USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 23
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Edward Orton, Company A. 7th Illinois, Hastings; A. S. Pierce, Company C, 27th Missouri, Omaha; C. H. Paul, Company A. 7th New Hampshire, Hastings; L. A. Payne, Company A, 34th Illinois Volunteers, Sutherlin, Ore .; H. H. Partlow, Company F, 37th Illi- nois, Hastings; J. S. Peebles, Company H, 150th Indiana, Hastings; Thomas L. Patterson, Company H. Ist Nebraska Cavalry, Hastings: John Peterson, Company E, 47th Pennsylvania Infantry, Hastings; George S. Parks, Company D. 26th Illinois Infantry, Hastings: John Regan, Company A, 23d Wisconsin, Hastings; James Richeson, Company K. 4th Iowa Cavalry, Hastings: G. Riekerson, Company M, 5th New York Artillery, Hastings; J. O. Riley, Company E. 28th Iowa, Hastings: J. F. Sehell, Company F, 2d United States Volun- teers, Hastings; T. F. Stock, Company E, 142d Illinois, Hastings; A. D. Stoddard. Company F, 77th Illinois, Hastings; A. Shannon, Company A, 16th Illinois, Hastings; W. M. Stewart, Company E, 45th Ohio, Hastings; J. D. Smith, Company HI, 12th Ohio Cavalry, Hastings; Jacob Smith, Company H, 30th Indiana, Hastings: Edwin Smith, Company G, 139th Illinois, Hastings; W. G. Saddler, Com- pany G, 13th Kentucky Cavalry, Company D. 32d N. Y. Infantry, Hastings; H. S. Siefkin, Company G, 10th Illinois, Hastings: D. B. S. Tatroe, Company G, 142d New York, Omaha: George B. Tyler, Company B. 6th Iowa Cavalry, Hastings; H. B. Talbert, 3d Indiana Artillery, Trumbull; Elias Tatman, Company E, 10th Iowa, Hast- ings; Chesley Taylor, Company H, 7th Iowa Cavalry, Giltner; John Unger, Company K, 75th Illinois, Hastings: J. R. Vance, Company I, 39th Ohio, Hastings: Jacob Wooster, Company A, 36th Ohio, Hastings; A. J. Williams, Company C. 3d Iowa Cavalry, Kansas City: J. R. Wright, 8th Ohio, Hastings: S. S. Welch, Company C. 45th Indiana, Hastings: J. R. Winter, Company H, 186th Ohio, Iowa; R. B. Williams, Company E, 111th Pennsylvania, Hastings: James Walling. Company F, 149th New York, Hastings: J. C. Wilson, Company B. 117th Indiana, Trumbull: George F. Work. Company B. 5th Iowa, Hastings; John Yager, Company D. 12th Illinois, Burkett: Joseph Yocum, Company E, 62d Ohio, Omaha.
A list of soldiers buried in Hastings Cemetery, given in the record of this post, is as follows: G. W. Howe, Colonel Burke, Otto Arnoux. Keating, Levi W. Miller. Riggs, Alex- ander. Stephen Carson, C. M. Millet, N. A. Nash, J. W. Hansel. James MeCleary, James Riley, J. H. Scott. Aug. Poole, Captain Wicks, George Brennan, Palmer, Cope, Pearson, Joseph Howe, and Willis Campbell.
Other deaths recorded on the records of the Post are: A. S.
