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Wausa Methodist History from Gazette: EARLY HISTORY By C. A. A. As 1937 draws to a close Wausa has within its borders three church organizations. These same three church denominations have labored in this communty practically from the very first and we find that Methodism had its beginning as early as in 1890. According to facts gathered last year when a home-coming event was staged at the Methodist church the following noteworthy facts were revealed: In 1890 the Rev. W. H. Carter was assigned, by the Quarterly Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, to ocupy Hartington and adjacent unoccupied territory with the view to creating a new charge. Rev. Carter covered the territory much as an early circuit rider, holding meetings in country homes and school houses. Through the efforts of Mrs. S. G. Schultz a Sunday school was started in a school house known as the Johnson school house, two miles north and some east of the Schultz home east of Wausa. This Sunday school was carried on for some time. In 1891 A. C. Butler, an exhorter and local preacher of the St. James charge, took up an appointment at what was then known as the Betts school house, about eight miles east and two miles north of Wausa, and by visiting and praying among the people, prepared the way for the widespread revival and further Sunday school organizations. In 1892 the Oliver Grove church was built on land donated by J. C. Oliver, a mile north and half a mile east of the Chas. Magnuson school house. For a number of years this was the only M. E. church building within a radius of many miles, and activities centered in and about it. Revival meetings were held regularly, and each summer a camp meeting was conducted, a large tent being erected in the Grove, with an evangelist in charge and visiting ministers assisting. Oliver Grove church remained an appointment on the St. James charge until October, 1892 when a charge was created at Magnet, to which it was transferred, with J. R. Gearhart of Coleridge as pastor. In the meantime, according to records left by Rev. J. R. Gearhart, Wausa was an appointment on the Osmond charge. In November, 1892 , it was transferred to the Magnet charge and the following year the name was changed to Wausa, Magnet was dropped and Oliver Grove remained the only appointment on the charge. After a number of years the Oliver Grove organization was disbanded and members of that church transferred, some to Wausa, some to Magnet and others, to Hartington or Coleridge. The church building was sold to Larry Gillilan and used for granary or barn, purposes. Thus was erased a prominent spot in the early days of this community. In April, 1894, Rev. Gearhart moved his family to Wausa and became the first resident M.E. pastor. It was in this month that the first M. E. Sunday School was organized. Meetings were held in conjunction with those of the Free Mission church at the school house. (The old school house) Those who did not understand the Swedish made up the English or Methodist Sunday School. By means of evangelistic services and camp meetings, and assisted by "Old Brother Butler" and Rev. W. H. Carter, and Rev. Powers, Rev. Gearhart was able to build up enthusiasm for an interest in his or ganization. Illness of his wife forced him to retire to University Place in 1896. Rev. W. H. Carter succeeded him and served for one year. Then "Old Brother Butler" took charge for several years, and with unfailing and unceasing energy worked for a church building, this being realized in the fall of 1898 when the present building was erected. It was dedicated on January 1, 1899, with President Lewis (later, Bishop Lewis) of Morningside College giving the dedicatory address. In the issue of the Wausa Gazette of Thursday, January 5, 1899, it stressed the part Rev. Butler had played as well as that of the business people, individuals, and the Ladies Aid, adding, "The success our Methodist people have met with is indeed marvelous. Today there stands built, furnished and paid for one of the neatest little churches in this part of the state, as a monument to Faith and Energy". The following year, 1900-1, C. W. Davidson served as pastor and was instrumental in having the present parsonage building erected. Furnaces were installed in both buildings a few years later, and complete modern basements at both the church and parsonage during the late '20's and early '30's. An addition was built to the church in 1929, providing a choir left and chancel, and the interior was rearranged to provide greater seating capacity. The church was rededicated following this change on August 18, 1929 with appropriate services. During the years since 1894 when the first resident pastor came, eighteen pastors have served the charge. The record for consecutive years of service is held by J.A. Martin who served for five years. Rev. A. E. Fowler also served five years, but at two different intervals. Following is a list of pastors to date with years served; J. R. Gearhart, 1892-96; A.C. Butler 1896-99; W.H. Carter 1899-1900; C.W. Davitson 1900-01; O. P. Mueller 1901-03; J. H. Smith 1903-05; E. T. Antrim 1905-07; Amos Fetzer 1907-08; A.E. Fowler 1908-11: J. A. Martin 1911-16; P. D. Cox 1916-19; A. J. Warne 1919-20; C. V. Powell 1920-23; Benj. Kuehler 1923-26; A. E. Fowler 1926-28; F. J. Aucock 1928-32; J. M. Etheredge 1932-35; Mertie Clute 1935- ...
