Norwalk Methodism dates its beginning from the year 1855. Bishop M. Simpson, at the Iowa Conference held in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1855, sent Rev. Allen W. Johnston to what he called the Hartford Circuit. Rev. J. B. Hardy was the Presiding Elder, and the District was called Fort Des Moines. There were only ten charges in his District, namely: Fort Des Moines, Adel Mission, Winterset, Brooklyn, Indianola, Hartford, Knoxville, Monroe, Attica, and Newton.
The first class was organized, as near as can be ascertained, at a log school house situated about half a mile south of where the town of Norwalk now stands. Thomas Wilson was appointed as the first Leader of the Class.
The little Society was composed of eight souls, besides the Leader, namely: Benoni, and his wife, Mary Black; Henry, and his wife, Jane Onstot; Ebenezer, and his wife, Jane Herring; and Johnathan Swayne and his wife. Here, fifty-five years ago, the Gospel of Christ was preached and songs of salvation and fervent prayers asconded to God from the hearts and lips of those staunch pioneer settlers. The Hartford Circuit embraced a large area of country, extending as far eastward as Hartford, where the cabin parsonage was located, and westward to what was cailed Flynn's Class, in Madison county, Rev. Jesse Sherwood, an uncle to Rev. Michael Harned, had been on the circuit in 1854, and reported 240 members, 16 probationers and 3 local preachers on the Circuit.
The Town Conference met at Mount Pleasant in the fall of 1850, and Bishop E S. Janes reappointed Rev. Johnston to Hartford circuit with Rev. J. E. Gardiner, to assist him in the work.
A large increase in membership and converted souls was reported to the Conference which was held in Fort Des Moines in the fall of 1857. At this Conference Rev. Abraham Lauback, was appointed to the Hartford Circuit, by Bishop Ames, and Rev. Johnston was sent to Adel. Lauback was a man full of the Spirit of Master, and well suited to care for and mature the little Society on the frontier. Under his labors a most powerful revival was held in the school house in the old town of Greenbush. It was at a time when the roads were almost impassable, but long before the time for services the house would be filled to overflowing with people anxious to hear the Word of Life. Nearly a hundred souls sought and found the knowledge of sins forgiven and were made happy in the Savior's love.
They were helpers in the work of laying the foundations of a future church. There was Benoni Black, John Kern, at Norwalk, Liston and Edward Stevens down near Greenbush, and Sammie Crow and W. L. Baldwin, near Linn Grove, and others who stood up for Christ right manfully in planting the Church of Christ in that region.
With the new charge called Norwalk on the Conference list of Appointments, Norwalk became the headquarters for the preacher; and the preacher being a married man a parsonage be came a necessity. A house was purchased for this purpose costing $500, and Samuel Jones and his family were the first to occupy it. This house, with some modifications is still standing, being occupied by Mr. Irvin Good and his mother, the second house north of the present parsonage. There were a number of preaching places on the circuit, namely, Norwalk, Linn Grove, Greenbush, Mt. Olive, Burkhead's, Chamber's school house, and Stiles' schoolhouse. G. H. Houser, a local preacher, Benoni Black, Ebenezer Herring, Samuel Crow, Ashley Johnson, Jesse Liston, B. F. Wadsworth, Thomas Thompson, Jacob Dearth and Leonard Smith were the Stewards; W. S. Baldwn, Edward Stephens, James McLaine and John McGriff were the class leaders; Johnathan Swayne, William Ashworth and Henry Onstot were the trustees of the parsonage property; Charles K. Allen was the Superintendent of the Norwalk Sunday school in 1864. There were 165 members on the circuit and the salary was placed at $400.
Enoch Wood was also on the charge with Rev. Martin a part of the second year of his stay. He was a man about 30 years of age, who after a ministry of thirty-two years in Indiana and Iowa, passed away in March 1873 at Indianola.
Sanford Haines had been in the ministry eighteen years prior to his coming to Norwalk. He led the delegation from this Conference, which sat as representatives in the General Conference of Methodism in 1864, in Philadelphia. He died in Des Moines Jan. 10, 1871, the report tells of his earnestness, as a preacher, and his fidelity as a pastor, and that his death was signally triumphant. His last words were, "Glory to Christ who gives us the victory."
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