USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. I > Part 60
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CHAPTER IV.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY OF OSCEOLA COUNTY.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF SIBLEY.
The first settlers began coming into this county in the spring of 1871. Slight improvements were made during the summer and most of the settlers returned to their former homes in the fall to avoid the long winter under poorly prepared conditions.
The first preaching service was held in the house of Elbridge Morrison, one and one-half miles west of Sibley, by Rev. S. Aldrich, who was making this county his home at that time. Rev. Ira Brashears. a one-armed veteran of the Civil War, was assigned to the missionary field of O'Brien, Sioux. Lyon and Osceola counties. Rev. Jolin Webb, who was in charge of the work in Spirit Lake, was directed to divide his time with Sibley. Accord- ingly on the 19th day of April, 1872, Reverend Webb and Reverend Aldrich met the people at the house of A. M. Culver, one and one-half miles south of Sibley. After preaching by Rev. Webb, a class of nineteen mem- bers was organized, consisting of the following persons: Robert Stamm (leader), Anna Stamm, John L. Robinson, Sarah Robinson, Ella J. Robin- son, A. H. Miller, Almira Miller, L. C. Chamberlain, M. J. Campbell, Etta B. Campbell. Annice Webb, William Anderson, Mrs. C. M. Anderson, D. L. Riley, Mrs. E. A. Riley, Leuclia Bean, Elbridge Morrison, Huldah Morrison and Rev. S. Aldrich, local elder.
The first quarterly conference was held in Sibley. October 18, 1872. At the first session of the Northwest Iowa conference, held at Ft. Dodge, Iowa, September 18. 1872. Rev. John Webb was assigned to the Sibley mission, which was made to consist of Osceola county alone. The first board of trustees was appointed in the following October. In May, 1873, D. L. Riley, John L. Robinson and the pastor, Rev. John Webb, were authorized to pro- cure subscriptions for the erection of a house of worship. By the close of the conference year a substantial frame building was erected, thirty-two by fifty feet in size, with no indebtedness except a loan of three hundred dollars,
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obtained from the church extension society. At a general conference, held at Yankton, Dakota, the Rev. Ira Brashears was assigned to the Sibley charge. Those were lean years, both for the ministers and the people, but the church continued to grow and develop. Rev. Brashears remained two years and proved to be a tireless worker. He was followed by Rev. W. W. Mallory, who also was a hard worker, strong on revivals and could give the genuine old-fashioned Methodist shout with a vim. He also was a great lover of horses, and if there was anything he loved as well as a protracted meeting, it was a horse trade. The last heard of him he was successfully practicing medicine in the Niobrara country in Nebraska. He remained here several years and did good work.
The following minister was Rev. J. W. Rigby, who remained but one year. Old residents of Sibley will remember Rev. Rigby as a big, red-faced, burly Englishman, who, when walking on the street with his wife, forged several feet ahead, while the poor little woman trotted along, receiving no more attention than as if she had not been in existence. As illustrative of his character, it may be stated that when he and his wife entered a room, he would stop inside the door and take a careful survey, and when he discovered the most comfortable seat, would proceed to occupy it regardless of how many ladies might have to stand. Then came the following pastors in the order named: John W. Lothian, S. P. Marsh, F. A. Burdick, W. F. Brown, J. J. Gardner, C. B. Winter, W. W. Brown, C. Artman, G. H. Kennedy, E. H. Smith, F. E. Day, Joel A. Smith, W. A. Black, G. W. Barnes, W. C. Wasser, A. A. Randall, Herbert Clegg, F. W. Keagy and the present pastor. F. F. Travis.
In the year of 1896 the original church was sold to the German Presby- terian society and a new church was erected on the same site. The church now owns fine property, consisting of two lots, a large modern church and a comfortable parsonage, the value of which is about eighteen thousand dollars. Numerically, it is the strongest Protestant church in the county. The officers of the church and its auxiliaries are as follows: F. F. Travis, pastor : trustees-Levi Shell. C. E. Hanchett, O. B. Harding, O. A. Metz, W. F. Truckenmiller, C. L. Strickler and H. L. Wheeler: stewards-Levi Shell, C. E. Hanchett, Will Thomas, C. C. Truckenmiller, W. T. Steiner, J. S. Campbell, W. W. Overholser, L. H. Morse, Mrs. O. J. Clark, Mrs. James Nisbet and Mrs. J. S. Campbell ; treasurer-Will Thomas; class leaders- Robert Smith. J. S. Campbell, H. G. Doolittle, O. J. Clark and Mrs. J. C. Broughton. Mrs. J. M. Tregilgus and Mrs. J. C. Broughton, president and
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secretary, respectively, of Ladies' Aid Society. C. E. Hanchett is superin- tendent of the Sunday school and Glen Glazier is secretary.
