FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP
Author Unknown, Manuscript found in the Osceola Public Library

Franklin Township is located in the southeast corner of Clarke County and in the early days was a dense wilderness of timber and prairie, inhabited by Indians. It has now been transformed into a region of thrift by the energy and labor of its honest, upright people. With comfortable homes, cultivated fields of corn and broad acres of waving grain and meadows, the pioneers have replaced the scattered cabins and gardens.

Robert Jamison was the first settler of Franklin Township, and was also the first permanent settler of Clarke County. He selected a homestead in section 19, Franklin Township on May 1, 1850. It was situated on the Mormon Trail, a well traveled road, used by Mormons on their way to Salt Lake City, Utah, and also was the trail of California travelers on their quest for gold.

Mr. and Mrs. Jamison moved to their new home from Monroe County, Iowa, with their three children and all their earthly possessions in a 2-wheeled ox cart. Here he erected a log cabin near the site where now stands a large 9-room house built by him some years later. They were the parents of 9 children, who were well educated and as adults held positions of stature and reponsibility.

Dickinson Webster Sr. was one of the early settlers in Franklin Township located here in 1851. He taught the first school in the township, a log schoolhouse on Chariton Creek in 1852. For some time the only schools were subscription schools. Free schools were started in 1857; there was a graded school taught by L.G. Jamison in Smyrna in 1871. The first church in this part of the county was the Methodist church in Smyrna., built in 1869.

The leading church of the township is located near the center and is of the Friends denomination. It is a beautiful, modern rural church and would do credit to many churches in the towns. There is also a comfortable parsonage nearby. The surrounding country is settled mostly by people who worship here, and are the finest law-abiding people to be found anywhere. Many of them own their farms and have fine modern homes.

HISTORY OF SMYRNA FRIENDS CHURCH — FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP

From a pamphlet honoring Smyrna Friends Church Centennial, 1858 -1958

In the early 1850's, families of Friends came from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and South Carolina and settled in this community. For a time they held meetings in their homes. They felt the need of a building in which to hold meetings and a day school. The material used was native timber and the old Friends meeting house was built on part of the ground which is now included in the Friends' Cemetery near Smyrna. Archelous Ratliff gave the ground for the church and cemetery.

The meeting house was a well-proportioned building with the gallery built across the north end, two tiers of seats with the railing in the front, as was the custom of Friends churches in those days. The Elders & Ministers sat in these seats facing the congregation during the meeting. The men sat on one side amd the women on the other side of the church.

Several of the Friends, having come from Richsquare Monthly Meeting of Friends, Indiana, decided to name the new meeting after their old home meeting. Hence Smyrna Monthly Meeting of Friends, known in the beginning as Richsquare Monthly Meeting of Friends, was opened by the attendance of a committee appointed by Pleasant Plain Quarterly Meeting to attend the opening, held 10-2-1858. The Membership consisted of about 40 adults and 50 children under the age of 15 years.

The men and women held their business meetings separately. Sallie Starbuck was appointed the first clerk for the women's meeting. Elwood Stanley was appointed the first clerk for the men's meeting.

At their first monthly meeting a strong committee of men and women was appointed to look after the education of children and young people of the community, The committee was active and soon had a day school opened in the church building. The Bible was used as one of the text books. Some of the first teachers were Sarah Ann McMillan, William E. Stanley, Asenath Cox Myers, Martha and Margaret Stanley. Many of the pupils walked three or four miles to school.
Also at their first monthly meeting a committee was appointed to organize a Bible school, which was regularly held in the church on Sabbath morning.

Early Friends were punctual in attending the midweek meetings for worship. The family, also the hired help, if they wished to go, would leave their work and go to meeting which was usually held about 10 o'clock, on 4th day or Wednesday.

Third month 5th, 1870, the name of the monthly meeting was changed from Richsquare to Smyrna Monthly Meeting of Friends. In this meeting the rule was adopted that business be transacted by the men and women meeting together.

As the years passed. most of the membership was Eying farther south, quite a distance from the church, the old church was not in very good condition to worship in longer. The members talked of a new church in a new location. John T. and and Amy C. Meyers gave one acre of ground on which to build a new church. In about the year 1879, the old church building was torn down and sold and the new church was built where it now stands.

