| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
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Wapello, Iowa
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, September 18, 2016
In the history of the Churches of God of North America it is noted that in the eighth Eldership, Elder H. Murray and wife Rebecca came from Pennsylvania to the Ohio Eldership where he served as pastor before coming to Louisa County, Iowa in 1855. They located in Marshall Township in the village of Cairo. Pastor Murray’s duties in the eldership at times included serving as Transcribing and Journalizing Clerk and Chairman of the Standing Committee.
In the year 1858 Pastor Murray formed the organization of the Church of God, with the following eighteen charter members: Henry Murray, Rebecca Murray, Steven Potter, Sidney Ann Potter, Louisa Vanhorn, Jessie Vanhorn, James Vanhorn, Jacob Hatlin, Louis Simmons, Elizath Vanhorn, John B. Vanhorn, David Keppert, Mary Keppert, Eliza Whisler, John Whisler, Adam Whisler, James Humiston, Sarah Humiston.
This organization was a mission Church from 1858 to 1866. It is believed that Sunday School and Church Services were held in a log cabin schoolhouse near Long Creek until 1866.
Picture: This Church was constructed by Church of God members in Cairo, Iowa in 1866.
In June of 1865 James H. Marshall, Sr. laid out the village of Cairo, which was surveyed by W. S. Kremer. Land was given to the Church of God for a building site and in 1866 the Church was built. The new Church building was dedicated on October 16, 1866.
On the third Monday of October in 1866 the Cairo Church of God entertained its first Eldership.
The Church building In Cairo was remodeled twice, once in 1939 and again in 1958 after a fire damaged the interior. The building was rededicated on October 3, 1948.
On Sunday, October 5, 1958, when Richard Godsey was pastor, the Church of God held its Centennial Celebration Service.
Pastors Who Served the Church of God from 1858 to 1958:
| Reverend F. F. Kiner | Reverend D. Blakely | Reverend G. W. Elliot |
| Reverend H. Holluns | Reverend J. S. Miller | Reverend M. Sutliff |
| Reverend C. W. Evans | David Lond | Reverend E. M. Hickman |
| Reverend Henry Murray | Reverend J. D. Bodin | Reverend E. E. Heltibridle |
| Reverend W. F. Howard | Reverend L. F. Chamberlain | Reverend Everett Naftsgar |
| Reverend R. M. Pine | Reverend F. H. Sharp | Reverend W. E. Hillard |
| Reverend W. Roberts | Reverend J. Ossman | Reverend A. D. Albright |
| Reverend W. Vance | Reverend Conrad Falland | Reverend B. P. Moore |
| Reverend G. M. Mullen | Reverend Jesse Huddle Sr., (father of Esther (Huddle) Meyerholz Gerth and Great-Grandfather of Roger Huddle) | Reverend Arvell Hughes |
| Reverend C. Ford | Reverend L. B. Mitchell | Reverend A. L. Shuey |
| Reverend C. L. Wilson | Reverend A. H. Schwenk | Reverend Richard Godsey |
Four different classes were held in the one-room building; small children in the northeast section near the piano, primary or juniors in the northwest section, adult seniors in the southwest section and young adults in the southeast section.
Two round coal burning stoves were used to heat the building and gas lights were used until electricity came to the community.
In 1957 or 1958 Jim and Nina Marshall donated a house on the north edge of Cairo to be used for a parsonage as long as it was needed.
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On September 2, 1964, the Cairo Church members met with the Standing Committee of the Iowa Conference of the Church of God to get approval to purchase the old M. B. & S. Railroad depot. The old station had earlier been moved to Townsend Avenue where it served as the Lischer building and as the Four Square church.
The church pews, piano and accessories were moved in October, 1964 to the new location which was soon named the Townsend Avenue Church of God. The first services were held in the new church building on October 18, 1964 with Don Sarver and wife Dian serving as Pastors.
Picture: This building on Townsend Avenue in Wapello was the Church of God from October, 1964 to July, 1981, when it was purchased by the Louisa County Historical Society. It originally served as the M.B. & S. Railroad station in Wapello.
