| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 110
Letts, Iowa
Transcribed by Jackie Terry, August 14, 2016
There seems to be no records of the exact date when the Methodist Church at Letts, or as it was first known, Ononwa, was started. In the first printed history of Louisa County it records that the village of Ononwa was laid out in October 1855. It also states that the first religious services were held shortly after the village was laid out. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by some who had formerly been members of the church at Grandview Village. Seth C. Curtis was a prime mover in the organization of the new society and was the first class leader. Prayer meetings were first held at the schoolhouse and the organization of the church was first effected by Rev. Michael See (He was a grandfather of C. Turkington). The first school was held in a private house. The first school building was erected in 1860, so the very first religious meetings must have been in the homes.
The first records seem to be a book of the quarterly conferences dating from December 1864 until 1879. It starts out, “First quarterly Meeting of Grand View Circuit Iowa Conference M. E. Church was held at Grandview December 3, 1864. There were present T. Audis, P. E., and M. See, P.C., and Class leaders, L. Latta and R. S. Strong.” In this circuit were Grandview, Toolsborough, Brick Church, Walker Class, Hendrix Class and Ononwa. Grandview was the largest. The Grandview Academy was there at the time and those who wanted more education than the country school attended the Academy. Later it was moved to Columbus Junction and called the Normal. The Brick Church was located close to what is now called the Cranston cemetery. The Hendrix School was located south of the Wilmot Hendrix home on the east side of the road. At this first meeting Bros. Milburn, Strong and Higley were appointed a committee on Sunday Schools and on tracts: Sisters L. Anderson and Moles and Bros. Smith, Colling, Walker and H. D. Hendrix, also.
The next two conferences were very much like the first except one met at the Brick Church and the other at Toolsborough. At the fourth meeting, which was at the Washington School, a missionary committee of Bros. Collins, Courtney, Burris and Milburn was appointed. Also, Bros. Fry, Hendrix, Milburn, Courney, Parsons,…
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…Neavit, T. Latta and R. S. Strong were made the stewards. Bros. Milburn’s license as an exhorter and Bros. E. McDaniel’s license were each renewed.An interesting item appears in the first conference on November 24, 1865 when M. See was appointed a committee of one to raise $45 to defray the current expenses of Iowa University. Also, a new name, A. J. Westbrook is on the Sunday School committee.
At the February 1866 meeting, the first mention of a church building in Ononwa was made when a committee of a. J. Westbrook, T. M Curtis and S. Collins were given the job of circulating a petition to see about building one. At the next meeting there was a report that $1160 had been raised and a building committee appointed: A. J. Westbrook, Henry Fry, H D. Hendrix, T.M Curtis and Wm. Moles.
The next records are hard to read. Gleaned was that Toolsboro was attached; Wapello Circuit and Fredonia added to Grandview Circuit; the P. C. was N. Wells and P. E. was E. L Briggs. The appointment for the Hendrix School was transferred to Ononwa. At the June 1867 conference the names of S. C. Harvey, Philip Thompson, James Letts and E. McDaniel were added to the list of Ononwa trustees. A request was made to annex the Grandview circuit to the Muscatine District.
The December conference records that the Brick Church appointment was to be discontinued and the class transferred to Ononwa; that the presiding elder was John H. Power. The church at Ononwa was erected in 1867 being a frame structure 35 by 50 feet, at the cost of #,000. The May 1868 meeting is given as at Letts (Ononwa in parentheses). The number of Sunday Schools was two: Grandview and Fredonia.
The October 1868 Conferences gives F. W. Evans, P. E. and Wm Poston as P.C. Also the pastor’s salary was raised from $700 to $900.
July 1868: an accounting of church property was given and the value of the church building in Lettsville was given as $3,100, with the comment that the church was out of debt. The same meeting recorded that $1,645 had been subscribed for a church at Fredonia, with $577.50 paid in. It was interesting to note its expenditures: bricks - $94.50; lime - $9.00; sheeting - $1.50; lumber - $300; freight on line - $2.10; lumber - $43.50; deed stamp - $1.50. Another thing noted was that in the financial reports, Lettsville which at first had been toward the bottom was not creeping toward the top in giving.
