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CHURCH INCORPORATED 1888

It was not until 1888 that the Duncan group perfected their organization and formed a congregation. In the files at the Platte County Court House is the record of a meeting of this group held on September 19, 1888, for the purpose of organizing a congregation and building a church. According to this record, the church was to be located in the southwest corner of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, Section 1, Township 16, Range 2 West. The associators recorded were the same as those in the original group; namely: John Ernst, John Eisenmann, Christ Wuethrich, Julius Rudat, and John Schmocker. These articles of incorporation were filed for record at the Platte County Court House on December r8, 1888.

Among other early names listed as belonging to the German Methodist group were: John Engel, John Gerber Sr., Jacob Eisenmann, and their families.

PASTORS OF GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH

In 1888, Reverend Edward Beck, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Grand Island, Nebraska, began preaching in German for the Duncan Methodist group. Under his leadership, a church and parsonage were built at Duncan in 1891. The land for this church was donated by John Ernst, one of the first members of the German Methodist Society and an incorporator of the church. John Gerber Sr. donated the first church organ. Reverend Beck also supplied the pulpit for the German Methodist group in Columbus and served as minister from 1888 to 1893.

Reverend John Kracher served the church from 1893 to 1894; Reverend Frederick Reichardt, 1894-1899; Reverend Charles H. Sudbrook, 1899-1901 ; Reverend M. H. Kueck, 1901-1903; and Reverend Julius Wegner, 1903-1904. Reverend Bernhard Johansen served the pastorates of Duncan and Columbus from 1904 to 1906 from his Duncan residence. However, Reverend Johansen moved to Columbus in the fall of 1906, and then supplied the Duncan church from Columbus. The church and parsonage in Columbus were built during his pastorate, and the parsonage at Duncan was sold.

PASTORS WHO LIVED IN COLUMBUS

Pastors who served the St. Paul's German Methodist Church in Duncan from Columbus 1906-1922 included: Reverend Bernhard Johansen, 1906-1908; Reverend B. B. Zeuner, 1908-1909; Reverend H. H. Hackman, 1909-1912. During the years 1912-1922, the church was served by Reverend Charles Harms and Reverend H. H. Hackman.

1922-1948 SUPPLY PASTORS

The St. Paul's Methodist Church in Duncan was served by a supply pastor from Silver Creek, Nebraska, for the twenty-six years between 1922 and 1948. The pastors who supplied the church were: Reverend L. V. Hadsell, 1922-1923; Reverend David Simpson, 1923-1924; Reverend Carl F. Steiner, 1924-1927 Reverend William C. Fawell, 1927-1928; Reverend R. D. Winkler, 1928-1930; Reverend Homer A. Taylor, 1930-1937; Reverend Harris, 1937-1938; Reverend H. F. Bebee, 1938-1947; and Reverend H. J. Hart served as supply pastor from 1947.

CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS 1927 AND 1945

In 1927, under the able leadership of Reverend Steiner and the assistance of the members of the congregation, St. Paul's Methodist Church was enlarged and a bell tower built. The added space doubled the seating capacity of the main church. The church bell for the tower was a gift of the Osceola Valley German Methodist Church which was discontinued when its members joined the English Methodist Church in Osceola.

In 1945, the interior of St. Paul's Methodist Church was remodeled and decorated under the supervision of Reverend H. F. Beebe, chief carpenter. The members of St. Paul's congregation donated both their time and services to this project. John Gerber, an electrician, installed new light fixtures and rewired the building at no cost to the congregation. The church yard was landscaped in the spring of 1946.

CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS

Much progress has been made in the organization of the church in the last quarter of a century. For several years, the St. Paul's Methodist Church maintained a choir for special occasions, and had congregational singing at its regular services. The 1947-1948 church organist and choir director was Mrs. Martin Zimmerman.

The Methodist Sunday-school in Duncan was organized in 1920 by Mrs. D. H. Harrington, superintendent, with a membership of forty-five. The 1947-1948 membership numbered twenty. The 1948 superintendent of the Sunday-school was Ervin Schaecher, and the assistant superintendent, Mrs. Harvey Delouyly.

The Ladies Aid was organized in 1922 with twenty charter members. The 1947-1948 officers were: Mrs. Louis Ernst, President; Mrs. Ervin Schacher, Vice-President; Mrs. Martin Zimmerman, Secretary; and Mrs. Hans Fluckiger, Treasurer.

The representative of the Temperance Society was Mrs. Louis Ernst.