Previous to the year 1889, the resident ministers and others had taken charge of the meetings without a specified sum as salary. In the early part of the year 1889, the services of Joseph Blackleg were secured with a salary of $125 a year, he coming once a month. The Young Peoples Christian Endeavor Society was organized in the year 1890.

By 1899, the need of a parsonage was being more and more realized, so at this time steps were taken to see what could be done. A house and ground were bought in Smyrna for a parsonage. During the summer and fall of 1905, the church was remodeled at a cost of $1,100. The men of the church working, giving their time. Only the head carpenter received pay. The parsonage at Smyrna was sold to John Airy for $500 and the new parsonage was built near the church in 1908. In 1923, the basement and other improvements were made at a cost of $1,008. The men of the community gave many hours of labor.

In 1941, when electricity became available, the church and parsonage were wired. In 1952, the old coal furnace was taken out of the basement and an automatic oil furnace was installed in its place. In 1954, a cistern was dug closer to the parsonage and a water system was installed, piping water into the kitchen. In 1956, a water heater and bathroom fixtures were installed in the parsonage.

CHARTER MEMBERS

Joseph & Ann Cox, Joseph & Jeannah Cook, Thomas & Arm Coppock, Jonathan & Margaret Doan, Isaac & Dinah Gardner, Asa & Amy Gardner, Jeremiah & Mary Hadley, Miles & Ruth Hadley, Elisha & Marsha Johnson, Amos & Amy Kerby, Archelous & Sarah Ratliff, Ashley & Matilda Ratliff, Elwood & Martha Stanley, William E. Stanley, Martha Johnson, Clarinda & Martha Cook, and Ruth Kerby.

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HISTORY OF THE WOODBURN CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Contributed Condon and Virginia Clark

The Woodburn Christian Church was built by the Presbyterians in 1870. It was later formed by a new church group in 1889, and in 1890, a group bought the building and it became the Christian Church Disciples of Christ. It had various lay pastors until 1927, when Rev. Forrest Richeson was in the pulpit. He served the church from 1927-1932. It was then ministered by lay people from Drake until 1958, when Rev. John Probasco served the church. He served from 1958-1962.

On Easter Sunday 1963, Densmore Peterson came to preach and remained the very dedicated minister of the Woodburn Christian Church for thirty-three years. Due to failing health Pastor "Pete" retired in 1996.

On May 12, 1970 the church was struck by lightning and was completely destroyed. When the minister was notified, his comment was, "The question will not be 'Will the church be rebuilt? but How soon can it be done'?" Just five months later the first worship services were held in the new church basement, while the sanctuary was being completed. Church suppers were held the first Saturday of every month to help pay for the new building. and were continued for approximately one year until the building was paid for.

Woodburn Christian Church (formerly Presbyterian), burnt in 1970

The new completed building was dedicated September 26, 1971. In October of 1976, Russell Killman of the "Heaven and Home Hour" came for three nightly services.

After Pastor "Pete" retired, several ordained ministers, a well as several lay people, served the church. The interim ministers were: Evalyn Carlson 1996-1997; Carla Hillyer 1998-2000; Neville Clayton 2001-2002; Gary Freeland 2002-2005. As of July 2011, the present minister is Willa Heaberlin who has been with the church since 2005.

WOODBURN, IOWA
ST. MARY'S HISTORICAL CHURCH

St. Mary's Church was founded by railroad workers in 1878, and is one of the oldest churches, if not the oldest, in Clarke County. It was first a mission church from Chariton Catholic Church, and the priest traveled by train to Woodburn to say Mass once a month. Later it became a mission of St. Bernard's in Osceola, after their church was built.

The church was built in 1870, at a cost of $1,200. The frame building was blown down and a few years later it was rebuilt double in size. They used native oak 2"thick x 6" wide boards and sheathing. The straight walls and non-sagging roof attest to the solid construction.

In Nov. 1981, Bishop discontinued Masses. After 10 years, the building was in need of paint and roof repair. A group of residents and friends asked for it to be deeded to the town of Woodburn, which it was in 1992. Five citizens formed a committee to oversee the upkeep, with no expense to the town. The outside of the building has changed but little since it was constructed. The inside is furnished as it was when regular church services were discontinued. The fourteen Stations of the Cross hang on the walls, and no one has been able to tell us how old they are.

