USA > Nebraska > York County > York County, Nebraska and its people : together with a condensed history of the state, Vol. II > Part 7
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The records of the next ten years are not available, though three clergymen were at various times residents in the parish. namely. Mr. Gardiner, who performed the first marriage ceremony in the church, uniting in wedlock Mr. and Mrs. Papin, who were strong members of the church : Mr. Simpson, who baptized the present warden's daughter. Stella. and Mr. Baxter, under whom the church may be said to have had its most prosperous times. At intervals during this period the bishop visited the parish and several confirmation services were held.
The Rev. W. P. N. Wharton, M. A., of the University of Durham, first officiated in Holy Trinity Church in October. 1896, when he took up his residence at Fairmont as local missionary. His work brought him to York the third Sunday of each month. He commenced residence in the city September 1, 1892, officiating until August of the following year. During his tenure of office Bishop Graves of the Platte confirmed ten persons.
Subsequently Mr. Wharton removed to St. George's Church. LeMars, Iowa.
After a period of some three years Bishop Williams sent the Rev. T. Percival Tate to take charge of the mission. And since his advent. mainly owing to the energetic work of the members of the Ladies' Guild, presided over at first by Mrs. Pick and later by Mrs. Eroe, the church has taken on a new lease of life. Mr. Craw- ford. the energetic Sunday school superintendent, ably assisted by Mr. Sorren J. Iledelund, was a great source of strength in holding up the present incumbent's hands, and the prospects are good for a sure and steady increase in church membership.
The late Bishop Williams always visited the little church, to find a splendid welcome and many were unable to find room in the crowded building to listen to his eloquent and inspiring words.
The people though small in numbers always responded nobly to the bishop's call for funds towards securing the permanent residence of the missionary, and
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the members of Holy Trinity paid far more in proportion to membership than any church in York towards the salary of their ministers and the running expenses of the church.
The church has been repainted, electric lights put in, pavement laid down, sewerage tax paid, new stove erected, a complete set of altar hangings made, and all expenses promptly met as they fall due. Holy Trinity members have no cause to be ashamed of their efforts.
Since Reverend Tate left, Rev. A. E. Cash and J. Senior served this church in the next few years.
In 1916 to 1918 Rev. Geo. G. Tyner served this congregation.
BAPTIST CHURCH
In the fall of 1871 the South Platte Land Company agreed to donate, free of expense, two lots in the town site of York to each church which should erect a church building thereon. Today the First Baptist Church is the only church receiving such donation in the town, which has kept their church building upon the site originally selected.
The organization of the church dates back to August 23, 1873, when a small company were gathered into what might more properly be called a class. Some meetings were held in what was then ealled "the new schoolhouse," and at one of these meetings David Graham was ordained as a deacon of the church.
Until 1879 no regular pastor was located here, and with but a few scattered members it was difficult to keep up regular prayer or church meetings. In the fall of 1879 Rev. A. W. Peek moved into the county from New Jersey and began the work of collecting the names of Baptists who had moved here and of building up the church. The first baptisms were August 9, 1879.
October 18, 1879, at a service held in a vacant store room on the southeast corner of the square, a call was given to Reverend Peck to become pastor of the church, which was accepted, and he immediately began his work as pastor. For a year he worked hard to build up the membership and hold regular services. After this came a time when the church was without a regular pastor.
On July 26, 1883, Rev. A. W. Clark was secured as pastor, entering at once upon his work. The Universalist Church was secured as a regular place of worship, and the organization of a Sunday school was perfected, which began the work that has steadily kept pace with our town and community. At this time there were about thirty members connected with the church. Preparations were at once begun for the building of a church. A committee was appointed, money sub- scribed and plans submitted and adopted, and on February 21. 1884, the contract was let and the result we see in the present church building. The church was dedicated November 16, 1884, by Dr. Wm. Lawrence of Chicago and Rev. W. R. Connelly of the Home Mission Society of Nebraska. A bell had been presented and placed on the church by D. E. Sayer of York, just before the dedication. The Home Mission Society gave a donation of $500 on the cost of the building. The church membership had increased to about eighty-five, so that as the church began the worship of God in its new home they were cheered by a good membership and large congregations.
