Late in the Seventies, the Burlington extended their railway from Afton Junction to the Missouri River. A branch railway was run from Red Oak Junction through Shenandoah, Farragut and Riverton to Hamburg.
Charles W. Blodgett preached at Hamburg, Jesse P. Evans, at Shenandoah, and John M. Holmes, at Red Oak in 1872. Benjamin Shinn was presiding elder on the Council Bluffs District, and had the two former charges; Uri Pierson Golliday was on the Corning District, and Red Oak belonged to his work. The brethren at Shenandoah during the the year 1873 built two churches, one at Shenandoah, costing $2,700, and the one a brick structure, at Riverton, costing $4,300. The health of the Hamburg preacher broke down and he transferred to Colorado.
In 1877 William Albert Wiseman, who was in his second year at Riverton, began preaching at Farragut. He found a few Methodists, in the Fall of 1877, and organized them into a Society. There were only about 25 in the organization, but steps were soon taken to build a church. A lot was secured from the Burlington railroad, plan made by Architect Benjamin D.Trice, of Philadelphia and they adopted a subscription taken to build a neat frame structure 36/fifty, the building finished in the Spring of 1877. President Alexander Burnes, of Simpson Centenary college, came, preached the sermon and dedicated the church. He had a very encouraging audience, and gave a very wonderful sermon. A beautiful church, costing about $3,600, was dedicated free of debt.
In 1879, George Clammer was pastor at Riverton and Farragut, and also 1880. In 1881, George Clammer was made pastor at Farragut; Wm S. Hooker was presiding Elder on Council Bluffs District. In 1882, Fred Harris, Pastor.
In August 7, 1883, Mrs. Elizabeth Barrie Harris, wife of the Pastor, Fred Harris, died at Farragut, Iowa. In 1884, Charles E. Lynn served Riverton and Farragut.
- In the following years, these men pastored the M. E. Church:
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1885-1886 William J. Peck
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1887 Elmer Ellsworth Lymer
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1888 Hardin M. Hughes
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1890 G. W. Blanchard
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1891 Michael R. Harned
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1892 Lorenzo Jean
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1893-1895 Jason Gallup
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1896 Edson E. Goodrich
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1897-1898 Charles Frewer
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1899-1900 Wm F. Shuman
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1901-1902 Joseph J. Varley
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1903 Fred T. Stevenson
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1904 Charles J. Mayne
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1905-1907James E. Matheny
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1908-1909 Joseph Stephen
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1909-1911 Alsie P. Grant
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1912-1913 A. W. Armstrong
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1914 Eller C. Douglas
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1915-1916 Ray E. Harvey
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1917 Benjamin R. Van Dyke
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1918-1922 William G. Harding
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1923-1925 Charles W. Proctor
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1926 Edward B. Bellows
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1927-1929 Claude A. Calkins
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1930-1933 Evan P. Stroud
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1934 Arthur Henry
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1935-1936 John C. Turner
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1937 Wm. H. Meredith
Source of this article: dated 1937, no author listed; contributed by Volunteer Sheryl
Source of Photograph: Submitted by Roy Booker
Note from Mr. Booker: "Believe this is the Methodist Church in Farragut and JSE is James Sherwood Evans, my great-grandfather". (Roy Booker)
History of M. E. Church: