Cherokee County Churches |
Cherokee County Churches |
| Marcus | |||
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Grace Methodist Church |
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The 1947 Journal and Year Book of the North West Iowa Conference of the Methodist Church lists the beginning of the Marcus Church with the pastorate of G. L. Sutton, in 1875. But the beginnings of Methodism in our community were at least four years before that date, and the story of those beginnings, now being well established, is thrilling and filled with interest. A historical note, entered into the quarterly conference records of the Marcus charge under the date of April 11, 1885, with Wilmott Whitfield, presiding elder, presiding, and J. E. Rowe, recording secretary, states: "Historical: Fourteen years ago today, (April 12, 1885,) Brother Samuel Hornibrook, having just settled in this place, went about among the people to see if they would be willing to assist in conducting a Sunday School, which was organized on the next Sunday, vis., April 12, 1871, on Section 22 on the site occupied by the Jim Rae home in a room or house belonging to M. E. Hinkley, 16x18 feet in size, and was held there because that was the large house in the township. This was the first Sunday School in this part of the county and perhaps the first in the county; it is almost proven so." (Page 105-Qtr. Conf. Rec.) Preaching services in the community began at about the same time. The "historical record of preachers," in the same volume, written in 1889, by J. B. Rowe, recording secretary, states: "Rev. Binks was a bachelor from England. Was stationed at Cherokee about the year 1870 or 1871, preached in the little village of Cherokee and at Brother Saul Hornibrook's shanty on S. W. Quarter of Sec. 24, Amherst Twp... also other places in the county." H. T. Curl, a young man educated at Cornell College, followed Rev. Binks. He added Tilden to the same appointment along with others in different points in the county. Jimmie Williams, a very excellent man, added what was known as Brown appointment, seven miles west of Cherokee. After two months, by the N. W. Iowa Conference which comprised North West Iowa, Dakota, and Manitoba, he was sent to the Black Hills to organize a mission. M. B. Keister was a very rough, plain man but a great worker, as well as a very successful revivalist. He did not preach in Cherokee, but in the county reaching from Diamond township to Pleasant Hill in Amherst township which was called Cherokee circuit. He preached at Good Hope, Pilot Rock, Chase School House, Tilden, Brown, Providence and Pleasant Hill, a circuit seven by twenty-eight miles in area. Rev. Sutton, a talented preacher, was replaced during the year by Benjamin Davis. Brother Sutton and Brother Davis first introduced Methodist preaching in the village of Marcus. The first baptism in this new "society" were of Blanche Hinkley, David Barr and Kate Cook, on October 30, 1876. The first recorded marriage was of Frank Jenkens to Miss E. Smith on December 19, 1876, during the pastorate of Ira Wakefield (1876-1877). The "Historical Record of Preachers" says of Brother Wakefield, "A man of fair ability, noted for his social nature and enthusiasm was well liked in the Circuit." The Circuit had been changed to include Tilden, Brown, Marcus, Providence and Pleasant Hill. Ira B. Kilborne raised funds for the building of the new church in Marcus in 1881, this being the first new church on the Circuit. During the pastorate of Rev. Kilborne the name of the Marcus Circuit was changed to the Marcus Charge. This first church was constructed on the S. W. corner of Block 6, First Addition to the Town of Marcus, where the home of Mrs. Martin Nelson now stands. The cost of this building is reputed to have been $2,000.00. The parsonage, located on the lot now occupied by the G. W. Evans home, was purchased in 1880 for the sum of $400.00. The Board of Trustees consisted of S. Hornibrook, I. H. Wilder, H. L. Jenkins, Harvey Smith, G. Barr, M. E. Hinkley, I. C. West. S. Weaver, and P. A. Dorr. L. C. Woodford was appointed pastor in 1884. It was during his pastorate, June 14, 1885, that a devastating wind storm swept through Marcus, completely destroying the recently constructed church building. We can appreciate the degree of sadness this misfortune brought the newly organized group. But they proved themselves equal to the task that lay before them. A notation in the minutes of the fourth quarterly conference held July 10, 1885, states, "The destruction and damages made by the late tornado has somewhat disarranged our regular work, but we shall soon be again in running order," proving the true pioneer spirit of the people. Assistance was requested and received from the Methodist Board of Church Extension, and the people rallied to the leadership of the pastor and the Official Board, and another church was constructed. The parsonage was moved to the southwest corner of the block, where the church had stood, and the new church was built on the previous site of the parsonage. The board of trustees during the building was composed of Captain Weaver, P. N. Brown, H. A. Maltby, H. W. Smith, A. P. Dorr, M. E. Hinkley, J. B. Rowe, W. C. Page, David