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Arnold, April 6, 1915; J. M. Boyd, February 13, 1909; A. F. Ben- jamin, December, 1904; Jacob Boyer, June 7, 1910; W. H. Cutler, April 16, 1905; W. E. Cox, October 15, 1911; W. H. Chadwick, January 7, 1916; Silas Clark, August 23, 1912; W. A. Coon, July 4, 1911; A. J. Dake, October 17. 1914; C. J. Egbert, October 16, 1914; I. A. Hall, October 5, 1915; J. Hoagland, April 6, 1916; W. H. Hess, October 22, 1911; W. H. IFoblet, September, 1913; John Holmes, December 28, 1911; John Larkins, July 15, 1913; Samuel Long, October 4, 1915; Seth Lewis, September 28, 1912; Jason Lyons, April 17, 1914; Hart Martin, December, 1916; Lewis T. Meyers, December 7, 1912; I. D. Newell, 1914; L. A. Payne, March 20, 1915; John H. Oatman, May 15, 1912; Patrick O'Bryan, Novem- ber 28, 1915: Charles Tinsley, January 17, 1913; Jacob Smith, De- cember 3, 1913: John F. Schell, April 15, 1916; Sammel S. Welsh, February 20, 1915: James Walling, April 8, 1914.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
Woman's Relief Corps No. 9, auxiliary to Silas A. Strickland Post No. 13, was organized February 23, 1884, with Mrs. E. O. Dilworth, president; Mrs. Julia S. Bowen, V. P .; Mrs. Mary L. Garison, J. V. P .; Mrs. Jane Horlocker, secretary; Mrs. Agnes A. Hurd, treasurer; Mrs. Katie Judd, chaplain; Mrs. Emily Stoelting, conductor; and Mrs. Mary Gould, G.
The past presidents have been Alice C. Dilworth, Jennie Dalby, Mary Dowd, Clara Andrews, Sadie Marquis, Mrs. A. D. Taggart, Julia Bowen, Kate Boyd, Elizabeth Croft, Elizabeth Bacon, Martha Hutchinson, Ada Hess, Ellen Cox, Lenora Cutler, Anna Boyd, Mary C. Marion, Nannie Kilgore, Florence Rainsforth, Edna J. Hill, Jennie Goudy, Leanora Bowles, Mary Myer, Minnie Kolb, Floye Dake, Rodie Meyer, and Mrs. Florinda Partlow, the present president.
The present members are: Sophia Albershardt, Myra Anders, Eliza Baker, Bettie Berg, Mary Bierce, Leanora Bowles, Mary L. Bryson, Mrs. Collins, Elizabeth Croft, Winifred A. Cutler, Leonora Cutler, E. Floye Dake, Grace Decker, Azalia Drollinger, Mrs. Eddie. M. C. Eldrige, Mary Farner, Mrs. L. C. Frantz, Jennie Goudy, Eliza Hannum, J. H. Hanshaw, Ada Hess, Martha Hutchinson, Minnie Hoffman, Estella Ingram, Hannah Kammerlohr, Nannie Kilgore, Minnie Hoffman, Minnie Kolb, Emma Lockhart, Jennie Livingood, Mary Marion, Ruby Marion, Alice Master, Millie Ma- theny, Mary Mattock, Rebecca Merrill, Ruth Miller, Hope Mills,
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Mary Moenk, Mrs. Moon, Mary Myer, Rodie Myer, Amanda Orton, Susan Oliphant, Matilda Palmer, Florinda Partlow, Mrs. Parsons, Florence Rainsforth, Jennie Ray, Martha Shaw, Emma Stock, Sarah Smith, Anna Snyder, Edith Sinclair, Rachael Walling, Nancy Williams.
JUNIATA POST
Juniata Post of the G. A. R. was instituted October 24, 1881, under the title of Geary Post No. 82, with B. F. Smith, commander; S. L. Salisbury, S. V. C .; A. H. Brown, J. V. C .; J. W. Livering- house, adjutant ; G. T. Brown, Q. M .; O. Steever, surgeon : W. Spade, chaplain; A. V. Cole, O. of D .; HI. H. Ballou, O. of G .; G. S. Guild, S. M .; and M. Van Buskirk, Q. M. S. Philip Hoover, R. H. Nolan, S. J. Shirley, S. L. Brass, G. Avery, F. M. Thompson, B. W. Jam- mond, G. T. Brown, W. Twidale and James Newell, unofficial mem- bers. The position of commander has been filled by the following named members: B. F. Smith, A. V. Cole, S. L. Brass, James Newell, J. Burwell, O. Steever, James L. Kelvey and I. R. Ball. S. L. Brass was the adjutant.
