977.3553 M38 I UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN ILL HIST. SURVEY J-HY CORN BEI^T AUG. aS^PT. I -2 ii "'f ^] ^' M5^ XH^C Dedication T/iKs Genteyuml hooklut is dedicated to tlw iiwmoiij of the earhf settlers of lllasoii i itij (/Ik/ sitrroiindiug urea. In the great surge of pioneers toward new land and new opportunities in the early 1800's there were some who halted their drifting from place to place to establish homes here. The first years in the primitive wilderness were fraught with hardship. It was through their hard work, determination and planning that this wild and unhealthy district was made more inviting and livable. Then others came to form this community. Mason Citv is now 100 years old. We can be justifiably proud that here is a most desirable place to live and work. We humbly acknowledge that most of the honor should go to the pioneering families for their courage, their industry and their foresight to settle here. . . . The Centennial Historical Committee Table of Contents BEFORE THERE WAS A TOWN 3 HISTORY OF MASON CITY 5 1868 BUSINESS DIRECTORY 15 COMMUNITY PARK DISTRICT 17 PUBLIC LIBRARY 17 BAPTIST CHURCH 21 METHODIST CHURCH 23 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 25 CHRISTIAN CHURCH 27 FREE METHODIST CHURCH 29 CATHOLIC CHURCH 29 ST. LUKE'S LUTHERAN CHURCH 31 ASSEMBLY OF GOD CHURCH 33 CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH 33 SCHOOLS 35 PLAT OF MASON CITY 40-41 MASON CITY POST OFFICE 43 OLD SETTLERS 45 TELEPHONE CO. 47 ELECTRIC SERVICE 49 "THE GOOD EARTH" 51 SEED CORN INDUSTRY 53 ICE MAKING 58 NEW INDUSTRY 58 ORGANIZATIONS 61 CEMETERY ASSOCIATION 77 AERIAL VIEW OF MASON CITY, ILLINOIS — Taken about len years ago :j*m 9m»-- Gongrati ilahons to ason ijitij its ( -Centennial on from the Mason City Telephone and Telegraph Company irhich iras 50 ijears old m Jcnuiarij, IQ57 We are one of the 283 Independent Telephone Companies in the Slate of Illinois The company was organized to take over telephone service provided by two companies then in existence. We are proud to be growing with Mason City and are now serving 1,172 subscribers. We pledge to give unproved service m the uexi lOO years to the commuuitij. Before There Was A Town S<^tCef dcttienteaC ^-r^' AlWAViMnifiosnF WHEAT — This field (Certified Winter Wheat) was teeded to leave one out of tour drill rows open to permit hand selection of foundation seed without damage to growing plants. SOYBEANS - Modern machinery helps us do the best job possible. This pull-type combine is in opera- ,tion in a field of Certified Adams Soybeans on Funk Forms. NEW and IMPROVED varieties and selections of all major Held crops have been grown at Funk Farms on Research Acres since 1901 . Purity and superior performance are first requirements in our ov/n foundation seed stocks. Depend on Funk Farms Seeds for quality. . . in the tradition of many years of leadership. "He W/)o Serves Agriculfure Serves Mankind" Field Seed Division OATS. ..WHEAT SOYBEANS... CLOVERS ALFALFAS... GRASSES FUNK BROS. SEED CO Bloomington CIMfE 1824 Funk Farms Illinois Shirley, Illinois Mason City, Illinois ffUltlli'S ^J|l«:i|ii|| Community Park District One of the projects of the Civic Improvement As- sociation which was organized, February 9, 1949, was the promotion of a Summer Recreation Program for school- age youth of the community. After a couple of very successful seasons in which this program was carried out, a group of civic-minded people petitioned the County Judge of Mason County to submit the question of the organization of a Park District to the legal voters of a proposed Park District with Mason City as its center. The County Judge ordered the election on the question and to elect five commissioners in the event the park district proposition was favorably voted at the election. Mason City Community Park District was organized, October 10, 1951 under the Park District Code of the State of Illinois. The five Commissioners elected were A. H. Blessman, Wilbur Brinner, Frank Conrady, Donald Legg and Dr. V. E. Price. On August 3, 1953 the City of Mason City turned over the Tourist Park to the Mason City Community Park District to be used as a park. Since that time the commissioners have instituted extensive improvements to this park. The place is now well lighted and has ample picnic facilities which are well used in the spring, summer and fall seasons. Play ground equipment in- stalled at several places in the park also makes the place a popular recreation spot. Paul Doyle was elected to fill the vacancy of the Board of Commissioners caused when Wilbur Brinner's term of office expired on August 5, 1955. The present board is composed of A. H. Blessman, Frank Conrady, Paul Doyle, Donald Legg and Dr. V. E. Price. Swimming Pool A bond issue of $50,000.00 was passed by the voters of the Park District at a special election held August 20, 1955 to decide the question of whether to build a swimming pool and bath house. The contract to build the pool was awarded to A. F. Krall Construction Co. of Decatur. The W. A. Grandy Co. was given the job of constructing the bath house. The size of the pool is 40 feet by 75 feet and the wading pool is 10 feet by 15 feet. The entire improvement has been equipped with the best of serviceable swimming pool equipment. The pool was dedicated at the annual May 30, 1957, Memorial Day observance and named "The Memorial Pool" in memory of this community's veterans of all wars. The City of Mason City turned over the north half of the Monument Park to the Park District on September 12, 1955. The south half of the park where the pool is located is leased on a yearly basis to the Park District. Recreation Program The Park District has continued to sponsor the Summer Recreation Program as it was originally insti- tuted. The program consists of instruction in crafts, games, sports, and swimming for all school age youth, under the supervision of qualified instructors. Public Library Grows from 100 to 8,307 Volumes The first information concerning a library in Mason City was found in a newspaper item printed in 1879 to the eflfect that J. F. Culp was elected secretary of the same. A few older citizens have a hazy recollection of a lending library of a sort in the eighties. To the Woman's Club belongs the honor of having started and by persistent effort established the Mason City Public Library. It became the definite objective for a period of years, of the original twenty members soon after its organization in 1904. The first president, Mrs. J. H. Dearborn and a committee, Mrs. Effie Enlows, Mrs. Fannie Coat, Mrs. Sara Huse were active in directing the attention and interest of the community to the need of library service for cultural and educational purposes. About this time Dr. Ovens with Clark McKnight had organized and supervised a Boy's Club with head- quarters in a reading room on the second floor above the present Kirby's Royal Blue Store, corner of South Main and West Chestnut Streets. Later when the club was dis- banded, the furniture, chairs and table and about 88 books were donated to the Woman's Club as the nucleus of a library. About 1905 a room was secured rent free on the second floor above the store room now occupied by the Karl Leiser Ben Franklin Store, 104 South Main Street, in the Hattie B. Vickery Mason City's First Librarian Shown with her invalid father in front of their home on East Elm St., in their car which was one of the few such vehicles in town at that time. building then owned by David Powell. It was open on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. A 17 (IomjiLim£.nt± or ana ramiiu Compliments Of Horace E. Whitney • REAL ESTATE • FARM LOANS • INSURANCE 129-A East Chestnut Street Mason City, Illinois ia Box of reference books, the property of A. A. Cargill, was also given by Harry and Dr. C. W. Cargill and with other collected gifts made a total of 150 books to start. Miss Hattie B. Vickery was employed as the first li- brarian and worked for a time without pay. She remained in charge under necessarily small wages, until forced to resign by illness followed by her death in 1913. She was succeeded by Mrs. Dora Rickard Walker. Public plays, box suppers, ball games, lectures and other entertainment were conducted by the Woman's Club to raise money in support of the library. The ques- tion of a two-mill city tax was made an issue at a special election in 1906 but was voted down. Later another at- tempt was made and again defeated, which ended the cherished hope of obtaining a Carnegie library. Success was flnall.v attained and on February 24, 1914 the direc- tors met and organized the first library board, consisting of: President, Mrs. J. H. Dearborn; vice-president, Mrs. Effie Enlows; secretary, Mrs. Clara Warnock; with mem- bers, Mrs. Martha E. Cargill, Mrs. Fannie Coat, W. E. Stone and W. G. Burnsmier. Soon afterward, Mrs. Sara B. Huse and Mrs. John Freeman were appointed trustees. On March 1, the Mason City Free Public Library, consisting of 1,000 books, was turned over to the City and checks issued on the City Treasury to the amount of $500 for the first year. Next year the tax levy was raised to $1,000. Miss Mamie McLemore was librarian in 1914 and 1915 when, with the aid of Miss Ruby Aubere, Havana librarian, the books were reclassified and a regular li- brary system employed. In 1916 the board decided that more convenient quarters should be secured and the library was moved to the first floor of the Culp building where the Kozy Hat and Dress Shop is now located, 126 South Main Street. Mrs. Jessie Stewart became librarian at this time and remained until her resignation in 1925. During her years of faithful service, especially in aiding young students with reference work in debates and school activities, many improvements were made. The tax levy was raised to $1,200 and new wooden shelves were added as the books increased. A card catalog and desk were also added. There were a goodly number of standard periodicals on reading tables and a number of these were bound and placed in the reference section. Complete files were kept for years in the small storage room at the