One Hundred Years (1856-1956)
That summer of 1856 was a busy one in the little hamlet of
Cannon Falls. Minnesota Territory was attracting thousands of
homeseekers and, while hundreds passed on through, many found
what they wanted in the surrounding country and remained. As yet
no one had come to control the rushing waters of the Cannon rivers
to make them turn mill wheels but the optimists were sure some-
where there was someone with the money who would take advantage
of the evidently great opportunity. In June the press and type were
presumably on the way for the yet unborn "Cannon Falls Gazette"
and there was talk of the establishment of a religious paper to be
called the "Minnesota Christian Union."
All of this Levi Hillman wrote to his wife, Mary, back in their
home in Massachusetts, hoping she would catch his enthusiasm for
the new home, to which she would come as soon as Levi had a home
ready for her and the children. It would give her something to tell
her friends who said that her silk dresses would be out of place in
a crude, uncultured town. ~May twenty-fifth he wrote, "We have a
minister here who generally preaches every Sabbath but he has been
sick for a few weeks past. Consequently there has been no meeting.
We shall probably have a church by another year. There are some
very fine families here from Massachusetts, Maine, New York, etc.
it is a beautiful place and I think destined to become a large place."
Sometime in June he wrote Mary that there was to be a Fourth
of July celebration and that Rev. J. R. Barnes was to deliver the
customary oration. There is not much doubt that Jeremiah Root
Barnes was the minister referred to in his previous letter.
Born in 1809, J. R. Barnes was 47 years old when ill health sent
him to the beneficial climate of Minnesota to recuperate from a
serious illness. After some time spent at St. Anthony, he came to
Cannon Falls and bought a small farm west of town, and evidently
conducted church services when his health permitted. His birthplace
was Connecticut and he grew up in an atmosphere of culture and
refinement. Graduated from Yale College in 1834, he went on to
study for the ministry at Yale Divinity School. About the year
1835 he married Katharine Platt who died in 1837, leaving him with
a baby son, Charles. In a touching act of love and devotion to the
family she was leaving, she suggested to her husband that he ask
her friend, Caroline Webster, to take her place. Miss Webster, a dis-
tant relative of Daniel Webster, was a woman of education and re-
finement, head of a girls' school in Marietta, Ohio. As the son
Charles wrote, fifty years later, "This advice was not disregarded,"
and in 1839 they were married. When Mr. Barnes had built a tempo-
rary log house for them, Mrs. Barnes and their three daughters,
seventeen-year-old Julia and Kate and Caroline, twelve and ten re-
spectively, came to Cannon Falls. This was in 1856.
Had the deep valley in which Mr. Barnes located his homestead
been on the seashore it would have been called a cove. It was semi-
circular with a wide opening to the East, looking across to the hills
opposite the new hamlet. As soon as possible Mr. Barnes began the
quarrying of limestone from their own hill and, with only the help
of his regularly employed man, built a house that still stands as
sturdy as it was nearly one hundred years ago. Many men who
lean to the fine arts have little ability in the manual arts, but Mr.
Barnes was an exception. His building was not only sturdy and com-
modious, but he exhibited remarkable ingenuity in the contrivance
of clipboards, closets, and storage space, things dear to the heart
of every homemaker. Outdoors, too, he pleased his wife by leveling
up the ground with a stone retaining wall and planting hardy lilies
and wild rose bushes. Almost seventy years later when his daughter,
Caroline, visited the place she was reminded of her father's de-
votion to her mother and his attempts to make up to her for taking
her away from the comfortable home they had left in Ohio. So this
new home in the new west became "Dell Nook" to the poetically in-
clined Barnes family and is still "Dell Nook" to the descendants and
friends. Here the three daughters grew to womanhood. Julia, be-
ing the oldest, was the first to leave home, going back to Ohio where
she married a minister, Rev. George Gear, and lived to an advanced
age. Kate married David Wightman and, after his death, she mar-
ried George McKenzie. No descendants are living. Caroline married
Levi and Mary Hillman's son, William. One daughter is living, Mrs.
D. E. Smith, of Richland Center, Wisconsin. She has two daughters,
who, with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, carry Mr. and
Mrs. Barnes' line out to the sixth generation.
In January, 1855, E. L. Clark built a 16x24-foot schoolhouse. It
was constructed of basswood boards placed upright and battened and
sealed with lumber inside. It stood to the southwest from the pres-
ent bandstand. Just on week after he started to build it, with the
aid of one other man, thirty-one pupils assembled and he turned
from carpenter to teacher. This was the schoolhouse to which Levi
referred.
An occasional itinerant preacher came by to hold forth in the
little building. It was near the camping ground and, besides being
filled with local people, people from the wagon trains came, arid stood
around outside. Levi wrote Mary about one such occasion, presum-
ably during the time Mr. Barnes was sick. He said that he had
just come from church, or rather meeting, in the schoolhouse. This
time the speaker was what Levi called a "western preacher" and Levi
went on at some length to compare him with their Mr. Hall of the
Jonathan Edwards Congregational church, to which they belonged
in Northampton, Massachusetts. The text was "God Is Love" and,
although the speaker knew plenty of big words, he lacked Mr. Hall's
direct simplicity. This was written June 1, 1856.
No doubt Mr. Barnes was soon able to be about again. He had
chosen the country life for the sake of his health and expected to
produce a living for his family on the farm. He was a preaching
farmer or a farming preacher, whichever way one chooses to look at
it. One day when his horse needed shoeing, he drove into town only
to find the smithy doors closed and was asked by someone nearby
if he didn't know it was Sunday. It must have been something of
a shock but, gentleman that he was, he didn't let it ruffle him. He
borrowed suitable clothing and a Bible and, choosing a text, preached
from it as though that was what he had come into town for in the
first place!
Mr. Barnes' daughter, Caroline, seventy years later told of an-
other amusing Sabbath day episode. Hoop skirts were the fashion
and, when a man came along selling sets of reeds for hoop skirts,
her mother purchased a set for Julia, the oldest daughter. Not to be
outdone by Julia, she and her sister, Kate, went to the Little Can-
non river and gathered willow branches. Then they made skirts
with tucks into which they put the willow branches after taking off
the bark. "There we had two fine hoop skirts but we were to re-
ceive our lesson for trying to be fashionable," she said. "The next
Sunday we went to church in the schoolhouse, we in our finery, but
the willows had become dry so when we tried to sit down and crowd
our skirts under the school desks, crack went the willows calling the
attention of everyone to us. To say we were embarrassed was put-
ting it mildly, and then think of how we looked going out of the
church with those sticks broken and standing out in all directions!
We never tried to wear hoop skirts again until we were older and
bought them ready-made of something more suitable than willow
sticks." Can't you just imagine their father saying, "Pride goeth
before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall?" Perhaps
though he thought they had had lesson enough.
July Fourth, 1856, came and passed and it is hoped that Mr.
Barnes was able to deliver the oration as planned. Things were
shaping up faster than Levi had realized. Many of those "fine
families" were sending back home for their church letters. Some-
time that month Levi made the long trip back to Massachusetts to
bring Mary and the children to Minnesota, and perhaps while there
he got his letter and Mary's from their church.
Finally the date was set for organizing. Rev. R. Hall, a Con-
gregational missionary, had promised to be with them July 31st. It
is regrettable that the account of the proceedings of that memorable
meeting were lost in the fire that destroyed a large part of the busi-
ness district in May, 1887.
The church register, however, was not with the other records
and the list is just as it was inscribed that day so long ago-Seven-
teen names with the date July 31, 1856, and the words "By Letter"
after each one.
These are the Charter members:
1. Jeremiah Root Barnes 10.Susan B. Clifford
2. Caroline M. Barnes 11.Sidney Monson
3. Julia A. Barnes 12. Harriet 0. Monson
4. Joseph Peckham 13. Joseph Edward Chapman
5. Mary H. Feckham 14. Hannah Augusta Chapman
6. Charles W. Gillett 15. Levi C. Hillman
7. Jane R. Gillett 16. Mary M. Hillman
8. Sherman Hale 17. Mrs. Jane Paxton
9. Jonathan Clifford
Without the minutes of that memorable meeting, there is much
to wonder about. A calendar for the whole 19th century shows that
July the thirty-first came on Thursday. All through the years of
the last century that was prayer meeting night. Was that the reason
they met that night? Or was it a daytime meeting? Who acted as
moderator? Did they find any points to argue about or did they
accept Rev. Mr. Hall's way on organizing? Who acted as clerk?
Were all the members-to-be present? Levi Hillman was a good
churchman and he probably was there but more than likely Mary
remained at home in the country as she had just made the long, tir-
ing trip from Massachusetts. Only three weeks later their fourth
child was born. No doubt, Mrs. Barnes was there to lend a woman's
influence if any were needed. Did Jonathan and Susan Clifford come
in from west of town, and the Chapmans from out beyond the Dib-
ble farm? There is no question but that they asked God's blessing
and divine guidance in preparing the soil and sowing the seed that
has grown steadily for 100 years. It was not an acorn that they
planted that would grow into a mighty oak but rather an apple
tree with fragrant blossoms of spirituality and practical fruits of
service. It lacked the thorns of discord and petty quarreling, never,
in 100 years being rent by anything more disastrous than the break-
ing off of a twig. It grew through the years, affected by its environ-
ment, by the hard times and the prosperous ones, loss of workers who
could not well be spared, and accession of members who fed the
growth of the tree.
To change the simile, it was the Biblical "house founded upon a
rock," "a house not divided against itself."
