous week, published on Dec. 22, read as follows:

"The weather. Oh! The weather. Oregon, we apologize to you. We've seen thousands of winters in Iowa, have been here so many years that we've long since forgotten the period in the world's history when we came, but the hills were all holes in the ground, and the rivers were all sparkling little brooklets, the lakes were all little frog ponds, and the present standing highland forests were nothing but dwarfed swamp brush. We've lived 60 years in the mountains, in one winter, and ages on the deserts, and seen every variety of weather, but we never, no never, saw such weather in December as this year. (Dan was 35 at the time and had called Chariton home since 1853.)

"Warm to suffocation, foggy to hide observation, rainy to our detestation, and muddy as creation, yes that's it; persons of a more violent temperament would have differently expressed it. We can endure everything but the mud and that gets us; there is the sticking point. Buggies roll through the streets with nothing but the tops visible, while the teamsters stand on the sidewalk and crack their whips at imaginary phantoms which are supposed to resemble horses making a subterranean journey through town.

"An occasional hat lying in the middle of the road tells the story of many a sad and mysterious disappearance. The loved and lost one gently reposes beneath it, a victim of mistaken confidence in his ability to wade through.

"A quiet gloom has settled upon the face of everyone that indicates a stern determination to weather it through. Still, we apologize to Oregon and declare it from our firm conviction that she has the finest winter climate on earth."

According to The Leader's informal weather observer, the temperature in Chariton the previous Thursday had reached 70 degrees, resulting in "grave danger of fruit buds swelling. Hot weather, bad time for fresh oysters and fruit buds ...."

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Still, Christmas was celebrated --- although mud apparently complicated the festivities.

"The Swedes celebrated Christmas on Tuesday evening with a Christmas tree at their church in this city," Dan reported on Dec. 29.

"The Methodist Church had a Christmas tree on Monday evening (Christmas Eve), and everything passed off pleasantly except a slight disturbance at the close of the ceremonies by a young drunken vagabond named Strahan. A fine of ten dollars imposed by the mayor next morning paid for his share of the fun."

And "The boys and girls indulged in a little dance at Mallory's Hall on Christmas night" --- despite the mud.