| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 34
AND UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, August 4, 2016
In 1842 the Reverend Thomas Kendall and some fifty followers left the State of Tennessee with the intention of making new homes on the free soil of Iowa. In the fall of 1844, Reverend Will Smith, then pastor of an Associate Presbyterian Church at Crawfordsville, Iowa, came to Columbus City where the majority of Reverend Kendall’s followers had settled and organized an Associate Presbyterian Church. The elders for the new church were John Duncan and Andrew Duncan who had both been elders in their church in Tennessee.
Reverend Kendall, who had settled elsewhere, came to Columbus City to hold communion services with his old friends. One of their first meeting places was a large barn that Colonel Garners had built just southeast of the school building in Columbus City. The barn, used by various denominations, was the location where a three-day debate was held by the Associates and the Camelites on the question of Baptism. After three days of debate neither side won.
In 1851 the Associate Presbyterian Church members erected their first house of worship. The new church was located on lot 5-6, block 26, facing Philadelphia Street in Columbus City.
In 1855 plans were made to build a new church, This building was still under construction in 1858 when most if the members decided to joint he United Presbyterian Church. According to church records the old building was sold to the Reformed Presbyterian Church for $700.00. County records show that this building was later owned by the United Presbyterian Church.
Construction of the new Associate Presbyterian Church was never adequately completed and as a result frequent repairs and modifications were necessary. The gallery had to be closed at one time as it was impossible to heat it properly. This building was erected on an acre of land donated by Judge Springer that was located north of Main Street in Columbus City and directly west of the cemetery. Several additional lots were later acquired.
A pastor of the Associate Church, Reverend Thomas Kendall, once announced that he was going to South Carolina to preach an anti-slavery message. Although he was advised that the slave holders would mob him if he carried out his plan, he was a large, strong resolute man and he decided to make the trip. When Reverend Kendall arrived at an unknown location in South Carolina he announced that he would speak on “The Evils of Slavery” on a Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock.
A large group of people attended the meeting. After permitting the visitor to speak for about 20 minutes a group of men demanded that he leave the pulpit. When their demand was ignored they dragged the minister down the aisle and out into the church yard where a bucket of warm tar and a pillow of feathers waited his arrival. Although he could not complete his mission, Reverend Kendall was given credit for making a brave and determined effort in support of a noble cause.
The Reverend George Vincent served as a stated supply minister for the Associate Church from the time it was organized in 1844 until 1848. He was followed by Reverend W. H. Andrews who became the pastor in 1848 and served the churches at Columbus City and Washington, Iowa until 1851. Supply ministers served in the pulpit for the next two years until 1853 when Reverend Alexander Story accepted a call to the Columbus City Associate Church. Fro the next six years, until 1859, he also served the congregation at Grandview.
In 1859 the Associate Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Presbyterian Church came together to form the United Presbyterian Church. Most of the Associate Presbyterian members decided to go with their pastor, The Reverend Story, into the United Presbyterian Church. Some members, however, did not agree with the union of churches and continued to be known as Associate Presbyterians or Seceders.
Reverend Story served as pastor of the United Presbyterian Church for seventeen years. It was been said that during this time the church was often spoken of as “Story’s Church.” His son, James Story, was born in Columbus City and later became an ordained minister in the Untied Presbyterian Church. Sabbath School classes were stared during Reverend Story’s pastorate. He resigned due to poor health in April, 1875, having served the Columbus City congregation faithfully for 23 years.
Reverend Givson and Reverend Tone served as supply ministers until 1876 when Reverend James Brown came to Columbus City. The Women’s Missionary Society was organized during Reverend Brown’s pastorate. He had the honor of serving as Moderator of the General Assembly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1876. In the summer of 1873 he served as a delegate from Columbus City to the church convention in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. This convention was held to discuss the use of instrumental music in the church.
Reverend Malford Tidball became the pastor in 1884 and served the congregation for the next five years. During his pastorate the first Y.P C. U. was organized.
Reverend John A Greer served as pastor from 1890 until 1898. During his pastorate the congregation cel-…. Pg 25
From 1898 until 1904 Reverend J. S. Tussey was the pastor if the United Presbyterian Church. Reverend Tussey was the promoter of the Chautauqua which flourished in Columbus City for many years. Reverend Tussey was followed by Reverend J. C. Marshall in January, 1904 and by Reverend W. R Lawrence who served from September, 1910 until June, 1913. The church was without a regular pastor between June, 1913 and November, 1914 when Reverend S. Boyd Johnson was installed. During his pastorate the church was moved and a new parsonage was built.
During Reverend Tussey’s pastorate a house was purchased to use as a parsonage. After moving and remodeling the church it was decided to build a new parsonage near the new church location. A lot was purchased just north of the school grounds and the new parsonage was built at a cost of $5,000.
During Reverend S. Boyd Johnson’s pastorate, T. E. Johnston organized and conducted a Junior meeting at the same hour as the Y. P.C. U. meeting. It was said that the fruits of his efforts among the Juniors could not be estimated. Reverend Johnson served as pastor until April, 1920.
Reverend R. W. Jamison was installed as pastor in August, 1920. He was instrumental in getting Bible Study included in the school curriculum and he served as a Bible teacher in the Columbus High School in addition to performing his pastoral duties. Reverend John Aikin served as pastor from November, 1924 until October, 1929. It was said he was always welcome in the homes of his congregation in times of sadness or rejoicing and that he was always ready with a word of sympathy or congratulations.
Reverend C. S. Ramsdale became pastor in April 1930. Under his leadership the Y. P. C. U. took on a new life and energy.
Records show that many people who stayed with the Associate Presbyterian Church (Seceders) were in families who had moved from Tennessee because they did not believe in slavery. The cemetery west of Columbus Community School has a number of stones with such names as Orr, Johnston and Duncan. They had all come from Tennessee between 1844 and 1856.
After Reverend Story left the Associate Church to serve the Untied Presbyterian Church the following pastors served the Associate church.
| S Hindman | 1862-1868 |
| J. Shearer | 1869-1871 |
| J. D. Cunningham | 1872 |
| G. F. Fisher | 1873-1882 |
| W.P. Gilkey | 1885-1900 |