walnut lumber at that time, so it was used lavishly in this building,
and the Methodists of the present day can say, and can easily affirm
having builded the most expensive church building that was ever erected
in so small a village as the Pella settlement represented. The Rev. Wm.
Simpson was still presiding elder at the time of the first occupancy of
this new church, with the Rev. J. M. Davidson, preacher in charge,
having succeeded T. T. Henderson.

After one year's service, J.M. Davidson was followed by Rev. D. W.
Robinson as "Circuit Rider" for what was known as "Pella Circuit,"
serving the different preaching appointments already named and still
known as the Methodist church and included in the "Pella Circuit."
Robinson held the position for one year, and was then succeeded by the
Rev. P. P. Brezee, who remained the preacher in charge for two
successive years. These two years were in 1861 and 1862 at the
expiration of which lime, according to the Itinerancy plan of the
church, very much practiced in former days, the Rev. J. J. Stewart then
followed for one year, after whom came the Rev. B. Barnard, succeeded by
the Rev. B. Holland, under whose administration the church building and
lot was sold for reasons not stated, just about five years after its
completion and at a time when the society had a good strong membership,
and was enjoying a season of great prosperity.

This left the church without a building, and also without a preacher, as
the Rev. Holland resigned the pastorate when the sale of the recently
built church was completed, so that the membership became somewhat
scattered and disorganized, although under the care of Rev. E. R. Frost,
a supply pastor sent temporarily by the presiding elder of the district,
a goodly number of the members were kept together and managed to
maintain an organized force sufficient by a combined effort to provide a
meeting place and make plans for another building and future regular
services, so that Lot No. 1 in Block 50 was either purchased or leased,
and a building placed on it sufficient for temporary use, but entirely
too small for anything like permanency, still it was better than nothing
and made to answer present requirements until such time as other
arrangements could be considered and carried into effect. The Rev. E. R.
Frost labored under many difficulties and discouragements, but with
great patience and great trust he succeeded in at least partially
holding the church together and getting it upon firmer ground until such
time as might seem convenient for the district conference to take the
case in hand by sending a leader who would reorganize the entire
society, and by appointing and installing such measures as would lead to
the restoration of the church to its proper and permanent standing,
which they did at the district conference in 1865 by appointing Rev. Ira
O. Kimble to take charge of the Pella church and put it upon its feet
again and immediately upon his arrival and a survey of the capabilities
of the now partially organized membership, it was considered of vital
importance that a church building of sufficient capacity, as well as of
a permanent character be provided at once, and with this object in view,
the Rev. Kimble went to work as soon as possible and in a short space of
time had what was thought to be ample means provided or promised to meet
the expense of a very fair sized frame construction, built to
accommodate as large an audience as was thought could ordinarily be
called out upon any occasion.

The contract for the material and work of this building was given to
parties that were thought to be perfectly responsible and trustworthy,
besides being mechanics and builders of more than ordinary ability, but
in their failure to follow the plans and specifications furnished them,
they easily expended all the funds that the church trustees had agreed
to pay them, and yet the building was a considerable ways from being
finished when these contractors threw up the job, and entirely withdrew
from the work, when they foreshadowed a financial loss in case they
continued to a finish. This left the trustees in a bad predicament,