Free Trial - Ancestry.com US Deluxe Membership

Welcome To Pages From The Past

[ Home ]

I will be adding information on the various churches in Grant County, links to their present day web sites  and hopefully a picture gallery. If you have pictures that you would like to contribute please contact me at awise110@cox.net.

Churches Of Grant County

"History of Grant Co.

By: Guy P. Webb

1811 to 1970

E. F. Webster was a Christian homesteader who settled near present Deer Creek on the NW/4 section 6, township 26N, R3W. On his ninety second birthday in 1932 he was requested by the minister of the Deer Creek Methodist church to summarize its history from sod-house days to the present.  The following is extracted from Webster's account:

Webster's nearest neighbor was a Lutheran; the next nearest a Presbyterian. They told him of a Methodist preacher who had taken a claim three miles north. The Lutheran and Presbyterian called on the preacher, John Bartof, and he consented immediately to do the preaching.  Webster offered his home, two 16 foot room, a as a meeting place.  Five denominations were represented when the first services were held the next Sunday:  Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans and Christians.  Since the Methodists outnumbered members of the other sects, the Presbyterians suggested that the church be called Methodist.  So a Methodist Sunday school was started with a Presbyterian as superintendent.  For two years, services were held in the Webster home.

"It was a big occasion, back in 1894, when Reverend Dellaplaine, the presiding elder, visited Webster chapel for the first time.  He was driving a spanking carriage team, named 'John Wesley' and 'Charles Wesley.'  Of course, he was a Methodist.  It was understood that the bishop had made it possible for him to travel in such style, calling on the early churches.  He was accompanied by two talented singers.  Built into the carriage was a small organ.  An 'immense' crowd of the country folks gathered for the event and a big dinner was served. The elder stood in the carriage, with the top down, and preached a powerful sermon, one that met with quick response from the farmer crowd.  The two singers, with organ accompaniment, led the audience in reviving the old-time hymns."

After Brother Bartof had organized this first church, he became a real circuit rider and organized churches at Hurley Satchell Valley and Osborne (early school districts) and later at Lamont.  A sod church was built near the Webster Home and Used for several years.

Rev. A. L. Snyder was the first officially appointed pastor of this sod church (Webster Chapel).  During the second year of his ministry, a frame building was erected to replace the sod church.  The town of Deer Creek was organized when the Santa Fe Railway reached the local area.  The Methodists then erected a frame building in the town of Deer Creek.  The country church was moved into Deer Creek to become a wing of the newly erected town church.

BAPTIST CHURCH

BETHEL HAWLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

The church was organized in January 1895 and conducted worship in the schoolhouse a mile north of Hawley until December 1898 when its frame building was completed in Hawley.  The main part of the building, 26 x 46 x 14,  is still being used (1969).  Land for the church was provided by Mr. Dan Russell, Negro settler.  First pastor was Rev. J. H. Long, a circuit preacher from Alvaretta ( Alva ), O. T.  He preached one Sunday a month for $125 per year.  The oldest living member, Mrs. Maud Cox, who joined in 1900, lives in Nash  (1969).  In 1919,k the south wing and a full basement were added.  The two story, block educational building was completed in 1953.  It has 14 classrooms, a fellowship hall, two assembly rooms, a kitchen, library,  pastor's study and rest rooms.  Here is a link to the present day  Bethel Hawley Baptist Church, http://www.bethelhawley.com/.

NASH FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The First Baptist Church of Nash was organized May 11, 1901, at the Star schoolhouse, one and one half miles north of Coldwater (now Hilsdale), in a meeting chaired by Elder J. F. P. Werner, who was chosen as first pastor.  Charter members were T. B. Stovall, Mrs. M. J. Stovall, J. D. Milligan and Capitola Clapp.  Before long, the following  became members: Mrs. S. E. Skaggs, Mrs. M. E. Bailey, Mrs. Katie E. Pope,  W. F. Clark, Mrs. Ret Renfrow, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Skaggs and Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Deal.  First known as Coldwater Valley Baptist Church, in 1903 the word Valley was dropped.  In May 1906, a frame building was erected in Nashville just west of the present (1969) school building and the name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church of Nashville.  The town's name was changed to Nash in 1911.

