five members. Rev. J. H. Stockholm became pastor and before the year closes a church 36x50 feet will be completed. In April a Sabbath-school was formed, with Dr. E. C. Scott as superintendent.
The Protestant Episcopal Church has had members in Story County almost from the first, but attempts at organization at Iowa Center, Nevada and Ames have not been permanent. There is now no society in the county, although several members.
The Iowa Center Church was organized by Rev. X. A Welton in 1858, and among the members were Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Fenn, Mrs. E. J. Potter, Mrs. F. M. Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. J. Will and Mr. and Mrs. McKee. The church, erected in 1860, was destroyed very soon and the society ceased to exist.
The Ames Mission existed for a few years under the care of Rev. C. S. Percival and others. Among its members were Mrs. M. B. Welch, wife of President Welch, of the college, Mrs. W. D. Lucas, Mrs. M. M. Turner, Professor and Mrs. Pope, Miss Sinclair, Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Prof. McComber, and others. The mission lasted from about 1877 for three years or more.
The United Brethren Churches appeared in Iowa first of the trans-Mississippi region, and in 1876 Iowa Conference was divided into Iowa and Des Moines, on account of language, the Iowa being German and the latter English. Of course the churches of Story belong to the Des Moines Conference, and these now include Fairview, south of Colo, Evergreen Chapel, south of Ames, and a class at Ontario. There were other churches in early days, notably that at Palestine in the thirties under Rev. Ives Marks, with its embryo seminary, and one at Ames strong enough to own a building, but these are of the past.
Fairview United Brethren Church was organized in New Albany Township, October 19, 1885, by Elder George Miller, and Rev. F. M. Boyd as pastor. The members were Josiah and Margaret Dunahoo, Sarah Dunahoo, J. W. Tory, Mary Tory, Mrs. C. A. Sawtell and F. V. Sawtell, and meetings were held in School No. 9. Rev. W. W. Lewis began work in 1885 and increased the membership to eighty-five in 1886. Trustees J. F. Loucks, J. W. Tory, S. P. Rinehart, W. D. Martin and J. C. Sawtell proceeded to build a church, which was dedicated by August 22, 1886. It cost probably $1,500. The membership still increased and a Sabbath-school was founded. Rev. L. F. Bufkin became pastor in 1887, but was soon succeeded by Rev. D. N. Craner. Sickness soon compelled the pastor to resign, and in 1888 Rev. W. W. Lewis was recalled, and served until called to Des Moines in 1889. Rev. N. W. Burbler, of Toledo College, has since served. The present membership is ninety.
Evergreen Chapel is about four miles southeast of Ames, and its society was formed in February, 1886, by Rev. G. W. Vandeventer. Fifty-two members were enrolled, and the officers were W. S. Anderson, steward; James Robb, R. B. Buell, A. D. Wherry, J. E. Vanscoy, T. Bates and W. S. Anderson, trustees. After using the school-house, a church was built in 1886 at a cost of $1,700, and dedicated November 7, 1886. Rev. L. H. Bufkin followed the first pastor in 1888, and Rev. J. X. Talbott in 1889. Rev. J. H. Snoke is the present pastor. A Sunday-school was organized in 1884. The church now has a membership of 51.
Ontario Class was organized in April, 1889, by Rev. J. Talbott with about fourteen members.
The (English) Evangelical Lutheran Church organized its Synod of Iowa in 1854. Story