Part 5 Rev. J. G. Demmit was presiding elder from 1852 to 1855, when the Davenport charge was part of the Dubuque district.  In the '60s he was stationed at Davenport.  During the pastorate of Landon Taylor the membership of the church was doubled, and soon after when his successor, Dr. Kynette, arrived, it was found necessary to provide a larger building.  It was first agreed to purchase a lot upon which a part of the Rock Island station now stands, but finally the lot upon the corner of Fifth and Brady was decided upon and preparations were begun for the building of the church.  In the autumn of 1853 the work had so far progressed that the basement was occupied for services during the following winter.  The building was finished the next summer and was dedicated in 1854.  Rev. James I. Watson preached the dedication sermon and Rev. Henry Clay Dean preached in the evening.  Dr. Kynette was pastor in charge during these two years.  The church was soon paid for and a parsonage built.  In 1856 the Upper Iowa conference was formed and Davenport became a part of it.  The first preacher sent was Rev. W. R. Keeler, later dean of the School of Theology, Central Tennessee college.  In 1857 G. D. Brown came to the church and labored until May, 1858, and on the 26th of that month, after a few days of great suffering, entered into rest.  He was succeeded in the pastorate by the Rev. Robert L. Collier, who later gained worldwide repute as a pulpit orator. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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