USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 15
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The following is a list of the faithful pastors who have served in about . the order here given, for a greater or less time: Revs. J. H. Boyd, George Clammor. P. F. Bresee, M. Carrier, A. M. Shafer, G. Il. Clark, E. R. Frost. R. J. Kenyon. S. Hestwood. John Elrod, J. W. Robinson. J. M. Coates, E. P. McCliene, Ira O. Kimble, J. Craig, S. F. Bishop, A. S. Loveall. R. Woese. David Phillips, Elias Handy, A. S. Loveall, D. R. Martin, A. W. McBalin. L. G. Cummins, Jesse A. Monkman.
Of the first church edifice at Mount Zion, it should be stated that it was destroyed by a cyclone in 1881 and rebuilt the same season.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.
At Sully is located a Methodist Protestant church which was organized about 1860, known first as Lynn Grove church. The charter members of this society were inclusive of these : J. R. Sparks and family, W. R. Mathews and family. Levi Conover and family, J. R. Mathews and family, Moses Shay and family. Mrs. A. R. Mathews is the only surviving charter member.
The pastors serving have been as follows: Revs. W. B. Warrington, W. F. Price. John F. Rouge. Josiah Sanders, Josiah Selby, G. T. Dewitt, J. R. Bolton, J. L. Scott. G. M. Scott. G. I. Reeves. E. S. Brown. R. C. F.
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Chambers, A. A. Peterson, T. W. Noble, James Kirkwood, J. H. Schull, P. A. Keople, J. R. McKaig, S. M. Petty, A. H. Linder, J. W. Payne, A. J. Green, F. G. Aylmore, A. N. Courtney, the present pastor.
The present church was erected about 1870 and was then locaed about one-half mile east of the present town of Sully. It was moved about 1883 to its present site within the town incorporation limits of Sully. It is a frame structure, thirty-two by forty-four feet in size, costing originally two thou- sand three hundred and seventy dollars.
The only other church of this denomination in Jasper county is the Hixon Grove, with Rev. J. W. Murphy as present pastor.
At the date of its organization the Sully church was a part of the Oska- loosa circuit and was known as Lynn Grove. It was organized in a school house a mile to the east of where Sully now stands. It was later made a part of the Newton circuit and later still became a self-supporting charge, as it is today.
NEWTON FREE METHODIST CHURCH.
This society was formed and incorporated October 17, 1892, there being but six members present at that date. It has grown to number about thirty now. In 1894 a neat frame chapel was erected on North Market street. In 1896 a parsonage was built, which with the church have cost the society four thousand dollars.
The present officers are: T. C. Ewing. H. E. Rinehart, George Chap- man, trustees, and Mrs. L. Chapman, secretary.
The following have served as pastors: Revs. J. V. Murray. W. E. Boger, W. Chouts, I. H. Gorrill, I. B. Neville. E. I. Lish, I. P. Doud, F. M. Smith. I. S. Booton, Luke Scripter. E. E. Dalbey, and the present pastor, Rev. R. B. Ralls.
BAPTIST CHURCHES.
Among the first Baptist churches organized in Jasper county, so far as is known to the compiler of this chapter. was the one at Newton, in Novem- ber, 1852. and during that year one was formed at Vandalia, whether before or after the Newton church is not now known from a lack of records at the former.
At Newton the society was formed at the court house, November 20th, by Rev. E. Evans, moderator, and Rev. J. A. Nash, secretary of the council. The charter members numbered eight. They adopted the "New Hampshire Declaration of Faith and Church Covenant." Meetings were held, at least
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once a month, at the court house. In 1856, through the aid of the Home Missionary Society, this church secured the services of Rev. J. E. Guild, who preached every Sabbath in the Presbyterian church. In 1857 they worshiped in the old academy building, with increased interest. In 1862 the lots on which the church edifice was later erected were purchased for two hundred and thirty-four dollars. In 1863 the church, having adopted rules of incor- poration, began building operations. The society then had only thirty-three members.
The Sabbath school was not organized until May 14, 1865. On May 12, 1866. the chairman of the building committee, William Blackman, reported the church as finished, and that the total cost of church and lots was three thousand three hundred and fifty dollars. It was built of brick and was thirty by forty feet in size. In June, that year, the parsonage was commenced and was finished that year, at a cost of one thousand two hundred dollars, a portion of which debt the society authorized the building committee to pay ten per cent. interest for the money borrowed. This debt hung over the church like a pall until 1874. In 1878 the membership was eighty-two and its present membership is one hundred and thirty.
