History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 34

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Nebraska > Custer County > History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time > Part 34

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1887 a frame building was erected. at the corner of Eleventh avenue and P street, and this housed the congregation during the years intervening until 1907, when J. S. Early was serving the church. Mr. Early took up work begun in the summer by .\. J. Hargett. who was filling the pastorate in his vacation. He had raised a part of the subscriptions to- ward a new building and a lot was secured on the corner at Tenth avenue and O street. Under the businesslike leadership of Mr.

261

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

Early the present house of worship was com- pleted, at a total cost of $6,000. It was dedi- cated by F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, Ohio, secretary of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. The old church building and site were sold to J. C. Moore, who converted the building into a comfortable residence, whichi is now occupied by the pastor, W. A. Baldwin.

This church has always maintained a Bible school from the earliest days. The first list of officers was lost with the records. It now has an enrolment of 105 and the officers are as follows: Superintendent. Mrs. W. R. Mor- gan ; assistant superintendent. G. Dillard Lessley (at this time serving his country and

CHISTIAN CHO

CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT BROKEN BOW

humanity "Somewhere in France") ; secretary, Miss Alice Francis ; treasurer, Miss Bessie Latzke; pianist, Miss Atlanta Tuttle. The school is following modern methods in Bible- school work, using graded lessons in the pri- mary and intermediate departments. Two strong Bible classes among the seniors are taught by J. C. Moore and Hon. C. W. Beal.

In the matter of membership in the church, the earlier information is lacking, but it has grown with the passing of the years. At present the roll shows 231 members, including an absent list of more than forty. Many re- vival meetings have been held and have always given additional names to the list of members. Many students from other places have come in and then returned to their homes. This, in

part, accounts for the large list of non-resident members.

The present officers are as follows : Elders, J. M. Fodge, E. W. Morrison ; deacons. C. W. Beal, B. F. Williams, B. H. Headley. J. D. Lemmon ; deaconesses, Mrs. Belle Bar- ratt, Mrs. E. I. Irvin, Mrs .. G. E. Pennington, Mrs. W. R. Morgan; church clerk, H. C. Kimball; treasurer, Dr. G. E. Pennington : trustees, J. C. Moore, B. E. Williams, B. H. Headley ; chorister. Mrs. E. I. Irvin ; pianists, Mrs. Mabel Darnell, Miss Ethel Roberts.

Officers absent in the service of the United States at the time of this writing are: Elder G. Dillard Lessley, Hospital Train No. 39, American Expeditionary Force ; deacons Mauritz Malm, Company B, 342, 89th Divi- sion, Machine Gun Battalion, American Ex- pedition Force ; Walter Ellis, Headquarters Company 339, Field Artillery, 88th Division, American Expeditionary Force.

Two women's societies are maintained, the Sisterhood doing a social and helpful work in the affairs of the church. President, Mrs. C. H. Holcomb; secretary, Mrs. William Dar- nell; treasurer, Mrs. G. B. Landis. The mis- sionary society known as the Christian Woman's Board of Missions Auxiliary, with Miss Maude Baldwin president: Mrs. J. H. Johnson, secretary ; and Mrs. H. C. Kimball, treasurer. Mrs. J. Beckwith is literary super- intendent.

The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor has a membership of fifteen. Miss Bessie Latzke is president; Miss Atlanta Tuttle, secretary and treasurer: Miss Ethel Roberts, corresponding secretary.