The church is in excellent financial condition, three thousand two hun- dred seventy-one dollars and forty-seven cents having been paid during the last conference year for the support of the church and its benevolences.
THE MELVIN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Beginning in September, 1910, with services morning and evening in the school house, the Methodist Episcopal meetings at Melvin were so well attended, it soon became evident that a larger room was needed to accom- modate the growing congregation. The German Reform church people kindly threw open their church doors for the Methodist Episcopal services until they could erect a building of their own. On the twentieth day of November, 1910, twenty-one people of Melvin and vicinity united to form a Methodist Episcopal church and on January 6, 1911, a church meeting was called, when it was decided to organize immediately a committee to solicit funds for a church building at Melvin. It soon became evident that it would be safe to proceed with a building. J. A. Smith, A. Tadd, W. V. Wilcox, G. A. Romey and L. P. Gontjes were appointed as a building committee. John Olson, of Rock Rapids, was given the contract for the basement, while W. A. Fairbrother was assigned the contract for the frame structure.
On June 29, 1911, five men with teams, spades and scrapers began the excavation for the basement while three others hauled sand. A large amount of work was donated by friends, thus saving considerable expense. The building committee did its work so thoroughly that on December 17, 191I. the church was ready for dedication with only about nine hundred dollars to raise to free it from debt. The cost of the building was about four thou- sand five hundred dollars. The following amounts had been raised: Gen- eral subscription, $2,320; the Ladies Aid Society. $600; the Methodist Epis- copal church extension fund, $300: cash on hand and pledged, $400; total. $3,620. On dedication day the morning service was conducted by Doctor Craig, president of Morningside College. There was a musical program in the afternoon at which Rev. F. F. Travis gave a short address. At this afternoon service a quartette of singers from Sibley, consisting of Mrs. Harvey, Miss Dinsmore, Mr. Meyers and Mr. Reagan, gave some fine music. Rev. Dr. J. L. Gillies, district superintendent, took charge of the evening service, which was given over largely to raising the balance of the money necessary to free the church from debt. Dr. Gillies proved to be a good
MRS. FRANK HESS, MRS. EMIL FOTT, MRS. WILLIAM TURNBULL, MASTER EMIL TURNBULL
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general and the required amount was pledged. A very interesting feature was reserved for the closing meeting of the day. Rev. John A. Smith and Louisa E. Coats, in the presence of the large congregation, in a solemn and impressive manner, were made husband and wife, Reverend Doctor Gillies officiating.
In the fall of 1912, Rev. J. A. Smith was stationed at Royal, Iowa, and Rev. Z. V. Arthur was appointed to take his place at Melvin. Owing to Mrs. Arthur's illness, both pastor and wife left Melvin in May, 1913, for Ohio. For several months thereafter the church was without a pastor and then Rev. A. Dyson was appointed to fill out the year. At the conference held at Webster City, Iowa, October, 1913, Rev. J. A. Smith was appointed to take up the work at Melvin and he is still in active charge. The organ- ization of the church includes a Sunday school, numbering seventy scholars ; an efficient Ladies Aid Society of thirty-seven members; senior and junior boys' clubs and a Young People's Christian Endeavor Society. The mem- bership of the church is constantly increasing and the outlook of the future is hopeful. A commodious parsonage is to be erected during this summer of 1914.
ASHTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church at Ashton dates from the winter of 1881-82. The presiding elder and the pastor, W. A. Richards, decided to ask for subscriptions for a building, and sufficient money was raised to warrant the trustees to go forward with the work of building. They se- cured from the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad company a grant of the two lots on which the church and parsonage now stand. During the pas- torate of W. A. Richards the church was put under roof. In the fall of 1882 Rev. M. B. Keister became pastor and under his pastorate the church was completed and a parsonage erected. The church was dedicated on Sunday, July 8, 1883. The Rev. F. Miller, of the Upper Iowa conference, preached the dedicatory sermon. The parsonage was completed and occu- piel on July 4, 1883. The church building cost two thousand dollars. Ly- man Hill was the contractor and builder. For almost thirty years the town of Ashton and immediate community were able to maintain a resident min- ister. The following pastors have been appointed at different times by the conferences to Ashton charge: W. A. Richards, M. B. Keister, F. Ashpole, C. W. Clifton, J. W. Lent, S. C. Olds, H. Allertson, F. L. Buckwalter, J. M. Tibbets, G. A. Platte, E. F. Figtley, C. L. Howarth, Earl Hanna, C. E.
