CHAPTER XX.

FOURTH PERIOD. (1880-1904.)

   THE five years from the formation of the West Nebraska Mission, in 1880, have witnessed such marvelous growth as to justify the organization of the West Nebraska Conference, in 1885, the General Conference having passed an enabling act to that effect. Dr. Lemon, in his last report as superintendent of missions, gives this glowing account of the general situation in that part of the State:
   "Towns have sprung up, centers of trade formed, and the once desert plains are becoming the most fruitful and promising parts of our State. We have within our mission lines about thirty counties organized, and much valuable unorganized territory, while Cheyenne, Sioux, Keith, Cherry, and Custer Counties are large enough to make at least ten other counties." That the Church has kept pace with the increase in population is seen in the fact that the districts have increased from one to three, the appointments from twenty-two to sixty-one, and preachers, including probationers, from twenty-three to forty-seven. The membership, including probationers, has increased even more, advancing from 1,329 in 1880, to 3,895 in 1885, or nearly threefold. These figures are based on the face of the statistics as they appear in the Minutes. But the net gain will be seen to be even greater, if we note the fact that thirteen of the best charges that

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were a part of the Mission Conference, have become a part of the North Nebraska Conference. This is only partially offset by a few that came from the Hastings District to the mission in the readjustment of lines by the General Conference of 1884. Had the boundary lines remained the same as in 1880, the additional increase would have been four hundred, or more.
   They have also been building churches. Dr. Lemon speaks, in his reports, of having dedicated seven churches in a single year. In 1880 there were seven, and though by the change in boundary lines they have lost five, they still were able to report sixteen, making a net gain of fourteen.
   Thus this army of conquest has been pursuing its triumphant march to the western line of the State, with Presiding Elder Johnson in command of the southern wing along the Republican, and the old commander, T. B. Lemon, leading the center column along the Platte, and the northern portion under the leadership of George W. Martin, has extended along the Elkhorn and to the northwest as far as Chadron. They have about completed the conquest of all this vast territory, comprising over 40,000 square miles, or about two-thirds of the State.
   Having attained in every way to the proportions of an Annual Conference, there is little wonder that many should feel that the time had come to avail themselves of the enabling act of the last General Conference, and erect themselves into Annual Conference. On this they voted, and without a single negative, West Nebraska Conference became a fact, the bishop concurring in the action, and starts out on its career of power and useful-

SOME OF THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE, WEST NEBRASKA CONFERENCE.

1. JOSEPH BUCKLEY. 2. J. A. BADCOM. 3. T. W. OWEN. 4. BARTLEY BLAIN.
5. JEPTHAH MARSH. 6. W. H. WHEELER. 7. CHARLES REILLY. 8. WESLEY WILSON.

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ness. The reader will want to know the names of those who constituted this body of brave men:

   It will be seen that the number on trial continues to be relatively large. This has been the case since the second year of Dr. Lemon's administration on the Kearney District. In the meanwhile the transfers are also growing in number. Dr. Lemon seemed to have a genius for finding good men and attracting them to this hard field and keeping them here.
   But we should know something more about some of these than their names. While many of those who were present when the Mission was formed were mentioned in

that connection, there are some new names well worthy of further mention.
   As early as May, 1871, Asbury Collins took a claim and he and his family made their home in Kearney. He and his family are of those to whom religion is a necessity, and Church fellowship essential to the religious life of the individual, and the best moral order of the community. So they were hardly settled in their new home before he wrote to the presiding elder, A. G. White, that "there are some stray sheep out here that need looking after." But A. G. White, whose district extended from Omaha toward the west as far as there were any settlements along the Union Pacific, was unable to come till October. Sister Collins, in speaking of this visit says, "Our hearts leaped for joy at the first sight of our presiding elder, who was truly a man of God, enduring great hardship for Christ's sake."
   The result of that visit of the elder was the organizing of a Methodist Church, the first of any denomination in Kearney, and is thus related by Sister Collins: "The evening after the elder arrived our little band assembled to listen to an able sermon by him. Then assisted by my husband, the first society was organized. Charter members: Rev. Asbury Collins, Louisa E. Collins, H. E. A. Sydenham, Alfred Gay, Hannah Jay. Mr. Collins was then appointed pastor of the little flock at Kearney, with instructions to look after newly-forming settlements."
   Thus, in the home of Asbury Collins, Kearney Meth-

