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Centennial History Book
Religion was important to the people, there were CHURCHES
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY
In September, 1887, a group of people had their first meeting which was held after Sunday School. It was held to organize a Congregational Church. Mr. G. B. Dunton, Byrd Dunton, J. W. Voodry, W. H. Rolph, J. H. Holderman, W. L. DeClow and Fred H. Aldin were the principal ones at the meeting. Mr. Dunton had written to the Congregational Society for a young man by the name of Mr. Snyder. He was a student and as the pastor he conducted a few services through the summer and helped with organizing the "Articles of Incorporation.” They were later filed in September and were signed by G. B. Dunton, Byrd B. Dunton, V. T. Rolph, Mary R. Dunton, Mary J. Voodry, W. H. Rolph, J. H. Holderman, F. H. Aldin and J. W. Voodry.
At the next meeting that was called Rev. Woolman, who was then preaching at Naponee, was called as pastor for the church here. At that time there was a Congregational Church at Naponee, Indianola, McCook and Bertrand. These were the only Congregational churches in southwest Nebraska.
The amount of money received from the Trustees of the Farnam Congregational Church from the time of organization to the 1st of January, 1888 as follows:
By collection....................................... $ 4.89
Proceeds of supper.................................. $10.67
Amount paid out on August 18, 1888 to Mr. Snyder was-$10.65
August 12 - Recording Articles Of Incorporation.......$ .75
Record Book...............................$ .63
On April 23, 1888, Rev. Woolman, G. B. Dunton and F. H. Aldin were appointed to build a church. Rev. Woolman, who at one time was a contractor, submitted plans for the church. $308.00 was pledged in cash and $90.00 in labor. The contract was let for $750.00 cash and labor donated. The difference between the $750.00 and $308.00 was furnished by the Congregational Society.
The church was finished. There was no record of when it was finished or when the dedication services were held. In April, 1890, Rev. J. B. Doolittle became the pastor. Rev. Doolittle made it a part of his contract to build the parsonage. Rev. Doolittle was here until the spring of 1893 when Rev. Sprague was called, who remained here until January, 1898. Rev. Sprague was hired at a salary of $400.00 per year and a good share of that was never paid. He rented a small patch of ground and raised pigs. In this way he practically kept himself and his family.
Rev. Sprague was followed by Rev. Grupe, after him Rev. G. H. Rice, Rev. George J. Batley, Rev. J. E. Craig, who remained here for three years, then Rev. Bennett, who was here for two years, during the last summer he took sick and died here. After Rev. Bennett came Rev. Reed Bayne, Rev. J. E. McKeith, Rev. H. H. Pollard, Rev. Pysche, Rev. Griffin and Rev. J. E. Craig, who was the last pastor.
Charter members of the church were: Mr. George B. Dunton, Mrs. Harriet M. Dunton, Mary R. Dunton, Mr. J. W. Voodry, Mrs. M. J. Voodry, Mrs. Helen M. Bradshaw, Mr. W. H. Rolph, Mrs. Victoria Rolph, Mrs. Charity Dawson, Mr. James H. Holderman, Byrd R. Dunton, Fredericka Rolph and Laura J. Moore.
The Congregational Church was sold to the Episcopal Church in August, 1934.
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