HISTORICAL

In 1857 a wave of disaster swept over the United States, which reached the Territory of Nebraska, then less than three years open to civilized settlement. It was especially disastrous to the new and sparsely settled region, wrecking its financial system and, bringing some of its settlers to the verge of starvation. In 1858 a wave of prayer and spiritual influence swept over the country, which, reached even Nebraska, and resulted in the organization in the same year of two Presbyterian churches--those of Brownville, in Nemaha county, and Plattsmouth, in Cass county. They were preceded in Nebraska by only two now existing Presbyterian churches.      After holding services for a short time, the Rev. Daniel Lawrence Hughes, a pioneer home missionary of southwestern Iowa, organized, the First Presbyterian Church of Plattsmouth on May 8, 1858. He was thirty-eight years old at the time, and was ministering to the Presbyterian church in Glenwood, Iowa. He received his collegiate education in Jefferson College (now Washington and Jefferson College) in Pennsylvania. His theological education was received in Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey. He had supplied several churches in Pennsylvania before coming to Glenwood, Iowa, in 1857. He was therefore in the prime of ministerial life, vigor and usefulness.      The charter members of the church numbered sixteen. They were Mr. Abraham Carmichael and his wife Catherine, Mr. John G. Hays, Mr. J. Newton Wise, Mr. David Jardin and his wife Margaret, Mr. Alexander Lauther and his wife Mary Jane, Mrs. Margaret Winchell, Mrs. Lucy J. Martin, Mr. Thomas Mitchell and his wife, Mr. Samuel Maxwell and his wife Amelia, Mrs. Mary A. Walradt, Mrs. Catherine McMaken. Of these charter members, Mr. Abraham Carmichael was dismissed from the church in 1872, and Mrs. Carmichael in 1873; Mrs. Margaret Winchell was dismissed in 1873; Mrs. Lucy J. Martin was dismissed to the Presbyterian church of San Jose, California, in 1903;

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Mrs. Thomas Mitchell died June 19,1861, and Mr. Thomas Mitchell June 25, 1900; Mrs. Amelia Maxwell died March 13, 1861; Mr. Samuel Maxwell continued a member of the church until March 1, 1876. While living in Plattsmouth he became an eminent lawyer, was elected to the legislature of the territory in 1859 and 1860, and again in 1864 and 1865. In 1872 he was chosen one of the judges of the supreme court, whose district was north of the Platte river, and he removed to Fremont. He was the author and compiler of various legal works, which have a high reputation.      Mr. John G. Hays was a model elder, whose whole heart was in the church. He was willing to be a door-keeper in the house of God rather than to dwell, in the tents of wickedness. He was an elder from the organization of the church until his death, April 27, 1892. He was wholly consecrated, liberal, and largely influential in securing this house of worship. He was the earnest advocate of every good causes.      Mr. J. Newton Wise was elected Sabbath school superintendent in 1862, and continued in the office until 1871. He was elected ruling elder August 2, 1868, and, with a short interval, has been an acting elder ever since.      Under the ministrations of Rev. Hughes, twenty were received on profession of their faith, twenty-nine by certificate from other churches and the membership of the church reached forty. Seven adults and nineteen infants were baptized. The Sabbath school enrolled eighty. The contributions to benevolent objects through the boards of the church in the United States amounted to $77. The congregational expenses were $771. These figures are, however, incomplete, as the records are imperfect. In the spring of 1864, Rev. Mr. Hughes removed to Des Moines, Iowa.      After his departure, the Rev. William Hamilton administered the Lord's Supper and the ordinance of Baptism, December 12, 1864.      From the first Sabbath in May to August 27, 1865, Mr. John K. Demarest, a licentiate of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, ministered to the church in word, doctrine and prayer. Not having been ordained,

