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Show fT" The Citizen, Review, Free Press Presbyterians By Seibel Yates 1877 was the year that changed American Fork from a strictly Mormon village. It was then that people of other faiths came to American Fork. Onto the scene came the Reverend George R. Bird, of Bingham Canyon, who rented quarters in the social hall above Chipman Mercantile to open a mission. He first held services on Sept. 9, 1877, and by Sept. 30 the Sabbath school was ready to open with a membership of 30 pupils. The five-member church was recognized by the Presbytery and was officially organized on Nov. 27, 1877. The first board of trustees was elected in an assembly Dec. 4. 1877; its members were W.G. Higley, John Bennett and Robert Peters, along with Mrs. Higley and the pastor's wife. Their first act as a board of trustees was to apply for $400 from the Board of Church Erection lo purchase property and build a church. John Bennett, church member and trustee, sold them a piece of property with a log building on it. Historians say this building was a blacksmith shop. It was repaired with purchase of additional lumber, paint, a stove, etc. and fitted up well enough to be used for meetings. 1 ()fen 24 Hours das - Thursday, April 2, 1981 - Page B-4 According to a brief history of the church in an 1895 journal, the chapel was replaced in 1879 by a . new one at an outlay of $352. However, the low cost and minutes of the church indicate thai the addition to the church was intended in-tended to house a day school. During this period, the Reverend Mr. Bird contacted the church office for assistance in opening a day school for children. In answer to his call, Miss Ada Kingsbury of Monticello, Indiana, an 1877 graduate of I he Western Female Seminary of Oxford. Ohio, came to assist She reports in her writings that she soon went to the McMillan home in Mt. Pleasant lo await completion of the portion of the chapel which was to be the day school. Miss Kingsbury returned in the fall. Finding the building not yet finished, she pitched in with her own hands to assist. In November, she opened the day school with 11 students but had a roomful before the term was ended. Having served for almost three years, the Reverend Mr. Bird left for Salt Lake City in 1879 because of his wife's poor health. Miss Kingsbury look over many extracurricular activities usually performed by the minister. She visited families, worked with young people, taught Sunday A Pelrocoal, synthetic fuel, decreases noxious emissions, saves money and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. There's only one place you can buy it. 202 West State Road - Lehi - 7688109 Groceries - Complete Convenience Store Build f School, and conducted prayer meetings and church services. The Reverend Mr. T.F. Day stepped into her life and that of the church on August 25, 1880. On June 29, 1881, the young minister and schtx)l teacher were married. According to a church historian, l his was the beginning of an ambitious am-bitious and industrious family that achieved eminence during the next 50 years. As in many Utah communities, the Presbyterian school functioned as the leading school of the community until the turn of the century, when Utah public schools 1 were standardized. During that period, the school was divided into primary and grammar grades and served by two teachers al a time. Those who served included Clemmice A. Brown, Clara Pierce, Abbie Whitney, Carrie Martin, Fannie Taylor, Florence Taylor, Grace Jones, M. H. McCullough, Sarah Reed, Ella C. Herron, Frances Paden, and Sarah Wingenfield until closing in 1909. The Reverend F.G. Webster followed Reverend Day in 1890 and he was succeeded by the Reverend J. A. Livingston Smith in 1893. Oilier paslors during this period include F.W. Blohn, R.E. Blackman, and S.F. Moore. The Reverend Wildman Murphy served the church from 1904-1914 REALTOR New CD and look leadership not only in the church but in the community before his transfer lo Payson. The Reverend John Meeker, who served from 1914-1921, was the last minister to make his home in American Fork for some tune. During his term his wife began the women's organization that has continued lo this day. Al this time the church was suffering, for many of its members left as the mines in the canyon were closed. A period began in which the church was linked with Payson and Springville