The roll of members in 1890 comprises the following names: B. F. Smith, Ist Mich. S. S .: O. Stevers, 96th N. Y. Inf .; Win. Spade, 147th Pa. Inf .; A. V. Cole, 4th Mich. Inf .: H. HI. Ballou, 13th Vt. Inf .; R. II. Nolan, U. S. Navy; G. Avery, 23d Mich. Inf .; B. W. Hammond, Wm. Twidale, 9th Mich. Cav .; J. W. Liveringhouse, 30th Ind. Inf .; D. II. Freeman, 13th Mich. Inf .; M. K. Hutchinson, 47th O. Inf .; G. G. Vreeland, 36th Ill. Inf .; H. Schick, 3d Pa. Art .; A. H. Brown, 13th Ia. Inf .; G. S. Guild, Mass. Inf .; S. L. Salisbury, 139th Pa. Inf .; P. Hoover, 104th O. Inf .; S. L. Brass, Ist Mich. Cav .; S. J. Shirley, 83d IIl. Inf .: F. M. Thompson, 6th P. R. V. C .; M. Van Buskirk, 109th N. Y. Inf .; G. T. Brown, 47th Ia. Inf .; J. Newell, 30th Ind. Inf .; J. Burwell, 14th O. Inf .: R. S. Langley, 122d III. Inf .; A. Borden, J. S. Price, James McKelvey, 16th N. Y. Inf .; Jacob Swift, N. Y. Inf .; C. II. Chapman, 18th Mich. Inf .; Henry Vinear, 12th Md. Inf .: D. Morgan, 13th Wis. Inf .: O. A. Buzzell, 33d Mass .; John E. Adams, 30th Ind. Inf .; James Beach, 2d Mich. Art .; N. L. Brass, Ist Mich. Cav .; Alex. Rogers, Ist and 34th Ill. Cav .; Adam Land, 123d Ill. Cav .; Benj. Davis, 38th la. Cav .: Jacob Silvers, 15th U. S. Cav .; F. Kieser, 34th Ind. Inf .; Wilson S. Rich- ards, 68th O. Inf .; Jacob Hammer, 47th Ind. Inf .: I. Vanderwort, 140th IH. Inf .; Jacob Morgan, 31st O. Inf .: Peter Anderson, 2d U. S. Art .; Riley D. Burton, 67th Ind. Inf .; Simeon Johnson, 14th Pa ..
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Cav .; Joseph Basey, Ist O. H. Art .; Absalom O. Overman, 95th Ind. Inf .; John F. Merrill; James McFerren, 21st Pa. Cav .; Wm. Champ- lin. 1st Mich. Inf .: Geo. Mizen, Sr., 42d Wis. Inf .; Jesse Millikan, 139th Ind. Inf .; G. P. Alford; Alvin Wells, Ist Mich. Cav .; W. P. Davis, Ill. Inf .; G. S. Dwight, Gottleib Laher, 68th O. Inf .; John Young, Mexican War: E. J. Hanchett, N. Y. Cav .; C. F. Orvis, 145th Ill. Inf .; Amos Wilson, 36th O. Cav .; B. E. Swift, 117th N. Y. Cav .: H. E. Drake, 30th Ind. Cav .; J. G. Mahler, 20th Ind. Cav .; James M. Miller, 1st Ind. Art .: Nick Gordon, 2d la. Inf .; O. F. Foote, 7th Pa. Cav .; W. F. Kellar, D. R. Ball, 46th Ind. Inf .; Rich- ard Van Buskirk, 21st N. J. Inf .; Henry Winkley, 27th Wis. Inf .; Joseph Lilly, 172d Pa. Inf .; Lewis Alvers, 58th Ill. Inf .: B. F. Baker; Wm. Martin, 83d O. Inf .: Charles Collins, 7th Mo. Inf .; Darius C. Kerr, 14th Ind. Inf .; W. J. Barger, 15th la. Inf .: Samuel Wright, 5th Mass. Inf .; Isaac Smith, 128th Pa. Inf .; C. Hohlfelt, 9th Wis. Inf .: Elias Knowles, 26th Ill. Inf .; Norman G. Gibson, 29th Ind. Inf .: W. B. Hamilton, 53d Ill. Inf .; Henry Jewett, 47th III. Inf .: John Konkright, 155th Ind. Inf .; John D. Ball, 2d Mo. Cav .: Chas. S. James, 27th Mich. Inf .: L. D. Sergeant, 32d Wis. Inf .; Jacob II. Gates, 40th Wis. Inf .: R. J. Worthington, 13th Mich. Inf .; O. E. Woods, 21st N. Y. Cav. : D. M. Griswold, 129th Ill. Inf .; AI M. Clay. 97th Ind. Inf .: Logan Sarrison, 17th Ind. Inf .; David Bruck- man, 99th Ind. Inf .: N. K. Metser, 9th Wis. Inf .; Samuel P. How- land, 4th Mich. Inf .; W. S. Webster, 8th Mich. Cav .; M. D. Ovitt, 17th Vt. Inf .: Wm. H. Stephens, 11th Ind. Cav .; D. V. Stevens, 118th Ind. Inf .: N. H. Kathorn, 12th Ill. Cav. : John R. Van Houten, 151st Ill. Inf .: Calvin Ball, 26th Ind. Inf .: Geo. S. Parks, 26th Ill. Inf .: W. D. Burroughs, 9th Mich. Inf .: T. M. Battrell, 26th Ill. Inf .; Lafayette L. Anger, Ist N. Y .; Henry W. Crone, 13th Ind. Inf .; Samuel Nicholas, 18th Ill. Inf .; James Powell, 87th Ind. Inf .; C. B. Booth, 7th Ind. Inf .: Edward Morgan, Ist Ill. Cav .; J. S. Robesy, 1st Md. Cav .: Peter Griffith, 102d INI. Inf .; John W. McCracken, 38th Wis. Inf .; Sanford Webster, 2d Minn. Cav.
The Juniata Post is still maintained, though many of the early members have died, and others have moved away.
MILITIA COMPANY
On May 21. 1880, Company K. afterward F, was reorganized, and the following officers were elected: A. V. Cole, captain; S. J. Shirley, first lieutenant ; E. L. Dutton, second lieutenant. The mem- bers presented a list of names for non-commissioned officers, from
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which Captain Cole selected the following: Sergeants, William Spade, James Kent, M. K. Hutchinson, Josiah Hodges and George Watkins; corporals, F. C. Brosius, D. Conger, P. Nash, R. Crawford, George Mizen, O. Dutton, W. Babcock and W. Winter.
In 1882 the company was represented in the State Encampment at Omaha by the following named members: A. V. Cole, E. L. Dut- ton, J. M. Kent, M. K. Hutchinson, S. J. Shirley, William Spade, Josiah Hodges, George Watkins, Damon Conger, A. Bordon, Way- land Babcock, Robert Crawford, Marshal Ash, W. G. Beal, H. G. Armitage, G. S. Guild, W. II. Payne, William A. Ballou, E. R. Farrabee, Byron II. Dutton, William Ellington, David Houts, R. W. Crone, Irwin Farrabee, William Knickerbocker, Francis Ballon, J. J. Flemming, E. F. Walker, J. B. Osler, Charles Signor, Henry Ho- man, Charles F. Doty, William Winter, Ed A. Buzzell, C. R. Bige- low, Frampt Brosius, Frank Rosencrans, HI. W. Mitchell.
The company under the command of A. V. Cole took the gov- ernor's challenge cup at the encampment at Crete, in 1883. They held the cup until 1885, when Company C, of Beatrice, took it. The strength at that time was about forty-one. The commissioned officers are: L. A. Ballou, captain; W. A. Ballou, first lieutenant; T. II. Ellis. second lieutenant, with four sergeants, three corporals, one musician, and twenty privates. In 1890. Company F of Juniata par- took in the Indian disturbances of which the battle of Wounded Knee was the most important event.
