Mills County, Iowa

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
"Farm Creek Branch"
(Anderson Township)

Farm Creek First Members Reported - 1859 & 1860
This was one of the first RLDS Church branches to be established in southwestern Iowa. About 24 members were organized into a branch on the 16th of October in 1859 by Edmund Briggs. He and W. W. Blair had been sent on a missionary journey across southern Iowa in the summer of 1859. They contacted many former members of the original Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who were still living in southwestern Iowa, and many who had returned from Utah and choose to locate in the area. The first Branch President was Calvin Beebe. The branch was active, building a church that was dedicated in 1890. Changing economic conditions caused a decline in rural membership in the early 1900's and it was disbanded, the building being used as a barn. It later became the Henderson Branch, which lasted until 1923.

"April 9th a.m. Conference meeting, Brother Beebe, delegate from the Farm Creek Branch, Oak Township, Mills County, Iowa presented the following report: 'Organization on 16 October 1859 by giving in their names as follows: Calvin Beebe, Mrs. Submit Beebe, John Smith, Sariah Smith, John Richards, Harriet A. Richards, Richard Y. Kelley, Sarah E. F. Kelley, Levi Graybill, Patience Graybill, Eleander Liles, Frances M. Liles, Calvin A. Beebe, Angeline C. Beebe, Joseph Smith, Rachel Smith, Stephen Smith, William H. Kelley, Henry Winegar , Mrs. Frances L. Richards, Mrs. Elizabeth Winegar, Mrs. Ann Strong, Sariah A. Fisher, Mrs. Alice Osler (24 members), after which they chose Calvin Beebe President, John Smith, Priest, Richard Y. Kelley, Deacon.'

The following brethren united with the church Jan. 1, 1860; Isaac Beebe, March 18th, 1860, Curtis F. Stiles , Mrs. Mary J. Stiles, Wm. R. Briggs, Mrs. Polly Briggs, united by recommend from the Zarahemla Branch, Wisconsin. Our beloved sister Submit R. Beebe wife of Calvin Beebe, died Feb. 24th, 1860 of Farm Creek Branch died rejoicing in the faith of the Latter Day work. Our beloved sister Frances L. Richards of Farm Creek Branch died rejoicing in the Lord, March 19th 1860. March 25th, 1860. This day Miss Mary J. H. Kelley united with the church by baptism." ~Source: ERM 62, Conference April 6 to 9, 1859 at Amboy, Illinois

