Part 7 With the close of the conference of 1899 the First Methodist Episcopal church and the Fourteenth Street Methodist church ceased to exist, and the Central Methodist Episcopal church was organized, through the reunion of the two former churches.  Then in 1902 the cornerstone of the present magnificent stone structure was laid, and on December 13, 1903, it was dedicated, Dr. J. F. Barry, now Bishop Barry, preaching the dedicatory sermon on that occasion. The characteristic features of St. John's church, which took the name after the new structure was built, is well worth a passing notice.  In type it is the revival of a very old English gothic, and is probably the only similar structure in this country.  In design it is plain, chaste, original, massive, churchly; in execution, endurance and solid worth are the dominant purposes, and a church has been constructed that will not soon grow old.  P. T. Burrows, of Davenport, was the designing architect, and F. G. Clausen was the superintending architect.  The church property as it now stands cost $112,000, and is free from debt.  The parsonage itself cost $12,000.  The present membership of the church is 1,030, whole that of the Sunday school is 623. The following pastors presided in Davenport since 1864 at the Fifth Street church:  Henry Paylies, from 1864 to 1866; A. B. Kendig, 1866 to 1868; I. K. Fuller, 1868 to 1869; J. S. Anderson, 1870-71; Emery Miller, 1871-74; T. McClary, 1874-75; A. C. Manwell, 1875-78; J. H. Rhea, 1878-81; F. E. Brush, 1881-84; J. S. McCord, 1884-87; J. G. Van Ness, 1887-88; U. Z. Gilmer, 1888-89; J. S. McCord, 1891-95; F. W. Loos, 1895-98; H. O. Pratt, 1898.  At the Fourteenth Street church were Emery Miller, 1867-68; C. W. Copeland, 1868-69; U. F. Paxton, 1869-71; R. W. Keeler, 1871-72; William Fawcett, 1872-76; E. Skinner, 1876-77; H. S. Church, 1877-80; S. W. Heald, 1880-83; William Lease, 1883-86; T. E. Fleming, 1886-87; J. B. Casebeer and J. S. McIntyre, 1887-88; J. S. McIntyre, 1888-89; Rev. McCurdy, 1899.  Under H. O. Pratt and Rev. McCurdy the Central Methodist Episcopal church was organized.  After this union the first pastor was Rev. Dr. W. F. Bartley, who remained until 1901.  From 1901 to 1904 F. L. Thompson was pastor; from 1904 until 1907, L. C. Lemon, who was followed in 1907 by J. A. Burchit, the present pastor. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L