FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
In the year 1878-79, the
present edifice on the old site, was
completed at a cost of $20,000. The former
church building is now the chapel and Sunday
School room. In addition to the Christian
Union, above named, there are connected with
the church a "Postoffice Mission" for
disseminating religious literature, and the
W. G. Eliot Fraternity of Young People. The
society also supports a Mission Sunday
School in South Portland with ten teachers
and sixty scholars.
The Unitarian Church of America, originating
in the New England Controversy of 1820-30,
is a small, loosely organized but powerful
body, identified everywhere with
intellectual freedom, the progress of
science, and spiritual religion. It is a
church eminent for philanthropy and great
scholarship, and numbers among its members,
numbers of the leading authors and reformers
of the age.
The German Lutheran Church was organized in
1868 by Rev. H. Meyers. Services were first
held in Trinity Methodist Church. The first
officers were: F. T. Lauterwausser and John
A. Fisher, Elders; C. H. Meussdorffer and
Henry Lansen, Deacons. The present house of
worship, corner of Fifth and Taylor, was
completed in 1870. It has a seating capacity
of five hundred. The following have served
as pastors: Revs. H. Meyers, C. S. Spricher,
Henry Gans, G. P. Weaver and A. Meyers. Rev.
Henry Doering is the present pastor.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel
Church began its existence in 1883 with Rev.
John W. Skans as pastor, who has continued
in that relation ever since. A neat church
building has been erected on B street,
between Ninth and Tenth streets.
The Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran
Church was organized in 1886. Rev. John
Tackle continued as pastor for one year,
since which the church has been without a
pastor.
The English Lutheran Congregation was
organized in 1888. Services are held every
Sunday by the pastor, Rev. M. L. Sweizig in
Central Hall. The erection of a church
edifice is contemplated.
The First German Evangelical Reformed Church
was organized in 1874, by Rev. John
Gantenbein. A few years later the present
church building on the corner of Ninth and
Stark streets was erected. The services are
conducted in the German language, and the
church is in a prosperous condition. Mr.
Gantenbein is still pastor and the
prosperity of the church is largely due to
his labors.
The First Christian Church was organized in
February, 1870. For several years services
were held in Nonpareil Hall, corner of First
and Madison streets. In 1881, a lot was
purchased on the corner of East Park and
Columbia and during the same year the
present house of worship was built. The
following pastors have served this church:
C. Sharp Jr, B. Wolverton, Henry Shader and
Clark Davis. At present the congregation
have no regularly stationed pastor.
The society of the First German Evangelical
Church was formed in 1878. The first pastor
was Rev. H. W. Axthelm under whom the
present house of worship, on the Northeast
corner of Eighth and Clay streets, was built
in 1880. Rev. Charles Wachlte succeeded Mr.
Axthelm in 1883. He remained two years when
Rev. Adam Schlenck was chosen pastor. The
present pastor Rev. Herman Schuknecht began
his pastorate in 1888.
Benevolent Societies
During the earlier years of Portland's
history, the poor of the city were cared for
by the generosity of individual citizens or
through the efforts . of relief societies
connected with the various churches. As the
city grew in population more systematic
methods for dealing with want and
destitution became necessary. In obedience
to this demand the Ladies Relief Society-the
first organization to take up the work
independently of the religious denominations
of the city-came into existence. This
society was formed in March, 1867, Mrs. G.
H. Atkinson, Mrs. E. Ainsworth, Mrs. J. C.
Ainsworth, Mrs. M. S. Burrell, Mrs. J. H.
Couch, Mrs. J. B. Congle, Mrs. T. L. Eliot,
Mrs. Thos. Frazer, Mrs. A. Holbrook, Mrs C.
H. Lewis, Mrs. Donald Macleay, Mrs. S. G.
Reed and others being among the original
members.
After four years' work among the poor of the
city, the necessity of providing a "Home"
where the forsaken and neglected children of
the city could be kept and cared for became
apparent to the members of the society. To
attain this object, the ladies secured the
co-operation of W. S. Ladd, Henry Failing,
David C. Lewis, Rev. T. L. Eliot and J. C.