ANSELMO

In 1887. at the Grandview schoolhouse, a Sunday school was opened, with Charles Jones as superintendent. Preaching services were conducted by George Dixon. The work was continued until, in 1889, as the result of a meeting held by J. R. Teagarden, in which some twenty-five persons were converted. an organization was consummated at Windy Point schoolhouse. Practically the same group who were interested in the first work, went

262

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

into the latter. This church met with varying degrees of success and failure as the years slipped by. In May, 1911, S. R. McClure, evangelist of the Nebraska Christian Mission- ary Society, who was in a meeting at Lillian, visited Anselmo and, finding there a desire for the work to be revived, he arranged to begin a meeting in the town the same month. The results were unexpectedly gratifying, eighty-four persons coming out on the side of the Lord. Steps were immediately taken to build, and by the time the meeting closed the new house was well along toward com- pletion. It was fully fitted out that summer, at a cost of $2.000, and in the early fall it was dedicated, by W. A. Baldwin, state secretary of the missionary society that had supported the evangelist in the work. Of the eighty-four persons coming into the church during the meeting, fifty-three were received by confes- sion and baptism. Twenty of the former members joined with the new material to form the new congregation. Frank Reeder served as pastor for a short time thereafter, as he had been preaching for them previously. A Bible school has been maintained regularly, and William V. White is now the superin- tendent.

The following preachers have served the congregations during the period from the be- ginning : George Dixon, E. D. Eubank, Frank J. Emerson, Ford A. Ellis, J. R. Teagarden, Frank Reeder, W. C. Lessley. Mr. Lessley has been serving, as his time would permit, for several years and is still looked to for preaching when he can give them time. Will- iam White is elder, and Mrs. William White is church clerk. There are about thirty members.

WHITE PIGEON

At White Pigeon schoolhouse, E. D. Eu- bank held services and organized a small congregation into a working church in 1888. Most of these members later became members of the Lillian church. It remained a preach- ing point for a number of years.

ANSLEY

The Christian church of Ansley was or-

· ganized in March 1889, following a meeting held in a hall over C. J. Stevens' store, by the state evangelist, R. C. Barrow. The charter members were Dan Hagin, Mrs. Dovia Hagin, Frank Hagin, John Sargent, Laura A. Sar- gent. Simon Rigby, Alice Rigby, Mary Hagin, George Rich, Marie Rich, Fanny Gaines, Mrs. .Anthony, and Jeanette Stevenson (now Mrs. Frank Housel). The officiary consisted of two elders, John Sargent and George Rich, and two deacons, Dan Hagin and Simon Rigby. In 1892 the present house of worship was erected, at a cost of $3,000, and it was dedi- cated in August of that year, by Dr. W. P. Aylsworth, dean of the sacred-literature de- partment of Cotner University. The succes-

CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT ANSLEY

sion of pastors is here recorded: W. H. Hedges, Fred Hagin, J. Sherman Hill, J. W. Walker, George Bailey, Jesse R. Teagarden, C. V. Allison, T. C. McIntyre, D. G. Wagner, F. D. Hobson. P. G. Dennis, and the present pastor, Charles A. Shook. The church now lias an active membership of 153 and an out- lying membership of about thirty-five in the church organized at the Banner schoolhouse in December, 1917, by the pastor. Charles A. Shook. It has a Bible school enrollment of about 150, with an average attendance of seventy-one. C. W. Hawk is the present sup- erintendent. The Christian Endeavor Society has thirteen members and Miss Eva Stuckey is president. There is a strong woman's mis- sionary society, known as the Christian Woman's Board of Missions Auxiliary, with

263

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

thirty members. Mrs. J. T. McGowan is its president.

The present officers of the church are: Elders, Frank Housel, Charles W. Hawk, J. N. Trout, E. C. Moody, and Charles A. Shook; deacons. J. T. McGowan, William Housel, Roy Waters, B. F. Crouch, and Ed. Ming; clerk, J. T. McGowan; treasurer, W. C. Housel.

This church has sent out one preacher, Fred Hagin, son of Dan and Mrs. Dovia Hagin, and he has been for some years a missionary in the foreign field, at Tokio, Japan. This has been one of the strong churches of the Disciples of Christ in this county. It has maintained its vitality and has a prominent place in the village of Ansley and the com- munity round about.

COBURG

The church at Coburg began its work in a sod schoolhouse, about the year 1890, E. D. Eubank and Reuben Manning leading in the organization and afterward both of these men ministered to the congregation. The list of charter members is not available, but the offi- cers chosen were as follows: Elder. L. L. Wood; deacons, J. S. Amos, John Jorn ; clerk and treasurer, Richard Eubank. A Bible school was organized, with Richard Eubank as super- intendent. Regular services were maintained, with occasional vacancies in the pastorate. In 1913 a meeting-house was constructed, and it is now the home of the congregation.

