The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-01-11
HISTORY OF THE
METHODIST CHURCH
]. H, Tompkins Reads Interesting Ac'
count of Progress Made by Local
Church at Mortgage Burning

Church at Mortgage Burning
On New Years night, appropriate
exercises accompanied the burning of
the mortgage at the Methodist church.
A very large crowd was present and
excellent music was played during the
evening by Sonju's orchestra. MRS;
Zellhoefer rendered delightful vocal
solo. Rev. Plannette, pastor IN charge,
presided at the meeting. Interesting
talks were given by Rev: }. !. Asher
district superintendent; w. II. Slbbald,
F. C. Upton and F. B. Lambert. MISS
Stiles gave very enjoyable reading.
The mortgage on the property was
burned by J. H. Tompkins, assisted by
his daughter, Mildred, and John FER
kett and Fred A. Ernst:
Mr.. Tompkins, one OF the early SET
tiers of Minot, has been Identified with
the Methodist church for many years.
He prepared the following interesting
history of the Methodist church OF
Minot, which he read New Years
Night, prepared by himself, after
many hours search for data: 1t gives
list of every pastor the church mas
had and an interesting fact IN connec-
ton with the meeting was that Rev.
Mr.. Plannette, who was in charge, de-
livered the first Methodist sermon IN
Minot many years ago. The following
historical account of the church Will
prove of value and<will be preserved:
The city of Minot had it's beginning
in the year 1886 when the Great
Northern built it's line through TINS
section on it's way to the Pacific. When
it was but tent-town and construc-
tion camp, in the early fall OF 1886, the
first Methodist service was held ana
the first sermon preached by the IRE
siding Elder of the Grand Forks DIS
trict, Rev. D. C. Plannette, IN an un-
finished hotel on Lower Main Street.
At the conference that fall W: U.
Hackett, local preacher, was assign,
ed as supply to Minot circuit, and
about January or February, 1881, sue
ceeded in organizing church with tne
following members: Luke Brace, =:
w. Spear, Emma Spear and Rev: adn ana
Mrs. w. C. Hackett. On May IL, 1881,
the quarterly conference having elect
ed trustees, authorized them to moor
porate under the name of the Vincent
Methodist Episcopal church, and ar
ticles of incorporation were secured.
Rev. James A. Martin was the next @
pastor appointed in the fal! OF 1881
The society Of trustees realizing the
need of a church were making plans
in that direction and at a meeting OF
the board of trustees held Sept. IL,
1887, Presiding Elder Plannette an
nounced the donation OF Lots y, s ana
a on Ramstad street, from the North
west Land company to the Vincent
Methodist Episcopal church OF Mlnot,
as a site for church and parsonage;
Believing that an additional lot would
be advisable the trustees voted to pur-
chase Lot 1, Block 10, from the same
company, making the church property
1OOx140 feet. =, go.
The plan for the church building,
24x38, known as Plan No. 4O, was ad-
opted and application for the DONATION
of $3.50 and loan of $500 was made to
the Church Extension society: Inc
committee on raising funds for the
new church reported $500 in cash and
the good prospects for raising the
amount needed. The Church Extension
donation and loan were finally granted
and on Feb. 27, 1888, a mortgage: for
$500 on the church property was given
to the Board of Church Extension. =.
At the conference in 1888, Rev. e
F. Green was appointed pastor OF the
Minot church and remained two years
Rev. F. A. Hawke became pastor IN the
fall of 1890 and remained but one
year, being followed by Rev. Winifrec
Baldwin, who also tarried year anc
moved on as did also Rev. z. ): Baker
who came in the fall of 1892: The con
ference of 1893 appointed c: 6. FAIR
banks as pastor and ne followed the
example of Brother Green and remain
ed two years. He was followed BY
Rev. C. H. Harris, who remained ont
year. w. G. Strohmier was the mex
pastor and he only remained three
months as did also Rev. M. 2. Burns
Rev. F. H. Callahan was appointed
pastor in the winter OF 1897 and wa
with us one year and a half, being fol
lowed by w. H. Goodenham and A; G
Spencer, the latter closing his pastor
ate vet. /, 1899. During these year
not only did the pastors change ire
ouentlv. but also the membership, max
inc it almost impossible to do any
thing of a permanent character.
Rev. C. A. Hughes became pastor il
CNC ldll VI 4COO oAAN w
years. Under his leadership tn
church succeeded in paying the $50
debt to the Church Extension Societ,
and on Nov. "a, 1900, the first an.
only mortgage against the churc
property was lifted. Rev. Hughe
was followed by Rev. R. L. Macarthur
who remained but five months, leavin
for the purpose of attending schoo
and c. F. Wheeler filled out the bal
ance of the year and was reappointe
for the year 1902.
At the conference in 1902 Minot be
came the head Of new district form
ed out of the charges in the northwes
part of the state, and Rev. J. G. Moor
appointed Presiding Elder, with res
dence in this city. During the earl
part of the year change was mad
in pastors, Brother Moore securin
Rev. Edgar Jones Of Boston to fill ou
the year. He was re-appointed tn