First Presbyterian Church
218 Forest St N
Fordville, Walsh County North Dakota 58231
218 Forest St N
Fordville, Walsh County North Dakota 58231
First Presbyterian Church
Fordville, North Dakota
1907-1957
Rev. Everett Owens is now serving the congregation with the following bord members.
Elders:
Keith McMillan
Knute Morstad
Ralph Whaley
Hulbert Casement
Enos. Bell
Wm. Bayne
Board of Trustees:
Roy Whaley
Neil Bannerman
Lester Pfannsmith
Lynn McMillian
Woodrow Whalen
Donald Casement
Info from - the back of the First Presbyterian Church plate
Fordville, North Dakota
1907-1957
Rev. Everett Owens is now serving the congregation with the following bord members.
Elders:
Keith McMillan
Knute Morstad
Ralph Whaley
Hulbert Casement
Enos. Bell
Wm. Bayne
Board of Trustees:
Roy Whaley
Neil Bannerman
Lester Pfannsmith
Lynn McMillian
Woodrow Whalen
Donald Casement
Info from - the back of the First Presbyterian Church plate
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The following is taken from the 50th Anniversary booklet of Fordville First Presbyterian Church.
The present church body is a result of the union of several smaller groups, who as means of travel improved, decided to combine. Those earlier groups included the Elkmount Presbyterian Church (Belleville) and the First Presbyterian Church of School District Number Nine (Medford Township).
Records are meager regarding the first church activities in School District No, Nine, three and a half miles west of the present site of Fordville. However, by the initiative of Daniel McKeith, Sr., sometime during the 1880's a few church members of several denominations succeeded in having regular services in the schoolhouse of that district. In the fall of 1894, the First Presbyterian Church of that district was organized with the Rev. J.B. Ferguson as pastor. Members joining by letter were Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Worthing, Mrs. Anna L. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McKeith Sr., and Mrs. Edith Cass, Those joining by profession of faith were Lyman Brandt, Bertran Brandt, Ray Abel and David Robertson Sr.
Regular Sabbath services and Sunday School were held every summer for some years. Services in winter could not be held because it was impossible much of the time for the minister to travel from his home church to this outlying pastorate.
Quoting from an account by Mrs. David Robertson Sr., "The school house in Dist. No. 9 where the services were held was usually full. Some five or six denominations were represented, and I am sure there is a warm feeling in more than one heart for those young men (i.e. the pastors) who worked so hard for the Master those years.”
With the young village of Medford, now Fordville, growing rapidly it seemed expedient to formally organize a congregation there. Therefore, on September 13, 1905, the congregation from No. 9 united with the residents of Medford and the surrounding community. Members of the new congregation present at the meeting included Mr. and Mrs. David Robertson Sr., Mrs. Daniel McKeith Sr., Mr. and Mrs. James Henry, William, D. D., Elizabeth, Florence, James Jr., John, Chas., Robert, Emma and Bert Henry, Edna and Hattie Abel, Mrs. Venus Krollman, David Robertson Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Mc Keith Jr., Etta McKeith, and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Falter. Officers elected were: Elder--James Henry Sr.; Directors-- Daniel McKeith, Robert Mills, David Robertson Sr.; Treasurer--Mrs. David Robertson Sr. who served in that capacity for 20 years. Among the leaders in this movement were Daniel Mc Keith Jr., M. L. Dryburgh, James Henry, Wm. Maxwell, Dave Rae, Dave Robertson Sr., Robert Mills and A. S. L. McMillan.
During the next two years services were held in the hall above the original Medford Mercantile building and in the village schoolhouse.
The church building proper was built in the year 1907 by James Henry and his sons, and others at a cost of $3,000.
The older members of the congregation can remember the church as it was first built. The pulpit was on the south side, and the choir sang in the choir loft on the north side. The choir at that time was made up of young married couples for the most part. In addition to the choir loft on the north side there was another room for use when the main auditorium was filled.
The Rev. Chas. W. Gleason was pastor, and names other than those previously mentioned which soon appeared on the rolls were the families of David Rae, M. L. Dryburgh, A. S. L. McMillan, Charles Aafedt, Archie Abel, and Enos Bell. Today there are several charter members still living in this community and still taking an active part in church affairs. In addition, many of the children and grandchildren of the earliest members now continue the work started half a century ago.
The Elkmount church terminated its meetings in 1923, and in 1929 joined the First Presbyterian Church of Fordville. Elders of the Elkmount Church at this time were W. E. Bond and Wm. G. McConnachie.
With the enlarged membership, an extensive remodeling project was undertaken that same year. The north wing of the church was removed, the interior changed, and a full basement later constructed at a cost of $1,000. Basically, the building has remained the same since that time, with the exception of interior decorations.
A local elder, Mr. A. S. L. McMillan, represented Pembina Presbytery as lay delegate at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1934.
The Fordville church and the Inkster Presbyterian Church were served by several ministers until 1943. At that time a different arrangement was made and since then the resident minister of the Federated Church of Park River has served as the pastor of the Fordville Presbyterian Church.
Approximately twenty pastors served the congregation during the first fifty years.
The Ladies Aid Society was active from the very beginning of the Fordville Presbyterian Church. It was organized at the farm home of Mrs. Archie Abel. The meetings were held in the homes for a few years.