The following preachers have served : S. A. Kopp, E. D. Enbank. R. D. McCance. H. I .. Denton. A. O. Startwood. A. L. Field, N. C. Carpenter, and J. S. Reel, the last named be- ing the present minister, in co-operation with the Sargent church. The present membership is forty-five and the officers are: Elders, J. Jorn, Emmet Bebout, Lester Thompson ; deacons, Elmer Galaher. Wayne Amos, J. L. Amos, Roy Durham, Charles Bedford, Henry Eggers: clerk, Mrs. J. L. Amos ; treasurer, Lester Thompson; Bible-school superinten- dent, Wayne Amos. The enrollment of the Bible school is sixty-three. The value of the church property is $2,000. During the life of

this congregation two of its young men have declared for the ministry.

MASON CITY

In October, 1906, O. A. Adams, pastor of the church at Ansley, with Louis Epler as singing evangelist, held a meeting in the opera hall at Mason City resulting in an organization with the following officers: Elders, Sherman Knox, Oren Dolen; deacons, George Chipps, Vannie Reed, William Davis, Ross Rhodes; church clerk, Oren Dolen.

The following named persons were charter members : Mrs. W. T. Whitehead, Mrs. Will- iam Russmisell, George Chipps. Ella Chipps, Blanche Weaver, Hannah Anderson. Ovidia Anderson, Iva Browning, Bessie Reed. Viola Gonley, Oren Dolen, Vannie Reed, William Davis, Rose Davis, Jennie Weaver, Lewis Weaver, Mabel Chipps, Howard Chipps, James Gouley, Ellen Gonley, Ross Rhodes, Sadie Thorne, Mary E. Shelton. Martha E. Dolan, Sherman Knox, Frances Knox, Marie Knox, Frank Knox, Felix Shelton, Elva Rhodes.

The following preachers have ministered to the church: E. D. Eubank, J. R. Teagarden, William Sumpter, Fred Galiger, Carl Knapp, F. C. Wilson, George P. Brammel. Early in 1907 the church began the erection of a house of worship, and it was completed in June. It was dedicated June 16th, by State Secretary W. A. Baldwin. The church has maintained a Sunday school, which was for a time under the superintendency of W. T. Whitehead. At times the congregation was without preaching and suffered from removals and the inability to support a pastor. At the present time there are thirty names on the records, with Mrs. R. F. MeCloughan, clerk and treasurer, and Mrs. WV. T. Whitehead, superintendent of the Sun- day school.

LILLIAN

The beginnings of the church at Lillian are found in a meeting held by Elder S. A. Kopp in the Lillian schoolhouse. An organization was effected December 12. 1906, following the meeting. They called Elder Kopp as their

264

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

pastor and he served them until his death, March 28, 1910. The officers elected were : Elders, W. W. Barnes. O. L. Swick, I. P. Bell: deacons, W. F. Myers. C. H. Leisure : clerk, Ilarry Swick.

The following named persons united to form the organization : Wm. W. Barnes, Mrs. Lorena Barnes, Lura Barnes, Mrs. Alice Bart- lett. Eva Bartlett, Ethel Bartlett, Isaac P. Bell, Mrs. Mary Bell, Jabez Bowman, Mrs. Sarah Bowman. James Dare. Mrs. Mary Dare. S. A. Kopp, Charles H. Leisure, Robert Metzger, William F. Myers, Mrs. Kittie Myers, Oliver 1 .. Swick, Mrs. Hope Swick. Later, protracted meetings were held by the pastor and brought in a large number of the young people of the community, most of them young men. At one time the pastor baptized thirty at the Broken Bow church. A Bible school has been main- tained since the spring before the church was organized. W. W. Barnes serving as its first superintendent.

