The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-01-25
History of the Presbyterian Church
of Leon, Iowa.


byterian families, some belonging to
the old school, some to the new
school and others to the Cumberland
church.
In the years 1854 and 1855, Rev
erend Shields, a member of the new
minister; he held services in the
southeast part of the county at the
home Of Mr.: Evans and at Leon at
the home Of Mrs. Thompson where
the opera house is now located and
also in Franklin township, but there
was no regular organization. About
ganized Sabbath school ilia at the l
home of Uncle John Patterson on
the Hurst lots north of the Biggs
block, also organized Sabbath
school in Eden township, the Sunday
schoo! teachers from Leon making
the trip to the country on horseback.
At the end Of the year 1856 Faith
er BENJAMIN o. Springer held SER
vices in Leon for about six months.
;. The first Presbyterian organiza-
ton was July 8, 1856, at the home
OF Stephen Carrithers, a committee
was appointed by the Presbytery
consisting, of Rev. Batchelder and
Elder Wills to organize church.
June 2, 1866, the committee appoint
cd to organize the church met at the
M. p. church at Leon, II a. M, June
2, 1866, Rev. w. c. Hollyday minis
tering, the following persons pre-
senting themselves and gave salts
tasn . evidence Vi Of their church
an organization to be called the
First Presbyterian Church of Leon,
Iowa: w: ?: Blair, Mary A. Blair,
tidelia F. Thompson, Martha e.
Avery, Robert. Kinnear, Keturah
klnnear, Margaret Stone, Thomas
Baldwin, Mary Baldwin, w. W.
Yaroa, Mary Varga, and w. H.
Smith.
The first minister under the new
organization was D. S. Hughes who
had charge of the church for four
months.
r5 TrSm J, Nc SsS srr - 1885, S;; to to
osceola. Iowa sy' filled the he; pui p!'' u
In November, 1863, this church
was connected with the Grand River
church, A. A. Matbes was stated sup
ply until August 25, 1872, during
his pastorate the church was erected
in 1871 on the present location,
erected, during his pastorate twenty
six members were received into the
church, three members lost by death,
four Joined the NJ e. church and
four moved away, the membership
in November, 1872, consisted of 80
members.
CAME SSy Rfsfsd kSD1v our Re cb Ha
was then connected with Garden
Grove until September, 1874, when
he was suspended by the Presbytery,
eight new members were added, and
In February, 1875, Rev. G. NJ.
Delslets became our stated supply
until September | 1877, when he re-
ship of the Leon High School.
Our church was dedicated Sep
TEMPER -, 1875, by DR.. VIM. J. Gill
OF Des Moines Presbytery under the
pastorate of Mr.. Des Islets, sixteen
new members were added. nine dis
missed and in April, 1877, one was
expelled.
In November, 1879, Rev. silas
and on March 2S, 1880, he became
the pastor, he was installed May 8,
1880. He labored here until the
end of April, 1884, when he resigned
&nr 1881 g. fa} he 6a seah w os
dissolved by Rev. Charles Dunlap of
Osceola, Iowa, and the church de-
clared vacant; forty-seven new men,
bers were added and eighteen dis
missed.
In September. 1884, a call was
given to Rev; Wm; G Cort, OF Of state ate
tered on his ministerial duties and
was installed May Fl, 1885.
On March, 1887, a revival meeting
was had under the leadership of Rev.
Dean, and on the l / tn day of April,
1887, forty-five members were added
to the church: John Alternately, Miss
~
Frank N. Avery, Miss Mile Avery,
J. r. Bashaw, G. W. Beck, William
A. Brown, Mrs. Kate l.. Brown, Will
liam Brown, Sam Carmean, Mr. and
Mrs. Corona, Miss Martha Frazier,
Miss Maud F.. Fry, M. 3: Fry, S., A.
Gates, Miss Catherine May Gates,
Mss Lena atd Hinge ssn "m Mrs. s. Johnson Rvra1
Mowatt, Marion A. Mowatt. Miss
ard Parrish, j. P. Peters. Zula Pet
ers, Henry Reuter-, John D. Roberts,
Sadie H. Roberts. Ed 4. Smith, Ida
l.. Smith, John M. Sylvester, Maggie
den. Mrs VanWerden, Miss Esther
Varga, Miss Rosa Varga, Miss Mary
Varga, Mrs. M. S. Warning, Miss
Louie Warner, Miss Lulu Young. Mr.
Cort resigned October, 1887. During
his passionate forty-two members
were added in addition to the above
named forty-fve and twenty regular
ly dismissed. On October 2, 1887,
the Rev. P. F. Boyd, of Abba, declar--
ed the church vacant by order of
Presbytery.
On December a, 1887, Rev. M.
Noerr was chosen pastor. On ac--
count of failing health he expressed
his desire to be relieved from his
duties and labors of the church but
the members of the congregation re-
quested him to take rest for six
months with the hope that he might
be restored to his health and con-
tinue his labors with them, which he
accepted and Rev. NJ. w: Simpson of
Humeston, filled the pulpit during
said vacation, then Mr.. Noerr again
resumed his labors until June r.
1891, when he rendered his resigna-
ton on account of failing health;
during his pastorate thirty-tive mem
bers were added and twenty dismiss
ed.
The congregation gave call to
Rev. Ollerenshaw who accepted the
call and entered upon his ministerial
labOrs: he resigned December IL,