West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
CEDAR VALLEY
by
Mrs. Louie Geertz

Out east of town, where the level fields lie end to end. To the north and west of us are bluffs. To the east and south we are bound by the Cedar river. Herein lies our Cedar Valley. Where friendships begin and never end. We have no Little Brown Church in the Vale, but we do have a Little White Church in The Valley. Through its doors have passed many happy hearts and some sorrowing ones.

The church was built about 1871 by Ezra Wiker who lived on the Jim Askam farm. The land was donated by J. V. Morgan. Rev. Murray was its first pastor. Followed by the Rev. W. S. Smith, then by Rev. Younkin who married Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Hildebrand. It is to Mrs. Hildebrand, who more lovingly is known as " Aunt Maggie," we owe the church history.

Rev. Kellogg is now our minister. Attendance at Sunday school for the past year has averaged 50. Also there has been an active Epworth League. Hoover Hildebrand was the first superintendent followed by George Foster, Chester Parry and Charles Brown also served several years.

Ladies Aid was organized in 1893 and has been a faithful helper to the church down through the years.

A Presbyterian church was built about six or seven years before the present Cedar Valley Methodist Episcopal church, and stood one mile south of the Methodist church.

Land on which it stood was donated by George Robshaw. Rev. Porter was the first pastor. Ed Brown was superintendent. This church closed many years ago.

On June 11, 1920, the Cedar Valley Community club was organized by Mrs. Lee H. Forsyth, assisted by Mrs. A. J. Alterkruse and Miss Guthrie, then home demonstration agent for the county. It has grown from six members to fifty. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at members' homes.

Ten women from Goshen township or the Valley help make up the Goshen Wapsie Farm Bureau chorus. The farm Bureau women are now active. Mrs. Edna Hendriks is chairman for next year. We also have the Farm Bureau township meetings.

Cedar Valley was represented " way back when " the gold rush was on by Samuel Brand, who went down the Mississippi river to the coast and then by boat to California. He was among the more fortunate ones; came back, went to Pennsylvania for his bride and settled in the Valley.

Our last Civil War veteran, George Foster, passed away a few years ago.

Among some of the old farms that are still occupied by the younger generation are the Parry, Hildebrand, Foster, Smith and McIntire farms. Most of this land was grants from the government and has been handed down through the generations.

Most of the old land marks are gone. Just a few trees mark the site of the Presbyterian church, which was torn down some years ago. The old oak tree which stood at the cross roads which is now road No. 76 is gone. Also the ferry over the Cedar river at the foot of the Moylan farm. No longer is it " Lamp Lighting Time In The Valley " for all the homes, as some 40 or 50 have electric lights and many more will have by next year.

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