IAGenWeb Project

Audubon County
IAGenWeb


 Home

History Main

1915 History

CHAPTER XV.

CHURCHES AND RELIGION. (CONT'D)

From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
by H. F. Andrews

AUDUBON MISSION EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.

In 1880 Rev. J. H. Yaggy came to Audubun county and purchased a tract of land in Douglas township. Through Rev. Yaggy's influence, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company donated forty acres of land adjoining his, to the Evangelical Association for church purposes. A number of families, members of the Evangelical Association, having settled near, the Audubon mission was formed. Pleasant Hill class being one point and Rev. Yaggy preaching the first sermon. Fairview class, two miles southwest of Audubon, was organized on July 2, 1882, and at the end of that year the pastor reported a membership of thirty-seven, and fifty members of the mission.

During that year services were also held at Melville Center and at Morlands school house, one mile south of Viola Center, also at Winter's school house. In 1883 Rev. J. W. Hamilton came as pastor. During that year Fairview class was moved two miles west, and the class thereafter known as the Pleasant Hill class; a new class was organized at Hamlin.

Rev. G. F. Heilman was assigned as pastor in 1884 and returned in 1885. During this year a new appointment was taken up, being the Aikman school house in Lincoln township. Rev. J. H. Yaggy, who was then presiding elder, moved to Audubon. The net gain in membership that year was thirty-five. In 1886 Rev. C. Knoll was appointed as pastor. During that year the congregation at Viola became too large to be accommodated in the school house and plans were laid and money subscribed for a new church. In 1887 Rev. L. N. Day was assigned as pastor and served two years. The Mt. Zion church, in Viola township, was built, and dedicated on June 28, 1887, Rev. J. H. Yerger officiating, assisted by Revs. Yaggy, Knowl, Urbino and Day. Services having been held irregularly at Aikman's school house in Lincoln township, it was now taken up as a regular appointment and in 1888 a class of nine members formed. In 1888 about fourteen of the membership of the Mission moved away, a total loss of one-third of the membership, making, above the gains, a net loss of nine. In 1889, Rev. J. H. Yaggy was assigned as pastor and served two years. A new appointment, Highland Grove, seven miles south of Audubon, was taken up and a class of forty-five organized; also Lone Willow and Diggs were supplied.

In 1891 Rev. Arthur Lyttle came as pastor and two new appointments were taken up, Hamlin Center and Greeley No. 4. Excellent revivals were held this year, fifty conversions reported and a net gain in membership of twenty-three. In 1892 Rev. G. F. Heilman was pastor and Rev. A. W. Lyttle assistant. Pleasant Hill, Highland Grove, Terry and Easts were detached and formed a new mission, called Hamlin mission, both being served by the pastor and assistant. Revs. Heilman and Lyttle were again assigned to the work in 1893 and had a large increase of membership at Mt. Zion and Aikmans. New appointments, Prairie and Swaney school house, were taken up. In 1894 Rev. Heilman was again assigned as pastor. Mt. Zion was detached and Pleasant Hill added and the town of Audubon taken up as a new appointment.

BETHANY CHURCH EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION, AUDUBON.

The Audubon mission of the Evangelical Association, having long had an organization doing Christian work around Audubon, but having no organization in the town, in 1894 it was thought expedient to organize a class in town, which was done with the following charter members: Joseph Kopp, Louisa Kopp, Mrs. G. W. Hoover and J. W. Richards. A building committee, consisting of Rev. J. H. Yaggy, Rev. W. R. Astleford, J. Kopp, John Ott, Charles Evans and Rev. G. F. Heilman, was appointed and the work of building a church at once began. On September 3, of that year, a comfortable church, with a seating capacity of two hundred and costing two thousand dollars, was dedicated, free from debt.

In 1895 the charge was served by Rev. L. N. Day, alternate Sundays; when away attending district work, R. H. Lint, G. M. Thorp, W. R. Astleford and W. C. Lang supplied. Rev. Day was returned for the years 1896 and 1897, with Rev. M. J. Conner as assistant. During this year a comfortable parsonage was erected, adjoining the church, and made ready for occupancy by Rev. G. L. Wilson, who served as pastor for the station in 1898. In 1899 Rev. L. J. U. Smay served as pastor, when Mt. Zion was again attached to the charge. In 1900 Rev. M. J. Conner came as pastor and good revivals were held at Audubon, Fairview and Pleasant Hill.

In 1901 Rev. Conner, having been returned, a good-sized front was built to the parsonage, the old one forming a dining room and kitchen. In 1902, also in 1903, Rev. Conner was returned. In the latter year Fairview, in Douglas township, was discontinued and Champion Hill added. Rev. C. D. Wendel came as pastor in 1905 and served until 1907. In 1908 Rev. C. H. Schlesselman was assigned and served during 1909 and 1910. Rev. J. C. Schwab was pastor in 1911-1912 and 1913. In 1914 Rev. Clinton F. Smith was assigned and is the present pastor. He also serves the church at Ross, the two constituting the Audubon circuit.

The present membership is sixty-five and the church is stronger today than ever before, both in ability as workers and financially. A good Sunday school and a strong Young People's Society are supported. Mrs. Lois G. Stuart remembered this church in her will to the amount of one thousand dollars.

Previous <=== Continue Reading ===> Next

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, November, 2018, from History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915), by H. F. Andrews, pp. 215-217.