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the Rev. James H. Clark, of Council Bluffs, administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, August. 27, 1865. Soon after Mr. Demarest concluded his labors in the church.      By order of the Presbytery of Missouri River, Rev. John T. Baird of Brownville, conducted a communion service, October 28, 1865. At this time Mr. Thomas K. Hanna was received into the church. Hanna was influential in the church and community, was elected an elder May 19, 1866, but served only a short time, removing to Kansas City, May 16, 1868.      March 18, 1866, Mr. James Johnson Coale supplied the church. He was a graduate of and tutor in Princeton University, was a student in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. He supplied the church for about three months during his vacation.      The first services of the church were held in the school house on Marble street, between Eleventh and Twelfth, and in other localities. In 1865 a church building was begun near the corner of Sixth and Main streets with only $500 in hand, but which was finished in 1866 at a cost of $3,000. It was a substantial brick building, twenty-eight feet front by sixty feet deep, seating 250 or 300 persons. It was used by the church until 1889, when it gave place to the Hotel Riley.      From May, 1866, to May, 1867, Rev. William Hamilton supplied the church. The Rev. William Hamilton was a missionary to the Omaha tribe of Indians most of his life. He came with his family to Bellevue in 1853, having served some time as a missionary to tribes of Indians near St. Joseph, Mo. He removed to the Omaha Agency, in the northern part of Nebraska, when the tribe removed. He was a self-denying, devoted man of God. During his ministrations to the church of Plattsmouth there was a marked religious interest. Fifteen were received into the church on profession of their faith, four on certificate, and the roll of the church was increased to forty-two. Two adults and seven infants were baptized. The Sabbath school numbered seventy. The contributions to the benevolent objects of the church in general amounted to $91. The gifts for the expenses of the congregation were $1,157. During his labors Mr. and Mrs. Calvin H. Parmele united

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with the church. Mr. Parmele was elected a ruling elder June 25, 1871, and continued in that office, until his death, August, 1896. He was a liberal supporter and in many ways promoted the interests of the church. Mrs. C. H. Parmele still continues an honored member of the church, having never failed in loyalty in all the forty-one years of her membership.      Mrs. J. Newton Wise was the first to unite with the church under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, and has continued active in the work of the church until the present.      Mr. and Mrs. John R. Clark also united with the church under the labors of Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Clark was elected an elder August 2, 1868, which office he held until his removal to Lincoln, April 2, 1875.      Mr. C. D. Roberts, a licentiate of the Presbytery of West Virginia, took charge of the church November 28, 1867, and continued his services until October, 1869. During that time six were received on profession of faith, five by certificate, and forty-eight members were enrolled. Five adults and fifteen infants were baptized. The Sabbath school numbered 120. The contributions to the boards amounted to $324, and the congregational expenses aggregated $1,453.      During the first ten years of the history of the church, from 1858 to 1868, forty-two were added to the church on profession, thirty-eight by certificate, so that at the close of the period there were forty-five members. Seventeen adults and forty-four infants were baptized. The Sabbath school numbered eighty. The sum of $320 was contributed to the boards of the church, and $2,684 to church expenses.      December 16, 1869, Rev. Daniel William Cameron became supply of the church. June 2, 1870, he was installed the first pastor, of the church. By the order of Presbytery, Rev. J. C. Elliott, of Nebraska City, and Rev. John T. Baird, of Brownville, conducted the service of installation. The Rev. D. W. Cameron was born in Nova Scotia in 1839. He graduated from Truro College, N. S., and Princeton Theological Seminary. He served churches in Prince Edward's Island and in Pennsylvania before coming to Plattsmouth. He was released from the pastorate in April, 1872. During his term of service ten

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were received on profession and twenty-five by certificate. The membership of the church numbered fifty-six. He baptized six adults and ten infants. The Sabbath school numbered 100. The contributions to the boards were $184, to congregational expenses $2,141.      Of the present members of the church, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pollock united with the church by certificate October 1, 1870. Mr. Pollock was elected Sabbath school superintendent, October, 1871, was chosen an elder, June, 1874, and has continued in that office until the present. He represented the Presbytery of Nebraska City in the General Assembly which met in Pittsburg in 1878, and has been chosen to represent it this year in Kansas City.      June 25, 1871, the rotary system of eldership was adopted. Messrs. J. G. Hays and J. R. Clark were chosen for three years, Messrs. J. Newton Wise and John F. Buck for two years, and Messrs. C. H. Parmele and John W. Rawlins, M.D., for one year. Since then Messrs. Thomas Marsland, Thomas McClelland, S. E. Hall, Henry M. Gault, Archibald M. Holmes, Joseph M. Roberts, William N. Baird and Wesley J. Evans have been elders.      Rev. William T. Bartle was stated supply and pastor-elect of the church from March 21, 1872, until April 3, 1875. He was born in Gloucester county, New Jersey, and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. He was licensed in April, 1852, and ordained in October, 1852, by the Presbytery of Alton. He supplied two churches in Michigan before coming to Plattsmouth. He received into the church seven members by examination and twenty-two by certificate, so that the church numbered fifty-two. He baptized one adult and four infants. The Sabbath school numbered 140. The contributions to the general fund of the church at large amounted to $221 and to congregational expenses $2,170.      Rev. John T. Baird succeeded Mr. Bartle. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 3, 1834, graduated from Yale College in July, 1858, from Princeton Theological Seminary in May, 1861. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Cincinnati in September, 1861. During the civil war he served churches in the vicinity of Cincinnati and in

