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         VILLAGE OF MORNING SUN. The village of Morning Sun is pleasantly situated on section 30, township 73 north, range 3 west, and section 25, township 73 north, range 4 west. It was laid out in 1851; W. P. Brown erected the first building inside of what is now its corporate limits. It was a hewed log building and it took all the men in the surrounding country to build it, with the help of two gallons of the best whiskey to be had. The building was 16x18 feet, one and a half stories high. In one end of this building J. C. Brown sold the first goods. It was also in this building that the early ministers of the Gospel always found a welcome home, and the first sermon in the vicinity was preached in that house also. W. P. Brown also built the first hotel in Morning Sun in 1857, at a cost of $5,000.

Wellington Wright erected a small building on South Main street in 1855, and commenced selling merchandise, being the second in the village. He soon sold out his business to H. C. Blake, who did business in Morning Sun for many years afterward. The next store building was erected by J. C. Brown on Main Street. J. L. Hurd was the next merchant, and about the same time Stormant & Jamison also erected a store building and put in a stock of goods. This was the substance of the business of Morning Sun until the building of the railroad.

Cicero Hamilton, who laid out the village, built the first brick house in Morning Sun. He started the first sawmill in the south part of Morning Sun. A circular saw was used and the mill was run by steam.

The first bank was started by Proctor Johnson, who sold to Mr. Stevenson, who built the brick block and used the corner room for banking purposes.

Morning Sun was incorporated Aug. 19, 1867. Its first officers were J. C. Brown, Mayor; J. R. Wright, Recorder; T. D. Wilson, H. McClurkin, J. H. Graham, J. F. Gatthrop, A. W. Cabin, Councilmen; H. C. Blake, Justice of the Peace. Those serving as Mayor of the town have been J. C. Brown, Samuel Miller, H. C. Blake, P. F. Shackle, Samuel Hamilton, H. McClurkin, R. M. Pomery, James Sterrett, James Higbee, Samuel Hamilton, J. L. Marshall, T. J. Appletree, and D. Stormant, who is the present Mayor, with E. M. Edwards, Recorder; W. A. McCormick, R. H. Cabin, H. F. Bivens, J. F. Holiday, G. B. Huffman, S. McKinley, Councilmen; William Bella and Joseph Kincaid, Justices of the Peace.

The United Presbyterian Church of Morning Sun was organized in 1840 by Rev. Samuel Finley, D. D., assisted by the Elders. It was organized under the auspices of the Associate Reform Church of the Presbytery of Indiana, and named the Associate Reform congregation of Virginia Grove, Louisa Co., Iowa. John Wilson and John Hamilton were elected Elders, and were in due time ordained. Some time after H. M. Ochiltree and Wilson Giffin were elected to the Eldership. Rev. Jackson Duff was Pastor for some years, and was succeeded by William M. Graham, who served the church until the summer of 1860 or 1861. In 1862 the congregation presented a call to Rev. Thomas Samson, which was accepted, and he remained until 1864. The church has been highly favored by those who have served as pastors, and has increased, not only in membership, but in spiritual strength as well. It now has a membership of about 220. In 1856 the present church edifice was erected, at a cost of $4,000, on grounds given by Wilson Giffin. It is a stone structure 40x60 feet. Rev. T. C. McKildey is the present Pastor.

The Presbyterian Church was organized at a . . .

