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FROM:
CELEBRATING
~ 125 YEARS OF SERVICE ~
~ 1881 - 2006 ~
~
HENDERSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
HENDERSON, IOWA
~

Henderson Times, December 15, 1910
HISTORY OF THE M.E. CHURCH
By Mrs. W.D. Craig
Every swarm of bees must have its own hive in which to make honey; even so is this true of religious organizations.
Soon after the completion of the Hastings-Carson branch of the C.B. & Q. railroad in 1880, it was thought advisable to establish a Methodist Episcopal organization in what was then the new town of Henderson. Accordingly the waiting room in the new depot was secured as a meeting place, and it was there, in the winter of 1881 that the first sermon was preached by Rev. Mirshon.
No regular services were held until the summer of 1881, when Rev. Leach, then pastor of the M.E. church at Emerson, preached every two weeks until fall, in the newly completed Starrett Hall. In the following spring of 1882, the Rev. E.M.H. Fleming, then pastor of the M.E. church at Macedonia annexed Henderson as part of the Macedonia circuit.
This circuit had, previous to this, included at various times, Old Macedonia, Silver Creek, Pleasant Ridge, Osborn, Elcercior, Pontius, Wheeler's Grove and Carson.
The year 1881 saw many changes. In that year the first quarterly conference was held at Macedonia with the presiding elder, Rev. W.H. Hooker in the chair and Rev. E.M.H. Fleming as pastor, recorded the following interesting facts, namely: that a new M.E. church was nearing completion in Carson, the church in Old Macedonia sold and a new one partly erected in the new town of Macedonia, also that one was soon to be built at Henderson.
In the spring of 1882, the first quarterly conference convened at Henderson in Taylor's grain office at which time the following official members were elected: B.F. Clayton, Thos. Phillips, Sr., W.H. Hittle, H. Darner, Wm. Kilgore, R. Sowers, J.W. Moody, J.G. Gray, Anna Ewing and Isaac Woods.
The class when organized consisted of but twelve members, eleven women and one man.
Joel Woods deeded the trustees a lot upon which to erect a new church and a soliciting committee was appointed. About $1,000 was raised, this amount, with $250 loaned and $250 donated by the church extension society, warranted the erection of a new building. Accordingly the contract was awarded to Ely Carr, who completed the church in the fall of 1882. The building was dedicated in November, the dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. Wm. J. Beck, who also assumed the responsibility of paying off the church debt.
Following Rev. Beck came Rev. Parish, who died while on the charge and Rev. Beck, then retired and living in Macedonia, finished the year's work. On account of these early connections, Rev. Beck was ever held in the highest esteem by the earlier settlers here.
With deep regret we learned of his demise at Atlantic, Iowa, on April 17, 1910, at the advanced age of 86 years.
In the year 1883, Henderson was made a part of the Hastings-Wesley circuit, in the Council Bluffs district, where we remained until 1888, when we were again thrown in the Atlantic district of the Des Moines conference.
During these years, we had as pastors Rev. Pruitt, Rev. A.W. Armstrong, Rev. D.M. Buckner, Rev. Pierson and Rev. Cyrus Smith, all earnest Christian men.
(For part of this early history we are indebted to Mr. W.H. Hittle of Glenwood and others.)
In the year 1889, there came to us as pastor one Rev. A.L. Hunt, who, by his arduous efforts, left a lasting impress upon the people of this community. The Lone Star church stands as a monument to his memory. His early demise occurred at Glenwood, after a brief illness, on October 7, 1891.
Next in succession came Rev. A.W. Rawls, '91; Rev. J.L. Johnson, '92; Rev. M.K. Stahl, '93; Rev. E.M. Dugger, '94; Rev. O.W. Lippincott, '95-'97; Rev. J.C. Pike, '98; Rev. A.D. Beckhart, '99; Rev. R.F.G. Chambers, '00-'03; Rev. J.F. Davis, '03-'05.
These were all men of the highest type of manhood. From time to time revival services were conducted and each pastor will be held in warm remembrance by those under whose pastorate they were received into church fellowship.
The years 1906 - 1907 will be remembered as a landmark in our church history. We will ever feel deeply indebted to Rev. G.H. Crafts for his untiring efforts in helping to secure the necessary funds with which to carry on the noble enterprise of erecting a new $5,000 church edifice at this place.
February 24, 1907, will be recalled as the day upon which the dedication took place. An impressive dedicatorial service was conducted by Dr. A.B. Storms, president of Ames college. He was assisted by our district Superintendent, Rev. Wm. M. Stevenson, also by the pastor, Rev. C.H. Miller, who lent their aid in making it possible to dedicate, free of all encumbrance.
The year 1908 will be recalled as unfortunate in that we were compelled to undergo several pastoral changes. Rev. Miller withdrew, and after a short period was followed by Rev. Hayes, who, owing to threatened blindness, was unable to retain the charge. Soon this vacancy was supplied by Rev. and Mrs. Floid C. Aldrich, returned missionaries from India, who so endeared themselves to the people that it was with keen regret that we learned of their recall to Agra, India, in December 1909.
Rev. Aldrich was followed by Rev. Victor West, who after a short sojourn with us was succeeded by Rev. E.B. Scoggan, our present efficient pastor.
While Henderson's M.E. church has never been strong in numbers, owing to various causes, we are justly proud of the record the church has made here, and the influence for good it wields.
We have had as pastors many spiritual, upright, scholarly men, whose example has been one worthy of emulation.
"Shirk not away from the common and lowly.
Good deeds, though ever so humble, are holy;
And though the recompense fall to the slowly,
  • Heroes unnumbered before thee have trod;
By the sweet light of their blessed example,
Work on - the field of love's labor is ample -
Trusting humanity, trusting in God."

SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNIC NEAR HENDERSON
The Red Oak Sun
August 10, 1888

HENDERSON, Aug. 7 - The Sunday school picnic convention held in Magee's grove, 2 1/2 miles east of Henderson, on Thursday of last week was a very successful and profiting one. Sunday schools of Lincoln township, and from Wheeler's Grove, Henderson and Emerson were present, as well as members of other schools. The Henderson band was in attendance and made some good music. There was an organ on the ground, and the singing by the Emerson, Henderson and two Welsh schools of Lincoln township was very fine. Seats were provided for 400 people, but 600 or more were in attendance. J.A. Shuey, of Red Oak, presided, and addresses were made by Revs. Beetley of Toledo, Ia., J.F. Lyle, of Emerson and W.J. Beck, of Macedonia, and by Polk Smith and Mr. Shuey. Mr. Smith did good work in arranging for the convention...getting out the attendance and making the convention the grand success it proved to be.

SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY AT MACEDONIA

MACEDONIA, Aug. 7 - The Sunday school picnic held near here last Friday was a big thing, one of the biggest things of the kind ever held in this part of the State. At 10:00 a.m. a procession of 1,000 Sunday school pupils and workers marched to Tompkins' grove, where they were joined by some 200 other citizens. There were seats for 800. On a large platform, 12 by 60 feet, which was partly covered and beautifully decorated with evergreens, flags, banners and mottoes, were seated the speakers, the choir and the Macedonia band. The following Sunday schools were present: Henderson, Oakland, Carson, Wheeler's Grove, Lone Star, Box Elder, Christian, Latter Day Saints, Pleasant Valley and Macedonia. Hon. B.F. Clayton presided at the meeting. Addresses were made by Mr. Clayton, Revs. Geo. Wright, J.T. Mumford and W.J. Beck, of Macedonia; Joseph Wells, of Council Bluffs, and L.J. Murch, of Malvern, Sunday school missionaries, and J.A. Shuey, of Red Oak, secretary of the Montgomery County Sunday School association. The music was inspiring, led by the Macedonia band and joined in by the large assemblage, the woods ringing with sweet melody. A basket dinner was a not unimportant feature of the occasion.

QUILTING A PERPETUAL PROJECT
By Marilyn Russum
The Omaha World-Herald
July 30, 1961

Henderson, Iowa
As nearly as anyone here can figure, it all began back in the days when the horse and buggy was the most popular form of transportation and the basque bodice and bustle were haute couture.
It was about 1880 that the Henderson Methodist Church women formed their first Aid Society and held quilting bees to raise funds for the church.
Today, some 80 years and hundreds of quilts later, the women are still at it, although admitting reluctantly that "fine" quilting is becoming as extinct as the village smithy.
"Just look at this," said Mrs. W.L. Fickel, displaying a quilt in blue and slightly yellowed white. "My father's grandmother brought this from Ohio. It's at least two hundred years old. You don't see quilting like this now."
The 1961 quilters of the Women's Society of Christian Service (successor to the Aid Society), however, are doing their best to perpetuate an almost lost art.
Their biggest problem involves the law of supply (too few quilters) and demand (too many quilts). "We always have more than we can do," said Mrs. Earl Allensworth. Currently the group has a two-to-three year backlog awaiting the quilting frame.
Only one type quilt isn't done on a first-come, first-serve basis. "We sneak baby quilts in between the big ones," said Mrs. Fay Butterfield. "After all, who can wait two years for those?"
Ten women of the 38-member society meet twice a week in the church basement. They can turn out a full-size quilt in about six weeks.
The word "quilt" comes from the method of fastening a patterned layer to a lining with interlining in between. The three layers are placed together and stretched taut on the frame.
The top layer may be one of two ypes of needlecraft, "patchwork" or "applique."
Once the quilt is in the frame, a motif is designed to harmonize with the patterned top and quilters work the motif with thousands of minute stitches through all three layers.
In Henderson, the design problem is the task of Mrs. Harry A. Paul, a 40-year veteran, affectionately called "Mrs. Quilt."
Over the years, Henderson quilts (the number is estimated in excess of five hundred) have found their way to many states. One is in a Canadian home and another sent to Canada was destined for Australia.
The Henderson women charge for their work by the yard - two cents for every yard of thread sewn. They keep track by saving empty spools. Proceeds revert to the church.
The average quilt accounts for 450 to 500 yards of thread, some up to 700 yards. Quick multiplication shows why Mrs. S.G. Stonebraker says, "You couldn't make a living at these prices. The compensation comes in fun.
"Quilting with us," she continued, "is a disease. We just can't wait to finish one so we can get to the next!"
Our family's like a patchwork quilt with kindness gently sown.
Each piece is an original, with beauty of its own.
With threads of warmth and happiness, it's tightly stitched together.
To last in love throughout the years, our family is forever.
City of Henderson, Iowa
Henderson Community Building
310 Maple Street
Henderson, Iowa 51541
1 (712) 825 5151

henderson.city@gmail.com