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HILLTOWN CHURCH HAS INTERESTING HISTORYlt;%•Wmlnmrv Am J■ I1 i (IBML J - rvm1rrv*; 1 v- h. c*:s«fvtWJ’fflF ^b ■ 11millPfejiiiflmkIs'$\4-,mr**mMm■iflt;tMlt;fiflt;6CvV?:Jp®/i iv. ,■ *iW.d%a■CVs/; u'f, mi» »d: nil »»,•,. t.It is thought that the organization known as the Hilltown Christian \ Church may have had its beginning in the church meetings that were held in the old Evans schoolhouse. In 1868, however, a group of people under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Jordan, of Moulton, and J. A. Mclntire, of Downing, Mo., organized this church. Among the first deacons and elders of this group were Milt Mount, W. R. Moore, Elec Rachford, and John Will Anderson. For twenty-one years, services were held in the old Hilltown schoolbuilding.In 1888-1889 the present church building was erected by John Lane, of Moulton, and men of the community, many of them donating their work. The land on which the church was built was donated by Dr. G. S. Stansberry and wife. The first acre of the cemetery was given by W. K. Wells. More of the land for the cemetery was obtained from Dr. Stansberry. The trustees purchased that on the west and some was donated by I. A. Guinn. On February 12, 1900, the deed to one acre, more or less, south of the road, was signed by G. S. and Rebecca Stansberry for a nominal sum. In 1947, an acre and a half of ground locatedlifeI)just back of the church was added for the cemetery.The first officers serving after the church building was erected were: Trustee—B. C. Scurlock, S. S. Amos, and Bruce Purdum. Elders— G. S. Stansberry, O. P. Martin, J. W. Anderson, and Eben Smith. Deacons —Jack Peck, John Dickinson, Wm. Carpenter and Charley Allen.One of the first ministers of the new church was brother S. J. C. Eby, of Moulton, who delivered the first sermon of his ministry here. Early during his ministry, a day memorable to the older members was that on which, like the Bible character, Cornelius and his household; James Wells and his daughters, Zenia and Luzetta; two nieces who lived with him, Janie and Mollie Anderson; a third niece, Ruth Anderson; and Mac Sherer, a young man who later married one of Mr. Wells’ nieces, were baptised in the river at the foot ofthe hill.Other early ministers at the Hilltown church were Samuel Jordan, J. H. West, B. I. Headly, all of or near Moulton; John Harriman, who lived nearby; Wm. Hartly, of Lancaster; and Brother Carr, a blind gentleman from Omaha, Nebr.In the fall of 1893, Elder J. A.3lt;CNewton, of Newtown, Mo., gave! his first sermon in Iowa at the old Dean school house. He was hired by the church board of Hilltown to preach on the first Sunday in each month, commencing November 1, 1893 to October, 1894. However, with the exception of two years, 1897 and 1898, when E. J. McKinley preached and one year 1905,, when W. R. Gill served as minister, Brother Newton preached until 1928, having served this community for thirty-two years. No doubt many remember when a large number of people, possibly thirty, made the confession and were baptised that same night. Many more interesting incidents may be recalled in conection with Brother Newton’s ministry.In 1903 and 1931, Hayes McKinley was the minister. In 1931, through the service of E. E. Withrow, of Exline, a new board was selected and ordained by Rev. Robt Seath, of Centerville and the Hilltown Church Board.Some of the other ministers who have worked here include the above mentioned E. E. Withrow and Kobt. Seath, J. S. Coffin, of Moravia, Geo. Williams, of Centerville, Elder La-gle, of Moravia, W. F. T. Evans, of Centerville, Ruby I. Jones, of Plano,and Donald Hunt and Bobby Kirby, of Cincinnati.In April, 1949, the church voted to form a pastoral unity with Moulton Christian Church and Udell Christian Church. The plan was to be tried for a period of one year. Rev. Stanley Bartlett was called to serve as pastor of the Unity, beginning July 10 of that year. The Hilltown church is still a member of this pastoral unity but has been without the services of a regularminister since August 1 of this year when Rev. Bartlett accepted a call to a Christian church in Columbus, Ohio.The present board consists of: Elders—T. J. Gorman, L. D. Watkins, and E. L. Kinkade. Deacons—Duane Martin and Clarence Daniels. Deaconesses — Flora Watkins, Laura Gorman, and Ada Morrow. Church Clerk—Russell Morrow. Trustees— Tom Gorman, Lawrence Watkins, and Duane Martin. The members of the Unity Council are Duane Martin, Russell Morrow and GraceSpears.There are approximately 145 members listed at this time.t1Js(Above picture was taken at the homecoming, Sunday.
Newspaper Details
Moulton Weekly Tribune
Moulton, Iowa, US
Thu, Sep 20, 1951
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Little D.
MO, USA 21 Aug 2018
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