Most of the churches that have changed in the past thirty-five years have been in the northern half of the county. In Belleview Precinct, we find churches of three denominations that disbanded, sold their buildings, and their members attending churches in other communities. They are:
BELLEVIEW CHURCH OF CHRIST
The church building was destroyed by fire in April 1947. It was not rebuilt, and most of the members started to attend the Mozier Church of Christ.
HILLCREST LUTHERAN CHURCH
This church has been combined with St. John’s Lutheran Church in Kampsville. The church building was sold about the year 1935.
THE NEBO BRANCH OF THE REORGANIZED CHURCH OF CHRIST OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS
The church building was located in Howell Hollow, about five miles south of Nebo. Then many of the members moved away in the early 40’s, the officers considered moving their services to either Nebo or Pleasant Hill. Those holding office at the time were: W.A. Guthrie, Branch President for over forty-seven years; Lora Puterbaugh, Secretary and Treasurer; and William F. Guthrie, Church School Director. In 1945, a basement building was constructed in Pleasant Hill. Later, in 1958, the upper auditorium was completed. A number of north Calhoun members attended the church in Pleasant Hill. Mr. Guthrie passed away in 1946. The building at Howell Hollow was sold in 1945 to the late Ray Johnson, who used it for storage.
In nearby Carlin precinct we find two churches closing their doors
and the church disbanding. They were:
EAST PANTHER CREEK CHURCH OF
CHRIST
This church disbanded in 1940 and its members started to attend sister churches in nearby communities.
PLEASANT DALE BAPTIST CHURCH
This church became inactive in 1947 when most of its members died or had moved to other communities. The church disbanded in 1964, and the building was sold two years later. The building is used as a dwelling at the present time.
MOZIER CHURCH
This group met in a home in Mozier in the late 20’s and the early 30’s. After some of the members passed away, the other members started to attend nearby sister churches. Some of the members started to attend the other Church of Christ in Mozier. This group completed their new building in 1967.
PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF HARDIN
This church disbanded and their building was sold to the Friendship
General Baptist Church.
Hardin precinct has taken the lead in the
formation of new churches. The first of the three new churches was:
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, HARDIN
Easter Sunday, April 17, 1960 saw the opening of the Lutheran Mission in Hardin. Rev. Duane Brunette, pastor of the Lutheran Church at Brussels was instrumental in starting the mission. Rev. Theodore Kriefall served as assistant pastor of the new church. Several years later, the church purchased land and buildings on South County Road from School District 40. The present pastor is Rev. Fred A. Brauer.
FRIENDSHIP GENERAL BAPTIST CHURCH
This group purchased the Pentecostal Church building located about three blocks west of the Court House. They don’t have a pastor at the present time, but Rev. Ackerman served the church for some time. Among the officers of the Sunday school are Edna Richey, Reporter; Mrs. Evelyn Bryant, Clerk; and Mrs. Portia Parke, Treasurer. Others mentioned in the report from the Treasurer are Everett Kitson, Amanda Sweeney, and Massie Anderson. There are about twenty-five enrolled in the Sunday school.
CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
The Hardin Church of the Nazarene was organized Feb. 15, 1953 at 3pm. in the church located in North Hardin. Rev. W.S. Purinton, District Superintendent presided at the meeting. Rev. Paul Wankel was called as the first pastor of the church. At the meeting the following persons were welcomed into the church: Mrs. Ileen Cox, Dr. S.A. Miller, Beulah Cox, Melvin Johnson, Harry McDonald, Elizabeth Cox, Dean Gibson, Lyle Cox, and Mrs. Leo Matthews. The church notice in a county paper lists Marcellus Long as the pastor.
In Kampsville two churches were formed in the past twenty years.
GOSPEL MISSION
This church was established in Kampsville in December 1954 under the leadership of Rev. Estell Bettis. He has been the leader of the church since its start.
PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF KAMPSVILLE
A Pentecostal Church was organized in 1966 with Rev. Bettis serving as the pastor. This church has about seventy-five members.
BELLEVIEW COMMUNITY CHURCH
In October 1965 a new Inter-Denominational Community Church was dedicated at Belleview. The new building had been completed in June of the same year. Floyd Freesmeyer Sr., Floyd Freesmeyer Jr., Cleve Long, and Allie Suhling were instrumental in organizing the church and having the new building erected. They have no regular minister.
CHANGES IN THE PARISHES
Changes were made in the summer or late fall in Calhoun County that affected four of the Catholic Parishes in the county. At Hardin, Msgr. Henry Knoedler was transferred to Godfrey, and Father Walter Deppish, pastor of St. Michael’s Church at Michael was named as Administrator of the St. Norbert’s Parish. In November, Father Peter Donohoo, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church at Meppen, was transferred to Quincy, and Father Henry Mack of St. Barbara’s Church at Batchtown was named Administrator of the Meppen Church.
Last year the St. Joseph’s School at Meppen was closed and the pupils were transported to the St. Mary’s School at Brussels or to the public school at Hardin. The old school building was removed during the summer of 1967, and a new parish hall erected on the site. At Batchtown, the Catholic Church was destroyed by fire during the first part of August. Plans are being discussed for the building of a new church at Batchtown.
Source: Calhoun is My Kingdom, pages 105-108.
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