~ transcribed by Barbara Bernauer, RLDS Archives, July 2000
Photos donated by Bette Byers, 2014
Farm Creek Branch Members
Name Born Baptized Died
BADHAM, Amazon 22 Jan 1853, Henderson, Mills Co. IA 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 16 Nov 1909, IA
BADHAM, James R. 9 Sep 1841, Worcester, ENG 12 Apr 1868, Plum Hollow, IA 27 Dec 1888, Los Angeles, CA
BADHAM, Mary D. Richards 19 Apr 1821, Highland Co. OH 1863 2 Apr 1898, Henderson, IA
BADHAM, Samuel 1815, Herefordshire, Eng 20 May 1868, Mills Co., IA n/a
BADHAM, Violet 27 Nov 1854, Mills Co. IA 12 May 1868, Plum Creek, IA n/a
BANKER, Sarah I. 18 Sep 1855, Mills Co. IA 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
BEEBE, Angeline C. Runyan 8 Jan 1841, OH 11 Sep 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 18 Sep 1916, Council Bluffs, IA
BEEBE, Calvin Abt 1800, Paris, NY 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA
BEEBE, Calvin A. 28 Apr 1836, Caldwell Co. MO 11 Sep 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 23 Aug 1903, Council Bluffs, IA
BEEBE, Isaac M. n/a 18 Mar 1860, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA
BEEBE, Lucy Ann 31 Jul 1823, OH Oct 1863, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 28 May 1896
BEEBE, Submit Rockwell Starr Abt 1800 Abt 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 24 Feb 1860, Farm Creek, Mills Co., IA
BRANDON, William 28 Jun 1844, MO 9 Oct 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
BREWSTER, David 10 Mar 1837, Eng May 1865, Florence, NE 29 Aug 1923, Far West, MO
BREWSTER, Elizabeth Vancil n/a Mar 1868, Florence, NE 5 Nov 1920, Far West, MO
BRIGGS, Polly n/a 7 Jul 1861, Mills Co. IA n/a
BRIGGS, Riley William Abt 1842, WI n/a n/a
BUNKER, Sarah Isabella 18 Sep 1855, Mills Co. IA 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
BURGET, Amanda Barr 6 Sep 1846, OH 29 Oct 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
CHANEY, Jacob B. 9 Mar 1842, Washington Co. IN 20 Jul 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
CLEMENTS, Albert 14 Mar 1801, Washington Co. NY 18 Feb 1861, Monona Co. IA n/a
CLEMENTS, Matilda 8 Apr 1811, Wiliamson Co. TN 8 Jul 1861, Monona Co. IA n/a
COTTON, Lucretia n/a n/a n/a
DAVENPORT, Albert B. 31 Mar 1848, IN 14 Feb 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
DAVENPORT, Enos 30 Apr 1850, IN 14 Feb 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
DAVENPORT, William 22 May 1844, IN 17 Feb 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
ERWIN, Edmund 12 Jan 1861, MN 15 Feb 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
ERWIN, Ella D. 18 Apr 1858, IL 15 Feb 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
ERWIN, Eva B. 3 Oct 1856, IL 15 Feb 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
EVANS, Anna 14 Sep 1846, Tuscarawas, OH 18 Feb 1863, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
FISHER, Sariah Ann n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
FLETCHER, Sarah Ann 10 Aug 1845,Tuscarawas, OH Oct 1863, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 5 Jun 1899
FLETCHER, Wesley 5 Mar 1837, Standid Co. Canada Oct 1863, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA Nov 1873
GRAYBILL, Levi 12 Mar 1818, Jackson Co. OH 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
GRAYBILL, Patience n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
HILDRETH, Edward or Edwin C. 23 Oct 1862, Pottawattamie Co. IA 26 Jul 1874, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
HOUGAS, Almon D. 9 Apr 1861, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 14 Aug 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 9 May 1886
HOUGAS, Daniel 20 Dec 1839, Norway, LaSalle IL 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 7 Oct 1912, IA
HOUGAS, Mary Ellen 16 Dec 1842, Starke Co. IL 9 Aug 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA May 28, 1918
HOUGAS, Thomas A. 12 Dec 1864, Mills Co. IA 26 Jul 1874, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
JAMES, William n/a 14 May 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
KELLEY, Frances n/a Unknown n/a
KELLEY, Richard Yancy n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
KELLEY, Sarah E. F. n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
KELLEY, William H. 1 Apr 1841, IL 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 14 Aug 1915, Lamoni, IA
LANE, Emma M. 26 Aug 1847, Henderson Co. IL 26 May 1862, Monona Co. IA n/a
LANE, Joseph W. Nov 1851, Pottawattamie Co. IA 9 Aug 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
LANE, Joshua M. 19 Jun 1843, Hancock Co. IL 10 Aug 1862, Monona Co. IA n/a
LILES, Alexander 20 Mar 1832, KY 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA February 9, 1901
LILES, Elmer or Elmore Agustus 25 Feb 1857, Mills Co. IA 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
LILES, Frances M. or Francis 18 Dec 1831, OH 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
LILES, Harris Marion 9 Jan 1855, Mills Co. IA 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
McCLENAHAN, Frances Elicabeth 11 Oct 1850, Mills Co. IA 29 May 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
McCLENAHAN, Mary E. 1849, IL May 28, 1918 n/a
McCLENAHAN, Mary J. 12 Jan 1850, IN 24 Sep 1871, Council Bluffs, IA n/a
OSLER, Alice n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
RICHARDS, Carrie Sep 1854, Salt Lake City, UT 11 Apr 1868, Salt Lake City, Utah n/a
RICHARDS, Elizabeth 20 May 1842, Tuscarawas, OH Oct 1863, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
RICHARDS, Ernest E. 13 Mar 1864, Mills Co. IA 26 Jul 1874, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
RICHARDS, Frances L. n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 19 Mar 1860
RICHARDS, Harriet 25 Oct --, OH 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA 29 Feb 1904, CA
RICHARDS, John n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
SHANK, George F. Sr. 16 Feb 1846, Park Co. IN 9 Aug 1868, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA April 8, 1912
SHANK, Mary Ida 12 Jan 1850, IN 24 Sep 1871, Council Bluffs, IA March 23, 1914
SMITH, Elizabeth February 8, 1905 5 May 1888, Wheeler's Grove, Pott. Co. IA
SMITH, John 13 Feb 1799, Union Co. SC Oct 1863 12 Jan 1870, IA
SMITH, Patience n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
SMITH, Sariah n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
SMITH, Sophia 30 Aug 1808, Oswego Co. NY 14 Aug 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
SMITH, Stephen n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
SPURGEON, Frances 22 May 1833, IN 20 Jul 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
SPURGEON, Samuel 19 Mar 1809, NC 20 Jul 1870, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
STILES, Curtis F. n/a Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
STILES, Mary J n/a n/a n/a
STRONG, Ann n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
THOMPSON, Darius or Derrius 10 Oct 1853, unknown 8 Oct 1871, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
WEEKS, John S. 13 Jun 1853, Guthrie Co. IA 6 Jun 1867, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
WINEGAR, Elizabeth n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
WINEGAR, Henry n/a 1859, Farm Creek, Mills Co. IA n/a
WINEGAR, John 2 Mar 1820, NY n/a 30 Jan 1888
YOUNGER, Clara M. 10 Jun 1840, Hancock Co. IL 8 Jul 1861, Monona Co. IA May 31, 1903
YOUNGER, William 1 Apr 1840, Sangamon, Hancock, IL 7 Oct 1862, IA n/a
~ Contributed by Barbara Bernauer Church of Christ
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