| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Pg 199
Wapello, Iowa
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, September 21, 2016
It was in 1843 that the movement was inaugurated which has resulted in the Presbyterian organization of Wapello today.
Through the efforts of a group of women headed by Mrs. T. G. Taylor, the Congregational Church was organized, which later became the First Presbyterian Church of Wapello, Iowa. The first services were held in the courthouse of Louisa County, which stood where the present Lutheran Church is today.
For five years this congregation was reported in the annual records of both the Presbyterian and Congregational Church assembly. That was during a period when there was an “American Home Mission” plan of union between the two congregations. A local congregation could accept the leadership of a pastor of either denomination.
Reverend E. C. A. Wood, a Congregational minister, served for two years; around 1853 and 1854. During this time a church was built on 218 S. Second Street, where Mrs. Verlee Stewart now lives. The National Congregational Conference gave $400 to apply to erection of a 30’ by 40’ brick building, which cost a total of $1,400. It appears from later records that most of the remaining funds were provided by the pastor himself, with a loan covered by a mortgage.
The little congregation prospered and within a short time the brick building was torn down and a frame building was erected. In the picture of old Wapello looking south on Second Street one can see the spire of the church.
Reverend Wood, age 30, died after the building was dedicated. He is buried in the Wapello cemetery. After his death several supply leaders, or ministers, served for brief periods. During this time the church had serious financial problems. Finally, with church building costs still unpaid, the Congregational society withdrew from Wapello. The church building was sold to Mrs. Jane B. Underwood, who later sold it to the Presbyterian congregation.
In 1851 a petition was presented at Presbytery, held in Keokuk, Iowa, by several members of the Congregational Church asking to be reorganized as a Presbyterian Church. In 1857 the petition was granted, with the new church to be known as the First Presbyterian Church, Wapello, Iowa.
The new church was organized with thirteen members and two elders, including Mrs. Elmira Taylor, Mrs. Dexa Keach, Mrs. Dexera Semply, Mr. and Mrs. C. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. William Wright.
The first pastor, Reverend O. H. Miller, served for two years. He was followed by several supply ministers. In 1864 the Presbytery appointed Reverend Campbell to supply the church “as often as it was convenient.”
The church was growing. By 1869 there were 27 members with 100 attending Sunday School.
The Reverend A. Heizer, who also served the Oakland and Toolesboro churches, was the second formally installed minister. Reverend Heizer served for five years, followed by supply ministers for the next ten years. This ten year period in the life of the church (1880-1889) was described years later in the July 16, 1931 issue of the Wapello Republican, which said, “about the only ‘stir’ in the church was the cyclone which tore away the tower of the building.”
In 1889, Reverend A. W. Cooper was installed. After serving for about one year he resigned to serve in Siam as a missionary.
In the spring of 1889, the Reverend C. S. McElhinney, and Reverend Kelley, a Presbyterian evangelist, held a series of meetings. The church now had 81 members with 135 in Sunday School.
Reverend J. H. Condit was installed as pastor on May 28, 1891 and served until March 29, 1896. During the early days of his pastorate it became apparent that the frame church building was too small for the growing congregation. After considerable discussion, it was decided to erect a new church, which is now part of the present First Presbyterian Church. A building committee was selected consisting of Dr. Grimes, L. A. Reiley, A. Garritt, J. B. Wilson, J. B. McCullough, and John L. Sweeney. John Sweeney resigned from the committee when he was awarded the building contract.
A building fund drive was completed successfully, the lot was purchased, and the new church building was completed free of debt. Dedication of the new First Presbyterian Church was held on December 11, 1892.
According to church records, Reverend Condit was regarded with great respect and affection by the congregation and by the community. During his service the church grew to include 114 members with 128 in Sunday School.
In 1896 Reverend Condit went to Alaska to work with a missionary, Dr. Sheldon Jackson. Today Sheldon Jackson College, a four year college in Sitka, Alaska, is named for Dr. Jackson.
For the next seventeen years, seven “stated supply pastors” served. They were Reverend Thomas Buchanan, Reverend R. J. L. Matthews, Reverend William Gerlach, Reverend Carl Montanus, Reverend W. H. Cooper, Reverend Todd, and Reverend T. T. Koopman.
The Reverend Charles Sydman was installed as pastor in June, 1913. Membership had now reached an all-time high, with 166 members and 135 in Sunday School.
The Reverend W. R. Coventry started a seven year period of service as pastor in 1915, followed by Reverend Gustove Winter, who served until Reverend Williams came as stated supply after mission service in Columbia, South America.