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The pastors of the church have been men well thought of and earnest in their endeavors to establish a fruitful church of God-fearing men and women in York and the surrounding community.
Reverend Peek lived on a farm two miles south of town, but was "in and out" among his people doing good.
Rev. A. W. Clark followed and was a builder in one sense, working with his own hands to erect a house of worship and then getting the people to worship. The first candidate for baptism in the new church was later one of the deacons, M. Castle, baptized December 14, 1884. The Baptist state convention met here during Reverend Clark's pastorate.
Rev. R. L. Halsey proved to be a missionary preacher, resigning his pastorate here to go to India as a foreign missionary.
Rev. W. G. Evans built up the church in many ways and won many into its folds by his preaching and teaching. He resigned to engage in the financial work of Grand Island College.
Rev. E. D. Bewick was a teacher of the scriptures and aside from the work of the church gave extra time to teaching the Bible and giving instruction. He closed his labors here to re-enter the work in Wisconsin.
Rev. B. F. Fellman came to the York church as a young man. and as such won many young people as well as old into the church. He also took up the work at Maple Grove schoolhouse during two summers. He was ordained while serving the York church. It was during his pastorate the Baptist state convention again met in York. About five hundred dollars was expended for fixing the interior of the church the last year of his pastorate. Brother Fellman left York to build np a church in South Omaha.
Rev. J. A. Mechan was called from Iowa to take charge here at York, and during his short stay of a year made friends and sought to build up a spiritual and earnest elmurch membership. Brother Meehan left the church here to enter the medical school at Des Moines, la.
Rev. S. C. Green stayed from 1901 to 1904. It was by his efforts that the par- sonage was erected in 1902, at a cost of over one thousand five hundred dollars. The church building was repaired also in this time and the large pedal organ added to the andience room of the church.
Ilis successor was Rev. A. HI. Ballard, who served this congregation for about five years, when Rev. F. W. Cliffe came to them. About five years later Rev. J. G. Diekson began a pastorate which lasted until Rev. L. R. Bobbitt came in 1918.
The church has granted ministerial license to three of its members: Brother 1. F. Salee, in 1891 ; Brother C. R. Rockwell, July 13, 1890; Brother Marion Bollen, January 1, 1903.
Among the early deacons of the church who served in the past were David Graham, who died February 19, 1903: J. M. Stilson died September 12, 1902; E. V. Green, Daniel Longwell, William Ong (died June 20, 1888), J. W. Shoetter, Melvin MeCracken, Louis Provost, and A. J. Wilkins.
Among the church clerks of early years we find the names of Thomas Porter, O. A. Stubbs. Prof. R. M. Bridges, and eleven others. William E. Stilson served for a long period in this capacity.
No church history of York would be complete without mention of Mr. Butter- field. father of E. A. Butterfield. De homesteaded the land where his son lived,
GERMAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, YORK
ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, YORK
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FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, YORK
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building a small sod house about where the K. C. Railroad comes onto the farm, living here alone the latter part of 1870 and 1871. He sought the companionship of his fellow-man, and at times on Sunday would collect some neighbors and teach them from the Bible. We think that to him should be accorded the honor of being the first Bible class teacher upon the territory now covered by the City of York. We recollect him as standing beside a dry goods box, near a little building about where Murphy's blacksmith shop stood, in the spring of 1871, teaching from his open Bible to the three or four persons who would listen to him. These early pioneers builded better than they knew.
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Joseph Catholic Church was first attended as a mission in 1877 by Father William Byrne, and by him organized into a church. It was under his charge until the spring of 1878, when he was succeeded by Father O'Brien, who was in attend- anee until 1880. Father Wallace attended during the years of 1880 and 1881 and was succeeded by Father C. J. Quinn of Utica. The church was commenced in 1879 and completed in 1881 at a cost of $1,100. Father F. E. Clark and Rev. P. Lysaght served this parish and then came Father Thomas Cullen. In November, 1920, this congregation commemorated a service of thirty years by its present pastor, Father Cullen, described by the local press as follows :
Thirty Years in, York
Father Cullen, as he is familiarly called by the members of his parish and York people in general, was honor guest at Hotel McCloud on Thursday evening. The event celebrating the close of thirty years of work for his parish and the community in which his parish is situated.
