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WAUB0NS1E METHODIST CHURCH.By M. L. Wolf.Tin* Waubonsfo Methodist Church was the lirsi religious oigahiy.aliou In Mills County; that Mc?ib-odism was the pioneer among the* l’not?sii\ui chmvhes ui orgnmy.o their societies in Mills Bounty is evident by its history.Tin* church of today is a continuation of ihai lt;plemlid beginning. it has had a continued exist lt;*M(*e tor nt'iy-ninc* years.There was 110 (I leu wood in that day, ilu* little village in that vicinity was known as Coonvillu.The Inst Gentile preachers in Mills county were Cannon and Witten, missionaries of the Methodist Church of Missouri. Services were held in a lug cabin at the head of a hollow about hair way between Glen wood and Hillsdale on the old Vbe Thomas farm, now owned by Newton Reason er. They delivered the first lTolosumi sermon given in the county. A two weeks meeting was held in December, 1MM. the probabilities are tliey organized a class, hut uoihiug very definite relative rci its history is known.Cannon took a claim where .1. P. Kling now lives; ho gave it to .lames Folden, bill he was too slow and another party jumped it.Among those who were regular attendants ai the log cabin services were: .7. I,, and Nancy Knrgi-r. Abraham and Sarah Burger, Wilson and Adeline Ik)mar.The history of the Wnubonsie church naturally divides itself into four periods as follows: Log cabin, log school house, old church and present church. The next period io consider is that of ihe log school house days. In the latter part of l Safi u definite organ iy.iuion was effected under the leadership of William Simpson, a cousin of the famous Bishop Mathew Simpson. Services were held about every two weeks in a log school house situated on what is now the Manford Linville farm. Those who attended services here well remember the large old fashioned fire place.Mr. George Folden of the present membership is the only one now who holds a like relation in iluu early organization.Mr. Folden still has two hooks which he purchased of Mr. Simpson, they were. “The Memory of Galilee” and “The Ohio Penitentiary/’Mr. Folden also has a class hook which dates back to 1S51. The old church in ISn-l was the first church building erected on the present site. The hind was given by \\\ M. Wolf, but the church was never dedicated.Rev. Isaac Kelly was rhc pastor. Prominent among its builder* were W. M. Wolf. Greenbury Jones, J. S. Folden. EH Withrow and Robert Withrow.The him her was sawed at the Wolf milt. Part of the first church is now a portion of the resh donee of Mrs. Eliza Wolf.At one time smallpox broke out in the community and this building was used as a pest, house.The first funeral service in this building was held in April. IS,7. and Arthur Boyd, the son of iS. and X. Boyd was the first burial in the present cemetery.The men of the Wan bon sic settlement responded nobly to our country’* need during 1SSI-1S65, and many of our church membership who offered ihoir .services are sleeping beneath the southern sod. while a few returned to find their last resting place among the scenes of their childhood.The present church was built in ISSfi after the big revival of the fall of 1884. Amos Dean was the architect and builder. It was dedicated by presiding elder W. T. Smith. Rev. Tillinghorst was pastor in HifKvi;. Under Rev. Peter Jacobs’ pastorate ilu* church was painted and other small improvements were made involving a total expenditure or nearly §:;2r».fm.Wanbonsle has hnd no small part in supplying Minimal for the ministry. For the Methodist Church. Andy Fukien. William Folden. Joe Newell. Siiupson Withrow. Eli Withrow, Henry Hubbard. John Foldc-n and l.afe Wolf; for the United Brethren. James Hurst. S. S. Commonds and Robert Kcstcrson; for the Baptists, John Newell; for the Christian. John Plnuicr.The Waubonsie church has experienced a number of stirring revivals, the last one was during the winter of LSS4. It lasted eleven weeks and stirred the country for miles around, resulting in several remarkable conversions.The Iasi funeral in the old church was Mrs. Hannah Kosterson. Oct. i:. 1S8»7, by M. 7^ Wolf. The first funeral in the new church was Daisy Lambert. I)ee. LI. LSSfl. by Robert Kesterson.
Newspaper Details
Historical Atlas of Mills and Fremont Counties
Glenwood, Iowa, US
Sat, Jan 01, 1910
Page 61
Full Page
Clipped by
Betty R.
CA, USA 21 May 2017
Other Publications Near Glenwood, Iowa
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
Mills County Journal
Our Opinion
Atlas of Mills County Iowa
Plat Book of Mills County Iowa
