Palo Alto Co,
Iowa USGenWeb Project
CHURCHES OF PALO ALTO COUNTY
From Atlas of Palo Alto County
Compiled 1969 by Title Atlas Company; Minneapolis, Minnesota
APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN CHURCH
WEST BEND, IOWA
In the years between 1868 and 1890, a
number of families of the Apostolic Christian faith came to this community of
pioneers where some of them received Patent Land Grants from the U.S. Government
on unbroken prairie land. Some came by covered wagon drawn by oxen and horses
from Elgin, Iowa. Others came from various places including Ohio, Illinois and
some from Switzerland.
No trees grew except along rivers and streams, but
prairie grass was everywhere, some as tall as a boy on horseback. Some of the
families lived in log cabins, others in sod houses made by stacking squares of
sod for walls. The roofs were made of small willow limbs tied together with
prairie grass, until they were about a foot in thickness. The floors were dirt,
perhaps in very rare instances an animal skin for a rug, and open fireplaces
were used for cooking and also provided warmth.
Trips to town were not frequent as "town" was
Fort Dodge, 45 miles away. These trips were made by a group of men and took
several days. They brought mail, sugar, and flour made from wheat which they had
taken with them. Indians were numerous, but most of them were friendly if not
disturbed when helping themselves to corn from the white men's supply or
crossing open prairie.
No doctors being available, some of these sturdy
pioneers out of love and care for each other took the responsibility of
administering first aid, and caring for the sick and dying with the simple
medicines which they had on hand. Another of the many labors of love was
preparing bodies of their own loved ones for burial. Some were buried in plots
near their homes, and some in the cemetery in Section 8, Garfield Township,
before 1896, when the private cemetery was used.
These people met in their homes for worship until about
1878 when a small frame church was built on the present site (SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec.
7, Garfield Twp.) at a cost of about $600. About 1896, a 40'x40' addition was
built; in 1919 a 10'x40' addition built and in 1947, a major remodeling and
expansion was undertaken. In 1954, a 28'x50' addition was built for the Sunday
School, and in the fall of 1964, it was decided to undertake building a new
church. The first Service was held at the new church April 17, 1966. Total floor
space is 14,000 square feet.
(The above history was submitted by Paul Banwart, Sr.,
Pastor.)
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