United Brethren in Christ Church (Pleasant Hill, Neb.) [RG3989.AM]

NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG3989.AM:  United Brethren in Christ Church (Pleasant Hill, Neb.)

Records:  1889-1907

Pleasant Hill, Saline County, Neb.:  

Size:  1 reel of microfilm

HISTORICAL NOTE

Pleasant Hill, Saline County, Nebraska, was laid out in 1867. The first settler arrived two years later and located along Turkey Creek. A grist mill was completed in 1870 and the next year Pleasant Hill was made the County seat. For a time Pleasant Hill was a thriving place, boasting three stores, two hotels, and county offices. When the county seat was removed to Wilber in 1878, Pleasant Hill began to decline.

Although local legend states that the United Brethren in Christ Church of Pleasant Hill was founded in the 1860s, it is more likely that the church was begun in the early 1870s, during the town’s prosperous years. Although the population decreased drastically, the church continued its existence until its official dissolution in 1971. The church building had actually served as the community center as early as 1945. On August 3, 1964, the building was struck by lightning and destroyed in a fire. Therefore, the “official” dissolution probably took place after the fact.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of one reel of microfilm containing three volumes of manuscript material arranged in two series: 1) Minutes, 1889-1904; and 2) Membership Records, 1897-1907. This material relates to the history and members of the United Brethren in Christ Church of Pleasant Hill, Saline County, Nebraska.

Series 1 consists of two volumes of Minutes, 1889-1904. Volume 1 contains minutes of quarterly meetings at the United Brethren in Christ Church, while Volume 2 contains minutes of regular meetings. These volumes include other types of information, including membership lists, financial reports, character votes, officer designations, class lists, and reports by trustees and pastors. Volume 2 also includes a copy of the warranty deed for the church parsonage, dated 1897.

The Membership Record, 1897-1907, of Series 2 provides a great deal of information about members of the United Brethren in Christ Church. Recordings of the individual’s name, residence, date of joining the church, who received him or her, how the individual was received, age at the time of reception, marital status, year of baptism, year of marriage, spouse’s name, pastor in marriage ceremony, and if applicable, reason for leaving church. This material is arranged chronologically, with revisions added throughout the book. A partial alphabetical index is included at the beginning of the volume.

The collection was loaned for microfilming by the Saline County Historical Society in February of 1980.

DESCRIPTION

Series 1 – Minutes, 1889-1904

Reel 1

Volume

1. 1. Quarterly Meetings, 1889-1891

1. 1. Regular Meetings, 1897-1904

Series 2 – Membership Records, 1897-1907

1. 1. 1897-1907

ADDED ENTRIES:

Evangelical United Brethren Church in Nebraska

Pleasant Hill (Neb.) — Churches

Saline County (Neb.) — Churches

United Brethren in Christ Church (Pleasant Hill, Neb.)

Revised 07-06-2009   TMM