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Shelby County |
Home 1915 History Index |
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Shelby County |
Home 1915 History Index |
CHAPTER VIII - REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS (CONT'D)
[Rev. Mr. Johnson was one of the very early Methodist Episcopal preachers and missionary workers in Shelby county, and for many years was a prominent settler of Fairview township, where for perhaps twenty years he held the office of justice of the peace. He is a native of New York and a veteran of the Civil War.]
I preached the first sermon in the town of Shelby on Sunday, July 3, 1870, in the half finished railroad depot. The people present were as follows: Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McLaughlin, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Linn, Mr. and Mrs. D. Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. W. Woods, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. McEwen, John Edwards, the railroad agent, and several children. It was on that day that the first Methodist class was organized, consisting of four members, namely: Mr. and Mrs. C. J. McLaughlin, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Linn. But the class soon attached to the Harlan circuit, Rev. W. E. Hamilton being its first pastor. I think it was sometime during the winter of 1869 or 1870, that I was on my way to Bowman’s Grove to hold a two-days meeting. At that time Harlan was situated on the bottom north of where it now is. There were no buildings where Harlan now stands except the court house, where we held church, and a partly finished drug store. The Methodist class was a Simoda, east of Harlan. The presiding elder of Council Bluffs had sent east for a minister to fill this place. While on my way to Bowman’s Grove I took dinner at the Harlan hotel, and it was here that I met the young minister. He said that he was holding a “revival,” but had acknowledged to the people that he had preached all he knew, so he asked me to take his place that night. The people were also greatly in favor and tried to get the Bowman’s Grove people to put off their appointment, but they refused, so I promised to return after my two-days meeting, promising to preach for them on Monday night. So Monday night came and I also filled my appointment. The court house was crowded, and the young minister, with several others of different denominations, were also present. I asked the young minister to lead in prayer, but before doing so he took a white silk handkerchief from his side pocket and placed it on the floor for him to kneel on. Although this is an incident which lingers in my memory and gives me a good laugh once in awhile, still some good work was done. Four people came forward to the anxious seat, and this was the first move that had been made during the “revival.” They asked me to take charge and continue my work, and, as they would not accept a refusal, I went home and the next day returned with my wife and three children. We held a revival for three weeks and then went to Bowman’s Grove, and at that place held another three-weeks worship. I refused to preach longer, as I was neglecting my home and farm, so the elder then got a substitute or supply to fill out the term. At Simoda the people were seventy-five dollars behind on Brother Stuart’s salary, so he asked me to preach Sunday afternoon’s sermon to try to raise the money. The first collection I took up was thirty-five dollars. I told them more money was needed so after the second collection we received twenty dollars more, making a total of fifty-five dollars, and after I remarked that we were just twenty dollars behind now, Mr. Baughn, who was sitting near an oak tree, asked “How much more do you need?” I replied “Twenty dollars.” He said, “Mark that paid and come to me to receive your money,” and I did. I held an appointment for nine years in one place at the Waterbury school house and preached at a revival every winter, besides other places in Shelby county later on. Thus my history as local minister in Shelby county is completed.
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