rear of the library room and were often a valuable aid for reference to the patrons. Mrs. Garnet Chesnut was employed as librarian in 1925. She is a charter member of the Woman's Club and served with Mrs. Enlows on the book selection committee in the early days. Mantie Mathers began her extended and effiicient service as president of the board in 1925. When the City Hall was built in 1929 the southwest corner of the second floor was reserved for the Public Libary, where it is now located. It is reached by a stair- way on the north side of the entrance. The room is light, attractive and commodious, about 30 by 30 feet with an alcove extension west about 10 feet. Daylight is furnished by seven wide windows and the room is also amply lighted with electricity. In 1932 the library was rearranged under the capable management of Mrs. Stella Rogier, president. New fire- proof steel shelving replaced the former high double- faced wooden stacks which occupied the center floor space and shut out much of the light. Because of the growing book collection double faced steel book racks were bought and placed on the floor in 1935 and 1939. In the book drive for army camps in World War II the librarian and her committee supervised the collection of 568 volumes to the Lincoln Library at Springfield. Since the retirement of Mrs. Chesnut the library has been served by the following librarians: Mrs. Flossie Close, Mrs. Frances Akin, Mrs. Harriet Middleton and Mrs. Helen Bolinger. Mrs. M. E. Hanover is the present librarian. The library board is Mrs. J. W. Ainsworth, presi- dent; Mrs. Ben Nafziger, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. H. G. Beck, Mrs. Horace Whitney, Mrs. L. E. Mathers Sr., Mrs. V. E. Price, Miss Avis Hubbard, Mrs. Fred Brinner and Mrs. M. E. Hanover. The library now has 8,307 volumes on its shelves. Chaulauquas According to the large sign hung from the back of the second car the parade was advertising the Chautauqua. These annual educational and entertainment series of programs were brought here after a guarantee of a certain number of season ticket sales had been made. Held in large tent auditoriums the pro- grams were always of the highest calibre. I 9 ClomjiLimznt^ or oxn ana faniLLU We are proud to say that the . . . (Reicilsms talc is and has been a part of Mason City for the past few years. We salute the Mason City Centennial and strive to keep our town a growing center and hope we may have the privilege of serving you in the future as we have in the past DARLENE, TOM and JIMMIE ROBERTSON . . . For Your Dining Pleasure . . . Robertson's Cafe Air Conditioned for Comfort 121 North Main Street ZQ Churches Form Center of Community Life Sincerity of Purpose and United Effort Surmount Building Difficulties Baptists Establish First Church In Mason City The settlements of Mason County were early served by Circuit Rider preachers of the Methodist and Baptist faiths, going from community to community on horse- back, and reaching each group about once a month for services. These were not half hour services, b_il lasted for several hours. The people looked forward to tham and thought nothing of sermons lasting a few hours each. The preachers of those days were not seminary graduates, but what they lacked in education, they made up in enthusiasm and sincerity. Those with loud, powerful voices, it is said could be heard a mile away when the atmosphere was right. The first Baptist Church was organized in 1355 at ihe Pollock school house, in the neighborhood of Prairie Creek, and was called the Prairie Creek Baptist Church until ISeO. By vote of the members on February 25, 1860 the name was changed to First Baptist Church of Mason City, Illinois. When the church was organized, there were thirteen Charter Members, namely: Lorenzo Hastings, Jane Hast- ings, J. C. Temple, Lucy Temple, Phoebe Hastings, Sarah Hastings, James L. Hastings, Abram Ingraham and Thomas B. Powell. Elder Lorenzo R. Hastings, a farmer who had settled on and improved a farm two miles east of Mason City, in 1851, was mainly responsible, through his interest and efforts, for the organization meeting which was held at the Pollock schoolhouse. He was chosen to minister to the group as their first leader. On May 22, 1859, five trustees were elected to office, then on Feb. 25, 1860, the name was changed to First Baptist Church. In 1862, a schoolhouse was rented for a place to worship, until a building could be erected in Mason City. In 1865, a new pastor was called, Rev. S. S. Martin, and May 19, 1866 a building committee was ap- pointed to plan a church edifice. The church edifice was erected at its present location in 1867, and Rev. Martin planted the elm trees which now landscape the church grounds. Thomas Lamoreaux and Daniel Riner served as the building committee. Years later the church was remodeled and decorated under the pastorate of Rev. F. A. Beyle, in 1901. During the period from organization to 1870, ten different ministers were called to pastor to the group, the first being Rev. J. M. Hastings, who served one year; the other nine who served for a short time each were: Rev. Scott, Rev. Blunt, Rev. Curry, Rev. Hastings, Rev. Haughey, Rev. Holtslaw and others. In 1870, the church called the Rev. C. A. Hobbs who was ordained in June 1870, and served as pastor until 1879; Rev. G. C. Peck served from 1879 to 1886; Rev. L. R. Banks served trom 188B to 1887; Rev. J. S. Hutcherson served as pastor from 1887 to 1889; Rev. W. T. Norris served from 1889 to 1892; Rev. D. McMasters from 1892 to 1894; Rev. A. H. Harnley from 1894 to 1897; Rev. M. M. Smith 1898; Rev. A. H. Rhodes 1899 to 1901; Rev. F. Beyle 1901 and 1902. For the next forty years, the following pastors served the congregation: Rev. H. H. Breach 1902; Rev. R. B. McCormick 1902-1906; Rev. A. C. Hodgson 1907-1911 Rev. W. F. Thompson 1911-1913; Rev. H. O. Tribble 1914 Rev. J. C. Honigh 1914-1916; Rev. E. A. Powell 1916-1918 Rev. W. W. Ayer 1918-1920; Rev. V. C. Seafler 1920-1924 Rev A. E. Jern 1924-1925; Rev. G. W. Ballenger 1925-1936 Rev. C. A. Wise 1936; Rev. Sneath 1937; Rev. Seide B. Janssen. 1938-1940; Rev. Milo Moore 1941-1942. Notes from Pioneer Times to 1942 Several pastors of the congregation served in an outstanding capacity in one way or another. Among these were: Rev. L. R. Hastings, who also served as Sunday School Superintendent and County Sunday School Super- intendent for many years. A Dr. May was chorister of the choir, and at that time a small organ was used for music. Mrs. Franklin served as Primary Teacher in the Sunday School. The Rev. W. W. Ayer came as pastor to the church while a student in college, and served his first pastorate here from November 17, 1918 to October 3, 1920. He did a great work among the young people, and did not forget the older ones. Rev. Ayer was united in marriage to Miss Lucile Woodward, daughter of Mrs. Rhoda Woodward, May 1, 1919. Rev. W. W. Ayer later became the dis- tinguished pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in the city of New York, where be began his service in 1936. He is currently engaged in traveling as a speaker to con- 21 ventions throughout the United States and is director of the "Truth Marches On" broadcast on Sunday afternoon from New York. He lives on Long Island, but is still lovingly remembered by the Mason City congregation, whom he has visited several times over the years. Rev. V. C. Seafler, a Baptist seminary student, came to the Baptist Church as a student supply pastor during the winter of 1920-1921. After his graduation from the seminary in Chicago in June, 1921, he became the full time pastor and served until September, 1924. From Mason City, he went as a missionary to San Salvador, Central America, working among the Spanish speaking people there until 1927. Then he went to southern Cali- fornia, to serve as Colporteur, with Chapel car, working among the Spanish speaking people in the Fresno area, under the supervision of the American Baptist Home Missionary Society. From 1937 to the present, he and Mrs. Seafler have been engaged in missionary work among the Mexican people in the vicinity of Del Ray, California. Rev. G. Walter Ballenger, and his wife. Rev. Rule Ballenger served this church from 1925-1936. The Rev. Ballenger made it possible for the fulfillment of a dream of the Baptist congregation — a complete church plant, modernly equipped in every respect. The church build- ing was efficiently remodeled to accomodate the needs of the growing congregation. The church building was raised about five feet which made room for a convenient basement under the entire building. A new furnace was installed and a new entry- way with a bell tower were added. A new baptistry and platform were built, the entire building was replastered and the windows repaired. A new floor, new concrete steps, and new walks were added to put the whole pro- perty in excellent condition. Rev. Seide B. Janssen served the church as pastor from 1938 to 1940 and was graduated from Eastern Bap- tist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also served simultaneously as pastor of the Easton Baptist Church. During his pastorate, he was married to a local girl, Miss Dorothy Duel in 1939. Rev. and Mrs. Janssen have served a number of pastorates in Central Illinois since that time, and at present (1957) they are serving the Baptist Church at Belleville, Illinois. Other Outstanding Services Mrs. Ella Heckman, a daughter of J. L. Hastings, charter member, served the early church congregation for many years as organist, having started when her feet could barely reach the pedals. A Dr. Taylor served for many years as Sunday School Superintendent. Miss Myra Withers, granddaughter of the former pastor, Rev. S. S. Martin, went to India as a foreign missionary August 25, 1925. The stepson of the Rev. J. R. Hastings, Rev. George C. Peck, also entered the ministry. He served his first pastorate in Mason City, and while here was united in marriage to Miss Anna Crowl. A son of Rev. C. A. Hobbs also entered the Baptist ministry. Miss O. A. Clark served as Sunday School Superin- tendent for many years and was also active in