Church and Family History Research Assistance
for Montgomery County, Kansas
CHURCHES:
BIG HILL (CHERRYVALE)
Big Hill Church, near Cherryvale, was organized about two and one-half miles south of Cherryvale, on Saturday before the second Sunday in March 1882. Elder H. Burge was chosen moderator, and Elder J. T. Swinney as clerk of the presbytery. The charter members were: J. M. Slusher, T. W. Anderson, Elizabeth Anderson, G. S. Rhodes, Lina Rhodes, and Sadie R. Thompson. Big Hill Church became a member of the Elk River Association. Elder Noah Showalter was the pastor in 1885.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Anderson, Brooks, Frazee, Rhodes, Showalter, Slusher, Thompson (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
BETHLEHEM (HAVANA)
Bethlehem Church was organized in October 1865, at the Texas school house, in Saline County, Illinois. (The records of Wolf Creek Church of October 1865 show that the following members were dismissed by letter to constitute a church (called Bethlehem) at the Texas school house: James Odom, Joshua Reeder, R. Reeder, Thomas Cox, Sinclair Butler, J. L. Gwaltney, John R. Gwaltney, Eliza Defur, Mary Reeder, Nancy Gwaltney, Elizabeth Gwaltney, and Ruth Butler.). Bethlehem Church became a member of the Muddy River Association of Illinois, which was composed of churches in that area. Bethlehem Church moved as a body to Kansas, in 1874, and afterward united with the Elk River Association, of Kansas. Elders Isaac Moore, Nathan Reeder, and Thomas R. Pittman were all pastors of this church. Elder Reeder was ordained in 1884 and served as pastor for over 40 years. Elder Pittman lived at Havana, and also served as postmaster there. It is thought that this church met in various places at different times, for the convenience of its scattered members. See also Chautauqua and Ottawa Counties.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Brown, Hedges, Iverson, James, Michael, Moore, Pittman, Reeder, Winchell (very incomplete list due to loss of records).
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