In 1967 the General Eldership gave the Townsend Avenue Church $1,500 that had been collected following a call to other Church of God congregations. This money was to be used for new windows and doors, for a new roof and for new exterior siding. New steps and a new entrance landing had been added earlier, and the next project called for wall paneling, a new ceiling and new bathrooms. The members worked hard to raise money for new carpeting that was installed in 1969 and the Senior Youth Group raised the money needed to purchase a new piano.
Pastor Sarver and wife Dian moved from Wapello in August, 1965. Pastor Ray Draper served the congregation until August, 1969, when Reverend Leo Ruley and wife Oninta moved to Wapello.
In 1970 the steps leading into the church and the landing were carpeted with bright red carpeting, thus earning the Church of God the title of the Church with the red carpet welcome. This carpet was replaced in 1973 with the same red color.
Memorial gifts resulted in improvement to the Townsend Avenue Church of God; a lighted cross on top of the building, an outside bulletin board, a flag set, and donations to the air conditioning fund. Central air-conditioning was installed in the summer of 1972.
Pastors Who Served the Townsend Avenue Church of God **: Reverend Don Sarver, Reverend Ray Draper, Reverend Leo Ruley, Reverend Elmer Armstrong, Reverend Chuck Newell, Reverend Blaine Fye, Reverend Wilbur Whitcomb, Reverend Virgil Elliot, Reverend Kevin Shrader, Reverend Ken Beachler, Reverend Robert Douglas.
**some served as fill-in pastors.
At 4:00 P.M. on November 14, 1979, ground breaking services for a new Church of God building were held at 522 North Cedar Street, just north of the parsonage at 718 Merchant Street. This service was held under a pear tree, on ground covered with pears, under the supervision of Pastor Kenneth Beachler and Elder Delbert Woodruff, and in the presence of a group of spectators.
Excavating and other work for the new church got underway in April of 1970 after the Louisa County Historical Society agreed to purchase the Townsend Avenue building.
At 9:30 A.M. on July 26, 1981 the Townsend Avenue Church members and Louisa County Historical Society members met for a short service outside of the Townsend Avenue Building, with Pastor Bob Douglas in charge. After giving the keys of the building to William “Bill” Matthews, Sr., President of the Historical Society, and Orville Schmieser, Chaplain of the Historical Society, the Church of God congregation trecked the several blocks (some rode in cars) to the new church on Cedar Street. When the members arrived at their new church Pastor Douglas and Wapello Mayor Tommy Thompson led a ribbon cutting ceremony and the first service was held.
Dedication services for the new church were held on Sunday, November 7, 1981, with Pastor Tom Douglas of Indianapolis, Indiana as guest speaker. Pastor Tom was the father of Pastor Bob Douglas. Three nights of special services preceded the dedication.
In July, 1982, the Cedar Street Church of God hosted the Iowa State Conference of the Church of God.
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Picture: The Cedar Street Church of God. This building was completed in 1981.
Pastors Who Have Served the Cedar Street Church of God: Reverend Bob Douglas, Reverend Harry Gates, Reverend Jack Kirk. Fill in Pastors served through the summer of 1987
Reverend Harry Gates served the Church of God from June, 1984 to March, 1987. He, wife Debbie, and daughter Jennifer are remembered for their ministry in which they used puppets. Pastor Gates organized the “Kids Klub” with other churches in the community.
In 1989 the members held a “Mountain Mover” campaign to raise $7,000 in only three months time; money that was used to pay off the church debt. In that same year air conditioning was installed, cork was placed on the back walls and new drapes were hung to improve the acoustics. New cement steps were poured at the front and the side of the parsonage.
Harold Longshore bought a beautiful Communion Table in memory of his mother, Bessie Longshore. New Upholstery for the pews was also purchased with Bessie’s memorial and with a memorial for Ethel Hank. Ethel Hank’s grandson-in-law also donated work to the church.
In 1989, the Church of God members supported an “Extra Miles” program in support of missions.