Since the committee took over its maintenance, the roof has been replaced, all the stained glass windows that were damaged and broken were replaced. The exterior has been painted twice, and interior and pews painted once, with new ceiling blocks.

Fund raising has consisted of an auction, donations, grant, and serving food for Bingo at the Community Building for a number of years. During Woodburn Homecoming, the 4th Saturday in August a Quilt is raffled off and a food stand are now the committee's source of income, Visitors are welcome to view the church at any time. Couples wishing to have a non­denominational wedding in the church are most welcome. Contact LaVera or Carrie Cottrell.

WOODBURN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
By Pastor Tom Murr

Woodburn Methodist Episcopal Church and parsonage

June 20, 2004 was the day the Woodburn church celebrated 150 years of Methodist services, 138 years as an organized church. This history is a revised version of the one written in 1976.

In the year 1854 the first settlers came to this area, and Methodist Services have been held since that time. Benjamin and Lindsay Coppock came to Clarke County in March of that year and entered land. Benjamin had 200 acres, which became the town of Ottawa, and Lindsay had 160 acres, which became part of the town of Woodburn.

The first Methodist services were held in the home of Lindsay Coppock in 1854, and the minister was Rev. Allan Johnson of Chariton, Iowa. The first schoolhouse in the area was built of logs in 1855, at Ottawa and Methodist services were then held there.

When the Coppock brothers came to the area, they broke the sod and raised a large crop of corn. Their nearest neighbors were 4 miles away, and between them and the little hamlet of Osceola, there was but one house. As other settlers came to the area over the Blue Grass Trail the town of Ottawa was formed. It was a prosperous little village until July 1867. During the presidential term of Andrew Johnson, the railroad came through and in the autumn of that year the town of Woodburn was laid out. It consisted of 40 acres laid out by the railroad company and the addition by H. C. Sigler.

According to an article taken from the Osceola Sentinel March 12, 1931, on February 3, 1866, trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church incorporated under the laws of Iowa to become the Ottawa Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. On March 23, 1866, the trustees of the Ottawa Society purchased lots 1, 7 and 8 in block 3, first addition to Ottawa, for the sum of $60. On this ground the Methodist Church was erected in the spring of 1866. It was a two-story building and the second floor was used as a Masonic Hall. The building cost $1,200.

Later that same year, surveyors began running proposed lines for the railroad. Several times they came through Ottawa and hopes ran high, but when the line was finally established in the valley where Woodburn was later built, the citizens of Ottawa began to move to Woodburn.

The Woodburn Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized after Woodburn was incorporated in 1878, and in the 1880's the church had a fine choir. By the year 1886, the membership of the M. E. Church was about 75. Services were held every two weeks. About 100 people regularlyattended regularly Sunday school. Superintendent James A. Clark had moved to Woodburn in 1875, and opened a restaurant where he also sold meats, groceries, and fish.

In January 1870, and March of 1881, lot 45 was purchased for the M. E..Church. The present church was built on that lot about 1888. In 1875, lot 26 was bought for a parsonage, replaced about 1904, by a new one erected on the north half of lot 45 and the original one was sold. On October 9, 1908, the Methodist Episcopal Church acquired the west half of lot 46.

In 1915, electricity came to the area. The church was wired for lights in 1921, and for electrical appliances in 1947. In 1930 the church was shingled for $100. In 1953, the coal heater was replaced by an oil burner in 1953, and the Ladies Aid had new linoleum laid in the kitchen. Alvin Marquis was hired in 1952, to build kitchen cabinets. The men shingled the parsonage in 1959. That same year it was re-roofed, floors sanded in 1960. That year we were able to buy an electric organ for $500. Due to the deterioration of the wood in the belfry and the weight of the bell, the steeple had to be taken down in the fall of 1953. The bell was sold to Herschel Oehlert.

By 1935, population had decreased and ministers from other towns served. It was decided to rent the parsonage and apply the rent money to the minister's salary. So done in December 1935, and until 1946, it had increased to $15 per month. The former parsonage was used for Sunday school classes. Not being practical in cold weather, the parsonage was sold, the money used to improve the church building. In 1959, a fund was set up for this purpose, to be increased by the collection received on the fifth Sunday of any month. This occurs four times a year and was sufficient.

