The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Information in this book was obtained from interviews from Dr. and Mrs. I. F. Harter and Joe Long who were among early settlers living in Stronghurst at the time. This book was written in 1936 by the 7th Grade at Stronghurst School District #30, as a CIVIC's PROJECT of Mrs. Marie Swedlund.
Our small town site has had within its limits five churches all of whose congregation was large considering the town's population. They are namely the Methodist Episcopal Church erected and dedicated September 1, 1889, the United Presbyterian completed and dedicated October 27, 1889 (the same year), the Baptist Church (now an I.O.O.F. Hall) erected in 1895 and dedicated on the twenty-ninth day of September in that year, the first Christian Church in Stronghurst dedicated February 10, 1895. The last and newest church, the Lutheran was set up in 1909 only twenty seven years ago.
The Methodist Church being the oldest is perhaps the more damaged. Mr. Joseph Dixson had the responsibility of planning it. One of the first sales of lots in Stronghurst was the portion on which the Methodist Church stands. While the construction of this was going on the first church services were being held in the Gaddis School House, in the Stronghurst grove, in Dr. Harter's Drug Store and later, Sunday School and church were both held in the Opera House. The first Christmas and Easter Day in Stronghurst were also held in this place. After the dedication of the church Reverend H. V. Brink was the first pastor to deliver the sermon. The first cornerstone was laid July 4, 1889. And the fall of that year the church was erected.
Mr. King should have many praises for he was the beginner of the Christian Church dedicated in the middle of winter when the snow was a foot deep. The first preachers of this denomination were the two Dunsworth Brothers who recently had been merchants in this village. The church was erected in the south east part of town, and dedicated in February, the dedicatory address being made by Judge C. J. Scofield of Carthage, an eminent lawyer and theologian of this denomination.
It has been without a pastor several times in its history, November 1910, May 1912, April 1935, and March 1936.
The United Presbyterian Church was the second church built in 1889 and dedicated the same year in October and owes it's beginning to John McElheinney.
The congregation assembled at the Town Hall on January 16, 1889 to organize their church denomination in which Reverend W. J. Buchanan was the leader. After this organization the Monmouth Presbytery attached the Olena and Stronghurst meetings for the present over which Reverend S. S. Montgomery was the pastor and was the minister of the spiritual needs of our people. Doctor Bailey was the clerk of session this church.
Forty five years ago in 1890 two men, R. C. King and Mr. J. Wm. Hartquist started the erection of the plans of the Swedish Lutheran Church. The church at this time was dissolved and the people worshipped in the Methodist Episcopal Church until before the plans of a church could be carried on. Then, the congregation believing that it was strong enough in membership and wealth to have a church home of its own, steps were taken in that direction. A building lot was secured in the southern part of town and at last in 1909 a fine church building was completed at the expense of $6,000. There are now about 100 members which makes a strong enough union to have a long and useful life and to exercise a strong influence for good among the Swedish people of this vicinity and the community at large.
The last church which is now an I.O.O.F. Hall was once the only one room school house in our village. A man, John West, a Baptist, had this small building moved into town where three large partitions were built on it. The congregation was small however and in a few years the first minister Reverend Cornelius resigned and the church dissolved never to be established again.
The American Legion, Odd Fellows and Rebekahs hold meetings here at the present time (1936).