church at Cass Center was completed and dedicated in July, 1880. Reverend Moore was the pastor for several years, but he was finally succeeded by others until the year 1891 found Rev. Lawrence Wright in charge. Reverend Wright resided at Webster City while serving the congregations at Homer and Cass Center and it was he who first conceived the idea of perfecting an organization at the county seat.

Brother Wright succeeded in locating some twenty-five or thirty people who had formerly belonged or still retained their membership in this fellowship. To them the idea became a conviction.

Among the number who formed the nucleus for the organization and upon whom fell the burden and responsibility, was J. D. McGuire and family, A. D. McKinley and wife, N. L. Maxon and family, the Nelson family, near Duncombe, H. L. Corbin and wife, Mrs. Delia Moore, the widow of Rev. J. M. Moore, the first pastor of Cass Center church, and the Solomon Snow family, near Highview, and others we do not now recall. A tent or tabernacle meeting was arranged for and G. L. Brokaw, state evangelist, was secured. A tent was pitched on the school grounds north of the high school building during July and August, 1892. The gospel in its simplicity was sung and preached in power, and men and women were added to the church daily. At the end of six weeks, an organization of one hundred and twenty-five members was effected with J. D. McGuire and N. L. Maxon as elders. A committee was appointed to solicit funds for the building of a house of worship. This committee met with a generous response. A lot on the corner of Bank and Des Moines streets was purchased. The foundation was begun late in the fall of 1892, but was not completed until the following spring. The building proper, costing when completed and furnished, $8,000, was dedicated amidst great joy and thanksgiving in September, 1893. F. M. Rains, of Cincinnati, Ohio, dedicated the church. All the churches of the city assisted.

During the interim, the new congregation succeeded in securing the Willson opera house for services until the severe cold drove them into warmer quarters in the old G. A. R. hall on Seneca street. These quarters were found to be inadequate to accommodate the congregation. The last move was made to the courthouse, where they were comfortably housed until the church building was ready for occupancy.

Immediately after dedication, the services of W. A. Foster, a noted evangelist, were secured for a series of meetings. These meetings were held for eight weeks, at the end of which time, one hundred and forty signified their willingness to become associated with the church. These, together with the former membership, totaled some over three hundred. A good sized yearling!

Bruce Brown, who had been called to minister to the congregation at its organization, remained as such for four years, at the end of which time he was called to the church at Osceola, Iowa. Great things had been accomplished. W. A. Moore, from Panora, Iowa, was engaged to fill this vacancy, but could not come for several months, during which time Reverend Coombs acceptably filled the pulpit.

During the three years of Brother Moore's pastorate, the church reached the high water mark. He was beloved by his people and it was with sadness that he was given up. His wife's health necessitated a change of climate.

E. E. Kneedy was called and for two years labored with the congregation. Brother Kneedy was apt to teach and an eloquent speaker. His pastorate was very successful.

J. Will Walters, one of Iowa's strong preachers, was secured and labored for two years. During his regime, the finances were placed upon a sound basis and a scheme to raise the debt on the church planned and started. To Brother Walters is due much credit.

J. Seaton, an elderly man, an old father in Israel, became pastor, but owing to ill health of himself and wife, was compelled after a few months to resign.

Reverend Burns was the next one to assume the responsibilities of shepherd of the flock, but he, too, stayed but a short time, one year, when the University of Chicago beckoned him.

R. M. Dungan, son of D. R. Dungan, dean of Drake university, accepted the charge and began his work, looking forward to a fruitful harvest. During this pastorate the church debt was raised and the mortgage burned. After two years of hard work, Brother Dungan concluded to go west and take up a claim at Morrell, Nebraska.

W. E. Brandeburg next became associated with the church as its pastor, but remained for only one year when called to York, Nebraska, a larger church, at an advanced salary.

For some time D. R. Dungan filled the pulpit until a pastor could be secured. Brother Dungan recommended John Roland, a Drake student, as one capable of assuming the pastorate. He was employed and served well until Drake university called him back.

Alexander McCracken of Chicago, followed with but a six months' pastorate, when again the pulpit was vacant.

For several months B. E. Youtz filled the pulpit, after which time the congregation extended an unanimous call to Brother A. I. Martin to become its pastor. Born and raised in this county, formally a member of the church and sent out, as it were, from its doors, to become a minister of the gospel, this coming home to administer to the wants and necessities of the home church was a difficult proposition, but he has for over a year successfully shepherded the flock.

During the twenty years of these pastorates, many great meetings have been held by pastors and evangelists. Among the evangelists were Foster, Coombs, Omer, Corey, Johnson and Emmons.

Two members of the church have entered the ministry. The church is missionary in spirit, believing in world-wide evangelism.