Later, a new site was chosen and a brick building erected.  Members of the location, building and finance committees were:  R. A.Lmon, W. W. Carrier, M. L. Kyle, J. C. Dunham, Jack Lemon, W. H. Potter, H. R. Reece, Presley Mills, Archie Wilson, R. M. Skaggs and G. S. Mills.  Rev. E. R. Lansdown was pastor at that time. The new building was dedicated March 23, 1919.

Church Membership of 207 in 1969 included the following deacons:  H. L. Hildinger, Fearn Skaggs, C. C. Skaggs, Bill Foster , Eldon Tarrant and Lavoy Sullivan.  Longest records of dedicated church service among members of this church are held by W. A. (Jessie) Dunham, with 55 years as teacher and H. L. Hildinger with 45 Years as Deacon.  First parsonage of the church was purchased May 20, 1943, was replaced with a new one in 1967.  Pastor in 1969 O. A. Grantz.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES

ST. MARY'S, MEDFORD

St. Mary's parish had its beginning about 1895 when mass was celebrated in a sod schoolhouse ten and one-half miles northwest of Medford.  St. Mary's church was built at that location in 1897 by Rev. Renier Sevens of Pond Creek and was dedicated on September 13, 1898, by Right Reverend Bishop Meerschaert.  The church was first in charge of Rev. Joseph Francis of Pond Creek, from 1900 to 1905, and then from 1905 to 1940, when mass was celebrated for the last time, in charge of Fathers and their assistants from Manchester, Blackwell, Tonkawa and Enid.  In 1940 Rev. Edward J. Voegele directed the moving of the church sanctuary to West Cherokee Avenue in Medford.

The first mass was read in Medford on July 18, 1940.  First trustees of St. Mary's parish in Medford were T. J. Krittenbrink, Joe Kretchmar, Sr., Mike Hein and Jerry Bohan who directed the work of bringing the old church to its new location.  It was placed on lots deeded by Miss Bridget O'Connor, pioneer resident of Medford, first to Father Herman Feyen, of Manchester, and later to the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.  The first rectory was purchased on March 10, 1941.  A new church was dedicated by Most Reverend Eugene J. McGuinness, D. D., on May 10, 1949.  The Old church had been moved and was used as a parochial school for 1948 to 1965, conducted by two Sisters.

ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, POND CREEK

Father Beck, then pastor in Hennessey, initiated a movement among Catholic families of Pond Creek and Jefferson which resulted in the erection of a frame building in Pond Creek in 1896.  Rev.  R. Sevens was appointed first resident pastor in 1897 and the church was dedicated with St. Joseph as titular on May 25, 1898.  J. F. McGuire, then county clerk of Grant County, was among those attending the dedication.  He was sent to St. Mary's, Kansas, and to the American College of Louvain and became a member of the Catholic clergy in 1905, and still later Monsignor McGuire.  In 1900 the church was moved from lots 9 and 10 in Block 28 to lots 1, 2, 3, 4 in Block 58, its present location.  A new church was built on the lots just south of the former location at a cost of $46,000, and dedicated December 16, 1949, by Most Reverend Eugene J. McGuinness.  The new rectory was completed in the summer of 1955.

SS. PETER AND PAUL, MANCHESTER

SS. Peter and Paul was built in 1898 by Father Renier Sevens, then pastor of St. Joseph's in Pond Creek.  From Pond Creek, Bishop Theophile Meerschaert and Father Sevens drove the pastor's team and buggy in Manchester where a cavalcade of farmers had come to escort them six miles to the country site of the newly erected church.  On the next day, September 15, 1898, the church was dedicated to be placed under the patronage of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul.  In 1900, Father Joseph Francies, pastor of Pond Creek, attended Manchester, Clyde and Numa (St. Mary's). He built the steeple to the Manchester church.  Father Charles Stanaert built the firs rectory during his two year pastorship, 1904-06.  Father Herman Feyen, second resident pastor, remained in the position from 1906 until 1940.  He enlarged the sanctuary of the church and, after a fire in 1932, rebuilt the rectory.  The Church maintained a parochial school for elementary grades from 1907 until 1947.  The Catholic population around Manchester dwindled to so few that in 1953 SS. Peter and Paul again became a mission.  Father Urban de Hasque and Vytautas Zakarevicius served as third and fourth resident pastors in Manchester, respectively, from 1940 to 1950 and from 1950 to 1953.