1947-1948 CHURCH OFFICERS

Edward H. Ernst was the church treasurer; Martin Zimmerman, the church secretary; Mrs. Hans Fluckiger, the custodian of legal papers; and Martin Zimmerman was the lay member who represented the St. Paul's Methodist Church at the annual Methodist Conference.

The church stewards were: Edward H. Ernst, Ervin Schacher, Walter Schwiezer, William Green, Mrs. Frank Scholz, and Mrs. Edward H. Ernst. The church trustees were: Martin Zimmerman, Frank Scholz, Hans Fluckiger, Louis Ernst, Oscar Eiseman, Mrs. Martin Zimmerman, and Mrs. Louis Ernst.

1948 MEMBERSHIP

The St. Paul's Methodist Church &948 membership was represented by the following families: Edward H.

Ernst, Hans Fluckiger, Frank Scholz, Louis Ernst, Jacob Eiseman, Walter Schweizer, William Green, Harvey Delouyly, Martin Zimmerman, Ervin Schacher, Roland Engel, and Edward Gerber.

GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH

The history of the German Methodist Church in Columbus dates back to the early 1880's when Jacob Zinnecker arrived from Germany. Mr. Zinnecker was instrumental in organizing the first German Methodist Congregation in town.

The membership of this early congregation was made up of a group of German and Swiss settlers who lived south of town in the Duncan vicinity.

FIRST SERVICES

The first service was conducted under the auspices of the local Methodist Episcopal Church. At this service, Mr. Jacob Zinnecker delivered a German sermon to the congregation. Mr. Zinnecker acted in the capacity of local minister until the autumn of 1888 when, through his work with the West German Methodist Conference in Nebraska, the Reverend Edward Beck was appointed to the German Methodist Church in Duncan, and occasionally held a Sunday afternoon German service in the Methodist Episcopal Church here;,

EARLY MEMBERS

The early membership roll of the German Methodist Congregation recorded the names of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Zinnecker, Mr. and Mrs. John Meyer, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Houser, and Mr. and Mrs. John Aden as its first parishioners.

SUPPLY PASTORS

These pastors were located at the German Methodist Church in Duncan, and supplied the church here: Reverend Edward Beck and Reverend John Kracher, 18881894; Reverend Fredrick Reichardt, 1894-1899; Reverend Charles H. Sudbrook, 1899-1901 ; Reverend M. H. Kueck, 1901-1903; Reverend Julius Wegner, 1903-1904; Reverend Bernhard Johansen, 1904-1906.

CONGREGATION ACQUIRES PROPERTY

During the pastorate of the Reverend Bernhard Johansen, the local German Methodist Congregation bought from the German Methodist Church at Papillion, Nebraska, a country church building at Portal, Nebraska. This building was wrecked, moved here, and rebuilt on Eighth Street between Washington Avenue and Louis Street, now Twenty-first and Twenty-second Avenues.

CHURCH INCORPORATED

Formal articles of incorporation were filed on January 17, 1907, under the name of Zion Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbus, Nebraska. Recorded in these articles was the place of worship and the location of the church on lot 7, block 148 in the City of Columbus. The organizers who signed the articles of incorporation included the following: Isaac Brock, Fred Ernst, Rebecca Ernst, Rose Houser, August Nuetzmann, Ernst Nuetzmann, Hannah Nuetzmann, John Schmocker, Mary Schmocker, Elizabeth Wuethrich, John Wuethrich and Jacob Zinnecker.

FIRST RESIDENT PASTOR

In the fall of 1906, the Reverend Bernhard Johansen moved to Columbus from Duncan, and lived in. a rented house until the spring of 1907 when the parsonage was finished. Reverend Johansen served the church here until 1908.

CHURCH DEDICATED

The dedicatory service of the German Methodist Church was held on Sunday, July 28, 1907. The ceremony was conducted and the sermon preached in the German language by Presiding Elder J. T. Leist of Lincoln, Nebraska. An English sermon was preached by Reverend W. A. Schultz of Osceola.

FIRST CHURCH TRUSTEES

At the close of the annual conference, Jacob Zinnecker was elected assistant pastor and president of the Board of Trustees. Isaac Brock, John Ernst, Duncan, Christ Wuethrich, and John Schmocker were elected members of the first Board of Trustees.

The Reverend Bernhard Johansen was instructed to organize a Sunday school and an Epworth League Society.

