Hopeville Christian Church As early as the beginning of the year 1856 the unorganized christians of Hopeville met whenever a preacher could visit them. Generally meeting in an old log school house, standing one block east of the present school house. About this time Dr. Emery built, a house of considerable size and the place of worship was changed to his residence. At this time this little band was occasionally visited by such preachers as Samuel French, G. W. McRenolds, John Polly, Ziba Brown and J. C. Porter. The first church building was erected in 1860. The ministers who faithfully served the church and endeared themselves to the people during the next fifty years were Rev. John White, J. P. Roach, R. D. Cotton, J. K. Cornell and O. Ebert. Some of the officers who directed the welfare of the church. were James Bates, Eli Beede, Issac Saunders, Henry Adkins, Joseph Daniel, M. T. Ashley, Early Burnett, James Castor, W. O. Parrish and James Anderson. In January, 1894, Rev. Fred Gime of Arlington, Iowa, held a meeting which resulted in much and lasting good to the church. It could be said that the foundation of the new church was laid at that time, when LeRoy Shields, then a boy of fourteen, along with many others gave himself to the Master and edicated his lire to His service. In the spring of 1909 the church, being without a pastor, called LeRoy Shields who had now grown to manhood and had prepared himself for the ministry. After some deliberation he accepted the work and entered into it with zeal and an enthusiasm that was contagious. Early in the year Brother Shields had a vision of a new house of worship and began to agitate it amoung the brethren. After securing their hearty co-operation a committee was soon at work securing means and laying plans for the building. The church was dedicated Feb. 13, 1910.
Christian Church
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Methodist Church The first Methodist Church was built in Hopeville in the early 1860's. The present building was built in 1904 and dedicated in November that same year on the present site on which it now stands. Rev. St. Clair came from Des Moines for the dedication. After the Church had decided on the building of the new place of worship, the ladies of the congregation got together and organized the Aid Society March 1st, 1904. The price for work was seventy five cents per day. Mrs. A. J. White was president, Mrs James Taylor was Treas., and Mrs. J, M. Jackson was secretary. The Aid Society worked and helped with the building fund and also the furnishings of the Church. The first meeting was held at the home of Mrs. May Jackson, who happens to be living at this time and as far as can be determined is the oldest living member of the Church at the age of 93 years. The first members of the Ladies Aid were —
Methodist Church
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