The October 1869 report gives O.P. Light as pastor in charge, and he must have been a man of more detail as tells of overhauling the church records and that the church deeds should be attended to as they are not properly recorded.
June 1870; There were three (3) Sunday Schools: Grandview, Fredonia and Ononwa. Letts, or Ononwa as he called it, had 9 officers, 11 teachers, 100 scholars (average attendance of 71), 11 classes, 86 books in the library, expenses - $10. No Advocates were taken. Value of church property - $3000; expended in improvements - $94; current expenses - $46. He goes on to say that he has preached 25 times (none especially to children); has made 100 pastoral visits; attended 2 funerals (this in horse and buggy days); and has gotten subscriptions to the following periodicals: “Northwestern Christian Advocate 7”; “Central Christian Advocate 4”; “Ladies Repository 3”, “The Sunday School Advocate 128”.
An item at the next meeting says the annual Conference has been requested to appoint an assistant to the pastor in charge in order that the work may be enlarged.
Next came a meeting of the official board (first time so called) on October 1870 at which time the salary of pastor O. P. Light was given as $900., and that of A.J. Van Camp J. R. (Junior Pastor) was $450. The Letts apportionment was to be $335. In the list of circuit appointments were: Grandview, Lettsville, Williams Schoolhouse, Toolsboro, Port Louisa, Kemp Schoolhouse, Sand Prairie, Strawberry Hill, Fredonia and Washington Schoolhouse.
A report in February 1871 says meeting were (protracted) held in 5 places with some success. Sand Prairie was discontinued.
In July there was another itemized report of the Sunday School. Letts lists 130 scholars with 75 as the average attendance. There were 214 volumes in the library, 50 Sunday School Advocates were taken, and the year’s expense was $20. The financial report was good; no liabilities; property in good condition; but the benevolent collections were not perfect. Trustees for the next year were: T. M Curtis, A. J. Westbrook, Samuel Collins, J. R. Letts, William Moles, and H. D. Hendrix. That fall a quarterly conference of laymen was held at Mt. Pleasant to which Robert Gillis was elected delegate.
In the 1st Quarterly Conference held November 1871, Rev. W. F. Coeles was P.C., with G. M. Friend as P C. and F. Pellas J.P. Salaries to be $700 and $500 respectively. Evidently there was no set time for the sacramental service as mention was made to have them at the morning service. A question of parsonage repairs came up that year; a question which was not settled for some years.
In 1872 the bishop was asked to divide the district, but evidently the division as first proposed was not well received; and as amended, Grandview, Lettsville, Fredonia and Wright were made a circuit. A Delegate was sent to Wilton to arrange for a camp meeting. The Grandview Circuit, Muscatine District Annual Conference, was held September 1872 at Pleasant Grove Bethel. At this time, J. C. Brown was P. E. and J. Gosiner was P.C.
May 1873: Starts out with the pastor’s report as saying he has preached as many appointments as his health would permit and ends with a secretary’s note, “I can’t read any more”. Also a notation that the church records were in bad condition due to the pastor’s ill health. Evidently he had made an attempt to rectify them for a motion was made to pay $5 due on a church…
Pg 112
…register purchased by him. In October, B. F. Kearns (Cairns) was appointed P.C. with Gosines as supernumerary.1874: The parsonage question was still undecided as a committee was given orders to either repair or sell it. A Collection of $41 and clothing was taken and sent to Omaha, but could not find the objective. D. A. Watters was appointed P.E. in fall of 1874.
His 1875 report says most of those attending prayer meetings were young nonprofessors and he wishes the members would report for active duty, but that the congregations seem to be increasing. The Grandview Sunday School suffers from lack of music. There was plenty of talent, but it was undeveloped. Letts was a “model” one, especially in singing; runs without friction. Charles Furnas was the Sunder School Superintendent.
