Day and wife, Mrs. CESSNA, M. Pettibone, Mrs. Warren, Mrs. W. G. Allen and Mrs. Kellogg. This was about the last of May, 1856, and was the original organization of the church at this place, having continued unbroken till the present time.
In this Centennial year the Methodist Episcopal Church in Story County supports four circuits and one station, paying about $3,500 per annum to the five ministers; there are seven local preachers; twenty places of stated preaching; seven hundred and sixty members, about two thousand that attend Sunday schools, and over three thousand of all ages who attend the various places of worship. The church property is valued at $15,000; the annual contributions for benevolent purposes and sustaining the church institutions, exclusive of what is paid the pastors, amount to about $2,500.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Presbyterian Church has quite a strong hold in the county. Probably the first services held under the auspices of that sect were led by Rev. Thompson Bird of Des Moines, who had settled there at a very early day. The village of Iowa Center and various school houses in the county, must have been the scene of occasional labors looking toward the establishment of folds for the scattered sheep. The first formal announcement of systematic efforts, however, was the notice of Rev. B. F. Stuart, as stated elsewhere, followed by a church organization, but which was finally abandoned, and slumbered for several years.
About the year 1864 the Rev. I. Reid came to Story County in capacity of a Presbyterian Minister, and mainly through his efforts that church has been sustained. Mr. Reid's labors have not been confined to his particular charge, but he has had regular appointments at Iowa Center and Center Grove, and has led other services as opportunity offered. It may be interesting to note that he preached the first sermon ever delivered in Ames. This was an unfinished building belonging to Deacon Kingsbury, and during the services the floor broke down and huddled the congregation. But, doubtless, for lack of necessary organizing labor at Ames, at an early day, the Presbyterian element assimilated with the Congregationalists, and thus was organized the excellent church of that sect in that village.
The earliest Presbyterian record are those of the "Presbyterian church of Iowa Center." This church was organized in April, 1855, by Rev. Thompson Bird, of Des Moines, and its first minutes and date of organization are in his own beautiful handwriting. In a preliminary note he states that previous to the organization both himself and Rev. N. C. Robinson of Vinton, had done pioneer missionary work in this county.
On the day of organization but three presented their names, viz.: Mr. Joseph P. Robinson, and Mary, his wife, and Dr. Samuel Floyd. Mr. Robinson was declared ruling elder.
The first regular minister the church had was Rev. B. F. Stewart who came on the field July 19, 1856.