Barr and S. Hornibrook. The church experienced fifteen years of splendid growth and service to the community. It became evident during these years of growth that a larger and more serviceable church edifice was needed. So, soon after the appointment of J. C. Harvey as pastor in 1899, plans were put into effect, and the present structure was erected. A more central location was sought for the new church. The south east corner of the block directly west of the public school building was secured. The existing church building was sold to a group of Methodists living northwest of Marcus, and was moved to a location some eight miles northwest of town. It became known as "Prairie Hope" church and served that community for several years. The sale price of the church building was $650. The newly acquired lots were occupied by two houses. These were moved off to make room for the new church. These moving projects entailed a great deal of labor, the moving being done with horse power. Worship services were held during the summer, in the opera house. The corner stone was laid with fitting ceremonies in June, and the church was dedicated on November 25, 1900. At that time J. F. Hurst was Bishop of the Area, J. B. Trimble was "presiding elder" of the Sioux City District of which this charge was a member, and J. C. Harvey was pastor of the local church. The dedicatory ceremonies were most impressive. The Doxology was sung, and Rev. I. E. Kilborne, who had been pastor when the first church in Marcus was constructed in 1881, offered the invocation. The Scripture was read by one Rev. T. F. Odenweller, then pastor of Christian Church, the Rev. J. B. Trimble, the presiding elder offered prayer. Rev. A. S. Black, most recent former pastor read a second Scripture. J. O. Barnes, a member of the local board of trustees, and a member of the building committee sang a solo. The sermon and Act of Dedication were delivered by Rev. B. I. Ives, D. D., and the pastor, Rev. I. A. Harvey pronounced the benediction. Dr. Ives preached again at 7:30 in the evening. Four great hymns of the church were sung, "Crown Him Lord of Lords," "Glorying in the Cross," "The Refining Fire" and "Love for Zion." The first we recognize as "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name," and the latter we know as, "I Love Thy Kingdom Lord." These two hymns form a part of our worship service today. This new structure, with its beautiful stained-glass windows, its sloping floor and the rolling doors of the Sunday School room were the pride of all the people, who with their pastor had labored and sacrificed toward its construction. But the major responsibility had fallen upon the shoulders of the board of trustees, who acted as the building committee. They were: J. L. Cobb, president; B. O. Skewis, secretary; Charles McConnell, treasurer: Walter Hobbs, George French, Benjamin Radcliffe, Dr. W. N. Fry and J. O. Barnes. We have been unable to determine the exact cost of the building, but the official record of the Northwest Iowa Conference for 1900 indicates that the Marcus charge paid $6,680.00 on building enterprises, and the record that conference year of 1901 indicates that the Marcus charge paid $4,256.00 on church property. If these be totaled together we presume the total cost of the present structure to have been nearly $11,000.00, which in terms of present day building costs, seems very modest. C. W. Coons was appointed pastor in 1901 and the present parsonage was begun that year and completed in 1902 at a cost of $3,000.00. The historical record of 1903 boasts that our parsonage was then one of the finest in the conference. The church prospered and grew under the pastorates of F. L. Moore and G. O. Kidder and under the pastorate of J. B. Walker, the basement was enlarged to nearly its present size, providing additional Sunday School rooms and space for social and recreational activities. This church structure proved itself adequate for all church activities until the late 1930s. The church was redecorated in 1931 under the pastorate of Rev. E. J. Plummer and improvements were made in 1935 under the pastorate of Rev. A. J. Quirin. Growth and expansion of the church program created a need for additional space and facilities, whereupon a study was made and plans were drawn for a full and modern basement. The trustees appointed a committee known as God's Acre Corn Committee under the leadership of Rev. George A. Osborn, through which funds were realized from farm folks and other members of the congregation. About $2,600 was raised from this source and the basement project was put into effect early in the summer of 1940. A new cornerstone was laid and appropriate dedicatory services were held December 29, 1940. Bishop J. Ralph McGee delivered the address at the 10:30 a. m. services. District Superintendent Lloyd H. Scheerer spoke at the 2:00 p. m. meeting and former pastor John B. Walker was the speaker at the 7:30 p. m. meeting. The total expenditure for this project was $7,270.00. Early in the year 1942, under the pastorate of Fremont Faul, it was decided to remodel and redecorate the sanctuary of the church. Rev. Faul and Fred Dorr, chairman of the board of trustees, were largely responsible