churches and the paster lived in one of those towns. Another pastor found his wife in American Fork. The Reverend Harold L. Wilson (1928 lo 1932) married Margaret Binns. Succeeding the Reverend Mr. Wilson were the Reverends H.E. Gaines and J.D. Arthur. Elias Jones (1940-1946) was a jolly Welschman, loved by I he children, and traveled from Payson to conduct services every Sunday. During this period many Protestant families came lo the area as Geneva Steel opened. The congregation expanded, as did the need for physical expansion of the church. The old church was one big room with a folding partition left from the Iwo-room school days. The pulpit was at the rear of the Ray L Realty Co. 166 West Main American Fork, Utah 84003 756-6052 7 56-60 52 PICK FLOOR COVERINGS on new homes priced to sell. Over 1000 sq. ft., dbl. carports, full basements, 1 in A.F. and 1 in Orem, priced at $55,900. 1200 sq. ft in Lehi, 3 bdrms., wbaths, garage at $67,900. Call RAY L REALTY 756-6052. NEED A BIGGER HOUSE? Unique home in Lehi, 12 bdrms., 5000 sq. ft., 5000 sq. ft finished basement, 2 fireplaces, 25 sq. ft safe, $97,500 with N acre, $87,500 with Vi acre. OWNER WILL CARRY. Call Max 768-3306 or RAY L REALTY 756-6052. WEST CANYON PROPERTY for sale. 3-40 acre pieces, 1-10 1-10 acre piece. Good investment. Call E. Peck 768-9804 or Ray L. Realty 756-6052. INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY- 20 units in Am. Fork. For more information please call Laraine 756-7231 or Ray L. Realty 756-6052. PRESTIGIOUS NOB HILL HOME - 3 bdrms., 2 baths, huge kitchen and dining area, main floor family room, excellent view. Call Laraine 756-7231 or RAY L REALTY 756-6052. BLOG. LOTS AND ACREAGE acre, 2 & 3 acres, 17 acres development ground in Lehi and A.F. Also bldg. lots and commercial lot in PI. Grove. Contract sales available. Call E. Peck 768-9804 or RAY L REALTY 756-6052. 756-6052. PRICE REDUCED to $60,000. Commercial property off state street in PI. Grove. Assume loan balance of $37,000 or 9!A. Nice older home, excellent condition, Call Reese 756-3128 or Ray L. Realty 756-6052. VIEW LOT IN OREM ready to build on. Call Arden 756-2706, 756-2706, or Ray L. Realty 756-6052. FARM LAND IS RARE- Here is over 73 acres in Lehi, 80 shares of water, contract sale available, $5,000 per acre. Call Elwyn 768-9804 or Ray L. Realty 756-6052. ANIMAL LOVERS- lovely 3 bdrm rambler home on acre, lull basement in nice setting in Alpine. Home is approx. 5 years old, priced to sell. Call Elwyn 768-9804 or Ray L. Realty 756-6052. Memorial Hall Utah County Founders and early residents of northern Utah County are among those to be honored in the Memorial Hall of the new headquarters of the Sons of Utah Pioneers now under construction in Salt Lake City. The 70-foot-long gallery will be lined with permanent plaques bearing names of pioneer men and women who are sponsored by individuals, family groups, or businesses. A donation of $100 per name is used for the building project. Pioneers who migrated to or SONS OF THE UTAH PIONEERS- An architects drawing depicts tne new SUP headquarters now under construction in -Salt Lake Uity. moECHiiarcli church, and a located in the big range was other end for cooking. People moving into town were not aU Presbyterians, so the church officially became Community Com-munity Presbyterian Church to reflect the many religious backgrounds of the people who found their church home there. In 1949 the building was remodeled to fit the larger congregation, with the ceiling lowered and a raised platform placed in the east end. The campaign cam-paign for funds began under the Reverend Jones and continued through the tenure of Reverend E.L. Fritz (1946-47). At times the church was without a pastor and lay-preacher J. Henry Camp was in the pulpit while visiting pastors performed official duties. The Reverend A.G. Kennedy served the church from 1948-1949. In 1950 the little church made history by calling the Reverend G. Frank Mar to serve, the first minister of Chinese ancestry to serve a Caucasian church in the USA. The church steeple was struck by lightning in 1952, making repairs to the bell tower necessary. A six-foot steel cross replaced the old weather vane at this time. The old adobe manse had been used as a Sunday school building for years, and was demolished in the 1950's to make way for a modern religious education building. The church remained in the parish system