Photo courtesy of Linda Griffith Smith

The first known minister of any denomination to enter Madison Co. was John Evans, a Hardshell Baptist. He came from northwest Missouri in May 1846 and staked a claim for himself, but he was also guilty of staking imaginary claims hoping to hold them until he could locate or convert members of his faith to live there. He had a very successful three years around Winterset, preaching the first sermon, conducting the first funeral, marrying the first couple and helping constitute the first church. It was called Middle River of the Primitive Baptist.¹

On the Saturday before the second Sunday in August 1848, the band of early pioneers met at the home of John Butler on the banks of Cedar Creek and constituted Middle River church. Constituting members were: John Butler and wife, Susan; Samuel Crawford and wife, Polly; Joshua Casebier and wife, Louisa; James Thornbrugh; Lemuel Thornbrugh and wife, Sarah; Mrs. Sarah Fidler; Miss Nancy Fidler; Helena Mendenhall; Matthew Jones and wife of Jones Creek; Mrs. Betsy Chenowith; Asa Mills and wife, Sarah; William Gentry and wife, Sarah; Mrs. Ellison; and William Simmons and wife, Polly.

Thus it was undoubtedly the first church group organized in Madison County. Most of the constituting members had emigrated here from Buchanan County, Missouri, the County that furnished most of our earliest settlers, including Hiram Hurst, the Clanton’s the Clark’s and the Guyes.

Before a church was built the meetings were held in the pioneer homes. Membership increased to about 50, but when the Oregon territory open for settlement many of the moved there and helped form the Silome Association of Oregon and Washington.

About 1855, Robert Evans needed to acres to the church on which to build a meeting house and make it Cemetery. The building was never quite completed, and after the Civil War broke out in 1861, Elder Tannahill died in it was sold for junk.

Some time later the members started to hold meetings again, but soon divided into 2 appointments, the parent church at Woolery’s Grove and the arm of the church at Buffalo Mills. In the 70s, Elder Ephraim Moore was called as pastor. Both appointments prospered in the membership became the largest in many years. When the Buffalo Bills shutdown, about 1889, the members there moved away in the meetings there were discontinued, but were continued at Woolery’s Grove.

In 1903, Elder Jordan erected a meeting house where the present church stands. Elder M. P. Young was called as pastor. On September 6, 1911 this building was wrecked by the Tileville cyclone and abandoned as a meeting place. About 1918, meetings were held at the Buffalo school house again, with a large attendance. It 1925 the wreck of the old building was disposed of. A new church, the one now in use, was built completed in 1926.

Elder Jordan preached for the church longer than any other minister, but not always as pastor. About 22 years ago, Elder B. L. Nay of Cedar falls began visiting the church and has met with them one convenient to do so. He is the present pastor and Jesse Poffinbarger is clerk. Services are held regularly with good attendance.

It was organized at the home of John Butler who lived 2 miles NE of Winterset in 1847. Charter members were: Aquilla Smith, Sally Ann Mills, Samuel Crawford, Polly Crawford, John Butler, Susannah Butler, Mathew Jones, Lucinda Jones, L. D. Skidmore, Rebecca Thornburg and Lydia Evans. The first meetings were held in homes and soon as many as 50 were attending. All records were destroyed November 7, 1897 when the house of the church clerk, Asa B. Smith, was destroyed by fire.

The first wedding in the County took place June 1, 1846. John Butler was father of the bride and his daughter Betsy Butler married Daniel Chenowith. Her father didn’t have their cabin up yet so they were married out in the timber.

John Evans also preached at the Buffalo Center community south of town baptizing converts in Middle River. Evans was a great uncle of Inez Hartman, Ed’s first teacher. He moved to  Nebraska from this area and died there. His was a large family and several of his ancestors still live in and around Winterset. One of his brothers built the stone house now owned by Charles Lee. Several relatives are buried in the Primitive Baptist Cemetery

In 1857 Evans sold his claim to Alfred Hood, reserving two acres where the present church and cemetery are, for that purpose. About 1859 a meeting house was started just east of the present one. It was ready for the plasterers when the Civil War broke out and the question of slavery entered the Church causing a division. In 1861 the Elder died and meetings were discontinued for a time. Later they were held at the Gorr Schoolhouse 9 miles NE of Winterset and near Buffalo Mill. Among the Elders at this time was an Elder Jordan. Meetings closed at Buffalo when the dam washed out by floods and the Mill closed down and members moved elsewhere in search of work.

In 1903 Elder Jordan raised money and built a Church where the pre­sent one stands. This building was badly damaged in the "Tileville cyclone” and again meetings were held at Buffalo Schoolhouse until money and plans were made available for rebuilding. About this time the membership became the largest in many years. Elder Jordan lived with and preached for the Church longer than any other minister.²

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