Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-04-14

pieces of church property in Ham
ilton county This church was ded
icated January 7, 1877, by presid
ing elder, A. J. Anderson, now 0
Brooklyn, N. Y. Among those VIII
? have preached on this charge ar
Revs. John Bergren, JOS Wigren
and John Simpson, the present pas
tor. The church now has a mem
bership of IS. A Sunday school i:
in operation, which numbers abou
IS scholars. Augustus Anderson ha:
been superintendent for about ter
years, but at present is assistant
with Mr.. Simpson as superintendent
A. young peoples aid society has
lately furnished the church with a
Sis organ. This church belongs
to the Burlington district of the
Northwest Swedish Methods Epis-
copal church, which extends over
eleven states, including Iowa.
The Methodists were also the first
to organize in the northern part of
the county; and they were the first
to build a church in Webster City.
Will l.. Clark, a pioneer member of
the church, gives the following &C
count of the early history of Meth
odism in Hamilton:
| "In the years 1857 and 1858,
Rev. David P. Day had the honor Of
forming the first Methodist Glass
in this vicinity, which became the
cornerstone of Methodism in this
city. After Father Day had filled
his useful mission and passed from
earth to his reward in heaven, the
class was kept together by few pi-
oneers who firmly believed in the
principles of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. A few years after
the death of Rev. Day the charge
was served by Rev. Abbott, who
lived in what is now Cass township.
Next came Rev. Montgomery, then
Rev. VIM. Black, who remained till
1864, and was succeeded by the two
Hestwood brothers and Rev. Ken
dali. Up to 1852 the general meet
ing place for the class was at the
White Fox schoolhouse, two miles
north of this city. This was the first
schoolhouse built in Hamilton coun
ty, and to many of our early settlers
that spot seems almost like hallow-
ed ground.
"The board of stewards for the
first organization in this city was
as follows: David Beach, BENZ.
Beach, Simon Day, o. w. Story, with
Jacob Skinner as recording steward.
Reverend William Black, the Sec
ond pastor in charge, received but
$3.50 the first year, and $500 the
second year. 1t may here be added,
however, that times were not what
they are nowadays; and the dona-
lions amounted to much more.
Wood, several dressed hogs, a half
of beef, jar of butter, a sack of
beans, any amount of crabapples
and enough primitive sorghum to
sweeten them, were among the an
nual thank offerings to the pioneer
Methodist preacher hereabouts!
Cali through the long dark years
of the Civil war, the Methodist, Con-
gregational and Baptist societies
held their services in the old Town
Hail. and part of the time at
Rhodes Hail. There were many
seasons of revival within these old
halls, one of which has long since
crumbled to decay.
after the war cloud had passed
over and peace perched upon our
banners, the Methodist society be-
gan to grow in strength and num-
bers and it was found necessary to
provide home of their own. Hence
in 1865 a building committee was
appointed, composed of the follow
Ing gentlemen: David Beach, ST.
mon Day and Albert Cook. They
met with but little success in rails
ing funds till 1866, at which date
the foundation was laid for the
building which we occupy-through
the providence of God-tonight. The
contract was awarded to Alex. Turn
err and Samuel Baxter, who engaged
Uncle Alsop Sage to take charge
Of the brick-work and masonry. The
bricks were made by our pioneer
brick maker, Ira Hilliard, now of
Spencer, Iowa. The lime was fur
nished by Uncle Jacob Payne and
U. Briggs, who also furnished por-
ton of the stone for the foundation.
The lumber with which this building
was finished was partly of native
hardwood, sawed at fuckers mill,