Bethel Grove Church

Some of that body of religious people known as Disciples or Christians came from Owen County, Ind., and settled in the bend of the Iowa River, between where the towns of Liscomb and Albion have since been located. This was in 1849, and the people referred to were the Hauser and Arney families. There were several families of. them, and the locality was called the Hauser-Arney settlement. For a time, they were deprived of the regular ministrations of the Gospel; but, being people of very decided religious convictions, they did not long remain in that destitute condition.

In the Spring of 1851, John Hauser and Wm. Arney went down to Ma-haska County and induced Elder Samuel Wright, who was a preacher among the Disciples, to return with them. In May of that year, Elder Wright organized the first church of that denomination in the county.

It is claimed that this was the first church of any denomination organized in this county. The place of meeting was in John Arney's dwelling house. Elder Wright continued to labor in the Gospel by that settlement for two years. Before he left them, the infant Church was strengthened in the addition of a number of members, mostly by immigration. Among the number thus moving in was Elder Frederic Hauser, who arrived in 1852. For a man of limited education, he was an able proclaimer of the ancient Gospel. For more than twenty years he had labored in the ministry in Indiana, and had been successful in adding many to the Church. He was the father of Jacob Hauser, the first County Clerk of Marshall County.

Elder Hauser, after working successfully in this new country for two years, died, much loved and respected by all who knew him. The little Church was not left to languish and die., for in 1855, Elder Josiah Jackson moved into the neighbor-hood preached one year. During his ministrations, the organization was further completed by the election of Jacob Hauser and A. T. Hall, as Deacons. After the Josiah Jackson, in 1856, the Church was without regular preacuing for about one year.

In 1857, Elder George Patton settled in the neighborhood. He was not of the same denomination as the Church of which I write, being, as he styled himself, a Reformed Dunkard. He was a good man, though quite limited in his education. The Church secured his labors for one year. He differed, however, from the Disciples to such an extent that, in 1858, there was a division of the Church, and Elder Patton organized a separate congregation, and they called themselves simply Christians. Some years after, they united with the Christians or Newlight Conference, and have remained in that connection to the present day.

The Disciples, after this change, did not do much for two or three years. The constant immigration, however, brought additions to their numbers. Prominent among these were Isaac Dennis and Dr. 0. F. Hixson. Dr. Hixson was quite an acceptable preacher, as well as a good physician. Under his leadership, the Disciples re-organized and chose Isaac Dennis and L. McKinnon as Elders, and A. T. Hall as Deacon. This was in 1863. For a time they met in Marietta, but soon after resumed their meetings in the Hauser-Arney settlement.

In this year, 1863, Elder A. Cardner, of Tama City, was secured to labor for the Church. He was an able preacher, and during the two years he remained with the Church there was a large addition to its membership.

In 1865, the Disciples and the congregation that had been organized under the leadership of Elder Patton jointly built a brick meeting house, 36x50 feet, and this house has ever nince been known as Bethel Church, and is still occupied, each alternate Sunday, by the two congregations.

In 1866, the Disciples employed as their Pastor Elder H. A. McConnell, who is an able preacher. He continued his ministrations for five years. During this time, the Church grew to such an extent that its membership was about two hundred. It is famous for having swarmed no less than three times. It has been called, not inappropriately, the " Bee-Hive Church.

The first one of these "swarms" was the Albion Church, in 1871. The following year, the members living west of the Iowa River organized a Church at Bevins Grove, and this is known as the second swarm. In 1876, the members of the old Bethel Church living in and about Liscomb organized in that village, and that constituted swarm number three. These swarms so weakened the old Church that its membership was reduced at one time to about thirty. Still it has always kept up its meeting, and has preaching part of the time.

After Elder McConnell closed his five-years pastorate, in 1871, the Church was led by Elder J. G. Encell for a few months. He was followed by Elder G. L. Brokaw. Then Elder A. Hickey preached for the Church one year. Elder P. T. Russell preached for the Church once a month during the year 1876.

Beginning with the year 1877, Elder F. Walden preached for the Church during part of his time, and still continues in that work. Last Winter, the Church was blessed with a revival, under the labors of their present Pastor, and twenty-two were added to the roll. The present membership is between fifty and sixty. The Elders are Jacob Hauser and John McKibbon; the Deacons, P. D. Beatty and Wm. Beach. Elder F. Walden is Pastor.

Transcribed by Dawn Minard