A house of worship was planned and erected on a site adjoining the school grounds, in the fall of 1908, and was dedicated in Jan- uary following, by N. T. Harmon, pastor of the Broken Bow church. It is a most com- fortable building and has become a center of community interest in that portion of the county. Following the death of its pastor, the church was served by E. D. Eubank, Frank Reeder. Joseph Lamm, and W. C. Lessley, who is still the pastor, having served since September, 1914. Under his ministry the work has grown and prospered. The present officers are: Elders. W. F. Myers, O. L. Swick. : deacons. E. H. Myers, S. D. Myers : clerk and treasurer, D. E. Banning : superin- tendent of Bible school, William J. Books.

This church has maintained its preaching service and worship, with the communion, since the beginning, without interruption. Pastorless at times, it yet went steadily for- ward in the support of worship. never for- getting to assemble on the Lord's day. The success of this work lies especially in its faith- ful leadership. Maintaining preaching service only on alternate Lord's days, it has neverthe- less demonstrated the power of the local rural

church to do its work successfully. The country church need not die if its members are simply faithful.

SARGENT

The Sargent church came into being as a result of a meeting held by State Evangelist Samuel Gregg in March, 1908. J. H. Currie. of Bradshaw, Nebraska, having business in- terests and large acquaintance in the Sargent district, asked the state missionary society to consider that field and send this evangelist, whonr he was supporting through the society. to organize a church in that town. The Con- gregational church was secured for the meet- ing and the organization resulted, following that meeting. The first officers were: Elders. L. L. Wood, C. C. Davis: deacons. J. D. Crownover. Charles Howland. A. B. Hartley, W. B. Kenyon ; clerk, Zella M. Wood : treas- urer. A. C. Davis. Sixty-three persons joined in the new organization, as follows: Allona Wood. Lena Kaohn, Ernest Kaohn, Ross Wood. Irma Crownover, Harold Crownover. Kenneth Crownover. Sadie Hesselgesser. Jeannie Kenyon, Mrs. W. B. Kenyon, W. F. Abbott, Mrs. Emma Wyckoff, Mrs. Livia Kaohn, Mrs. W. F. Abbott, O. W. Davis. Mrs. O. W. Davis, Florence Debusk, Rufus Mann- ing. Alfred Grim, Mrs. Inez Grim, Mrs Laura Core. James Debusk, Lucy Debusk, Grace De- forest, Mrs. Westopher, Mrs. Forest Abbott, Mrs. Sarah Evans, Elsie Chase, Paul Chase. C. H. Chase, Mrs. C. H. Chase, L. L. Wood. Minerva Wood, W. II. Wood, Zella M1. Wood. E. M. Wood, Gustie Wood, Seth Austin, Mrs. J. D. Crownover. J. D. Crownover, A. C. Davis, R. J. Kennedy. A. B. Hartley. Mrs. .. B. Hartley, O. S. Pulliam. W. B. Kenyon. C. Howland, Eliza Brumbaugh, Mrs. C. A. Lim- inger, Mrs. Alice Pulliam, Della Sturm, Mrs. Ella Armstrong, Candace Lawson, Mrs. C. Jlowland. Robert Ilesselgesser, Emma Hes- selgesser. J. D. Holt, Augusta Kaohn, Eunice Kaohn, John Clifton, Sr .. John Clifton, Jr .. Bessie Hartley, Mabel Hartley.

R. D. McCance became the pastor of the new church. and later called Z. O. Doward for a meeting, the same being held in a taber-

265

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

nacle structure on the main street. A move to build a new house of worship followed, and resulted finally in the purchase and remodeling of the Congregational church building, in which the church had been meeting, maintain- ing a union Bible school with the Congrega- tionalists. The building purchased is still the home of the church. The membership at this time is 110, and the Bible school has an en- rolment of 120. Services are maintained reg- ularly, under the ministry of J. S. Reel, and in connection with the Coburg church, each taking half-time services. The ministers who

CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT SARGENT

have served the church are: R. D. McCance, WV. Bailor, H. E. Denton, Mr. Field, A. O. Swartwood, N. C. Carpenter, and J. S. Reel.