Many improvements were made to the parsonage and to the church in 1990. The bell tower and lighted steeple was constructed. The old Cairo Church bell had been purchased at a yard sale in 1989.
| Other improvements made in 1990 included: |
| New foundation and furnace floor for parsonage |
| New baptismal tank and accessories acquired |
| New garage door and opener at parsonage |
| Improvements made in 1991 included: |
| Baptistry was installed |
| Church driveway was paved |
| 18 foot by 35 foot canopy was installed over driveway |
| New sidewalks constructed between church and parsonage |
| Central air conditioning installed in the parsonage |
| New organ was purchased for the Sanctuary |
| VCR system purchased for the Sunday School room |
In October, 1991, the congregation joined in the Cairo Heritage 125th celebration. Two baptisms took place in the new baptistery during the celebration.
“Memory” books were prepared for the Cairo Heritage celebration as they were for the Bell Ringer Sunday of March 18, 1990.
The members of the Cedar Street Church of God give thanks to the Lord for the many blessing he has bestowed upon them.
Picture: Pictured here is the M.B. & S. Railroad depot that served Wapello in the 1920’s. This building was moved to Townsend Avenue in Wapello after the railroad went out of business. It was purchased by the Church of God in 1964 and sold to the Louisa County Historical society in 1981. The Historical Society sold the building to Larry Lihs.
In 1920’s the Muscatine, Burlington, and Southern Railroad Company extended from Muscatine to Burlington, with stops in Grandview and Wapello. The old highway 61 bridge was replaced with a new bridge over the Iowa River in ____ was the M.B. & S. bridge and the pillars downstream served as a wagon bridge.
The railroad ran down what was later to become the highway 61 right-of-way. Highway 61 formerly ran north into Wapello and crossed the Iowa River with Highway 99, and then ran north to Grandview over Harrison Hill.
The M. B. & S. went bankrupt in the late 1920’s and at the same time was facing a $60,000 lawsuit from a passenger who was severely burned in a train accident joust outside of Muscatine.
The passenger never collected. The accident involved a gasoline powered locomotive that was used for just a . . .
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Picture: Cairo Bell Ringer Sunday Night – March 17, 1990.
Standing: Bud Thornton, Maxine Thornton, Ruth Hainey, Mary Laughlin, Pastor Kirk, Iris Wonders, Geneva McTarish.
Seated: Myrtle Thompson, Grace Morrow, Shirley Haskins and family.
Picture: Cairo Bell Ringer Sunday Night – March 1990. L-R: Clifford and Esther Gerth, Waymath Creelman, Mina Creelman Lukenbill, Devene Frownfelter.
Picture: The last service at the Townsend Avenue Church of God was held on July 26, 1981. After a short service in front of the building, the keys to the building were given to William Matthews and Orville Schmeiser who were representing the Louisa County Historical Society.
(Back row) Helen Longshore, Harold Longshore, Rodney Thompson, Delmar Grindstaff, Dixie Grindstaff.
(2nd row from top) Bess Archibald, Erma Cadwell, Bill Cadwell, Myrtle Thompson, Tom Carnill.
(3rd row from top) Mabel Murray, Ruth Hainey, Laurence Winslow, Pearl Carnell.
(4th row from top) Lulu Jones, Clausie Croslin, Gloria Partington, Bessie Longshore. (on the left) Pastor Bob Douglas, (children) Dennis Kauffman, Trina Miller, Mindy Miller, Diane Clayton holding Angel, Jared Evans, Missy Sirovy, Angela Douglas, Andrew Douglas, Christa Taylor, Stacy Scallion holding Carmen Martinez, Rod Taylor, and Jonathon Douglas. (Five adults lower right) Ruby Partington, Verna Taylor, Edna Paxson, Judy Douglas, and Ethel Hank.
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. . . few years. Several people reportedly were killed in the mishap and many injuries occurred.
The badly burned passenger never collected on his claim because of the bankruptcy.
Picture: Carol Turner at the organ.
Picture: Pastor Leo Ruley – 1974
Picture: Ruth Kirk and Pastor Jack Kirk (March 21, 1993)
Picture: Easter Egg Hunt – 1980
Picture: Church of God Celebration of Cairo Heritage March 17-18, 1990.
Flowers in memory of Leroy and Stella Laughlin.
Huddle Family Bible given by Jesse Huddle.
Pastor Jesse Huddle at age 40 in 1910.
Rev. Jessie and Anna Huddle, Pastor of Cairo Church, 1930-1940
Picture: Pastor Chuck and Kathy Newell, Micah, Seth and Kristin.