To complete their organization that day Sherman Hale and Jona-
than Clifford were elected deacons and, in the democratic way
brought to this country by the Pilgrims, a woman, Mrs. Mary Peck-
ham, was elected clerk. Although his name was not on the roll,
Luther Scofield was credited with being the first church treasurer.
Trustees were not chosen until six months later, when Sherman Hale
and J. E. Chapman were elected to that office.
A review of the charter members should begin with a little
something about Mr. Barnes' further work at that time. One writer
said, "Services were not held every Sunday." That would account
for the fact that he was able to go over to Northfield to hold meet-
ings and help them organize their Congregational church in Sep-
tember of the same year. In 1889, when Mr. and Mrs. Barnes had
been married fifty years, Mrs. M. W. Skinner wrote in a letter of
congratulations, "The Northfield church is much indebted to you
both for your loving care during its infancy. I seem to see Mr.
Barnes standing by the little table in the old schoolhouse, and Mrs.
Barnes rising from the desks to speak in meeting, an example which
has been well followed by our women ever since. You were long
regarded as our near neighbors, though fourteen miles away. North-
field rises up this day to call you blessed and to wish you grace,
mercy and peace." To which the Cannon Falls church could well
say Amen!"
Just before the Civil war the Congregational church in Minne-
sota decided to establish a liberal arts college but it was not until
1866 that Carleton College in Northfield was started in one small
wooden building. Mr. Barnes was one of the founders.
This story has not told of Mr. Barnes' ability as a poet. Every
special occasion in his life inspired him to write about it in verse.
Besides a long poem about the Biblical character, Jephtha, and one
about the loss of his brother at sea, a book of his poems contains
many other short poems.
Sherman Hale and his family came to Cannon Falls from Maine
in 1855. He built a substantial house on the West Side which still
stands. In his family were three young daughters of his first wife,
Anna, Sarah and Emily. He and the second Mrs. Hale had one
daughter. Everett and Sarah Hale Clifford brought up a daughter
Florence (Mrs. E. A. Kirkpatrick) and a son Clarence in the church
so that the Hale line was carried out in the church for about sixty
years.
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Clifford came to Stanton township from
Maine in 1855 with a daughter and five growing sons. They came west
to keep their sons from following the sea when one son never returned
from his first voyage. One son, Arthur, had already been at sea
long enough to have his gait permanently fixed in a sailor's rolling
walk. Later Everett Clifford married Sarah Hale, uniting two of
the original members, as the marriage of William Hillman to Caro-
line Barnes united two others. These four families were the ones
destined to remain here longer than any others of the church group.
The Clifford family was represented in the present membership
by Mrs. Olaf Lilleboe, (Hazel Morell) great granddaughter of Jona-
than and Susan Clifford, until her untimely death in an automobile
accident last December. Her Grandmother Morell, her father, uncle
and an aunt were also members long ago.
Levi Hillman lived only six years after the founding of the
church but Mary held her membership until her death in 1897, out-
living all of the other local charter members with the exception of
Susan Clifford. There has never been a time in the 100 years that
Levi and Mary Hillman's family has not held at least one member-
ship in this church. Mrs. Richard Poe (Myra Hillman Scofield) is
their granddaughter, as well as granddaughter of Luther Scofield,
the first treasurer. Morris and Marjorie Poe (Mattix) were mem-
bers while living at home and Dean Poe still is a member.
The Chapman family put down their roots into the soil with in-
tent to remain, owning a farm southwest of town. In 1858, other
members of the family united with the Congregational church, eventu-
ally transferring to the Episcopal church after it was established
here.
Joseph and Mary Peckham, Charles and Jane Gillett came to
Cannon Falls together from New England in 1856. The women were
sisters. Mr. Gillett built the house on the West Side, long owned
by William Golden, Sr. and both couples lived there. Mr. Gillett had
been a sea captain and, as was customary, was called Captain Gillett.
Mr. Peckham was a Congregational minister, graduate of Andover
College and of Union Theological Seminary. He was a member of
the Minnesota Constitutional convention in 1857 and of the Terri-
torial legislature in 1857 and 1858. He introduced the bill which es-
tablished the Winona Normal School, the first one west of the
Mississippi. Church records show that he had a pulpit in Massa-
chusetts in 1858 and 1859, so Mr. and Mrs. Peckman must have left
Cannon Falls that fall. Mr. Gillett was a member of a company that
owned a sawmill. The panic of 1857 found no building going on and
the sawmill business at a standstill. It seems more than likely that
Mr. and Mrs. Gillett returned to the East with the Peckhams.
Apparently Mrs. Paxton was here with her son, J. Wilson Fax-
ton, who could be called an investor, or a realtor, from the number
of times his name has appeared on deeds and abstracts. No record
whatever is left of the Monsons' place in the community and the
hard times probably drew them elsewhere.
The years, 1860 to 1870, recorded many events of interest in
the progress of the little church.
At a meeting December 28, 1861, the church was reorganized
under the state law and named the First Congregational Church. In
1858, Minnesota had become a state and undoubtedly there were ad-
vantages to be gained by the society under the new laws. The first
trustees elected were Benjamin Chapman, J. L. Clifford and Sher-
man Hale.
In 1862, probably at Mr. Barnes' request, a minister was called
to take his place. Rev. John N. Williams remained only until 1864,
when Mr. Barnes, having had a rest, again took his place in the
pulpit.
In March, 1864, Wilbur B. Scofield and his wife, Lucy Oakes
Scofield, joined the little church. They were young, only in their
twenties, and no doubt the members found them a welcome addi-
tion. Both were singers and Mrs. Scofield could be called on to
play the organ, if and when they had one to use. Through the years
there were not many offices that Wilbur did not hold, being deacon
or trustee many times. For a long time he was superintendent of
the Sunday school. Mrs. Scofield interested herself in the young
people and taught in the Sunday school.
Two years later, having been discharged from the service,
James L. Scofield, Wilbur's younger brother, united with the church
as well as the Barnes youngest daughter, Caroline. They were also
singers, a tenor and an alto, to add to the choir. Like his brother,
James was usually in the center of activities in the church. He lead
the choir for over thirty years and kept a continuous interest in
the Sunday school, either as a teacher of the young people or a
member of the Bible class.
All this time the little group had been meeting in the public
schoolhouse which had been built in 1857. Now with the Civil war
ended it began to seem possible that with all working together
they might build a church.
They purchased a lot on the West side, at the foot of the hill
on Hoffman street, and set to work to raise the funds to build a
church 35x48 feet in size. As one historian said, "It required a
couple of years to collect the money and anything that could be
turned into cash was gladly accepted. There were but few people here
then and none of them were rich, in fact they were all poor together.
One of the more generous offers was a quantity of lumber from Ben-
jamin Van Campen, grandfather of the present Benj. Van Campen.
Wilbur Scofield is credited with being very successful in soliciting
funds. Finally, in 1867, they felt they were ready to build.
The coming of the railroad was still fifteen years in the future
and all of the lumber and building material had to he hauled by
team from Hastings. When it was finished, late in the year, they
found it had cost $3,000.00 of which $500.00 was contributed by the
Congregational building society. It was painted brown and affec-
tionately became known as the Brown church long before the song,
"The Little Brown Church in the Vale," was popular. The dedica-
tion ceremonies were held January 2, 1868, with the Congregational
minister from Northfield, Rev. E. S. Williams, delivering the ser-
mon.
Mr. Barnes had been an active and interested participant in the
building of the church but a month later again relinquished the pul-
pit to another man. This time it was Rev. E. W. Merrill, who be-
came pastor in February, 1868.
Sometime before this two Scotsmen, had come to Cannon Falls
and bought land northwest of town, Charles Smith one mile out and
David Valentine four miles away. By the time the church was built,
they had 'both married and the years '68 and '69 saw Charles and
Elizabeth Smith's and David and Esther Valentine's names on the
church roll. Charles and David became pillars of the church, an old-
fashioned expression that fits as well today for, always, the church
needs stalwart men who can be depended on to support the struc-
ture. They gave of their means, their official help and their counsel.
Through the years the Smith and the Valentine pews were seldom
vacant, the Smiths having four sons and three daughters and the
Valentine's four sons.
Circumstances set apart Miss Agnes Smith and George Valen-
tine as the two conspicuous church workers in the two families.
Agnes remained at home through her life time, being the comfort of
her parents' declining years. It would be hard to estimate the work
she did through the years in the women's societies. George Valentine
was, like his father, a pillar and, with his wife Alma, worked in both
the church and Sunday school, George as superintendent and Mrs.
Valentine as a teacher. George was long either a deacon or trustee
and Alma one of the women to be depended on in the Missionary and
Ladies' Aid societies.
George's brothers, Robert, Fred and Walter, were active as
long as they remained here. Dr. Walter Valentine practiced medi-
cine in Tracy over fifty years. Fred Valentine was long a choir
singer and soloist, both here and in Minneapolis. Dr. Walter is the
surviving member of the David Valentine family and their remains
no one in the present membership.
The Smith family is still represented by the late Charles Smith
Jr.'s daughter, Agnes May, Mrs. Ray Black. She and her husband
are actively engaged in church work and their three young sons,
Ralph, Paul and James are being brought up in the family tradi-
tion.
Just when Mr. E. W. Merrill left Cannon Falls is not known but
Rev. C. A. Ruddock became pastor in September, 1874.
