the estate of Mrs. Fannie Graves. After some discussion as to how this could best be used — it was decided by the committee to construct a new entrance to the front of the church. This was done in the summer of 1960, by the use of this gift and the many other memorial gifts given to the church for that purpose. A service of dedication of the Foyer and Entrance was held June 18, 1961 with James Thomson as Pastor at that time.
The following is a list of the pastors of the McCallsburg Presbyterian church: Rev. L.L. Lorimor, 1873-1874; Rev. F. M. Johnson, 1876-1878; Rev. A. K. Bone, 1878-; Rev. S. McCall, 1880-; Rev. W. M. Stockinger, 1884-1885; Rev. R. A. Ferguson, 1885-1890; Rev. J.W. Henderson, 1891-1892; Rev. C.M. Lottons, 1893-1894; Rev. C. Steward, 1894-1895; Rev. M. K. Holister, 1896-1897; Rev. A.G. Beecham, 1897-1900; Rev. Berryhill, 1900-; Rev. E.S. Worton, 1902-1903; Rev. C.M. Puronut, uncertain; Rev. Carl Montanus, 1908-1909; Rev. L.C. Isley, 1910-; Rev. E.C. Mid, 1912-; Rev. E.G. Beyer, 1916-1917; Rev. W. Byrd Ray, 1919-1921; Rev. E.S. Genung, 1922-1924; Rev. J. R. Browne, 1927-1928; Rev. Walter Benthun, 1931. 1932; Rev. Chas. Driver, 1934-1937; Sinclair Thompson, 1937-1937; Rev. Joseph Kennedy, 1937-1942; Rev. James D. Ransom, 1943-1953; Rev. R.M. Shipman, 1953-1955; Rev. D.R. Jafvert, 1955-1957; Rev. James Thomson, 1958-1961; Rev. Stanley Farmer, 1961-1964; Rev. W.D. Carty, 1965-1966; Rev. Richard Miller, 1966.
Some of the early members still living are: Mrs. Leila Mills, 1901; J.R. Dillin, 1904; Mrs. Dessa Stackhouse, 1907; C.W. Springer, 1908.
The first record of the Presbyterian Ladies Aid dates from 1904. In 1907 the name was changed to Dorcas Society. The group first met in the homes and did sewing etc. for the hostess - - then later worked to help the church financially.
On Dec. 5, 1919 the Presbyterian Missionary Society was organized. Along with study sessions on foreign and national missions, money, sewing assignments etc. were sent to mission stations. After many years of faithful work and study the organization was disbanded in 1951.
The Helping Hand Society was organized May 6, 1947 by the young women of the church. Their object was to do missionary work, help the church and community as the need arose. They took over some of the church responsibilities the Dorcas had, and together the groups did many things to improve both the church and Dorcas Hall. Both groups were disbanded when the Presbyterian Women's Organization was started Jan. 18, 1957. It's purpose is to study and support foreign and national missions, meet in Christian fellowship, and support the work of the church.
The Men's Brotherhood which was organized in 1945, and the Youth Group in our church have been equally important in service and financial aid to the needs of the church and community.
Although Presbyterian Church members have always been in the minority in this area, the church has been known as a "friendly" church with a strong Christian bond among it's members, that has kept the church going - despite it's small membership.
At the present time we have a yoke agreement with the United Methodist church in Zearing, with Rev. Richard Miller serving both churches in the area. We feel this arrangement along with the joint (United Methodist, Presbyterian, and Christian) Lenten services the last few years, has made for better Christian understanding of other denominations.
The School
by Mrs. Carrol Lura with Excerpts from a paper by Mrs. Leila Mills"As you all know, in the early days, our township was laid out in school sections and a school house built in the corner of the section. It was so laid out so that no child would travel more than two miles to attend a school. But even before these schoolhouses were built, my mother, a teacher before her marriage, held school in her own home for the children living about her. That home was what is now the Tom O. Johnson farm, and the late Tom O. Johnson and his brothers, John O. and Jonas O. and sister, Anna Johnson Waula, Jake and Henry Jacobson and their sister, Maggie Jacob-son Severson, were all her pupils. School was held during the winter and her pay was so much cash and coal for her stove.
The first school house, to which McCallsburg children had access, was built in 1881 in District No. 6 and was located one mile east of town and was known as the Galilee School and later the Tett school. It was so named from the slough just east and north of the school house. It was a large pond for a number of years or until a drainage ditch was extended and tiling became common. Its first teacher was Johnny Smith, an uncle of George Smith who lives here in McCallsburg. Other older teachers were a Susie Gillespie and Gertrude Morris of Ames, Rev. Lewis and Mr. McCready. Rev. Lewis lived on what is known as the John Morris farm one mile north of town. Later he moved to Trinidad, Col. While Rev. Ray was preaching here in the Presbyterian Church, he received a letter from Mr. Lewis and among other things he also gave a very interesting explanation of how the school came by its name, on one of the blank pages of the first teacher's register used in the school. Many other teachers followed, among the older, Julius Schultz, his sisters, Mrs. Fred Schauper, Bertha Shultz and one brother Eddie. I wish I had time to give a more complete list. By the way, that is where I taught my first year. Alice and Ben were pupils; also Minnie Jensen Bushman, her sister, Ellen, Albert and George Nelson, a couple of Lambs and Clarence Ritland.
Next a school house was built west of town, in District No. 5. Among the older teachers were a Jacob Thomas, an uncle of Charlie and Willie Thomas, U.S. Griffith, a contractor living at Ames, Ed Griffith, Minnie Calhoun, Flo and Mayme Cook. The two latter used to stay with my parents when they lived in the house where Alice Guthrie now lives. My brother Earl tells me that he and Fay used to take turns about spending the week-