odism took organized form and has steadily grown in power and influence under successive pastors who have served her, until now there are two flourishing societies, First Church, with 330 members, and C. A. Mastin, pastor, and Trinity with 109, of which J. G. Hurlburt is pastor. The little class of five has multiplied till the total number of Methodists in Kearney is 439.
   This same Asbury Collins, a few months after the class was formed, organized the first Sunday-school, and in 1900 helped lay the foundation of Trinity Church.
   Brother Collins had spent many years in the itinerancy in Iowa before coming to Nebraska, and having been trained in that school of aggressive Methodism, was no novice in the work. He united with the Iowa Conference as early as 1846, and continued in the work till compelled to desist on account of hemorrhage of the lungs. He asked for a location and came to Nebraska, hoping to find relief. At first he only consented to accept a pastoral charge temporarily, fearing his health would not hold out. But he did much work in and around Kearney, organizing classes and circuits, and turning them over to others as soon as some one could be found.
   He was permitted to give nearly twenty years to the work in West Nebraska, filling some important places, taking about 1,000 people into the Church, and building churches. He dedicated the first church in Custer County, which was of the then prevailing type of the first churches, being constructed of sod. However, the doors, windows, and necessary lumber were drawn by wagon from Grand Island and Kearney, a distance of fifty miles or more.
   An incident which well illustrates the character of

Brother and Sister Collins, and the difficulties of church-building, occurred while the Church at North Loup was being built during Brother Collins's pastorate at that place. At one time during its erection a point was reached where forty dollars were needed, and without which the work could not go on. But all had given to the utmost of their ability, and so far as any human resource was concerned, it seemed to be unattainable. Brother Collins said to his wife, "Let us take this matter to the Lord,` and on their knees they pleaded with God for the forty dollars needed. Brother Collins went out in town as usual, and soon found a man who gave him the forty dollars, and he came home with a radiant face to report to his wife the wonderful answer to prayer.
   Brother Collins was received into the Nebraska Conference on his certificate of location from the Iowa Conference, and was one of the charter members of the West Nebraska Conference. He served a number of pastorates, among them Chadron, 300 miles from Kearney, his home. The journey to this far-away circuit must be made by private conveyance across a vast stretch of bleak prairie. Yet at the advanced age of sixty-one, or more, these two made this long journey. The Lord seemed to have prepared the way for them, for at one place which they reached late in the evening, very weary with a long day's ride, they found the housewife already at work making down a bed on the dirt floor of her single-room dugout, having been moved to thus prepare for her guests in advance by a strong impression that some weary traveler would certainly come that night seeking shelter.
   Brother Collins was for all these years a friend, companion, and counselor of such men as A. G. White and
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T. B. Lemon. He closed his career March 9, 1890. His brethren placed upon their record the following appreciation of his life and character:
   "Rev. Asbury Collins was born in Ohio on October 25, 1823, and died in Kearney, Nebraska, on March 9, 1890. Brother Collins was converted on February 19, 1841, and at once united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was soon after licensed to preach, and in 1846 he was admitted on trial into the Iowa Conference. Iowa was then the extreme frontier; and as a pioneer preacher, through almost incredible toil and privation, he helped to lay the foundations of Methodism in that State. After many years of itinerating, his health failed, and for a long time he was laid aside because of hemorrhage of the lungs. In 1872 he located on a claim and became the first settler on the site of the city of Kearney. In his home the first religious service was held, also the first sermon preached, the first Sunday-school, Church Society, and class-meeting organized. Brother Collins was the first class-leader and pastor in Kearney. In 1852 he married Louisa Fletcher, at Iowa City, Iowa, who survives him. They were called upon to pass through bitter trials. In 1875 their oldest son, Milton, was shot by drunken cowboys, and fell dead in his wife's arms at his own door; and in 1882 the only remaining son, Finley, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of a friend.
   "In 1881, at the request of Dr. Lemon, Brother Collins began to do outlying mission work, and in 1885 was readmitted to the West Nebraska Conference on his certificate of location, and died in the active work. Brother Collins was of mixed English and German extraction,