Dennis Mechan, with his fund of wit, was toastmaster. Judge George F. Cor- coran, who has been a York resident even longer than Father Cullen, responded to the first toast, so was especially fitted to speak of the early day struggles not only of this church but of the community in general. He contrasted the limitations and hardships of early settlers with the church and community today, with its fine assemblage of buildings, and brought out the point that it was the same spirit of loyalty all through the years that has brought the church to its present status. August Zimmerer, in response to the second toast, also related experiences of the early settlers and the early work of the church. Mr. Zimmerer has been connected with the work of the choir in this church for many years. There were responses to toasts also by Mr. James Neville, Joseph Paschang, Philip Kennedy, and from Peter Meehan and Miles Duffy, who represented the young people of the parish, and their love and loyalty to Father Cullen. Father Hays, chaplain of the Ursuline Convent, gave a brief address, witty and eloquent. Reverend Hagan of Beaver ('rossing was a welcome visitor coming to share in the honor paid a fellow-worker.
In behalf of the parish Mr. Meehan presented Reverend Father Cullen with a beautiful gold-headed eane. as a token of esteem and respect from his parishioners.
The tables were beautifully decorated with baskets of roses, the large bouquet of Russel roses at the speakers' table later being presented to Reverend Cullen.
Young ladies of the congregation efficiently served in waiting on the guests.
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Musie was furnished by Miss Rose Zimmerer at the piano and James Durbin, with violin. About one hundred and forty guests were present. Many good wishes were extended to Father Cullen for a long continuance of his work among his people.
Thirty years is a long time to labor in one field, vet as it is lived a day at a time it is short to look back upon. Father Cullen ean see many successes crowning his score and a half years' work here. His coming was in the early days of his ministry, he having served but seven years at that time, and his work has been broken by but one varation. Ile made a trip to Ireland for a last visit with his aged mother.
Out-of-town guests included many who have been members of St. Joseph's con- gregation. Among them from away who attended the ceremonies are found the names of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Wolfe and son, John, of Utica : Mr. and Mrs. Lamb and Mrs. Nychill of Ulysses, Mr. and Mrs. Miles Duffy of Hordville, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Duffy of Central City, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bond of Alliance, who are on their honeymoon trip. Miss Catherine Gallegher, a niece of Father Cullen, and Miss Culley of Omaha.
UNIVERSALIST
The organization of this church dates back to June. 1880, at which date it was organized by Rev. L. S. Roripaugh, Rev. E. R. Earl, pastor. This house of worship was completed in April, 1881, and the property was valued at $1,800. The trustees of the church were: John Ittner, J. D. P. Small. and Charles Le Count.
GERMAN REFORMED EMANUEL'S CONGREGATION Corner of Nebraska Avenue and Eleventh Street
The first German emigrants from the Volga region of Russia to settle in York came here in November, 1888. Even before they had homes of their own or visible means of support. they appealed to the pastors of their denomination in Sutton, Neb., for spiritual supply, and in answer to this appeal, different pastors of the Reformed Church preached to these people for years.
The first resident pastor was Rev. J. Vollprecht, now of Humboldt, and under his pastorate the congregation was organized in 1891 as the German Reformed Emannel's Congregation, affiliated with the Nebraska class of the Reformed Church in the United States.
The services were at first held in the homes, then in the building on Sixth Street, which was destroyed by fire : above Blackburn's store : and for six years above W. W. Wyckoff's office.
In 1906, under the pastorate of Rev. F. Maurer of Harvard, the congregation erected its first church home, the little frame building on the corner of Nebraska Avenue and Eleventh Street. From 1907 to 1908 it was part of the charge of Rev. U. Zogg of Sutton.
In 1910 the congregation declared itself self-supporting and elected Rev. W. Bonekemper: since November, 1911, the present pastor, Rev. J. Biery, has been in charge.
The five of the charter members still residing here in 1913 were: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Pfenning, Mr. John Ilesler, Mr. and Mrs. John Reisbig. The congre-
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gation had 116 adult members, and as all were in comfortable circumstances, hoped to enlarge its present church edifice and build a parsonage.
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCHI OF YORK
In October, 1902, a committee composed of Revs. M. D. Berg, J. N. Lentz, and A. B. Leamer, made a canvass of the City of York to ascertain the feasibility of establishing an English Lutheran Church. Meeting with encouraging results they appointed a Sunday service in the Swedish church on West Eighth Street and Platte Avenne. The response was so favorable that the president of the Nebraska Synod sent supplies for a time.
The following winter Rev. W. T. Kahse, a student of the Western Theological Seminary, Atchison, Kan., spent his Christmas vacation in York. He made a canvass for Lutheran people, and started a Sunday school. It was the intention of the president of the Synod to send supplies, but in the meantime the building having been rented to the Free Methodists, the Sunday school was dishanded and the supplies for the winter postponed.
In 1903 Rev. C. E. Sparks, a student of Wittenberg College, spent a summer vacation in York and succeeded in rallying the Lutheran forces. With the aid of the Board of Church Extension, he was enabled to secure the Fraternal Hall for Sunday services. He organized the Sunday school, and on August 2, 1903, the congregation was regularly organized by Rev. L. P. Undden, D. D., the western secretary of the Board of Home Missions. There were twenty-nine charter members. The following comprised the official board: George Harr, L. M. Worman, S. F. Hansen, W. M. Swartzwelder, J. E. Johnson and C. D. Dreier.
From September 1, 1903, until April 1, 1904, Rev. J. G. Griffith, D. D., acted as a supply pastor. During his inenmbeney the Ladies' Aid Society was organized, six new members received and the church now owned by the congregation was leased.
June 1, 1904, Rev. George F. Scheese of Selinsgrove, Pa., took charge and served until November 1, 1904, when he resigned and returned to the East.
January 12, 1905, at the earnest solicitation of the South Platte Conference of the Nebraska Synod, Rev. R. A. White took charge and served the congregation until April 1, 1913. He found the membership very much discouraged and seat- tered. By heroic effort he rallied them and soon infused new life in the congrega- tion. The Ladies' Aid Society has been a very important factor in the development of the work. Though only a few in number, they raised and expended about two thousand eight hundred dollars during the pastorate. Each year the church raised her full apportionment for all benevolent purposes. July 28, 1908, the church was bought for $1.480. The transfer was made November 14, 1908. The trustees signing legal documents were R. A. White, Pastor L. M. Worman, C. D. Dreier and August Dreier. J. E. Johnson was one of the church conneil, but he was away from home at the time, so his name does not appear. Following the pur- chase were extensive repairs and renovations of the building. The old rickety tower was taken down, a new roof was put on, a basement was constructed underneath the entire church, the doors were changed from the center to the southeast corner, a beautiful art glass window was put in the east end of the church where the doors had been, an art glass transom was placed over the doors, a Giblon furnace by which
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the church is heated was installed, the interior was beautifully papered, the wood- work painted and grained, and beautiful oak pews installed. Besides these there were many smaller improvements made, which gives the congregation a delightful auditorium in which to worship. The membership is now about fifty-five. It would have been more than a hundred except for removals.
On January 23 Rev. R. A. White offered his resignation to take effect April 1, 1913.
Rev. C. E. Sparks of Auburn, Neb., was then called and began his work as pastor June 1, 1913. The church council constituted the new pastor, Rev. Sparks, M. L. Warner, Fred C. J. Voss and William H. Newcomer, Jr.
UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH IN YORK COUNTY, NEBRASKA
On April 10, 1879, at a session of the Des Moines Conference of the Evangelical churches of Iowa, it was resolved that York Center, Waco, and surrounding country be taken up as a mission to be known as York Center Mission. Rev. E. D. Einsel was sent as the first preacher in charge. A couple of years later some of the appointments were attached to charges outside of York County and York Center Mission was discontinued.