In that year, William Hillman joined his parents' church and the
next year his sister, Mary, became a member. She was twenty years
old and had been playing the church organ for three years, something
she continued to do with few interruptions for thirty years. The next
year she and James Scofield were married in the house across the
street east of the church, the home of the minister, with Wilbur Sco-
field and William Hillman as witnesses. The next year they built
a house across town and the miles they walked in the next twenty
years to prayer meetings on Thursday evenings, choir practice
Saturday nights, and church and Sunday school on Sunday, would
constitute a marathon. Besides this Mary sometimes taught a Sun-
day school class and did her share in the women's work.
During Mr. Ruddock's ministry between forty and fifty were
taken into the church. Reviewing the roll it is seen that many
moved away and some who remained were inactive.
Among the active, were a number of Susan and Jonathan Clif-
ford's sons and their wives. In April, 1875, Arthur T. Clifford and
his wife; daughter, Minnie, and son, Frank, joined the church. The
daughter became Mrs. Wilbur Morell, the mother of the late Hazel
Morell Lilleboe. Another Clifford son and wife, Fred and Jeanette,
joined that same day as well as two unmarried sons, Everett and
Albion. It has already been mentioned that Everett married Sarah
Hale, who had become a member twelve years earlier. In the same
group was Mary E. Curran who soon became Mrs. Albion Clifford.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Clifford moved to Northfield. The most out-
standing worker among these people was Mrs. Mary Curran Clifford.
For years she sang in the choir which meant practice one evening
every week. She taught a class of teen-age girls and was their
friend even to giving up the comforts of home and going camping
with them in tents-between Monday morning and Saturday night.
No staying away from home and church over Sunday! Her work
was important and valuable in the women's societies as well. Mr.
and Mrs. Clifford lived diagonally across from church and it was Mr.
Clifford's voluntary task to see that the church was heated. After
one last look at the furnace before the sermon, the folks in the
choir would see Mr. Clifford slip quietly into his chair at the back
of the church.
The Malletts had come to Cannon Falls in the fifties but it was
twenty or thirty years later that they became members of this
church. Three daughters, Ida, Blanch and Alice, and a son, Wayne
Mallett, and his wife, Lizzie Cook Mallett, joined in the seventies
and eighties. Mrs. Blanch Mallett Clark is still living in her home
in Kenyon.
The Henry Cook family attended the Congregational church and
two of their sons, Cyrus and Spurgeon, became members in 1878 and
1886 respectively. About the same time, Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Burr
and Mrs. Burr's mother, Mrs. N. P. Robertson, joined the church and
their three daughters, Verna, Myrtie and Winnie went to Sunday
school. Another family who came to Cannon Falls about this time
- the Michael Blacks. Mrs. Black became a member and a
worker in the church.
In 1876, Mr. and Mrs. D. E. Yale, Robert Yale's parents, and
Dr. and Mrs. A. T. Conley became members. Dr. S. Lewis Conley
of Blackduck is a son of the latter couple. For a number of years
Mr. Yale led the singing with his cornet and the singing was fervent
and spirited. Dr. Conley was another leader in the church, attend-
ing prayer meetings, Sunday school and holding office, making it,
as many others did, his main interest outside his family and profes-
sion.
In 1877, a room was built onto the south side of the church
which was always called the Lecture room. Perhaps that was the
customary title for an additional room but its main use was for
prayer meetings and Sunday school. Back, before the turn of the
century, it was customary for the men and women to meet, usually
with the minister in the chair, to discuss some Bible theme. Then
one after another they would rise to testify to the action of God's
grace in their lives or to follow each other in short prayers.
Some years after it was built, cupboards were added in one
end which housed the Sunday school library. In another cupboard,
along with hymn books and other things, was the first piece of
kitchen equipment the women owned, a copper coffee boiler with
a faucet on it. No doubt it was made by Mr. Yale. It could be
heated on a neighbor's stove and brought to the church for picnic
meals.
In August, 1877, Mr. and Mrs. Ruddock left Cannon Falls. In
the early 1900's, after Mrs. Ruddook's death, the Misses Carrie and
Edith Ruddock came back to teach in the high school here and their
father lived with them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ruddock are buried in
the Cannon Falls cemetery.
Benjamin Fay Mills was just out of Seminary when he came
to this church in the fall of 1877 and unmarried. He was ordained
here the following February but remained only until July. He after-
wards became a noted evangelist. When he held meetings in St.
Paul, 5,000 people attended the first meeting. In the early nineties,
he held a series of evangelistic meetings here in a large tent placed
in the street in front of the church.
The church was without a minister for six months after Mr.
Mills left. Then in January Rev. C. A. Conant and his wife came
to carry on the work.
About a year later the present parsonage was purchased and
the Conant family moved into it. It had been built two or three
years previously by Mr. Gardner of Hastings who had an interest
in the Goodhue mill. The Beacon of May 14, 1880, which reported
this purchase, also stated that they had laid a fine new carpet in
the church. All this would cause a flurry of money-raising projects,
concerts, entertainments and sociables in the homes. These soci-
ables were the forerunners of the Ladies' Aid. It would be announced
in the Beacon and probably from the pulpit and the church people
would gather at one or another of the roomier homes for Christian
sociability and to become better acquainted. The young people usu-
ally repaired to the upper floor for games and guessing contests
while the older folks visited. The hostess served sandwiches and
cake much as they do today, and the few dollars taken in was turned
directly over to the trustees.
Mr. Conant introduced an innovation in printed leaflets contain-
ing the prayer meeting texts and topics for the year of 1879. The
subjects for January were "The Old and the New," "Fields White to
the Harvest," "Covenant with God," and "Feed My Lambs." It no
doubt quickened interest in the meetings.
The year 1881 closed twenty-five years of uninterrupted progress
of the little church group. The register shows that about 130 people
had united with the church but this does not account for removals
and deaths.
Wednesday, the 21st day of September, 1881, was chosen for the
celebration of the anniversary. In the forenoon, Rev. Mr. Conant
read a history of the organization and related many of the trials
and difficulties through which the church had struggled to the then
comfortable circumstances. Quoting the Cannon Falls Beacon's ac-
count, "After the ladies had served an excellent dinner, Rev. J. R.
Barnes gave a most interesting reminiscent address. J. L. Scofield
followed with his recollections of the ministers who had served the
church since its organization, and W. H. Scofield spoke of his ex-
periences in collecting funds for the building of the church." The
following hymn, written by Mr. Barnes for the occasion, was sung.
In it he refers to the disappointment in Cannon Falls not quickly
growing into a city.
Anniversary Hymn
Where savage feet for ages stood
And with a war whoop ran to fight,
We reared in faith the house of God
More bright than suns the source of light.
A quarter of a hundred years
Have passed away so like a dream
The present chides all faithless fears,
And bids our hopes more brightly gleam.
What though a city has not come
To justify our early pride,
We founded here a happy home
And wait the future's golden tide.
We planted here a goodly seed
To honor Christ, our God and King;
As He approves our work and creed,
Children will rise our deed to sing.
This plant may flourish through all time,
As God shall give its genial rain,
And yield a harvest most sublime
When final reapers count the gain.
Then those that sowed with them that reap,
Shall gather round in jubilee
And all the blest, who wake, or sleep,
Shall join, 0 Lord, in praise to Thee.
Mr. Barnes had lived in Minnesota about twenty-five years at
that time, mostly here at Cannon Falls. After another year, dis-
couraged by growing deafness, he and Mrs. Barnes returned to
Marietta, Ohio, where their oldest daughter welcomed them into her
comfortable home. He died there January 1, 1900, at the age of
ninety-one years.
Through the years of Mr. Conant's ministry, thirty-five people
came into the church. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Lewis,
Louise, Carrie, Amelia and Mathilda Youngberg, 0. E. Falck, Jacob
Fraley, Susie Scofield, Mrs. Carrie Harnisch, and Mr. and Mrs. A. E.
Engstrom. Louise Youngberg became Mrs. 0. E. Falck, and the
Engstrom, Lewis and Falck families contributed their help in all
ways to the growth of the church. Together they raised sixteen child-
ren in the church, five of whom are present members, Mrs. Myrtle
Lewis Von Kohlston, Lucretia Lewis, Mildred Engstrom, Glen Eng-
strom, whose wife is also a member, and Grace Falck whose home is
in Washington, D. C.
After only a little over twenty years of membership, Mr. Eng-
strom's untimely death cut short his work in the church. But in
that time he had become one of those who "could not be spared."
In his turn he held the church offices as the other church leaders
did. Though his years as county superintendent of schools kept him
away from home most of the week, the Engstrom family were, like
the Valentines and Smiths, consistent church attendants, the fam-
ily pew on the north side of the church being almost always well
filled.
Mrs. Engstrom, through the twenty-five years of her widow-
hood, kept up her active interest in the church though for a time
she carried on a business of her own. She was elected assistant
Sunday school superintendent and often presided. She was a mem-
ber of the Bible class, taking part in the discussions which often
waxed interesting, if not heated. The class was usually divided
into two camps, the literalists and those who favored a broader
interpretation of the Bible. With her on the latter side were her
brother, Dr. A. T. Conley; Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Scofield and Mrs. A. L.
Clifford, when they were not teaching classes of their own, and
Mrs. M. M. Barlow. Mrs. Barlow was an Episcopalian but she
enjoyed adding her voice and opinions to the discussions and became
a member of the class. In 1917, while Mr. Harris was pastor, she
became a member of this church. No doubt at times the class was
in agreement but when they were not, each side went home staunch
in their own convictions.