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the city, at Walnut Hills, the seat of Lane Theological Seminary, of which Dr. Lyman Beecher, father of Dr. Henry Ward Beecher and Mrs. H. B. Stowe, was President. From April to July, 1864, Mr. Baird served on the Christian Commission at Louisville, Ky., Nashville and Chattanooga, Tenn., Allatoona and Kenesaw Mountains, Georgia. He became stated supply of the church in Brownville, Neb., on the second Sabbath of September, 1864, and pastor June 27, 1865, continuing in that work until July 4, 1875. He became pastor-elect of the church of Plattsmouth July 11, 1875, and closed his pastorate July 11, 1905. On the second Sabbath in July, 1875, there were fifty-three members on the roll. Of these, eight remained at the close of the pastorate, viz: Mr. J. Newton Wise, the only charter member in connection with the church; Mrs. J. Newton Wise, who united with the church May 19, 1866; Mrs. John F. Buck, who became a member December 27, 1862; Mr. James Hodgert, who joined the church in October, 1873; Mrs. C. H. Parmele, who united with the church January 28, 1867; Miss Sarah G. Baker, who united with the church November 23, 1867; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pollock, who presented their letters October 1, 1870. During his term of service 215 were received on profession, 153 by certificate, and the membership reached 156. Ninety-eight adults and 106 infants were baptized. The Sabbath school numbered 149. The contributions to the boards of the church in general amounted to $4,886, and to congregational expenses $43,791.      From 1868 to 1878, the church received twenty-six on profession, sixty-four on certificate, and had a membership of sixty-two. Eleven adults and thirty-seven infants were baptized. The Sabbath School numbered 135. The contributions to the boards amounted to $878, and to congregational expenses $7,821.      From 1878 to 1888, the church received twenty-four on profession, thirty-one by certificate, and numbered ninety members. Twelve adults and twenty-two infants were baptized. The contributions to the boards were $1,850, to congregational expenses $9,875.      From January to March, 1889, the church was favored with the evangelistic services of Rev. William H. Claggett, D. D., and Mr.

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Bilhorn. Mr. Claggett was born in Natchez, Miss., in 1848. He was licensed in 1871 by the Presbytery of St. Louis, and ordained in the same year by the Presbytery of Palmyra. He preached for some time in Missouri and Virginia, and was an evangelist in Alabama and other parts of the United States and Great Britain. Mr. Bilhorn was a noted singer and evangelist, and the author of many popular musical compositions of a sacred character. They held services in the streets, and in the shops, as well as in the church. As a result of their labors twenty-three were added to the church on profession of their faith, and much religious activity was awakened. A Young Men's Christian Association was formed, a room was secured and an efficient secretary.      Rev. Frederic Tonge began evangelistic services in February, 1898. He gave Bible readings every afternoon and preached every night until February 11th. His efforts resulted in adding four to the church on profession and inducing a number to present their certificates of dismission from other churches.      In 1889 the present church building was erected at a cost of $17,012, of which $11,012 was paid and $6,000 borrowed at six per cent interest. A pipe organ was also purchased by the ladies at a cost of $1,500.      From 1888 to 1898, 101 were added on profession, seventy-four on certificate, and the membership reached 142. Fifty adults and sixty-three infants were baptized. The Sabbath school numbered 176. The contributions to the boards were $1,867, to congregational expenses $22,238.      From January l5th to March 26, 1899, union services conjointly with the Methodist Episcopal church were held every evening, conducted by Rev. Dr. Stratton, of the Methodist Episcopal church of Oregon. By his labors thirteen additions on profession were made to our church and a spiritual uplift given to many.      From June 1st to June 22, 1902, union tent services were held by Rev. Francis E. Smiley, D.D., and Mr. John McKinner, an accomplished leader of song. Dr. Smiley was educated in the University of Pennsylvania and took a post-graduate course in Princeton University, N. J. He studied in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, and was a post-

