Ministers of the Wyoming Presbyterian Church Rev. Geo. E. Delevan Rev. George R. Carroll Rev. J. L. Janes Rev. A. K. Baird Rev. A. B. DeLong Rev. G. M. Lodge Rev. A. B. Goodale Rev. Henry Cullen Rev. George R. Carroll (2nd time) Rev. A. W. McConnell Rev. D. C. McIntosh Rev. A. Porter Cooper Rev. W. H. Ilsley Rev. A. S. Nickless Rev. E. C. Wilson Rev. Archibald Conde Rev. W. P. Nicholas Rev. Robert N. Allen Rev. John Blakemore Rev. Norman Fowler Rev. George K. Tjaden Rev. Theo. Glen Neely

The history and list of ministers was provided by Sharon Brodersen Lindbloom

This invitation, submitted by John Kahl, was sent to his great-grandmother after she moved away from Jones county to Burbank CA. It's interesting how little address was needed.

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The history of the Presbyterian Church in Wyoming is a series of dramatic, tragic episodes brightened only by the determination of its members to build and rebuild their edifice for worship.

The Presbyterian Church was the first church build in Wyoming or in the township. At the recommendation of Rev. G.E. Delevan of Maquoketa, who had come to the West for reason of his health, passed through Wyoming and thought it an excellent place to establish a church. He called upon Rev. James H. Spellman, a home missionary, to come here in connection with the organization of a Presbyterian Church. Prior to this, the early settlers had been meeting in various homes with a circuit rider for their leader. In 1855 they met in the newly erected schoolhouse. On May 17, 1857, a society was organized preliminary to formation of the church. The meeting was held in a little schoolhouse on the hill. The names of the first members were: Joseph Bryan and his wife; A.M. Loomis and his wife: Jerry Gard, E.G. Fairchild and A.W. Pratt and his wife. The first trustees were John Morse, Joseph Bryan, Emmons Leonard. A.W. Pratt was elected treasurer, A.M. Loomis clerk and Rev. Delevan was selected as pastor. May 25 the articles of incorporation were adopted at the Pratt home.

During the summer of 1860 a building was erected on the present site. Rev. Trowbridge of Dubuque laid the cornerstone: Records of the church, a copy of the Anamosa Eureka and several other articles were placed in a sealed box in the cornerstone. The church had just reached completion and plans were being made for the first service when a tornado struck and leveled it to the ground. Standing amid the ruins with his congregation, Rev. Delevan lifted his hands and said, "With God's assistance, these walls shall be rebuilt." And it was, with God's assistance and diligent labor of the small congregation, that the walls were rebuilt. The new structure was of brick with a tall spire, a beautiful landmark picturesquely located on the town's high hill.

Ironically, the first religious service held in this new building was the funeral of Rev. Delevan, who had worked so very strenuously for its completion.

In the year 1875, a bell was shipped from Cincinnati, Ohio. The bell weighs 1310 pounds and has been in use since the date it was purchased, with the exception of the years a new building was being built.

Mrs. A.W. Pratt gave the manse to the congregation in 1865, and later seats for the church, which has been in constant use since that time. It was under the pastorate of Rev. Goodale the wings were added and the church enlarged .

In June of 1907, the Presbyterian Church celebrated its Fiftieth Anniversary with the Rev. W.H. Ilsley as its minister. The Seventy-fifth Anniversary was an event of June in 1932 with Rev. Worden P. Nicholas as pastor.

Another tragic incident occurred in the church's history on July 18, 1947. As contractors were excavating to enlarge the basement, the walls of the building collapsed. An echo of the pioneer minister must have been heard. "With God's assistance these walls shall be rebuilt."

Mr. John Blakemore, student supply preacher, delivered his sermon following the disaster to a disheartened congregation. However, his sermon lifted spirits and gave the congregation a new zeal to again rebuild. After months of cleaning the debris, making plans and facing difficulties, a basement was excavated and finished. Prior to this building project, the services were held in Memorial Hall. After the basement was completed, the services were held there for over a year.

Actual construction of the present church began in August, 1949. The dedication service was held on Dec. 18 of that year with Mr. John Blakemore as the supply preacher. The dedicatory speaker was Rev. Alfred S. Nickless, a supply preacher of the earlier days of the church.

In the years since the dedication, the building has been covered with brick, a bell tower has been added and beautiful altar furnishings have been acquired to add to the beauty and dignity of the services. In May 1957 The First Presbyterian Church of Wyoming celebrated its 100th Anniversary under the leadership of George K. Tjaden.