HANSEN POST
Hansen Post, G. A. R., was instituted June 23, 1883, with A. F. Powers, commander: J. M. Bearse, S. V. C .; J. F. Nyce, J. V. C .; M. B. Holley, surgeon; F. II. Calder, chaplain: Fred Albright, Q. M .: J. Countryman, O. of D .; J. G. Honeywell, O. of G .; J. Smith. Adjt .: T. M. Beatreall, S. M .; and George Mills, sergeant. The post was not then in active work. In fact it was alleged that beyond the formal organization nothing was accomplished.
AYR POST
The G. A. R. Post at Ayr was established at about the same time as the Hastings Post; for the last ten years, however, this post has not been active, due to the death of many of the veterans, and others moving away. An organization still exists. An organization is also
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maintained at Kenesaw. The Kenesaw post was among the earliest to be organized in Adams County.
SONS OF VETERANS
Strickland Camp No. 20, Sons of Veterans, was organized at Hastings, January 8, 1887, with L. C. Bartlett, captain; C. Burggraf and C. A. Gardner, lieutenants; R. A. Bruce and A. H. Bowen, Jr., sergeants; Ross Dalby, chaplain; W. Yager, color sergeant; J. B. Koch, Joe Alexander, H. K. Snively, J. M. Boyd, J. V. Snively. E. Carkins and F. C. Bassett, junior officers. This organization was active for a number of years; interest, however, dwindled with the moving away of members, so that the organization virtually ceased to exist a number of years ago.
CHAPTER XVI
SOME ADAMS COUNTY CHURCHES
It is probable that the first public religious service conducted in Adams County was that held on the third Sunday in January, 1871, at the home of William Kress in Little Blue Township. About twenty pioneers assembled for this meeting, notice of which had been passed from mouth to mouth for several days. The service was conducted by the Rev. J. W. Warwick, a Baptist minister. All around the little shanty stretched the desolate prairie, and not a few shed tears as the first hymn was sung. "The ever mindful care of God" was the appropriate theme of the minister.
Some of the difficulties attending spiritual ministration in the early days appears in the records of the county commissioners, where it is recorded that in 1872, the Rev. Mr. Warwick applied to the commis- sioners for aid, stating that he and his family were in dire need.
The first religious service held in Hastings was conducted in the sample room of Charles Kohl, early in 1873. The Rev. J. F. Clark- son, who had come to Hastings with the English colony in the spring of 1871, conducted the service. Mr. Kohl laid aside all glasses and concealed the distinguishing features of the sample room. The pro- prietor did this voluntarily to contribute to the success of the first meeting.
The churches of the county have grown with the community. In 1891 there were sixty-four Sunday schools with a membership of 4,514. The growth of the religious life of the community will be indicated in the history of the churches that follows.
HASTINGS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The Presbyterian Church began its activities in Adams County almost as soon as the county was organized, and the growth of the movement has kept pace with the development of the county. Fires and other discouragements have served only to strengthen the faith and stimulate the work of the denomination.
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It was on August 1, 1873, that the Rev. James A. Griffis visited Hastings and found here a number of Presbyterians who were with- out a church home. The Rev. Griffis lost no time in complying with their wishes, and ten days later a church was organized. The first services were held in the building then being erected for the Methodist Church. A bundle of shingles laid across the top of an empty barrel served as a pulpit, and in these unfavorable surroundings, the church was organized. The charter members were Mr. A. L. Wigton and wife. Samuel Alexander, H. M. Robinson, H. M. Palmer and wife, and W. M. Snodgrass, and the first officers of the church were Sam- uel Alexander and A. L. Wigton, elected elders. On September 3, 1873. the church was received under the care of the Nebraska City Presbytery, and, in connection with the church at Kearney, Rev. James A. Griffis was engaged as supply.
