Alameda County, Oakland, California
First Baptist Church of Oakland
First Baptist Church of Oakland -- This church was organized with the following constituent members: Rev. E. J. Willis, Mrs. A N. Willis, Mr. L. W. Taylor, Mr. S. Ayers, Mrs. Mary Potter, and Mr. J. N. Thompson. Rev, E. J. Willis was chosen Pastor, N. J. Thompson, Deacon, and L. W. Taylor, Clerk. In December, 1854, under the labors of Rev. E. J. Willis, missionary, the first house of worship being dedicated at that time, and was the first Protestant church completed in the city. It was located at the corner of Fifth and Jefferson Streets, and cost, with the land, about two thousand dollars. Mr. Willis pastorate terminated in June, 1856, leaving the church without a pastor for about a year. In May, 1857, Rev. Harvey Gilbert began to preach, and, four months later, was settled as pastor. He resigned in December, 1858, and was succeeded in April, 1859, by Rev. J. B. Saxton. In May, 1863, Mr. Saxton having left, Rev. John Francis became pastor of the church. Soon thereafter he house of worship was removed to the corner of Clay and Ninth Streets, a more eligible situation in view of the rapid growth of the city. This house, and the lot on which it was located, were sold, when the new edifice was rented to the German Turn Vervin, who occupy it during the week, religious services having been frequently held there on the Sabbath. Mr. Francis resigned in July, 1864, and was succeeded in November of the same year, by Rev. A. L. Baker, a recent graduate from Rochester. He, however, was compelled to resign in a few months on account of ill-health. In July, 1865, Rev. B. T. Martin was called to the pastorate and continued pastor for nearly six years. During Mr. Martin's pastorate the present handsome edifice at the southeast corner of Fourteenth and Brush Streets was erected at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, the lot whereon it stands having cost twenty-five hundred dollars. It was formally dedicated in March, 1869, the chapel in the rear having been occupied three months before, and used while the main building was being completed: Since that time the following pastors with the dates of their induction have supplied the pulpit: Rev. T. C. Jameson as supply, from August 1871 to May 1873; Rev. R. F. Parshall as pastor, from May 1873 to October 12, 1873; Rev. R. Patterson and Rev. C. B. Post as supplies, from October 1873 to May 1874; Rev. B. S. McLafferty as Pastor, from May 10, 1874 to March 30, 1879; Rev. Granville S. Abbott, D.D., Pastor, from April 2, 1879 to Dec. 31, 1881; Rev. E. Nisbett and Rev. E. H. Gray as supplies (awaiting the arrival of the Rev. Evan Davis* to whom a call had been extended and accepted, but sickness.prevented his fulfilling his engagement); Rev. E. H. Gray D.D., Pastor, August 30, 1882.
The Sunday-school connected with the church was organized in 1854. It has in attendance thirty teachers and two hundred and sixty-seven scholars, and a library of six hundred volumes. The officers of the church are, Pastor, Rev. E. H. Gray, D. D.; Deacons, J. T. Latimer, Cyrus Dam, C. W. Dearborn, H. Garthwaite, J. Z. Dudley;' Clerk, H. Garthwaite; Treasurer, Dr. J. R. Bradway; Trustees, J. P. Cogswell, J. L. Lyon, Ch. Schrieber, James Dalziel, G. F. Lamson.
Sunday-school -- G. F. Lamson, Superintendent; Charles Baker, Assistant; Wm. Lyon, Librarian; Ella Swain, Secretary and Treasurer.
Chinese Mission -- H. Garthwaite, Superintendent; Organist, Mrs. C. T. Benjamin; Sexton, D. C. Davison.
*Burlington, N. J.
Alameda County, California,
Including Its
Geology, Topography, Soil and Productions
Oakland.: M.W. Wood Publisher, 1883
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November, 2007 Pages 726-727
Archive Church Records ~ Archive Index
This Web page is sponsored on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by Richard S. Wilson. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.