Excerpts from: History of the North English Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1856- 1973 (on LDS microfilm 1003429) [photocopy of manuscript written in longhand] The church of Christ meeting at North English, Iowa Co., Iowa, to the state meeting assembled at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Send Christian salutations. We recommend to you as our delegate our beloved bro. Elisha Scott who is our preacher at this place. Our prayer is that in your deliberation every thing may be done in a Christian spirit and that the cause of Christ may be advanced, and the name of the Lord glorified. We make the following report: The church here was organized August 3rd day 1856. Our present officers are: Charles H. Sutton \ Chancy Clothier - Elders Edwin Hall / John Patterson \ John Lutton - Deacons G.F. Branden / No. of additions in last year, 112 dismissed by letter 2 excluded 3 Gone into another organization 19 left in disorder 5 Preaching twice per month by bros. G.W. Springer and Elisha Scott. We regret we can not do more for the missionary cause but hope we may do more again. Done by order of the church this the 13th day of September. [end of handwritten manuscript] Caption: A Copy of an Original Document written to the State Convention of the Christian Church held in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa sometime before 1867. [page 23] Records for the 1856-1860 organizational period are very meager, so it was not until February 10, 1864 that records for the formal congregational organization are available. This record for the first time lists the original charger members of which there were 33. (Note: the same family and given names appear in some families for several generations. Attention to which generation each person belongs is necessary to avoid confusion.) Also in the list of charter members the names of husband and wife as well as sons and daughters appears. This leads to some confusion if the relationship is not clearly understood. These names are listed as they appear in the original record, which was written by Charles W. Lutton, early teacher and after whom the Lutton Grade School building was named: no. Date Age Name 1 Feb. 10, 1864 60 Thomas S. Pierson 2 " " " 60 John Gilchrist 4 " " " 40 John Patterson 17 " " " 31 Jannette Gilchrist 22 " " " 42 Nancy B. Williams 24 " " " 16 Amanda J. Williams 32 " " " 38 John L. Williams 17 " " " [several others omitted] [page 24] It would appear that the church was loosely organized until 1864 when a meeting was called on February 10 for that purpose. [page 26] Feb 15, 1868 At a meeting of the congregation of Disciples worshiping at North English, Iowa County, Iowa, Bro. B.F. Black being called to the chair, stated the object of the meeting to be that of adopting a different mode for finances. After remarks by Brethren D. Gilchrist,... John Patterson, ... John Gilchrist, Sr., ... and others, it was decided to change the mode of the congregational finances. [page 27] Since the organizing of the church in 1856 dependence had been place on lay preachers. The ones most commonly mentioned for this service were: William G. Springer, Elisha Scott, Edwin Hall, L.C. Wilson, Barclay Scott, Chancy Clothier and John L. Williams. The plan of using lay preachers did not prove to be popular and as the congregation grew, it was decided to employ a half-time pastor. A committee made up of W.H. Smith, J. Mahannah, John Patterson,... was chosen to make the necessary arrangements. As a result William Eckerman of Washington County, Iowa was employed beginning in the year 1875. [page 40 (the modern church)] The corner stone was laid October 27, 1910 with James T. Nichols of Des Moines as the principal speaker. Records furnished by Avesta Scott and others concerning the early history of the church were placed in the corner stone. [page 68] Included in a list of memorial donations for an organ in 1957 are Vesta Fancher and Mable Roller Ellet. [page 82-83] John Quincy Mahannah, son of George A. and Catherine A. Mahannah, was born January 20, 1851, Knox County, Ohio. He came to Iowa with his family about 1857. He was married in October, 1871, to Jane F. Gilchrist, daughter of David and Fanny Harkness Gilchrist, natives of Scotland. They farmed for several years, then retired in North English in the Fall of 1906. Both were active in the Christian Church, he uniting with the church April 6, 1866 and she, April 4, 1866. For several years he served as deacon and was on the church board. He died June 15, 1910; she May 21, 1908. They had five children: Joseph, George L., Walter W., and two daughters who died in infancy. [page 108 (listing of ministers)] 1. William G. Springer. Biography elsewhere. 2. Elisha Scott, 1822-1862, South English Cemetery. Very little is available concerning this man although he was an able helper in establishing the North English and Millersburg Christian churches. He was probably a member of the Millersburg Church as he is not listed as ever having belonged to the North English congregation. He was the father of Barclay M. Scott, who served the church as pastor in 1886 and is listed as having united with the North English Church in January, 1887. A letter was granted to him January 21, 1889. Another son, Avesta Scott, united with the church in February, 1885 and was an active member throughout his life. Elisha Scott organized the White Pigeon Christian Church in 1859. ... In 1944 the church was closed. [page 111] William Eckerman was the first salaried minister. He was called in 1875 and served until 1884. Allen Hickey came in 1884 and was the first minister to occupy the parsonage. B.M. Scott came in 1886 and remained two years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Explanation of various relatives mentioned, by Dennis Nicklaus: The John Gilchrist mentioned in 1864 is my 4great-grandfather. (This is the earliest record of him being in Iowa we have so far). Jannette Gilchrist is his daughter. John Patterson is John Gilchrist's son-in-law. Amanda Williams is the future wife of John G's grandson John. D. Gilchrist mentioned later would be David, John, Sr.'s son, and father of the John who married Amanda W. Jane F. Gilchrist, who married John Q. Mahannah is another of David's children. Mable Roller Ellet is a granddau. of this same David Gilchrist. Vesta Fancher was married to a granddau. of my 3g-gf Peter Gilchrist Elisha Scott is my 3g-gf, and Avesta is my 2g-gf; Barclay is another son of Elisha. B.F. Black was a son-in-law of my 4g-gf, TQ Matthews. My notes are in square brackets [].