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Reverend C. E. Burdine was installed as pastor in 1926. During his five year period of service membership increased to 170 with 150 in Sunday School. During the latter part of Reverend Burdine’s ministry, the Harrison Church, in the Port Louisa neighborhood, was torn down by Mr. Harry Pease. Lumber from the Harrison Church was used in an addition that was built to the First Presbyterian Church. Doors from the Harrison Church are now in use at the north entrance to Harrison Chapel in the Presbyterian Church.
Dr. John R. Fraser was installed as pastor in 1932 to begin the longest pastorate in the history of the church. He retired in 1943, and continued to work with the congregation and in the community until his death in April, 1945.
The Reverend John Bloomquist served as pastor from 1946 to 1949. He was followed by supply minister Reverend R. J. Findley, who served until Reverend Marion L. Blake was installed in 1951. Membership increased by about 100 during Reverend Findley’s service.
During Reverend Blake’s pastorate several improvements were made to the church building. In 1951 a new entrance was added to the east side of the building. In 1952 the church basement was renovated and enlarged, to make more room for the kitchen, classrooms, and Friendship Hall. This work was done under the direction of a young married class, the “Mariners”. In 1955 the sanctuary was remodeled. This work included addition of the center aisle and repair of the beautiful stained glass windows.
During the pastorate of the Reverend Bruce Gillis (1956-1961) the First Presbyterian Church celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 1957. It was in 1857 that the Presbyterians bought the Congregational church building, and the Congregational church group dissolved in Wapello.
Three pastors served during the next sixteen years: Reverend Don S. Ross (1961-1968); Reverend James D. Johnson (1968-1970); and Reverend Elbert T. Larvick (1971-1977). During the Reverend Larvick’s pastorate a new manse was built on South 5th street, and the old manse, located just west of the church, was sold. The new manse was dedicated on September 12, 1971.
In 1974 a committee was formed to consider future options for the church building. One option was to build a new building, possibly on a new site; another was to remodel the present building in two phases; and the third option considered was to add to the present building. In 1975 a vote for renovation was approved by the Presbytery, with the requirement that 20% of the renovation cost had to be raised before work started. That renovation was completed in 1977. It is interesting to note that a new church building was started on faith alone in 1857, and was debt free when completed.
Pastors since 1977 have been Reverend Richard T. Smith (1978-1986), Reverend Sam Fry (stated supply); and the present minister, Reverend William T. Young.
It is not easy to write a history of a church and say all that might be said in fairness to all in the limited space available. No history of a church can be considered complete with reference only to the pastors who have served the church. Only to mention the ministers is to ignore a company of men and women who have done much to make the work and the success of these men possible. Eternity alone will reveal just what part of the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ depended upon the lay persons of the Wapello Church. To actually name those lay persons would be impossible for fear of leaving out someone.
We must not close this sketch of our church history without some expression of gratitude to the Almighty God for all the benefits and blessings that have come to us through the First Presbyterian Church, Wapello, Iowa.
| D. T. Campbell (SS) | 1858-1860 |
| O.H. Miller (SS) | 1862-1863 |
| Jackob Baay | 1866-1870 |
| A. M. Heizer | 1874-1879 |
| A. W. Cooper | 1889-1890 |
| J. H. Condit | 1891-1896 |
| Thomas H. Buchanan | 1896-1899 |
| R. J. L. Matthews | 1899-1904 |
| W. H. Cooper (SS) | 1903-1906 |
| M. E. Todd | 1906- |
| Theo. Koopman | 1907-1908 |
| W. J. Gerlach | 1909-1910 |
| Carl Montanus | 1911-1912 |
| Charles W. Sydman | 1913-1915 |
| W. R. Coventry | 1915-1922 |
| Gustove Winter | 1922-1925 |
| C. E. Burdine | 1926-1931 |
| John R. Fraser | 1932-1945 |
| John Bloomquist | 1946-1949 |
| Marion L. Blake | 1951-1955 |
| R. J. Findlay | 1950-1951 |
| Marion L. Blake | 1951-1955 |
| Bruce Gillis | 1956-1961 |
| Don S. Ross | 1961-1968 |
| James D. Johnson | 1968-1970 |
| Elbert T. Larvick | 1971-1977 |
| Richard T. Smith | 1978-1986 |
| William T. Young | 1987- |
| John Bartenhagen | Donna Williams | Dale Rickert |
| Christina Nichols | Kenny Yakle | Leslie Small |
| Lilas Ross | Jeff Lease | Bob Pogemiller |
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| Nellie Buffington | Alene McChesney | Jeanette Humphrey |
| Ethel Askren | Regina Brown | Myrtle Laughlin |
Picture: J. M. Torbert , Elder 1914-1931
Picture: A. J. Matson , Elder 1914
Picture: H. H. Winder, Elder Jan. 1952
Picture: Bruce Gillis 1956-1961
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Picture: Back row L-R: Mrs. L. K. Potter, Mrs. Wm. Herrick, Mrs. Geo. Isett, Mrs. James Torbert, Mrs. M. Hunter, Mrs. Matson, Mrs. Westerman.
