Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/542

 482 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI a short time and then went to St. Louis. In 1876, George Moore, a native of New York, located at Cape Girardeau, and through his influence a house of worship was built at the corner of Fountain and Themis streets. It was a brick structure and cost about $3,000. He became the first rector of the church and was succeeded by Rev. T. F. C. James, who was installed in 1882. The present rector is the Rev. C. F. Maltus. The church at De Soto was organized in 1865. St. Paul's church was organized at Ironton as a mission in 1869, when Judge John W. Emei-son was warden, and there were only two communicants, Mrs. IMark- ham and her daughter. In 1887 the mem- bei-ship of the church had grown to 39, and a neat frame building was erected, costing about $600. In 1890 Grace Episcopal church was or- ganized in Crystal City. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company donated about three acres of ground to the church and upon this site was erected a handsome brick structure. It is open for use by all denominations. It is maintained principally by the Plate Glass Company, and is one of the most beautiful spots in Southeast Missouri. At the present time there are organiza- tions at De Soto, Cape Girardeau, Crystal City and Ironton. Congregational The first Congregational church in South- east Missouri was organized at Arcadia about 1840. After an existence of a few years, however, the members adopted the Presbyterian confession of faith and became connected mth the Potosi Presbytery of that church. The next organization was that at De Soto. Later churches were formed at Bonne Terre and Grandin. These are the only organization within this territory. The church at Bonne Terre has recently erected a beautiful and commodious building. It stands in the center of a large plot of ground, very attractively laid out in trees and flow- ers. The building itself is of brick and fol- lows the English style of architecture. It presents a pleasing contrast to the usual fonns of church buildings. German Evangelical The history of the German Evangelical church in Southeast Missouri began in 1836. At that date a number of families from Switzerland made their homes near Rod- ney's Mill, in Cape Girardeau county. Two members of this Swiss colony, Benedict Mul- lett and Benedict Schneider, bought a mill, while the others were engaged, principally in farming. They were devout people and kept up religious services in the absence of any regularly organized church or of a pas- toi". For a number of years they were accus- tomed to meet at private residences to hold these informal services. The first pastor was called, and the church organized about 1847. The pastor was the Rev. J. Koebler. In 1851 they built and dedicated a small log house for church purposes. This was the only or- ganization of the Evangelical church in this part of the state before the war. The church at Jackson was organized in May, 1867, with 28 members and the follow- ing trustees: Charles Hohrenberg, Jacob Frederick, Adam Hoffman and Hermann Geyerd. F. Kies was the first pastor. The church fell into difSculties owing to a debt on the building and certain internal dissen- sions, and no regular pastor was employed for about fifteen years. In 1886 a reorgani- zation was made and since that time the church has continued its work.