METHODIST LADIES AID. In 1892 the first Aid society of the Methodist church had its beginning in an organization composed ot six women: Mesdames Lawson, M. W. Blenkiron, two Lee's, and Mrs. F. C. Genung, who was president, and one more, whose name we have been unable to obtain. These women banded together to make it possible for the continuance of church and Sunday school which was held in a school house, located on the corner where the late Mrs. Hurtig's house now stands. A minister drove by team up from Osmond about every two weeks for services, but Sunday school was held every Sunday. G. E. Lundgren was the Sunday school superintendent and F. C. Genung, assistant. The first thing these women did was to solicit names at 10 cents each for a name quilt. They did sewing for anyone who wished machine work for there were very few sewing machines in this community at that time. The social side of this organization was taken care of by the serving of lunches to the public at 10 cents per plate. Many of the (text missing)... as that of the business people, individuals, and the ladies aid, adding: "The success our Methodist people have met with is indeed marvelous. Today there stands built, furnished and paid for, one of the neatest little churches in this part of the state, as a monument to Faith and energy." Mrs. F. C. Genung, of Wausa, Nebraska, and Mrs. M. W. Blenkiron, of California, are the only living charter members and Mrs. Genung is still a member of the present Aid. She has been a member continuously for 46 years.
The following items were taken from the Gazette files to show the different methods used by the Aid (text missing)"...the women to come and have a fine time. The proceeds of the social will
go towards the benefit of the M. E. church." Magnet Messenger said as follows. "The Ladies Aid of Wausa, Nebraska, started an apron factory about two months ago under the supervision of Mrs, F. C. Genung. The factory is now closed having put out 154 aprons. After the material was paid for the aprons brought them a snug little sum of $41.10, which goes towards the bricking up of the furnace of the M. E. church. Anyone wishing a pattern of the above aprons may obtain same by sending ten cents to Mrs. F. C. Genung.
July 1930. Contest by Aid members. Earned $104.39. To give an idea of the way the Aid money is spent the following items have been selected at random, 1929. Aid paid for steel ceiling paper paint and varnish when church was remodeled. G W. Fry $43.50; Gust A. Nelson $166.00. April 1930. Enclosing back entrance at parsonage. $110.00. When the pavement was put in around the church property Mr. S. J. Larson paid $401.26, the Junior society $l00.00 and the Aid paid the balance, $192.13. March 1935. Painting church basement $24.18. September 1935. Paid out $50.60 for repairs at parsonage when Miss Clute moved in. March 1936. $25.00 toward shingling of church. July 1936. $20.00 to church board for parsonage improvement. November 1937. Repairs to heating facilities at parsonage $55.85. August 1936. Paid $100.00 to make up church deficit. That Aid pays $15.00 a month to pastors salary. The present Aid consists of the following members: Mesdames P. G. Creutz, president W. R. Wiltse, secretary L. N. Larson, treasurer, D. C. Anderson, Phil Axelson, A. H. Banks, Marlin Beals, H. J. Bornholdt, R. E. Cook, Rev. Mertie Clute. C. C. Gifford, H. J. Gropper, F. C. Genung, B. B. Hanks, H. S. Hegstrom, David Hult, Dean Hult, D. M. Johnson, Dick Kool, E. J. Krueger, Carl Lingren, F. O. Lundberg, Chas. Macklin, Roy Peterson, E. R. Poole, C. O. Samuelson, S. A. Swenson, J. E. Thoms and W. I. Thoms. Material for this history came from Gazette dating from 1899, Mrs. G. E. Swanson's scrap book, Ladies Aid secretary book and research by Miss Rose Banks and Mrs. H. J. Bornholdt.
