Our Church's Earliest History
Among the early settlers of this community in 1890 was a small number of Hollanders. These were William Pronk, John Kreun, Gerrit Dyksterhuis, Ben Eefting, and Marten Kallemeyn and others. These were the first breakers of the sod of Leota. In the school house under the sponsorship of the Presbyterian Church they had Sunday School. Upon request of twenty persons to Classis, Iowa for permission to organize a church, a date for meeting was set for April 26, 1891. On that occasion the Bethel Reformed Church was organized.
The Charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Ed De Graff, Mr. and Mrs. G. Hofkamp, Mr. and Mrs. John Roetman, Mr. and Mrs. John Kreun, Mr. and Mrs. H. Popma, Mrs. H. Vander Meer, Henry Van't Hof, Mrs. D. De Graff, and Mrs. G. Donkershloot.
H. Vander Meer, William Olivier, J. B. VryMoed, R. Donkersloot, Mr. and Mrs. Jon Blom, Jon Schmidt, Jake Versteeg, Grace Hofkamp, Dick De Graff, William Pronk, and C. Van Zanten were adherents, and supporters and attended worship services.
The first Consistory chosen consisted of the following Elders - E. De Graff and G. Hofkamp; Deacons - J. Kreun and H. Popma.
The name Bethel was chosen because of the large number of young men that were then present.
At the Consistory meeting of June 125, 1891 Abram Eernisse informed them that his brother J. Eernisse was willing to give five acres of land from his farm for a site for church and parsonage.
On July 26, 1891 the Consistory chose between the present location and the property once owned by Jake Pronk. The present site was chosen unanimously. Abe Eernisse and Maarten Kallemyn were appointed to serve with the Consistory as building committee.
Plans were made for the church building. It was decided to build a horse barn 20 x 80 ft. This was finished in the fall. The church was dedicated on August 16, 1893.
See also Notes taken from Nobles County History
Back to the Timeline of Bethel's History
The Charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Ed De Graff, Mr. and Mrs. G. Hofkamp, Mr. and Mrs. John Roetman, Mr. and Mrs. John Kreun, Mr. and Mrs. H. Popma, Mrs. H. Vander Meer, Henry Van't Hof, Mrs. D. De Graff, and Mrs. G. Donkershloot.
H. Vander Meer, William Olivier, J. B. VryMoed, R. Donkersloot, Mr. and Mrs. Jon Blom, Jon Schmidt, Jake Versteeg, Grace Hofkamp, Dick De Graff, William Pronk, and C. Van Zanten were adherents, and supporters and attended worship services.
The first Consistory chosen consisted of the following Elders - E. De Graff and G. Hofkamp; Deacons - J. Kreun and H. Popma.
The name Bethel was chosen because of the large number of young men that were then present.
At the Consistory meeting of June 125, 1891 Abram Eernisse informed them that his brother J. Eernisse was willing to give five acres of land from his farm for a site for church and parsonage.
On July 26, 1891 the Consistory chose between the present location and the property once owned by Jake Pronk. The present site was chosen unanimously. Abe Eernisse and Maarten Kallemyn were appointed to serve with the Consistory as building committee.
Plans were made for the church building. It was decided to build a horse barn 20 x 80 ft. This was finished in the fall. The church was dedicated on August 16, 1893.
See also Notes taken from Nobles County History
Back to the Timeline of Bethel's History