In 1882, after three years of productive work, Mr. Conant left
Cannon Falls and the next month Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Cross and
little daughter, Mary, moved into the parsonage. Mr. Cross remained
as pastor five years and during that time he took thirty people into
membership. Among them were families, or heads of families, who
left their impression down through the years. The list contained the
names of Charles and Emma Curran and his sister, Mrs. Belle Price,
Mrs. Robert Yale's mother. Mr. and Mrs. Curran did not live here
long but their sons, Clay and Paul, and daughter, Mary Curran, came
back here to live after their parents' death and were members of the
church. Mr. and Mrs. George Brooks are on the list. They, with
their two daughters, Margaret and Bessie, long were active in church
work. Mrs. Blanch Mallett Clark of Kenyon is the oldest living mem-
ber of the church, followed by Dr. Walter Valentine and Miss Mar-
garet Brooks. Miss Brooks taught at Worthington for many years
and is now spending her years of retirement there. Jasper Grisim
became a member in 1886, his wife and daughter, Grace, still being
members. Mrs. John Ritchie's name went on the roll the same year
and her family still carries on.
Just before Mr. Cross left, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Scriver came to
town and began to take an active interest in the work of the church.
Mr. Scriver was Sunday school superintendent for a number of years.
While the church was increasing in membership, the Cross fam-
ily also increased; a daughter, Grace, and a son, Edward, were born
in the parsonage. Grace died at the age of five years. Ned grew to
manhood and became a Congregational minister and was pastor of
several important churches before his untimely death. One of Mr.
and Mrs. Cross' greatest accomplishments was the rearing of a fine
family. Their son, Rev. Rowland Cross, and daughter, Laura, were
missionaries at the same time in China. He is now in New York
City and she in Minneapolis where the oldest daughter, Mrs. J. A. A.
Burnquist, wife of former Governor Burnquist, also lives.
Willard Cross has been superintendent of the Faribault schools and
a worker in the church there. Then there are two more sisters,
Miss Margaret Cross of Hawaii and Mrs. Emerson Dagget of Los
Angeles.
When the Cross family moved away, the parsonage, in 1888, be-
came a bachelor apartment. Rev. David Henderson, who had come
from Scotland some years before, was unmarried. He was some-
where around seventy years of age and a rugged individualist. It
is said that in Scotland the people are very critical of their
minister's preaching. His sermon must be well organized and progress
through several numbered divisions to a logical conclusion. It is said
that Mr. Henderson's sermons were scholarly. He must have been some-
thing of a naturalist as he took long walks alone, almost always cut-
ting himself a cane of some peculiar form, and the hail upstairs in the
parsonage always contained an array of between twenty and thirty
canes. One day when he had chosen to walk up the banks of the
Little Cannon he found he was approaching a herd of cows. With
his stick in hand, he strode on thinking to drive them away if they
became too curious. Suddenly, without warning, he discovered that
the male of the species was beginning to resent his approach and
was coming at him with increasing speed. Fortunately there was
a tree nearby and he sought safety in the branches, where he was
obliged to stay until the farmer heard his cries and came to get him
out of his predicament. Needless to say, for some time he confined
his walks to public lanes and open fields.
Among the names written into the register between 1888 and
1892, Mr. Henderson's pastorate, were Mrs. W. B. Davidson, Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Hillman and Mrs. H. A. Van Campen. During those
years of the late eighties and early nineties, Mrs. Mattie Bacon and
her sons, George and Dexter, and daughters, Celia and Fannie, be-
came members, but they have been long gone, with the exception of
Celia, Mrs. Mills, of Puyallup, Washington. In 1889, Mr. and Mrs.
Jesse Smith came to Cannon Falls and the next year they joined the
church. Eventually they raised six daughters in the church. One
daughter, Anna, became Mrs. Charles Smith, Jr. and is still actively
engaged in church work. She has been a member of the Ladies Aid
longer than any present member, her name appearing first on the
roll the year she was married, 1908, and she has been a member of
the church since 1893. The Davidson and Fred Hillman families grew
up in the church and there have been Van Campens in the church
continuously for sixty-six years. Four sons and one daughter, Viola,
of Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Van Campen were followed by their oldest son
Benjamin's family of three sons and two daughters. Now only Ben
and Irene are left but their work and attendance at church has been
continuous since their marriage in 1908, and Ben's even before that.
Gilbert A. Youngberg, now Brigadier General, retired, joined the church
in April, 1892, being with Mrs. Clark and Dr. Valentine and Miss
Brooks, the only persons still living whose names went on the roll
earlier than any present members.
Early in the nineties, professional painters redecorated the
interior of the church, stenciling panels on the ceiling and walls. In
the front of the church were inscribed two Biblical phrases, "Praise
Ye the Lord" and "Search the Scriptures." A new, wall-to-wall car-
pet was laid and everything was new and fresh again.
Mr. Henderson left Cannon Falls in September, 1892, and lived
only four years, dying in 1896.
When Rev. William Jenkins came to Cannon Falls, Mrs. Jenkins
had been dead for some time. He had three daughters, Alferetta,
Eva and Grace, and Mrs. Jenkins' sister, Mrs. Arab Carpenter, came
to live with them as homemaker. She had two sons, Allen and
James. Retta and Allen attended Carleton College and the other
three were in the local school.
When Mr. Jenkins and his daughters became members, Kate
Clifford, now Mrs. W. A. Rossman of Grand Rapids, Minnesota;
Marian Price, now Mrs. R. P. Yale, and Lewis Conley also joined.
Mrs. Rossman no longer belongs, nor does Dr. Conley, so Mrs. Yale
holds the longest membership of any present members. While Mr.
Jenkins was here nearly fifty people were enrolled in the church.
He finished his ministry here in November, 1895, and the next
two years the church had as its pastor, Rev. B. F. Paul, who was
married and had one small son Charles.
In 1893, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Scriver left Cannon Falls and Mr.
and Mrs. C. W. Grass came to take their place. The Scrivers were
missed but Mr. and Mrs. Gress help was sincerely appreciated
through the years that they remained here.
One of the families, appreciated while here and missed when
gone, was the Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thayer family of six girls. Maud,
Mabel and Eva joined the church with their parents in 1893. In
1902, letters were granted them to a Congregational church in Pull-
man, Washington. Mr. Thayer was a nephew of Mrs. Sherman Hale.
Charles Ryberg, a student at Carleton college, supplied the pul-
pit for awhile and then was asked to become resident minister. He
was unmarried and his sister, Winifred, came up from Iowa to keep
house for him and their sister, Elrna, came here to attend high
school. After leaving here Mr. Ryberg gave up ministerial work
and became an attorney.
It was while Mr. Ryberg was here that Jean Ritchie, now Mrs.
John Robertson; Agnes Ritchie and Myra Scofield, now Mrs. Richard
Poe, joined the church, being the last of the present membership
to have joined over fifty years ago, fifty-seven to be exact. The
others have been mentioned before but this is the assembled list:
Mrs. R. P. Yale, Mrs. Anna Smith, Miss Lucretia Lewis, Mrs. Myrtie
Von Kohlston, Mrs. John Robertson, Miss Agnes Ritchie and Mrs.
R.M. Poe. Mrs. Jasper Grisim, Miss Grace Grisim, Mrs. B. H. Van
Cainpen, and Dr. Doely are present members who are nearing their
fifty year anniversary, having joined in 1909. Mrs. Doely joined
later and she and Dr. Doely have worked constantly for the good
of the church, as has the Grisim family.
At the annual meeting in January, 1900, it was voted to ask the
Minnesota Methodist conference if they would supply a minister for
this church and the local Oxford Methodist churches. In Sep-
tember, the conference had offered the services of Rev. N. de M.
Darrell and the church voted to ask Mr. Darrell to come. It was
a happy arrangement. In October, Mr. and Mrs. Darrell with their
two small sons, James and Norris, moved into the Congregational
parsonage. They had come to Minnesota only a few months before
from the West Indies where they had been raised, he of English
parentage, she of Dutch, her maiden name being Pondt. The weather
often being very hot there and native help inexpensive, their homes
had been well staffed and they came knowing little about looking
after their own wants. Mrs. Darrell not only had to learn to keep
house but she had to struggle against her inborn thought that doing
menial tasks was not ladylike. She became sincerely embarrassed
when Dr. Conley went by as she was carrying a pail of water. Mr.
Darrell adapted himself quickly to the American attitude toward
work and learned to cook. He laughed years later about his pre-
dicament when they were presented with a live chicken soon after
they came to Minnesota. He said that in some way or other he got
it dressed and cooked. His father was a Methodist minister and kept
seven or eight servants so they could ask for a glass of water and
have it served to them. The American way of life was quite a change.
Mr. Darrell preached in the Congregational church Sunday morn-
ing and at the Methodist church in town in the evening. The after-
noon was given over to the Oxford Methodist church. A very heavy
schedule for $800 and parsonage, Congregations of each church at-
tended either service as they pleased. The young people joined in a
society they named Young People's Society of Christian Workers, and
gave up their denominational names, Christian Endeavor Society
and Epworth League.
While here the Darrels' first daughter, Beryl, was born in the
parsonage. After leaving here four more girls were born to them
and their two sons and five daughters are all living and all married.
James (J. E. P.) has been with the Minnesota State Highway depart-
rnent for around thirty years. Norris became a successful attorney
and lives in New York City. Two of the girls live in McAllen, Texas,
in the Rio Grande valley. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell spend their winters
there and their summers in their own home in Minneapolis. After
three years here the Methodist conference assigned Mr. Darrell to
another change and their Cannon Falls friends had to let them go.