In 1971, the stage was centered, and it and the aisles were carpeted. A gas furnace was installed. The large doors that separated the sanctuary from the kitchen were causing the wall to sag. They were removed. They and a new worship center were given as memorials and dedicated in 1991.

In 1975,Woodbum's water system became a reality, a bathroom and storage room were added.
In 1976, "Praying Hands" windows replaced three round windows in our church.
In 1988, church re-shingled, 1989 ceilings lowered, 1991 church painted.
In 1992, kitchen counter replaced; new hymnals bought and new altar cross was dedicated.
In 1993 new kitchen linoleum was installed; in 1999, new lights over the stage were installed.
In January 2003, purchase of lot south of the church to make parking available.
September 6, 2003, 14 volunteers came to help paint the outside of the church.
April 17, 2004, 26 volunteers came to finish painting the high peaks on the church, and started
painting the inside, picked up sticks and rocks in the parking area and planted flowers. They also
started painting the inside of the church. The parking lot has recently been rocked.

Deeds are at the Recorder's Office, Clarke County Courthouse, Osceola, Iowa — to the church in Book Y, Page 72 and Book 17, Page 571, to the parking lot in Book 98, Page 578.

MORE PERSONAL:

Much of the social life of the early communities centered around the church. Morning and evening services were held on Sundays, plays were performed, and potluck dinners and ice cream socials were eagerly attended. A young man and young lady's dates, were to attend church.

In 1914, at a 2-week revival, many people made their decision for Christ and joined the church. They were baptized by immersion in the old fishing hole in Whitebreast Creek southeast of Woodburn. Baptisms were also held in Herb Mackey's pond east of Woodburn. After the revival the Epworth League was reorganized and young married couple and single boys and girls attended.

In October 1918, Health Officer Willey reported 23 cases of Spanish influenza and the State Board of Health ordered all public gatherings forbidden. Everything that brought people together in numbers were closed. Travel was not banned, but people were to use reason. In 1919, 71 names were on the membership roll; church and Sun. school attendance were good.

Women have always played a big part in the life of the church. The Ladies Aid met each week to quilt to raise enough money to keep the minister paid and the parsonage in good repair. Lunch was served at faith sales, threshing dinners were prepared and served, ice cream socials, election dinners, bazaars, and plays were additional ways used to raise money in the 20's and 30's. The earliest records of the Ladies Aid begin in 1924, with the notation "Bank failure" in October. Their bank account was zero but their willingness to work together each week soon added to their treasury. The church being heated with wood or coal, it was necessary to lay in the winter's supply. In November 1934, husbands and friends of Aid members met to cut wood. It was Merle Davenport's birthday and Hallie and Merle brought wood saws. Mr. F. L. Wing donated the wood and 7 loads were cut, sawed, and taken to the church woodshed. 7 more loads were cut for later use. The ladies served the noon meal. 73 people were present for the day's work and fellowship.

Woodburn Homecoming was celebrated 2 days instead of 1. In 1937, 25c was charged for creamed chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, sliced tomatoes, and pie.

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, brought the U.S. into World War II and young men were called to serve. Gas rationing, travel curtailed in 1943, caused evening services to be discontinued. Shortage of ministers in June 1947, caused morning services to be held every other week. Sunday school continued with good attendance. A resident minister was appointed in 1950.

In 1953, the Ladies Aid had 38 members. On May 3, 1961, the women voted unanimously to join W.S.C.S. (Women's Society of Christian Service). Mabel Oehlert was our first president.

When the Methodist and United Brethren Churches voted to merge in 1968, we were given the title of United Methodist. In September 1973, the North and South Conferences became the Iowa Conference and the women were given the title of United Methodist Women.

Editor's note: Pastor Tom Murr, in his words, "a 19-year-old kid," was Woodburn's student pastor. His ministry to Woodburn began in 1960, and in September 2011, he will have ministered to the Woodburn United Methodist Church for 25 years. He furnished the foregoing information.

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Last Revised February 11, 2015