Ainsworth, who in July, 1871, under the laws
of Oregon, became a corporate body and the
original trustees of the corporation known
as " The Home." Soon after the incorporation
was secured the society and board of
trustees purchased two lots and a small
house on the corner of F and Fourteenth
streets for $2,000, twelve gentlemen
contributing $100 each toward the purchase,
which with the money at that time in the
hands of the society, left a surplus of $200
after paying for the property. A few months
later, a sum of $3,000 was secured for
building a " Home," which was immediately
begun, and in September, 1872, formally
opened under the charge of Miss E. Davison
as matron. Here for twelve years the society
did a grand work, the "Home" being
constantly filled with children who were
provided with comfortable quarters and
pleasant surroundings.
As the city increased in population, the
building became too small for the purpose,
and in response to the appeals of the
members of the society for enlarged quarters
and a site further out of town, Henry
Villard, early in 1883, donated to the
society a block of land in South Portland,
bounded by Gaines, Lane, Corbett and Water
streets. Upon this land, admirably situated
for the purpose, a three-story building,
108x58 feet in dimensions, has been erected,
which was opened in November, 1884. It is a
handsome and imposing structure, and
furnished with every facility for the
comfort and health of its inmates. Since it
was opened, the average number of children
maintained has been eighty. Girls from three
to twelve and boys from three to ten years
are received. They are provided with
comfortable clothing, plain but plentiful
food, surrounded with good moral influences,
and from the time they arrive at the legal
school age until they leave the institution,
attend the public schools. When they attain
the age they are to leave the "Home," in
most cases they are adopted into families or
provided with situations where they can earn
their own living.
During recent years, the State Legislature
has annually appropriated a certain sum to
be expended in maintaining the " Home." Last
year (1889), $5,000 was received from this
source, but outside of the aid it receives
from the legislature and from an endowment
fund of $13,680, it is entirely supported by
voluntary contributions.
In September, 1889, a hospital building
costing $3,000, was completed on the block
occupied by the Home. It is to be
principally used for the treatment of
contagious diseases.
Mrs. G. P. F. Wood has held the position of
Matron of the Home since February, . 1879.
She has proven a most earnest worker and
well qualified for a most trying position. .
Under her care the children receive
judicious training, and are surrounded _ by
influences well calculated to leave a
lasting impress for good. Among others who
are especially deserving of praise for their
work in behalf of The Home," are Drs. Ziba
B., Ammi S. and Clarence L. Nichols, who for
the past seven years have gratuitously
tendered their professional services to the
inmates. During this period but one death
has occurred among them, a fact due largely
to their skill and faithfulness.
The Board of Trustees of "The Home" is
composed of W. S. Ladd, Henry Failing, H. W.
Corbett, Rev. T. L. Eliot and Wm. Wadhams.
W. S. Ladd is President of the Board; Henry
Failing, Treasurer and Rev. T. L. Eliot,
Secretary. The officers of the Ladies'
Relief Society, to whom, in connection with
the officers of the Board of Trustees, the
care and management of "The Home" is
entrusted, are: Mrs. Amory Holbrook,
president; Mrs. H. F. Suksdorf, vice
president; Mrs. Theodore Wygant, treasurer;
Mrs. C. F. Rockwell, secretary; Mrs. H.
Thielsen, Mrs. B. Goldsmith, Mrs. H. W.
Corbett, Mrs. F. Alleyne Beck, Mrs. W. W.
Spaulding, Mrs. T. B. Merry, Mrs. Eugene D.
White, Mrs. C. F. Rockwell, Mrs. J. B.
Congle, Mrs. D. P. Thompson and Mrs. Geo. T.
Myers, advisory committee.
The German Benevolent Association is one of
the oldest charitable organizations in the
city. It was formed in 1869, mainly through
the efforts of Christian H. Muessdorffer,
one of Portland's most successful German
merchants. Among its first officers were:
Henry Saxer, president; Charles Burckhardt,
treasurer; Dr. Charles Schumacher, secretary
and C. H. Muessdorffer, chairman of the
board of trustees. To render aid to
destitute Germans who come to Portland is
the object of the society, and during the
years of its existence it has been the.
means of rendering timely aid to many worthy
emigrants. The society has a hospital fund
of more than $20, 000, and in the near
future intends to erect and maintain a
hospital, ground for which has already been
purchased. The work of the society is
carried on with the money received from
monthly membership dues. The present
officers are: John Wagner, president; C.