In the fall of 1903, Rev. J. L. Keene came to Cannon Falls and
he and Mrs. Keene and their son, Edward, moved into the parsonage.
At this time the little Brown church had been in use nearly forty
years and, while it was still sturdy, it lacked the appointments of
comfort and beauty that a new building could furnish. Mr. Keene
highly commended the idea and always spoke in favor of building a
new church but nothing was done until December, 1906, when a comm-
ittee was appointed to look into the cost of remodeling the old
church. This was not considered feasible and plans were set Under
way for a new church.
The first move was to procure pledges from the men of the
church and seven together pledged $4,050. Dr. A. T. Conley, David
Valentine, C. W. Gress, J. L. Scofield, Charles Smith, Harrison Slocurn,
and George T. Vanlentine constituted the building committee. A
lot, 120x142 feet on the corner of Main and Third streets was pur-
chased for $1,250.00 and excavating began in the summer of 1907.
It was decided to dispense with a general contractor and hire
local men as much as possible. With good building stone in the
hills there had been a succession of stone masons to he called on
through the years. By September tile walls of the basement were
finished and it was time to lay the cornerstone. The Beacon of the
time said, The afternoon of the twenty-eighth was one of such
beauty and quiet that it seemed that the blessings of heaven were
visibly descending to sanctify the work of the builders. The cere-
monies were opened by a hymn sung by a quartet composed of Miss
Myra Scofield, Miss Emma Nelson, Mr. Wilbur Morell and Mr. George
Olson, with Miss Anna Williamson accompanying on the organ. Rev.
J.L. Keene read from the Scripture and invoked God's blessing on
the occasion. The address was given by Dr. Salmon, president of
Carleton college. At the close of the address, C. W. Gress deposited
a metal box in the hollow of the stone in which were copies of
the church roll, a history of the church, names of the officers and
building committee and other documents and papers. The ceremony
of laying the cornerstone was performed by David Valentine. The
exercises closed with the singing of the hymn, How Firm a Founda-
tion, and the benediction by Rev. T. G. Haggquist of the Swedish
Mission church."
The work progressed and James Scofield changed his route from
the store to his home by way of Main street. He had the best chance
of any of the building committee to watch the work as four of them
were farmers, Dr. Conley lived on the West Side, and Mr. Gress on
the South Side. Wilbur Scofield's interest had been keen in the
building of the first church and in the new school building in 1893
and now James was having his turn at the excitement of watching
a favored project progress. There was usually something that had
to be checked on, the stone for the window sills, the millwork from
Red Wing. The cornerstone had been lost in transit and he had
gone up to St. Paul and hunted it out at Minnesota transfer.
It was a Biblical four who went to Minneapolis to select the
stained glass windows. The James was James Scofield and one of
the Marys was his wife, Mary Hillman Scofield. The other were
Mary Conley Engstrom and Mary Curran Clifford. They came home
happy with their choice.
This story has made no mention of Charles Barnes, Rev. J. H.
Barnes' son by his first wife, except to speak of his birth. He,
nineteen years of age and employed when the rest of the family came to
Minnesota. J. R. Barnes was a brother of Albert S. Barnes of the
book publishing company and Charles Barnes was given opportunity
to go into the firm, eventually becoming wealthy as head of the
Chicago branch of the concern. Oldsters learned to read from the
Barnes readers. The first and second readers printed in 1883 by the
A. S. Barnes Company are ascribed to Charles J. Barnes and J. Mar-
shall Hawkes, as the authors.
At the time of the building of the church, Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Barnes were living in Paris, France. When it was proposed to Mr.
Barnes that the new church be called the Barnes Memorial church,
in memory of his father, the Rev. Jeremiah Root Barnes, he responded
with a check for $5,000.00. Later he asked that a suitable inscription
for a memorial tablet be prepared and sent to him. Prof. George
Huntington of Carleton College, who had known Rev. Mr. Barnes,
composed the eulogy, and the son had the beautiful bronze memorial
tablet made and shipped from France.
The Church at the Foot of the Hill
Remember how often we gathered down there,
In the church at the foot of the hill:
With a wee scripture verse and a hymn and a prayer
While the old world grew thoughtful and still?
The grownups and children in worship found rest;
Nor were given to doubtings profound;
And the faithful old sun, as it sank in the west,
Spread the glory of heaven around.
Since then the old world has been all upside down,
With weary debate and dull doubt;
Trying to work out a thousand of things,
Which men are not asked to work out.
And I long for a bit of the old scripture book;
A hymn and a verse and a prayer;
With the faithful old sun lighting up every nook;
For the glory of heaven was there.
-Judge Charles P. Hall
The committee were fortunate in having present three former
pastors, the Reverends C. A. Ruddock, R. S. Cross and W. M. Jenkins,
each taking a part in the morning service. Just before the sermon
by Rev. E. B.. Dean, Mrs. Caroline Barnes Hillman unveiled the
memorial tablet. A dinner was served at noon in the dining room.
During the afternoon service the dedicatory covenant was read re-
sponsively by the pastor of the church, Rev. C. Vincent, and the
people. At an evening service James Scofield talked on the first
fifty years of the church and David Valentine reviewed the history
of the building of the church.
The following dedication hymn, written by Rev. Mr. Barnes at
some past occasion, was sung:
Dedication Hymn
Builder of worlds so bright above,
Who hast to us revealed Thy love.
Accept the house we raise to Thee,
Thine earthly temple, Lord, to be.
We consecrate it to Thy praise,
Where songs of gladness we may raise;
And celebrate Thy gracious care
In tribute pure of faith and prayer.
Long may it be the sacred place
Where we and ours may seek Thy face,
And gain assurance of the rest
Thy chosen share among the blest.
The church had cost $15,600.00 and was dedicated free of debt.
Rev. Mr. Vincent left in October, 1911, and between then and
1922 three pastors served the church, Horace S. Wiley to 1914, Louis
L. Harris to 1918, and Arthur L. Golder to May, 1922. These ministers
all occupied the parsonage, the Wileys with no family, the Harris
family with two grown sons, and the Golders with one son. It was
a time of activity during which about 125 persons joined the church.
In the intervening time the church has lost a few of those members by
death but by far the larger number moved away. About seven or
eight are still on the church roll~ one or two being absentees.
In 1920, Mr. Gress resigned as president of the First National
bank and he and Mrs. Gress moved to Minneapolis. Arthur Scriver
came from Northfield to take his place and, with his wife, Katherine,
joined the church in 1921. He was back in the church he had been
born into, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Scriver, being members of
this church. Arthur and Katherine's little daughter, Jeannette, Was
born before they came here and grew up in the church, as did her
brother Hiram and sister Vilaty, who were born here. One of the
gold stars on the church World War II service, flag is in memory of
Hiram who died while in the service. Mrs. Vilaty Patnode lives in
Washington, D. C. The Scrivers immediately became involved in
church work and, after twenty-five years, are as active as ever.
Katherine must have inherited the place at the organ soon after
they came and has kept it, except for short intervals, ever since, most
of the time directing the choir from her place at the organ. Besides
all this, she has worked with the women's organizations. Arthur
soon began his turn at the church offices and for some time was
Sunday school superintendent, as his father had been before him.
The tradition has been kept up by Jeannette, now Mrs. John Burch,
who served for a time in that capacity. She has also taught a
Sunday school class, sung in the choir, taken her mother's place
at the organ summers and at other times and been active in the
women's work. She and John are bringing up the Scriver fourth
generation, their Johnnie Hi and Ann, in the church. After a period
of letting younger men serve as church officers, Arthur has taken
over the responsibility of general chairmanship for the celebration
of the church's one hundredth year. Who should have more interest?
After all the Scriver roots go back almost seventy years of the one
hundred.
Another family that has grown up in the church is the William
Eiler family. One after another the boys went to Sunday school
and joined the church. Roy Eiler's gold star is also on the service
flag. Through the years, about 35 in fact, Mrs. Eiler has been a
help in the women's organizations.
Alter several months of supplies or candidates for the pulpit, the
members asked Rev. John Edward Everett to he their pastor and
he and Mrs. Everett moved into the parsonage, in 1923. They had
two sons and a daughter already established in their own homes,
but Margaret, Mary and Edward, all of college age, called the par-
sonage their home. Of course, ministers' salaries are notoriously
inadequate but, largely through Mrs. Everett's care in budgeting the
family finances, all six children became college graduates. She also
took her place among the women of the church, doing her share.
In the fall of 1926, Mr. Everett recommended that the 70th
anniversary of the church be celebrated, feeling that there were
some in the church who might not be present five years hence.
Sunday, October 31st, was the date selected and, with Dr. Lewis
Conley as chairman, morning and afternoon sessions were planned,
with a dinner at noon in the dining room. Two former ministers,
Rev. Mr. Darrell and Charles E. Ryberg, were present, as well as
Rev. George Conley, Dr. S. L. Conley's uncle. All had a part in the
morning service, after introductory remarks by Mr. Everett on the
important place in our lives that tender memories have. Music was
furnished by the choir and soloists. The afternoon was given over
to reading letters from former members and reminiscences by visitors
and others. One of the letters read was from Mrs. Julia Barnes Gear,
the last living charter member of the church. She wrote in part, "I
am sure the celebration of so old and staunch a church will be seen
in God's sight as good. The growth has not been alone in numbers,
but in spiritual life reflected from the Father of all men in whom
we live and move and have our being." She was eighty-six years
old at the time.
George Valentine read a history of the church that he had pre-
pared. He talked of the ministers, there being only two that he
had not known.