County Sunday School work. She was the donor of a $500 gift bond to foreign missions of the American Baptist Mission Society. Miss Lilla Cook was an outstanding church worker, having served for many years as treasurer of the Sun- day School until her death. She was the donor of a $500 annuity bond to the Home Missionary Board of the de- nomination. Mrs. Etta McKinley was a faithful worker in the local church over a long period of years, serving as Sunday School Superintendent for eight years, and as clerk of the church board for 45 years. The McKinley home was often the center of activities of the church, and when Rev. and Mrs. Ballenger were in town, they made the McKinley home their headquarters. Their home was in Tremont, but they spent part of the week in Mason City. Mrs. McKinley served as secretary of the Mason County Sunday School Association for many years. Mrs. Ollie Bayne served as Sunday School Superin- tendent for a period of nine years, as well as serving in other capacities. Space does not permit enumerating the valuable ser- vice rendered by other devoted workers of the congre- gation, some serving as Sunday School teachers or church officers for long periods of faithful and devoted service. Rev. H. C. Smith was supply pastor from October 4, 1942 to November, 1945. During his ministry, the church ceiling was redecorated. The church was spiritually blessed by having Rev. and Mrs. Robert Taylor from December, 1945, to August, 1949. Rev. Thomas Harfst was pastor from August, 1949, to October, 1951. While he was serving the new parson- age was built by the men of the church who also painted the church building. After Rev. Harfst resigned Rev. Hall from Spring- field was supply pastor. Rev. Oscar Ouverson began his ministry in January, 1952, and was here until 1955. While he was pastor, the kitchen was modernized and a new gas furnace installed in the basement. A new porch was built on the church parsonage by the pastor. The Constitution was adopted in 1952. Rev. Lyle Newell came to minister to the church the last of 1955. Since he has been pastor, the church has built a garage, painted the church and parsonage and repaired memorial windows. The church has also been incorporated. Mrs. Lena Dennison has been church organist from 1942 until the present time. In 1857 there were thirteen members. In 1957 there are one hundred and ninety-one members. The present church officers are; Moderator: Rev. L. L. Newell; Deacons: Murrell Den- nison, James Blevins, Ray Cummins, Ralph Benedict, Richard Starr, Charles Seest. Deaconesses: Mary Robert- son, Lila Mae Dennison, Loreen Blevins, Rosena Binger, Ivis Reed, Betty Cummins. Trustees: Kenneth Robertson, Leslie Akin, Omer Emery, Dewey Elmore, Wallace Min- ner; Treasurer: Mrs. Mary Bates. Clerk: Mrs. Lillian Minner. Sponsor Youth Work: Richard Starr. Sunday School Superintendent: Mrs. Loreen Blevins. Sunday School Secretary and Treasurer: Mrs. Irene Benedict. Missionary Treasurer: Mrs. Flora Hill. Head Usher: James Blevins. Music Director: Rev. L. L. Newell. Social Com- mittee: Mrs. Irene Benedict, Mrs. Jessie Dunham, Mrs. Ann Elmore. 22 Mrs. Addie Akin served as faithful president of our Missionary Society from 1942 until her health failed in 1953. In 1953 Mrs. Loren Smith became president. In 1954-1955 Mrs. Marie Robertson and in 1956-1957 Mrs. Omer Emery. Methodists Celebrated Their Centennial In October, 1954 The first meeting of the Methodist Society in this community was held at the Wm. Pollock home, two and one-half miles east of the present town of Mason City. The first preacher was John Mowery, in charge of Walkers Grove Mission, this being one of seven appoint- ments. He made the tour of appointments every three weeks. Preaching, prayer and class meetings were held in the Pollock residence for eighteen months, when a schoolhouse was erected in the northeast corner of the Pollock farm and the meetings were later held there. In Mowery's first year, 1854, a class of ten members was organized and the next year, after a good revival, thirty were added to the membership. After Rev. Mowery's two years, 1854-1856, Rev. Geo. D. Randle was in charge two years, during which time, in June 1857, he preached the first Methodist sermon in the town of Mason City. The place was a school room, the upper story of the only store in town, owned by Straut and Keefer, on the site of the Mason City Nation- al Bank, 129 East Chestnut Street. At that time, the Mission was made a circuit, and later called the Mason City Circuit. In September, 1858, Rev. Wm. Pollett came and stayed until 1860, then followed the pastorates of A. Sloan 1860-1862; Henry Wallace 1862-1863; and Wm. Paxton 1863-1865. It was during Rev. Paxton's work here that the First M. E. Church was built on lot 7, block 22 of the original town of Mason City, which is now the site of the Gladys Wilkinson home, 117 West Arch Street. Lot 7 was conveyed to the Society by Cortes Hume in 1864 and Lot 6 to the north of it by Wm. Young in the same year. For a few years prior to the building of the Church, the meetings of the Society were held in the small frame school house that stood where the Free Methodist Church was later located. The original contract for the building of the church bears the date of April 2, 1864 at a cost of $2,350.00. The contract was signed by the following trustees: John Deskins, Quintus Orendorf, Abram Swing, S. D. Swing, Chas. Brooker, Richard Proctor and I. F. Stone. It was also signed by B. A. Rosebrough and Reuben Fuller, builders; and by Israel Hibberd and Rev. Wm. Paxton as witnesses. The work was completed by October 1, 1864. At the time of the building, the population of Mason City was about five hundred and the erection of such a building was an important event. That was three years before the first railroad was completed through here. The The framing timbers for the church were sawed at the mill at Hiawatha on Salt Creek and it was necessary to haul the other materials by team from Lincoln, Illinois. At the "Raising" the ladies gave a big dinner on the lots diagonally across from the church site. The de- dication is thought to have been in December, 1864. The celebrated Peter Cartwright was engaged for the occasion but unfortunately he was unable to fill the ap- pointment and the services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Wm. Paxton. According to the record, the duty was well performed but the people had come to hear "Uncle Peter," and were disappointed. Perhaps that was the reason they did not contribute as freely as they other- wise would have done. At any rate, there was a shortage of funds and to meet it the perplexed managers arranged to have Peter Cartwright come and preach a few weeks later and announced that one dollar a head would be charged for admission. This proved to be a mistake for Uncle Peter was displeased with the idea of "being made a show of," and the people at large failed to attend tine entertainment, as they called it. At last, a few of the trustees shouldered the burden and the debt to the con- tractors was paid. After these yeai-s of struggle, the Church entered upon a season of prosperity and useful- ness. Fink Photo During the ministry of Edward Rutledge, 1866-1867, a parsonage was built on Lot 6 north of the church. J. N. Simmons was pastor 1867-1868; H. S. Parkhurst 1869- 1871. During Parkhurst's administration, meetings were held at Cherry Grove schoolhouse, one of the class leaders being Isaac Surface. Then P. C. Carroll was pastor from 1871-1872; A. C. Ai-mentrout 1872-1875; J. W. Sinnock, 1875-1878; Wm. Moore 1878-1879; J. Ingram 1879-1882. During In- gram's pastorate, a new organ was purchased for the church and the parsonage repaired. Then H. C. Adams was pastor in 1882-1883, when E. A. Wamsley was sent to the charge and remained until 1884. During E. A. 23 Wamsley's term, the Ladies' Aid Society was organized with a view to securing a more favorable location on which to build a church. Then there were a number of pastors; F. C. Bruner 1884-1886: H. Barton 1886-1887 and J. Everly 1887-1890. During this period, a lot was purchased on the corner of North Main and East Pine Streets from a Mrs. Richey and another to the north of it from Mrs. Martha Conroy. Among the records is a receipt for six dollars which the trustees paid to Mrs. Conroy for her garden. The old parsonage and lot were traded for this second lot. On these lots, the main part of the building we now have, the auditorium, the south and west rooms were erected. The corner stone was laid November 19, 1888. The following articles were placed in the corner stone: a Bible, a Hymn book, Church Discipline of 1888, the minutes of the Annual Conference of 1888, pieces of cop- per and silver coin, names of subscribers to the building fund and the amounts subscribed, names of present members and names of officers and teachers of the Sunday School. An article from the Mason City Independent of August 16, 1889 stated as follows: "Last Sunday, August 11th was the day appointed for the dedication of the new M. E. Church located at the corner of North Main and East Pine Streets. It is a handsome brick building, cap- able of seating about five hundred people, and its plan and architectural beauty reflects great credit upon the architect, Mr. Corwine of Lincoln. The total cost of the building was $10,000 and about half of that amount had to be raised on the day of dedication. The task seemed herculean and many regarded it as impossible, but Dr. W. H. Adams who preached the morning sermon, buckled into it and so successful was his assault upon the hearts and pockets of the people, that by the close of the noon service, the mountain was reduced to a molehill and under his final assault at the night service, the mole hill was entirely removed, after which the church was formally dedicated. The obtaining of the subscriptions, the amount of $5,000 in a single day's sei-vice was most remarkable and without a parallel in the city. Dedication Day was a beautiful day, no services were held in the other churches and the house was crowded. At 9:00 A.M. the Sunday School met at the old church and the