"church belligerent," and not hard enough in the "church militant." Is this not so?"
This may refer to some forensic contests about that time, between the various ministers, of which one was between Rev. Richard Swearengen of the M. E. Church, and an Elder Holland, a minister of the Campbellite Church.
In March, 1859, Rev. L. Hay returns thanks for a donation. He had for some time been preaching for the Cumberland Presbyterians.
Prior to this time, probably as early as 1854, Rev. I. H. Rees, who lived then on or near to what is now Black's addition to Ames, preached occasionally in Nevada. He was of the Baptist church.
Among the early preachers of the county the Rev. Job Garberson occupied a conspicuous position. He was a very plain farmer, who lived near Bloomington, and preached at various points, giving very original views of the scriptures, and the plan of salvation according to the Baptist persuasion. Many went to hear him in the spirit in which they would have attended a place of amusement of much less serious character. The Rev. Y. A. Welton of the Episcopal church, who labored at Iowa Center and Nevada, had some peculiarties that also attracted attention. His views on the subject of slavery were esteemed radical even in those days. He held a public discussion at Iowa Center in which he took the affirmative of the proposition, that Negro slavery is a Divine Institution and has the sanction of the Bible. My recollection is that Rev. Joseph Cadwalladar sustained the negative.
Various other preachers held forth in the early days, in different parts of the county. The school house near John H. Keigley's must have been a popular place for these itinerants, as frequent mention is made of appointments at that place.
Church services of an interesting and instructive character were not very common in those days, and all being eager to enjoy church privileges an opportunity was offered to all sorts and conditions of preachers to hold forth as pleased themselves. At times the congregation would be delighted by an able discourse, and again either annoyed or disgusted by that of another character.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Several Irish Catholic families settled in the county as early as 1853-4-5, among whom were Thomas Fitzgerald, Thomas Monahon, John Conahan, Owen O'Neil, Daniel Doyle, Daniel Mugan, John CONNELLY, Richard Hopkins, John Guthrie and perhaps others. Though scattered abroad they kept the faith. They were occasionally visited by their priests, and in time large accession to their number were had, mainly from 1863 to 1865, from which time they had more frequent ministerial visits, and the customary rites of the church began to be regularly observed.
Among the early pastors were Rev. Father Brigil and his assistant, and Rev. Father Delaney. It was in Father Delaney's time that they built a neat and commodious church edifice at Nevada, in