Arthur Baptist Church History
Arthur, Iowa
1885-1978
Table of Contents
75th Anniversary History
85th Anniversary Program
90th Anniversary Program
Article on Disbanding
Article in Odebolt Chronicle
This section is dedicated to Mrs. Marian Turin Sonichsen with thanks.
A big thank you to Mrs. Marian Turin Sonichsen for providing us with several documents on the Arthur Baptist Church. Several interesting histories with lots of names to add to the data base. Plenty of pictures too. The church was started back in October of 1885 and continued actively serving the area for over 90 years. My memories of the church go especially to the 4th of July Sunday School picnics they would host on the church grounds. Picking-up-peanuts, foot races, the mens tug-of-war, the ladies nail hammering contest, the softball game -- all the fun things of rural childhood.
Unfortunately, the mechanization revolution in the agriculture industry over the last quarter of the twentieth century has marked the end to so many rural institutions. It is no different in Hayes Township where the effects manifested themselves in a slowly diminishing rural population. It is against this setting that, sadly, the church closed its doors forever in March of 1978.
Editors note: The pictures used in this section are scanned from the printed booklets.
75th anniversary
Church in 1890
![](arthur1890.png)
John B.Samuelson
![](samuelson.png)
Larson School
![](larsonschool.png)
Arthur Baptist Church
![](arthurbaptist2.png)
Pastor David C. Brown
![](pastorbrown.png)
Hans Hallander
![](hallander.png)
Rev. & Mrs. C.J. Ahlmquist
![](almquist.png)
Rev. C.R. Osbeck
![](osbeck.png)
A. Berlund Family
![](berglund.png)
Rev. O. Lindholm Family
![](lindholm.png)
Rev & Mrs. Herman Bergman
![](bergman.png)
Church in 1912
![](arthur1912.png)
Delegates to State Conference 1912
![](delegates1912.png)
Philathea Class 1913
![](philathea.png)
Baraca Class 1913
![](baraca.png)
Rev. H.S. Miller
![](miller.png)
Rev. & Mrs. A.E. Carlson
![](carlson.png)
Rev. Bennett Erickson
Rev. Peter Lovene
![](lovene.png)
A.W. Erickson
![](awerickson.png)
Rev. LeRoy Carter
![](carter.png)
October 25-November 1, 1970
Back to Church Content Page
Back to Crawford Co. Homepage
Copyright ©2023 by the Crawford County, Iowa
IAGenWeb Project and Contributors.
75th anniversary
Church in 1890
![](arthur1890.png)
John B.Samuelson
![](samuelson.png)
Larson School
![](larsonschool.png)
Arthur Baptist Church
![](arthurbaptist2.png)
Pastor David C. Brown
![](pastorbrown.png)
Hans Hallander
![](hallander.png)
Rev. & Mrs. C.J. Ahlmquist
![](almquist.png)
Rev. C.R. Osbeck
![](osbeck.png)
A. Berlund Family
![](berglund.png)
Rev. O. Lindholm Family
![](lindholm.png)
Rev & Mrs. Herman Bergman
![](bergman.png)
Church in 1912
![](arthur1912.png)
Delegates to State Conference 1912
![](delegates1912.png)
Philathea Class 1913
![](philathea.png)
Baraca Class 1913
![](baraca.png)
Rev. H.S. Miller
![](miller.png)
Rev. & Mrs. A.E. Carlson
![](carlson.png)
Rev. Bennett Erickson
![](erickson.png)
Rev. Peter Lovene
![](lovene.png)
A.W. Erickson
![](awerickson.png)
Rev. LeRoy Carter
![](carter.png)
October 25-November 1, 1970