RESIDENT PASTORS 1906-1922

Pastors who served the German Methodist Church from 1906-1922 included: Reverend Bernhard Johansen, 1906-1908; Reverend B. B. Zeuner, 1908-1909; Reverend H. H. Hackman, 1909-1912. During the years 1912-1922, the church was served by Reverend Charles Harms and Reverend H. H. Hackman. Reverend H. H. Hackman served the church a few years before it was disbanded in September, 1922.

CHURCH DISBANDED IN 1922

From the early 1880's for a period of over forty years, the German Methodist Church congregation was actively identified with the life of this community. However, in the early 1920's, it became evident that there was no future for the German Church here since bilingual services were no longer needed. A meeting was held and the congregation voted to disband and sell the church property. The majority of the membership of the German Methodist Church then became aligned with the local English Methodist Episcopal Church.

WEST HILL METHODIST CHURCH

The West Hill Methodist Church was located in the West Hill community of Monroe Township.

EARLY HISTORY

The West Hill Methodist Society was organized on January 28, 1877, by the Reverend John Linn, District Superintendent of the Iowa District of the Methodist Church.

The organization of this society took place in the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Anderson, of the West

Hill community. There were eleven charter members: Mr. and Mrs. Nels Munson, Mr. and Mrs. Swan Nelson, Peter Welin, Elva Peterson, Anna Larson, Anna Baur, Bengta Anderson, and Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Swanson. In the first year, four new members were added: Mr. and Mrs. John Hanson and Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Anderson.

In the fall of 1877, the Reverend Olin Swanson became the first pastor of the church. He served for two years at a salary of two hundred dollars a year.

At first, services were held at the homes of the charter members and in the district school house.

In 1879, the first church building was built on ground donated by Louis Hedlund. Part of the original church building is still standing, and serves as the main auditorium of the church.

Through the years, many changes have been made toward improving the church such as the addition of a steeple, chance!, and full basement, new pews, a classroom, new stained glass windows and a furnace. Improvements also included wiring for electricity, an altar railing and pulpit. The latter two were installed during the pastorate of Reverend C. Charnquist.

PASTORS

Pastors who have served the West Hill Methodist Church include: Reverend Olin Swanson, Reverend John A. Gabrielson, Reverend Nels Munson, Reverend C. F. Levin, Reverend C. Charnquist, Reverend C. M. Holmberg, Reverend C. F. Graneer, Reverend P. A. Lundberg, Reverend Sr A. Lindeberg, Reverend Emil Malmstrom, Reverend A. R. Mellin, Reverend C. A. Fromen, Reverend Gust Freeman, Reverend O. J. Swan, Reverend A. W. Peterson, Reverend O. J. Lundberg, Reverend C. G. Ericson, Reverend H. E. Weaver, and Reverend David B. Munson.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

In August, 1927, the congregation celebrated its Golden Anniversary. In August, 1937, a four-day observance was held in honor of the sixtieth milestone in the history of the church.

EARLY TRUSTEES

At a meeting of this church held in the West Hill Meting House, on May II, 1882, the following persons were elected to the board of trustees: Nels Munson, five years; Nels Olson, four years; August Peterson, three years; Frederick Peterson, two years, and Lewis Hedlund, one year.

Nels Musons was the moderator, and Jonas Anderson was the clerk.

These records were filed at the Platte County Court House on May 23, 1882.

On May 8, 1924, during a fire in the West Hill Methodist Church, all records of the congregation were destroyed.

PRESENT PASTOR

In 1949, the pastor of the West Hill Methodist Church was Reverend Fortune.

FIRST WELSH CALVINISTIC METHODIST CHURCH

The First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church of Platte County was organized in 1881. It was located at Postville.

The articles in the constitution formed at the first meeting of the congregation, held December 6, 1881, read:

Article I: This church shall be established in accordance with the confession and in the faith of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church of the United States of America.

Article II: The name of the church is the First Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church of Platte County.

Article III: The pastor or dean shall announce in public at church and call together the members of the church once a year, in the month of November, for the purpose of electing trustees, whose duty shall belong to said church.

Article IV: In order to sell property or borrow money, shall be voted on at a general assembly and by a majority of the church.

Article V: Trustees shall be elected: one trustee for a one year term; one to serve a two year term; and one to serve for three years.

Article VI: Trustees shall keep a record of all church activities. This record shall be read at the yearly meeting.

Article VII: All resolutions shall be recorded and filed.

Signed:
Elias Hughes, Moderator 
John Edwards, Secretary.

