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The following annals of this popular church, written for this history by Rev. John Herron, was received too late for insertion in the Ecclesiastical chapter, and is therefore placed in this connection.

The Presbyterian church in Atlantic was organized October 10, 1869, by Rev. Sheldon Jackson and Rev. S. Phillips. The first members were Theo. Cushing, Joseph H. Smith, Mrs. A. Smith, J. L. Stone and Mrs. J. P. Stone. Messrs. Cushing and Smith were mstde ruling elders. The place where the meeting was held was a school house on the northwest corner of Chestnut and Sixth streets. Atlantic had at that time a population of not more than eight hundred. The county seat still remained at Lewis. The new organization found a Methodist Episcopal and a Congregational church--each having a house of worship.

In the month of December, Rev. Melancthon Hughes, a graduate of Miami University and of Princeton Theological Seminary, arrived and took charge of the field. Through the following winter services were held in the Methodist church on alternate Sabbath afternoons. May 11, 1870, the congregation held a meeting in the house of Mr. Laurenson, to consider the subject of erecting a church building. Mr. Laurenson presided. Mr. Hughes acted as secretary. Lorin Andrews and Mr. Hughes were appointed a soliciting committee. July 18th, a meeting was held at Wtn. Douglass'. Messrs. William Douglass, A. Fickes, Mr. Laurenson, B. F. Cady and J. L. Stone were appointed a building committee. Mr. Fowler later became one of the committee instead of Mr. Fickes, who removed from the community. The contract for building the church was awarded to Messrs. Boyd and Willey for $l,7]2,exclusive of the foundation and the pews. January 4, 187l, Mr. Kirkpatrick succeeded Wm. Douglass on the building committee--the latter having removed to another locality. Mr. Laurenson put the pews into the building for $150.

The board of church erection of the Presbyterian church assisted the building enterprise in the sum of $700. The people had settled themselves in their new house of worship and had grown slightly accustomed to it, when--July 18, 1871--a destructive tornado passed over the town, tossing the building off its foundation and placing it in an upright position near by. Much damage was done to carpet, organ, plastering, windows and the framework of the house itself.

Through the aid of $200, from the board of church erection, and the energy of the people, the injured building was restored.

In the spring of 1873. Mr. Hughes ceased his labors in Atlantic and journeyed to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Consumption has wasted him, and he thought to be benefitted in that climate. He died there December 18, 1873.

Rev. W. G. Kephart succeeded him in the pastorate of the church June 14, 1873 and continued in that relation about three years.

Rev. Mr. Zahniser formerly of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, followed as stated supply for a few months.

Rev. John Herron took charge of the church the first Sabbath of July, 1877. Hitherto the congregation had been assisted with a considerable sum annually by the board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian church.

One year later the church became self-supporting. Another year, and two lots for building a new church were secured on the corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets--three blocks west of the first location. In 1880 the new church was built, and dedicated free of debt. A handsome, commodious structure, complete in its appointments, it is creditable alike to the church and the community. The year 1881 saw the purchase of an elegant pipe organ, built expressly for the church, by Hook and Hastings, of Boston. The attendance on church service has uniformly been good. Strangers in the city over Sabbath, find it a convenient place to worship, and the congregation itself is permanently of good size. In 1882, the church sent out a colony to form a Presbyterian organization in the town of Marne. Much evangelistic and missionary work has been done by this people in the town and the region round abont. They have not found the proverb to fail: "He that watereth shall be watered also himself."

The present officers of the church and congregation are:

Pastor--Rev. John Herron.

Ruling Elders--John Y. Cotton, J. E. Willett, W. A. Morrison, J. M. Emmert, M. D.

Deacons--William McGeehon, W. H. Peters and A. P. Macomber, M. D.

Superintendent of the Sunday School--E. Sayers.

Trustees--E. Sayers, Robert Major, A. L. Bostedo, C. McDaniels and C. S. Newlon.

Treasurer--J. P. Gerberich.

Moderator of the Congregation--A. L. Bostedo.

Clerk of the Congregation--W. A. Morrison.

W. G. Kephart was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in the year ]818. His first ecclesiastical connection was with the New School Presbyterian church. He was one of the committee who drew up the manifesto that the Free Presbyterian church at its founding in Cincinnati adopted as their apology.

The churches of Winchester and Mt. Leigh, in Ohio, Mr. Kephart's pastoral charge accompanied him into his new association.

He ministered to the church in Kossuth, Iowa, for eleven years. He was in the army as chaplain of the Tenth Iowa Infantry. Before coming to Atlantic he had charge of the church in Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory. The church in Atlantic enjoyed a healthy growth in his pastorate.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 902-904.