GREENWOOD AND THE EARLY CHURCH---
It is said that the standard of morals is indicated to a great extent by the religious organizations of the community. Greenwood and vicinity have been very well represented by churches of different denominations. During the early history of our part of Cass County, there have been in different localities representative organizations such as Congregational, Luther
an, Christian, Baptist, United brethren, Dunkard, Catholic and Methodist. Some of the first religious services held in the this locality were in 1869, when reverend M.S. Platt, a missionary of the congregational Church established a class and held services in the home of Mr. When this home became too small to accommodate the increasing attendance, they moved to the Abbott schoolhouse, and later built the Methodist Church. About 1875 we were included in a circuit designated as West Port of Weeping Water Circuit. About this time, Weeping Water was made a station and South Bend and Stove Creek became a new circuit. It extended north to the Platte River, east to Weeping Water, south to Palmyra, and wet to Belmont. It embraced a territory of nearly one hundred fifty square miles. Just prior to the formation of this circuit, union services were held by Reverend Isaac Stone in the Devore School southeast of Greenwood. The preacher, Reverend Stone a Baptist and farmer; Superintendent of Sunday School, J. Barr, a Methodist; Bible class teacher, Moses Keefer, a Dunkard; and Chorister W.W. Conn, United Brethren - these united efforts made this a real union service. The circuit in this part of the country included the following classes: Stove Creek - 20 Members. Fairland schoolhouse - 31 Members. Thomas schoolhouse - 8 Members. McMurry schoolhouse - 10 Members. King schoolhouse - 7 Members. These points were being served by the ministers in charge, who lived at South Bend. About 1877 the circuit was being called the Greenwood Circuit. About two years later, in 1879, a church was built at Callahan and was completed and dedicated in May of 1880. The church was located on an acre of ground donated by Mr. Joseph McKinnon located about five miles east and one mile south of Greenwood. This same year a pastor was appointed to the Greenwood Circuit. Because there was no parsonage, a house and 1 1/2 lots were bought from Mr. H. Alden for $600.00. This was located next to Dr. Talcott's home to the north and served as parsonage for a number of years. From 1880 to 1882 the Methodist congregation worshipped Sunday afternoons in the Congregational Church. the two congregations bought an organ, each paying 1/2. During this time money was raised and a contract let for the building of the Methodist Church. It was completed and dedicated the latter part of 1882. The minister in charge at this time was W.K. Loafhaurrow. The Callahan Church was served by the same pastor and was made a part of the Greenwood point, each church being served alternated on Sundays. Circuit riders serving this locality previous to the building of the church in Greenwood were S. A. Baer -1875, W. Tibels - 1876, A. L. Folder -1877 and A. G. White -1879. This church served the congregation until 1916, when a new church was built on Main Street. It was located where the Congregational Church had stood. On May 5, 1916 a contract for the construction of the brick veneer structure was let at a cost of $6,783.00 to A. O. Anderson of Waverly. This church, when completed with art glass windows, furnace, new pews and other necessities, cost about $10.000.00. The new church was dedicated on Sunday, December 19,1916, without any indebtedness. The dedicatory service and sermon were made by Reverend John Boeye, D. D. Others taking part in the service were Reverend Stephen B. Williams, Pastor in charge, and Reverend E. T. George, District Superintendent. In the afternoon there were brief addresses by visiting pastors and the sermon of the afternoon was made by the Reverend Willard McCarthy, Pastor of the Christian Church of Greenwood at that time. Since worship was started in the new church there have been several resident pastors and student pastors from Wesleyan Univ. In 1943 Greenwood received the same appointment as Waverly. The Pastor served both churches until 1949 when Greenwood charge was transferred from the Lincoln District to the Omaha district. Since then Greenwood and Ashland are being served by the same pastor. The first parsonage bought was sold a number of years later a new parsonage built on the lot next to the old church. This parsonage was also sold in 1944. Prior to this, the old church had been sold to the school district and was used for number of years and classrooms for the younger school children. It is only fair to mention in this history some of the earliest members of this church. Mr. A.C. Mathis, to whom we are indebted for part of these places, names and dates. The records show among the earlier members Mr. M. V. Wolf, E.A. Rich, Se. E. James, Ashford Magee, J. Baer, S. Bethel. R. Conish, Wm. Howard, J. Barton, J. C. Stevenson, A. Leesley, G. Fels, and W.F. Tinnison