Members of the Presbyterian Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor Wyoming Township, 1903-1904 In various Protestant churches, a society of young people organized in each individual church to do Christian work; also, the whole body of such organizations, which are united in a corporation called the United Society of Christian Endeavor, organized in 1885. The parent society was founded in 1881 at Portland, Maine, by Rev. Francis E. Clark, a Congregational minister. (Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1913) Laura Kendall sent in this list, Deborah Bottomstone Archer supplied the definition.

Herbert Alden Elva Alden Lynn S. Anderson Irvin Bain Mrs. Mary E. Barrett Mrs. L. M. Barrett Mary B. Bates M. Amelia Bates W. J. Beckwith Mrs. M. W. Beckwith Isabelle J. Bennett Mary G. Bennett Mrs. Miranda D. Benton Mrs. Alma Blakeslee Mrs. Susie Bonstel Dayse Bottomstone J. Maye Brainard Stanley Brainard Mrs. Carrie Brainard Louisa Bramer Miss Ethel Breish Mrs. W. W. Bronson Ruth Brown Evalyn Brunner M. H. Calkins, M.D. Miss Mary A. Calkins Mrs. M. H. Calkins B. H. & Mrs. Chamberlain, M.D. Mrs. W. I. Chamberlain Mrs. A. P. Cooper Rev. A. P. Cooper R. M. Corbit Aileen B. Corbit Mrs. E. A. Crisick Altha V. Curry Mrs. Peter Davis Miss Edith Davis Miss Hattie Davis Elsie Dellit Adela Dellit C. E. DeWitt H. C. DeWitt Mrs. H. C. DeWitt Mrs. J. W. DeWitt James W. DeWitt Mrs. I. DeWitt Mrs. F. W. DeWitt Leona Gridley Elwood Maye Evans Mrs. Margaret Mallicoat Ida Fishwald Mr. & Mrs. R. Fishwild Etta Fishwild Mame L. Fordham H. N. Fordham Nettie B. Fordham W. W. Fordham Margaret Baird Fordham Miss Lillian French Nellie French Mr. & Mrs. W. S. Garrison Mr. & Mrs. M. M. Garrison Elsie F. Garrison William D. Garrison Nettie E. Graham Mrs. Greene Miss Gertrude Greene Esther Griswold A. W. Hepler Mrs. Eugenia H. Hepler Mrs. Ed. Hernon Miss Ellen Annette Hewins Bertha Halsey Hitchcock Maude E. Horton Rev. W. H. & Mrs. Ilsley Miss Jessie O. Ilsley Miss Edith H. Ilsley Miss Lucy M. Ilsley James Inglis Janie Inglis Mrs. Elizabeth Inglis Mrs. Glenara Jacobs Mrs. H. P. Johnson

Julia Halsey Johnson Winnifred M. W. Kettlesen Mabel L. Kirkpatrick Marjorie Kneller W. G. Krouse Mrs. W. G. Krouse Mrs. W. E. Lamerton Clara Lindsey Zepha Lindsey A. M. Loomis Minnie S. Loudermilch Helen J. Madison Buelah Markham Mrs. E. R. Marshall Mrs. Hattie E. Marshall William McClure Rev. S. M. McConnell Mrs. Alicia Breish McConnell Etta McDonald Kate McNamara Mary McNamara Luella Biglow Miller Mary A. Moore E. Watson Norton Clifford B. Paul L. F. Pealer Mrs. A. W. Peck Mrs. Pelkey Frank Pelkey John K. Pixley Mrs. L. H. Pratt Byron J. Read Mrs. Byron J. Read T. G. Richardson R. Ethel Richardson Katharine Richardson Florence Ellen Richardson Mrs. James Spence Robertson E. S. Saunders Charles Saxon Lucie Brunner Saxon Mrs. S. F. Schaefer Grace Schamel Mrs. Amy Shaffer Miss Harriet B. Shaffer Mrs. Frank Shimerda Mrs. James B. Smiley Mrs. A. W. Smith Mary Pixley Smith Rev. A. W. Smith R. H. Spence, M.D. Mrs. R. H. Spence Clara I. Stephenson Mrs. Elma Stevens Rev. A. D. Stevens Miss Ellen Strong Halsey Sturtevant Kathryn Sturtevant Olive Sturtevant Mrs. T. G. Tasker Mrs. F. H. Thomas Margaret S. Tourtellot Miss Jennie Tourtellot Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Vaughn Mrs. Mildred Walston Vaughn Lura Vaughn Fred Vaughn Hazel Waite Mrs. E. G. Waite Rev. E. G. Waite Nettie Walston Miss Luverna A. Walston Leota Wherry Mrs. E. B. Wherry Mrs. J. T. Wherry Winifred Wherry Netta Gridley Wherry Mrs. William Wilker Mrs. Amanda Williams Dearborn G. Williams P. A. Williams Mrs. Harriet Williams