| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
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Spring Run, Iowa
Transcribed by Jackie Terry, August 12, 2016
The Spring Run United Methodist Church is located south of Columbus City of county road X-17. It was a part of the circuit riders’ ministry of the 1850’s. The riders were commissioned by the Evangelical Denomination to serve pioneer churches. The riders’ salaries were $100 per year.
In 1890, Spring Run, Grandview and Columbus City were linked together and were served by the same pastor. The salary was raised to $320 per year plus feed for the horse. The parsonage was rented for $60 per year and located in Columbus City.
Services were held in the homes and in the old Pitchin schoolhouse. A revivalist meeting was held by Obed Long and the settlers decided to build a church building. In 1872, J.H. Brewer donated the land for the building. This original building is still part of the present church. The German origins of the community were evident in the 1872 arrangement with the sermon preached in German one Sunday and in English the next Sunday.
The earliest records available indicated that Christian work was begun in this area by Rev. J. Bizzard, a preacher and blacksmith, who was appointed to Spring Run as early as 1862.
The church’s tradition of fine singing began when a traveling music teacher held weekly singing lessons in the church building. Using only a pitch pipe, he helped many of the church members develop their musical talents. Eventually a choir composed mostly of young people was formed and a popular men’s quartet sang at many evangelist meetings and worship services. A pump organ was used to accompany the group.
At first the building faced the east and was heated with two wood stoves. In 1898 a partial basement was dug and an inside stairway and wood furnace was installed. The building was turned to face the south. Two large gothic stained glass windows were installed…
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…on each side. A porch and steps were added, plus a bell tower, and bell along with gas lights. This project cost $2,660.35.
In 1914 the entire building was raised so a full basement could be dug. O.C. Buffington furnished the mules used to haul the dirt out. The inside stairs were widened and a cement floor and wall were poured. A kitchen with serving windows and a large dining room were added making it possible for meals to be served. Water was carried in 10 gallon cans, but a sink was installed with a drain.
In the year 1916, the evangelistic thrust of the Spring Run Church carried over into the founding of the Cairo Evangelical Church. Spring run was linked with Cairo until 1952. At first preaching was every other Sunday, with Sunday School every Sunday.
In addition to the Sunday School which had been organized very early in the church’s history, the 1920’s also witnessed the women of the church meeting as a missionary society. The young people had a church band. The youth group was active from 1940’s to the 1980’s.
As a result of a union of the United Brethren Church and the Evangelical Church in 1946, Spring Run was now known as the Spring Run Evangelical United Brethren Church.
Electricity was installed in the church in 1946. In 1950 a well was drilled and water brought to the kitchen sink.
In July, 1955, the Women’s Society of World Service was organized. Stationery with the church’s picture on the front was sold.
A need for additional Sunday School space resulted in a new addition in 1958. Two Sunday School rooms were built upstairs and a modern kitchen and rest rooms downstairs. The congregation did all of the work themselves, the women serving dinner. The total project cost $5,000. The new unit was dedicated November 15, 1958.
In 1962 the church was yoked with the Cottonwood E.U.B. Church at Wayland, Iowa. The old coat furnace was replaced by two gas furnaces in 1966. The garage at the parsonage in Wayland burned, burning the minister’s car. The Spring Run Congregation took a collection and replace the car.
A long cherished dream was realized in 1967 when an electric organ was installed. This organ along with the candle sticks, baptismal bowl, silver and other items were stolen in 1970.
After the uniting of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren Churches in 1968, the Spring Run Church became a United Methodist Church and was joined with the Crawfordsville Congregation. The Ladies Aid and the Women’s Society of World Service merged to form the Women’s Society of Christian Service.
In 1975 Spring Run was joined with the Winfield United Methodist Church. The new parsonage was built in Winfield in 1979. Vinyl siding was installed on the outside of the Church in 1986. The men did the installing and the women served lunch. Smaller windows have replaced the basement windows.
The church welcomed Rev. Anne Lippincott as the first woman pastor in June 1991. It has been a rewarding spiritual time for the Congregation.
To the surprise of most visitors and all ministers, weekly offerings are not taken. The church has never been in debt. While an evangelical church the congregation knelt for prayer.
Throughout the years the church has held ice cream socials, chicken suppers, soup suppers and bazaars. The women have published 3 cook books. The church has been robbed twice and hosted an escaped convict for three days. The church celebrated it centennial in October 1972 with a visit from Bishop Thomas. The 120th year was celebrated in June 1992 with a full house, bountiful dinner and great worship service and program.