The Articles of Incorporation were filed for record at the Platte County Court House, December 14, 1881.

This church, in 1949, was in use only for funerals, but their Sunday school met at Postville.

LOOKING GLASS METHODIST CHURCH

The Looking Glass Methodist Church is located in Walker Township, three miles west and three miles south of Lindsay in the Looking Glass Community.

EARLY HISTORY

This church was organized in 1882, and the first church was erected that year. The present church was erected in 1907.

EARLY PARISHIONERS

Some of the early day parishioners included: Mr. and Mrs. Bengt Olson, Mr. and Mrs. John Olson, Mrs. Elna Matson, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Steiner, and Mr. and Mrs. August Peterson.

THE CHURCH MEMBERS IN 1949

The pastor of the Looking Glass Methodist Church in 1949 was Reverend W. N. Smitheran. Parishioners of that year included: Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Olson, Mr.

and Mrs. Fred Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Frederickson, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Olson, Mrs. Oscar Olson, Mr. and Mrs. Harlan Stone, Mrs. Charlie Sorson, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Stone, and Mrs. Irene Buhle.

SHELL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH

The Shell Creek Baptist Church is located in Shell Creek Township, five miles east and two miles north of Platte Center.

HISTORY OF CHURCH

The German Baptist Society was organized in 1873.

The first membership of this group was made up of twelve families from Shell Creek Township and the first church was known a the Elk Creek Baptist Church. Later the name was changed to the Shell Creek Baptist Church.

NEW CHURCHES FORMED

In the years following the organization of the Shell Creek Baptist Church in 1873, many of the settlers who were Baptists moved into the Platte Center, Humphrey, and Creston communities. As a result these Baptist Society members were instrumental in the starting of a Baptist Society in each of the above-named communities.

The Shell Creek Baptist Church also had four young men from its congregation who became Baptist ministers. One of these, Reverend John Borchers, was the 1947-1948 pastor of the church.

CHURCH INCORPORATED

On October 21, 1882, the formal articles of incorporation of the Elk Creek German Baptist Church were filed for record in the Platte County Court House. They record a meeting held May 29, 1882, at the District 35 school house in Shell Creek Township, at which Reverend Franklin Pierce, the first pastor of the church presided. J. H. Meyer was chosen as clerk, and F. Behlen, D. Brunken, and D. Behlen were chosen to serve as trustees as listed for one, two, and three year periods, the plan being to have one new church trustee elected in October of each year.

The original members of the congregation were signers of the articles of incorporation. They included the following: J. H. Meyer, D. Brunken, D. Behlen, F. Behlen, Jos. Krause, W. Krause, J. Krause, B. Krause, F. Gnuschke, F. Siems, H. P. Benthack, H. P. Benthack Jr., P. Hagemann, W. PohI, W. Lange, S. S. Meyer, A. Behlen, L. Brunken, W. Krause, M. Krause, A. Gnuschke, J. Behlen, F. Siems, D. A. Benthack, C. M. D. Benthack, M. E. Hagemann, D. E. Pohl, W. Albers, John Cramer, G. Kuper, J. C. Wilkins, J. H. Wilkins, S. Prange, G. Schurmann, H. Albers, J. P. Wetgen, P. Mohrman, D. J. Geiken, H. Hobbensiefken, Amalia Meyer, Elise Behlen, A. Krause, V. Cramer, E. Kuper, S. M. Albers, C. M. Lange, Mrs. Prange, L. Schurmann, C. Albers, C. Schwantze, C. Gnuschke, A. Gnuschke, and A. H. Schurmann.

CHANGE OF NAME

In 1888, the members of the German Baptist Congregation, known as the German Baptist Congregation of Elk Creek, changed its name at a formal meeting to the German Baptist Congregation of Shell Creek. The notice of change of name was signed by H. Peters and filed for record at Platte County Court House on January 8, 1888.

PALESTINE BAPTIST CHURCH

The Palestine Baptist Church is located in the Palestine Community in Section Nineteen of Joliet Township.

HISTORY OF CHURCH

The history of the organization of the Baptist Society dates back to September 21, 1879. This was the first religious group organized in Palestine.

The early members of this Society included: Carrie Hanchett, Hattie Hanchett, Lois Hanchett, W. D. Hanchett, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Hanchett, Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Jones, and Mrs. L. B. Owen.

The first house of worship was a crude pioneer sod house with white-washed walls constructed with a straw thatched roof. The pioneers came to church at that time by ox-team.

