ST. JOSEPH'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

by Mary Elliott

Entry T37 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

St. Josephs Episcopal Church in the early teens

St.Joseph's Episcopal Church 1965

About 1901, the Reverend George G. Ware
came to Mullen as President of the UBI
Cattle Company. He established the Z X
Ranch south of Mullen as company head-
quarters. He came here from South Dakota
where he had been priest-in-charge at
Deadwood, Rapid City and Lead.

In the following years he commuted be-
tween Mullen and South Dakota caring for
the interests of the cattle company and also
keeping up with his ministering as best he
could. In 1909 he held his first service in the
Sandhills - a funeral service at Lowe's hall
over the store.

The only Episcopalians in the country at
that time were Mrs. Susan Marcy, the
Onslows, and Thomas P. Wood. They were
interested in getting the Episcopal services
before the people and with some persuasion
the Reverend Ware did begin holding regular
services. He drove a team and buggy, or
sometimes a covered wagon, over many miles
of sand trails and barren Sandhills. preaching
and teaching the gospel, baptizing both
young and old where opportunity had before
been denied.

Father Ware's first confirmation Class in
1909 contained several of Mullen's oldest
citizens. Presented by Father Ware and
confirmed by The Right Reverend Anson
Graves D.D., on the 13th day of May in 1909
were the following: Martha Elviria Wood,
Eva Dell Wigent, A.G. Humphrey, J.H.
Welton, Willie Cleavenger, W.H. Wigent,
Altha E. Wigent, Thomas P. Quinn, Mattie
Welton, Edna Cleavenger, Sarah Perkins,
Clara Jeffords, Miriam Mahaffy, Louis Lowe,
Georgia Clouse, John Morrison, Emma
Morrison, Blanche Morrison, Carrie Morri-
son, Henry Lowe, Charles F. Gruenig, Nelsie
Gruenigh, Francis Theodore Morrison, Mrs.
Carrie Morrison and Mayme Totten. In
October of the same year, seventy-five more
candidates were presented for conformation.
The Reverend Ware traveled a radius of fifty
miles from Mullen.

Church services were held in school houses
in several localities. Near Seneca was a small
church called Jimtown from the name of a
settlement nearby. A small chapel was com-
pleted in the Seneca Hotel and all the Altar
appointments were made by Mrs. Catherine
Mann. This was used regularly until the
Hotel was destroyed by fire. Other services
were held at the L.C. Smith school house,
Eclipse, Big Creek, Lena Post office and
Huffman ranch. Bishop Grave's records of
the Church in Hooker County show that the
Church did reach out over a wide area in
those days of horse and wagon transporta-
tion. The services in Mullen were conducted
in the hall over Lowe's store.

An Episcopal Guild was organized among
the ladies in 1909, and they began projects to
earn money to apply on building a new
church. Donations of money were sent from
Eastern Parishes to help build the church.

Mrs. A.G. Humphrey donated the property
to be used for church purposes and in 1910
the building started. One carpenter was hired
to supervise the building and the rest of the
labor was donated by the church people.

In September 1911 the District of Western
Nebraska held its convocation in Mullen to
dedicate St. Joseph's Episcopal Church.
People came from miles around, bringing
their own cooking equipment. The tents used
for living quarters were provided by Bishop
Beecher from the Omaha Tent and Awning
Company. The homes of Mullen residents
opened with genuine western hospitality to
the visiting clergy and friends, and meals
were served at all hours and to any number.

Thus, on September 24, 1911 St. Joseph's
Church was consecrated to the Glory of God.
The Right Reverend George Allen Beecher
was Bishop of the Missionary District of
Western Nebraska having been consecrated
Bishop on St. Andrew's Day, November 30,
1910. Bishop Graves, who retired, was pres-
ent for the service dedication.

By this time the Rectory had been assem-
bled - a combination of three abandoned
"claim shacks" and the main room and
upstairs constructed of new material.

The first priest-in-charge was the Rev-
erend F.B. Randall who came in 1911 and was
here a short time. The work of the mission
was then carried on by visiting clergy from
neighboring churches. Among these were
Dean Wouthworth, the Reverend Mr. Eller
and Dean Show of Alliance. For special
services, the Reverend George Ware came up
from Kearney where he was Vicar of St.
Lukes.

Other Clergymen connected with the Mis-
sion were Rev. Arthur Jones in 1917, who
came to Mullen directly from seminary. He
stayed only a few months and was transferred
to North Platte. The Reverend Mr. Johnson
and The Reverend J.J. Dixon from Alliance
and The Reverend Samuel Wells of Broken
Bow then ministered to the people until
Deaconess Emma J. Smith was placed in
Mullen in 1922. During her years of service
the Reverend Mason Frazell and the Rev-
erend Samuel Wells came from Broke Bow
for regular services. Reverend Charleton D.
Lathrop, who started the first Boy Scout
troop in Mullen, came in 1925, Reverend S.
Hird was here in 1926 and 1927, a Methodist
minister who was studying for the Episcopal
ministry. Deaconess Clara E. Le Hew came
in 1927 and remained until 1932. She was
followed by Reverend Gale Ford 1933 and
1934 and The Reverend James N. Mackenzie
in 1937. Reverend Roland Lindsey, The
Reverend Willis E. Steinberg and Reverend
John Yamamoto.

The Church was moved to its present
location in 1951. The residence next to the
Church was purchased for a rectory when the
Church has a resident Priest. The rectory is
utilized as rental property at the present
time.

The fiftieth anniversary of the Episcopal
Church in the Sandhills was held on October
26, 1959. Four members of the first confirma-
tion class who were able to attend were Louis
Lowe, Mr. and Tom Quinn of Hyannis and
Mrs. Mayme (Totten) Cleavenger.

The St. Joseph's Episcopal Church has
proved to be a pillar of strength for this
community for seventy nine years and has
strived to make Mullen a better place in
which to live. There have been very few
changes in St. Joseph's through the years The
original building and most of its furnishings
are still in use. We Pray that its heritage will
be carried on by the future generations.