and possessed in a large degree the impulsiveness of the latter race. This characteristic was at once his strength and his weakness. It led him to throw his whole soul into whatever he undertook. In his business and social relations it carried him to the front. In his Christian and ministrial (sic) life it made him peculiarly useful and successful. It made him a soul-winner and church-builder. Over a thousand accessions to the Church were the result of his nine years' labors in the West Nebraska Conference, and seven churches built under his leadership stand as monuments to his energy. In his disposition Brother Collins was kind and sympathetic, and in social intercourse very pleasant. He was a warm friend, true as steel, and loyal as a man could be. His religious experience was keen and bright, his trust was full and complete, and his life well rounded out."
   Mrs. Louisa Collins, the devoted wife of Asbury Collins, still tarries among us, and the preachers of the West Nebraska Conference affectionately call her "Mother." And well they may. For nearly forty years she was at the side of her husband, in all his years of toil, not only as a companion, but as one of "those women that helped in the gospel." Besides the ordinary duties of a pastor's wife, she would, on occasion, fill the pulpit in his absence, and such occasions were not unfrequent (sic) in those days. Since her husband's death she has devoted herself to the interests of the Woman's Home Missionary Society. For some years she was corresponding secretary for that Conference, but extended her labors to portions of the older Conferences, organizing many auxiliary societies.
   In 1888 she was elected president of the West Ne-

braska Woman's Home Missionary Society. Though feeble now her heart is still warm and she loves the dear old Methodist Church, but is waiting for the time of her transfer to the Church triumphant.
   W. A. Amsbary reappears in the work in Nebraska after all absence of nearly twenty years. His is a familiar name in the early days of Nebraska Methodism, when he was a power for good. His subsequent career is detailed in the following just tribute which his brethren of the West Nebraska Conference put on record after his useful career had closed by his sad death: "Rev. W. A. Amsbary was born of Methodist parents in Oshua, Canada West, December 14, 1834; came to Ohio at the age of six years, and settled with his parents in Lorain County. Moved to Berea, Ohio, in 1847, and was a student in Baldwin Seminary from 1849 until the spring of 1855, at which time he moved to Nebraska and lived with his parents on a farm north of Omaha. In 1857 he was married to Miss Hattie Diffin. He was licensed to preach in 1860 by the Quarterly Conference of Florence Circuit, Rev. Hiram Burch in charge. He was admitted to travel the same year, and served Tekamah, Bellevue, and Plattsmouth Charges with marked success. In 1866 he was transferred to Colorado and served Central City and Georgetown. The blessing of God richly attended his labors upon these charges. Brother Amsbary located in 1868 and for several years did not have charge of a work. At the request of Dr. Lemon, of blessed memory, Brother Amsbary returned to Nebraska in 1894 and enjoyed a good year at Ord. The next year he was stationed at Gibbon, then at North Platte. These were years of success both for the Church and pastor. The following year,

1887, Brother Amsbary was appointed presiding elder of Sidney District." Of this period Brother Amsbary writes: "This year was one of clouds and sunshine. I traveled nearly 11,000 miles, preached over 300 times, beside other labors. This year little four-year-old Frank died, to the memory of whom (with his sister Villa) is dedicated one of the rooms in Nebraska Wesleyan University, Hon. Frank Grabb paying $100, and the district paying the rest."
   Brother Amsbary served the district faithfully until his death. He was just closing up his sixth year in this capacity, and was on his way to Big Springs in the discharge of his duties on the morning of the 11th of the present month, when the fatal accident occurred which terminated the useful life of our beloved brother, and brought great sorrow to the hearts of all the members of this Conference.
   James Lisle is one of the most scholarly men the West Nebraska Conference has had in its ranks. But without a vigorous body he has been content with the more modest appointments, on which he has always done efficient work. But he has devoted much time to scientific research, and is a frequent and interesting contributor to our Church periodicals. After many years in the work in Iowa, he came to Nebraska, settling on a homestead near Long Pine in his name appearing that year as pastor at Stewart. He become a member of the West Nebraska Conference in 1887 by transfer from the Des Moines Conference, and has since been in the active work as far as his health will permit. He is now Conference secretary for the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska Methodism, and the jubilee Conference Claimants' Fund.

