Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/525

 BISTOEY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 447 February 23, 1870. September 3, 1874. Rev. C. A. Ruddock be- came acting pastor, holding that position until September 3, 1877. B. Fay Mills was also pastor for a short time. In 1908 a new church building was erected on the northeast corner of Main and Third streets at a cost of about $14,000. The building is of stone and is a handsome modern structure. The present pastor is Rev. G. Vincent. PRESBYTERIAN. The First Presbyterian Church, of Red Wing, was organized January 13, 1855, by seven persons — C. J. F. Smith, O. F. Smith, William II. Wellington, J. W. Hancock, Mrs. Margaret Culbert- son. Mrs. Rachael Vandenburg and Mrs. Sarah R. Hancock. Of this number, J. W. Hancock was the first pastor and C. J. F. Smith the first clerk and elder. The records show that in the early days this church and congregation worshiped in a carpen- ter's shop, at another period in a dwelling, at another in a hall over a store and at another in a little brown schoolhouse, the first and only public school then in the place and in the county. In 1856 a brick church was commenced, and finished in 1857 ; this was the first church building in Red AVing and contained the first church bell in the city. After some years this original build- ing was increased about one-third in length by an addition in the rear. The statements would indicate that much sacrifice was endured in meeting the cost of this original church building, which was something near $5,000. D. C. Hill did the carpenter and mason work and was also the first janitor. The church was lighted with candles until the early sixties, when oil was intro- duced. The property of the church now consists of half a block of land, a large parsonage, a barn and the church building. The lawn surrounding all these buildings is attractive and well kept. In 1884 Martha Harger. upon the marriage of Rev. R. J. Service, provided the ways and means for repairing the par- sonage, at a cost of about $500. so as to make a pleasant place for the new bride. Mr. and Mrs. Service organized the Y. P. S. C. E. of the church in 1886. During this administration, also, money was raised to repair the interior of the old church, the church was recushioned at a cost of $300, and a new pipe organ was installed at a cost of $1,700. In 1890 the present Sunday school and prayer meeting room and the new tower were con- structed at a cost of about $10,000. In the meantime the ladies entirely renovated the parsonage. A Sunday school has been maintained throughout the existence of the church. AVhen the fiftieth anniversary was celebrated, in January, 1905, there had been 413 members admitted to the church by letter and 601 by profession of faith, and the contributions to various objects had