| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
|
| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 54
Cotter, Iowa
Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, August 6, 2016
The first step toward starting a Welsh religious service north of Long creek occurred in the winter of 1877 when the late Reverend Owen Owens of Remey, Wisconsin, delivered a sermon in the Yankeetown schoolhouse. Shortly after this visit a Welsh Sabbath school was organized by a few families. The Sabbath school was held in turn at the respective homes and this plan proved quite convenient and successful.
In May, 1879, the late Reverend Richard Hughes organized a branch Church of the Salem Calvinistic Methodist Church with twelve members: Mr. and Mrs. Hugh T. Arthur, Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Richards, Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Hughes, Mrs. Matilda (Davis) Jones, Mrs. Ann Richards and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Williams. They held their meetings in the Yankeetown school.
Soon after its organization the Church increased in members as several welsh families bought farms north of Long Creek. Among the new members were J. J. Davis, Richard Jenkins, Henry Daniels, E. J. Owens and Edward J. Davis. There were 32 members at the beginning of the years 1884.
After holding services at the school for a period of four years, the members felt the necessity of having a permanent house of worship. On the 24th day of April, 1884, they met at the residence of Mr. Hugh T. Arthur and withdrew from the mother Church (Salem) and organized into a separate Church under the rules and regulations of the Presbytery and Synod of the Calvinistic Methodist Church of the U. S. A. The new church was known as the Bethel Welsh Church of Cotter.
Later that year (1884) the members erected a new Church at a cost of $1,500. It was located on a plot of ground that was donated by Evan J. Owens, located one mile south of Cotter. The first minister was the Reverend Richard Hughes, who designed the building and preached the first sermon in the new Church on December 24, 1885. The Church was dedicated on May 24, 1885, with visiting pastors officiating.
The first officers of the new Church were E. J. Davis (the only ordained deacon at that time), Hugh T. Arthur, D. R. Hughes, W. W. Williams, Humphrey Richards and Richard Jenkins.
In June, 1906, the Church was struck by lightning and destroyed. A building committee was appointed to begin plans for a new Church. The committee members were R. L. Richards, J. J. Roberts, John Jenkins and J. M. Davis. It was decided that the new Church should be built near Cotter. The trustees of the Church – W. W. Williams, Evan Arthur and Evan Edwards- decided to accept the three-fourths of an acre that Mr. Hugh O. Jones offered to donate and $5,000 was raised to pay the approximate cost of the building.
| Richard Hughes | 1879-1883 |
| J. R. Jones | 1883-1897 |
| J. T. Morris | 1898-1900 |
| W. Machno Jones | 1900-1906 |
| Hugh E. Jones | 1909-1913 |
| R. P. Richards | 1914 |
The new church was dedicated on June 1, 1907.
In 1914 the Church Trustees purchased one-half acre from Mr. Hugh O. Jones on which to build the manse.
In 1922 the Church name was hanged to the Cotter Presbyterian Church and enrolled in the Presbytery of Iowa City. W. W. Williams, R. Jenkins, Richard Thomas and R. L. Richards were named to serve as Elders of the Church.
From 1913 until 1922 no regular pastor had served the Church, and for two years after the union of the Welsh Synod and the Presbyterian body, the Cotter Church was without regular services.
For several years the Ladies Aid held a bazaar and chicken supper in the hall over Kay’s store. In 1927 it was decided to hold a Fall Festival and use the money to dig a basement and raise the Church three feet. Reverend Stockwell and Richard (Dickey) Thomas collected a huge amount of merchandise from the merchants of the surrounding towns. This was sold at auction and the money was used to pay for work on the basement and the purchase of a new furnace.
In 1946 the members voted to withdraw from the union with the Bethel Church and re-unify with the Salem Church, with the two congregations to be served by the same pastor.
When the Church celebrated its 75 the anniversary in 1955 it had 155 members. The membership totaled 115 when Cotter Church celebrated its centennial on June 24, 1979.
The Cotter Presbyterian Church celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 24, 1979.
The day started with a morning worship led by the Pastor, Reverend Darrel Robertson. Following the service, the near-capacity crowd enjoyed a potluck dinner.
Elmer Thomas was the master of ceremonies for the afternoon program. At that time Mr. Thomas had been an Elder of the Cotter Church for 33 years.
It was a day that for many people made the past come alive.
Pg 55
Several Welsh songs were enjoyed.
Dorothy Davis Plett and Arlene Arthur Jones read the history of the Church.
Mrs. Darrel Robertson sang a Welsh Hymn.
Harriet Jones read Correspondence from people who could not attend.
Present and Past Elders and Trustees were recognized.
Mrs. Katherine Miller told of the earlier days in the Church.
John P. Jones - oldest member of the Church- was recognized.
Mrs. Burdette Davis read the charge to the Church that she had written.
Susan Jones Hazelett played the organ for the day.