   T. W. Owen was among the first to respond to Dr. Lemon's call for men after he came to the Kearney District, and in 1878 is appointed to Indianola Circuit. This was two years before the Burlington and Missouri Railroad was built up the valley of the Republican, and everything was new. Brother Owen built the first frame house south of the river, and west of Arapahoe, which was included in his circuit, all the other settlers living in the primitive sod houses. The river was not yet bridged, and had to be forded. There were no church buildings and the pastor must preach in sod houses or in the public halls, court-houses, or any place available.
   Only a few years before this the Republican Valley was the hunting ground of the Indians, where great herds of Buffalo ranged, and the Indians were still troublesome. About this time a band of warriors passed through that country, killing some of the settlers to the south of there, and stealing horses and destroying property. Brother Owen went to one of his appointments, but instead of Sunday-school and service he found in the neighborhood a crowd of terrified settlers, with arms, and their camp surrounded with wagons to protect women and children from an attack by the savages. which was momentarily expected, but happily did not occur.
   After seven years' faithful work on circuits along the Republican, which included such places as Arapahoe, Indianola, Cambridge, Wilsonville, Beaver City, Bartley, Republican City and Alma, where he laid the foundations of our Zion, he passed to the north side of the State, where we find him at Ainsworth, Johnstown, and other places, building churches, holding revivals and in all other ways extending the borders of our Zion.

   Brother Owen, like all the preachers on the frontier, found the people poor and unable to give him much of a support, yet he found in some of the sod houses people with diplomas from our educational institutions, and musical instruments, and other tokens of superior culture and refinement. He is still in the work, stationed at Riverton in the Republican Valley. near the scenes of his first experiences in the Nebraska work.
    Rev. James Leonard came into the Mission Conference just as it was changing into an Annual Conference. But the character of the work he has wrought since calls for this brief reference: He was born in Ohio, January 18, 1842. He was admitted on trial in the North Indiana Conference. He is transferred from that Conference to the West Nebraska Conference in 1885. His first charge was Indianola, and the second one was Beaver City. Then Curtis, Wallace, Ord, and Gibbon are served in succession, when in 1893 he is appointed presiding elder of the North Platte District.
   In this important field he soon becomes very popular. His sympathetic and genuine interest in his preachers soon won their hearts, and his care in all the details of the circuits and stations won the confidence of the people. We are not surprised that his brethren in the Conference should express their appreciation by electing him reserve delegate to the General Conference of 1896, and a delegate to that of 1900. Brother Leonard was on the Commission that established our Nebraska Wesleyan University, and has been a member of the Board of Trustees almost continuously since. Of later years he has been a successful Conference evangelist, but is now serving Lander, Wyoming, as pastor.

   O. R. Beebe is another of the strong men who, though not coming into the Conference till 1887, rendered long and efficient service in building up the work in West Nebraska Conference. He has since 1887 given. his entire time to a number of the most important pastorates in that Conference, and has been recognized as a leader among his brethren. He has for many years served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan University, and was in 1896 a delegate to the General Conference. A stroke of paralysis necessitated his taking the superannuated relation in 1903, and he is now residing in University Place.
   Joseph Buckley was among those who wrought in this field throughout almost the entire history of the Mission, his name appearing for the first time as supply on the Clarksville Circuit, as early as 1882, and has continued through many years of effective service on many a hard field. He is one of those choice spirits who, at the time of enduring the greatest hard ships, making the greatest sacrifices, and even exhibiting a high degree of real heroism, are unconscious of doing anything but plain simple duty for Christ's sake.
   He remains to (sic) years at Clarksville, where he improves the church property, and then goes to Alma and Republican Circuit, where he remains two years, and then to Axtell and other circuits in succession, till compelled to relinquish his work and enter the ranks of the superannuated, in 1902, which relation he yet sustains, honored by his