several classes with their teachers marched in a procession to the new church. This school is about the oldest organizatin of its kind in the city. In this procession were a number of faithful workers who had labored in various capacities in that school through adversity as well as prosperity for nearly a quarter of a century. Many tender memories and many conflicting emotions rushed through their souls as they looked back upon the deserted scene of their long and perhaps unap- preciated labors and sacrifices. At the new building, the school sang a few songs and several visiting ministers made brief addresses. The ministers participating were George Stevens, presiding elder; John Everly, pastor; W. H. Musgrove, Jacksonville and Dr. W. H. Adams. All the sermons delivered that day were able and abounded with wholesome lessons. Time and again the people were told that a building, however beautiful, does not constitute a church, that in a higher sense, a church is a body of devout Christian believers; persons who have faith in Christ and not in a fine meeting place; persons who have the spirit of Christ and try to follow his example of love, kindness and gentleness toward each other and the world at large; persons who are not given to backbiting, bickerings, jealousy, evil speaking, false accusations, personal re- venge, harsh judgement or any other practice bom of a wicked heart; people who can tolerate honest differences of opinion and who adjust all their troubles according to the Spirit and plan of the Gospel of Christ." Although written in 1889, these words many well be considered by the Methodist people today. The old Church was de- stroyed by fire the next year, in July 1890 and thus was removed an historical landmark. While Henry Wilson was pastor from 1891-1894, the main part of the present parsonage was built on a lot purchased from G. C. Ely. Rev. Wilson and family lived in the Kinsey Virgin house in the north part of town, which location is now Velde apartments, 124 East Roosevelt Road. The cost of the parsonage was $2,646.00 Shortly after 1900, some additions were made to the parsonage, 311 North Tonica, supposedly the kit- chen, pantry and rooms above, but the record is not quite clear on that point. The Methodists continued to worship in the build- ing as dedicated until 1912, with the following pastors; J. R. Van Pelt, J. A. Burchitt, G. W. Flagge, E. A. Hamilton, T. A. Parker, F. B. Madden, A. W Mills and T. H. Tull. It was during the ministry of T. H. Tull that the church was enlarged owing to the increased membership. The present East Room was added, also several class rooms. A basement was placed under the entire building and some changes were made in the auditorium and all was re- decorated. The present organ was installed at that time, part of the funds for the same being contributed by the Cleveland-Riggs family. When the church was first built, the reed organ from the old church was used, and later a small pipe organ was pumped by hand. Then came the following pastors: J. E. Artz, W. M. Wells, R. W. Ennis, Grant Johnson, J. F. Wohlfarth and E. H. Sauer, during whose pastorate the church was again redecorated. The Happy Hour Class was organized during Rev. Sauer's ministry and it is still going strong. The fol- lowing ministers: V. H. Van Horn, L. P. Bear, O. E. Martin, C. S. Boyd, E. O. England and the church was again redecorated. Rev. H. G. Beck was minister from 1942-1949, serving the church for a longer period than any other minister. He retired in 1949 on account of ill health. He and Mrs. Beck continued to live in Mason City and he was always willing to help in every way possible until his death in May, 1954. It was during his ministry that the Altar Set was presented to the Church by Mrs. Covey in memory of Emerson Beck who lost his life in the Second World War. Rev. S. P. Wiese served from 1949 to 1954 when he was assigned to Carlinville. During his ministry, Mrs. O. N. Swaar presented the church with a public address system in memory of her husband, Mr. O. N. Swaar. In 1954, Rev. Lloyde G. Strouse came to minister to the church from Paxton, Illinois. He came in June and we held our Centennial in October, 1954. Although it was a difficult task for one new on the charge, he carried on in a very commendable and success- ful manner. In the pageant that was given at the Cen- tennial, Rev. Strouse played the part of Rev. Paxton who was minister when the first church was dedicated in 24 1864. Rev. and Mrs. Strouse, in the three years of their work hei'e have shown themselves to be able and efficient leaders. Their work with the adult and youth choirs deserves special mention. The Methodist Men's Club was started under Rev. Strouse's guidance. It was during his ministry that the Baptismal Font was presented to the church by Mrs. Covey and her family. Also, Mrs. Beck presented a picture of Christ by Sallman in memory of Rev. H. G. Beck. Then two brass vases to match the altar set were presented to the church at Easter time by Mrs. England in memory of Rev. E. O. England. Recently it has been necessary to use some of the available space for additional class rooms to take care of the growing Sunday School. Some mention should be made of our organist, Mrs. Ida Swing, who served in that capacity for years and years after the present church was dedicated. For the past twenty-six years, we have had a very faithful and efficient organist in the person of Mrs. Vera Fink. She not only looked after the music herself but has trained two of our young people. Miss Susan Lynn and Miss Jolly Jennings who are very capable assistants. All the pastors and faithful workers in our church cannot be mentioned individually, but each one contri- buted his part in the making of the Methodist Church as it is today. May it move on to larger accomplishments. When Conference met in June, 1957, a new Pastor was sent to Mason City, Rev. F. C. Stelzriede. He is al- ready settled in the parsonage and is getting acquainted with the membership. We are looking forward to a happy and successful year in our Church Fellowship. First Presbyterian Building Stopped By Civil War In 1856, the pastor of the newly organized Presby- terian Church at Delavan, Rev. Templeton, being mis- sionary minded, established "preaching points," around the country, one of these being at Cherry Grove. From this small seed grew the Mason City Presbyterian Church. The next year, 1857, the town of Mason City was laid out, and a petition was made to the Peoria Presby- tery for a church at Mason City. A committee was ap- pointed and on March 1, 1858, the church was organized with Thomas Blain, Silas Hotchkiss and Gideon Osborne, elders; and Dr. J. M. Sudduth and John Van Horn as deacons. We are unable to give an exact list of the charter members, as some of the records, have been lost. But from available data and the memory of the oldest mem- bers, is is certain that the original thirteen are included in the following list. Those on the list, not charter mem- bers were soon enrolled as regular members: John Van Horn, Mrs. Jane Mathers Van Horn; John McKnight, Mrs. Martha A. McKnight; William Woodward, Mrs, Roxanna Woodward; Levi Goodale, Mrs. Martha Goodale; J. Hunt, Mrs. Cornelia Hunt; Gideon Osborne, Mrs. Cynthia Osborne; Silas Hotchkiss, Mrs. Hotchkiss; Dr. J. M. Sudduth, Mrs. Amanda Sudduth; Thomas Blaine; Samuel Pierson Woodward, Mrs. Helen Biggs Woodward; Miss Elizabeth Woodward; Mrs. Elizabeth Cavin Mathers; Mrs. Emily Tomlin. Nine of the charter members were relatives of Mrs. W. F. Zimmerman. The meeting place of these early religious pioneers was in an upper room of what was then the Woodward and Cargill Store, on Tonica Street between Arch and Elm Streets. The school house on the site of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Martin, 119 North Menard Street, was next used and later, they met in a room in the house of Mrs. Laura Richey, daughter of the Rev. John Andrews, who was their first pastor. This house was the site of the present Methodist Church, corner of North Main and E"<:t Pmp Streets. Tlie story of the first Presbyterian Church bunding in Mason City from its planning in 1859 to its completion in 1865 forms a saga of pioneer religious zeal. Brick were hauled by wagon from Pekin, there being no railroad here at that time; timber for the frame was cut by mem- bers; and on the appointed day, the families gathered from miles around. The men furnished the labor to raise the church in a single day and the women did their share by contributing a huge basket dinner. And what a day of rejoicing it was to see their new church home taking on reality! Enough of the building was finished so that it could be used for the services during the trying war years. Five hundred dollars toward this project was donated by the National Home Missionary Board of the Presby- terian Church. The same sweet-toned bell which you hear today was a gift to the church, secured through the influence of Mr. Wm. Woodward from friends of his in New England. It is made of genuine bell metal contain- ing a percentage of silver. This first building is the pres- ent St. Columba's Catholic Church and it stands sturdily on the original site, a monument to the faith and devotion of its early builders. Ill 1872, the present building was erected at a cost of $12,000.00, the site having been purchased earlier for 25 $1,700.00. This was an ambitious undertaking for so small a group, and considering the high interest rate at the time, it involved years of struggle, which could not have reached success without the cooperation of the whole community. The Fall Church Festival in those early days, be- came a yearly institution to be prepared for and looked foreward to for months. It lasted three days and included every money making device; a bazaar with all kinds of booths, from fortune telling, to grab bags, fishing pools, and candy and bakery counters. There were also enter- tainment features and pageants, a public supper each night and a big dinner served for the farmers on Satur- day noon, which they anticipated and enjoyed keenly. But the biggest thrill of all was