| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 121
Letts, Iowa
Transcribed by Jackie Terry, August 14, 2016
The first organization of the Letts United Brethren Church met in the old Shellabarger Hall. The United Brethren in Christ was commenced in building in the year of 1884, under the pastorate of Rev. E. F. Rheinehart, and finished during the summer of 1885, under the pastorate of Rev. Richard Collier. It was dedicated in August 1885, by the Rev. T. D. Adams. The church membership at this time was twenty-four. Some of the charter members were the Shellabarger families and the Furnas families. A spiritual awakening followed by Rev. Hicks of Muscatine, and in 1889 the church membership increased to fifty-eight. In 1889, Arthur Weaver was Sunday School Superintendent.
The first building was a wooden structure located north of the present Methodist Church. Two blocks north and one block east of the present location. In 1897 a project was begun to obtain title to the old school house lots for a church site. Later in 1897 the church was moved to its’ present location on the corner of Orange and Chestnut. An addition was made to the building and brick laid on the outside. This site was purchased from the late Isaac Epperly through the efforts of W. W. Wagner, John Geiner and E. Shellabarger. The first deed was dated March 2, 1886, and the second (referring to the present location) was dated November 20, 1897. The church was dedicated by Bishop Kephart from Kansas City and Rev. Harry Kephart was pastor at this time. An entire basement was put under the church in approximately the year 1916 under the pastorate of Rev. H. N. Hulse.
The church has had three parsonages. The first one was located on Main Street (lot 4 block 37) and the deed was dated February 18, 1893. This one was sold during the year 1948. The second parsonage was paid in full with amount of the sale of the old parsonage. The third parsonage is located on the corner of Chestnut and Vine. It was purchased from Ralph Harvey in 1971. The records have been misplaced or burned so it is uncertain as to the purchase price, debt and when cleared on the first parsonage of the church building.
During the conference of 1943, it was decided to combine the Letts church with the church at Cranston. This continued for five years and proved to be unsatisfactory. In 1949, Letts again had its own resident minister. In 1958 the Letts church left the Evangelical United Brethren Conference. It became known as the Letts Independent United Brethren Church under the pastorate of Rev. Amos Glendenning on May 10, 1959.
In August of 1980, under the pastorate of Rev. Daniel Fisher, the Letts church again changed its name to the Letts Bible Church.
The charter members include: Bertha Black, George Black, Alberta Black, James Black, Harry Black, Lola Estep, Chester Fuller, Pauline Fuller, Jerry Fuller, M. C. Fuller, Izora Fuller, Wayne Heitmeier, Martha Heitmeier, William Heitmeier, DeWayne Brown, Barbara Brown, Lessie Brown, George Libbee, Mae Libbee, Hallie Lee, Nellie Lee, Olla McCleary, Albert McGill, George Miller, Russell Miller, Kathy Reckenberger Peterson, Alberta McGill.
The church has been blessed by many young couples to carry on the Lord’s work in the community. Young couples have enjoyed skating parties, sweetheart banquets, sledding parties, mother-daughter teas, father-son suppers, potlucks, ice cream socials and picnics.
The Sunday School was started at the same time as the church. Bible school has been very successful the last several years with many children brought to know the Lord Jesus Christ personally and saved by being born again into God’s family.
(Pg 121 & 122)
| 1 | 1888- | Richard Collier |
| 2 | * | Leffler |
| 3 | * | Brooks |
| 4 | * | Profitt |
| 5 | 1895- | Cunningham |
| 6 | 1889- | Harry Kephard |
| 7 | * | Breau |
| 8 | * | W. L. Childress |
| 9 | * | Roper |
| 10 | * | Hoffman |
| 11 | * | O. O. Hobson, Sr. |
| 12 | * | Stark |
| 13 | * | Denny |
| 14 | * | O. O. Hobson, Jr. |
| 15 | * | Boyd |
| 16 | * | Berry |
| 17 | * | Jamison |
| 18 | * | Cooper |
| 19 | * | Hulse |
| 20 | * | Suenkel |
| 21 | * | Donnie Minton |
| 22 | 1927-34 | C. O. Winter |
| 23 | 1934-36 | Harry Buss |
| 24 | 1936-39 | Woolson |
| 25 | 1939-41 | Lloyd B. Foster |
| 26 | 1941-42 | F. H. Lathrope |
| 27 | 1942-44 | C. F. Spencer |
| 28 | 1944-46 | Ray thompson |
| 29 | 1946-47 | Lawrence Lee |
| 30 | 1947-48 | Rodney Thompson |
| 31 | 1948-50 | Wesley Lowrey |
| 32 | 1957-58 | Laverne Hubbard |
| 33 | 1958-60 | Amos Glenndenning |
| 34 | 1960-67 | Caleb Larson |
| 35 | 1967-68 | Forrest Sherwood |
| 36 | 1967-68 | Ron Eggenberg |
| 37 | 1967-68 | Bob Estabrook |
| 38 | 1968 | Dave Harthan |
| 39 | 1970-80 | J. Walter Glasscock |
| 40 | 1980-84 | Daniel Fisher |
| 41 | 1985-88 | William Strickland |
| 42 | 1992-Present | Roger Hubbard |
When resident pastors were not available, Christian businessmen have filled in.
Pg 122
Picture: Letts United Brethern Church
Picture: Interior of Letts United Brethern Church 1993
Picture: Rev. Roger and Mary Ann Hubbard
Picture; Vicki Slater, pianist
Picture: 1993 Pre School Class
Mark Foor, Daniela Stubrud, Lisa Foor, Ila Starkweather(teacher), Jeanie Stubrud
Picture: 1993 High School Class
Melissa Gage, Brandon Hubbs (standing), Amber Williams, Rev. Roger Hubbard, Tiffany Williams (standing), Mike Brinson.
Picture: 1993 Middle Class
Mary Ann Hubbard (teacher), Joy Stubrud, Josiah Stubrud