A look at the past was provided by pictures, Bibles, a service roll, old collection plates, and other mementoes that were displayed. A quilt owned by Mrs. Dave R. Jones was exhibited. Members of the Ladies Aid had embroidered their names on it years ago.
| Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Tudor Arthur | Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Jones |
| Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Richards | Mr. and Mrs. D. R. Hughes |
| Mr. and Mrs. William W. Williams | Mrs. Matilda (Davis) Jones |
| Anna Richards |
| Mrs. Gwen (Arthur) Jones | Mrs. Evelyn ( Arthur) Quigley |
| Mrs. Arlene (Arthur) Joens | Mr. Arthur Thomas |
| Mr. Homer Thomas | Mrs. Shirley (Robertson) Wilson |
| Frank Williams | Jack Williams |
| Leonard Arthur | Lyle Arthur |
| Lee Arthur | Kenneth Arthur |
| Mrs. Janet (Robertson) Miller | Robert Robertson |
| Mrs. Mildred ( Williams) Caldwell | Mrs. Margaret (Williams) Quigley |
| Ervin Williams | Howard Williams |
| Gerald Williams | Mrs. Gladys ( Richards) Thomas |
| Mr. Duane Richards | Mrs. Anita (Richards) Peck |
| Charles C. Brown | elected June2, 1922 but never installed |
| C. E. Thompson | Feb. 20, 1923 - Oct 1, 1924 |
| W. A. Stockwell | Oct 1, 1925 - Oct 30, 1927 |
| W. H. Parker | Oct 9, 1928 - Nov 30, 1937 |
| M. A. Roberson | Dec 15, 1938 - Feb 1, 1943 |
| W. Z. Allen | Apr. 1944 - July 1, 1946 |
| R. H. Spencer | July 18, 1946 - June 1, 1948 |
| Thoms Nelson | Dec 18, 1948 - June 30, 1952 |
| E. O. Dirks | July 12, 1953 - Dec 29, 1957 |
| James A. Rila | July 20, 1958 - July 1, 1965 |
| H. A. Smidt | Sept 18, 1966 - Dec 28, 1969 |
| Burl B. Richards | Aug 1, 1970 - July 15, 1976 |
| Darrel Robertson | March, 1977 - July 1983 |
| Karolee Wirt | March 1985 - Dec 1986 |
| Gail Mitchell | June 1987 - June 1988 |
| Kitch Shatzer | August 1988 - Present |
Picture: A sketch of the early Cotter United Presbyterian Church
Picture: A sketch of the early Cotter United Presbyterian Church
Pg 56
Picture: Susan Hazellet, Organist.
Picture: Christian Endeavor Group led by Mildred Jones Circa 1940.
Back row L-R: Keith Peters, Marcia Fuller, Bill Jones, Josephine Owens, Marion Jones, Margaret Owens.
Front row L-R: Frances Owens, Dorothy Jones, Marion Owens, Harriet Jones.
Picture: Cotter Presbyterian Church 1993
Picture: Rev. and Mrs. Robeson
Picture: David R. Jones, Longtime Elder
Picture: Violet Duncan, longtime Sunday school teacher of Home Builders Class.
Pg 57
Picture: Rev. and Mrs. W. Z. Allen
Picture: Farewell for Mrs. Will Lee Jonens-1941.
Front row
L-R: Venice Peters, Mary Owens, Mildred Jones, May Jones, Esther Arthur, Annie Arthur.
Back row L-R: Edna Robeson, Mildred Jones, Carrie Quigley, Leona Hauenstein, Elsie Jenkins, Anna Davis, Maud Jones.
Picture: CONGREGATION
Front row L-R: Dorothy Thomas, Evelyn Owens, Marie Duncan, Allan Jones, Arlene Jones, Mary Slemmons, Mary Ella Davis, Dorothy Plett, Richard Jones, Russel Jones, Susan Pretz, Bill Peters.
Back Row L-R: Harriet Jones, Gomer Owens, Bill Edwards, Helen Edwards, Elmer Thomas, Lynette Thomas, Janet Pretz, Rev. Linda K. Shatzer, John Hazelett, Joel Hazelett, Jon Hazelett, Susan Hazelett, Pauline Breneman, Bob Davis, Jeremy Davis, Betty Podaril, Marion Czernaikowski, Elizabeth Pretz, Ken Peters.
Picture: Rev. and Mrs. Parker
Pg 58
Picture: Cotter United Presbyterian Church, Cotter
Observing anniversary on Rev. and Mrs. Richard Hughes Cotter, Iowa, May 21, 1897. Rev. and Mrs. Hughes are in center of picture in high back chairs. He had organized a branch of the Calvinistic Methodist Church of the USA.
Picture: Rev. Richard and Sarah Hughes. In May 1879 Rev. Hughes organized a branch of Salem Calvinistic Methodist Church which met at Yankee Town School.
Picture: John P. Jones and daughter Jean.
Picture: Hat day at Cotter Presbyterian Church. Front L-R Dorothy Plett, Arlene Jones, Arlene Davis. Back L-R: Harriet Jones, Lynette Thomas, Barb Hauenstein, Mildred Jones, Betty Podaril Picture: Wedding of Bob and Laura Davis, February 18, 1989. Rev. Kitch (Linda K.) Shatzer performed the ceremony.
Pg 59
Picture: Rev. Darrel and Pat Robertson, Andrea and Garth. 1977-1983
Picture: Rev. Burl Richards with Arlene Davis, 1970-1973
Picture: Ladies working on a quilt – Feb. 1993. Facing L-R: Dorothy Thomas, Pauline Breneman, Mary Ella Davis, Eileen Carson. Helen Edwards (watching).
Picture: Front L-R: Mildred Jones, Alice Peters, Wm (Bill) Robertson, Maud Jones, LeRoy Owens. Standing in back L-R: Ken Peters, Wm Owens, Jake Davis, Darold Jones.
Picture: Marie Duncan, Secy. 1993.