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. . . very early day by Rev. Mr. Bell, who was the first to establish the cause of Presbyterianism in Southern Iowa. McConnell Swan and Hamilton Brown were the first Elders. The first Pastor was Rev. Samuel Cowles.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Morning Sun dates its organization back to 1856. In 1842 there were a few Methodists in the southern part of the county, and Rev. Mr. Paschal, a pioneer Methodist Episcopal circuit rider, visited and preached in this section of the country. The first meetings were held in a log cabin built by W. P. Brown, and which was also used for school purposes. Rev. Mr. Paschall visited and preached occasionally for several years. In 1856 the first class was formed by Rev. M. Shelton, who was followed by Rev. Michael See. About this time the Presbyterians built a church in Virginia Grove, on land donated by Mr. Brown, with the understanding that when not occupied by the Presbyterians the Methodists should have it for their use. Rev. Mr. Prather and Rev. Mr. Wyman occasionally preached there. They were followed by Rev. Mr. Pell, who had regular appointments. In 1870 Rev. Mr. Bird was appointed, and meetings were held in Schenk’s Hall. From 1871 to 1874 Rev. Mr. Bamford, who organized the church, served, and was instrumental in building the present house of worship. Under his preaching there were thirty-four received into the church. From 1874 to 1878 Rev. G. M. Tuttle occupied the pulpit, and 110 were taken into membership. From 1878 to 1880 Rev. J. E. Corley was the Pastor, and ten were added. He was succeeded by Rev. S. S. Martin, who remained one year, in which time twenty-eight were received into the church. Rev. George Melton came in 1881, and remained until 1883, during which time there were thirty-two added. He was followed by Rev. J. W. Lewis, who left no record of additions. Rev. J. H. Armant, who came in 1886, is the present Pastor, and in two years under his administration thirty-four were received into the church. The church building is a frame, in good condition, with a seating capacity of about 200. It was built at a cost of about $1,500.

The Reform Presbyterian Church of Morning Sun was organized July 9, 1873, with forty-six members. In the fall of that year the church erected a good, substantial, frame building, 55x34 feet, at a cost of $2,500. In April, 1874, Rev. C. D. Trumbull was installed as Pastor, which position he has since held. To the original membership 203 have since been added, of which number 130 have either died or moved away, leaving a membership of 119. Since its organization the church has had a steady and healthy growth.

The Knights of Maccabees was organized in this place June 20, 1887, with about fifteen members, but has at the present time but nine. Its present officers are: H. M. Cochran, Past Com.; J. T. Holiday, Com.; Dr. R. S. Paxton, Finance Keeper.

The Legion of Honor is represented by Lodge No. 147, which was organized in July, 1883, with sixteen charter members. Its present membership is but eleven, with M. Ochiltree, Pres.; J. M. McClannahan, Vice Pres.; W. B. Moffett, Rec. Sec.; M. H. Cochran, Financial Sec.; R. R. Orchard, Treas.

The Mutual Improvement and Social Circle was organized in the winter of 1886, and is composed of some of the best citizens of Morning Sun. Its membership is limited to twenty, and each takes an active part in all its meetings. The season is from October to May, and meetings are held on Friday evenings at the homes of its members. Its first President was Miss Jessie Palmer.

The Senate Literati was organized in 1886, having for its object social entertainment and literary improvement of its members. The Senate observes the regular parliamentary rules that govern the United States Senate. Prof. W. B. Moffett was its first President. Meetings are held each Friday evening from December to March.

The Morning Sun brass band was organized in 1872, under the leadership of Prof. Platter, who was instructor for a short time. Prof. J. E. DeLong then took it in charge, and has since been its instructor and leader.

The first post-office in Morning Sun Township was at Virginia Grove, and was known as the Virginia Post-office. John Jarvis was the first Post-master, and the office was at his home. Prior to this the nearest office was Wapello. Mr. Jarvis . . .

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. . . was succeeded by Elias Marshall, who was in turn succeeded by Peter Curran, J. L. Jarvis and John Anderson. After the railroad was built the office was removed to Morning Sun, and W. P. Brown was the first Postmaster in the village. Mr. Brown was succeeded in turn by H. C. Blake, J. C. Brown, Milton Blair, James McCaw, Samuel Reed, J. L. Hurd, Samuel Thompson, Henry McClurkin and W. A. McCormick. The office was made a money order office July 7, 1873, and the first order was issued to Lemuel Platter for $17.62 in favor of Thomas J. Elmore & Co., of Chicago.