Caesar, vice president; C. Von Wurtzengerode,
secretary and agent; Frank Dekum, treasurer;
C. H. Muessdorffer, L. Levy and D. W.
Hoelbing, trustees.
Among the most practical charitable
organizations of Portland should rank the
Boys and Girls Aid Society. The good
accomplished by a similar society in
California induced a number of our citizens
to unite in perfecting an organization here.
Prominent among those who aided in the
preliminary work and who has ever since been
a most valuable friend of the society, is
Rev. T. L. Eliot, a prominent figure in
charitable and philanthropic work during his
many years of residence in our city. An
organization was perfected in July, 1885, at
which time the following officers were
chosen: H. W. Corbett, president; F. E.
Beach, secretary; L. L. Hawkins, treasurer;
W. S. Ladd, H. W. Corbett, P. F. Keen, L. L.
Hawkins, Helen F. Spaulding, W. B. Gilbert,
F. E. Beach and I. F. Powers, trustees.
The object of the society is to improve the
condition of the homeless, neglected and
abused children of the State, using such
means as are strictly non-sectarian in
character. It began work under the provision
of an act passed by the State Legislature in
February, 1885, called "An Act for
suspension of judgment against minors, and
for commitment to the care of certain
charitable corporations." Under the
provisions of this act it receives "juvenile
offenders," by legal commitment or
otherwise, who are in danger of being
imprisoned; provides for such until suitable
homes or employment and oversight are found
for them, and continues a systematic
attention to their treatment and condition.
In 1887 a special officer of the city police
was detailed to the services of the society.
He investigates cases, visits families,
attends to all reports at the station
regarding boys, attends the courts whenever
boys or girls are on trial, looks after the
children in the streets, keeps a record of
the cases and carries out in general the
work as directed by the officers of the
society.
The society has been instrumental in
securing from the legislature the passage of
several bills aiming to improve the moral
and physical condition of the young, such as
the act restraining the sale of tobacco and
cigarettes to minors, and also the bill
above referred to empowering courts to
transfer to charitable institutions the
guardian-ship of minors on proof of
sufficient cause.
Among those who have been especially active
in carrying on the work of the society is
Ira F. Powers, the acting superintendent of
the executive committee, who from the start
has been a zealous worker, and whose earnest
and self-sacrificing labors have gained for
the organization such a strong hold on the
confidence of the public. F. E. Beach has
been secretary from the beginning, and also
a valuable co-worker in the cause, while
Rev. T. L. Eliot, who may be termed the
founder of the society, has been a constant
source of good advice and in many ways one
of its most earnest and determined
advocates.
During 1889 the society was the recipient of
$40,000 by the will of Miss Ella M. Smith.
This fund is to be invested and only the
proceeds to be used. The members intend in
the near future to erect a receiving hone,
and with the endowment the society has
already received, it will be possible to
make the institution largely
self-supporting.
The present officers are H. W. Corbett,
president; F. E. Beach, secretary; L. L.
Hawkins, treasurer; Ira F. Powers, H. W.
Corbett, J. A. Strowbridge, D. Solis Cohen,
L. L. Hawkins, W. B. Gilbert, F. E. Beach,
I. W. Pratt, Helen F. Spaulding, trustees;
Ira. F. Powers, W. B. Gilbert and Helen F.
Spaulding, executive committee.
For a number of years those interested in
benevolent work in Portland felt the
necessity of a better organization-a more
systematic method of dispensing alms. Wm. G.
Steel and a number of others connected with
the society of Christian Endeavor of the
First Congregational Church, at last took
the matter in hand and with the hearty
co-operation of many others who had been
prominent workers in the cause of organized
charity, secured in February, 1889, the
organization of the City Board of Charities.
