Churches By Township
Boone County, Iowa
Cass | Des Moines | Dodge | Marcy | Peoples | Union | Yell
M E Church of Boone was organized in 1866. Some of the 1st members of this organization and most active in establishing the church were R D Coldren and wife, Albert Ingersoll and wife, George Russell and wife, Darius Harvey and wife, Thomas Main and wife. In 1869 a frame church was erected and dedicated early in the year of 1870.
First Presbyterian Church was organized May 12, 1866. The original members were C C Lambert, Louisa Lambert, Mrs. Wheat, Henry Burns, Lydia Burns, David Lutz, Helen Lutz, Newton Whitehead and Mrs. Day. In 1868 it was erected and was dedicated march 1, 1868, in 1879 a new church was built due to the 1st becoming unsuitable to accommodations.
Universalist Church was organized May 9, 1871. The original members were L J Orr, A B Holcomb, Mr. and Mrs. George Wilmont, Mr. and Mrs. J A Head, Mr. and Mrs. H B Minier, Mr. and Mrs. H H Sprague, Mr. and Mrs. A Nellis, Mr. and Mrs. H C Farr, J P Crary, J M Smith, E Smith, E Shoonover, H Goodard, Mr. and Mrs. W B Harmon. The frame church was erected 1871 and dedicated June 4, 1871
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Church was organized in 1870, the 1st members were Nelse Tharson, Andrew L Engstrom, P A Engstrom, P Okerlind, J P Samuelson, N Anderson, N P Johnson, F Nelson, A Nelson, and J P Johnson. This group was part of another congregation, in 1877 it turned away from the Augustana Synod to the Mission Synod and then claimed the church building which was erected in 1870. The remnant of the congregation being left without a house of worship erected a church edifice which cost $1,870. This church had 49 members.
Methodist Episcopal Church of Ogden was organized during the fall of 1868. A frame church was erected in 1872. Membership of 175 people. There was a Sunday school in connection of attendance of over 100 people. Several years before the organization the Methodists occupied the field doing much pioneer work. The 1st pastor was W Martin and the 2nd was J W Snodgrass who occupied the field prior to the organization in 1868.
Congregationalist Church was organized April 3, 1869. A frame church building was erected in 1872. It held a membership of 62 people. There was also a Sunday school in connection with the church with an average attendance of 80 people.
North Union Baptist Church located in Sec 36. It was organized June 1, 1852 by Rev William J Sparks, pioneer Baptist preacher of the county. William J Sparks and wife, Jessie Williams, Susanna Williams, Samuel Williams and Susanna Hurst were the 1st to compose this religious organization. A brick church was erected in the fall of 1872. Dedicated in 1873 with a membership of 35 people.
Swede Valley Lutheran Church is located in Sec 22. It was organized in 1868. Andrew Oleson, Wells Challberg, H F Boofstrom, Charles Blosser, Charles Johnson and C S Damstrong were the original members. A frame building was erected in 1869. Membership was 248. A parochial school and a Sabbath school are connected with the church.
Presbyterian Church was organized May 1, 1867 by Rev I H Peebles, James Knor, and Isaiah Reid. Original members were S W Sour and his wife Harriet, William G Bartholomew and his wife Josephine, Charles N Couch and his wife Frances, Julius Shelby, Mary T Safely, Susie E Safely, William Blythe, Joseph Dawson, Andrew M Karr and his wife Emily. Charles N Couch and William G Batholomew were at the same time elected elders. The frame building was erected in 1873 and was dedicated Nov 16, 1873, with a membership of 51 people.
Methodists in the fall of 1856 made their 1st appointment for regular preaching, Rev Steward filling the 1st appointment. At this time the Baptists, also the United Brethren held meetings in the township. The Methodists had a large society until 1859 when the church organization was broke up and since that time there thus has been a very small membership. In 1864 the Christians (Campbellites) had a society but disappeared quickly. In 1860 the Baptist had an organization.
It was organized as a branch of the Perry Church on March 1874 and in Feb 1879 E R Swain, Mrs. E S Swain, David Peoples, Lavina Peoples, Levi Colvin, Mary Colvin, James R Swain and others organized the church. It had no church building but met for public worship at what was known as the Peoples township school. Public religious services were held 2 times a month, there were 30 members at that time. It will be seen from the forgoing brief history of the township that Swain is one of the most prominent and influential citizens, we are chiefly indebted for the facts being herein narrated. The inhabitants of the township are almost exclusively engaged in farming and raising stock.
McClelland Church of Cass township was organized in Feb 1880. Amongst the 1st members were Andrew Oviatt and his wife, Orlow Oviatt and his wife, Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Hurdman, Mrs. Meeker, Mrs. Halsay, Mrs. Mannard, Emma and Ella Vernon, Phillip Carl and his wife, Mr. Perry and his wife, Charles Russell and his wife. The church was held at the McCelland school on Sec 5 and had about 20 members.
Concord Presbyterian Church was organized in the spring of 1872. S K Colllins, Mrs. Boswell, Mrs. LeMaster, N L Nance and wife, J B Vernon and wife and Jessie Vernon and wife were the original members. This church disappeared in 1877.
Methodist Episcopal Church was organized during the fall of 1866. H Candan, D Steirett and his wife, Lorenzo Skinner, and W C Martin and his wife were the original members. In 1867 the framed church building was erected. It had 75 members.
Mt Pleasant Baptist Church as organized in 1853 with a membership of 16 people. A brick church was built in 1869.
Source: Boone Co History. Publishers and authors: Des Moines Union Historical Co, Birdsall-Williams and Company. Copyright: 1880