Someone asked the other day if the Goshen neighborhood, northwest of Derby, had ever had a post office or some other sign of life as a village --- and the answer is "no."
Goshen was --- and is --- a Baptist church organized under that name during 1854 and a related cemetery located on the original grounds of the church building. The area around the church often was called, as years passed, the Goshen neighborhood; and the nearby rural school sometimes was known as Goshen, too. But village? No.
Today, Goshen has the distinction of being one of two or three historic country churches that have survived the decline in Lucas County's rural population and remain active.
I found the following history of Goshen on the front page of The Chariton Leader of July 24, 1928. The event during which the history was read was a day-long homecoming reunion at the church for those who had attended Goshen school, Goshen church, or both. The historian was Sarah Belle (Tracy) Grimes (1860-1938), a lifelong member of the congregation. Here's the history:
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Under the leadership of Daniel Winters, the Goshen Baptist church was organized and received its name in the school house of Dist. No. 1, Union township, Lucas county, in February, 1854.
The following named persons constituted its first membership: Thos. Wade, Rachel Wade, Joseph Mundell, Sarah Mundell, Geo. Courtney, E.J. Courtney, Asa Pollard, Rachel Robison, Hezekiah Pollard, Martha Westfall.
Joseph Mundell served the new church as clerk and Thomas Wade was elected deacon. Rev. Daniel Winters, of Winterset, Iowa, was called as pastor. Once each month he made the long journey on horseback, preaching Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
The church was received into the Eden association in October, 1854. Asa Pollard and Joseph Mundell were the first delegates to represent the church at the association. The first member received by baptism was Ellahj Summers. The first communion service was held in May, 1855.
Rev. Wm. Barnett of Peoria, Wayne county, Iowa, was called as pastor in June, 1855, and served the church in that capacity for nearly four years. He, also, made the long journey on horseback once each month, preaching Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Under his leadership the first church house was built on land owned by George Courtney. This occupied several years as native timber had to be made into lumber and seasoned before building. Most of the work was donated, but money had to be raised to pay for the sawing and making seats and pulpit. The house was completed and the church moved from the school house to its new home in November, 1867.
Previous to this, one member was licensed and two ordained to preach the gospel --- Nathaniel Plymate licensed to preach in 1861; James Stumbaugh ordained in 1862 and W. S. Hughes in 1865.
October, 1867, Rev. James Stumbaugh was called to preach one Sunday each month and to act as moderator in the pastor's absence. He served the church in this way for many years.
In November, 1869, letters were granted 13 members to organize a church four and a half miles northwest of Goshen. The church was named Fairview and Rev. George Smith was called as pastor.
The following winter, Goshen received into membership 16 new members, 15 by baptism and one by letter.
In 1870, the association called for one delegate from each church to meet and form a missionary board for the purpose of employing an association missionary. Sacker Wyatt was the delegate from Goshen. Rev. Barnett was employed as missionary and continued in that service nine years, serving Goshen as pastor at the same time.
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In 1874, it was decided --- if two acres of land could be secured --- to move the church house east across the road. A committee was appointed to confer with James Barger, who owned the land. A price of $30 was agreed upon and the deed was presented to the church at the next meeting. At this time, A.Conner, Thos. Wade and Isaiah Robison were elected the first trustees.
Before arrangements could be made to move the building, the storm in 1876, which blew down many buildings and destroyed much property in the community, moved it for them, but left it in so many pieces in so many places that it could never again be used as a meeting place. This was a great blow to the church and was keenly felt by the young people of the surrounding country. As, by invitation from the church, they had organized a singing class which met in the church Sunday afternoons, reading music by note, learning new songs to be used in Sunday school and church.
In this way the young people were a great help to the church and for many years Goshen was noted for its good singing. Not for long, however, were they left without a meeting place.
Those faithful men and women of God, who had labored and sacrificed for the first house, now realizing what a great blessing they had brought to themselves and community, determined a new house must be built. Almost immediately they set about doing it. The building was completed and dedicated to the Lord's service in August, 1877.
In 1879, the trustees made a quit-claim deed for the old church house and cemetery ground to the newly organized Goshen Cemetery Association.