During the summers in early years the aid had 10 cent ice cream socials on the lawns of farm homes, sometimes at the Dan McKeith home, the Wm. Falter home, and the Archie Abel home. Later these socials were held on the church lawn with Chinese Lanters for decoration and light.
Annual suppers were very popular, and these were held in the Medford Mercantile Hall. These suppers caused the ladies much work as everything including stoves, dishes, and food had to be carried up the stairs. After the remodeling of the church and basement in 1929 the suppers were served there.
Info from - History of Fordville and Surrounding Area (Pages 51 through 55)
The present church body is a result of the union of several smaller groups, who as means of travel improved, decided to combine. Those earlier groups included the Elkmount Presbyterian Church (Belleville) and the First Presbyterian Church of School District Number Nine (Medford Township).
Records are meager regarding the first church activities in School District No, Nine, three and a half miles west of the present site of Fordville. However, by the initiative of Daniel McKeith, Sr., sometime during the 1880's a few church members of several denominations succeeded in having regular services in the schoolhouse of that district. In the fall of 1894, the First Presbyterian Church of that district was organized with the Rev. J.B. Ferguson as pastor. Members joining by letter were Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Worthing, Mrs. Anna L. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McKeith Sr., and Mrs. Edith Cass, Those joining by profession of faith were Lyman Brandt, Bertran Brandt, Ray Abel and David Robertson Sr.
Regular Sabbath services and Sunday School were held every summer for some years. Services in winter could not be held because it was impossible much of the time for the minister to travel from his home church to this outlying pastorate.
Quoting from an account by Mrs. David Robertson Sr., "The school house in Dist. No. 9 where the services were held was usually full. Some five or six denominations were represented, and I am sure there is a warm feeling in more than one heart for those young men (i.e. the pastors) who worked so hard for the Master those years.”
With the young village of Medford, now Fordville, growing rapidly it seemed expedient to formally organize a congregation there. Therefore, on September 13, 1905, the congregation from No. 9 united with the residents of Medford and the surrounding community. Members of the new congregation present at the meeting included Mr. and Mrs. David Robertson Sr., Mrs. Daniel McKeith Sr., Mr. and Mrs. James Henry, William, D. D., Elizabeth, Florence, James Jr., John, Chas., Robert, Emma and Bert Henry, Edna and Hattie Abel, Mrs. Venus Krollman, David Robertson Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Mc Keith Jr., Etta McKeith, and Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Falter. Officers elected were: Elder--James Henry Sr.; Directors-- Daniel McKeith, Robert Mills, David Robertson Sr.; Treasurer--Mrs. David Robertson Sr. who served in that capacity for 20 years. Among the leaders in this movement were Daniel Mc Keith Jr., M. L. Dryburgh, James Henry, Wm. Maxwell, Dave Rae, Dave Robertson Sr., Robert Mills and A. S. L. McMillan.
During the next two years services were held in the hall above the original Medford Mercantile building and in the village schoolhouse.
The church building proper was built in the year 1907 by James Henry and his sons, and others at a cost of $3,000.
The older members of the congregation can remember the church as it was first built. The pulpit was on the south side, and the choir sang in the choir loft on the north side. The choir at that time was made up of young married couples for the most part. In addition to the choir loft on the north side there was another room for use when the main auditorium was filled.
The Rev. Chas. W. Gleason was pastor, and names other than those previously mentioned which soon appeared on the rolls were the families of David Rae, M. L. Dryburgh, A. S. L. McMillan, Charles Aafedt, Archie Abel, and Enos Bell. Today there are several charter members still living in this community and still taking an active part in church affairs. In addition, many of the children and grandchildren of the earliest members now continue the work started half a century ago.
The Elkmount church terminated its meetings in 1923, and in 1929 joined the First Presbyterian Church of Fordville. Elders of the Elkmount Church at this time were W. E. Bond and Wm. G. McConnachie.
With the enlarged membership, an extensive remodeling project was undertaken that same year. The north wing of the church was removed, the interior changed, and a full basement later constructed at a cost of $1,000. Basically, the building has remained the same since that time, with the exception of interior decorations.
A local elder, Mr. A. S. L. McMillan, represented Pembina Presbytery as lay delegate at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1934.
The Fordville church and the Inkster Presbyterian Church were served by several ministers until 1943. At that time a different arrangement was made and since then the resident minister of the Federated Church of Park River has served as the pastor of the Fordville Presbyterian Church.
Approximately twenty pastors served the congregation during the first fifty years.
The Ladies Aid Society was active from the very beginning of the Fordville Presbyterian Church. It was organized at the farm home of Mrs. Archie Abel. The meetings were held in the homes for a few years.
During the summers in early years the aid had 10 cent ice cream socials on the lawns of farm homes, sometimes at the Dan McKeith home, the Wm. Falter home, and the Archie Abel home. Later these socials were held on the church lawn with Chinese Lanters for decoration and light.
Annual suppers were very popular, and these were held in the Medford Mercantile Hall. These suppers caused the ladies much work as everything including stoves, dishes, and food had to be carried up the stairs. After the remodeling of the church and basement in 1929 the suppers were served there.
Info from - History of Fordville and Surrounding Area (Pages 51 through 55)