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, iOWAWAUBONSIE METHODIST CHURCH.By M. L. Wolf.Tin* U'aubonsio Methodist Church was the first )i*Ijus organization in Mills County; that Moth* oilism was the pioneer among the Protest um chmvhes ui orgnuiv.e their societies in Mills foumy is evident by its history.The church of today is a continuation of that splendid beginning. it has had a continued exist♦•nee for nfiy-nine years.There was 110 (1 Ion wood in that day, the little village in that vicinity was known as Coon villa.'flu* first Gentile preachers in Mills county weiv Cannon and Witten, missionaries of the Methodist Church of Missouri. Services were held in a Jus cabin at the head of a hollow about half way between Glenwood anti Hillsdale on the old \lje Thomas farm. now owned by Newton Uoa-runer. They delivered the fir si Protest am sermon giwn ill the coiimy. A two weeks meeting was held in December. 1Mb. the probabilities are they .■rgaidzed a class, but nuiliiug very definite relative to its history is known.Cannon took u claim where .1. P. Kling now lives*, he gave iv to .lames Fotden, bill he was Loo slow and another party jumped it.Among those who were regular attendants at the log cabin services were: J. L. and Nancy I larger. Abraham and Sarah Burger, Wilson and Adeline Botnar.The history of the Wmibonsie church naturally divides itself into four periods as follows: Log cabin, log school house, old church and present church. The next period to consider is that of ihi; log .school house days. In the latter part of lSafi a definite orgaiii'/.ation 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 tlnit 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 IS51. The old church in ISM was the first church building erected on the present site. The land was given by W. M. Wolf, but the church was never dedicated.Rev. Isaac Kelly was the pastor. Prominent among its builder? were W. M. Wolf. Greenbury Jones, J. S. Folden. EH Withrow and Robert Withrow.The lumber was sawed at the Wolf mill. Part of the first church is now a portion of the residence 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. ISr.T. and Arthur Boyd, the son of .S. and X. Bovd was the first burial in the present cemetery.The rneu of the Wanbonsie settlement responded nobly to onr country's need during 1SGI-1S65, and many of our church membership who offered their services arc sleeping beneath the southern sod. while a few returned to find ilicit* last resting place among the scenes of their childhood.The present church was bu'dr in 1SSG after the big revival of the fall of }S84. Amos Dean was the architect awl builder. It was dedicated by presiding elder W. T. Smith. Rev. Tiltinghorsi was pastor in Ihfi.Td. Under Rev. Peter Jacobs' pastorate the church was painted and other small improvements were made involving a total expenditure or nearly §:;2r».uo.W-iinhousie has had no small part in supplying material for the ministry. For the Methodist Church. Andy Folden. William Folden. Joe Newell. Simpson Withrow. £li Withrow, Henry Hubbard. John Folden and l.afe Wolf; for the United Ibvthrort, James Hurst, S. S. Common As and Robert Kesterson; for the Baptists, John Newell: for the Christian. John Plnmer.The Waubonsic church has experienced a number of stirring revivals, the last one was (luring the winter of 1884. It lasted eleven weeks and stirred the country for miles around, resulting in several remarkable conversions.The last funeral in the old church was Mrs. Hannah Kestersnn. Oct. 13, 1S8», by M. L- Wolf, i ho first funeral in the new church was Daisy Lambert. Dec. 13. ISSd. 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 08 Jun 2018
Other Publications Near Glenwood, Iowa
Glenwood Opinion Tribune
Mills County Journal
Our Opinion
Atlas of Mills County Iowa
Plat Book of Mills County Iowa