brethren as one of the fathers of the West Nebraska Conference. He was born in England in 1840, and was well along in life before entering the work in Nebraska, but by faithful work he has done much in laying the foundations in this new world.
   As a result of this change to an Annual Conference, Dr. T. B. Lemon's official relation as superintendent of missions ceases and the old commander, after a year as presiding elder of the Kearney District, lays down his commission and retires from all active participation in the affairs of West Nebraska Methodism. But his work is done, and well down. For eight years he has been permitted to lead the hosts from victory to victory, rapidly extending the borders of our Zion. He has seen the "little one become a thousand." He may already say, with Paul, at least with reference to his mission in West Nebraska, "I have finished my course." He has been marvelously preserved for this very work, which has been the crowning work of a long ministerial career, marked by great success at every period. The event has proved that Bishop Bowman made no mistake when, in 1877, he sent this old hero to this important field, though it might have seemed otherwise to him and his friends at the time.
   His friends, whose "name is legion," will not allow their beloved leader to retire from this scene of battle and victory, without placing on record some words of appreciation, as seen in the following resolutions:
   "Whereas, The Rev. T. B. Lemon, D. D., for a considerable time presiding elder and superintendent in what is now the West Nebraska Conference, is at this time broken in health and suffering bodily pain.
   "Resolved, That this Conference desires to assure Dr.

Lemon of its continued love and earnest sympathy with him in his distress and its prayers for his speedy recovery. The Conference desires further to assure Dr. Lemon that it does not for one moment forget his eminent services, his great and long continued labors in behalf of the Church he has done so much to plant on firm foundations in Western Nebraska, and his fatherly care for those whom the Church has placed under his direction.
   "Resolved, That while God calls our beloved brother who has so long served Him in earnest activity, now to a service of patient suffering, he is affectionately assured that our hearts will follow wherever he may be called to go."
   As noted elsewhere, Dr. Lemon was permitted to take an influential part in the great work of organizing our present educational system, being a member of the Commission, and as financial agent of Nebraska Wesleyan University during the first years of its existence rendered good service in rallying the forces to its support. But increasing infirmity was bringing his long and useful life to a close. The end came February 19, 1890, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. C. F. Maynard. His brethren of the North Nebraska Conference, to which he had been transferred, place on record the following brief résumé of his life work, and appreciation of his worth, written by his comrade, J. B. Maxfield:
   After referring to matters already mentioned in other pages of this book, Dr. Maxfield continues: "In 1888 the North Nebraska Conference requested the bishop to transfer Dr. Lemon to that body, which was done. He was a member of the General Church Extension and Missionary Committees for several terms. He was a mem-

ber of the General Conference in 1872 and 1880. These, and all other positions of responsibility and honor entrusted to him by the Church, he filled with credit to himself and fidelity to the cause whose interests he served. The first meeting of Dr. Lemon with myself was at Nebraska City in 1861. Here began a friendship which continually increased until the time of his death - nearly one-third of a century later. Before time had bowed his commanding presence and shorn him of his strength., Dr. Lemon was a fine specimen of symmetrical manhood; the expression of his countenance was very attractive and he possessed a voice of great flexibility and wonderful compass. His speech was chaste and fluent, and his words chosen with rare good taste. In his prime, his sermons were rare specimens of pulpit oratory, of which any preacher of the Church need not be ashamed. He was a sound reasoner, a correct thinker, who brought rare native endowments with gifts of rich culture to the service of the Master whom he loved and served. He came to his grave like a shock in its season, in the midst of nearly his entire family, composed of his companion in the kingdom of patience of Jesus and his fellow-pilgrim to the skies, his four children - two daughters and two sons - and their children; three generations about the bedside of the mighty man of God, departing from their midst to the home in the skies to await their coming. Surely the 'chamber where the good man meets his fate is privileged above the common walks of life.' Dr. Lemon's life was grand and useful, his death tranquil and sweet as the failing to sleep of a babe on its mother's breast, without pain, in the full possession of his faculties. 'He was not, for God took him.'"