ST. ANTHONY'S, CLYDE

St. Anthony's was completed on May 1, 1898, having been built with rock quarried and hauled from near Caldwell, and lumber hauled from Pond Creek. Father Renier Sevens was pastor at that time of Pond Creek, Manchester, Clyde and St. Mary's.  First trustees were John Ciscowski, James Salman, George Blubaugh, Karl Conrady and Mike Durschel.  The church was erected on a plat of seven acres donated by Grandma Blubaugh.  Prior to the completion of the church, Father Beck of Hennessey and Father Sevens had celebrated mass in the homes of parishioners, including the "very modern one-room sod house" of Mrs. Mary Early.

Arrival of Right Reverend Bishop Meerschaert by train at Clyde on September 17, 1898, was an occasion for a ceremonious greeting and escort to the church.  Accompanied by Fathers Seven and Standaert and Joseph Francis, Bishop Meerschaert rode at the reins of four white horses.  Heading a procession of 36 mounted men, riding in pairs, was the late Peter Schmitz, carrying the American flag. A 26 piece band, directed by F. B. Aldrich, provided the music for the cavalcade.

The church, enlarged in 1916 and later remodeled, served the parishioners until 1959, when it was closed.  Dismantling followed in 1967.

St. Mary's Assumption, Wakita

St. Mary's Assumption mission of Wakita was established in 1947 by Father Urban de Hasque, at that time pastor of SS. Peter and Paul, Manchester.  Dr. de Hasque purchased and remodeled the church and parish hall buildings on May 30, 1948, Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness dedicated the church to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

In 1952, Father Vytautas Zakarevicius, who had succeded the first resident pastor of St. Mary's, Wakita.  The Main men's organization of St. Mary's is the Catholic Order of Foresters Court No. 1825, which was originally started at Clyde.  St. Ann's Altar Society, founded in Wakita in 1947, is the organization for parish women.

MENNONITE

GENERAL CONFERENCE, MEDFORD

The General Conference Mennonite Church of Medford was organized February 4, 1897,  with 13 charter members who chose H. J. Gaede as their minister.  The first church building was erected in 1909 on a site two miles north and one-half mile east of Medford.  The second church, a modern brick structure was dedicated in 1954.  This church began with a German speaking congregation, some members of whom were descendants of immigrants from Russia, and others, descendants of Mennonites who came to America from South Germany prior to the Civil War and settled in Iowa and later in Illinois.

BRETHREN CHURCH, MEDFORD

A Mennonite Brethern church was organized in MedfordNovember 12, 1899, and continued until September 12, 19098, when it was dissolved because most of the members had moved away.  From 1900 until 1904, a German language periodical, The Zions Bote, organ of the Mennonite Brethren of North America, was published in Medford.  The religious periodical circulated within the United States, German and Russia(Taurien district(.

GENERAL CONFERENCE, DEER CREEK

Mennonites of the newly formed town of Deer Creek officially organized their congregation August 27, 1899, at a meeting presided over by Rev. Wilhelm Galle, of Moundridge, Kansas.  The first frame church was built and dedicated in 1902.  This building was enlarged, and rededicated in 1931 by Rev. A. S. Bechtel, the pastor.  The parsonage was purchased in 1944.  Members decided on July 17, 1950, to build a new church on the lot north of the parsonage, using the gadite masonry units.  Members did as much of the work as possible.  The new church was completed in 1952 at an approximate cost of $20,000 plus labor of members.  Varl J. Landes was serving as pastor in 1952.  The charter members of the original congregation were:  Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Krehbiel, Mr. and Mrs. John Stauffer, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Dester, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dester, Mr. and Mrs. Justus Hohmann, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Hohmann, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Lugenbill, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dester, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Haury, J. C. Peters, Christian Eberle and Christian Goebel.