when the women at the end of all their hard work were able to turn over $400.00 or more for the church fund. In later years, the Ladies Improvement Society was organized and did much to beautify the church, putting in the stained glass windows and laying the first good carpet the church ever had. A short history must leave out much detail, and can- not mention by name the countless faithful officers and workers who have, through long years given their ut- most in devotion. Only a few interesting facts may be noted, centering around each pastor's term of service. Rev. John Andrews, the first pastor served from 1858-1867. The membership of the struggling little band reached forty-seven. Rev. Stephen J. Bogle served from 1867-1882. He was the first pastor to conduct services in the new church. He had tlie longest service record of any local pastor up to that time. The church was then transferred from Peoria to Springfield Presbytery. Two hundred fifty-three ad- ditions were made to the membership during his pastorate. Rev. E. S. Fitz then came as stated supply, June 1882 and served ten months. Then Rev. D. K. Campbell served from 1883-1886. It was at this time that the first pipe organ was dedicated. Before this, a little Mason and Hamlin organ had been used and it and the choir sat in the gallery at the back. Mrs. W. F. Thompson and later, her daughter Jennie presided over the music. Mary Walker Whitworth was the first to play the pipe organ. In 1884, Mrs. Alma Thompson took her place as organist, which office she efficiently and generously filled for fifty-four years. In later years, the contribution of Miss Inez Freeman to the musical life of the church has also been outstanding. Rev. A. G. Lane served as pastor from 1887-1891. At this time the Christian Endeavor Society was organized and became very active. They presented the church with two memorial windows and they are credited by some with the gift of the pulpit furniture. It, however seems more probable that the Ladies Improvement Society was responsible for this gift, with Mr. Allen Bradley making up the deficit. Another window, one in the balcony, was given in memory of Agnes Cottrell. Rev. Robert Watt was minister, 1892-1893. Rev. C. A. Taylor from 1893-1896. During his service the Christian Endeavor paid for the building of the first cement walks of the church. Rev. G. T. Crumrine served from 1896 until his death in 1899. He is the only pastor to die here and to be buried in the Mason City Cemetery. Rev, A. S. Kaye served from 1899 to 1905. Rev. Mr. Kaye made the lattice work at the back of the church with the assistance of Mr. Ralph Ainsworth. Rev. E. M. Dill served from 1906-1908. At this time, a gift of $1,000.00 was given by J. H. Mathers and was used to rebuild the organ. Rev. E. R. North was minister from 1903-1910. At this time, Jessie Porter of Rockford, in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Royal Porter, presented the church with an individual communion set which is still in use. During Rev. North's pastorate, a basement was put under the entire church. From 1910-1914 Rev. E. L. Lord was minister and it was during his pastorate that a pulpit Bible was presented by Mrs. Emma Whitney. Rev. C. W. Clough served seven months in 1915-1916 and resigned because of ill health. Rev. Walter Turney was here from 1917-1925 and during his stay, a flag was presented to the church by Mrs. John Freeman. On April 18, 1918, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the church was celebrated. There was a Mis- sionary Pageant and Rev. D. K. Campbell was back to give the address. Rev. F. P. Miller served from 1926-1930. And in 1927, the fine John Freeman Memorial Austin Organ was pre- sented to the church by his wife. This outstanding organ is ever an addition to the worship service, and cannot be considered without gratitude to the donor. Rev. John Paul Vincent served from 1930-1936. Little White Church, Pioneer and Tuxis Societies were organized for the young people. The oflice of Financial Director was created and Church Bulletins put in use. Elder W. I. Kincaid died in 1931, after serving on the session for 63 years <58 years actively) and acting as its clerk for over 50 years. He had missed only two com- munion services in 58 years. He had attended meetings of Presbytery, Synod and the General Assembly numerous times. On February 26, 1933 was celebrated the 75th An- niversary of the church. There was a potluck supper and singing of old songs, with the choir dressed in old fash- ioned costumes, and Mrs. Alma Thompson presiding at the little old Mason and Hamlin organ. Rev. George G. Cox served as stated supply from June to September 1936. Rev. Paul R. Spierling served from 1936-1939. Dur- ing his pastorate, using a gift of $1,000.00 from the Jeff Donavan Estate, and a $500.00 gift from W. T. Ainsworth a new carpet was laid in the church. Rev. E. Russell Lynn served from 1940-1942 and in February of 1942 was called to a larger pastorate at Belleville, Illinois. During his ministry, new hymnals were purchased and the Mr. and Mrs. Club was organized of couples whose combined ages did not total over seventy-five years. Robert Thomas was minister 1942-1943 and he en- tered the armed services as chaplain. Lewis N. Raymond was minister 1943-1946, leaving here to become pastor of State Street Church in Jackson- ville. Joe L. Jensen ministered to the church 1946-1950. During his service the sanctuary was redecorated and the chancel rearranged. 26 Thomas A. Madison was here 1950-1953. He left here for advanced study at the University of Illinois. Rev. W. H. Merriam served from 1954-1957 at which time he resigned to take up Christian Education work on the National Staff. Special tribute and appreciation should be given to Miss Inez A. Freeman for her years of devotion to the music of the church. As a young girl, she played the piano for Sunday School, later served as choir director and then as organist since 1938. For many years, she and Mrs. Thompson played organ and piano preludes each Sunday. Mr. L. E. Herman as choir director for many years has contributed greatly to the ministry of music in the church. This brings us down to the present. Those who are in the church now, and the younger ones coming on, will write a future history as full of activity and promise as the past has been. Christians Build First Church After 20 Years The history of the Christian Church began with a series of services conducted by Elder William Grissom about the middle of February, 1863. These meetings were held in a frame school house located at what is now 119 North Menard Street. iThis building was later occupied by the Free Methodist Church and is now the location of the Claude Martin Home.) The first to be enrolled was Mrs. Phoebe Haughey. She was afterwards joined by her husband. Elder J. M. Haughey who became the first of more than thirty pastors who have served the congregation. The first persons to unite with the congre- gation by confession and baptism were Mrs. M. C. Ewers and Mrs. Clara Radebaugh. The first Elders were Elihu Wooley, T. A. Shaw and J. M. Haughey. The first deacons were Robert Shaw, R. Scoby and Aquilla Ellsworth. For more than twenty years the congregation had no church home, but met regularly in school houses, halls and private residences. During this period, various min- isters and circuit riders occupied the pulpit. Among them were J. O. Kane, C. D. Fuller, L. Carpenter, D. E. Miller, D. T. Hughes, W. H. Kern, a man named Vawter and perhaps others. In 1884, during the pastorate of W. H. Kern, an evangelist, G. M. Goode, held a series of revival meetings in the opera house ithe present site of the Legion Hall). During the progress of these meetings, a reorganization of the body was effected to admit into fellowship a number who composed the Aliens Grove congregation. This group had been organized April 13, 1872 and had been meeting in the Aliens Grove school house. Among those who came to Mason City were Joseph Kehl and the families of T. D. Taylor, James Legg, William Miller and others. With this added strength came talk of the erection of a house of worship. On March 19, 1885, pastor W. H. Kern called a special business meeting at the home of Mrs. C. E. Craig. After preliminary discussion, the fol- lowing building committee was appointed: James Legg, D. S. Day, H. M. Anderson, G. N. Kern and W. Swiger. Following a strenuous campaign of soliciting funds, self-denial and zealous labor on the part of the committee members and congregation, the present site at the corner of East High and Tonica Streets was secured and con- struction work begun. During this time, Pastor Kern was succeeded by a man named Vawter and the work was pushed to completion. The new building, a frame structure, was dedicated January 3, 1886 by Elder T. T. Holton of Lincoln, 111. Following the dedication. Elder Holton held a meeting of several weeks, during which Brothers Vawter and Holton made a canvass of the community, climbing over snowdrifts and enduring other trying experiences in their work of visitation. Other workers of this period were Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Anderson and daughter, Nellie; William Cole, Mrs. C. E. Craig and her girls; Mr. and Mrs. G. N. Kern, Mr. and Mrs. James Legg, Mrs. Childs, the Reasons, Radebaughs, Cadwalladers, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Haughey, Mrs. