71st year for Hixson Grove church

GEDDES, HIXSON, MURPHY, RUSSELL, SLAGEL, VANSCOY, WARRINGTON, WOLFE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 8/28/2016 at 12:10:53

Rural Church Enters 71st Year
First Pastor of Rural Church Near Murphy Walked From Pella to Preach
MURPHY, IA. – Records written by the late John W. Murphy have enabled the congregation of the Hixson Grove Methodist Protestant church to compile the history of the church which began 70 years ago.
History of the church dates back to 1863 – four years before the first church building was erected – when the Hixson Grove Society of the Methodist Protestant church was organized with 21 charger members. W. B. Warrington of Pella, Ia., was the first pastor and according to the records walked from Pella to attend each meeting.
Incorporated in ‘67
Erection of a church was first considered in February of 1867 when John W. Murphy, Jacob Hixson, S. G. Russell, Adam Fenner and John W. Russell were trustees and the church was incorporated with 50 members March 2 of the same year.
Eli Slagel donated an acre of ground for the first building Feb. 8, 1867, and a 45-33-foot frame building was erected from funds subscribed by Mr. Murphy, William S. Hixson and Charles M. Wolfe. The first building did not have a pulpit.
Survivors
Persons now surviving who attended the first dedication of the church are Tom Russell of Newton, Wildman Murphy of Pasadena, Cal., Mrs. S. J. Geddes of Newton and Mrs. Catherine Vanscoy. Mrs. Vanscoy was the only surviving member to attend Sunday’s anniversary dedication program.
Source: Newton Daily News, January 28, 1937, page 1