Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

Louis and Patricia Bramer — Grace Amussen.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Benadom — Alice.
Mr. and Mrs. Townsend — Betty, Billy, and James.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodward — Richard. Stanley and
John.
Horace and Frieda Soper — Donald.
Harm and Lizzie Benken — Mary, Martha and Emma.
Mr.and Mrs. Earl Martens — Marvin.
In 1952 Mrs. Albert Benadom wrote a history of the
Antioch Church for the dedication held June 22 of that
year. Following are compilations from her writings:
In Jackson township, Jones County, on February 25.
1865, a small band of pioneer settlers of the Christian
denomination, held a meeting in the Hay schoolhouse
to lay plans for building the Antioch Church. From the
yellowed pages of the old church book. beautifully
written in old script, the records show that the Rev.
Joseph H. Johnson was chosen chairman, and William
Jeffries. secretary, “for the purpose of selecting a
location for the House of Worship on the same." The
records show that Jacob Kramer gave one acre of land.
Members of the three committee persons chosen to
select the site were Isaac Hay, F.M. Belknap and
Anthony Waggoner. Their report, choosing a site.
reads. "On the raise of the hill on the North side of the
road running from Anamosa to Maquoketa. and
between the Hay schoolhouse and southeast corner of
the same tract of land. ' '
The house of worship was to be built of brick with
walls one ft. thick and the dimensions of the structure
32 x 40 ft. and they were to call this church Antioch. It
would be free to all religious denominations, when not
occupied by The Christians.
A committee of four men were appointed to solicit
building funds. F.M. Belknap, Anthony Waggoner,
Isaac Hay, and William Byerly were on the committee.
Serving on the building committee were Anthony
Waggoner, Joseph Apt. Andrew Byerly and Michael
Byerly; with William Jeffries. secretary, and Isaac Hay.
treasurer.
The building committee was given the right to
proceed March ll, 1865. No dates are available of the
time the church was actually completed: however, it is
known that the church walls stood for one year with no
roof.
Following the Civil War, times were hard and money
was scarce. The congregation knew the trials, toil and
bitter disappointments that attended their every
achievement of that day.
Rev. Joseph H. Johnson of the Christian
denomination, was one of the first pastors of the
Antioch Church. The Rev. Nathan Potter was also an
early pastor.
The first wedding after the completion of the church
was for Ellen Waggoner and John Bean.
Roads were bad and travel was slow, but in those
days it was a privilege to attend church services. Men.
women and children would come for miles in wagons,
on horseback, or walk to church. At times, services
were held in the homes and Scriptures were read by
candlelight.
After the Christian organization, the United Brethren
came to worship; perhaps as early as 1885, to 1905.
Incomplete records show the names of Revs. Moffit.
Harper, Cunningham and Clark as ministers who
preached at this place.
Antioch Church
Built and Re-built
submitted by Ruth Hardersen
121
The Presbyterians followed. The pastors were the
Rev. Evans, Burhans. Badger and Prevost.
The ensuing years were active ones. One of the
largest Sunday Schools in the history of the church was
conducted here. Preaching services were held every
Sunday and beautiful musical programs were given.
The Antioch Church burned to the ground Jan. 3.
I950.
The fires of the disaster had no more than cooled,
when plans were underway to replace the historic
church.
History seems to repeat itself. Just as that small
assembly of long ago met in the Hay schoolhouse to
formulate plans for building the first Antioch Church:
85 years later, on the same location, a special meeting
was held Mar. 3, 1950, to lay plans for the construction
of a new church.
Earl Byerly, chairman, appointed various
committees. James Whitmore. Delbert Grafft and
Darvin Hardersen were selected for the wrecking and
disposal of remaining walls. The building committee
consisted of J .F . May. Alvin Byerly and J .E. Porter. On
the finance committee were Mrs. Ray Stivers. Miss
Malinda Nielsen, Guy Byerly, Albert Benadom, Charles
Zimmers, R.A. Russell and John Merrill. Other
meetings were held to complete the plans.
Outside the $2.000 insurance, all the money was
donated. Men and women worked for months giving of
their time. labor and money. Gifts of money came from
Michigan to California.
Although it seemed a Herculean task, by May 29,
1951, the first cement for the foundation was poured.
The glazed tile walls were nearly completed by fall. The
roof was added the following spring and the plastering
was completed and oak flooring was laid during the
summer of 1952. The basement for recreational
purposes was completed and a modern heating plant
and lighting system was installed.(This ends the article
"I-iti
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Antioch Church. which was destroyed by flre
January 3. I950. (Photo taken by Ina Meeks in I 949)
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