History of Mt. Ephraim Church

By

Allen M. Whetstone

Read July 27, 1947 at the first Homecoming

In order to get at the establishment of the church, I have begun with the settlement of the neighborhood.  Sometime, about the beginning of the 19^th century, some hardy pioneers came into this valley and built their homes.  Among them were Ephraim Gould, Jonathan Alden, Ephraim True, William Hovey, Maurice Morrison and others that I do not recall.

I am told that there is a deed for some of the Gould farm signed by President Monroe, and that some of these farms was their pay for serving in the Revolution.  One thing I remember that was said at the funeral of Moses True, “He was born, lived and died on the same farm and near the same place on the farm.”  I think he was born in 1810.

I don’t know when or where the first religious services were held, but when the Whetstones came in 1841 services were held in a log schoolhouse that stood at the foot of the bank on this side of were the schoolhouse later stood and where I went to school.

In May 1846, E. Gould gave a deed to Mt. Ephraim church for one-half acre of land where the first church was built which was log.  It stood at the side of the road and facing south.  The society grew and prospered until the church was too small to hold the congregations that attended and in 1872 they decided to build a larger church.  They traded a piece off the south side and set the new church back and facing west.  I think Rev. McCormick was the minister when the church was built.

The building committee was composed of the following members:  Ephraim Gould, Henry Rhodes, Zenas Hallett, Harry Kilmer and Daniel Whetstone.  When the church was completed they lacked 600 dollars of having enough money pledged to pay for it.  These five men each assumed one-fifth of the debt and the church was dedicated free of debt.

Mrs. Kilmer donated the silver communion set, costing forty-five dollars.  Mrs. L. J. Fowler later added individual cups and plate.

Among the early pastors besides Rev. McCormick were Rev. Webster Baker, Johnson, Petty, Lyons, Clark, Hawkins, VanFossen, and Rev. Gibson and a number of others whose names I do not recall.

At first, this church did not have a bell.  About 1880, Mrs. Daniel Whetstone and Mrs. Zenas Hallett went over the community taking subscriptions to buy a bell.  Between 80 and 90 dollars was raised and the bell was purchased.  Mrs. Whetstone said, “When you hear the bell, think of us.”

During this time other families had come into the community and were taking an active part in the church; the Robinsons, Halletts, Rhodes, Spencers, and Watkins families.  This narrative would not be complete without mentioning one man by name, Charley Robinson, who took great interest in the young people and the Sunday school.

At the close of Rev. Gibson’s pastorate, hard times came to Mt. Ephraim Church.  Macksburg wanted preaching every Sunday morning and offered to pay for the time.  The authorities of the church rearranged the charge and left Mt. Ephraim out.  But its members still clung to their beloved church and kept the Sunday school going.  It was attached to he Lebanon charge for some time but the geographical location made that impractical.  Later with the help of the Sunday School Union this Sunday school was kept alive.  But death and removals hit Mt. Ephraim hard but there are yet a few faithful souls here that are carrying on God’s work here. ‘May God bless and prosper them in their efforts’ is the prayer of their former superintendent.