The following have served as pastors of this church : Revs. E. Evans, from 1852 to 1855: Rev. Orin Whitcomb, 1855-56: Rev. J. E. Guild, 1856- 57: J. Currier, from March, 1860. to June, 1863: J. Y. Atchison, from No- vember, 1865, to June, 1868; T. M. Bailey, from January. 1869. to October, 1869; S. M. Chamblet, May. 1870, to 1871 ; D. M. Mead, from September. 1870, to October, 1871; Amos Robinson, from November, 1871, to 1879: Gilman Parker, one year: N. H. Daily, two years: in 1883. Rev. G. G. Daugherty became pastor, serving only nine months, and was not satisfactory to many in the church. The next pastor was Rev. L. F. Compton, in 1885, remaining two and a half years, and was followed by J. R. Murphy, D. D .. serving two years. In 1891 H. D. Weaver became pastor, serving three years ; in 1894. J. S. Nasmith came from Kansas and took charge of the church, remaining two years; he was succeeded by J. E. Lemar, who re- mained nine months and returned to college ; then came C. F. Lusk, followed by M. J. Sigler, C. A. Tenny. G. II. Rookns, N. G. Thomas, who is the present pastor.
As to the present brick edifice, let it be said that it was dedicated in March, 1901, and cost eight thousand dollars. It stands one block south of the southwest corner of the court house square. It is modern in every way.
The building committee was as follows: Pastor Irwin Forbes, William Amos, J. H. Fugard, F. D. Brown, William E. Holtz.
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The First Baptist church of Colfax was organized by a band of ten families holding this faith. This was in the spring of 1889, and they strug- gled along as best they could until the next year by holding their meetings in the homes of their members. That year, however, they called Rev. Allen, who labored with the society about one year. Rev. T. R. Stitt became the next pastor and under his administration a house of worship was planned. A member of the church, W. A. Winder, donated the lot on which the church now stands. The edifice, which was not erected until 1891, is a frame struc- ture, costing four thousand five hundred dollars.
The church has grown from its original twenty members to have two hundred and sixty-one. The pastors have been in the following order : Revs. Allen, T. R. Stitt, Ferguson, Lilley, Reed. Miller, A. J. McColl, J. B. Banker, R. S. Wallace, T. W. Evans, J. L. Barton, and the present pastor, Rev. Al- bert van der Ploeg. Only two of the original members still remain in Colfax, Thomas Ryan and Mrs. Frankie Marion.
Sugar Grove Baptist church was organized about 1870 in Sherman town- ship and struggled along many years, finally providing themselves with a house of worship, built by popular subscriptions. The society finally run down and the building was sold to the Free Methodists under a contract that it should always be used for religious purposes. But not long since the last named society sold the property to William Baker, who sought to convert the same into a hog house, on his farm. But before its removal from its original site, the matter became a matter for the district court to attend to, as it was involved in an injunction suit brought by E. B. Moffitt. of the Baptist denom- ination. The case was tried in the district court at Newton, before Judge Preston, at the May term, 1911, at which time it was decided by the court that the property should not be removed, as it was built by subscriptions of people in the community who understood that it should always be used for church purposes at that point. The case has been appealed to the supreme court of the state.
BAPTISTS AT VANDALI.A.
From an old record the following is found concerning the early Baptist church at Vandalia :
"A Baptist society was organized in 1852, by Elder J. A. Nash, later of Des Moines. The first members were Henry Shearer and wife, J. Q. Deakin and wife, George Anderson and wife, Ira Sllers and wife. The first pastor was Elijah Evans, who moved to Vandalia about 1854, remaining ten years. A building was erected by the society during the first years of its history, and was the only church building built at Vandalia up to 1878."
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METZ BAPTIST CHURCH.
There is a new Baptist organization at the village of Metz, west of New- ton, and during the spring and summer of 1911 a neat frame church edifice was erected and dedicated in May or June.
BAPTIST CHURCH OF MONROE.
The First Baptist church at Monroe was formed May 5, 1855, at which date the following assembled : Rev. E. Scarff. E. O. Town, E. Bockenoogan, I. Talbott. A. Udell, J. J. Haven, W. Q. Ellis, from Pella, and Rev. A. B. Leavitt, of Indiana. W. J. Ellis was chosen clerk. The church was then or- ganized and in March, 1856, preparations were made to build of brick
Among the pastors who have served in this place may be recalled : Revs. A. W. Russell, J. Carrier, up to 1868; G. W. Hertzog, from 1869 to 1875; J. A. Abbott, to 1877.
In 1878 the membership was about eighty. At this date it is one hun- dred and eighty. Following Rev. Abbott, came Revs. W. C. Pratt. Hertzog, Wilson, Mills, H. J. Shutts, J. D. Collins, Richmond A. Smith, G. F. Reik- ing. F. H. Webster, C. O. Johnson. O. H. Sisson, the present pastor, who came in September, 1910.
