by Mike Roberts, HUUC Church Historian
In the series of articles about “Those Who Served,” we add this month the names of Andrew P. Henkel and the Littell family.
ANDREW P. HENKEL— Mr. Henkel was a member of our congregation through his entire adult life and contributed much to the church during that span. He was born to Hiram and Lucy (Van Ness) Henkel in Cincinnati on January 8, 1856. He married Stella Gregory and five children were born of that relationship. One son, Paul, was an accomplished pianist studying in Europe when he was struck down by encephalitis at the young age of 24. Andrew owned a cotton textile-manufacturing firm and lived in Hyde Park with his family. He was a director of the Hyde Park Bank, a founding member of the Hyde Park Country Club and noted as an amateur astronomer who reputedly had the largest home observatory and telescope in the state. At the closing of his estate, it was valued at $68,000.
Mr. Henkel served his church in many capacities before his untimely death from prostate cancer at the age of 51. No greater description of these contributions could be offered than the resolution passed by our Board of Trustees in January 1914. “We record our appreciation of the character and labors in behalf of our church of Mr. Andrew P. Henkel. For forty years—almost from the day he entered our city— he was a force in the life of our parish. He was ever in his pew as worshipper; as Deacon he was unremitting in his thought for the spiritual good of our Zion; as Trustee and President of the Board of Trustees, he gave of himself unreservedly to the work of all that made for the advancement of our cause in this city—his rare business acumen; his constant devotion—his services—his substance—and most valued of all the presence were ever at the call of the church’s needs.”
THE LITTELL FAMILY— Beginning with William J. Littell, this family remained faithful to the church in successive generations beginning in the early 1880s. Born in 1837, William Littell became a real estate and financial broker operating out of offices on West 4th Street. He first married Anna Smith but she died at age 32 in 1871. From that marriage, two children were born, Nettie and Orin. William remarried to Alnette McKimmie and four more children came from that union, but only one, Cora, lived to adulthood. William was active in the church serving on many committees and the Board of Trustees. He was part of a three-man team that laid the cornerstone for the new Essex St. Church.
William’s brother Joseph was also a church member through this era. He was born in 1845 and died in 1908. Joseph and his wife Belinda Bird had but one child live to adulthood, Joseph W. Littell. Joseph passed away in 1908 but son Joseph Wesley Littell followed the family in service to our church. He held many positions of leadership and passed away in 1939.
Three of the other Littell children (Orin, Nettie, and Cora) became active members of the church as adults. Orin was married in the church to Alice Bentley and gave enormous amounts of his time to the First Society. Between 1895 and his death in 1921, he served every year either as Secretary to the Board of Trustees or as the church business manager. He and Alice were frequently mentioned in activities within the church. Orin was a cashier for the Lincoln National Bank but also was a 33rd degree Mason, and a member of several Hyde Park business groups.
Nettie and Cora never married. Nettie was a regular participant in church services and died in 1924. Cora lived to be the last of her namesakes to grace the First Universalist Society. She was extremely active in the Clara Barton Guild and other charitable organizations within the church. She left the bulk of her estate to the church upon her death in 1961. The Heritage Room of our church is dedicated to the memory of Cora Littell and her faithful service to the Universalist religion.
Featured Image source: https://tinyurl.com/33ps8vpe, photo by mmsJack
The Littell Family Tree created by B. L. Barnes with https://tinyurl.com/3c8fy8y6