Volume 10 , Issue 42

Original Deed & Papers of Congregational Church, Alva, OK (est. 1893)

"Linda ... Here is the original deed for the Congregational Church in Alva, Ok, established in 1893. (The scans/pages are in the correct order.) Since the document is on legal size paper I had to "adjust the printing field" for an 8.5x11" scanner. I will send more information as I get it done. I will send the jpgs of the ledgers themselves and the list of the pastors of this church from the 1st to last one.

These are the 2 ledgers of the Congregational Church in Alva, OK., which was established in 1893. They have been in my family since about 1912 and were just recently sent to someone on the Cherokee Strip Museum board for acceptance into the museum. Although they aren't full ledgers, they do contain the lists of members, deacons, pastors and board meeting entries dating from Dec. 30th, 1893 to the last entry in 1908. I believe the church closed somewhere around 1910-1912 as some of the entries on the Members Removed list are dated 1910. It was during the term of the last pastor, L.A.Turner, that "the 1st public library along with a gymnasium with bath", were established at the church. (Their collection of books was eventually donated to the city library.)

Alva Congregational Church (1893) Pastors List
This is a list of the pastors who served the Congregational Church in Alva, OK from 1893 until it closed:
* 1. Alfred Connit....(April 22, 1894 - 1896(?) ORDAINED: 1861
* 2. W.E. Wyatt.....(Feb. 22, 1896 - Nov. 1, 1897) LICETIATE(?) (Interm delegate)
* 3. Nathaniel W. Hankemyer....(Jan. 1, 1898 - Feb. 1899) ORDAINED: 1891
* 4. John Hartley.....(March (?) 1899 - Nov. 7, 1899) ORDAINED: 1888
* 5. Chas. A. Greenlees.....(Nov. (?) 1899 - July 1, 1901) ORDAINED: 1886
* 6. William Harding.....(Oct. 1, 1901 - May, 1903) ORDAINED: 1881
* 7. S.J. Malone....(Dec. 1, 1903 - Feb 1, 1905) ORDAINED: 1896
* 8. Wm. B. Stover.....(May, 1905 - May 1, 1908) ORDAINED: 1903
* 9. L.A. Turner....(August, 1908 -- -------) ORDAINED: 1897

The salary for Pastor Connit was $400/yr. Rev. Stover's salary was $800/yr. in 1906, "with parsonage, and the priviledge of his earning the amount the church lacks. It was $400 and he was to earn $400. It was while Rev. Stoner was here a reading room and gymnasium with bath was established in the south part of the church and seemed to be appreciated by the town people for a time and it was here that we established the 1st public library, the books which were afterwarded given to the city library.

I've scanned in and printed copies of what I consider the important pages of these ledgers. If anyone is wanting copies, I can either email or snail mail the information. I will be more than happy to look up family names/ancestors from these as well. You are absolutely brilliant with all of this stuff! I'm so sorry I missed you in Alva ... would love to have visited with you.

Should anyone want a copy of this, I will be more than happy to either email or snail-mail a copy." -- Kathy (Walters) Racette - Email: diamondfire1947@yahoo.com

[Editor's Note: Check out this link for the other scanned files Kathy has sent us so far. Other Links & Pages of the Congregational Church of Alva, OK:
* Envelope
* Congregational Church pages 1
* Congregational Church pages 2
* Congregational Church pages 3
* Congregational Church pages 4]
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