In addition to his Iowa Center appointment he preached regularly in Nevada, and at other points; Bakers (Mullen's) school house, at the house of Mrs. Hague, Swedespoint and Boonsboro.
July 28, 1857, a Presbyterian Church was organized at Nevada, by Rev. B. F. Stewart and Rev. Williston Jones of Iowa Falls, consisting of thirteen members. Johnathan Myres was elected ruling elder, but soon left the church irregularly. Rev. Mr Stuart's connection, and the churches at Nevada and Iowa Center, was with what was then called the new School Presbyterian General Assembly.
In the year 1864 it was found that the former church organized by Mr. Stewart had scattered, and a new church was organized by Rev. C. I. Black of Newton, Iowa. The date of this organization (the Presbyterian Church, Nevada,) is March 26, 1864, with eleven members. D. B. Stout was elected elder, James M. Applegate, deacon. They called Rev. I. Reid, then a student, in Auburn Theological Seminary, N. Y., for their minister, who reached the field June 19th of the same year.
The corner stone of their present church edifice was laid July 7, 1866, and the building was first used for worship January 19. 1867, and was dedicated December 29, 1867. Sermon by Rev. E. J. Gillett, D. D., of Keokuk. Iowa. This was the second church edifice in Nevada.
The Cumberland branch of Presbyterian order, organized its first church in the southern part of the county during the year 1857. Though this body never had an organization in Nevada, for a number of years they had regular appointments, and built the first church edifice in the county seat. The property being held by the church in the vicinity of Iowa Center. This church edifice was sold and removed about the time of the erection of the present church buildings in Nevada. The society is still in a flourishing condition, holding services at Mullen and Washington school houses. Rev. F. M. Johnson serving as minister.
A second Cumberland church, called "Pisgah" was organized in 1874, by Rev. h. L. Lorimore, with thirteen members. Elders, L. McKim, J. H. Keigley; Deacons, B. Confare, and D. SPENCER; Minister, Rev. F. M. Johnson.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Johnson's Grove, was organized February 16, 1865, by Rev. J. G. Beckley, with eight members. The present membership is about fifty-nine. Their place of worship is the school house just south of Johnson's Grove. or about eight years Bro. Beckley preached for them.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The Norwegians began to settle in the north part of the county in 1856. They are of the Lutheran denomination, and their first church was built in 1861-2. It was situated about one mile east of Story City. The lumber for this building was brought from the Des Moines River at a cost of $2,400. The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Rasmussen, from Lisbone, Illinois. He came out about