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Miller and Joseph Kehl. In July, 186 Elder Holton was called to minister to the body every two weeks, coming from his home in Lincoln to perform this service. He continued for eigh- teen months and was followed in turn by Elders, J. E. Diehl, T. C. Littleton, Paul McReynolds, C. F. Stead, A. C. Roach, B. A. Armstrong, H. A. Orchard, O. C. Bolman, J W. Porter, F. E. Welton and C. H. Hands. The effort to erect the present beautiful edifice had its origin in a question put to members of the church board at their meeting August, 1912, by Elder C. H. Hands who was then acting president, vis: "What is the meaning of this talk about a new church edifice. If merely talk, would it not be best to suppress it lest it should become an injury to the growth and efficiency of the church?" — The unanimous reply was, "If plans of an acceptable nature can be secured we are ready to go forward with the enterprise." The following Lord's Day, a call was made for subscriptions. The response indicated a desire to go forward at least in raising the money. Later results indicated a compelling desire for action and at a special meeting of the board, the following building committee was appointed and the same evening approved by the congregation: C. H. Hands, chairman; P. A. Enlows, Joseph Kehl, T. D. Taylor, A. D. Willock, Habert LeSourd, treasurer and C. W. Warnock, secretary. Building plans were secured from George W. Cramer of New York City and the building contract was awarded 27 to Grant Meneley of Champaign, Illinois, who was one of the foremost church builders of his day. The first move was to secure lots adjoining the church grounds on the north, then followed rapidly the clearing of the ground for the new edifice. A ground- breaking ceremony was held Saturday afternoon, Sep- tember 28, 1912 at which time Mrs. Nancy Miller turned the first spade followed by Allen Brooner, Mrs. J. M. Haughey and all forty members of the church. The work of excavating was begun Tuesday, October 2, 1912 and one month from that date, part of the foundation had been laid. In the advent of cold weather, work was dis- continued until Spring. Meanwhile plans for raising money matured. A brick selling campaign was initiated; the ladies became caterers at several public sales; the Bible School entered the race to raise a mile of pennies and nickels. The latter plan was later used by teachers to purchase chairs for the class rooms. The corner stone was laid with appropriate services, and amid a spirit of great rejoicing, by the members of C.W.B.M. Auxiliary in the afternoon of August 6, 1913. The principal address was delivered by Elder A. I. Zeller of Petersburg, Illinois. Local pastors and several laymen assisted. The box contains the following: His- tory of the building enterprise by C. H. Hands, copies of the Christian Evangelist, Christian Standard, special edition of the local newspaper, together with other valu- able documents. The building was completed in the Spring of 1914 at a cost of $20,000 and dedication services were held Sunday, March 1, with Brother Snively of Lewistown, Illinois bringing the messages at the three services of the day. $11,500 was raised in cash and subscriptions and the building was dedicated free of debt. Subscription accounts for the day were kept by J. S. Gulp, F. W. Buehrig and O. F. Weber. On the dedication day all religious groups of the city united, meeting first at the Free Methodist building, which had been used during the period of construction of the new edifice. From there they marched in a body to the new building. Supt. G. W. White turned over the Bible School hour to Brother Snively who gave an in- teresting and instructive talk to the children. For the worship service, more than every available seat was needed and an overflow meeting was arranged at the First Methodist Church. Children under sixteen were asked to give up their places to the older people. In this construction, the old building was moved a little to the west, turned half way around, and after hav- ing been brick veneered, became the educational unit of the present structure. This was considered, at the time, the prettiest and most complete church building in the county. Brother C. H. Hands, writing concerning this accomplishment said, "The building is complete. May it be a "Church Home," where God's family may gather in exultant praise and thanksgiving. A home where a stran- ger may find a hearty welcome, and the prodigal a refuge from the fierce storm of distrust and misspent ambition. Out of Zion may streams issue for the healing power and saving virtue to generations yet unborn." Members of the church board at the time of dedica- tion were: Elders, C. H. Hands, Wilson Griflfeth, P. A. Enlows; Deacons, Joseph Kehl, T. D. Taylor, Harry Con- roy, J. W. Singleton, C. W. Warnock, O. D. Sutley, J. C. Snyder, and A. D. Willock; trustees, Joseph Kehl, T. D. Taylor, P. A. Enlows, G. D. Childs and C. W. Warnock. Bible School officers were, Supt. G. W. White, assistant P. A. Enlows, secretary Miss Frances Yardley, treasurer Mrs. Emma Walker and organist Miss Lela Yardley. Of- ficers of the C.W.B.M. were, president Mrs. N. E. Mc- Cluggage, vice-president Mrs. C. H. Hands, secretary Mrs. J. B. Hanson and treasurer Mrs. H. A. Hull. Chris- tian Endeavor officers were president Miss Alice Mc- Cluggage, vice-president Miss Lela Yardley, secretary Miss Emma Hands and treasurer Miss Frances Yardley. Following the occupation of the new building, the congregation took on new life and with increased zeal set out to win others to Jesus Christ and enlist them in building a New Testament Church in Mason City. During the years a number of evangelistic meetings have been held. One of the first and most successful was by Brothers Campbell and Lint in January, 1921, near the close of the pastorate of W. H. Hampton. During this meeting there were more than 100 additions to the membership in- cluding a number from the inactive Mt. Pleasant congre- gation that had been worshipping in a building located four miles south of town. This congregation was organ- ized in Haw Grove school house on August 18, 1877 by Elder J. I. Judy. Later a church building was erected and they were served by a number of ministers, many of whom also served Mason City. Among them were Elders McElfresh, Fuller, Haughey, Grissom, Garlin, Beckman, Pruett, Boles, Diehl, Piatt, Hughes, Orchard, Bolman, Porter and Barnett. Brother George Hughes was em- ployed for a year beginning January 6, 1889 for the sum of $125.00. The building committee for the Mt. Pleasant buiding were Joseph and Hiram Creekpaum and Allen Brooner, the latter the father of Mr. Guy Brooner of our congregation. Brother Charles Hull, one of the present elders was elected deacon at Mt. Pleasant, August 28, 1898. He later served as elder there. In January, 1921, during the ministry of W. H. Hamp- ton, Brother C. S. Jupin and family came into the fel- lowship from the Methodist Church. Later, the same year, during the ministry of O. P. Ballinger, one of the sons, Charles Jupin, was ordained to the Christian Min- istry, and is now working in the field of general evangel- ism. In 1921 the present parsonage was erected at a cost of $7,000.00. Some timbers from the Mt. Pleasant church building were used in the construction, also some of the pews from Mt. Pleasant were used for a time and the present pulpit is from that building. Officers of the board at the time the parsonage were erected were chairman T. D. Taylor and secretary Delta C. Lowe. Others active in the enterprise were Joseph Kehl and Habert LeSourd, who served as treasurer. An item from the board minutes of March 5, 1922 reads as follows: "That the parsonage be not desecrated by renting to anyone in case it should be empty and the church without a pastor." It was during the ministry of E. K. Beckett that the congregation purchased an organ from a theatre in Havana, Illinois. It was dedicated October 4, 1942. In October, 1945, Evangelist H. K. Schoonmaker held a meeting which resulted in forty additions to the mem- bership. During the ministry of Paul Boyer, Raymond Huffman decided to enter the Christian Ministry and was ordained Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. He is now serving the Bell Ridge Church near Paris, Illinois. 2B More recently families from the closed Malone Christian Church near Green Valley have united with the congregation. The history of this group as related by Mrs. Fanny Thompson is as follows — "The building known as the Malone Christian Church was built one mile south of Green Valley in the year 1879 at a cost of $1,000.00. In October, 1895, it was moved four miles southwest where it was remodeled and made fit for wor- ship by the men of the community. It was dedicated on January 19, 1896. On this date a Bible School was organ- ized with Miss Ida Campbell of Mason City as Superin- tendent. There were 68 persons present and on June 21 of the same year, 127. At one time, there was a church membership of 93. More than forty ministers and evan- gelists preached for the congregation. In October, 1947, the membership had become depleted by deaths and re- movals and the building was in need of such extensive repairs that it was decided to close activity there. Some members went to Delavan, others to Mason City" Those uniting with the congregation here were the Boyer, Thompson and Forbes families. Within the past six years, during the ministry of O. E. Bennett, many improvements have been added to the church building and parsonage, including new light fixtures in the church basement, new fixtures in the rest rooms, redecoration of buildings inside and painting out- side. Installation of gas water heater for church kitchen and baptistry use, an electric refrigerator, new steps at the south of the building, and in 1952, two hundred Hymn books were put in use and in 1953 a full set of chrome Communion Trays and Plates were dedicated August 20. In the year 1956 a new oil-burning furn- ace was installed in the church, and a Hammond Electric Organ and Public Address System put in use. At the parsonage an electric water heater, oil burner in the furnace, steel kitchen cabinets, new steps, front and rear, including new rear porch and a new roof on the parson- age in August 1951. Within this period there have been 218 additions to the membership, which including resident and non-resi- dent now stands at 464. Average attendance had grown from 100 to 200 in worship services and the Bible School from 125 to 250. The oldest person in point of member- ship is Mrs. Nora Chambers, who united with the con- gregation in May 1889. Four persons, Richard Clifford, Mr. and Mrs. Dale DeLong and Carol Lowe have dedi- cated themselves to full time Christian service. DeLong graduated from Eureka College this year and is preach- ing for the ElVista Christian Church in Peoria. Richard Clifford is a student at Eureka and is doing supply work. Carol Lowe was a student at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. September 30 to October 4, 1953 the congregation celebrated the 90th anniversary of its organization with appropriate ceremonies. The Church moves forward to greater victories for Christ, and anticipates a Centennial Celebration in 1963. The Free Methodist Church The Free Methodist Church in Central Illinois was organized in 1879 with services in Mason City being conducted by a "Class Leader" or "Local Preacher" un- til 1884 when Miss Nora Neal, an evangelist, took Mason City as her first pastorate. Later in that year, W. R. Bonham came as pastor and in 1885, the members were listed as Charter Members. The congregation was always a small group with never more than 30 members but the church had its own pastor until 1912. When Wiley Johnson was pastor, 1899-1901, an un- denominational Sunday School was held in the Pleasant View School, now Bell View Center. Some of that com- munity may remember the small black cloth-covered song book used. It contained no music but was "Gospel Hymns, Consolidated," which means all hymns in Gos- pel Hymns in Books 1, 2. 