April of 1876 reports that the Letts church needs paint immediately. I. A. Bradrick was P. E.
In 1877 the idea of a parsonage in Letts seems to have been broached as a committee was appointed to get subscriptions for one, and almost the last entry in the book was to the effect that the value of the Letts parsonage was $1,000 held by warranty deed; no insurance, no indebtedness. So sometime between 1877 and 1879 it was built. Later, during Rev. Barker’s pastorate, 1911 to 1914, the parsonage was remodeled.
In September 1878, at the 1st Quarterly Conference, the new pastor, D. C. Bevan reported himself “for duty as ready for activity, happy and full of zeal”. Rev. Bevan served this charge twice; first from 1877 to 1879 and again in 1896 to 1899.
As far as records are concerned there seems to be a lapse from 1878 until 1892 when the first commencement of Lettsville High School was held in the Methodist Church building. Perhaps this was because the minister’s son, Frank Shane, along with Elmer Furnas, were the members of the H.S. graduating class.
In 1895, the church was remodeled for the first time. Henry f. Pugh was minister when the original frame structure was faced with brick and the addition of the east room, now known as the Philthea room, was added. The nave was remodeled and the pulpit was moved from the north to the west and the sanctuary added. The floor was inclined and a new circular pews installed. At this time the bell tower and steeple were built and the entrance moved to the present location on the south side.
The Philathea class was organized in 1911 and celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1961. Several in this class, along with a member of the original Martha class, will be found in the 50-year membership group.
The next major remodeling was done in 1926 under the pastorate of Rev. O. B. Rogers. The building was raised and excavating done to make room for a full basement where formerly there had been a furnace room and coal bin. A considerable amount of work was done on this project by many of the present members. Several members of the Philathea Sunday School Class signed a note to borrow $1,000 toward this project. Main methods of raising money were: chicken suppers, bazaars, serving sales, ice cream socials, and home talent plays. Mrs. Clyde (Vinnie Letts) Turkington wrote this about the basement remodeling project:
1926: the Philathea Class decided to have a basement and I wonder how many chicken suppers and bazaars we had? We had to have them at the school, and always on Friday night. We had to bring dishes and decorations. I remember I had such a full case I had to get somebody outside to close the doors. Well, we had $1,200 in the bank and the bank closed. So we had to start over again and we finally had our basement all paid for. That was a dreadful time for all the churches and many a minister went to conference with their salary … We had always sent our minister paid in full, but this time was different. We lacked about a hundred dollars and I can remember Bessie Eland standing up and saying we promised to pay our minister so much and I believe in keeping our promise. So we decided to give our money we had tied up in somebody’s handkerchief; for that was our bank, and the minister saying now we can pay my bills.
The Lucky Leaders Sunday School class was organized in 1936 and has been active in support of many church projects.
Following the church union in 1939, three organizations, the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies, and the Ladies Aid were reorganized in the Woman’s Society of Christian Service (W.S.C.S). This group has been active in missionary education and support as well as in other areas of the church’s life. This organization is now known as the United Methodist Women. (UMW)
In 1942 a tall steeple was removed and the bell tower remodeled.
For a 26-year period no new Sunday School classes were organized. However, in 1962, a new class of young adults was formed and chose the name Open Door Class. The Lucky Leaders Sunday School class had disbanded.
1964 was a well remembered year, as the first ordination ever held and the presence of a Bishop was the first in the history of the church. Reverend Leo Spiker, who was serving his sixth year at Letts, was ordained January 19, 1964 by Bishop f. Gerald Ensley. In April 1964, ground was broken for a new educational center, study and office. Construction began in May, and by the efforts of many members and friends in September the new educational center was occupied. It provided 6 classrooms, an office and a study. The new unit was consecrated for service by Bishop James A. Thomas on March 28, 1965, on the very day of our centennial celebration.