As is always true of such an occasion, the reunion of old friends
was a pleasing part of the day's activities. All went home at the
end of the day hoping to meet again. Over 200 people participated
in this event.
Everyone in the church was very busy that fall of 1908. The
young people chose and paid for the lighting fixtures. The women,
through tile help of Mr. Charles Smith and his daughter Agnes, chose
a carpet pattern from a St. Paul firm for which the women paid
$324.00. Did anyone ever get a better bargain? It perhaps should
have been discarded a little sooner but it has seen nearly 48 years
of wear before being replaced by a new carpeting for the centennial
celebration.
The women, of course, looked after the kitchen. They purchased
a wood range, bought some kettles and other important items and
had a kitchen shower, each one contributing small items so necessary
in the kitchen.
Sometime in October, when completion seemed in sight, Wednes-
day, the 16th of December, was set for the dedication of Barnes
Memorial church.
At the time of the dedication of the first church building, some-
one wrote "They were a happy people". That applied as well to
the church people of 1908. There may have been six or seven people
present at both dedications. James Scofield was present both times,
and quite likely Mr. and Mrs. Charles Smith were at the first service
as they were members and they were much interested in the second
church. Mr. and Mrs. David Valentine did not become members
until 1869 but may have been present both times. Mary Hillman
and her brother, Fred, were in their teens but lived only across
the street and it was their family church, so, they may have been
present in 1868, as they were in 1908.
Although the seventieth anniversary celebration had been planned
rather than the seventy-fifth, when the time approached it was de-
cided to again mark the important year. Much the same type of
service was planned with Rev. A. K. Voss, superintendent of the
Congregational churches of Minnesota, delivering the sermon. At
noon a covered dish meal was served and the guests and members
enjoyed the pictures of former pastors and old scenes that were on
display. The afternoon was given over to the reading of letters, a
short address by Mr. Voss. Mr. Scriver spoke of the present church
and again George Valentine reviewed the history of the church.
The choir, under the direction of Mrs. Scriver, rendered special
music, both forenoon and afternoon. This was largely a quiet cele-
bration by the congregation and there were few out-of-town guests.
In the fall of 1933, the Barnes Memorial church had been in use
25 years, so the last day of the year, Sunday, December 31st, was
set aside for a quiet observance. Rev. A. E. Parsons, minister at
large of the Minnesota Congregational churches, was the morning
speaker and there was music by the choir. The noon lunch was
followed by an afternoon meeting at which A. T. Scriver acted as
chairman. The Beacon account published at the time stated that
George Valentine reviewed the story of the efforts and sacrifices of
those who labored for the erection of the church. Miss Grace Grisim
told of the activities of the day of dedication and Mrs. Richard Poe
gave a talk on the memorial windows; especially referring to the
persons whose names were inscribed on them.
The day closed with the singing of the hymn, "Blest Be the Tie
That Binds." as the dedication service twenty-five years before had
closed, followed by the benediction.
Although the congregation knew that Mr. Everett was looking
forward to his years of retirement, no one felt ready to accept his
resignation, which he presented to the congregation in February, 1935,
after twelve years in this pulpit. He stated that he wanted to have time
to write the story of his parents' years in the controversial state
of Kansas before the Civil war, when both pro-slavery and anti-
slavery factions were trying to get control of the state politics. They
had planned to come to Minnesota but were persuaded to go to
Kansas to add to the anti-slavery vote.
In May, Mr. and Mrs. Everett moved to New York state, living
at Brewster, a little north of New York City. After Mrs. Everett's
death, Mr. Everett lived in the city near his daughter.
When word came of his death on September 6, 1952, at the age
of 89 years, a brief memorial service was held the following Sun-
day. Later friends had a bronze plate placed on the front of the
church with a plate in the entry dedicating it to his memory. At
the service of dedication, Rev. Richard Kozelka gave the appropriate
prayer which follows:
In Memoriam, John Edward Everett
Most merciful God, who hast not left Thyself without a witness in
any generation,
We praise Thee for the life of Thy servant, John Edward Everett, who
witnessed for Thee in the ministry of Thy church.
Those who knew him remember with affection and joy the many
traits which endeared him to his people:
His humble friendliness for all men, making the whole town his care;
His trustworthy judgment, which brought many to him for counsel:
His gentle wit, pointing the humor of life without malice or barb;
His practical faith, by which he sought and served Thee in the common
experiences of life;
His kindly manner, testifying to all the graciousness of his Lord.
These memories of him warm the hearts of his friends, and make them
praise Thee, as he would have wished.
And of those who knew John only through his friends, are reminded
again of the on-going of influence, the endless outreach of life,
victorious over distance or death.
As he goes from us still closer to Thee,
We rejoice in his life more than we mourn our loss.
Grant that we may live with Thee, as he lived with Thee--
that we may die in trust, as he died in trust-and that
we may at last come, with him, into Thy kingdom.
These things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, his Lord
and our Lord, Amen.
During Mr. Everett's ministry, a number of people came into
the church. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hall, Mr. Hall
has passed on but Mrs. Hall is doing her share and more in the
women's work. Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge Peters have contributed to
the work of the church through the years. Eldridge has served on
the church board and committees and Marge has sung in the choir
and helped with the women's work.
The Wahlbergs, Ralph and Jeanne, came into the church twenty or
more years ago. Ralph has served on the church board and Jeanne
was church clerk at a time when the roll was revised and did a large
amount of work to bring it up to date. Their daughters, Kay and
Virginia, grew up through the Sunday school into young people's
work and sang in the choir during their teens, until they went away
from home.
Ray and Myrtle Goodwin joined the church the day the Wahl-
bergs did and have had a somewhat parallel experience in church
work. Ray sang in the choir for years and has been a trustee.
Myrtle has engaged actively in the women's work. Bob and Dixie
grew up in the church and now Bob and his wife Mary are following
in his father's footsteps and their children are attending Sunday
school and Mary is doing her share of work.
While Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Kraft's names were not entered on
the church roll, Mrs. Kraft worked with the Ladies' Aid and Russell
and Seymour called it their church, joining in 1936 and 1941 respec-
tively. Seymour and Grace have done much to further the work
of the church, as officers and working members of the church or-
ganizations.
Like Seymour Kraft, Harlan Anderson wouldn't be able to re-
member when he began going to Sunday school. He joined the church
while Mr. Everett was pastor and his wife, Marie Larson Anderson, be-
came a member in 1941 and they have found their place among the
active members. Charles and Craig are coming through the Sunday
school toward youth work, Karen already having arrived there and is a
member of the choir.
The fall after Mr. Everett's departure, the church secured the
services of Leonard Hildebrandt, a student at Hamline University.
During his three years here he gave the church the privilege of
hearing many fine speakers, bringing them down with him from
the city.
January 10, 1937, the church quietly celebrated the passing of
the 80th year which had been completed the July before. This was
in conjunction with the annual church meeting. At the morning
service the church history was given by Mrs. Richard Poe and the
anniversary sermon was by Rev. A. A. McBride, state superintendent
of Congregational churches.
In the afternoon letters were read from Rev. H. S. Wiley, Rev.
N. de M. Darrell, Rev. A. L. Golder and Rev. J. E. Everett. After a
letter from General Gilbert A. Youngberg was read, the assembled
congregation voted a formal thanks to him for the gift of the lighting
fixtures in the auditorium. He had presented them to the church
the previous summer in memory of his parents and sisters.
The church department reports were then given and election of
officers held. At four o'clock a vesper service was held with Rev.
Merrill Abbey of Northfield as the speaker.
In 1938, Mr. Hildebrandt was succeeded by Rev. Leland Porter,
who lived in Minneapolis, coming down to spend a day or two each
week and Sunday here. While he was here several special occasions
were observed. December 27, 1942, the organ, given by Mrs. C. W.
Gress in memory of her husband, Clifford W. Gress, was dedicated.
Arthur Scriver presented the gift for Mrs. Cress who was not able
to be present and it was accepted for the church by Seymour Kraft.
"The Organ in Worship" was the topic chosen by Rev. Mr. Porter,
tracing the history of the organ from the earliest inception to
modern pipe or reed organs powered by electricity. Mrs. Scriver
presided at the organ in the morning.
At 4:30 in the afternoon a dedication concert was presented with
Miss Florence Haglund as guest organist. Miss Marjorie Poe sang,
"Come Unto Me" and Miss Charlotte Alexander "He Shall Feed
His Flock," companion solos from Handel's Messiah. The report
in the Beacon commented that the dream of many had come true
with the installation of the fine organ.
In January, 1943, the Christian flag in memory of Mr. and
Mrs. Alexander McKinley, and the service flag in memory of Ms.
Elmer Smith were dedicated at the morning service.
Mr. Porter was followed in December, 1944, by Rev. Roy L.
Adams who stayed one year. In May, 1946, Rev. Dwight 0. Jackson
accepted the call of the church people and he and Mrs. Jackson came
to live in the parsonage. He had served as chaplain with the U. S.
Army during World War II and been married after returning home.
In 1946, the church had been in existence ninety years and
on October 26th, the church services were in observance of the
event. Mr. Jackson read a brief history of the church and in his
sermon dwelt on the influence of past members on the character
of the church. A fellowship dinner at noon followed the service
with the flowers on the table a gift from Mrs. Frances Falck Brown
in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. 0. E. Falck.
In the afternoon, Dr. Doely presided at an informal session
when letters were read and reminiscences of by-gone days told.
The meeting closed with the singing of the very appropriate hymn,
"Faith of Our Fathers."