Its membership at this time is over three hundred. Like all other organizations, it has had its seasons of drought, and times of refreshing, but today stands a monument to the heroism, faithfulness and integrity of its membership.

NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

The Norwegian Lutheran church has a membership in Hamilton county which probably exceeds all other churches. The Norwegian immigration into Hamilton county began in the later fifties; but the great influx of Norwegian settlement into the southern and eastern parts of the county did not begin until

the seventies. The earlier settlers for all social and religious development were a part of the Scandinavian settlement of Story county.

The church records show that on May 7, 1876, a meeting was held in Scott township and the organization of the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation within the county was effected. This was the beginning of the Trinity congregation whose membership now comprises many of the residents of Lincoln and Scott township. The records show that at this meeting John Ringstad was chosen president, and John Thoreson, secretary. This congregation met in school houses and Rev. O. G. Jackman, of Illinois, was called as the first pastor. Some of the charter members of this congregation were Knut Severson, Henry Larson, Christian Sexy, John Reder, Hans Hagland, T. O. Cragwick and A. O. Cragwick. Later this congregation erected two churches, one in Ellsworth known as West Trinity and one in Scott township known as East Trinity. Rev. C. H. Hjortholm the present pastor now ministers to a membership of over a thousand members. The St. Pauli church in Clear Lake township and the Norum church at Stanhope with the Trinity churches comprise the United Lutheran churches of the county. The St. Pauli church is one of the earlier churches and for many years a large membership worshipped in the one church but in 1907 under the leadership of the present pastor, Rev. M. N. Knutsen, the Norum church was erected at Stanhope and the congregation was divided.

The Hauges Synod have erected seven churches within Hamilton county and plans are being made for the erection of the eighth one, which will be located at Williams. The Hauges also maintain the Jewell Lutheran college and have been very active in missionary and educational work. The first churches to be established under the control of these people were at Randall and in Ellsworth township. Rev. C. J. Eastvold for seventeen years ministered to the Bethesda church at Jewell, the Clear Lake and Ellsworth church, Zion and Rose Grove. These churches have a membership of about 1200. The Ennis church at Randall of which Rev. G. O. Paulsrud is pastor, Bethany church of Lincoln township ministered to by Rev. T. J. Knutsen; and Immanuel church, J. R. Walstad, pastor, complete the Hauges congregation in the county.

The members of the Synodia have two churches in the county: One, the Branjord church, of Scott township, of which Rev. H. Stolen is pastor and the Lake Center church of which H. S. Rue is pastor.

In review the membership of the Norwegian churches comprise about 3500 people. The membership is held in the three branches known as the Hauges, the United Church and the Synodia. Beginning in 1876 with one congregation and no church they now own thirteen churches and their membership comprise one-half of the church people of the county.

CHAPTER XXVII

IN MEMORIAM

Whether death is the friend or enemy of mankind, we leave to the contemplation of philosophers. We know it is always near us and when it comes into a community, it brings with it a wave of sadness. We stop for a moment, the usual activities of life, to drop a tear of sympathy or give a word of comfort to the bereaved, and then, "the world moves on." There are among the "silent ranks" of Hamilton county, many characters whose daily life endeared them to their fellow men, and whose death was, in a way, a public bereavement, and we stop for a moment, therefore, to make passing mention of some of these:

Jackson Groves, died March, 1881. He was born in West Virginia in 1818, came to Iowa in 1854 and located in Hamilton county in 1855. He was a successful farmer and a leader in the affairs of Hamilton township.

Julge J. D. Maxwell, died November 4, 1882. The following is a tribute to his memory written by Charles Aldrich:

"JUDGE MAXWELL IS DEAD!

"Though we had seen him fading slowly into the silent land, from the effects of age and toil and wasting disease, and knew that his time at farthest could be but short, these words fell upon the ear like a stunning blow. For many years. he had lived the quietest of home lives, yet his was one of the familiar forms on our streets, and his name was prominently identified with the early history of our town and county. A man of most decided opinions, to which he gave expression with the greatest freedom, he was an agreeable person to meet, for he was a fine talker, possessing a large fund of anecdote and information, and genial, kindly, friendly and pleasant, in his ways. His acquaintance was quite large, and while our local politics in early days made him and his public acts somewhat of a bone of contention, his private life was not only a blameless one, but in all respects most exemplary and commendable. It may in all truth and sincerity be said that he lived and died without an enemy-respected and esteemed by the entire community.

"In the early history of our county he was a leading and important character. He was our first county judge, elected at the old-time April election of 1857, and reelected at the October election of the same year. This office was the most important one, under the old order of things, as a brief explanation will show. Previous to 1860 the county judge not only wielded all the power now possessed by our board of county supervisors, but vastly more. His powers were larger in the way of incurring indebtedness, and the probate business was all transacted