Family History Research Assistance for Davis County, Iowa
CHURCHES:OAK HILL
Oak Hill Church was organized on Monday, July 28, 1845, with four members, by Elder David Wortman. The first church record book (1845-1862) is missing, but notes taken from it indicate that the charter members were Hiram Reeves, E. G. Reeves, Isaac Atteberry, and Savena Dabney. The church first united with the Des Moines River Association in August 1846. The statistics show that the church had five members at that time, one of whom had been received after the constitution. Messengers named between 1846 and 1852 included Hiram Reeves, E. G. Reeves, Simeon J. Good, David Sidwell, Tippo S. Williams, Isaac Sidwell, John Hockersmith, and Meshack Hale. The first clerk was Isaac Atteberry. The first deacon was John Taylor.
The membership had increased to 13 by 1852, at which time the church was admitted into a new association which was being formed called the Western Association. Later, in October 1854, the church took part in the convention which organized the Hazel Creek Association of Iowa and Missouri.
The first pastor was Elder David Wortman. Later pastors included Elders Hiram Reeves, Isaac Sidwell, Isaac Blakely, T. S. Williams, George Jackson, Mason Atwood, E. W. Kinkade, Isaac Sawin, Pleasant Burgher, Samuel Cates, W. T. Walters, E. E. Vestal, Burt L. Nay, A. J. Conlee, J. Bryan Adair, Orvel Prior, Clyde O. Johnson, and Walter Acton.
Elder Hiram Reeves was ordained by this church (the date is unknown since the first church record book is missing). Elder George Jackson was ordained in August 1873. Elder Wesley Jones was ordained to the ministry by this church in August 1928; and Elder Walter Acton was ordained by this church in August 1945.
In July 1854 the church agreed to build a meeting house. In April 1855 the trustees of the church received title to the site for the church building. At this time it was agreed that the meeting house would be 20 feet square with one story 10 feet tall. The church met for the first time for worship in the new meeting house in April 1856. However, by 1866 the records show that meetings were being held in homes, and in 1867 the church authorized the trustees to sell or rent the church house, but in 1869 the authority to sell it was rescinded. In April 1868 the church offered $12 to the trustees of the meeting house in Martinsville for use of that building for one year. In June 1869 the church agreed to hold their monthly services in the Union meeting house in Savannah. In April 1870 the church agreed to fence part of the church grounds. In August 1880 the church sold some bricks from the old meeting house to help pay expenses.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Acton, Arnold, Atteberry, Barnett, Beasley, Bowen, Briggs, Burch, Calvert, Carter, Dabney, Ethel, Evelan, Gibson, Good, Hale, Henderson, Hill, Hockersmith, Holcraft, Holloway, Humphrey, Jackson, Jones, Kirkpatrick, McCullough, Merritt, Mobley, Morgan, Patterson, Payne, Reeves, Richards, Shelton, Sidwell, Simmons, Speark, Spurgeon, Stogdill, Sutton, Taylor, Tharp, Walker, Westbrook, Williams, Wilson, Young (incomplete list due to loss of part of the records).
FOX RIVER
Fox River Church was organized January 22, 1853, with five charter members, viz., Marena Riggs, Fanny Grisham, John Hockersmith, Lucinda Hockersmith, and Margaret J. Owens. These brethren and sisters, living near the head of Fox River, had petitioned Hazel Creek and Oak Hill Churches to constitute them as a church. The presbytery and council which met for that purpose consisted of Isaac D. Sidwell and Nathaniel Oliver, from Hazel Creek; Meshack Hale and T. S. Williams from Oak Hill; and Mason Atwood being present was invited to participate.
Elder Isaac D. Sidwell was chosen the first pastor, and served in that capacity for many years.
Fox River church united with the Hazel Creek Association, and was listed as a member of that body until about 1942.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Atwood, Baine, Baird, Blakely, Bragg, Bridges, Burgher, Bussey, Buttry, Bybee, Camic, Cate, Cathey, Clark, Coons, Elliott, Flock, Frady, Freeman, Grisham, Hale, Harpster, Hifner, Hill, Hockersmith, Howard, Jennings, Johns, Jones, Lay, Lee, McLaughlin, Mitchell, Nay, Owens, Pile, Riggs, Rose, Roundy, Sawin, Spurgeon, Stalcup, Still, Stonebreaker, Taylor, Wagner, Willett, Workman, Worrell, Yager, Young (incomplete list due to lack of part of the records).
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