under Reverend W.H. Luce in 1953-55. By this time membership was such that the church decided to call its own minister, Reverend Donald S. Ryder (1955-1960), and rented a manse for him. Later a parsonage was purchased pur-chased for Reverend Douglas llhls (1961-65) and his young family. Reverend David Davids served the church from 1966-70, and Richard Connell from 1971-76. During this period the church shared a pastor with the United Church of Christ in Orem. Lehi - Beautiful View Lots Priced To Sell Four Left All Improvements In -Underground Utilities Hook-up Fees Included Come See at 1450 N. 1200 E. Call 768-9567 Pioneers Honored were born in Utah or surrounding territories will be memorialized in two main groups, according to K. Grant Hale, national president of SUP. One will include those of 1847-1869 (before the coming of the railroad), and the second will name those of 1869-1899. Their names and the names of their sponsors will be catalogued also in a new historical library at the building, Mr. Hale said. American Fork area settlers whose names have been entered on plaques thus far include: Richard Carlisle and Jenny Field Carlisle SCI In 1976 members began plans for celebration of the church's centennial cen-tennial year, including opening the church cornerstone which contained con-tained a wooden box of mementos left by the pioneer builders. Restoration of the chapel far exceeded anything those pioneers could have expected or afforded. The false ceiling was removed, new lighting installed, lovely stained glass windows added, and the final effect achieved with antique pews, pulpit and communion com-munion table. It was a joyful Easter Sunday of 1977 that the congregation first worshipped in the restored chapel. But it isn't the building that makes a church special. The little congregation had met in a renovated blacksmith shop, in a newly dedicated brick building, in a modernized chapel, and now in a restored sanctuary. But it is the people who have held that church together through both the good and the lean times. The church is now led by the Reverend Geoff Nelson, and continues to provide a church home for many members of the community. It came to American Fork in 1877 and left a heritage that has continued for a century - now going into a second century - built on a solid foundation: the faith of its people. BIBLIOGRAPHY Binns, Mrs. Viola; "A Brief History of the Community Presbyterian Church of American Fork," 80th anniversary booklet, American Fork. 1957. Davies, Dr. George; "A Historical Sketch of the Presbyterian Church in Utah," doctoral dissertation, 1941-73. Martin, Theodore D.; "Presbyterian Work in Utah 1869-1969," unpublished manuscript, Westminster College archives, Salt Lake City. Smith, J.A. Livinston; "American Fork", Church Review, historical edition, Volume 4, No. 1, Salt Lake City, Dec. 29, 1895. Teuscher, Mrs. Marvin; "Celebrating a Century of Dedication," centennial booklet. Community Presbyterian Church, American Fork, 1977. "Historical Sketch of the Presbyterian Mission at American Fork, Utah " Paden Collection, Westminster College Archives, Salt Lake City, Feb. 23, 1893. (Author unknown) (From "Spokes in the Wheel," courtesy of David L. Kjar) (Alpine); Joshua Adams, James C. Carter, Margaret A. Greenwood Carter; Elizabeth N. Cunningham, Robert Cunningham, Ann Wilson Cunningham, William Grant, John Hill Maughan, and John Mercer. Lehi pioneers who have been sponsored include: Mons Anderson, An-derson, C. Bensen, John Bushman, Lois A. Smith Bushman, Mary A. Petersen Bushman, Joseph H. Colledge, Elisha H. Davis, Sarah E. Stewart Davis, Rebecca C. Evans, Thomas David Evans, Bishop David Evans, James Joseph Keep Jr., George Kirkham, George William Kirkham, M.A. Astington Kirkham, James Kirkham, Martha Mercer Kirkham, John Roberts, E.J. Evans, Thomas Russon, E.A. Jones, Lot Russon, E.R. Russon, Jesse Smith, Daniel S. Thomas, John William Wing Sr., John Woodhouse and wives, William Yates Jr. and M.A. Peck Yates. Additional pioneer names, together with birth and death dates and locations, are being sought by the SUP. To insure alphabetical placement in the Memorial Hall, they should be sent by May 1 with sponsoring con-tributions con-tributions (tax-deductible) to: Sons of Utah Pioneers, 3357 So 2300 East, Salt Lake City 84109. Further information may be obtained from Alex Brown, president of the Lehi SUP Chapter, at 768-3502. |
