| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 125
Cairo, Iowa
Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, August 20, 2016
In the history of the Churches of God in America, in the 8th Eldership, Elder H. Murray and wife Rebecca, came originally from Pennsylvania to the Ohio Eldership, where he was pastor, then came to Iowa, Louisa County in 1855. There he located in Marshall Township, two and one half miles southwest of the present Village of Cairo.
Besides being a pastor, his duties in the eldership at different times were, Transcribing and Journalizing Clerk and Chairman of the Standing committee.
In the year 1858, Pastor H. Murray formed the organization of the Cairo Church of God with eighteen charter members as follows: H. Murray, Rebecca Murray, Stephen Potter, Sitney Ann Potter, Louisa Vanhorn, Jessie Vanhorn, James Vanhorn, Jacob Hatton, Louis Simmons, Elizabeth Vanhorn, John B. Vanhorn , David Kepper, Mary Kepper, Eliza Whisler, John Whisler, Adam Whisler, James Humiston, Sarah Humiston.
This organization was a mission from 1858 until 1866. It is supposed that the Sunday School and Church services were held in a log cabin school house until 1866 when a new building was dedicated. It was in June 1865 that James H Marshall, Sr., father of Lloyd Marshall, laid out the village of Cairo. It was surveyed by W. S. Kremer, and the present land was given to the Church of God for a building site. In 1866 the church was built and dedication services were held on October 16,1866. Later in October of that year the Cairo Church of God received its first eldership. The church building was remodeled twice, once in 1939 and again in 1948 after a fire had damaged the interior. It was rededicated on October 3,1948.
In 1957 James H. Marshall Jr. and his wife Nina, presented the congregation a house and land to be used as a parsonage as long as it was needed. At this time the Iowa Eldership sent Pastor Richard Godsey and family to be pastor of the Cairo Church.
The names of the pastors from 1865 to 1958 are as follows:
| F. F. Kiner | J. S. Miller | M. Sutliff | Leo Ruley |
| H. Hollems | Doug Long | E. M. Hickman | Elmer Armstrong |
| C. W. Evans | J. D. Bohen | E. E. Hiltibridle | Chuck Newell |
| Henry Murray | L. F. Chamberlin | Everet Naftzger | Blaine Fye |
| W. F. Howard | F. H. Sharp | W. E. Hilliard | Wilbur Whitcomb |
| R. M. Pine | J. Ossman | A. D. Albright | Virgil Elliott |
| W. Roberts | D. Long | Burris Moore | Kevin Schrader |
| W. Vance | Conard Fatland | Arvell Hughes | Ken Bleacher |
| J. M. Mullen | Jesse Huddle | A. L. Shuey | Robert Douglas |
| C. Ford | L.S. Mitchell | Richard Godsey | |
| C. L. Wilson | W. W Schwenk | Don Sarver | |
| D. Blakely | G. W. Elliott | Ray Draper |
Pg 126
Picture: 1934 Sunday School Picnic
Front (L–R): Wendell Hall, Tommy Woodruff, Alfred Hall Sitting: Herbie Hall, Wanda Lihs, Mary Ellen Hillard, Delbert Woodruff, Charlene Woodruff. Standing: Alwin Lloyd Marshall, Shirley Lihs, Pauline Partington, Elva Brown.
Background: Frank Dickey, Billy Brown, Melvin Partington, Burdette Boulton.
Pg 126
Picture: 1934 Sunday School Picnic
Back row: Twyla Partington, Wilma Partington, Clyde Partington, Betty Calhoun or Wilma Hilliard, Jean Brown.
Front Row: Marvin Brown Harrison, Frank Dickey, Carol Partington, Darlene Brown.
Picture: Church of God, Cairo, IA