3 and 4, Copyright 1884, an excellent little book. The Annual Conference of the Dis- trict was usually a Camp Meeting and Revival Service and was often held in "Old Park," Mason City, now the Tourist Park or Picnic Park. In 1886 M. H. Shepherd was pastor; 1887 J. L. Mc- Griffin; 1890 L. C. Cockrain; 1891 A. J. Smith; 1892-1893 H. F. Ashcraft; 1894 B. F. Grigg; 1895-1896 B. F. Ray; 1897 J. L. Williford; 1898-1900 Wiley Johnson; 1901-1902 W. Irving; 1903-1904 Thomas Symans; 1905 W. A. Phillips; 1906-1907 W. T. Graham; 1908-1909 C. P. Ewing and Lulu Ewing; 1910-1911 M. C. Saunders. Rev. Saunders was the last resident minister and meetings were then held occasionally with Leslie Vail of Clinton, as supply minis- ter until 1916. There were also other various supply minister until 1916. After standing idle for some time, the property was sold to Edw. Jones and the location is now the C. J. Martin home, 119 North Menard Street. The parsonage at that time was sold to Miss Pansy Legg. The "Greenville College" of Greenville, Illinois, A Free Methodist school, and rated as one of the good small colleges of the state, was given part of the proceeds from the sale. St. Columba's Catholic Church Showing Steady Growth Early Catholic pioneers living in scattered farm homes in this area had no regular place of worship prior 29 HERMAN'S Plumbing and Heating (Zucf, Iftcldxed a^ ^elaad ^enttatt BEST WISHES FROM MASON COUNTY SERVICE COMPANY ^iVtmcH^ (pSj S(ifrfdce4. PETROLEUM • PLANT FOOD • FEED A Farmer Owned Service 30 to 1870. According to available records Rev. John W. Kennedy, the first resident pastor of Pekin, attended Delavan, an out-mission at that time. His successor, Father Thomas Cashman, made month- ly trips to Manito, Havana, Mason City and Tremont, until he was transferred to Chicago in 1872. Delavan re- mained an outmission of Pekin until 1877. Some of the older parishioners remember that the earliest Catholic services were held in the homes of vari- ous members in the settlement. For a time they met with Mrs. Johnny Burns, in the brick house which formerly stood on the Chamblin lots, south of the railroad park. The present church building, as now located, was be- gun by the Presbyterian congregation in 1860 but was not finished until after the war in 1865. That it still stands in use 97 years later attests to the quality of the timber which was hauled many miles from Pekin, Leases and Walkers Groves and other nearby forests. In 1872, the church building and lot was purchased from the Presbyterians and remodeled to suit the needs of the parish. For a few years the priest lived in Mason City but later the Mission Church was linked with Delavan. In those days, the Delavan pastors drove on alternating Sundays to Mason City with a team of horses hitched to a buggy until the railroad schedule permitted a round trip journey between the towns. There was a large congregation made up of settlers on farms in the surrounding country includmg Easton, New Holland and San Jose. Many Irish families on Scully prairie land drove fif- teen miles and more by wagon, sprmg wagon, and buck- board to attend Mass on Sunday. Well-known families such at the Hoods, Devens, Sheahans, Evans, O'Malleys and Rawleys moved West in the quest for land. Family names of other members were Christy's, Doyles, Gleasons, Hickeys, Hubbards, Ruans, McKennas and Straubs are among present descendants. Church suppers and yearly festivals to secure finan- cial aid were held in the LaForge Opera House .■;_ .!_ Pioneers shunned the swampy prairie lands in the early days of Illinois' development and built their set- tlements near navigable streams or on the few old estab- lished land routes. The few, hardy folks who did settle in the groves bordering the prairie led self-sufficient lives, each cabin being a unit industry in which almost every need was satisfied by the skill of individual members of the family. Life was indeed full of toil in that primitive time. The eternal struggle to produce a little more food than was required for their own use, to make their own clothing, and to suffer from the malarial chills and fever so prevalent on the prairie was a lot that few people de- sired to experience. The coming of the railroads was the great factor contributing to the rapid development of the prairie land in the years following the Civil War. The prairie sod was broken, the swampy spots drained and farmsteads built until in the early 1870's the rural population of this area far exceeded the number of our present rural population. Of necessity, the farms were fairly small because 80 acres was about all one man and his family with their simple horse-drawn farm implements could care for. For a few years it was thought that Mason City, Illinois, was going to become a city of size. The business establishments were doing a tremendous business and the town was booming. However, Mason City showed little evidence of becoming industrialized. It was only by a quirk of fortune that Mason City did not become a division point for the first railroad that built its line through here. At one time there was a Round House in the Railroad Park lacross the tracks from the present G.M. & O.R.R. station). At that time locomotives could be turned around there and headed back toward Jackson- 51 ville. Dining cars on the Chicago-Kansas City run laid over here. Up to the late 1930's Mason City was always blessed with excellent passenger and freight service by rail. Small Industries That Have Gone Brick for many of the older buildings in town was made from several locally operated yards. Some of the holes made by digging clay for the bricks can still be seen near here. The city has used a couple of the holes as depositories for tin cans and rubbish and has filled them to ground level. Erosion of the soil through the years is slowly smoothing out the other evidence of this early day industry. However, the sites of the Seward brick- yard at the end of South Main Street and the Dietrich and Rissinger yard at the first curve of Route 29 south of town are still easy to see. Brick makers of Mason City were the Sewards, Dietrich & Rissinger and Adolph Walters. Mason City also had its ice houses in which ice, cut from ponds in the winter time and stored, packed with saw dust, was kept for hot weather use. There were mills used to grind grain into flour and at one time many thousands of bushels of corn were kiln dried every fall for shipment to Chicago. Other small industries that have developed to furnish employment for Mason City people have been cigar factories, a cob pipe factory, a carriage and wagon factory, poultry dressing plants, a laundry, a manure spreader factory, an electric power plant and more recently a branch plant of the Boss Glove Manu- facturing Co. These were all of relatively short life and Mason City has always been primarily a merchandising center for a prosperous farming community in which most of the service and necessities for comfortable living WW! ». Of I. OriBifiJ-CILSfl'l Prairie Trails VUdd and mn 9 Air Conditioned • Fine Food * Cocktails • Package Goods 7 Miles North of Mason City on Route 29. Best Wishes MASON CITY On Your 100th Birthday AMRHEIM BAKERY Springfield, Illinois Best Wishes f rom MOSLANDER SHELL SERVICE JIM and DICK Compliments Of 7^^^g»*i«!*»> «»"'*^" ' ' ^*'" AinswoTlh's Modern Plant — The Ainsworth Seed Company, formerly W. T. Ains- worth and Sons, is one of the oldest seed corn firms in the corn belt, established for the sole purpose of pro- ducing and processing higher-yielding strains of corn. The W. T. Ainsworth and Sons Company, originator of the term "pure-bred" seed corn, was organized in 1908. In the days of open-pollinated corn it was the second largest seed corn firm in the world. W. T. Ainsworth, founder of the company, realized that selection of seed corn merely by the appearance of an ear of corn was not enough — there must be breeding behind that ear of corn. He practiced selection of open-pollinated varie- One Mile East of Mason City ties year after year, applying the term "pure-bred" to the seed. Associated with W. T. Ainsworth were his three eldest sons, who introduced many new methods in the processing of seed corn. They perfected a method of forcing air by means of large fans through the corn to safely dry it to a suitable moisture content for seed. In these early days Mason City was the seed corn center of the corn belt, and during the early months of the year farmers for miles around would come by train to Mason City to select their seed com. W. T. Ainsworth became inactive in the business as he reached middle age. Two of his sons left the firm, and 5*7 the third died shortly before the advent of hybrid corn — a product whose breeding was not guesswork but was controlled by inbreeding and hybridization. Shortly be- fore hybrid corn was introduced into Illinois, W. T. Ains- worth interested his grandson, R. C. "Doc" Ainsworth in corn breeding. For six years prior to the establish- ment of his own business, Doc Ainsworth carried on corn breeding work in Mason and Menard counties. He began inbreeding strains of Ainsworth's Pure Bred Corn, Canterbury, Krug, Learning, and Ried's Yellow Dent, as well as single crosses between inbreds obtained from the Illinois and Iowa Experiment Stations. During the winters he attended the University of Illinois, worked in Bloomington for Funk Brothers Seed Company, worked for the Iowa Crop Improvement Association shucking out yield test-plots throughout the state, studied at Ames under Dr. Sprague and Dr. Lindstrom, Iowa State's famous corn breeders, and received a Master's Degree in Agronomy from the University of Illinois un- der the direction of Dr. Woodworth, one of the corn belt's very finest com breeders. Through a program of rigid selection and careful testing over a period of many years, a group of rugged, time-tested hybrids has been developed. The new Ainsworth Seed Company, located one mile east of Mason City on Route 10, was begun in 1941 and went into operation on February 1, 1942, receiving its first crop of hybrid seed corn that fall. It consists of a large processing plant including bulk storage bins with a total capacity of over 50,000 bushels and a warehouse forty feet by one-hundred forty feet in dimension. The drying, processing, and grading equipment is the most modern that can be obtained. All of the shelling, clean- ing and grading equipment is on the ground floor of the plant, provision having been made for processing all kinds of farm seeds such as corn, soybeans, wheat and oats. The most outstanding innovation is the arrange- ment of the ear corn drying bins along the outside wall of the plant. There are five bins, all of which are filled from the outside by means of a power-driven conveyor, and these bins are operated in groups of two for drying corn. The members of the first Ainsworth Seed Company were pioneers in the use of heated forced air for drying seed corn. Now almost all companies are using this method. A large oil-fired burner is used to heat the air that is forced through the bins of corn by a mammoth electrically operated fan. Electric controls are used which automatically keep the temperature at 110° — the ideal heat for drying corn. An electric eye automatically cuts off the oil flow in case the fire fails for any reason. In 1955 Ainsworth Seed Company completed a new seed research building, located directly across the high- way from their processing plant. Here they can accurately analyze, germinate and catalog each lot of seed handled to be certain it meets the rigid standards required. Re- search work is also conducted in their corn nursery at Homestead, Florida, where, during the winter, all the hybrids sold are grown and observed. Ainsworth Seed Company produces all of their own hybrid seed corn on farms owned and operated by them- selves. Each year many new hybrids are produced, and these are tested in an extensive corn-testing program. Only the best hybrids are chosen for production on a commercial scale. Built on a strong foundation of three generations of corn breeding, they offer the popularly known Ainsworth "X-Brand" Hybrids, listed as "highest yielding" in official corn test bulletins published by the University of Illinois. MASON CITY'S ICE MAKING INDUSTRY In 1919 - 1920 W. Howard Ainsworth built an ice manufacturing plant at 109 South Mason Street (the present location of the Mason City Implement Co.i and the operation of this plant was continued for five years. Ice was sold from this plant to nearby towns and also distributed locally in those day of the old-fashioned Ice Box. In the meantime The City Ice and Fuel Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio had constructed a $500,000 ice manu- facturing plant in 1923 on the east side of the Chicago and Alton R.R. right-of-way about a quarter of a mile south of town. Ainsworth was successful in arranging an agreement whereby he became the local distributor of ice for the new plant under a very favorable contract. Following this he sold his ice making equipment to his brother Maynard who moved it to Bloomington. The City Ice and Fuel Company's business was to service the refrigerator cars on the Alton Line. During the hot weather hundreds of cars would be serviced by the plant crew that oftentimes numbered up to fifty men in the peak season. This industry was an excellent source of well-paid employment to many Mason City men. The regular crew had year around employment which was something new for Mason City workers. However, methods of refrigeration improved and gradually the volume of business fell off at the Mason City plant until it was decided to discontinue the manufacture of ice here. The plant was closed in 1942 and the machinery sold to a company making ice in Mexico. During the four or five years before the large build- ing was sold to its present owners the place had several temporary tenants who used it for various purposes ranging from the wartime storage of hemp for the govern- ment to a receiving station for dead farm livestock. The place was finally purchased by Faber Industries, Inc., of Peoria, Illinois in 1949. MASON CITY'S FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRY Following its purchase of the old City Ice and Fuel Co. building, the Faber Co. installed close to $250,000 worth of equipment for the purpose of grinding, screen- ing; blending and bagging meat and bone scraps and tankage. The new industry has undergone a steady growth and now employes 30 people. Meat and bone scraps are the principal source of animal protein in dog and poultry feeds. They are also used to some extent in cattle and swine rations. Tank- age is used almost exclusively in swine rations. The material used to make the above products comes from many sources and is brought by Faber Industries from SB Faber Induslries, Inc., At South Edge of Ciiy most of the Eastern and Southern sections of the United States. The difference between meat and bone scraps and tankage is the way the material is cooked. Meat and bone scraps are "dry rendered" which means that they are cooked in their own fat and moisture, much the same as cooking meat in a pressure cooker at home. This produces a product light brown in color. Tankage is cooked the "wet rendered" way which means it is cook- ed in water and therefore has a very dark color. Meat and bone scraps and tankage are bought on the unit of protein basis. Meat and bone scraps are usually sold containing 50 percent protein whereas tankage is sold containing 60 percent protein. The above two products are made from meat and bone scraps from butcher shops, locker plants, packing houses and institutional scraps. Fallen animals are also a principal source of meat and bone scraps as well as tankage. This material is cooked and at this stage it contains around 34 to 38 percent grease. Faber Extrac- tion Co. in Mason City buys over a million and a half pounds of this type material each month. It is processed by the Faber Extraction Co. which was built in 1955-56 south of the Faber Industries plant. The Faber Extrac- tion Co. extracts the grease from the scrap down to 2 to 4 percent. They do this by the azeo-extraction method using heptane as a solvent. It is the only plant in the world extracting meat scrap by this method. From the extraction plant the scrap is cooled and cured in a curing building and from there it is taken to the mill to be ground, screened, blended and shipped out either in bags or bulk to all parts of the mid-west by truck and rail. The Faber Industries Mill not only buys the ex- tracted material from the Faber Extraction Co. but they buy "cracklings" which is the scrap cooked and pressed down to 10 to 12 percent grease. They buy over 1000 tons of these cracklings each month from all over the Eastern and Southern parts of the United States. These cracklings are ground and processed in the same manner as the extracted meat scrap. The grease from the meat scrap is sold to feed manufacturers to be put in feed as well as the soap producers and chemical houses. Grease from the plant in Mason City has been shipped to all parts of the world. In the last few months Faber Formulated Feed Co. has taken over one room of the old ice house and has installed some feed manufacturing equipment. This company is planning further expansion in the near future. They are now producing a Nu-Pro-Ces All-Purpose Mineral, a Nu-Pro-Ces Hog Mineral, and a Faber All- Purpose Mineral. These three minerals as well as Nu-Pro- Ces Meat Scraps and Tankage can be bought at most Feed Stores in central Illinois. The management of the plant in Mason City consists of Mr. Ben Nafziger, office manager; Mr. Eugene Giehl, Chief Chemist; Mr. Roy Bishoff, superintendent of the Mill; Mr. David Broadhurst, superintendent of the ex- traction plant; Mr. Donald Ward, assistant superintendent of extraction plant; and Dr. Fred Bisplinghoff, general manager. Communling to Work The prosperity of Mason City has been augmented by the trend to work in industrial centers. A conservative estimate would be that at least 200 families here get their livelihood from out-of-town employment. The principal employer of Mason City people is The Caterpillar Tractor Co. of East Peoria. Many other Mason Citians work in the LeToureau-Westinghouse Plant in Peoria, the Corn Products plant in Pekin, the Keystone Wire Co. in Bartonville, and in several of the industries in Lincoln and in Springfield. An increasing number of people also are employed by the State in Springfield. This ability to commute to work 30 or 40 miles has been made possible by the pavements that intersect at Mason City connecting our town to the industrial centers. The trend became noticeable well before World War II and is now firmly established. 59 Best Wishes to Mason City's Centennial Celebration The Friendly Store CX JLX jC* ITJ OSCAR M. BROWN AUTHORIZED DEALER Phone 3a-4-B Mason City. Illindi Best Wishes for a Successful Centennial L Frank Clothiers for Men Shoes for the Family Since iS75 i4i, Mai.