"The History of Decatur County, Iowa: 1839 - 1970"

by Himena V. Hoffman
Published by Decatur County Historical Society, Leon IA, 1970
 
Religion, Part III, Pages 112 - 113
Transcription by Carmelita
 
Evidently, the Presbyterian congregations believed in a longer tenure than did the Methodist bishops for while in all of the Methodist churches of the county, just as in Leon, there were frequent changes, the Presbyterians in Garden Grove had the Reverend Robert Beers as pastor for ten years. In a history of the church prepared by Mr. Beers, he stated that one of his predecessors left "with few if any friends" and infers that another was an alcoholic, facts that may account for the appreciation of Mr. Beers' Christian virtues. When Mr. Beers left Garden Grove as in Leon when the Reverend Noerr resigned, members of other churches, joined the Presbyterians in saying a reluctant farewell.

For many years the Christian congregation in Leon had no problem as to a minister for the faithful J. C. Porter held the services, receiving little if any remuneration. In 1878 A. B. Cornell came to Leon as their full-time pastor and was followed by others who remained perhaps for a year or two and rarely for three or four years, then went elsewhere.

A Christian Church was established at Florence (Van Wert) in 1886 and one at Weldon in 1886. Their record as to ministers is similar to that at Leon.

As to the Catholics, St. Patrick's Church was built in Woodland township in 1867, but no priest was resident in the county until after 1900. Services were held by priests from Malloy or Chariton and once for a short time a priest came from Mt. Ayr. Priests also came to Grand River to hold services and in 1896 St. Mary's Church of Grand River was dedicated. In 1885 Bishop Cosgrove confirmed forty-nine persons at St. Patrick Church in Woodland. It is thought that Bishop Cosgrove was the first bishop of the Catholic church to hold services in the county.

The Baptist Church in Leon was reorganized after the War and at least three pastors served short periods during that time. In 1879 with the Reverend Freeland Edward as pastor meetings were again regularly held in a rented hall until a church building was built in 1883.

In 1885 it is stated that the Methodists and United Brethren held services alternate Sundays in the Community Church at Davis City, but that occasional meetings were held there by Latter Day Saints, Christian, Baptists, and Adventists. That year the Reverend D. H. K. Dix was the Methodist pastor and the Reverend A. G. Wright the United Brethren pastor.

Attention has already been called to Pamela Patterson of whom more will be written later as well as of Lucretia Arnold, Marietta Walker, and Anna Dancer in the R. L. D. S. Church, Martha Layton in the Leon Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Stearns in the Methodist Church at Van Wert. Of these and others more extended mention will be made a little later.
 
 
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