1883 - 1900

 

1883

           Abilene had reached its zenith and stories of the Chisholm Trail, Wild Bill Hickock and thousands upon thousands of steers were safely buried in its past. 

           Now, in the town that had gained fame as “the end of the Texas trail”, wheat became king.  Heavy, lumbering, covered wagons carried families who were interested in building homes, businesses and...churches.

            One of the first of these Evangelical pioneers,Christian Schaal and his wife, cmae to Abilene in November, 1883.  They were visited by the pastor of the nearest Evangelical church, Rev. William Heiser of the Alida Mission

                  Two weeks later he returned to preach in the Pyke School House, which is now the home of Kenny and Orrene Wetzel.  Rev Heiser continued to visit Abilene and preach to the growing group, both at the Pyke School House and in Smith Hall, over the Nuez Store in Abilene.  A Sunday School was organized, with Cyrus Feigley as Superintendent.

 

 

1886

            As the small group grew, so did the desire for a permanent organization. They met together and organized on July 4, 1886, in Smith Hall.  Jonathan Romberger was elected Class Leader, Christian Schaal Steward and Henry A. Snider, Exhorter.  Reverend Manshardt was the first Pastor.  There were 41 charter members. 

          There should have been 43.  Mr. and Mrs. Stowits drove their lumber wagon to the Pyke School House, where they understood the organization meeting was to be held.  While they were driving there, the other families were assembling at Smith Hall.  By the time the Stowits' learned of the change, the meeting had taken place without them.

            In October, 1886, Articles of Incorporation were filed for "The Emanuel's Church of the Evangelical Association of North America, in Abilene, Dickinson County, State of Kansas."  These were signed by Chrisitan Schaal, John Landis, Isaac V. Lantz, Jonathan Romberger and Allen P. Spahr.  

1887

 

1889   

In March, by conference action at Jewel City, the Abilene class was formed into a separate Mission and transfered from the Alida to the Salina work. 

Rev. Manshardt, who had come to Abilene to organize the church was quickly followed by Rev. M. C. Platz, who became the  first missionary pastor, appointed by conference, of the new Salem Evangelical Church. 

 

Later, the name was changed to Emmanuel Evangelical Church. 

 

At the first quarterly conference in April, the Steward was instructed to "raise as much as possible" for the minister's salary.  Rev. Platz received the princely annual sum of $170, plus an appropriation by the conference. 

A revival conducted by Rev. D. F. Honstedt, increased the membership to 48. A small chapel, located on Spruce Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets was purchased for $1,300.00.  Abilene businessmen donated $200.00 toward this project.  We do not have any pictures of the chapel.  The photo above shows the lot as it exists today.

 

1888 

      Full of zeal and anxious to support missionary work, eleven women of the church organized the Auxiliary of the Women’s Missionary Society and Aid Society in July, just 2 years after the permanent church was formed.  Eleven members met the first Saturday of each month at 3 p.m., with dues of 10 cents a month.  Dues and offerings that first year totaled $27.00. 

     As the membership continued to grow, a larger structure was needed.  The little chapel was abandoned for a larger church built on the corner of Fifth and Kuney. This was a frame structure and cost about $4,000.00.  It was dedicated on September 29th. 

 

1890     

Rev. G. J.Schumacher replaced Reverend M. C. Platz as Pastor.  Church membership now stood at 115.  The little chapel on Spruce Street was moved next to the church and converted into a parsonage.

1892      Rev. A. E. Flickinger replaced Rev. G. J. Schumacher as Pastor

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1894      Rev. C. S. Steinmetz replaced Rev. A. E. Flickinger  as Pastor.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

UNDATED

 

            The early years were a time of Camp Meetings and Revivals.  Membership soared to 184.