| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
|
| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 145
Marsh, Iowa
Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, August 20, 2016
The following story was taken from the June 30,1921 edition of the News Herald. It is a history of the Marsh Methodist Church.
This is a short sketch of the Marsh Methodist Episcopal Church since its erection. In 1894 P. J. Henness of the Morning Sun Methodist Church began preaching services in Liberty Schoolhouse, south of Marsh. In the afternoons a Sabbath School was also organized and was kept up all summer, the attendance was regular. Late the people thought that they should have a church building for the purpose and in the fall of that year they began to plan for a church. A meeting was called and was largely attended. At first they talked of moving the Virginia Grove Church to Marsh. The district conference made all the arrangements and a house mover consulted. Considerable objection to the removal of the Virginia Grove church was raised by residents of that neighborhood, the plan was then abandoned. The Marsh people called another meeting and they began to plan immediately for a new church….
Pg146
The plans and blueprints were sent for by Rev. Mr. Henness, subscriptions for the new building were solicited and a building committee selected. The committee was composed of the following men: William Crawford, G. W. Aronholt, Isaac Mellinger, William Beck, J. D. Bares, Robert Crawford. The first matter was the selection of a site. Moses Chilson gave the lot and the deed at the same time. The lumber men were then consulted and the best bids came from William Butler, the Morning Sun dealer. Arrangements were made for hauling the rock which William Bryant quarried. The hauling was done by the people and it was all free work. The man chosen to do the stone work was William McGlade of Winfield. The foundation was quickly laid and the lumber was on the ground.
J. G. Burgin of Morning Sun was selected to oversee the carpenter work and had as his assistants. T. C. Copeland and A. H. Hewitt of Morning Sun an Arthur Giles of Mediapolis. All of the rest of the helpers were people from around Marsh and they gave of their time freely. Isaac Mellinger was timekeeper. The building was enclosed by early winter. A furnace was installed and the first coat of paint was put on by Joseph Kinkead, the plastering was postponed until the spring on 1895, and was done by Casper Schenk. As soon as this was done, the yard was completed and inside work done.
Since the origin of this church a great many of the original members have gone to their reward, but will be remembered by those who remain.
This sketch was prepared from memory and is to be published in the Morning Sun Herald so that all may read the details. There were quite a number present when this sketch was read who were present at the dedication in 1895.
Picture: Marsh Methodist Church, erected 1895.
Excerpts from later historical essays relate that the first ladies aid was started in 1909. Women’s organizations and active Sunday school classes were very instrumental in the life and progress of this rural congregation. The church was first equipped with electricity in 1924. In 1944 a complete interior redecoration was accomplished as an aftermath of a serious fire.
Under the title Women’s Society for Christian Service the always active ladies published four printings of their cook book. The Sunday School special days such as Children’s Day, Rally Day and Christmas Programs were highlights of the year that were looked forward to and were long remembered by those participating. Physical additions added included the American and Church flags, communion table, Candelabra, Gold Cross were added to the sanctuary.
In March of 1959 the congregation merged with the Winfield Methodist Church, and in May of 1966 it was forced to close due to dwindling numbers. The church was served by 34 pastors in its 71 years of operation.
Some of the family names taken from the membership records include: Baird, Bice, Cornic, Crawford, Cummings, Enke, Gibbs, Hewitt, Hill, Linder, Martin, Stafford, Peel.
Pastors after those listed about were as follows:
| M.S. Campbell | 1924 |
| J. T. Stewart | 1926-1928 |
| Henry Ludeman | 1928-1930 |
| Gile V. Wilson | 1930-1932 |
| H. H. Fletcher | 1932-1935 |
| Roy W. Meeker | 1935-1942 |
| Harvey W. Butler | 1942-1944 |
| F. P. Frye | 1944-1946 |
| Charles Gross | 1946-1948 |
| Arthur Griffin | 1948-1949 |
| Everett Burham | 1949-1952 |
| Ed Philgreen | 1952-1953 |
| Darrel Patton (student) | |
| George Stump | 1953-1955 |
| Howard Hayes | 1955-1957 |
| Edna Whitson | 1957-1959 |
| With Winefiled Circuit: | |
| David Barker | 1959-1961 |
| Robert Pattison | 1961-1966. |
Picture: Interior Marsh Methodist Church
Pg 147
Picture: True Bible Sunday School Class 1966
Front row L to R: Lucille Poggemiller, Wilma Meeker, Helen Anderson, Lois Gipple, Marie Schneider, Guyla Linder, Mildred Wallman, Pauline Hill, leader, Wilma Goudie.
Back row: Chanlet Schneider, Elbert Bice, Paul Marton, Paul Linder, Leslie Meeker, Lawrence Martin, Junior Pogemiller, Merle Enke.