CHAPTER XV.
CHURCHES AND RELIGION. (CONT'D)
From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
by H. F. Andrews
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BRAYTON.
By reference to the history of the Oakfield Methodist Episcopal class, it will be seen that religious services were held in Oakfield as early as 1856-7, and also by referring to the Oakfield Congregational church, it will be observed that about 1866-8 the congregationalists organized there, and later the Evangelicals also, held services there. These services were held in the school house, where a Sunday school had been maintained during all these years. The successful continuation of these services and the Sunday school during many years can be credited to the untiring effort of Prof. H. G. Smith and family and J. M. Hill and family, both of whom have passed to their reward. It was reserved for the Baptists to erect the first church edifice and to organize the first denominational church in Brayton. That the Baptists should have secured a footing there is, perhaps, due to the efforts of one man, A. T. Horton, familiarly known as "Uncle Ace," more than any other one. In the spring of 1880 he with his family, removed from Marion county, Iowa, and settled about two miles northwest of Brayton. He was at this time fifty-eight years of age. but "Uncle Ace" had always been a Baptist and could not be anything else. No sooner had he became established in his new home, than he began efforts to secure religious services iii the school house nearest his home and, although there was no formal church organization, religious services were conducted there more or less frequently by the Baptists for a number of years. These efforts, with the assistance and cooperation of others heretofore mentioned, crystalized the religious sentiment of the community and rendered it possible to cement it together in one organization. In the winter of 1893 three Baptist ministers, Reverend Downs, Reverend Hickock and Rev. Harry Ferguson, conducted revival services in the old hall at Oakfield. At first, their efforts were fruitless, but they persevered with a trust in God. Ferguson was a host within himself, talented, tactful, resourceful, sincere, an excellent judge of human nature, a good "mixer," plain and unassuming, the friend of everybody. To the people, he was just Harry Ferguson. Incidentally, he was the pastor of the Baptist church at Cumberland, Iowa, and his church had sent him to Brayton for a season of missionary work. No task was too arduous for him to undertake; he never became discouraged, nor was any service too humiliating. He subsequently became district missionary and afterwards removed to Oregon. Together with his two assistants, they assailed the enemy in mass formation until they penetrated the lines. The results of the meetings were many converts and the formal organization of the church. Some of the first members were, J. S. Harter and wife, A. T. Horton and wife, J. G. Chamberlain and wife, O. F. Ide and wife, Mark Heath and wife, W. R. Koob and wife, J. O. Cotton and wife, L. B. Clark and wife, I. H. Jenkins and wife, Mrs. Fanny Howell, W. Brinkerhoff, Curt Cotton, Grace Clark, Maria Jenkins, Frank Jenkins, Pearl Jenkins, May Jenkins, and there were many others whose names are not available for the reason that the records of that church, like the average church, have been imperfectly kept.
A commodious and comfortable church edifice was at once erected in Brayton. Soon afterward there were enrolled about eighty members, and the congregation was in a flourishing condition. The first minister called as pastor was Reverend Doane, who was ordained subsequent to taking up the pastorate. Among the other pastors who followed him--and there were many--were Reverend Jewell, Reverend Brown, Reverend O'Connor, Reverend Sloan and Reverend Wilcox. There were others whose stay was of short duration. The church, like many other churches, has had its "ups and downs" and some of the members think that during the last few years the "downs" have predominated. Many of the members have died and others have moved away, until there appears to be not enough left to carry on the work. They have a fine church building, free from debt, recently lighted with electricity. The field is white, already to harvest, but the reapers are few, and the remaining members are praying that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.
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Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, November, 2018, from History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915), by H. F. Andrews, pp. 233-234.
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