As soon as the church became firmly established, and had a suf- ficient membership, steps were taken toward the building of their first church. The building was located on the southeast corner of Third Street and Lincoln Avenue, and was dedicated entirely free from debt. the total cost being approximately $3,000. The church was erected under the supervision of Samuel Alexander. A. L. Wigton. and I. B. Palmer. The congregation held their services in this build- ing until 1888, when the lot on the corner of Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue was purchased at a cost of $2,500. Work was begun on this building in the spring of that year. The building committee were Samuel Alexander. Rev. George T. Crissman. D. D., C. P. Webster, L. B. Palmer, A. J. Neimeyer, and L. M. Campbell. The Rev. George T. Crissman held the first services in the new church in January, 1889. The building was planned by the famous Presby- terian architect, L. B. Valk, of Los Angeles, and followed the usual Presbyterian style, being more or less irregular in outline and having a large tower room. The total cost of the building, pipe organ, and furniture inclusive, was $49,982.24.
On September 25. 1910. this beautiful edifice was completely destroyed by fire. W. F. Raney, at that time a deacon of the church. was killed while assisting in removing some records from the study. A large stone on the corner of the building became loosened by the heat. and fell on him, killing him instantly.
Plans were made immediately for the rebuilding of the church, and the result is the present building, also designed by Mr. Valk, which was erected at a cost of about $52,000, exclusive of the salvage from the old building. The building committee were W. F. Buchanan, F. I. Pease, A. H. Jones, J. H. Riffe, C. A. IIeartwell, and W. T.
2
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Blackman. The design of the new church follows that of the old one as nearly as possible.
The dedication services lasted all day, and in the evening, the sacred cantata, "The Nazarene," by William Madoc, was given under the direction of Prof. John Rees. The dedication was on Sunday, January 14, 1912.
The following ministers have served the church: Rev. James A. Griffis. Rev. John Rutherford, Rev. D. S. Schaff, Rev. E. S. Wil- liams, Rev. W. F. Ringland, Rev. G. T. Crissman, Rev. Harry O. Scott, Rev. E. Van Dyke Wight, Rev. C. W. Weyer, and the Rev. J. W. Bean, who is the present pastor.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
September 23, 1872, the first Methodist Episcopal church was organized in Hastings in the section house of the St. Joe & Denver City Railroad, by the Rev. R. II. Crane, who continued for some time to minister to the little flock. Of the first Methodist class the follow- ing were members: William Hudson, Maria Hudson, Benjamin Brown, Rebecca Brown, Richard Rainforth, Lizzie Rainforth, and Mary E. Rose. After the organization of the class, services were held in different homes, and in business houses, which were kindly opened for the preaching service. The cottage of John Gillespie Moore, 1122 West Second Street (exact location not agreed upon by the early settlers still living in Hastings), was the principal house of worship until the erection of a church became possible.
Shortly after its organization, the Hastings Town Company, in 1873 donated three lots to the Methodists at the corner of Kansas Avenue and Second Street, and on July 13 of that year a site for a church was selected by Presiding Elder White. Funds had been collected for the building of a church, and August 10, 1873, the par- tially completed building was formally dedicated. The Rev. James Griffis, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, officiated. The dedication of the Methodist Church by the Presbyterian pastor came about through a misunderstanding. This, however, has not proven to be unpropitious, for the church has enjoyed remarkable growth. In 1880 the church property was sold to the German Evangelical Association, and the Methodists acquired a site on the northeast corner of Burling- ton Avenue and Third Street. August 12, 1880, the corner stone of a new church was laid, Rev. A. C. Crosthwaite officiating. The build- ing was completed at a cost of $6,000. During the process of con- struction, the services were held in Germania Hall, then known as
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Liberal Hall. During the pastorate of Rev. G. W. Isham the church was practically rebuilt. The remodeled church served its purpose satisfactorily for a number of years, but eventually the growth in membership forced upon the Methodists the necessity for erecting a new church. On March 5, 1912, the official board authorized the pastor, Rev. A. A. Brooks, to appoint a plan committee to begin preparing plans for the erection of a new church to be erected upon lots acquired at the southeast corner of Seventh Street and Hastings Avenue. The committee appointed was: D. P. Jones, A. J. Gay- mon, Dr. J. W. Straight, John Snider, J. W. Plummer, Miss Grace Sylla and Mrs. George Kimball, Sr. Of this committee, Mr. Jones was the chairman and Doctor Straight the secretary. The committee held fifty meetings and consulted with many achitects, and after three years of consideration presented plans which were unanimously adopted by the board. These plans were prepared by Fulton & Butler of Uniontown, Pa. The finance committee was: C. G. Lane, U. S. Rohrer, W. A. Taylor, H. B. Cornelius, J. C. Hedge, W. A. Martin and N. H. Jones. The campaign for raising the money was begun January 31st, under the leadership of Dr. T. C. Iliff of Denver, and within forty-eight hours $37,000 had been pledged. The total cost of the church, including chime, lot, furnishings and parsonage, is about $80,000. 'The parsonage and church are under one roof.