In 1885 .. for the sum of six hundred dollars, the society purchased. the old Congregational church building and used it as it was until 1894, when they rebuilt it, leaving only one of the side walls. It is now a fine veneered structure, costing six thousand four hundred dollars. It seats comfortably five hundred. It stands on the east side of the public square and has a fine belfry, bell, baptistry and circular pews, all in modern style.
It should be here recorded, however, that this was not the first Baptist society in this neighborhood, for one was formed March 3. 1850. At a meet- ing held on the day just mentioned. met Elder George Bond, and Warren D. Everett, as secretary. Those who united with a new church were : Hartwell and Rebecca Hayes, John and Polly Woody. James D. and Diadema Putnam, Tarlton P. Duncan, Lucy Horton and Polly Mangrum. This society was named "Harmony Church." Elder Evans preached in 1854 and in 1855 the church increased in its membership. but the Republican political party having arisen, dissensions of a political nature arose, coupled with other minor differences, caused the church to go down. The newer members asked to withdraw, but this was not granted. A meeting was called and the latter
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membership voted to take their letters and they formed a new church at Mon- roe. The old original membership revived the old church and removed the place of meeting to the Woody neighborhood, where it ever afterward con- ducted its church services.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
One of the earliest churches in the city of Newton is the Presbyterian, formed in 1854. Among the pioneer members were C. J. Housel and wife, G. W. Chambers and wife and a Mr. Martin and wife.
This society was incorporated March 1, 1859, with J. S. Hunter, John C. Wilson and Thomas McCord as trustees. The house of worship was built at a cost of six thousand dollars in 1865 ; it was of brick, thirty by sixty feet in size. It was dedicated February 23, 1868, the sermon being deliv- ered by Rev. W. R. Marshall, of Marion, Iowa. In 1878 the membership was seventy-five. Its present membership is placed at two hundred.
The pastors who have served this congregation include the following : Revs. Jones, L. B. Crittenden, John Seele, E. S. Vail, George L. Little, James Agnew, John N. Wilson, E. L. Williams, Isaac Whittemore, R. R. Westcott, David Brown, Edwin J. Rice, R. F. Chambers, 1898 to 1906; W. N. Hess, 1906 to 1908; Theodore M. Balcoff, 1908 to 1909; George Furniss, May 22, 1910, and still pastor.
The present church edifice was built in 1889, dedicated December 22d, free of all debts. The present valuation of the church property, including the manse, is fourteen thousand dollars.
The present officers are S. G. Russell, clerk; H. S. Morrison, A. T. Guthrie, T. G. Bryant, C. W. Winn, Benjamin Jones, elders; C. W. Jarvis, J. I. Cunningham, Percy R. McCord, James Davidson, T. G. Bryant and Lyman A. Russell (treasurer), trustees.
TIIE COLFAX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
At Colfax the Presbyterian formed their church as the first church so- ciety in the place The petition was dated April 6. 1868, and was signed by J. T. and Salina Lamb, R. N. and Lizzie Stewart, W. H. Bonnell, E. O. Par- ker, G. W. Parker, Jane A. Parker, James and Sarah L. McCracken, Levi McCracken, and Sarah C. Mytinger. Elders J. T. Lamb and R. N. Stewart were chosen September 20th. The church was erected in 1868, at a cost of one thousand two hundred dollars. In 1884, a new church edifice was erected at a cost of five thousand four hundred dollars.
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The present membership of this church is one hundred and eighty. The various pastors here have included the following : Revs. Thompson, Wilson, Agnew, Gordon, Hammer. F. A. Shearer. 1879: S. N. Vail, 1886; Charles R. Hunt, 1890: William E. Knight, 1892: D. Wallace McMillen, 1899; Henry Quickenden, 1899: John McLinn, 1902; Scott W. Smith, 1904; W. C. Brewer, 1905; D. D. Buchanan, 1906; N. R. Miles, 1907, and still serving.
The society was incorporated May 10, 1868, by E. O. Parker. J. M. Kennedy, W. H. Bonnell. R. N. Stewart, J. L. Lamb, with W. D. Ballantyne as moderator. J. R. Rodgers and R. N. Stewart are the only pioneers left.
During the last four years the church has put in new cement steps to both entrances to the church building; put in a basement : replaced old and added new windows. The members give an average of about eleven dollars each to support the church, some as high as one hundred and twenty-five dollars.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.