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Bowen, S. L. Eddey, C. Yotlee, C. E. McKelvey. For many years the Goe- wey church was ministered to by the Ashton pastor until it became attached to the Melvin charge. Then the church at George was visited on alternate Sundays by the Ashton minister. Owing to many removals of Protestant families from Ashton and vicinity the church was unable to support a resi- dent pastor. Accordingly in the conference years of 1912 and 1913 it was supplied by Rev. W. H. Montgomery, of Sioux City. The conference of 1913, held at Webster City, Iowa, attached Ashton to the Melvin charge, the Rev. J. A. Smith being appointed to the work.
A Sunday school is maintained and meets every Sunday afternoon at two and the preaching service follows at three. The Ladies' Aid Society is well organized and does excellent work in helping to maintain the church.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF HARRIS.
This church was dedicated July 19, 1899, by Dr. Seely S. Lewis, now Bishop Lewis. The building and lots cost three thousand dollars, the whole amount being donated. Rev. D. M. Simpson was the first pastor, and the official board consisted of the following: Messrs. Hamilton, Mothorp, Win- terfield, Forbes and others of whom there is no record at the present time.
Rev. Thomas Burley had charge for one year and was followed by Rev. Echart, who served the charge very acceptably for two years. The next year Rev. Whiting was sent and served as pastor two years. Then came Rev. Peterson, who served with success for two years and was followed by Rev .. Charles Richards, who also remained two years. Rev. Richards left Harris to attend school at Garret and was succeeded by Rev. Tower, who came at conference time and stayed about six months. He then returned to the East and the vacancy was filled by Rev. Moody. At the expiration of Rev. Moody's term, Rev. W. N. Bump, the present pastor, was sent to Harris. During the last year a much needed shed for horses has been completed, and a basement is now being planned.
The church has made a steady growth during these years. The mem- bership numbers about ninety. The Sunday school has an enrollment of about two hundred with an average attendance of about one hundred. The church is progressive and is ministering to a large community.
The present official board consists of the following persons: Board of stewards, R. J. Robertson, Dr. C. C. Cady, J. E. Melick, A. T. Winterfield, Charles Gibson and Wilson Forbes. The recording steward and secretary is A. C. Wettasted. The board of trustees is composed of L. J. Hagerty,
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C. A. Barnes, R. J. Robertson, C. C. Cady, A. T. Winterfield, R. Halverson, Arthur Haminton, J. E. Melick, Charles Gibson, J. E. Renn and Robert Jordan. The president of the Ladies' Aid Society is Mrs. George Baur. The Sunday school superintendent is Charles Gibson, assisted by Will McCauley. The secretary and treasurer is Adolph Wettestad.
The church is growing in importance, and receives the loyal support of inany of the leading citizens of the town. The church building is centrally located and adds much to the attractive appearance of the town.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF OCHEYEDAN.
This church was organized in 1872 or 1873 by Rev. John Webb, the first Methodist minister of Sibley. The first records have not been kept, so the first officers and ministers can not be enumerated. A fire occurred in the church at one time and the early records are supposed to have been destroyed. It can be recorded, however, that since its organization it has progressed steadily and has always been a leading factor for good in the eastern part of the county. Tradition has it that the first inception of church matters was at a sewing circle in the eastern part of the county, where various matters, wise and otherwise, are discussed. Among other things talked of at this sewing circle was the desirability of religious services and, from that begin- ning, there resulted the organization and the subsequent erection of the Wal- nut Grove church, which later was moved to Ocheyedan. It has since been enlarged until the present commodious church building is the result. The so- ciety also has a comfortable parsonage.
The present pastor is the Rev. J. G. Watterman. The trustees are F. J. Boyd. W. E. Ely, W. M. Roth, Ruse Davis and Frank Cole. The stewards are Charles Morton, recording, W. F. Hunt, Mrs. E. A. Underhill. John VanCleve and A. G. Fletcher. The church has an efficient Ladies' Aid Society and a prosperous Sunday school of about one hundred and sixty members.
ST. PETER'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OCHEYEDAN.
This church was organized and a parsonage built in 1901. The presiding pastor is E. Fiene, who is also principal of the parochial school. The trustees are C. E. Miller, A. Menkens and V. Walther. The vestrymen are John Rusche, Herman Wassmann and August Arends and C. E. Miller. Mr. Miller
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is president and Mr. Arends secretary. The church has twenty-two voting members and one hundred and ten communicating members.