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The outstanding event in the history of Goshen church for the year 1881 was the sending of the first woman delegate to the association. The woman thus honored was Mrs. Laura H. Green
The fourth member of the church to be licensed or ordained to preach the gospel during Rev. Barnett's pastorate was M. J. Sigler. Rev. Sigler was ordained in April, 1882. Pastors called to assist Rev. Barnett in the ordination service were Revs. Daniel Winters and L. L. Greenlee. The following year, Rev. Sigler was called to preach one Sunday each month.
December 1, 1883, eleven members were granted letters to unite in organizing a Baptist church at Humeston, Iowa. The first Sunday school convention held at Goshen was in 1885. The first foreign missionary offering was taken in 1886.
In 1889, Rev. B. J. M Waklee assisted Rev.. Barnett in a series of meetings which resulted in 15 persons confessing Christ in baptism. At the regular meeting, Jan. 19, 1889, Rev. Waklee was called as assistant pastor.
In 1890, ten members were granted letters to unite with the May church, which had just been organized as a branch of the Chariton Baptist church.
In 1891, a band of young people from the Russell church assisted the Goshen young people in organizing a B.Y.P.U. with J. M. Irwin as president. This society flourished for a time but for want of leadership was discontinued.
February 1891, Rev. Barnett resigned as pastor. Four years later he was called to his reward, mourned not only by family, church and association, but by everyone who knew him. Rev. Geo. Smith supplied the church until August 12, when Rev. P.C. Nelson was called and served the church two years.
Rev. T. Edwards was next called as pastor and served two years. It was he who led in planting the trees that cast their grateful shade around the church today. These now stand as a beautiful memorial to his service to the church. Under his pastorate, Rev. M.S. Clark was ordained to the ministry April 2, 1896. In September the following year Rev. Clark was called as pastor and served five years. Sometime during that pastorate a revival meeting was held, resulting in a large number of converts received by baptism. The time of the revival and number of converts was not recorded.
Rev. D. Newell was called as pastor, serving two years. At this time Alfred Conner, who since early manhood had served the church in almost every conceivable way, except as pastor, now found himself the only remaining deacon, Leander Moore, H. H. Sigler and W.H. McCollough having been granted letters to unite with other congregations. He suggested that two others be elected. J.M. Grimes and N.H. Robison were chosen and ordained in 1903. The church was then supplied one year by Rev. S.P. Shaw, of the May church.
The following ministers were called as pastors, each serving two years: Revs. M.L. Dilley, Arthur Woods, Bruce Wimmer, M.J Sigler, J.M. Whistler, G.W. Smith. Revs. Wimmer and Whistler each held a series of evangelistic meetings. Rev. Wimmer was assisted by Rev. Chas. Hamilton and Mrs. Armstrong. Fourteen candidates were received for baptism. These were baptized and received into the church by Rev. M.J. Signer. Rev. Whistler's meeting resulted in 11 converts.
In 1914 the first Ladies Aid and Mission Circle was organized. The organization still exists, meeting once each month.
The church was pastorless in 1918, but the Sunday school was carried on throughout the year. Rev. Oscar Creech became pastor in 1919. Near the close of that year he led the church in a series of meetings. The result of this meeting was nine received for baptism. These were baptized and received into the church by Rev. M. S. Clark, who was again called to the pastorate in 1920, serving the church this time six years. During Rev. Clark's ministry to the Goshen church he baptized and received into its membership 42 converts.
Rev. Clark's resignation in 1926 again left the church pastorless. In 1927, Rev. L. D. Eaton of Humeston supplied about three months. During this time, through the efforts of Mrs. T.P. Lee, the church secured Evangelists Violet Heifner and Anna Sondenga, who conducted a series of revival meetings, resulting in 30 confessing Christ. Twenty-three united with Goshen church and seven with other churches.
1928 --- The church is still pastorless, but has preaching every Sunday morning. Rev. L. D. Eatong and Rev. M. C. Clark preaching on alternate Sunday mornings.
The old church has passed through many seasons of great rejoicing; also of sorrow and much discouragement. Her doors have never been closed for long and, please God, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, may she still for many years to come carry on.
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