for the raising of the funds for the project. A divided chancel was constructed and furnished with altar, pulpit and lectern. The sanctuary and fellowship rooms were redecorated and floors and pews were sanded and refinished, providing for us, our present commodious house of worship. Several items included in these improvements were provided as memorials. Included, besides cash donations were: the altar, the baptismal fount, the illuminated cross for the altar, the candalabrium, the Christian flag, flower stands, altar cloth and flower baskets. Subsequent memorials to be dedicated were: the seats at the pulpit and lectern, cash contributions toward the fluorescent lights in the church parlors, the lights on the altar and lectern, and the Electric Memory wire-recorder. A modern automatic gas furnace was installed in the parsonage in the summer of 1945. Early in the year of 1946, under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph H. Castle, the kitchen modernization program was initiated which resulted in perhaps one of the most modern and convenient kitchens in the district. The following summer the parsonage was re-shingled and both properties were painted. That same year the electronic public address and tower broadcast system were installed. With the installation and dedication of our pipe organ on May 23, 1948, the fond drean's of many music lovers were realized. The nucleus for the beginning of the project was memorial gifts in memory of Fred L. Dorr, who had served many years as president of the board of trustees. To this the people of the church contributed liberally and on the above date the organ was dedicated with fitting ceremonies. Professor Albert Morgan of Sioux City gave a dedicatory concert of sacred music. Five former pastors were present and assisted the pastor, Rev. C. C. Callahan, with dedication ceremonies. During that summer the illuminated bulletin board was presented by friends and dedicated with fitting ceremonies. The most recent improvement on the church properties was the installation of the full basement under the parsonage. The project was begun on January 10, 1949, and finished early in the spring. The committee in charge consisted of Harvey Miller, Paul Ogren and Wesley Dorr. The cost was approximately $3,000. Time and space forbids using the full stories of the many men and women who have gone out from our church to fill places in the ranks of laymen and to bless the world. Some have gone to teach in the public schools, others to teach in Methodist institutions of learning. Still others to work in our missions, and to serve as nurses in our hospitals. Many have served the local church faithfully as officers in the Woman's Society of Christian Service, in the Sunday School and on the official board. Two young men who had their early religious training in our church, have entered the Methodist ministry. M. Everett Dorr, whose father served so many years on the official board, and in the Sunday School. He attended Morningside College at Sioux City, Yankton College at Yankton, S. Dak., and received his S. T. B. Degree from Iliff Theological School in 1940. He served the Varina and the Dayton-Lehigh charges a total of ten years, and is now pastor of the Methodist Church at Osage, Iowa. Robert L. Jenks spent his early life in the Marcus community, and after deciding to enter the ministry, attended college at Wilmore, Ky., and received his S. T. D. and S. T. M. degrees from the School of Theology at Temple University. He is now pastor of the Methodist Church at Hightstown, N. J. As was true of all communities, many young men from the families of our church served their country in the first World War. The service roll in our church indicates that 49 young men and three women served under the colors during World War II. Gold stars on the roll indicate that four young men gave their last full measure of devotion in defense of their country. They were: Veryl Weicht, James Knox, Carl Heline and Dale Barnes. Through the years the folks of our church have been greatly concerned about the promotion of the Kingdom, not only in the local church and community, but also as regards the larger program of the church and its institutions, within the conference and abroad. Every financial and missionary project of the church in the last many years, has been met in full or over-subscribed. Benevolent giving has reached a new high in 1949, and in 1950. Gifts to missions and benevolence totaled $4,693 in 1949, and $4,133 in 1950. The member giving to benevolence last year was the highest of any church in the district. This was largely due to a limited number of larger sustaining gifts to the Advance for Christ and His Church. Altogether, this has been a glorious three-quarters of a century for Christ and his Church in Marcus, and it is the prayer of your committee that the years ahead may be fruitful for His Kingdom.  A devestating wind storm swept through Marcus, on June 14,1885, completely destroying the recently constructed church building. (Source: Diamond Golden Anniversary of the Grace Methodist Church - Marcus; November 19, 1950l. Information transcribed and submitted by a volunteer) |
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