In 1964, members of 50 or more years were: Fay Collins, Mrs. J. Earl (Mae) Dickerson, Mrs. Hall (Mildred)…
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…Shellabarger Estle, Mrs. Belle Garrett, Mrs. Harry (Pearle) Gipple, Wilmot Hendrix, Roy Hildebrand, Mrs. L. M. (Marion) Hildebrand, Glenn Holliday, William Jordan, Adella Letts, Chester Letts, Mrs. Jessie Letts, Ernst Lieberknecht, Mrs. Ernest (Gertrude) Lieberknecht, Lelia Lintner, Harold McCormac, Mrs. Laua Reddic, Arthur Thompson, Hazel Thompson, Lucretia Turkington, Mrs. Vinnie Turkington, Philip Wagner, Mrs. Philip (Effie) Wagner, Mrs. Flora Wilson.
In June 1971 the congregation of the Cranston United Brethren Church became a part of the Letts United Church.
| Michael See | 1864-66 | W. L. Fry | 1909-11 |
| Nathan Wells | 1866-68 | Thomas F. Barker | 1911-14 |
| William Posten | 1868-69 | David Phillips | 1914-20 |
| O. P. Light | 1869-71 | Ralph L. Patterson | 1920-22 |
| (A. J. VanCamp) (Junior Pastor) | 1870-71 | R. Lee LeMotte | 1922-25 |
| G. M. Friend | 1871-72 | Otto B. Rogers | 1925-28 |
| Joseph Gosiner | 1872-73 | Henry W. Munster | 1928-31 |
| B. F. Kearns (Cairns) | 1873-74 | J. W. Gruber | 1931-33 |
| D. A. Watters | 1874-77 | Wm. S. Moore | 1933-36 |
| D. C. Bevan | 1877-79 | Benjamin R. VanDyke | 1936-39 |
| W. H. Horn | 1879-80 | Robert G. Alexander | 1939-42 |
| W. N. Hall | 1880-82 | Dale J. Nicholson | 1942-47 |
| J. L. King | 1882-85 | Paul Textor | 1947-51 |
| U. B. smith | 1885-86 | Florence Resor Jardine | 1951-54 |
| L. D. Johnson | 1886-91 | Leo G. Cox | 1954-56 |
| B. F. Shane | 1891-92 | William Simbro | 1956-59 |
| W. N Potter | 1892-94 | Leo L. Spiker | 1959-65 |
| Henry F. Pugh | 1894-96 | Richard L. Eis | 1965-68 |
| D. C. Bevan | 1896-99 | Raymond Bailey | 1968-70 |
| W. H. Mahaffie | 1899-1900 | Gordon Elrick | 1970-76 |
| Thomas S. Poole | 1900-02 | Robert Gamble | 1976-82 |
| C. H. Montgomery | 1902-04 | Harlan Babcock | 1982-86 |
| J. R. Payne | 1904-05 | Donald Campbell | 1986-91 |
| William Longnecker | 1905-09 | Stephen Metcalf-Conte | 1991-Present |
| Bishop | C. H. Stauffacher |
| District Superintendent | R. H. Aurand |
| Minister | Max L. Allen |
| Class Leader | Lloyd Lee |
| Sunday School Superintendent | Lloyd Lee |
| Sunday School Treasurer | Albert Chapman |
| Trustees | Ernest Meeker |
| Everett Chapman | |
| Walter Barnhart | |
| John Lee | |
| Leonard Shoopman | |
| Church Treasurer | Everett Chapman |
| Missions and Benevolence Treas | Bertha Chapman |
| Financial Secretary | Donald Lee |
| Stewards | Donald Lee |
| Stweards | Donald Lee |
| Joe Meeker | |
| Weldon Barnhart | |
| WSWS President | Grace Lee |
| WSWS Treasurer | Marion Lee |
| Ladies Aid President | Gertrude Barnhart |
| Ladies Aid Treasurer | Charlotte Chapman |
| Communion Stewards | Grace Lee |
| Gloria Barnhart | |
| Church Ushers | Donald Chapman |
| Gary Lee | |
| Church Organist | Neva Rex |
| Secretary, Council | Joe Meeker |
| Secretary, Local Conference | Lloyd Lee |
This story on the Cranston Church has been included because it would eventually be affiliated with the Methodist Conference and the Letts Methodist minister supplied the Cranston pulpit.
