Second Union Church (1891-1966)

One hundred years ago, August 22, 1868, James Green sold to the Methodist Church Trustees, A. R. Lyons, S. S. Saint, Thomas Cook, Ira Smith, and J. C. Green 1/2 acre in Sec. 13, for the sum of $10.00. The same day, Jacob and Emaline Grover also sold the Methodist Church Trustees 1/2 acre for the sum of $10.00.

These tracts are located at the first corner south of Union Cemetery. The first 1/2 acre is the southwest corner of the farm now occupied by Edward and Marie Easton. The second 1/2 acre is the northwest corner of the farm now occupied by Miland and Marie Welker.

On this ground was built the first church in Madison Twp. It was constructed with lumber sawed from native trees, but in that vicinity.

In 1891 the people decided that they needed a new church building and 1/2 acre was donated Oct. 24, 1891, by Jacob and Emaline Grover to the Trustees of Union Church J. E. Richey, Horatio Husted, A. Layton, James Hindes and John Blaheney, the Conference also named Charles Burgus, F. Larkin and T. W. Day. This plot is across the road, east of the south part of Union Cemetery. The old church was torn down and this is a picture of the new church. that was erected on the new site. Mr. Bromit and Anderson Lyons were the main carpenters assisted by the men of the community.

March 29, 1893, Jacob and Emaline Grover sold to Church Trustee A. J. Ronk 1 1/2 acres for $27.50 to enlarge the church yard.

In 1900, there were three churches in the circuit, Union, Frame and Fremont. J. H. Jonson was the pastor and his salary for the year was $425.00. Frame paying $140.00, Union $150.00, and Fremont $130.00.

Existing records show that other pastors who served were; E. R. Awbrey, J. C. Leonard, King, Garrett, Robertson, H. J. Tague, Tillotson, Wallace, Butterfield, Harrisfield, Cannon, Cole, Kious, G. E. Nichols, Robert Cannyn, Hugh E, Williams, E. C. Lepper, Harold Adams,
Harten, Hopsin, D. Stevens, R. Grays, Ray

Union Cemetery (1968)

Harness, John Rectenbaugh, J. A. E. Cunningham.

A basement was put under the church in 1922, for a cost of $600.00. John Neidt was hired as the supervisor and the rest of the work was donated by the men of the community.

The church was active for many years, then like so many country churches, the attendance gradually decreased and finally the last services were held in 1956.
In May 1966, the Southern Iowa Methodist Conference offered to sell to the Madison Twp. Trustees, Galen Burgus, Hiram Kirk and Raymond A. Wallace, the Union Church building and the church ground for the sum of $10.00. The Trustees accepted the offer and received a Quit Claim Deed June 14, 1966. The final settlement was made Nov. 23, 1966, with the stipulation that the church building be removed and the ground to become an addition to the Union Cemetery.

A public auction was held Dec. 3, 1966, and the church building and its contents were sold. Donald Gonseth purchased the building for $250.00. Clell Camp and Marshall Winebrenner donated their services as auctioneers.

Samuel Saint purchased his first land in Madison Twp., Clarke County, Iowa, in 1803 for $1.25 an acre and later acquired several hundred acres. He owned and operated a general store about 1/2 mile southeast of the Union Cemetery.

Sometime around 1850, the exact date is unknown, a family crossing the country had a little girl who became ill and died in the Saint vicinity. There was no cemetery there at this time. Samuel Saint donated a plot of ground 13 rods square, and the little girl was buried here. This was the beginning of the Union Cemetery and is the north part of the cemetery.