BANNER SCHOOLHOUSE

Rev. Charles A. Shook, pastor of the Ansley church, held a meeting in the Banner school- house in November, 1917. There were twelve conversions, and, on December 26th following, an organization was effected, with fifteen char- ter members. Regular services have been maintained, and Mr. Shook has preached for them in the afternoon. A good Bible school, now numbering forty-five members. has been kept up, with Frank Sadler as superintendent. The church now numbers twenty-seven and is known as the Banner Christian church.

MILBURN

In March, 1917, Rev. W. C. Lessley, of Broken Bow, and pastor of the churches at Lillian and Anselmo, held a meeting in the Community hall at Milburn. In spite of bad weather and worse roads, the meetings were well attended and a decided interest was mani- fested. There were twenty-six conversions, and arrangements were made for the evangel- ist to visit them regularly on Sunday after- noon each alternate week during the summer and winter. A Bible school was organized, meeting every Lord's day. In February. 1918, Rev. W. C. Lessley held a second meeting, resulting in forty-five conversions. An or- ganization was asked for, and the new con- verts, with a number of the people of the community who were members of different re- ligious bodies, came together late in February, at which time the Milburn Church of Christ was organized by Rev. Mr. Lessley, with 100 members. Officers were chosen as follows : Elders, Mr. Reynolds and G. W. Simmons; deacons, Bryan Hohnes, Mr. Pike, Mrs. Hol- comb, and Mr. Daley; church clerk, Miller Books; treasurer, Robert Farley. Mr. Rey- nolds was made superintendent of the Bible school, numbering sixty to seventy-five, and he still holds that office. Eight members have since been added to the organization and preaching is maintained every alternate Lord's clay, morning and evening. Services are still held in the Community hall. The present offi- cers are the same as at the beginning. save that John Kramer is now the treasurer. The congregation looks forward to the erection of a house of worship as soon as war conditions will permit.

In concluding this sketch of the work of the Christian churches-Disciples of Christ- in this county, it should be said that much of the record sources are meagerly kept and in some cases lost entirely. The early preachers were more interested in winning souls to Christ than in keeping accurate account of the history they were making. Many of the mat- ters that would be most interesting in this late account, are entirely omitted. There are a number of places where preaching, and for a

266

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY. NEBRASKA

time regular, services were held, that did not develop into a formal organization. Such a place is New Helena, where the work was maintained for a time. At this time there is no work there.

In the county the total membership affiliated with the churches is 990. There are nine houses of worship. one of them unoccupied. These, at a moderate estimate of their value. in the light of cost and state of repair, is $27,800. There are nine Bible schools con-

as best they could to their communicants. They have manifested, always, the spirit of strong conviction and extreme generosity. They have been responsive to all public appeals and been general contributors to the public welfare. They have been party to no de- nominational factions calculated to disrupt the general harmony of the religious status pre- vailing in the county. Custer county has had no exhibition of denominational animosity. Good will and harmony prevail to-day

[Photo by S. D. Butcher]

DALE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PARSONAGE The parsonage was later destroyed by fire

ducted regularly, with an enrollment of 715. At this time there are five preachers resident in the county, namely: Elder E. D. Eubank. Broken Bow: Rev. W. C. Lessley, Broken Bow; Rev. Charles A. Shook, Ansley; Rev. W. A. Baldwin, Broken Bow; and Rev. J. S. Reel. Sargent. The church at Liberty is dis- banded and that at Mason City has no pastoral work.

CUSTER COUNTY CATHOLICS

Among the pioneers of the county were many Catholics and in a very carly day they began their church activities and administered

throughout the county, and this statment is true of the years past. Credit is given to Frank Kelly for the following data concerning Cath- olic work in the county.