After four years here, Rev. Mr. Jackson accepted a call to the
Congregational church at Benson, Minnesota. Finding anyone to
take his place proved difficult and it was not until November, 1951,
that Rev. Richard B. Kozelka came to take his place in the pulpit.
Mr. Porter had kindly consented to supply the pulpit in the in-
terim and it was while he was here that the lights in the newly
remodeled dining room were dedicated. In the fall of 1950 Brig-
adier General Gilbert A. Youngberg had had them installed in mem-
ory of his sisters at a special service January 14, 1951. Arthur
Scriver presented them in behalf of General Youngberg and Dr.
R. L. Stultz accepted them.
At the annual church meeting in the afternoon a brief history
of the Younglberg family was read.
A bronze plaque, mounted on a black walnut panel, placed on
the north wall of the dining room indicates that the lighting system
was presented in loving memory of his sisters, Amelia ((Mrs. A. D.
La Due, 1853-1938), Louise (Mrs. 0. E. Falck, 1861-1937), Mathilda
(Mrs. Elmer Doty, 1863-1937. All were members of the church at
one time.
Richard Bradley Kozelka had been graduated from Yale Divinity
school in the summer of 1951. While attending school he had married
Miss Jane Reeves of Madison, Connecticut. They came to Minnesota
for his ordination in his home church, Plymouth church of Minne-
apolis, going back again to Connecticut. When they finally came
in November, they had with them the new member of the family,
small Sara, who had been born on October 8.
It is interesting to note that, as the church approaches the
end of 100 years, the pastor is again a graduate of Yale Divinity
school. It seems very fitting and it is hoped it is an omen of another
one hundred years of worship and service.
What marks a story as history? One of the basic elements is
Time, Today isn't history, but is Yesterday history? If so, five
or ten or fifteen years should be included in this story and such
names as McKeag, Tate, Schlick, Conley, Ista, Diercks, Duncan.
Norris, Bethke, Stultz, Bridge, Saunders and Callister, bring to mind
much work done, much good accomplished. Each of these persons
knows how to evaluate his own work and by one's works is he
known.
Before concluding the personal memoirs space must be reserved
for a tribute to Miss Mary McKinley. When the Oxford Methodist
church lost too many members to carry on, some of those left joined
this church. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McKinley
and their daughter, Mary, who made her home with them and in
their last years kept their home going for them. After retiring
from teaching in Red Wing, she threw herself into the church work.
becoming Sunday school superintendent, president of the Ladies'
Aid and working continually for the good of the church. In a strange,
hard to believe, succession her two brothers died of cancer and, when
she was told that she was next, she kept her head up just saying
that it was hard to believe one's days were numbered. The church
people presented her with a comfortable chair and did all they
could to show her their affection and esteem. She carried on as
long as possible, going to church for the last time on a Communion
Sunday when she was really too ill but saying that she must go.
She died January 19, 19~4, at the age of seventy-five. Soon after
her death the Sunday school presented the church with a pulpit
Bible of the new translation in her memory, and it was dedicated in
a simple ceremony during a morning church service.
This narrative has mentioned few deaths, leaving it to the
reader to realize that all of the early people have passed on. It seems
only fitting though to mention the deaths of three church members
on the eve of the Centennial year.
Mrs. Olaf Lilleboe, nee Hazel Morell, died following an auto-
mobile accident December 18, last. She was looking forward to
the celebration, for she was a great granddaughter of Jonathan
and Susan Clifford, charter members. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur
Clifford were her grandparents and her parents, Dr. Wilbur and
Minnie Clifford Morell, were at one time members, as was her
grandmother, Jane Morell.
A week after Mrs. Lilleboe's death, Mrs. Alma Larson Mattson
died unexpectedly, the day before Christmas. She had been a mem-
ber of the church for twenty years, always doing her share until age
and ill health compelled her to admit that she could no longer
cooperate actively. Even then the church was one of her interests
and she enjoyed watching from her window what went on across
the street at the church.
As has been said before, the church has had its ups and downs.
It is a happy coincidence that the end of the one hundred years comes
at such a favorable time in the life of the church. Never has there
been so much new blood, so many new members and friends who
carry on the work with refreshing enthusiasm, with a minimum of
human friction. This is the end of 100 years but also the auspicious
beginning of the second hundred.
The Church Choir
Undoubtedly the first singing in the pioneer church was from
each family's own hymn book that they had brought with them
from the East. The minister would choose a well-known hymn and
read it from the first to the last line and the people sang whether
they had a book or not. This custom of reading the hymn was car-
ried out long after there was any need for it, just because they had
always done it that way.
In the early seventies, there were enough singers to form a
small choir. They had a small chapel organ and sixteen-year-old
Mary Hillman played it. James and Wilbur Scofield had good voices
and could read music. Wilbur's wife and Caroline Barnes had pleasing
alto voices. Mary Curran, who became Mrs. Al Clifford, could lead
off with her soprano and they had the nucleus of a choir.
When the Brown church was first built, the choir sat on chairs
on the level of the church floor but, in the early nineties, a platform
was built on a level with the pulpit platform and a railing placed
around it. Just at the turn of the century, the Ladies' Aid paid
one or another of the public school teachers to lead the choir and
they presented creditable anthems.
In the nineteen thirties, the church had one of the best choirs
in its history. With a good soprano section and a number of men
who sang well, they were able to master difficult music and sing
with precision. They sang at an anniversary program in 1933 and
signed the register for the day. The sopranos were the Misses Viola
Grisim and Marjorie Poe, Medames Grace Conley, C. E. Stockinan,
C. W. Sherwin and Beth Westman. Altos were Medames Ethel
Whitney, C. E. Wohlfahrt, Hiram Scriver and Richard Poe. Tenors,
0.E. Doely, J. C. Christopherson, Wesley Johnson. Basses, Hiram
Scriver, R. E. Goodwin and C. W. Sherwin. Of these sixteen only three
are here now, 0. E. Doely, Ray Goodwin and Myra Poe. While this
choir was functioning, vesper services were held every few weeks
at four or five o'clock on Sunday. Maroon choir robes were acquired
several years ago.
For some time the choir has been composed of women and young
girls and trio music is sung. The last few months some of the young
boys of the church have been helping out on the lower part. While
the men are missed it has been a sweet and harmonious combination
of voices and very pleasing to the ear and a real contribution to
the church service.
Women's Organizations
The women of the Congregational church have always been an
active force in the work of the church, both socially and financially.
The Women's Missionary society was first organized during the
pastorate of Rev. R. S. Cross in 1881, by Mrs. Cross, and made a
contribution yearly to the Women's Home and Foreign mission
work of the Congregational church.
Later a Ladies' Aid society was brought into existence. They
had regular monthly meetings at the homes of the members. Rum-
mage sales, bazaars, bake sales and church suppers were sponsored
by the society, which added greatly to the financial aid of the church,
and also to its social life.
A few years ago the two women's organizations united and is
successfully performing the duties of the former societies. At the
present time, it is functioning under the name of The Women's
Fellowship. We are divided into three circles, two meeting the
second Friday of each month in the afternoon, and the third one
in the evening. Each circle elects its own officers and agrees to
raise a definite amount each year toward the financial aid of the
church.
The whole organization meets every three months at a general
meeting to discuss the current affairs. A general president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer are elected every year and perform
their duties in regard to the business affairs of the whole body.
They pledge a regular amount each year to the church budget,
This sum is raised by the yearly dues of the members and various
other means.
The Women's Fellowship also sponsors two Thank offering meet-
ings a year for the missionary work of the church.
An active Sunshine committee of our society does a very worth-
while duty by sending cards and messages to the sick and bereaved
members.
After visits to other church kitchens, a committee from the
Women's Fellowship adopted various good points and laid out plans
to remodel the church kitchen in 1954. New sinks and electric
stoves were installed and numerous cupboards built. These things
the women paid for and the men of the church did the painting. The
women who were most responsible for the planning were Mrs. Harlan
Anderson, Mrs. J. M. Alexander and Mrs. Adam Bergtoll. About
the same time the dining room was refinished and tile flooring laid,
largely the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Tate, with a tile shuffle
board court given by Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge Peters. The kitchen
floor is of the same tile.
During the war the women of the church purchased government
bonds and laid them away, toward the purchase of a church carpet
when a better quality could be secured than was available during
war time. This was laid on the 11th of May, and, together with
the new appointments in the chancel, gives the church a new and
fresh appearance. Tile was also laid over the whole of the auditor-
ium floor and the aisle carpeting laid on it. The new communion
table is a gift from Dr. Walter Valentine in memory of his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. David Valentine and his brother and sister-in-law, Mr.
and Mrs. George Valentine.
Considering the work of the women's organizations, the names
of many women, who have done much work over the years, come
to mind. Among these should be mentioned Mrs. Arthur T. Olson,
Mm. Mary Stedman, Mrs. William Atchison, Mrs. Willie Robinson,
Mrs. Frank Lapham, Mrs. Mildred Sackett, Mrs. Elmer Erickson,
Mrs. Clarence Pagel, Mrs. Asa Van Guilder, Mrs. Harry Fox, and
the women of the Goudy families.
Among the newcomers who have been helpful are Mrs. Loren
Bacon, Mrs. James Brown, Mrs. Lynn Kepfler, Mrs. John Wille, Mrs.
Edward Boersma, Mrs. Walter Freier, Mrs. Mary Gilbert, Mrs.
Robert Molenaar, Mrs. Maurice Penfield, Mrs. Allen Cole, Mrs.