First Church
About 1850, a movement was started looking toward a house of worship to be centrally located. The country was being settled quite rapidly by people of all faiths. The members of the other denominations joined with…
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…the United Brethren, who were the most numerous, and agreed on the building of a church to be known as the United Brethren in Christ; the church building to be called Otterbein Chapel. This was to be open to any evangelical service when not in use by the United Brethren. In 1854 this chapel was completed. The exact date of the dedication and names of the Bishop and Presiding Elder present are unknown.
Description of Otterbein Chapel
J. M Shellabarger gave the land for the church and cemetery, which were located one half mile east of Cranston. Officially the land was deeded to the trustees: John Geiger, John Weaver, and D. W. Shellabarger, on September 15, 1868, and filed for record on July 8, 1869.
The church was a plain, brick building, about 36 by 56. Seats were a plain gray and the pulpit furniture consisted of a large white cupboard and two white lamp stands to match, all the same height. Three steps led to the pulpit. The building was heated by two big stoves. The men sat on the west side and the women sat on the east side of the church.
Rev. Milton Wright, later the 22nd Bishop in the United Brethren Church, and father of the famous aviation brothers, was part of the church at the time it was built in 1854. Mr. Shellabarger’s grandfather, John, came from Dayton, Ohio, and later persuaded his old friend, Rev. Wright, to come out from there to help build the church. Then he remained to become its first pastor. He once complained bitterly to his friend Shellabarger that his boys were wasting their time “fooling around with crazy inventions … even flying machines”.
The bricks used in the church were made and burned on the land of John Fullmer, about a quarter of a mile east and north of where the church was built. John Shellabarger gave $450, the largest single contribution, and his name was written on a newly molded brick and laid in the south end of the church wall. When the old church was torn down, this brick was saved and is now in the possession of a great grandson’s, A. C. Hunter, daughter, Mrs. Bettina (Donald) Pittman.
Another part of the old church is still extant in the form of a rocking chair. Rev. E. L. Shaffer used some of the lumber salvaged from the Chapel and built a rocking chair which he presented to Aunt Maria Meeker, a long and faithful member of the church. That chair is now in the possession of Ernest Meeker. The window caps of the Brick Church were of walnut timbers taken from an old barn. Mr. J. Rice Shellabarger saved a piece of one of those timers, had a simple gavel made from it, and sent it for use in the church.
Basement School
Under the north half of the new church was a basement fitted up for a school room and used for that purpose until 1866. Mrs. W. S. Hunter went to school there under Martha Lowrey from New York. Her first term of school was the last term held in it. She described the school as dark and damp with holes in the floor. One teacher dropped a $5 gold piece which rolled down a hole and was never recovered. The lower part of the old door was rotted out and had holes in it. Heavy hazel brush was all along the north side and there the scholars had their play houses. The school district paid the church trustees $3 per month for the use of the basement.
Church Board
The first meeting of the board was held January 10, 1856, at John M. Shellabarger’s. Members present were: John M. Shellabarger, Jacob Snyder, Joseph Parsons and John McGrew. On motion, Jacob Snyder was made president and John M Shellabarger, secretary. In 1861 the board of trustees was composed of J. J. Snyder, Jonathan Meeker, J.M. Shellabarger, John Fullmer and John McGrew.
