Congregational Nebraska

CONGREGATIONAL

NEBRASKA

MOTIER A. BULLOCK

CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER

LINCOLN:
THE WESTERN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY
1905

THE WESTERN PUBLISHING AND ENGRAVING COMPANY

DEDICATION

To my beloved wife, who, for more than Twenty-five years, has
shared with me the joys and trials of a minister's life,
this book is affectionately inscribed by the author.

PREFACE

     In preparing this little book to celebrate the jubilee of Nebraska Congregationalism, the work continued to grow from a brief sketch to the present treatise. The range of study was larger than anticipated; the sources yielded larger results; the plan of work was radically changed; and so a jubilee volume was undertaken.
     The success of my work I must leave the indulgent reader to determine. No one is more conscious of its imperfections than am I, but at the same time I am confident that there are some things in this volume that will be of interest to the churches, for many friends have kindly responded to the appeal for information and help, and what they have written has added much to the value of the book. The interest they have taken in my effort and the help they have rendered are highly appreciated; and to them individually due credit is given in connection with their contribution.
     It has been my aim not to give a history of individual churches, but rather the historic development of a great denomination; and so I have used the Minutes of the General Association as the basis of that development. I have received much valuable help from Prof. A. B. Show's thorough work on Congregational Schools published in Caldwell's History of Education in Nebraska; the "Life and Labors of Reuben Gaylord"; and other sources of information which have been placed within my reach. In reference to the pictures of workers in the state, I have been fortunate in securing the photographs of some of the early pioneer fathers whose faces all will be glad to see on the printed page. I have failed to secure some that I especially desired to have. Some I was unable to find; others were

too feeble to sit for a photograph and had none which they could send.
     The Western Publishing and Engraving Co., which is publishing the Morton Illustrated History of Nebraska, printed by Jacob North & Co., has added several illustrations of Nebraska and Nebraska pioneers which have increased the attractiveness and value of the book. These illustrations could not otherwise have been obtained. I count myself happy and the public fortunate in the choice of publishers.
     With the exception of the Moderators of the General Association, and members of the Advisory Board, which is entering so largely in the development of modern Congregationalism in the state, I have asked no one resident in Nebraska for his picture, unless he had been twenty-five years in service in the state. If any other pictures have been introduced it is through the courtesy of the publishers. I may have overlooked some of the pioneers who should have had a place in the book; if so, it was not intentional on my part but due rather to my lack of familiarity with the personnel of the pioneer fathers, especially the laymen.
     I wish here, for valuable services rendered, to extend my thanks to Rev. G. G. Rice of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Rev. A. L. Riggs, D.D., of Santee, Nebraska; Mrs. A. N. Goddard of Connecticut; Mrs. E. G. Platt of Ohio; Rev. A. F. Sherrill, D.D., of Massachusetts; Rev. C. W. Merrill and Rev. John L. Maile of California; Rev. A. A. Cressman of Iowa; Rev. G. W. Mitchell of Clarks; Supt. Harmon Bross, D.D., Mrs. H. Bross, Rev. Lewis Gregory, and Editor H. A. French of Lincoln; Mr. C. S. Paine of the Morton Illustrated History of Nebraska; Pres. D. B. Perry, D.D., and Rev. Laura H. Wild of Doane College; Dr. George L. Miller of Omaha; Col. S. S. Cotton of Norfolk; Supt. J. D. Stewart of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society; Rev. Charles G. Bisbee of Arlington; Rev. C.

S. Harrison of York; Rev. John Gray of Basin; Rev. W. S. Hampton of Dodge; Rev. George E. Taylor of Pierce; Rev. A E. Ricker of Aurora; Rev. George Scott, D.D., of Wisner; the scribes of the local associations who furnished valuable data not found in the state minutes, and, last but not least, to Rev, and Mrs. J. E. Storm of Lincoln, who prepared the major part of the tables in Part III, which are of especial value for reference.
These friends have contributed in no small degree to the value of this book, and if it is acceptable to the Congregationalists in the state much of the credit is due them. Hoping that Congregational Nebraska may have a mission for good in the state, it is now given the general public.




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