The preaching is in German every Sabbath with the exception that once in every two months the sermon is in English. The pastor is the principal and teacher of the school of about twenty-five pupils. The course of study includes the Lutheran religion, bible history, German language and common school branches. The church and school are supported by subscription.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT SIBLEY.
The first Congregational church of Sibley was organized October 8, 1872, in the public school building of Sibley, a small frame structure that stood on the corner now occupied by the fine residence of Frank Mackinson. The year following the organization of the church it was admitted to mem- bership in the Sioux Association of Congregational Churches, which admnis- sion to the district association made the church a member of the Iowa State Association of Congregational Churches.
Settlement preceded the construction of the first railway in Osceola county, the Sioux City & St. Paul road, now a part of the Omaha line of the Northwestern system. At the organization of the church most of the ten members lived east of Ocheyedan creek. Those members were Rev. Benj. A. Dean and Ellen P. Dean, his wife, Jennie Keeler, a young lady residing in Mr. Dean's family, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Frick and Mr. and Mrs. James Sutton. At or near Sibley there were three members, Mrs. Rosanna Miller, the mother of W. J. Miller and J. Q. Miller, Harvey Bristow and J. F. Glover. At the organization of the church, Rev. John R. Upton. of Lakeville, Dickinson county, Iowa, was moderator. The home missionary on the field and first pastor of the new church was Rev. Benj. A. Dean. Mr. Upton and Mr. Dean were both graduates of Amherst College, as well as graduates of eastern theological seminaries. Mr. Dean and wife were tireless workers and others soon joined the church and congregation.
In the list of pioneer settlers who became identified with the church were Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Bailey, F. M. Robinson and Mrs. H. L. Baker, Mrs. W. J. Miller, the Green and Mandeville families, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Reynolds. Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Westcott, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Reynolds, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Cram, Mr. and Mrs. O. Dunton, Mr. and Mrs. David Wood, L. G. Ire land and family, Captain R. J. and Mrs. Chase and Captain Chase's sister Mrs. Bellows and daughter Ida.
Notwithstanding the drawbacks of a new country, the pastor, church and
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congregation worked so efficiently that in 1875 the neat and durable church building opposite the northeast corner of the court house square, now the German Lutheran church building, was erected. Captain D. L. Riley, one of the leading pioneer business men of the new town, was the contractor and builder of the church, which was so well constructed that now, nearly forty years after its erection, it is still a substantial building. The new and much larger church opposite the southeast corner of the court house square was erected in 1896 during the pastorate of Rev. Charles H. Seccombe. In the new church on the north side is a fine memorial window to the memory of Mrs. Ellen P. Dean, the wife of the first pastor. Rev. Mr. Dean held one of the long pastorates of the church, remaining with the Sibley church until 1877. He had calls to other churches, but was attached to the work at Sibley and rendered it five years of efficient ministerial and pastoral work.
The Congregational Year Book of 1913, containing church statistics for 1912, has Rev. Benjamin A. Dean, located at Hildreth, Nebraska, in charge of the Congregational church there. Mr. Dean remarried and his present wife is also a regular minister of the Congregational church. Mr. Dean was ordained in 1866 and has been in the ministry nearly fifty years. Rev. D. J. Baldwin succeeded Mr. Dean in the pastorate. He was a good preacher but was troubled with the infirmity of deafness. He died in California in 1910. The next minister was Rev. Thomas Pell, an Englishman and a resident of Osceola county before he became the minister. He was a faithful minister but labored under the difficulty of a crippled ankle. He was a tall man with some resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. His death occurred in 1896. In 1884 Rev. J. D. Whitelaw came from the theological seminary to take charge as pastor. He was well liked and did good work. His present pastorate is at Fox Lake, Wisconsin. Following Mr. Whitelaw was Rev. Willis W. Mead, who re- signed in 1886 to go as missionary to Turkey. Rev. Eugene L. Sherman succeeded Mr. Mead, becoming pastor in 1887. After a short pastorate he re- signed to accept the pastorate of the Mayflower Congregational church of Sioux City. Mr. Sherman died in 1896. Following Mr. Sherman was Rev. J. C. Stoddard, who held one of the longer pastorates. He is now pastor at Warland, Wyoming. Mr. Stoddard was a good preacher, and helped the church to increased membership. He resigned to accept charge of the home missionary church at Primghar.
