| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 83
Oakville, Iowa
Transcribed by Jackie Terry, August 12, 2016
The local Church of God (Holiness) had it beginning shortly after 1883. It was customary in that day to have church services in the rural schoolhouses. This congregation used the Walnut Dell schoolhouse located on road H22, also remembered as the “K” Road. It was located on what we know as the Haight farm. George Peck was their minister. They worshiped there for many years. This group disbanded for a year or two when several of them moved away.
In 1912 they began services again in the Carl schoolhouse, south of Elrick Junction. The congregation met there until 1946 when the Oakville schoolboard sold the building to Ed Garret. The ministers of the church were: Bessie Sparrow, Ethel Saums, Dr. C.E.Cowen, Herbert Clevenger, Walter Peck.
The congregation met for church services in the home of Lora E. Peck in Old Elrick during the fall and winter of 1946-1947. A plot of ground was purchased from Edith Gates, in the northeast part of Oakville. The men of the congregation and friends spent all fall and winter working on the block church.
In April of 1947 the block church was opened for church services with Rev. Fred Osborne as pastor. Ministers serving were Revs:
| Fred Osborne | 1947-1953 |
| Bertha Davidson | 1953-1956 |
| Winfred Pugh | 1956-1960 |
| Herbert Clevenger | 1960-1972 |
| Fred Osborne | 1972-1977 |
| Don Swanson | 1977-1978 |
| No Pastor | 1978-1979 |
By 1978 the congregation had outgrown the block church. The present structure was built, nearby the block church. It was opened for worship August 5, 1979 with Rev. Gordon Snider as pastor. The church was dedicated on October 21, 1879 by Rev. Richard Payne. Ministers serving so far:
| Gordon Snider | 1979-1980 |
| Leroy Boston | 1980-1982 |
| E.L.Bowlyou | 1982-1986 |
| Maurice Moore | 1986- |
Following Rev. E.L. Bowlyou, brother Maurice Moore of Burlington came and continues to have the morning services. The evening services, once were lead in 1989-1990 by Harris Knox but now are preached on alternate Sundays by Wayne Hartzell and/or Jay Clover.
Picture: Church of God from 1947-1978.
Picture: Oakville Church of God built in 1979.
Picture: Rev. Maurice Moore