Family History Research Assistance for Des Moines County, Iowa
CHURCH:WEST LIBERTY
On February 8, 1840, the following persons met at the house of Christian Clymer, for the purpose of ascertaining the number of disciples of Jesus Christ who wished to constitute a church, viz., Williamson Trent, Nancy Trent, John R. Lines, Dicy Lines, McCormac Zion, Sally Dunham, Bolen Ping, Sophia Ping, James L. Gilmore, Sally Gilmore, Christian Clymer, Elizabeth Clymer, Aaron Lines, Jane Lines, Maryann Clymer, and Polly Berry. They agreed to bring their letters the next day and enter into a constitution upon their articles of faith, and be known by the name of the Regular Baptist Church called West Liberty.
West Liberty Church united with the Des Moines River Association of Regular Baptists in the year 1841.
Pastors of the church included Elder James L. Gilmore, who served from the constitution until his death in October 1865; Elder John B. Rowland was chosen in November 1865; Elder Asher Cottrell in February 1867; Elder Elijah Ping was ordained to the ministry here on May 7, 1870, and served as pastor until his death in October 1884; Elder Rice Harris was elected pastor in December 1884; Elder M. W. Byram was chosen in October 1895; Elder S. H. Humphrey was elected in May 1902; and Elder Burton L. Nay, who united with the church in October 1909, and was called as pastor in April 1910.
The first church edifice in Franklin township, Des Moines County, was the stone building erected by West Liberty Church; it was completed in 1847. The rock was taken from a quarry close to the church. Surrounding the church is a beautiful cemetery; the deed for the same was recorded March 25, 1846. In May 1853 the church and cemetery were fenced in with a plank fence.
SURNAMES:
Archer, Baker, Barnes, Beauchamp, Beere, Bishop, Bradley, Candy, Churchill, Clark, Clymer, Cockayne, Coonrod, Cottrell, Cross, Denison, Donelson, Dowell, Downer, Dunham, Eads, Ely, Fleener, Gilmore, Granaman, Hale, Hammack, Hays, Heitmeir, Herndon, Hiler, Hines, Hopkins, Huston, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Korf, Lee, Lefforge, Lewis, Lines, Long, Loven, Ludlow, Lusk, Lyon, Magee, Marshall, McCollum, McKinney, McPeak, Miller, Morningstar, Nay, Nichols, Nyhart, Orr, Pennybaker, Ping, Power, Randolph, Short, Simpson, Smith, Staten, Thompson, Thurston, Todd, Trent, True, Tyner, Wade, Worrel, Wortham, Wright, Yohe, Young, Zion.
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