HURST-STAFFORD CHURCH It was in April, 1919, that the excavation began. The men of the congregation dug the basement while the women with lumber wagons and horses drove over the community gathering from fence rows and roadsides rocks for the foundation of their new church. No toil was too hard or no sacrifice too great, for these men and women of God could see with their minds eye their church home completed, standing upon the hill rendering service to the sad, the lonely and to the saint and sinner who should come there for spiritual help. The work progressed, slowly until November 16, 1919 when the church site was dedicated bearing the name Hurst-Stafford Memorial Church, "Stafford" in memorial of the donor of the land and, "Hurst," commemorative of Mrs. Stafford's son-in-law who shared in the donation. The dedication service was conducted by the late Dr. I. B. Schreckengast, Chancellor of Nebraska Wesleyan Uni. assisted by Dr. E. M. Furman, District Superintednent. Rev. Sala who promoted the church building project and raised the funds was removed in the early fall of 1918 and Rev. Roy Richmond became pastor of the Bloomfield and Hurst-Stafford charge and was therefore pastor in charge at the time of building and dedication, thus sharing in the joy of another mans labors. Richmond served tne charge well for three years from 1918-1921. In 1921, Hurst-Stafford was transferred from Bloomfield to the Wausa charge and Rev. C. V. Powell became pastor serving two years or until the fall of 1923, when Rev. Benj. Kuhler became the spiritual leader. It was during Rev. Kuhler's pastorate that the basement which was in the rough, was completed, the men, under the leadership of the pastor, doing the work and the Ladies Aid Society furnishing the materal. In the fall of 1926 after three years of faithful service Rev. Kuhler was removed and Rev. A. E. Fowler became pastor and served faithful and well for two years or until Sept. 1928, when he was succeeded by Rev. F. J. Aucock. The record for consecutive years is held by Rev. Aucock who served four years. In September, 1932, he was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Etheredge, who ministered to this congregation for three years. In September 1935 Miss Mertie E. Clute was assigned to the Wausa-Hurst-Stafford charge and is still serving at this time, December 1938. In spite of the fact that the building has been in the path of one tornado and one terrific wind storm which did much damage, it still stands upon the hill and every Sunday its doors swing open, to a large group of faithful worshipers. Sunday, November 15th, 1936, was an outstanding day for the Hurst-Stafford Memorial Methodist church when large crowds gathered to celebrate the 17th anniversary of the dedication of the church building. Services were held throughout the day and dinner and supper were served by the ladies of the congregation. During the morning service Rev. F. E. Sala, Financial Secretary of Byron Memorial Hospital, Lincoln, delivered a soul stirring message upon: The Church of Christ. Mrs. Allen Wakeley and Merle Johnson sang, My Only Hope. During the less formal service in the afternoon vocal selections were rendered by Rev. and Mrs. A. E. Fowler, Mrs. G. Christensen and Miss Eileen Wakely with Miss Annie DeGroot accompanist. Words of greeting and inspiration were spoken by Rev. Benj. Kuhler of Ponca, Rev. F. E. Sala of Lincoln, Rev. A. E. Fowler of Winside, former pastors of the church. Rev. J. E. Ekwalt brought greetings from the Bloomfield Methodist church. Miss Mertie E. Clute, pastor, then read a short history of the church, also messages and greetings from Rev. Roy Richmond, David City, Rev C. , V. Powell, Waverly, and Rev. C. M. Etheredge, Clinton. The afternoon service closed with fitting remarks by Rev. W. A. Allbright, District Superintendent, calling for a life of deeper consecration to God and His service. Rev. Allbright also led a Memorial service, during which the hymn "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" was sung as a memoral to the workers of the church who have passed on. |
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