. The United Presbyterian church at Monroe was an early organization in this county. It dates its history from before 1855. and the organization was perfected in 1861 and now has a membership of sixty-three. It built a frame church building in early Civil-war days which, with remodeling and repairs, has served until now. It is probably the oldest church in use in Jas- per county, and is in fine condition. Its surrounding grounds are kept in fine shape and the main structure is surmounted with a neat belfry and vesti- bule. It is located southeast from the business portion of the city.
A WONDERFUL COUNTRY CHURCH.
The Palo Alto United Presbyterian church was formed in December. 1870 -- really after the church building had been completed, for that was dedicated in December and was started in February of that year, by a mere handful of neighbors of this particular religious faith. In 1869, preaching was held at the old court house and at the Wild Cat school house, five miles south of Newton, and in 1870 there was some talk early in the year of erect- ing a place for worship. Finally, five families, the Hills, Reeses, Matchetts, McCartneys and Kellers, organized themselves into a church. Pioneer Robert M. Hill, after consulting with the preacher. Rev. Johnson, at Newton, com- menced to circulate a subscription paper for the purpose of raising the neces- sary funds. He was successful in getting one thousand dollars pledged in
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one day in material and cash. Seven hundred dollars of this amount was donated by members of the above mentioned families, the sums ranging from twenty-five dollars to one hundred dollars each. In all the house cost about two thousand dollars. It was, after some parleying. decided to build on the opposite side of the road from the little country cemetery that had been established a few years prior. The land was really not worth over fifteen dol- lars per acre, but the owner, a Catholic, wanted sixty dollars per acre for the tract, which amount was finally given him. This church and cemetery is just south of the present homestead farm of R. M. Hill. Mrs. Badger was the lady who, carrying out the wishes of her deceased husband, paid for the ground and finally made a clear deed to the trustees of the newly organized church society. These first trustees were Messrs. Amos B. Rees, Henry C. Richardson and Joseph Miller. The structure was commenced February 14, 1870. The timbers were drawn from Adamson's grove and much of it was hewed out from the forest kings by hand. A carpenter named Conley, of Newton, was engaged to build the church, the work being largely performed by the men of the church. The ladies furnished dinners for the workmen, both at the timber and at the building site. All but the price of two barrels of lime for the foundation had been contributed. When Fourth of July came round they held a rousing celebration and it was visited by many from outside, including many from Newton. The ladies made a handsome profit on articles sold on the Fourth and the first to occupy the new church was the Robert M. Hill family, of father, mother and three children. They stayed the night after the celebration in order to watch and care for dishes and pro- visions that had been left over from the feast. They were joined in the early morning by Mrs. Badger, who walked from her farm home and took break- fast in the church with the Hills and they then counted over the proceeds of the celebration with thankful hearts. This church was not erected without much sacrifice. State Treasurer Rankin had been selected to orate on that Fourth ( 1870). but not coming, he sent a twenty-dollar bill for the use of the church. One hundred dollars more was sent by the Church Extension Society and another hundred from Mrs. Hill's old home church in Linn county, Iowa.
The date of real church organization was October 27, 1870. It was not fully perfected, however, until in December of that year, when fifteen members were taken into the church. At that time, the elder was Robert McCartney ; trustees, Amos B. Rees and Henry C. Richardson.
By the excellent financial management of Robert M. Hill (still living), the church was dedicated by Rev. William Johnson, free of any debts. The
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first person to be baptized here was David J. Matchett, at the second meeting held in the new building. Weekly prayer meetings were established "to con- tinue Wednesday evenings, perpetually." A Sabbath school was early formed and has been kept up ever since.
Rev. William Johnson was to be the pastor, but had a call to preach in Indiana, and wrote the church officers ("on the wing") that he had to leave them and could not accept the work here, but wanted to frequently "hear from the church that dwelt solitary in the woods."
Among the preachers who served as supplies, for a longer or shorter period. may be recalled Revs. Joseph Boyd. Richard Turnbull. Hugh F. Wal- lace. R. C. Wyatt. A. J. Graham, A. McCartney. J. Taylor, J. F. Tate. C. T. McCanaghan, F. K. Martin, S. M. Black, H. MeHatton. R. Gray, S. Mc- Arthur. The last served until the call of the regular pastor, Rev. E. S. Mc- Michael, who had charge both here and at Newton till 1873. when Newton was set off into a church by itself. Rev. McMichael served in all from 1872 to 1879. and was followed by Rev. J. A. Ferguson, who served till 1882, and then came Rev. J. A. McCalmount to 1889. The next was Rev. W. . 1. Campbell. 1890-92: in the first twenty-five years of the church's history there had been twelve supply and thirteen stated pastors "settled." Since then there have been Revs. John Ferguson, E. F. Gillis, each seven years' pastor- ate, and now the church is "supplied."
