The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-06-09
History of the Church from 1854 to 1879
Complied by r. j. Hastv

..
Compiled by T. J. Hasty.
On the 22nd of April, 1854, little
band of immigrants arrived in this place
from the state of Ohio. Among them
We're Bro. j. G. Porter and wife, Bro.
John Gardner and wife, and Bro. John
W. Gardner and wife, and Bro. Wilson
Gardner and wife, who were members of
the church and some others who after
wards became members.
There were already few members
here and as soon as it was generally
known that Bro. Porter was preacher,
arrangements were made to have
preaching. The first meeting was held
in log school house which stood on
the lots now occupied by the Caster
block. In about six months after the
first meeting, on the first Lords day in
June, 1854, twenty-five years ago today,
these brethren came together to organ
ize congregation to be bnilt upon the
rock, Jesus Christ, and to be known as
the Christian church or the Church of
Christ.
The meeting for organization was
held in what was known as s'The old
Court House," Though it never belong
ed to the county standing on the lots
now occupied by the residence Of Mr..
Forgrave. The next place of meeting
was in an old school house then stand
ing i'll the eastern part of town, not far
from Mr.. Vargas present residence.
After meeting there for time the con
gregatlon removed to the "Old Court
House" then standing upon the ground
now occupied by the Union block. They
held their meetings there until the
building was, by county officers, adj
judged unsafe for large audiences and
the brethren were again compelled to
move to a store building belonging to
Bro. John w. Gardner and his partner
and which now forms a part of the
"Haskett House."
Sometime previous to this the congre-
CATION had made an attempt to build a
house of worship. They had begun
frame building in the northwest part Of
town, near the northeast corner of Mr..
Closes property, but hard times setting
in and realizing that mistake had been
made in the selection of a location, thew
abandoned the project.
In consequence of this last removal
the brethren went to work in earnest to
build the chapel in which we are now
assembled. Bros. John Kirkpatrick, A.
Miles and Samuel Caster were appoint
ed a building committee. Bro. Kirk
patrick superintendent the erection of
the building and Bro. Caster took
charge of the making and hauling of the
brick giving freely of both his time and
means for the advancement of work, and
l think | am safe in asserting that if to
any one person more than another
where all worked to the extent of their
abilities, tribute Of praise is due, that
that person is Bro. Caster.
Work was commenced on the building
March 6, 1866, and the first discourse
was preached in it July 80, 1867, al
though it was not plastered and finished
until the fall of 1878. The occasion of
this discourse was the funeral of Sister
Gardner, mother Of John w. and w, A.
Gardner, Sister J. G. Porter and others
in this vicinity. She had taken such a
deep interest in the erection OF the
building, that, although the chapel was
scarcely in fit condition to be used.
the services were held here. They
were conducted by Bro. ]. C. Porter.
But now we must state something of
the work of the church. Twenty-three
persons entered into this organization
OF this number seven are still members,
five have gone to their reward and
eleven are scattered. In the organiza-
ton Bro. ]. G. Porter and John Gardner
were appointed the elders, Bros. John
W. Gardner and VIM. Ellis, deacons.
Others, who in the history Of the con-
gregation who have held or now hold
the Office of elder, are Bros. VIM. "A.
Gardner, Geo. w. Baker, Dawson,
Thos. Artt, I. N: Judd, John Kirkpat-
rick, J. r. McClelland, G. D. Sellers and
y. J. Hasty. Other deacons are Bros.
]. B. Lubbock, J. A. Snyder, Jos. Fred
erick, Orange Howard, Eli freeman,
Henry Walton, John Kirkpatrick, W. ].
Darr, VIM. Howard and w. L. Hebener.
Tho first protracted meeting was held
in "a and resulted in six additions,
Many other meetings have been held
since then resulting in numerous Access
sions to the church. While their hearts
have been caused to rejoice frequently
by seeing sinners turn to the Savior.
they have sometimes been caused to
mourn by seeing some. who started 81