MORNING SUN.

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was laid out by Cicero Hamilton, September 13, 1851, on the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 73 north, range 4 west.

Brown's addition to Morning Sun, laid out by William P. Brown, surveyed by John R. Sisson, April 17, 1855, situated on the southeast corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25, township 73 north, range 4 west.

Wilson Griffin's addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by John R. Sisson, December 19, 1855, and laid out on the northwest quarter of section 30, township 73 north, range 3 west.

Brown's second addition to Morning Sun laid out by William P. Brown, surveyed by W. S. Kremer. March 27, 1859, laid out in the southeast corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 25, 73-4.

Cicero Hamilton's addition to Morning Sun laid out on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, township 73 north, range 4 west. This is a small addition, containing four blocks and it seems that the original plat was lost. In the dedication Mr. Hamilton states that "Having heretofore on certain lots laid out a town described and known as Hamilton's addition to Morning Sun, the records having been lost, the same having been surveyed by J. R. Sisson, at that time county surveyor of Louisa county, and state of Iowa, and filed for record by him and to my knowledge was recorded and I hereby certify that the plat hereto attached is a complete copy for all practical purposes and is substantially the same as heretofore laid out for me and for my benefit. The lots all having been sold and deeded by me in good faith, I therefore make this second plat with my full consent that the same can be put on the county records, etc."

April 30, 1870, Josiah Vertrees laid out what is commonly called Vertrees' addition to Morning Sun. but the plat does not purport to be anything more than a subdivision, and was laid out on the south side of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, township 73 north, range 3 west, and surveyed by Thomas W. Bailey, county surveyor.

Marshall's addition to Morning Sun laid out by Elias Marshall, April 21, 1S73, and surveyed by W. S. Kremer, surveyor, situated in the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.

Marshall's second addition to Morning Sun laid out by Elias Marshall, February 22, 1875, in southeast corner of northwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 30-73-3.

Harriet Nixon's addition to Morning Sun laid out on the east half of the east half of the west half of section 30, 73-3.

Morning Sun station laid out by James Sterrett on the west half of the southeast quarter of section 30, 73-3, August 24, 1870, surveyed by Peter Houtz, deputy county surveyor.

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East Morning Sun laid out by Josiah Nicol on September 4, 1870, beginning at the southwest corner of the west half of the northeast quarter of section 30, 73-3.

Samuel Reid's addition to Morning Sun, consisting of four lots, surveyed by Peter Houtz, county surveyor, March 13, 1873, and appears to be situated in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 25, 73-4.

Samuel Hamilton's addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, September, 1873, and laid out on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.

Wilmering's addition to Morning Sun, laid out by Herman Wilmering, better known as "Dutch Jake," in April, 1874, surveyed by Peter Houtz, county surveyor, and laid out on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.

There are a number of subdivisions of lots and out lots which cannot be properly classed as additions but are found on the plat book. There is also a plat of the railway depot grounds at Morning Sun.

W. T. Vertrees' addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, April 22, 1895, and situated on the northwest part of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.

Nancy Wilson's addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, April 23, 1892, and situated on the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 30, 73-3 and adjoins Gifford's addition on the east.

Hayes' addition to Morning Sun, surveyed by W. S. Kremer, for A. D. Hayes, August 15, 1899, and laid out on the east six acres of lot 1 in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 30, 73-3.

In the records of the county court is found the account of the filing of a petition of H. C. Blake and twenty others asking Judge Derbin to order an election to be held in the village of Morning Sun to decide on the question "Shall the addition to Morning Sun laid off by Wilson Giffin, and generally known as Giffin's addition to Morning Sun, be added to and become a part of said village"? This election appears to have been ordered, and held on Nov. 7, 1857, resulting in a majority in favor of the proposition.

The first settlement in the vicinity of the present town of Morning Sun is thought to have been made by Jonathan Harkeman, from Ohio. He came in 1836. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was the inventor and maker of the first diamond plow. The first school in this vicinity was probably taught by T. P. Brown, a little north of the town.

The first postmaster in Morning Sun was W. P. Brown, but the first post office in Morning Sun township was at "Virginia Grove," and the office was called by that name. Mr. Brown had the post office before the town was laid out, and it is believed that he gave Morning Sun its name. H. C. Blake was the second postmaster at Morning Sun.

W. P. Brown also built the first house in the present limits of Morning Sun, and his son, J. C. Brown, opened the first store in this building. Other early merchants were Wright, Blake, Hurd, Stormont and Jamison.

Cicero Hamilton had a saw mill in the early days of the town. The town of Morning Sun was incorporated in 1867; on June 3rd of that year Henry McClurkin, J. C. Brown and Henry C. Blake presented to County Judge Wm …

Photo of Morning Sun Public School

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… Allen the petition of 44 residents, asking for incorporation, and on same day the order was made for the organization of the town. J. C. Brown was the first mayor, and was elected in August, 1837.