On March 13, 1903, at a session of the Platte River Conference of the United Evangelical Church, it was resolved that York and surrounding country be taken up and called York Mission. Rev. Arthur E. Miller was appointed the first pastor and with his wife and the families of E. Reisinger, E. P. McCoy, and Elias Anderson constituted the charter membership of the church. in May of the same year the lot at the corner of Grant Avenue and Eighth Street was purchased and on the first Sunday in June the first service was held in the building then there. This was a part of the Boyer's old drug store building. A class was organized on June 14, 1903, with twelve members. The corner-stone of the present ehureh building was laid in the spring of 1907, and on October 27th, under the pastorate of Rev. W. C. Brewer, the church was dedicated to the worship of God. The prop- erty was valued at $10,000. The membership of the church is ninety-three. The pastors have been as follows: Rev. Arthur E. Miller, 1903 to 1907; Rev. W. C. Brewer, 1907 to 1908; Rev. A. Essley, 1908 to 1909; Rev. B. Hiller, 1909 to 1913. Rev. Arthur E. Miller came again in 1913.
Mr. E. Reisinger was superintendent of the Sunday school during the first years of its existence.
E. Reisinger, J. L. Browitt and Arthur E. Miller were the first board of trustees.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION OF YORK
The people of this congregation are mostly German or of German descent, and most of them reared in Lutheran faith. The first settlers of the township came in 1869, and for the next three or four years homesteads were to be secured. In the year 1873 Rev. P. II. Gruber eame to the neighborhood and preached. Next came Rev. Burger from Hampton, Hamilton County. The first church was a sod honse erected in 1875. In 1828 Rev. P. G. Endres was called. In 1882 a schoolhouse was erected, 27x32x12. Mr. A. Reinhard was the first teacher. In 1885 Reverend
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH, YORK
PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, NAZARENE, YORK
LUTHERAN CHURCH, YORK
ST. JOHN'S GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, BEAVER TOWNSHIP
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Endres died, and he was succeeded by Rev. P. G. Tung. In 1895 he was suc- ceeded by Rev. P. C. Seltz. Under his charge the present house of worship was erected in 1903, this building being 42x86x24. In 1904 Reverend Seltz was suc- ceeded by Rev. A. Bergt. In 1906 he died and Rev. F. Wunderlich came and has served this flock ever since.
The congregation consisted of twenty-one families when they organized in 1877. The membership later increased to 360. Two schools were maintained, one of thirty-six pupils. with F. Kiekhaefer as their teacher, and the other with forty-two pupils, with O. Wilk as teacher.
The elders were Herman Wellmann, It. R. Stuhr, and William Staehr ; trustees, Henry Dinkelnann, Henry Goecke, Simon Obermeier. The school trustees were D. Naber and H. Morner.
The announcement was made in September, 1917, that three of the most prominent religious denominations were planning to unite in their spiritual admin- istrations, and after a short time instead of maintaining three churches and carry- ing the necessary expenses they would unite in one and get along with but one preacher. The churches considering this union were the Presbyterian, United Brethren and Congregational. The latter denomination had worshipped during the summer with the Baptist and the Christian churches, and found the experi- ment a very gratifying one.
When the move was carried into effect the Presbyterian Church was used by the trio of congregations as their house of worship, and at first the Rev. L. F. John, pastor of the United Brethren Church, was the minister for the combined churches, with Dean Ashcraft assisting, one of them preaching in the morning, the other oftentimes in the evening.
Members of all three congregations took to the move with much favor. Two of the churches were then without pastors-the Rev. E. E. Emhoff, of the Presbyterian, and the Rev. E. Merle Adams both being in the army Y. M. C. A. services on leaves of absence from their congregations.
Reverend Emhoff returned to his flock and the Presbyterian Church withdrew. Late in 1920 the announcement was made of the fate of the "dual relation" con- tinued by the other two.
Denominational indneements are responsible for the decision of the members of the Congregational and United Brethren churches to sever their federated church relations and return to the holding of separate church services. The federated church has been in operation a year on next October 1st. It succeeded a federation of three churches, the two referred to and the Presbyterian. The Presbyterian eon- gregation withdrew from the federation when its pastor returned from overseas. Now the United Brethren people feel the pressure of the argument that the denom- ination supporting a college here should also have a church. And the Congrega- tional people, who are to entertain the state meeting of the Congregational churches here in October, feel they should by that time and for that occasion be operating under their denominational name. Hence the decision to sever ties which have been mutually friendly and have resulted in a fine example of fraternity and good will, and is an earnest of the ultimate wiping out of denominational ties which is a thing very much desired among church people. The United Brethren people will return to their church edifice and continne under the leadership of Dr. L. F. John. The Congregationalists are considering calling a pastor.
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