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Pioneer Life
In and Around Cedar Rapids, Iowa from 1839 to 1849
Rev. George R. Carroll

- Chapter XV -

(pages 195 - 201)

Chapters:
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, X (cont), XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX

Schools, Music and Religious Services.

As elsewhere related the first school ever taught here was by Mrs. John Vardy in her own house. The first Sunday School was also established in this house, Mr. Vardy, and Mr. Shearer, and Mr. Joseph Greene, and Mr. Alexander L. Ely acting at different times as superintendent, although my impression is that none of them were formally elected to the office, the school not having as yet become fully organized. Both the day and Sabbath schools were begun in 1843, as nearly as Mr. Henry Vardy can recollect. Later these schools were carried on in the building elsewhere described as the "Long Ornery" on the ground now occupied by the "Granby," corner of Third avenue and Second street. The day school in that building was taught by Miss Susan Abbe, daughter of Esquire Abbe, whose name is mentioned in other places in these records.

The Sabbath school, after being transferred to this building, was properly organized, and I believe, Mr. Alexander L. Ely was the first superintendent, and Mr. Joseph Greene assistant.

The first school building erected was the work of private enterprise, N. B. Brown, George Greene, Alexander L. Ely and others being the active agents in its construction. It was erected in 1846-7, and was afterwards sold to the district. It stood on the corner of Second avenue and Fifth street, diagonally across the street from the Congregational church. The first teacher of the winter school in this building was Mr. Charles Taylor, a man well fitted for the position, and highly regarded by both pupils and their parents.

Miss Sarah Weare taught school in this building in a very early day.

This building was used by all Christian denominations for their services and for public gatherings of all kinds.

On April 6, 1848, the Presbytery of Des Moines met in this building, one part of their work being the ordination to the Gospel ministry of Mr. Glen Wood, a recent graduate of Yale College, and Yale Theological Seminary. This was the first ordination service, so far as I know, that ever occurred in this city. Certain it is that it was the first I ever witnessed.

The First Presbyterian church was organized in this building July 9, 1847, by Revs. Julius A. Reed and Bennett Roberts, the charter members being John Vardy, Frederick Grambo and wife, Barnet Lutz and wife, Isaac Listebarger and wife, and Alexander L. Ely and wife.

Rev. Bennett Roberts was the first stated minister, his home being in Marion. He was a man of marked ability and of the purest Christian character. He was a very diffident man, and hardly had the confidence to look his audience in the face.

His sermons, however, were often very powerful, his singular expressions of countenance, and his peculiar manner of delivery seeming to make his discourses all the more impressive.

His reading of hymns was unlike anything I ever heard, but at the same time deeply impressive. Those who had the privilege of hearing him will never forget the solemn expression of his countenance and the peculiar intonations of voice when he read the old hymn so often sung in years gone by:

"Behold a stranger at the door,
He gently knocks has knocked before,
Has waited long, is waiting still,
You treat no other friend so ill."

The services were very simple and unostentatious in those early days, but I doubt if there has ever been a truer devotional spirit, or more acceptable worship offered to the Most High, in the more elaborate and stately worship of recent years.

Music of Early Times.

I do not think our music in those primitive times would have been considered first-class by our modern educated musicians. Pipe organs and pianos and reed organs were rarely to be though of, much less to be possessed by anybody in this region.

In fact there was no place to put them even if they had been furnished free of charge. And yet let no one think that we were without any music of any kind.

There were some very sweet voices among our pioneers, although the variety of music was somewhat limited. Of course there were then, as there are now, persons whose voices were anything but melodious, and they were usually the loudest singers, and their selections were often the most grotesque and singular character.

It would sound very strange to cultivated ears in our modern religious assemblies to hear some good old woman with faltering voice, break out in a voluntary solo, with words and tune such as few ever heard before, or would ever wish to hear again. Still they seemed to enjoy it, if nobody else did, and no one had any desire to abridge their privileges or interfere with their enjoyment. One venerable woman would break out with that very unique old song which somebody had at some time imagined to be poetry:

"There was a man in ancient times
The Scripture doth inform us."

Nor would she cease till the whole six or eight verses had been sung to the end.

And then at another time we would be treated to that other memorable piece of composition, one verse of which ran as follows:

"Oh where is good old Daniel?
Safe in the promised land
By and by we'll go and meet him,
Safe in the promised land.

This of course could be run out indefinitely including all the major and minor prophets, as well as the later worthies of the New Testament. And, as any one could add to it at will; when it was once begun, there was no telling when or where it would end. Nevertheless with all these minor infelicities we had some very good singing. In our religious gatherings the singing was often hearty and sincere, and full of the spirit of worship, although not so artistically rendered as some might wish in this critical age.

And then in our own homes and around our own family firesides the singing of songs and hymns was no uncommon thing, and the music seemed to be as thoroughly enjoyed as that which is now practiced in our more cultured circles.

My father and mother both possessed very good voices. My mother's voice was especially clear and musical. Of course, to me, it was the sweetest voice I ever heard.

Others might have thought quite differently about it, but as I recall it from my present standpoint I am inclined to think that my boyhood estimate of her musical talents was not much exaggerated.

There was a little song she used to sing, the tune of which is still fresh in my memory, but I can only recall a few sentences of the words, but they were words of hopefulness and good cheer, and were so characteristic of her that I feel inclined to give them. They ran something like this:

"With an ambling pad pony to pace o'er the lawn,
While I carol away idle sorrow,
As blithe as the rose which each day hails the dawn,
Look forward with hope for to-morrow."

Then there were some of the good old hymns that still find a place in many of the collections of our present day hymn books, such as:

"Oh for a thousand tongues to sing
My Great Redeemer's praise" and
"Am I a soldier of the cross."

And many others which are familiar to us at this time. And then there were others that for some reason are seldom seen now, although they had in them thoughts that were very inspiring. Among these were:

"Peace, troubled soul, thou needst not fear
Thy great Provider still is near:
Who fed these last will feed thee still,
Be calm and sink into His will."

And then that other one so full of consolation to the believer.

"Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite,
Yet one thing secures us whatever betide
The promise assures us, the Lord will provide."

And so it was that many pleasant hours were spent, as we sang in our pioneer homes and public gatherings.

A little later in our history more attention was given to vocal culture, and singing schools were organized and very good teachers were secured to train and cultivate the voices of our young people.

One of the best teachers we ever had, and who did more than any other to elevate the standard of music, was the Rev. Williston Jones. At first the only musical instruments we had were the base viol and violin, together with the ever present and indispensable tuning fork, which were all that were necessary to hold the young musicians up to the required pitch, in their rehearsals.

These singing schools became quite popular, and Mr. Jones succeeded in arousing an interest on the subject of music such as had not been known up to that time.

He always had a large choir in his congregation, and the improvement in singing from that time on was as marked as it was pleasing to note.

Of course from our present standpoint these early efforts at vocal culture may seem quite crude and unimportant, but yet it was an honest effort in a good cause and in the right direction, and who can say but that the good effects of those early efforts are not being felt to some extent even now? At any rate, I am sure that much good was accomplished at the time, and the sum total of pioneer enjoyment was greatly increased by the music and musicians of those early days.

Source: Pioneer Life In and Around Cedar Rapids from 1839 to 1949 by Rev. George R. Carroll. Pub. Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Times Printing and Binding House, 1895.

Transcribed by Terry Carlson for the IAGenWeb. For research only. Some errors in transcription may have occurred.

Chapters:
I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, X (cont), XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX

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