In September, 1874, W. E. Smith, M. M. Carson, James Higbee, Elliot Frazer, J. W. Cavan and others petitioned the circuit court for an election upon the question of annexing the additions known as Wilmering's addition, Morning Sun Station, East Morning Sun and eight acres adjoining East Morning Sun. The court appointed M. M. Carson, James Higbee, W.. E. Smith, J. C. Shirk and J. W. Cavan commissioners to hold an election in the territory proposed to be annexed, and they held an election on Oct. 31, 1874, at which a majority of the people voting were favorable to the proposition; and on Nov. 12, 1874, the council, by resolution approved the annexation.

Present officers are: P. A. Yohe, mayor; W. B. Garvin, clerk; J. W. Smith, treasurer. Councilmen: J. F. Holiday, W. R. Smyth, J. L. Vertrees, E. L. McClurkin and T. E. Skinner.

Morning Sun has always given good support to its schools.

In 1867 it built the finest schoolhouse in the county at that time. A few years ago the building was destroyed by fire, and Morning Sun immediately replaced it with a modern edifice which is also the best in the county.

The population of Morning Sun at the various census enumerations has been as follows: 1869—279; 1870—314; 1873—445; 1875—785; 1880—812; 1885— 880; 1890—881; 1895—987; 1900—948; 1905—981; 1910—897.

Morning Sun is a thriving, up-to-date place, with two railroads, two good banks, a newspaper which has one of the best job-printing offices in this part of the state, and a number of good stores and strong church organizations. One of the churches was the Associate Reform congregation of Virginia Grove, and is said to have been organized by Rev. Samuel Finley in 1840. It is now known as the United Presbyterian church of Morning Sun. John Wilson, John Hamilton, Henry M. Ochiltree and Wilson Giffin were elders, and Rev. Jackson Duff pastor in its early years. Rev. William M. Graham, Rev. Thomas Samson, and Rev. T. C. McKilday have been pastors, Rev. Fred Elliott is the pastor at this time.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

No authentic record of the earliest Methodist services in the vicinity of what is now Morning Sun can be found. It is believed that the pioneer itinerants preached in various residences and neighboring schoolhouses as early as the forties. It is well known that Methodist preachers by the names of Wilson, Prather and Wayman held revival meetings near Morning Sun before the Civil war. The first regularly organized class in Morning Sun was formed by a Rev. Mr. Paschal of Columbus City, soon after the war, and the charter members were Samuel Hamilton and wife, R. Delzell and wife, M. Jarvis and wife, Dr. O. Reynolds and wife and Mrs. Cramer. We find that this class was supplied with preaching by local preachers by the names of Pell and Bird, and pastors of neighboring charges. The services were first held in the home of William P. Brown, afterwards in the Presbyterian church and still later in Schenk's hall.

Morning Sun was officially organized as a charge of the Iowa Conference in 1871 and Bishop Ames appointed as its first pastor Rev. Morris Bamford. Con-

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..cord, Otter Creek and Virginia Grove were parts of the Morning Sun circuit until 1890 when these appointments were discontinued and in place of Virginia Grove a class was organized at Marsh. The Marsh appointment belonged to Morning Sun until 1901 when it was made a part of the Mt. Union circuit and Morning Sun became a station. The first Methodist church building was erected in Morning Sun in 1873; this was improved and enlarged in 1884. The beautiful church building as it now stands was constructed in 1896 during the pastorates of W. J. Henness and A. S. Loveall. It was dedicated by the Rev. Dr. B. I. Ives, Dec. 20, 1896. It now represents a value approximately of $10,000.

The Methodist Episcopal communion and community of Morning Sun has enjoyed a wholesome and quite regular growth during the thirty-nine years of its history. From the small beginnings herein mentioned, the membership has increased until it now numbers approximately three hundred. The present outlook for Methodism in Morning Sun is very encouraging. Following is a list of pastors, men of strength and character.

Early itinerants and supplies: Joseph Paschal, Rev. Mr. Bell, Rev. Mr. Bird, Rev. Mr. Prather, Rev. Mr. Wilson, Rev. Mr. Wayman.

