MUSCATINE COUNTY IOWA HISTORY

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Picture: Founders’ Day Observation 1926 – Courtesy William Nelson
The Women’s Foreign Mission Society of the Methodist church gave a play to celebrate Founders’ Day.
Front row, seated, left to right: Julia McCartney, Kate Miller, Myrtle Marshall, Burris Frymoyer.
Middle row: Lizzie Schmack, Lena Nelson, Laura Duncan, Mrs. Harvey Grose, Faye Grunder, Clara Cooling.
Back row: Olga Darting, Dave Smith, Rhea McCabe, A. T. Nelson, Lydia Doyle, Addie Shuger, Ms. McBlain, Rev. W. A. McBlain.

Wilton United Methodist Church History

Transcribed by Lynn McCleary, April 18, 2015

     Probably as early as 1853 Methodist circuit riders were preaching in our community, holding services in the depot of freight house. In 1856 Brother H. Wharton of the Hebron Circuit received regular appointment to Wilton and Moscow, adding to his rounds. However, that same year the General Conference divided the old Iowa Conference in order to better serve the growing populace. This left Wilton and Moscow in the Iowa Conference, but set Hebron in the Upper Iowa Conference necessitating a change of Circuit Preacher.

     Wilton and Moscow were named as a station attached to the Muscatine Circuit with John Harris named preacher in charge with D. Thompson as junior preacher.

     In 1857 J. B. Hill was appointed to be the circuit and in the spring of 1858 he held a series of revival meetings in the Mooney House. Following these revival meetings regular services and Sunday School were conducted, first in Garrison’s Hall, and later on the second floor of an old building downtown where the Old Union Bank Building now stands.

     In 1860 the first Methodist Church was erected on the corner of 5th and Maurer streets with J.T. Simmons preacher incharge. By 1878 it was decided the original church was no longer adequate, so it was replaced by a larger, more ornate frame structure. In 1893-94 this…

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Picture: Methodist Sunday School Class about 1930 – Courtesy of Florence Kean
Front row (left to right): Margaret Woodhouse, Stella Breer.
Middle row: Elizabeth McCoy, Mabel Friedericksen (teacher), Florence Hoskins, Marjorie McCoy.
Back row: Charlotte Smith, Catherine Fowler, Grayce Darting, Ida May Darting, Arlo Schroeder, Ruth Harper.

…building was “remodeled and modernized” at a cost of $5,000.

     Early on Sunday morning, January 12, 1902, the sexton came to fix the fire and prepare for the activities of the day. At 7:30 he heard the fire whistle and went out to find smoke and flames rising from the church roof near the chimney. Most of the furniture and materials of the church were carried out to safety but the structure was a complete loss. The furnishings of the parsonage next door were also removed but the fire was kept from spreading to this structure.

     A brick structure was then erected on the same site, being dedicated February 15, 1903. During the interim of construction, services were held in the chapel of the Wilton German-English College and the Old Baptist Church.

     In 1956 an educational unit was added to the north of the church, this being the only portion retained for use when the structure was sold. The new owners added a second story to the educational unit and converted the building into apartments.

     The present Methodist Church and parsonage are located on a 5 acre plot at the north end of Maurer Street. Ground breaking ceremonies were held October 11, 1970; the cornerstone was placed on June 13, 1971 and Consecration Services for the new church were held September 12, 1971.

     From 1857, when the first Methodist Church was built in Wilton, to 1976 the Wilton – Moscow charge has been served by 47 pastors and their families.

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This page sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Gale McClean and family in memory of William and Hannah McClearn who came from Virginia in 1865. Mr. McClean had the first rural blacksmith shop in Wilton township.

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Picture: Confirmation at door of Salem Lutheran Church – Courtesy of Mrs. John L. Marolf
Picture taken April 26, 1942 shows Richard Griebel, Rev. Holtz and Margaret Marolf in front of Salem Lutheran Church which no longer exists.