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graduate student of the Free College of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was ordained by the Presbytery of Philadelphia in 1886. He ministered to churches in Philadelphia, Pa., and in Denver, Col. He was engaged in evangelistic work in the United States and Great Britain from 1889 to 1893. Unfavorable weather interfered greatly with the success of the meetings, still they resulted in an addition to our church of twelve on profession and the spiritual benefit of all who attended the services.      Rev. James H. Salsbury entered upon the pastorate of the church September, 1905. Mr. Salsbury graduated from Park College in 1896, studied theology in Auburn Seminary, New York, and graduated in 1899. He became pastor of the church in Gresham, and the Goshen church in Benedict, Neb., in 1899; organized the church of Thayer, Neb., in 1902; removed to the Third Presbyterian Church of Lincoln in 1903, and to Plattsmouth in September, 1905. Under his ministrations in Plattsmouth, forty have been received on profession, and twenty by certificate. There is now a membership of 180. He has baptized twelve adults and fourteen infants. The Sabbath school numbers 147. The contributions to the boards have been $327, to the expenses of the church $5,914, and the church debt of $7,444 has been paid, making a total of $13,358.      During the last ten years there have been added to the church on profession ninety-nine, by certificate forty-seven, making a membership of 180. Forty-five adults and twenty-six infants have been baptized. The contributions to the boards have been $1,173, to congregational expenses $22,081.      From the beginning of its history the church has sustained a Sabbath School, with cultivated and efficient teachers and superintendents. The superintendents have been Mr. J. Newton Wise, Mr. Thomas Pollock, Mr. Joseph H. Waterman, Mr. Walter N. Halsey, Mr. George L. Farley, Mr. William N. Baird, Mr. J. E. Douglass. Of these, Mr. Walter N. Halsey was a missionary teacher for several years in the Presbyterian Mission Schools of New Mexico. He was while here the principal of the High School of Plattsmouth. In 1899 he entered the Theological Seminary at Omaha, and graduated in

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1902. He was pastor for some time of the churches of Columbus and Ord in Nebraska. The Rev. Matthew B. Lowrie, D.D., President of the Theological Seminary at Omaha, was the pastor under whose ministrations he was converted and brought into the church many years ago. Among the officers of the Sabbath school, Miss Margaret Hodgert holds the palm for length of service, she having been secretary and treasurer for twenty-one years.      The Ladies Aid Society, of which Mrs. John Waterman was president ten years, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Ladies Missionary Society, and other societies of ladies have contributed greatly to the social and financial prosperity of the church.      The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was organized early in the history of the Christian Endeavor movement. It was begun in 1886 or 1887 as a union society with the young people of the Methodist Episcopal church. About 1890 it became, by the formation of the Epworth League, a purely Presbyterian society, although frequently uniting with the societies of young people in the other churches of the city. It has been a great blessing to many of the young people and to the church. It is especially honored by the fact that the present pastor of the church, Rev. James H. Salsbury, is this year President of the Christian Endeavor Union of Nebraska.      Many accomplished performers upon instruments of music and a host of sweet-voiced singers, too numerous to mention, have contributed wonderfully to the worship of the church by their whole-souled, inspiring leadership in the service of song.      This pioneer church has always been an earnest promoter of the cause of temperance. Its doors have ever been open to congregations gathered to hear speakers advocating total abstinence from the use as a beverage of intoxicating liquors, and urging the banishment of the saloon from town and state. This church, through its ministers, has uttered no uncertain sound in regard to civic righteousness in regard to a high standard of morality in the individual and community, slid in regard to practices that endanger purity of life in young and old.      Above all this church has rejoiced to publish the glad tidings of Salvation through divine grace and to proclaim Jesus. Lord of all.