Civil War
From 1861 to 1865 was a strenuous time for the struggling church community. From the family of Jonathan Meeker went three stalwart sons in response to the call of President Lincoln for volunteers to put down the rebellion: Will Henry, John Warren, and Thomas Meeker. From Thomas Shellabarger’s family, three: David W., Martin and Ephraim. From the Jacob J. Snyder family went three sons: George, Abraham and Samuel. Jonathon Weaver, B. F. Chapman and John Geiger, married with families, enlisted besides John W. Brookhart, John Eckles, James Eckles, Wm. Fullmer, John Richards, James Richards, and Orlando McGrew, making 19 from the immediate members of the United Brethren families. Thirty-seven (37) other young men were called from 76 and Cedar Townships and a few moments of reflection will show what a loss 56 young men in the prime of life taken from a community would mean.
After those long years of war were ended and the boys (not all of them) came home, the old church became a center of activities. The Sunday School and Church attendance was large and interest was at high tide. Preaching services were taken up at Letts, High Prairie, and San Prairie School Houses. Later a parsonage and church were built at Letts and St. John Chapel was built at High Prairie. Letts was made a station by the Annual Conference eventually. Sand Prairie services were closed. Removals and deaths finally caused the abandonment of St. John, with most of the members transferring to the Cranston Church.
Tornado
The little band of worshipers had hardly recovered from the effects of financial contributions during the Civil War and the resultant depression when in June, 1866, a tornado blew nearly half the roof from the…
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…Otterbein Chapel. The walls and floor were damaged by the deluge of water, necessitating heavy expense for repairs. It has been noted that the congregation were conducting baptismal services at the river when the tornado hit.
Music
There were but few hymn books in the early days. So the minister would read two lines then the congregation would sing them. Then he would read two more lines, etc. Some good singer of the congregation would start it and the rest join in. There was no musical instrument, except a little tuning fork which the leader could strike on wood or bite between his teeth to get the proper chord. After the second or third generation of young folks, an organ was brought into the church after considerable debate whether it would be a sin or not.
Evidences of God’s Hand
During the ministry of Rev. E. S. Bunce, in 1876, there was an outstanding revival. Rev. Bunce was taken very ill during the meetings, but they were carried on by the brethren and a visiting minister, Mr. Drury, from Old Western College. About all the young people were converted and the following June were immersed in baptism in the Cedar river. There were sixty (60) in the number.
Success cannot always be measured in dollars and cents. From this church have gone out four young men to carry the message of “peace, good will to men”. They are John D. Richards, Abraham Richards, John Eckles, and James Eckles. Three of the four a listed as having gone to the Civil War. All are now dead.
Move to Cranston
After the building of the Milwaukee Railroad and the establishment of the village of Cranston, on account of the need of extensive repairs to the Otterbein Chapel, the church membership decided it would be wise to build a new church in the village of Cranston. This decision was carried out so that just 50 years from the time the Otterbein Chapel was built, in 1904, the present Cranston church was erected during the pastorate of H. E. Richardson. That same year a parsonage was built in Ardon, but a few years later the building was moved to Cranston.
Cranston was first called Madura, then Merna. It was changed to Cranston in 1905 when a U. S. Post Office was petitioned for and approved. The first post office was located in the store. Previous to this, mail was received at Myrtle, some distance away.
Over the years many changes and improvements were made on the church building and property. A finished basement and kitchen replaced the cellar, where the Ladies Aid Society served free potluck dinners on their meeting day. The steeple and a bell were added, the latter a memorial to A. Cone, the first permanent settler of Cedar Township. A parsonage was moved next to the church in 1916, and a barn built. Cement steps made the steep terrace easier to negotiate. As the times called for them, modern improvements were made on both buildings. In the 1920’s the church acquired the lots south of it as far as the main road, through the generosity of the late Henry Verink.
In 1934 the Cranston Church observed its eightieth (80) anniversary, and in 1954 the centennial was duly celebrated.
A series of denominational mergers changed the official designation several times, but until 1964 Cranston had its own minister and the church was an integral part of the community. It was ultimately affiliated with the Methodist Conference and the Letts Methodist minister supplied the Cranston pulpit.