Regular pastors: Morris Banford, J. R. Noble, G. M. Tuttle, J. E. Corley. S. S. Martin, Geo. Nulton, J. W. Lewis, J. H. Armacost, P. J. Henness (two terms), J. M. Hoober, A. S. Loveall, A. E. Buriff, D. C. Bevan, J. A. Boatman, F. W. Adams, C. R. Zimmerman, George Blagg.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The First Presbyterian Church of Morning Sun, Iowa, was organized by order of the Presbytery of Iowa, May 28, 1849. as a result of the pioneer missionary labors of Rev. Launcelot Graham Bell. "Father Bell,'' as he was commonly called, was at this time pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Fairfield, Iowa. There were eighteen charter members, namely: John N. Baldrige, Mrs. Eliza Baldrige, Mrs. Margaret E. Benton, Mrs. Ally Brown, Hamilton Brown, Mrs. Sarah Brown, Thomas P. Brown, James Coulter. Mrs. Jane Coulter. Hamilton Hewitt, Mrs. Priscilla Hewitt, W. J. Hewitt, Mrs. Eliza Joy, Anna Nichols, Mrs. Ellen Nichols, Mrs. Rebecca Nichols, J. M. Swan, and Mrs. Nancy Swan. After a sermon by Father Bell the church was formally organized in the Associate Reformed Church, under the name of "The Presbyterian Church of Virginia Grove," and as such the infant organization was reported to the Presbytery of Iowa, and the church continued to be known by this name until the early sixties, when the name was changed to "The First Presbyterian Church of Morning Sun, Iowa."

On the date of organization the following elders were duly elected: Hamilton Brown, James Coulter and J. McConnell Swan. The first session meeting was held September 2, 1849, and was moderated by Rev. Salmon Cowles. Hamilton Brown was elected clerk of session, which office he retained until Iune, 1860.

In 1849 a caM was extended to Rev. Salmon Cowles. which he accepted, and he was duly installed September 30. 1850. and continued as pastor until September, 1853. The names and dates of those succeeding to the pastorate of the church are as follows: Rev. F. B. Dinsmore, 1854-1860; temporary supplies. Rev. J. B. McBride and Mr. B. Wall in 1861; Rev. D. T. Campbell. 1861-1877: Rev. A. W. …

Photo looking west on Division Street, Morning Sun

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.. Colver, nine months, 1878; Rev. J. E. Karnes, 1879-1886; Rev. M. M. Cooper, 1887-1889; Rev. H. C. Keeley, six months; Rev. J. K. Alexander, 1891-1899; Rev. S. H. Parvin, 1899-1903; Rev. William MacKay, 1903-1909; Rev. A. E. Cameron, 1909—.

The succession of elders is as follows: James Coulter, 1849-1857; James M. Swan, 1849-1867; Hamilton Brown, 1849-1873; Joseph Benton, 1855-1857; J. W. Taylor, 1857-1862; Adam Hill, 1857-1898; Joseph Swan, 1860-1900; R. H. Stewart, 1866-1877; William McClure, 1866-1872; W. J. Hewitt, 1874-1894; William Shirk,'1874-1882; Columbus Delong, 1878-1897; D. H. Morrison, 18781908; J. B. Wright, 1879-1897; J. A. Swan, 1896-1899; J. M. Morrison, 18961910; E. M. Swan, 1896—; C. F. Hewitt, 1900—; T. J. Achiltree, 1901-1904; J. C. E. Yohe, 1901—.

The first building owned by the congregation stood just east of Elmwood cemetery. The present beautiful edifice was built during the pastorate of Rev. J. K. Alexander, and was dedicated to the worship of God, November 19, 1893. The old church building and site were sold to the trustees of the Christian Church of Morning Sun.

The church is at present (1911) in a flourishing condition along all lines. The present membership is 230. Rev. A. E. Cameron, pastor. Elders: Henry Beck, C. F. Hewitt, E. M. Swan, W. C. Swan, W. A. Thompson, and J. C. E. Yohe. Trustees: J. E. Boltz, Oren S. Gibbs, John Green, J. A. Hull, Levi Wolf, P. A. Yohe.

REFORMED PRESBYTERI AN CHURCH.

The Reformed Presbyterian—commonly called Covenanter—congregation of Morning Sun was organized July 9, 1873, with forty-six members. At that time A. W. Cavin and James McCaughan were chosen ruling elders, and James Montgomery, W. J. Cubit and W. F. Cook, deacons.

The congregation took steps immediately to erect a house of worship. A substantial frame building, 46 x 32 feet, with a vestibule 18x10, was ready for occupancy by the end of the year. Early the following year the Rev. C. D. Trumbull, at that time serving a congregation in Des Moines county, was called to the pastorate. The call was accepted and he was installed in the office early in April and still ministers to the people. Four hundred and thirty-five names have been added to the roll of members since the organization. Many of the members have died or have removed from the bounds. The report this year shows the present membership to be one hundred and fifty—of whom only three, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Cavan and W. J. Cubit, were charter members. The register shows sixty six marriages and two hundred and thirty-five baptisms, mostly infants, in the congregation.

In 1895 the church building was remodeled, additions built, refrescoed, refurnished and generally improved. Extensive repairs have been ordered and are already in progress this year. The present officers are C. D. Trumbull, pastor; R. Elliott, S. E. McElhinney. J. W. Cavan, Thos. McClement and W. J. Marshall, ruling elders, and W. T. Cubit. J. T. Hensleigh and J. D. Boal, deacons.

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