BEGINNING OF CATHOLIC WORK IN DALE

Rev. T. P. Haley, writing in 1901 gives the following summary of Catholic work in the Dale vicinity :

"The Dale mission was established some time in 1882, by Rev. Father Boyle. The first ones to ask for a priest. as far as the writer knows, were J. J. Downey and Robert Mc- Carthy. Father Boyle was the first priest, and

267

HISTORY OF CUSTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA

visited Dale valley in 1882, to administer to the wants of the few families that first settled there. He made the Dale mission a regular station. Mass was said alternately at each house. During Father Hayes' administration the people made preparations to build a church. The building was to be of brick and for the purpose of obtaining the material with which to build the church a brick yard was laid out on one of Mr. McCarthy's claims. One hundred thousand bricks were made and burned for the church. Lumber was purchased and hauled from Grand Island, a distance of 150 miles. About this time the people had spent over $800, but on account of the new. railroad which was to be built through this section to the Black Hills, the church was not built at that time, as difficulties arose as to where the church should be located. Some wanted it on their farms or near their homes, while others wanted it built at Merna or An- selmo. The old settlers advocated building it at Dale. Father Hayes' last visit to the mission found matters in a worse condition than ever. In June, 1886, Father Hayes was appointed pastor of the church at O'Connor, Greeley county, and his assistant, Father Haley, was made pastor of Kearney and its missions, which included Dale. To his surprise, when he visited Dale mission, he found a divided people, caused by the disputes as to the loca- tion of the church. After a consultation with the principal members of the missions, it was decided to lay the matter before Bishop O'Connor. This was some time in July, 1886. In about a week Bishop O'Connor ordered the church to be built at Dale. It is easy to im- agine the joy of the old settlers - J. J. Dow- ney, Robert McCarthy. William Couhig, Con Fleischman, William Walsh, Robert Kelley, George Grove, Chris. Grove. William Brook- man, and Charles Michael - when they learned of the bishop's decision. A subscription list was opened and the necessary preparations made to begin work as soon as possible. The bricks already burned were of poor quality and not sufficient in quantity for a brick building. Some were used for the foundation of the residence and church and for the chim-

neys. The balance were sold, out of which was realized some $400. There was a loss of about the same amount. Nearly all the lum- ber that had been hauled from Grand Island had been made use of by some kind friends who thought it well to help themselves. A few pieces of dimension lumber, with the shingles, remained for the use for which they had been purchased. The lumber for the church and residence was purchased from Goodman, Bogue & Company, of Kearney, and shipped to Broken Bow, then hauled to Dale by team, the hauling being done by the mem- bers of the mission. On the sixth day of November, 1886, Father Haley was appointed the first resident pastor of Dale. He arrived on the above date, at the beginning of one of the worst blizzards the state has ever had. For three days he was snowbound at the home of J. J. Downey. When the storm was over, the foundation for the residence was begun. Many hands made light work. In a few weeks the residence was partly completed. Father Haley moved into and lived in it for nearly two years before it was properly plastered. Mass was said in the south half of the resi- dence until the church was built. One fine day in November -- the very last day of the month - several of the old settlers met to break ground for the church. While so doing, George Grove said to Father Haley: "Father, to-day is St. Andrew's day ; would it not be a good idea to name the church St. Andrew's church?' Father Haley paused, and said : 'Men, what do you think?' They all assented, and hence the church of St. Andrew's at Dale received its name. The church was built, but was not completed for several years. Not- withstanding the difficulties under which the church and residence were built, sufficient notes were given by the members to pay the debt. and these were deposited with the lum- ber company to pay for the lumber. Father Haley governed the parish with success, and in October, 1888, a successful mission was given by the famous Father Ramen, for which the people gave him $118.25 for one week's work. After this mission, Father Hocheisel was sent to Dale as an assistant to Father

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Custer County, Nebraska; a narrative of the past, with special emphasis upon the pioneer period of the county's history, its social, commercial, educational, religous, and civic developement from the early days to the present time, Part 34

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Gaston, William Levi, 1865- [from old catalog]; Humphrey, Augustin R., 1859- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Lincoln, Neb., Western publishing and engraving company
Number of Pages: 1180