Mills County IAGenWeb Churches

Itinerate missionaries to the Indians, particularly Henry Allis/Alice, assistant missionary to the Pawnee Indians, was in the area was known to have been at Trader's Point in 1834. Col. Peter A. Sarpy, a French Catholic who came to the area in 1836 influenced those around him as evidenced by the establishment of St. Mary's. The Mormon settlers, some passing through and others remaining, made their religious presence felt. The Methodists established a circuit and laid the foundations for permanency. Some of the churches with early organization dates are listed below.

The Christian Church of Wabonsie was the first church to be established in Mills County. The article of organization is very brief, bears the date of March 9, 1853. Elder John Mullis was the first pastor. His residence was some fifty miles away, and his visits to the charge numbered only two or three each year, while the services continued, when commenced, for two and sometimes three weeks. The names of those who originally subscribed to the above article of organization are Thompson BLAIR, H. P. ALLISON, Henry COTREAL, James McCORD, Benjamin A. McCORD, Christian GOODWIN, Susan COTREAL, Elizabeth ESTES, Mary ALLISON, Ellen HAYES, Jemima HAYES, Elizabeth KERNS, Mary McCORD, Sarah BLAIR, Allen WATSON, Michael KERNS, Rachel McCORD, Charles UTTERBACK, Garrett DENNISON, Talbert HAYES, Nancy LINNVILLE and Elizabeth LINNVILLE. In 1870 a church building was erected costing one thousand dollars. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. M. Delevan. July 11, 1872, the church was dissolved by mutual consent, but on the 14th of the same month was again organized, forty-two of the old members re-entering the organization. Since the society was first founded there has been a total membership of two hundred persons, many of whom have moved away, others have died, and a few have been expelled. It, at present, numbers twenty-five persons. The last pastor to minister to the church was the Elder Simeon Wright.

United Brethren Church of Indian Creek township. This society was organized in the year 1855, with an original membership of eight persons. They were Ephraim CARY, Deborah CARY, Shepherd CARY and wife, William HUTCHENS and wife, and Mary J. CROUCH. The society is in good condition but owns no house of worship. The pastors have been Henry Cumber, J. M. Dosh, P. P. Landon, John Burt, J. M. Duffield, James Hubbard, Richard Armstrong, William Cramson, and the present pastor, Rev. Philip Surface. The membership is now twenty-six.

Methodist Protestant Church of Rawles township. Organized as Mt. Olive Mission June 16, 1860, and called, in connection with other points, Silver Creek circuit, after August 8, 1868. As originally founded the members, among others, were Luke TIPTON, Mary TIPTON, Saul TIPTON, F. M. WILSON, Jane WILSON, Daniel SHUMAN, Mary J. SHUMAN, J. M. McKESSON and wife, John DAY and wife, John BRATTON and wife, George FOSTER and Agnes A. FOSTER.

In 1873 a frame church was erected, costing the society twenty-one hundred dollars, and in the following year it was set apart for divine service by E. S. Brown of the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Protestant church. The first official members were J. M. YOUNG, pastor; William TIPTON, secretary; J. M. McKESSON, local preacher; S. M. WILSON, class leader and now secretary of Iowa Conference M. P. church; J. A. BYERS, class leader; and stewards, George FOSTER, John DAY and J. A. BYERS. The church was organized by William TIPTON and has become one of both interest and influence.

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints of Oak township, was organized in October, 1861, by Elder Charles Derry. The members originally forming this society were Mary BRITAIN, Mary A. BRITAIN, Eliza A. BRITAIN, John SIVERS, Mary A. SIVERS, Frederick WELLBORN, Ann WELLBORN, Henry KISBY, Elizabeth HARMSTONE, Ann LEADER, Frederick CUNINGTON, Henry CUREDEN and others. The services of the society were for a long time held at the homes of members, and at other times at a hall rented in the city of Glenwood. The membership is at present about twenty. The pastors have been Charles Derry, Henry Kisby, Henry Curedon, William Britain, G. E. Deuel, E. F. Hyde and Garrett Walling.

Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church Of Rawles township, was organized August 25, 1861. No names of original members have been preserved, and no record of the pastors. The present membership is eleven

The Methodist Episcopal Church Of Rawles township on section 29 was organized in 1871. The original members were William KESTERSON and wife, Hannah UTTERBACH, Elizabeth UTTERBACK, Celia TROTH, Isaac VENTIS and wife, Elizabeth KESTERSON, J. B. FALDEN and wife, M. A. M. McPHERRON, and others. A frame church is owned by the society, built by William Kesterson. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Kelly, who organized the church.

The Methodist Episcopal Church Of White Cloud township dates its organization from January 1874. The original membership consisted of Thomas P. KAYTON, Celia A. KAYTON, E. P. COOK, Mary COOK, Isaac MILLER, Susannah VIST, J. S. TINDALL, Susannah TINDALL, George HILTON, Mary HILTON, and J. C. MILLER. The society owns no church and worships in the Sunbeam school-house.

The Church of St. Bonefatzins Of Oak township. Organized in 1865, with John FINKEN and wife, Matthias FINKEN and wife, Matthias KUHL and wife, Peter KUHL and wife, Nicholas KUHL and wife, Peter LICH and wife, John WEBER and wife, John LITTLE and wife, Mary KIRSCH, A. COLL and wife, P. G. LINDEN and wife and Michael JASPERS and wife as original members. In the same year a frame church was built at a cost of eight hundred dollars. The current membership comprises twenty-five families.

Salem Evagelical Lutheran Congregation of Oak township. Organized in 1867. The original members were John H. PLUMER, C. PLUMER, William PLUMER, Henry F. PLUMER, F. PLUMER, F. BICHER, Henry SAAR and wife, Charles GREEN and wife, Henry GREEN and wife, H. SPETMAN, F. SPETMAN, H. PUSA, F. SPELLING, John, Fred and Hans SHONING, Hans and Henry KRUSE, John DIETCHER, Jacob YOUNG and John SAAR. In the year that the church was organized a brick edifice was erected for purposes of worship, at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. The pastor is L. Fesner, who ministers to a congregation comprising some thirty families.