From 1951 to 1961 Max Allen was the pastor at Cranston and part of the time at the Oak Grove Christian Congregational Church, which stood across the road from the Jean Cemetery, northwest of town. His untiring effort was to unite the two neighborhood churches, but mutual agreements could not be reached. In 1963 the Oak Grove building burned to the ground. The Cranston Church was destined to a different form of disintegration. A dwindling membership, inflation, ever-increasing demands, and changing social conditions combined to close its doors in June 1971. Efforts by some of the members to save the building for even a few years proved futile. It was sold to Charles Snyder of Letts, who contracted to tear it down. Most of the furnishings were dispersed according to the wishes of the Methodist Conference. The Bell, which was not supposed to be sold or leave the community, was by permission of the Hunter family given to the Peace Church near Wilton, Iowa, another original United Brethren Church, with the understanding that it was to be used and would remain as a memorial to Mr. Cone Hunter.
Ministers
This list is a nearly chronological as possible, but complete information was not available, so the earlier ministers are not accurately listed according to dates of service. The men who have served the Cranston congregation are:
(Begins on Pg 115 and continues on Pg 116)
| Henry | |
| Rhinehart | |
| Lindsey | |
| Bowman | |
| A. W. Gaeslin | 1868 - 1869 |
| H. B. Potter | |
| R. W. Kaufman | |
| Samson Sutton | |
| Luther McVey | |
| E. S. Bunce | 1876 |
| D. M Hartsough (later a presiding elder) | |
| M. M. Taylor | |
| D. H. Snoke | |
| J. W. Taylor | |
| Underwood | |
| Lefler (college president, Gibbon Collegiate Institute, York NE) | |
| D. N. Schott | |
| Breau | |
| Ballard | |
| B. F. Rhinehart | 1886-1887 |
| Richard Collier | 1888 |
| C. M. Brooke | 1890-1892 resigned to become president of Lane Univ, Kansas |
| B. C. Hershey | Aug-Nov., 1892 (resigned because of ill health) |
| D. W. Proffitt | 1892-1893 |
| Wm. Cunningham | 1894, 1896-1897 (later a presiding Elder) |
| W. C. Harper | 1895 |
| W. M. Stice | 1898, 1909 |
| H. C. Kephart | 1899-1900 |
| H. E. Richardson | |
| Albert Percy | 1910 |
| J. D. Lewis | 1911-1912 |
| C. H. Berry | 1913 |
| J. H. Herwig | 1913 |
| E. E. Bundy | 1914 |
| K. W. Jamieson | 1915 |
| Howe | 1916 |
| J. Harkins | 1916 |
| E. L. Shaffer | 1918-1923, 1925-1928 |
| Kenneth Nelson | 1924 |
| L. A. Fleming | 1924 |
| Zerry Housham | 1929-1930 |
| T. H. Decker | 1931-1932 |
| Wm. Suckow | 1933-1935 |
| S. S. Smick | 1936-1941 |
| Ray Thompson | 1942-1944 |
| Carleton Spencer | 1945-1947 |
| Lawrence Lee | 1947-1950 |
| Max L. Allen | 1920 |
| Joseph Ricks |
Pg 116
Picture: Pastor Stephen Metcalf-Conte 1993
Picture: Church Secretary – Paulette Chapman 1993
Picture: Richard Turner – Letts United Methodist Sunday School Superintendent 1993
Picture: Letts Methodist Church
Pg 117
Picture: Church Organists – Evelyn Crist, Emily Townsley
Picture: January 1965 – Lucky Leaders Sunday School Class
Front row: Imogene Bailey, Louise Estle, Corita McCormac, Phyllis Small, Helen Paine, Frances Morris
Back row: Dorothy Spiker, Ray Bailey, Jack Estle, Fay Crull, Wallace Feldman, Raymond Werner, Dale Hafner, Robert Morris, Geraldine Schomberg.
Picture: June 1949
Back row: Lucille Gibson (teacher), Jean Dodder, Joyce Hafner, Mary Jane Gibson, Norma Small.