The present total membership is about sixty. At one date, this church had sent out and in active work sixteen members who were teachers, college students, preachers and lawyers, showing the wonderful influence for good citizenship, education and Christianity that had sprung from this little coun- try church. Miss Kate .\. Hill, daughter of Robert M. Hill and wife, has been a missionary to India for fifteen years. A better family and church record can scarcely be found in the state than this one. Miss Hill is one of five sisters, all of whom were teachers. She is building up a thirty thousand dollar school for girls in India, to be named for her. Another, reared in this church, is Avery Fales, doing home missionary work in New Mexico.
Robert M. Hill, one of the founders of this church, worked at day wages for a few shillings per day, to pay for the few evergreens and willow trees which now grace the front yard of this beautiful country church. These now tall, stately trees will doubtless stand in their waving green long years after the death of the devout man who, in the prime of his manhood, planted them, a living, growing monument to his rare devotion to the cause he had so sacrificed for.
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NEWTON UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The United Presbyterian church at Newton has a history running along the same lines as the one in Palo Alto, just mentioned. It sprang from this parent church in 1873. and they worshiped in the Presbyterian church until they purchased the old Universalist church building. After a number of years they tore this down and erected in 1897 their present neat church on the cor- ner of Olive and McDonald streets, the old site of the original Universalist building. The same pastors have served both this and the Palo Alto church for all of these eventful years. Just now they have no pastor. The present membership is something over one hundred and seventy.
UNITED BRETHREN IN HICKORY GROVE TOWNSHIP.
This church was formed in 1872, organized by Rev. G. P. Fisher in Hickory Grove township, where there is also another of the same denomina- tion. The one now written of is known as Hickory Grove, and the other, a history of which follows this, is known as the Union Chapel. Hickory Grove church now has a membership of about sixty. The only remaining charter member of this society is Mrs. Priscilla Burroughs.
The building at Hickory is frame, thirty-six by forty feet, and in the beginning cost one thousand five hundred dollars, but in later times has been remodeled and added to, at an expense of one thousand five hundred dollars more.
UNION CHAPEL UNITED BRETHREN.
This society was organized in section 5. Hickory township, sometime early in the eighties. Its edifice cost, originally, one thousand three hundred dollars. It has a present membership of about fifty. One of the members has kindly furnished the following facts concerning this society :
In the eighties, sometime after the school house was built on section 5. Hickory Grove township. the United Brethren organized a class and the preacher from the Hickory Grove church of the same denomination, preached at the school house in the afternoon, once in two weeks. The members at that date were as follows: Daniel Benedict and wife, Hiram Benedict and wife, Dewitt Benedict and wife. Thomas Doane and wife. Nathaniel Welch and wife.
The pastors who have served here are the same as served at the Hickory Grove church, and included these, but the list is incomplete: Revs. Durfee,
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George Rose. George Vandeventer, W. T. Dawson, Frank Butley, A. B. C. Dewatter, R. L. Purdy. H. E. Slattery, D. C. and A. M. Tolbett, E. A. Elliott, L. L. Nichols, under whom the church was erected; Revs. L. L. Nichols, 1898; W. A. King: 1899. W. A. King: 1900. A. T. Wright : 1901- 02. W. Stevenson; 1903. E. C. Wolcott : 1904, E. C. McCurdy; 1905-06, N. F. Hicks ; 1907-8, C. Violett ; 1909. C. E. McCurdy : 1910. R. P. Roberts; 1911. C. C. Hobson.
The present building was erected in 1869-70. as above referred to, and tion 5. township 81, range 17. It is twenty-six by forty feet, is built with arched ceiling and is beautifully frescoed and has modern seats.
CONGREGATIONAL CIJURCHIES.
The Congregational church at Newton was formed in September. 1856. Rev. J. R. Mershon was the moderator at the organizing meeting. The first membership was as follows: C. B. and Mary W. Eels. Robert and Marinda Scott, Edwin and Ruth Ann Scott. Chester and Henrietta Seymour. Elhan- nan Winslow and wife, P. E. and Matilda J. Charrand, Lemuel Scoville. J. R. Mershon, Elisha Woodruff and Mrs. A. A. Stevens.
In 1859 a church was built at the cost of two thousand five hundred dol- lars; it was thirty by fifty feet in size, with an anteroom and was surmounted by a bell. In 1878 this church had a membership of one hundred and fifty. Its membership in the spring of 1911 was four hundred and thirteen. The present beautiful church building was built in 1892, at a cost of fifteen thou- sand dollars.
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