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

On January 16, 1889, the formal articles of incorporation of the church were filed at the Platte County Court House in Columbus. These articles record a meeting of the Baptist Society held on January 14, 1889, at which the church was incorporated under the name of the Palestine Baptist Church. The following trustees were elected at this meeting: W. D. Hanchett, P. G. Jones, A. F. Rolf, and S. Mahood. W. D. Hanchett was elected clerk of the meeting.

1947 CHURCH MEMBERS

Among the later day parishioners were: Mrs. George Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Benson, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Welin, and Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Westmore. Reverend Elliott Wallace was the pastor in 1949.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The First Baptist Church in Columbus, Nebraska, is located on the corner of Sixteenth Street and Twenty-fifth Avenue.

EARLY HISTORY

A meeting for the purpose of forming a Baptist Society was held in the Presbyterian Church located at 2722 Fourteenth Street in Columbus on April 4, ,88o. At this meeting, the Reverend J. L. Reed was chosen chairman and Bertha Wood secretary.

Four years later, on April 30, 1884, a meeting was held at the regular place of worship of the Baptist Society to perfect its organization. Z. C. Rush was appointed chairman, and J. N. Heater, clerk; three trustees were elected. They included I. D. Gates, W. A. Way, and Mrs. T. B. Gerrard.

The Baptist Society was then incorporated, and the articles of incorporation filed for record in the Platte County Court House on October 27, 1884.

About this time, the Baptist Society purchased a lot and building on the west side of Twenty-second Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, for four hundred dollars. This building was dedicated as the Baptist house of worship on Sunday, July 19, 1885. The Reverend J. W. Osborne, a General Baptist Missionary in Nebraska, presided at the dedicatory service and delivered the sermon.

A bit of historic interest is bound up in this building for records show that it was previously used as the first Congregational Church, which was the first Protestant church in Columbus. The material for this building comprised the first carload of commercial freight that came into Columbus over the Union Pacific Railroad. It was hauled free of charge from Omaha, Nebraska. Later when the school board decided to extend its facilities the building was used until 1885 as Columbus' first high school.

CHURCH MOVED TO NORTH SIDE

As time passed, the town grew to the north several blocks beyond the Union Pacific railroad tracks. The Baptist Society, in 1900, purchased a lot at the southeast corner of the intersection of Twenty-fifth Avenue and Sixteenth Street, and moved the old church building to the new site. This served as their place of worship from 1900 to 1911.

During the next five years, from 1911 to 1916, the church here was closed because of the removal from Columbus of many of its substantial members. But on November 9, 1916, Reverend A. V. Allen of the Chapel Car "Evangel" called a meeting of the Baptist Society membership and reorganized the society here.

In December of that year, Reverend Fred G. Arnold became the Baptist pastor, and immediately began to raise funds for the new church building. He served only six months due to ill health.

In December of 1918, Reverend T. M. Pyle of Wymore began a pastorate of seven years, during which time the present parsonage was built at a cost of seventy four hundred dollars. This new parsonage was made possible by a generous gift of three thousand dollars from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Y. Lisco, Sr., and by the contributions of other church members and business men of Columbus.

Reverend Mr. Pyle was interested in beauty and planted the trees now growing about the Baptist Church building and the parsonage. He also organized the first Boy Scout troop in town.

From 1926 to 1931, Reverend R. M. Lewis served as pastor, and it was during this time that six hundred dollars was collected for a new building. In May, 1932, Reverend G. E. Forssell took up the pastorate; and in 1934 the church voted to start a new building program. After several conferences with Doctor C. M. Dinsmore, Secretary of the Edifice Department of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and Reverend George Sharp, and Doctor H. Q. Morton, of the State Convention, arrangements were made to help finance the program through a loan.

The vacated Baptist Church building in Bellwood was given to the Columbus church. The building was salvaged and used in the construction of the new church. Early in 1936 Emiel Christensen, the architect, submitted plans for a new church which were accepted, and the work proceeded under his supervision. The cornerstone was laid on October 11, 1936.

In January, 1937, Reverend G. E. Forssell resigned and on May 1, 1937, the Reverend A. Pierce Waltz became pastor and continued with the building program. The building cost was $8,345.76. Much of the labor was donated by both men and women, members of the congregation. Reverend Waltz designed and made the front door and windows.

The first service was held in the new church May 8, 1938. The church was dedicated October 29, 1939.

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