Front row: Mrs. Foor, Mrs. Geo Potter, Mrs. Emma Wright, Mrs. Lola Edwards, Mrs. John Bandy, Miss Kate Carrigan.
Picture: Rev. Bill Young
Picture: 2nd-8th Special program on Palm Sunday. Michelle Lease, Brianne Barrick, KeAira Frieden, Amber Parish, Kenda Hawk, Jessica Heater, Joshua Jackson, Sly Grimm, Adam Barrick, Justin Bailey, Clint Brown, Nick Jackson, Creighton Lease
Picture: Nursery-1st Grade Sunday School special music on Palm Sunday. Brenna Stephens, Krista Smith, Jacob Barrick, Jacob Schoonover, Cory Stephens, Morgan Dossett, Derrick Bartels, Chelsea Grimm, Kara Small, Kelli Parish, Jerrica Frieden, Jessica Gerst, Blake Dossett, Ashley Brown, Kara Gipple, Megan Gipple, Kyle Bailey, Jeff Heater.
Picture: Children’s sermon on Palm Sunday 1993
Picture: Presbyterian get-together: (Seated, L to R) Dorothy McNeil, Orval Schmeiser, Bill Weaver, Pauline Humiston, Bessie Bates
Pg 203
Picture: In 1925 this Wapello First Presbyterian Church Sunday School class was pictured just outside the church.
(L to R, front row: Mary Archibald, Myrtle Burdine, Ruth Minor, Mrs. Emma (“Auntie”) Foor, Lucile Smith, Mamie Marshall. Back row,
L to R: Pauline Humiston, Dorothy McNeil, Nellie Westerman, Charlotte Humiston, Addie Stogell, Maurine Pulver, Elva Foor, Maxine Lane, and Lillabelle Lane.
Picture: Choir Dinner Early 40’s.
Back row L to R: WHS teacher (Swartzendruber?), Dr. John R. Fraser, Esther Morledge, Marian Arihood, Adrianne Morledge, Mildred Etter, Riley Armstrong, Myrtle Davis Burdine, Mary Davis Fraser and Lillian Keck who prepared the meal, Barbara Baker, Millicent Winter – choir director, Dorothy McNeil, W. P. McNeil, Arlene Hoover, Dr. Hoover, Bill Brown.
2nd row: Miss Mokelbust – HS music teacher, teacher, teacher, teacher’s daughter, teacher’s wife, Shirley Lou Davis, Crystal Davis, Oscar Davis, Jean Rouch, Mary C. Minor, Lucille Brown – pianist.
3rd row from back: Millicent Lou Winter, Esther Jamison, Janice Brown, Shirley Daily, Charles Hicklin, Fred McNeal.
Front row: Diane Castle, Mary Jean Winter, Marjorie Arihood, Jack Thomas, Dick McNeal, Mary Ellen Jamison, Lola Mae Ohlwein.
Picture: First Presbyterian Church is located at 127 N. Main – at the corner of Main and Jackson.
Picture: Harrison Addition was added to existing church in 1930. Harrison Church is to the right in the picture above.
Picture: Wapello Presbyterian Church with newly installed lighted steeple completed summer of 1992.
Pg 205 - Note: additional pictures of the First United Presbyterian Church of Wapello
Picture: Adult Sunday School. Clockwise starting front left: Dorothy McNeil, Vivian Deam, Virginia Whicher, Betty and Kenny McChesney, Marcella Erwin
Picture: Betty McChesney – Organist
Picture: Kindergarten and First Grade Sunday School.
Front row: Megan Gipple, Jeff Heater, Janell Heater (teacher), Ashley Brown, Jessica Gerst.
Back row: Kyle Bailey, Blake Dossett, Kara Gipple, Jerrica Frieden.
Picture: Nursery Sunday School. Front row L to R: Brennan Gerst, Chelsey Grimm, Morgan Dossett, Cory and Andrew Stephens, Derrick Bartels. Back row: Kara Small, Brenna Stephens, Kelli Parish, Jacob Schoonover, Jacob Barrick, Krista Smith.
Picture: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Sunday School. Front: Michelle Lease, KeAira Frieden, Adam Barrick, Joshua Jackson, Donna Lease (teacher),
Back: Kenda Hawk, Justin Bailey, Nick Jackson, Clint Brown, Creighton Lease.