Front row: Eugene Johnston, Wayne Barnes, James Bloomquist, Fay Crull.
Picture: Philathea Class
Front row: Gertrude Lieberkneht, Orpha Estle, Dorothy McCormac, Dora Crumley, Bertha Dickinson, Vinnie Turkington.
Middle Row: (seated) Peg Eliason, Mollie Hafner, Adelia Letts, Gladys McCleary
Back Row: Hazel Herrick, Naomi Johnson, Irene Bloomquist, Mildred Estle, Hazel Thompson, Marine Robertson, Louise Padgett, Edit Reddick, Beulah Austin, Effie Wagner.
Picture: 3/28/65 Kindergarten Class
Lucille Johnston, Betty Thompson, Kathy Tisor, Frances Jennings, Beth Ann Kemp, Linda Clark, Jeanne Shellabarger, Anita Lange.
Omer Ford, Myron Hillyer, Andy Hafner, Chris Townsley, David Spiker, Mike Jones, Rhonda Dilts, Kim Tonwsley.
Scot Bieri, Mary Lou Dickinson, David Hills, Melissa Griffith, Nina Ford.
Pg 118
Picture: Seated around table-clockwise: Bob Lowe, Virginia Fuhlman, Lloyd Lee, Everett Howell, Ray Bailey, Jack Estle, Harlan Babcock.
Standing: Art Thompson, Jim Thompson, Dale Hafner, Jack Mohnssen, Noel Townsley.
Picture: Pip Noyes, Richard Turner, Ray Bailey, jck Carter, Sharon Burner, Anita Lange, Imogene Bailey.
Picture: April 1983 – Shirley Dickinson, Amy Noyes, Bethany Meir, San Langstaff, Elizabeth Gann, Summer Christy, Amanda Wagg.
Picture: May 1983 – Back row: Frances Newel, Mary Hafner, Lucille Bailey, Golda Lintner, Evelyn Crist, Ollie Wright, Marian Lee, Bessie Jones, Frances Jennings, Arlene Mohanssen -, Rose Mohnssen, -, Margaret Carter.
Middle row: Hazel Thompson, Eva Carmen, Mary Thompson, -, Anna Miller, Mable Toland, Lelia Lintner. Bottom: Anita Lange, Shirley Dickinson, Shirley Fickel, Claice Lowe.
Picture: 1993 Letts United Methodist Church Children’s Choir
Picture: 1993 Kindergarten Sunday School Class
Colin Thomas, Teresa Schonhoff, Andrea Banks, Jean Weston, teacher.
Pg 119
Picture: 1993 1st & 2nd Grade Sunday School
Phyllis Small (teacher), Ken Blank, Trenton Stout, Austin Brooks, Ryan Thomas, Bryce Hoben, Gabriel Schapveld, Chris Arbor, Adrienne Richardson.
Picture: 1993 3rd & 4th Sunday School
Neil Weston, Matt Arbor, Deb Richardson (teacher), Brian Arbor, Kate Hoben, Mitch Langstaff.
Picture: 1993 5th & 6th Grade Sunday School
Mary Garrison (teacher), Brett Hoben, Troy Mohror, Ryan Stout, Nicholas Richardson
Picture: 1993 Junior High Sunday School Class
Trish Mohror (teacher), Nathan Neels, Jake Neels, San Langstaff
Picture: 1993 Young Adult Sunday School Class
Clockwise around table: Matt Carter (red suspenders), Tim Stelzner, Dick Lee, Diane Symensmam, Roger Symensma, Randy Townsley
Picture: 1993 Open Door Sunday School Class
Sharon Turner, Anita Lange, Margaret Carter, Jack Carter, Bob Lowe, Clarice Lowe
Pg 120
Picture: 1993 Senior Sunday School Class
Mary Hafner, Mary Thompson, Art Thompson, Fred Yoder
Picture: Cranston Evangelical United Brethren Church
Picture: Letts United Methodist Church
Picture: Sign of Letts Methodist Church with service times