Baxter Springs news., 1919-05-30

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memory Of the little handful Of mer
and women who stuck II out In those
trying days Of 1918, long after they
are gone from the earth.
That the men charged with the cree
tion Of this new plant had the mat
ter well in hand, may be seen from
the fact that a contract for the work
was allowed on February q, 1913
less than four months after the loss Of
the old church. Burt C. 0verton, Of
Miami, Okla, who had previously
built for the Methodist people, name
ly, at Baldwin, Kansas, was selected
as the architect and builder; on April
16 ground was broken, with apprO-
pirate ceremonies at the new site and
on May q. 1918, one year ago last
Tuesday, the corner stone was laid by
Bishop Shepard of this District, as
sisted by out of town pastors and lay
men Of the local charge.
Personnel of the Trustees
The five members of the Board Of
Trustees charged with the task Of
financing and erecting this large plant
are, president, ]. T. Polster; L. l.
Cardin, M. l. Nichols, R. N. Gilman
and ]. B. 0pperman.
]. 7. Polster, president Of the board,
is q member Of the firm Of Polster
Brothers, owners Of the largest de-
partment store in the city. Mr.. Pol
ster grew to manhood in Baxter
Springs and passed thru the various
phases of the city's ups and downs,
as a dry goods merchant, and has
grown wealthy by his faithful applica-
ton to the mercantile business that
bears his name; two Of his brothers
are associated with him in the busi-
ness and all Of them and their mother,
known as Grandma Sours,
are members Of this church and take
an active part in its affairs. Mr.. and
Mrs. Polster travelled thru the Holy
Lands in 1918 and visited many places
recently brought into prominence by
the late war. AS a conservative busi-
ness man and counselor, Mr.. Polster
has done much to shape the destiny
of the new church.
L. L. Cardin, treasurer Of the board
Of trustees, d ! afetired business man
who has recently come into great pros
perity by reason of lead and zinc
mines on his farms. Mr.. Cardin is
president Of the American National
Bank of this cityj also a large stock
holder in the new dairy products COM
pany that is now building and he is
in various projects Of the
district. It may be said that to him
more than anyone else, stands the
credit of completing this great under
taking. When the demands Of high
priced material and labor began to
overcome the available building funds
for at the outset, Mr.. Car
din stepped in and volunteered to car
ry the cost until such time as a cam
paign for sufficient funds to meet this
debt could be put on. This campaign
is now being waged and will have its
ending on the day Of Dedication.
DR.. M. /. Nichols, the third member
of this board, is q practicing dentist
Of this city. He has made this his
home for several years and is active
in the affairs of the church and Sum
day school DR.. 1ichols is financial
secretary for the local church. He is
well known over the county and was
with some Of the county Of
fees at Columbus before coming to
Baxter SpFipgs.
R. NJ Gilman, another member Of
the board, is manager Of the firm Of
Jaqueth & Gilman, large implement
and auto dealers Of this city; he is
also superintendent of the Sunday
school Of the local church and as such
Is kept busy planning for the welfare
of the rapidly increasing membership;
his teaching corps numbers about thir-
BY with organizations in all depart
ments Of this important work.
Mr.. J. B. opperman, the fifth men,
Der Of the board, is not only the Oldest
IN point of age but also in years Of
membership. Mr.. Opperman Joined
the first church when it was q strug-
Cling band Of men and women, in fact,
before they had a building in which to
gather. He is a successful business
man and a harness maker by profess
zion. He owns considerable land and
property in and near this city.
The Pastor
Rev. o. L. 0rton, d. D., has been
pastor Of this charge since April,
1918, and to him in q great measure
IS due the credit Of successfully car
-ying out the building plans Of the