The chime of ten bells was presented to the community by Mr. W. H. Lanning and installed in the church building with the Meth- odist organization as trustee. The bells have a total weight of 9,200 pounds, and were presented by Mr. Lanning as a memorial of his mother, Mrs. Mary Lanning. The bells were first rung upon the morning of June 23, 1916, about 7 o'clock, upon the occasion of the departure of Company G of the National Guard, of Hastings, for Lincoln, to mobilize in response to the call of President Wilson for guardsmen for service on the Mexican border.
The auditorium of this church is 36 by 66 feet. Other rooms on the main floor are pastor's study, choir room, choir loft, large Sunday school room with large and small classrooms, mothers' rest room, etc. The church was dedicated with a series of exercises beginning at 10 o'clock, July 30, 1916, and ending with a pipe organ recital by William M. Jenkin of St. Louis, assisted by Rollin M. Pease of St. Paul, on the evening of August 4th. Bishop Homer C. Stuntz was among those who delivered addresses, also a former pastor, Dr. George W. Isham. The following pastors have served the church: R. H. Crane, 1872; ITiram Hersey, 1873; E. J. Willis, 1874-75; Richard Pearson, 1876-77; Edward Thompson, 1878; A. C. Cros-
ZION GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. HASTINGS
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NEW METHODIST CHURCH, HASTINGS
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thwaite, 1879-81; S. H. Henderson, 1882-83; John Galligar, 1884; W. R. Jones, 1885-86; L. F. Britt, 1887-1891; R. G. Adams, 1892; G. S. W. Dean, 1893-94; George W. Isham, 1895-98; G. W. Abbott, 1898-1903; E. M. Evans, 1904; M. Bamford, 1905-07; George P. Trites, 1908-11: A. A. Brooks, the present pastor since 1911.
BAPTIST CHURCH
The First Baptist Church of Hastings was organized April 29, 1873, by the Rev. I. D. Newell, who was the first general missionary of the denomination to carry on work in this section of Nebraska. The Rev. Mr. Newell, who died in Glenville in 1915, organized in pioneer days, and subsequently, a large number of Sunday schools in Adams and Clay counties. At the organization of the Hastings church there was present the Rev. J. N. Webb, general state mission- ary, who assisted Reverend Newell. The members present at the organization were D. S. Cole, J. W. Holt, James Purdy, Hiram Starr, Mrs. Purdy, Lulu Purdy and Christine Starr. Mrs. I. D. Newell was also present. Among the very early members of the Hastings church were Jaeob Wooster, J. H. Vandemark, N. T. Eekles, Frank Talmadge and J. R. Sims, Mrs. Talmadge, Mrs. Alli- son and Mrs. Vandemark. For a number of years the congregation met for worship at the residences of different members. On June 7, 1879, the congregation worshiped in the Congregational Church, which edifice they used for about a year. At this time the membership was thirty-four. The next year they leased the hall of the Good Templars and subsequently arranged with one of the German churches for the use of their building.
January 21, 1880, the congregation decided to buy lots upon which to ereet a church, and upon February 7th they acquired three lots adjacent to the southwest corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street. July 7, 1881, a committee composed of Jacob Wooster, J. H. Van- demark, C. H. Felt, Mrs. Allison and Mrs. Vandemark was appointed to receive funds for the ereetion of a church. The Home Mission Society promised to advance $500 if the committee eould raise $1,000. The building committee was: J. R. Sims, Jacob Wooster, Frank Talmadge and L. C. Gould.
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