METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF OCHEYEDAN
This church was organized in 1872 or 1873 by Rev. John Webb, the first
Methodist minister of Sibley. The first records have not been kept, so
the first officers and ministers can not be enumerated. A fire occurred
in the church at one time and the early records are supposed to have
been destroyed. It can be recorded, however, that since its organization
it has progressed steadily and has always been a leading factor for good
in the eastern part of the county. Tradition has it that the first
inception of church matters was at a sewing circle in the eastern part
of the county, where various matters, wise and otherwise, are discussed.
Among other things talked of at this sewing circle was the desirability
of religious services and, from that beginning, there resulted the
organization and the subsequent erection of the Walnut Grove church,
which later was moved to Ocheyedan. It has since been enlarged until the
present commodious church building is the result. The society also has a
comfortable parsonage.
The present pastor is the Rev. J. G. Watterman. The trustees are F. J.
Boyd, W. E. Ely, W. M. Rotli, Ruse Davis and Frank Cole. The stewards
are Charles Morton, recording, W. F. Hunt, Mrs. E. A. Underbill, John
VanCleve and A. G. Fletcher. The church has an efficient Ladies' Aid
Society and a prosperous Sunday school of about one hundred and sixty
members.
From the 1914 Past
and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties