Family History Research Assistance for Lucas County, Iowa
CHURCH:MOUNT ZION (OAKLEY)
Mt. Zion Church was organized in 1867, at the school house in section fifteen, Liberty township, Lucas County, Iowa. The original members included Elder W. S. Hughes, Richard Welsh, Elizabeth Welsh, Isaac Renfro, Thomas Stone, Melvina Davis, Elizabeth Davis, and Elizabeth Callon.
In 1880, they built a place of worship at a cost of about $550. D. E. Musselman, William James and William Skidmore were leaders in the construction. The meeting house stood about one and a half miles north of Oakley, in Liberty township, on a hill, surrounded by the Mount Zion Cemetery.
Elder Hughes was a minister of great ability, and was known far and wide. He drove a carriage with fringe on the top, drawn by a pair of sleek, jet black horses.
Names of some of the members down through the years that appear on the records of the church include William and America Skidmore, who sold the four acre tract of land for the church and cemetery for $1.00. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Millard Musselman, William and Martha Cottingham, Elder Andrew Goforth, Mr. and Mrs. William James, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Burgett, James F. Baugh and wife, and Margaret Byrd Baugh, a descendant of Admiral Byrd of Virginia.
Elder Hughes was followed as pastor by Elder Andrew J. Goforth.
The church practiced feetwashing, and baptisms were performed in Whitebreast, a stream flowing nearby. The record indicates a baptism was performed by Elder J. W. Vincent as late as June 1943.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Baugh, Boylan, Burgett, Callon, Chappel, Conrad, Corwin,
Cottingham, Davis, Dodd, Exley, Fread, Goforth, Hughes, Humphreys,
James, Jordan, Keeney, Leach, Lester, McCollum, McFane, Moss,
Musselman, Newell, Renfro, Roberts, Rodgers, Rogers, Runyon,
Shelton, Skidmore, Stamburg, Steirwalt, Stewart, Stone, Threlkeld,
Vincent, Welsh, Young (incomplete list due to loss of records).
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