Records indicate the Spring Run Church has contributed several Evangelical Ministers, minister’s wives and missionaries. They have had several district officers in the United Methodist Women. A few of the later ones have been Charles Huff, as a missionary science teach in Africa, Ferne Metzger and Donna Davis as minister’s wives. Margaret Gipple, Verena Buffington, Gladys Davis and Karen Buffington have been district U.M.W. officers. Beverly Gipple was a State Youth Officer.
Following is a list of the ministers that have served the Spring run Church.
| Circuit Riders | |
| 1864 | J. Buzzard |
| 1865 | J.F. Berner & Anton Huelster |
| 1866 | Levi Eberhart |
| 1868 | George Youngblood |
| 1869 | F. Methfessel |
| Meetings Started | |
| 1870 | M. Knoll |
| 1871 | Obed Long |
| Church Built | |
| 1872 | J.P. Just & W.J. Hahn |
| 1873 | W.J. Hahn |
| 1875 | H. Holdredge |
| 1877 | W. Klinefelter |
| 1880 | J.H. Yaggy |
| 1881 | T.J. fink |
| 1884 | M.C. Fry |
| 1885 | Scott W. Smith |
| 1887 | D.W. Fink |
| 1889 | G.F. Kelly |
| 1891 | J.G. Bixler |
| 1892 | M.W. Schoeder |
| 1894 | Wm. Klinefelter |
| 1895 | S.N. Ramige |
| 1898 | C.S. Lang |
| 1899 | J.W. Hamilton |
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| 1908 | M.C. Miller |
| 1919 | L. H. Wood |
| 1920 | George Roth |
| 1923 | E. Bamford |
| 1929 | Hendrichson |
| 1935 | Leslie Deedrick |
| 1949 | George Roth |
| 1951 | Lynn King |
| 1954 | W. Boston |
| 1959 | Eldon Ruhrman |
| 1960 | Robert Baird |
| 1961 | Eldon Ruhrman |
| 1963 | Herbert Dymale |
| 1964 | Wilbert Trusheim |
| 1967 | Fred Richardson |
| 1971 | Robert Wilcox |
| 1973 | James Tener |
| 1975 | Harold Schirm |
| 1979 | Brown Garlock |
| 1987 | Richard Russell |
| 1991 | Anne Lippincott |
Picture: Spring Run Church
Picture: Spring Run Sunday School Class – 1918.
L to R: Front row: Mildred Buffington, Ferrell Richard, J.O. Hall (teacher), Verda Metzgar, Charles Richard, Hazel Fletcher, Clinton Buffington, Florence Bufington.
Back row: Ruth Jones, Paul Wood, Birch Buffington, Feryl Gipple, Lingard Huffman, Helen Joes, Jeff Jennings.
Picture: Fred Ardingdale ringing the bell on Sunday morning with Joetta Gipple, Debbie Davis, and Donna Davis (in front).
Picture: Early sketch of Spring Run United Methodist Church.
Picture: Rev. Anne Lippincott, June 1991.
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Picture: Gladys Davis, Organist
Picture: Verna and Gerald Buffington
Picture: Beulah Piper
Picture: Back to font: Marlin and Betting Bitting, Dorothy Buffington. Front Melba Grim, Lucille Gipple.
Picture: Back: Karen Buffington, Gladys Davis, Charlotte Bonnichsen. Kids: Mitch Loyd, Lindsay Loyd, Emily Buffington holding Katlyn Loyd, Marcus Loyd, Arron Buffington.
Picture: Front row: Keith and Sue Loyd, Beulah Piper, Dorothy Buffington, Gerald Buffington, Roger Davis, Donna Davis. Elainaclarann Piper, Chris and Marsha Buffington, Royce Bonnichsen, Verna Buffington, teacher (in front).
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Picture: Young People’s Class Circa 1929.
L-R Front row: Harold Hall, Kenneth Buffington, Hollis Metzger, Lorence Jamison, Clifford Chamberlain, Howard Pittard.
Middle row: Dean Buffington, Pressley Holmes, Margaret Thomas, Beulah Buffington, Gladys Cook, Cora Pittard, Vera Hall, - , Feryl Gipple.
Back row: Floyd Chamberlain, Lyle Jones, Ray Gipple.
Picture: Bishop Thomas at the centennial celebration of the Spring Run Church in October 1972.
Picture: Spring Run Sunday School Class – 1970
L to R: Front row-Rita Gipple, Dana Young.
2nd row: Julia Finke, Joetta Huff, Connie Gipple.
3rd Row: Sonya Finke, Jackie Huff.
4th Row: Helen Gipple, Pat Gipple. Rev. Richardson. Back row: Randy Bitting, Chris Buffington, Bill Finke.