Bernie Lindahl, Mrs. J. E. Norris, Mrs. Robert Hogue, Mrs. Adam
Bergtoll, and Mrs. Malcolm Weigel.
The Sunday School
When the church celebrated its seventieth anniversary in 1926,
George Valentine wrote and read a history of the church. Concern-
ing the Sunday school he wrote:
"There has been a Sunday school in connection with this church
ever since it was organized and has done important religious work
with the children and young people. Those who have served as
superintendents of this Sunday school as I can recall them are
W.H. Scofield, H. A. Scriver, A. E. Engstrom, Mrs. Arah Carpenter,
Dr. A. T. Conley, Geo. T. Valentine, Prof. C. 0. Swanson, A. T.
Scriver, Mary McKinley and J. E. Everett, our present pastor and
Sunday school superintendent. Some of the other pastors acted
as Sunday school superintendents occasionally for a short time.
Going back to the days in the Brown church, some of the high
lights, looking that long way back, were the Christmas and Child-
ren's day programs. In the early nineties, the Christmas tree cele-
bration was on Christmas night. Few people went out of town
for Christmas and the program climaxed the day. It was hard on
the Sunday school teachers who had to prepare a family dinner
but to the children it was fairyland. One year it was truly a fairy-
land when the Fairy Queen was there and helped Santa Claus out
by turning the bricks of the fireplace into candy boxes for the
children. Something had happened to Santa's pack. "'Santa Claus'
Dilemma" was one of the cantatas put on by Mr. Jenkins' sister,
Mrs. Arah Carpenter. She was a member of Plymouth church, Min-
eapolis, and was used to putting on more elaborate productions
than this Sunday school was accustomed to.
Another Christmas program long remembered was the one in
1897, the year after the church was wired for electricity. Robert
and Fred Valentine, who had built the electric light plant, constructed
a large Dutch windmill reaching nearly to the ceiling. The lighted
arms turned and the children's bags of candy and popcorn came out as
grist from an opening near the bottom of the mill.
Of course, most of the time was spent in Bible teaching with
few of the helps teachers have today. Sunday school was held after
church, as soon as the children and grownups could be settled in
their places. A table bell to be struck with the palm of the hand
was a "must" for the superintendent. All gathered for the opening
exercises and then retired to their allotted class seats, the little
folks to the lecture room, and then gathered again after class for
the secretary's report and the benediction.
The secretary's book for 1919 to 1926 shows that the top attend-
ance remained at about fifty with nine teachers.
Since the Sunday school superintendents whom Mr. Valentine
named in his history, the following have served: Carl Ostrom, Hiram
Scriver, Mrs. Gareth Conley, Russell Duncan, Mrs. John Burch, Mrs.
Harlan Anderson, and Mrs. Arnold Hjermstad, our present superin-
tendent. The enrollment is at present approximately 100.
Young People's Societies
What may have been the organization of the first society for
the young folks of the church was recorded in the Beacon in March,
1878. It was called the Young People's Christian Association. The
officers were G. A. Follett, president; Mrs. J. L. Scofield, vice
president; C. A. Cook, secretary, and Minnie Clifford, treasurer.
In 1885, while Mr. Cross was pastor, a Young People's Society
of Christian Endeavor was organized. During the last years in
the Brown church it was a going organization with members from
high school age to a few oldsters, who met every Sunday evening
at 6:30 or 7:00 for a prayer meeting. Just when it languished is
not known but Mr. and Mrs. Golder are credited with reorganizing
it in 1919.
A Junior Endeavor society was organized in 1893 by Mr. Jen-
kins but died out after a time. With Sunday school just over at
one o'clock it often took persuasion to get the little flock back to
the church at three.
Mr. Everett revived both the Junior and Senior Christian En-
deavor societies but again they disbanded. Mr. Hildebrandt organ-
ized Junior and Senior societies that went by the name of Com-
rades in Adventure.
Since the Congregational church established the Pilgrim Fel-
lowship the teenagers have carried on successfully with adult
leaders.
The Mothers Club
This is the newest organization in our church. It came into
being during the pastorate of Rev. Dwight Jackson. Mrs. Jackson
was the organizer. The membership is limited to mothers having
pre-school age children, and is doing a very worthy work in the
affairs of the church.
Mrs. Jackson took charge of adding the names to the cradle
roll and sending out birthday cards, and Mrs. Kozelka inherited the
task. Perhaps it will become ex-officio.
For an organization with such a short lifetime, the Mothers'
Club has much to its credit. After the church officers had a floor
laid in the little room in the basement at the foot of the stairs, they
turned it into a very attractive kindergarten, with a bright linoleum
floor and low shelves for toys and books.
They planned the purchase of choir robes, buying some which
started the ball rolling and others finished buying what were need-
ed. They also bought bulletin boards for the Sunday school.
Their latest project is the purchase and presentation to the
church of bronze candelabra.
It is a very worthwhile organization and, no doubt, at times
will be the means of drawing new members into the church.
Couples Club of the Congregational Church
In 1949 our minister and his wife, Rev. Jackson and Mrs. Jack-
son, together with Mr. and Mrs. Watson and Mr. and Mrs. DeValois
organized and started a "Friendship Club" of the members of the
church. This was the fore-runner of the Couples Club of the
church which came into existence the following year.
The Club is made up of couples from the membership and
friends of the church and meets quarterly or more frequently on
special occasions. The Club has functioned for both instructional
and social gatherings and has had a membership of from 15 to 30
couples at various times.
The Club has assumed leadership in many projects furthering
the work of the church, having purchased tables for the junior
Sunday School Class, started the table project for the dining room,
purchased a slide projector for the use of the organizations of the
church. Since the Club's organization they have served the Easter
Morning Breakfast for the Sunday School each year.
The present officers of the Couples Club are Mr. and Mrs. Dale
Peterson, president; Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Weigel, vice president and
Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Peters, secretary and treasurer.
What's past is prologue. Every ending, with God, is also a
beginning. This record ends, and does not end, for each day adds
to it. John Edward Everett, beloved minister of First Church,
has a word for us, written New Year's Day, 1906:
The Old and the New
Oh, what shall I speak of the old,
And what of the new shall I say?
Of the dear old world whose days are told,
And the new that smiles today?
To the old a sad farewell,
To the new a greeting true;
While the old year's grim and solemn knell
Makes a happy chime for the new.
To the old, "Good night," and a tear.
And a fair "Good morn", to the new;
For with grief we leave the dead old year,
While the new with joy we view.
To the old the grave and a sigh,
To the new health, love, and mirth;
For though with the years our old hopes die,
New hopes, as dear, have birth.
So we greet the new with zest,
Whether sad were the old, or glad;
For we'll make this year the very best
That ever yet we have had.
Officers of the First Church, 1956
CHAIRMAN OF CHURCH COUNCIL: Allen J. Cole
CLERK: Mrs. Russell Duncan
TREASURER: John Burch
DEACONS: John Tate, A. C. Ista, ~Myron Bethke
DEACONESSES: Mrs. B. H. Van Campen, Mrs. Charles Smith
TRUSTEES: Allen Cole, James H. Johnson, Arnold Hjermstad
CHURCH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: Mrs. Arnold Hjermstad
BOARD OF EDUCATION: Mrs. Robert Hogue, Mrs. Seymour
Kraft, Mrs. Ezra Bridge
WOMENS FELLOWSHIP: Mrs. James McKeag, President; Mrs.
R. A. Black, Vice-President; Mrs. Seymour Kraft, Secretary-
Treasurer
COUPLES CLUB: Mr. and Mrs. Dale Peterson, President.
MOTHERS' CLUB: Mrs. Albert Johnson, President
PILGRIM FELLOWSHIP: Dennis Callister, President
PILGRIM FELLOWSHIP ADVISORS: Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Callister
HEAD USHER: Harry Fox
Committees for Centennial
Committees for the Centennial celebration of the First Congrega-
tional Church in Cannon Falls, Minn., June 10-17, 19~6.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Arthur T. Scriver, chairman; Agnes May
Black, secretary; Dr. Robert L. Stultz, E. L. Peters, Seymour
Kraft.
PUBLICITY-E. L. Peters, chairman; Walter Saunders, Jeanne Wahl-
berg, Ray Goodwin.
HISTORICAL-Al Johnson, chairman; Myra Poe, Mildred Eng-
strom, Anna Smith, Dr. 0. E. Doely, Myrtie Von Kohlston.
PROGRAM-Dr. Robert L. Stultz, chairman; Lucille Bethke, Mary
Molenaar, Richard Kozelka.
MEMORIALS--Seymour Kraft, chairman; Dr. Ezra Bridge, Kath-
erine L. Scriver.
HOSPITALITY AND ARRANGEMENTS-Agnes May Black, chair-
man; Irene Van Campen, Marie Anderson.
The list of ministers during the one-hundred years.
Rev. Jeremiah Root Barnes
Rev. John N. Williams
Rev. Elijah W. Merrill
Rev. Charles A. Ruddock
Rev. Benjamin Fay Mills
Rev. Charles A. Conant
Rev. Rowland S. Cross
Rev. David Henderson
Rev. William Jenkins
Rev. Benjamin F. Paul
Rev. Charles E. Ryberg
Rev. Norris de M. Darrell
Rev. Josiah L. Keene
Rev. Corwin Vincent
Rev. Horace S. Wiley
Rev. Louis Harris
Rev. Arthur L. Gokler
Rev. John E. Everett
Rev. Leonard Hildebrafldt
Rev. Leland Porter
Rev. Roy Adams
Rev. Dwight 0. Jackson
Rev. Richard Kozelka