The first parsonage of the Congregational church was on lot I, block 4, Chase's addition, at the southwest corner of the public park. The second parsonage occupied two lots on the southeast corner of block 9. Chase's addi- tion, and is now the German Presbyterian church parsonage. The present
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parsonage is on the same block with the church and east of the church build- ing. Following Mr. Stoddard's pastorate came a short pastorate by Rev. Fred L. Hanscom, who resigned in 1892. Mr. Hanscom is now pastor of the Pittsfield, Illinois, Congregational church. Rev. P. B. West, a Civil War veteran, was the next pastor and he proved a faithful worker. His pastorate closed about 1894. Mr. West served a term as chaplain of the Iowa depart- ment of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is now residing on a farm at Herrick, South Dakota. Mr. West was succeeded by Rev. John Gray. He was a native of England, a well educated man and sincere in his effort to help the church. He died in December, 1908, at Naper, Nebraska. Following Mr. Gray came the Rev. Charles Seccombe, who became pastor in 1896. The church went forward under his pastorate and the fine new church was built and dedicated while he was pastor. He was a strong man in the minis- try and has held important pastorates. He is at present residing in Los An- geles, California. Rev. A. Craig Bowdish succeeded Mr. Seccombe. He had a three years' successful pastorate here. He and his wife are now doing missionary work at Sunnyside, Poisa Makowao mission, Hawaii. Following Mr. Bowdish came the three years' pastorate of Rev. W. Howard Moore, pas- tor of Richmond Congregational church near Chicago. The next pastor was Rev. William A. Schimley, who served three years, a forceful speaker, who went from here to the Congregational church of Ashland, Oregon, where he is the present pastor. He was succeeded by the Rev. F. E. Henry, a faithful worker, who served two years, and resigned and took up home missionary work at Plentywood, Montana. Following the removal of Mr. Henry came the present pastor, Rev. C. M. Westlake, who began his pastorate November I, 1913. He is a strong man, well equipped by education, experience and travel for the manifold duties of the pastoral office.
The last year-book gives the church membership as two hundred and ten ; of these seventy-five are males and one hundred and thirty-five females. Of the members thirty-five are absent. At the last roll call and banquet there were responses from about eight states. The Congregational families num- ber about one hundred and twenty-five. During the last year Dr. F. P. Wink- ler has been the efficient superintendent of the Sunday school. Inez Reynolds is the church pianist. A sister of Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Mary Reynolds Newell, went as a missionary to China, and with her husband, Prof. George M. New- ell, is engaged in educational work. For many years J. Fred Mattert, cashier of the First National Bank of Sibley, has been the efficient church treasurer. The present church deacons are C. P. Reynolds and W. P. Dins- more. The third deacon, Mr. C. R. Mandeville, recently removed to Kansas.
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The church property is valued at over eighteen thousand dollars. The pastor's salary is twelve hundred dollars, in addition to which he is furnished with a parsonage. The Ladies' Aid Society is a large and highly efficient society, and is a great help to the church. The Sunday school numbers one hundred and twenty-five or more, while the Christian Endeavor Society numbers thirty-five. The church and its auxiliaries were never in better condition for successful work.
THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCHI OF SIBLEY.
Before the first Congregational church of Sibley built its new church in 1896, it sold its old building, which was still a good substantial structure, but not large enough, to the German Lutherans of Sibley and vicinity. Rev. O. C. Biermann, of Viola township, who officiates also in Viola township and at Harris, serves the three congregations. He lives in Viola township where the church owns a manse. The Lutheran church of Sibley is in a flourishing condition.
THE OCHEYEDAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Ocheyedan Congregational church was organized in 1888 and the present church building erected in 1893. Thomas Pell, L. R. Fitch, D. Don- aldson, W. A. Brintnall, J. L. Brown, J. B. Chase, W. B. Jackson, E. T. Briggs, R. W. Coats, J. F. Glover, F. R. Rawlins and George E. Brown have been the pastors, serving in the order named. The pastorates have averaged about two years in length. Mrs. A. V. Randall, Mrs. E. O. Man- ville, Mr. and Mrs. John Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. VanCleve and Mr. C. L. Buchman have been leading members for many years. Mrs. Belle Randall is the church clerk, and Mrs. Sarah Putney is the church treasurer. The church reports fifty-three members. Of these four- teen are males and thirty-nine females. Of the members, six are reported absent. The present Sunday school superintendent is Mrs. Ida Allard. The members of the Sunday school number seventy. The church property is worth about two thousand dollars.
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