Stiverson Church History

This congregation is in Klickitat County, Washington, about 18 miles west of Lyle, on the Columbia River.

In 1888, John B. Simmons and wife settled in this county, his wife being a member and the only one near where the church now stands, her husband not being friendly to the faith.

She was isolated thus five years not hearing a sermon. About this time she learned that Bro. Michael and Sister Elizabeth Rothrock were, like herself, living away from church privileges about 20 miles east.

October 1892, Sister Simmon's father, brother and sister-in-law, Christian Spangler and Benjamin B. Spangler and wife moved to the neighborhood. Those with other people religiously inclined, began to hold social meeting in the groves in summer and in the houses in winter.

In 1894, Crockett Castle and family moved into the vicinity, his wife being a member. This brought the number of members up to five, all from the state of Virginia. A prayer meeting was started then and kept up from house to house. In the same year Bro. Samuel Bowen of Franklin County Va. visited the country and preached a few sermons in the school house.

Bro. Bowen returned home discouraged with the wild country and they were left alone again. Bro. Benjamin Spangler wrote a article to the Messenger asking for help. This was read and answered by Brother George C. Carl, then located at Centralia, in Lewis County, the first Mission station in Washington. He offered to come and hold some meeting if they would pay his expense. They sent him money to meet expenses at once. This was about the first of June 1896. On June 16th, at midnight Bro. Carl arrived at the house of Bro. Benjamin Spangler and next day in company with Bro. Spangler visited homes of Sister Simmons and Sister Castle. He afterwards visited Bro. and Sister Rothrock in their home. He preached nine sermons, and on June 22, baptized Crockett Castle in the Columbia river at Lyle, Washington.., 22 miles from his home. As he had to remain overnight at this place to take early morning steamer down the river he held meeting that night in the Lyle school house and stayed in the school house over night, sleeping on a rude bench.

On May 28th 1897 Bro. Carl accompanied by his family, bringing his own horse and buggy, came again and visited the members, and preached 18 sermons, On June 15, he baptized John B. Simmons and closed the series of meeting with a love feast on the 19th.

"This was our first love feast, and we shall never forget that Saturday night, after years of isolation, to see loved ones who had never walked with the Lord, keeping the ordinance of the Lord's house with us. The strong meat we were getting through Bo. Carl, the prospect of an early organization, all contributed to make the occasion one of inspiration".

Bro. Carl advised them to write the Mission board for Ministerial help. They did requesting that Board send them J. U. G. Stiverson to help out with the work. This petition met with favor and Bro. Stiverson moved in the fall of 1897. Bro. Stiverson and family been there the year before and he and had done some preaching and the congregation had like him.

During this time they decided to build a church house, and some preparations were made looking to this early in the winter of 1897. But that winter was one of deep snows which lasted late in the spring of 1898. However, Brethren Benjamin B. Spangler and C. Castle got in enough logs to make the lumber for the church on their bob-sleds.

In April of this year, 1898, Bro. Benjamin Spangler, while attempting to cross the big Klickitat river was drowned. This left just eight members here when Bro. Stiverson and family come and preceded to erect the church. Bro. Stiverson being a carpenter, did the work, This accounts for its name.

While building the house. Bro. Stiverson preached in the grove and five more were added to our number.

Up to this date membership was held in the Oysterville congregation over on the coast, over 200 miles away. On August 13, 1898, members organized as a body known as the Stiverson Congregation.

Elder P. S. Myers of Los Angles, California taking the oversight, and Brother Stiverson, not an elder at that time, in charge.

The members enrolled at the organization were Christian Spangler, Amanda Spangler, John B. Simmons and wife Ellen, Crockett Castle and wife Anne, Benjamin F. and Olivia C. Oneal, Perry J. and Samaria Quesinberrys and Sister Theda E. Anderson, those lived in the immediate neighborhood of the church.

Brethren Michael and Horace Rothrock, Living 40 miles to the east and Sister Emma Shearer of Dalles, Ore were also enrolled.

This made 14 members in all with John B. Simmons and Crockett Castle, deacons, Anna C Castle, clerk and correspondent, and John B. Simmons, treasurer. On the next day, August 14, the church house was dedicated, the dedicatory sermon preached by Brother Stiverson. This was the first dedicated church of Brethren in Washington. The following was sent into the Gospel Messenger by Bro. Stiverson.

"Stiverson - Our love feast was a pleasant one. Aug. 13, at 11 A.M. we met at the waterside, where three souls were buried with Christ in baptism. At 5:30 P.M. the same day we met to organize the church. Two Deacons, Brethren J B. Simmons and C. Castle were duly elected and installed At 7 P.M. we met for love feast service, We were very agreeably surprised, a few days before the feast, by having Eld. P. S. Myers and wife to come into our midst. Bro. Myers officiated at the love feast, and had charge of the organization which fourteen members enrolled. The next day we meet at 11 A.M., to dedicate the New church, the writer preaching the dedicatory sermon. We met again at 2 P.M., and enjoyed a soul-cheering sermon by Eld. Myers, Wife and I expect to return home to Oysterville sometime next week. -- J. U. G. Stiverson, Lyle, Wash, Aug. 15."

March the 5, 1899, Elder D. B Eby of Sunnyside, Washington, was chosen elder. This was getting an elder much nearer to them. August 25,, of this same year Bro. M. F. Woods and wife joined by letter from Floyd County, VA. Bro. Woods at that time being a minister in the first degree. On Sept. 11, of that same year the church house burned down, This happened not by accident or carelessness, but was the work of drunken incendiaries. On the 14, 1899 they met at home of Sister T. E. Anderson for council, our Elder D. B. Eby being with them and also Bro. Carl. At this council and election was held, resulting in the call of Bro. John B. Simmons to the ministry and Bro. Perry J. Quesinberrys to the office of deacon. J. U. G. Stiverson was advanced to the full ministry and M. F. Woods to the second degree, at this meeting.

Bro. Eby now requested to be relieved of the oversight, which request was granted, and Brother Stiverson chosen as our elder.

The following week Bro. Stiverson moved to North Yakima to open up that mission, but returned the next summer and helped erect another church house on the same location of the first house. He preached the dedicatory sermon of this second house on June 17, 1900.

Sometime in 1901, Bro. M. M. and Matilda Martin from Virginia joined them by letter. During the years from 1898 to 1908 three were called away by death, two were disowned and letters had been received and some granted, so that their number alternately increased and diminished.

In 1901 the church called Horace Rothrock to the ministry. He was the son of Michael Rothrock and just out of the Seminary.

October 10th, 1908, Elders D. B. Eby and G. C. Carl visited them and advanced M. F. Woods to the full ministry. Brother Carl preached twice and had to return to his mission work in Portland. Bro. Eby continued the meetings a week and baptized seven. This make their member now 19.

In spring of 1909 the congregation built another church house in the Valley of Camas Prairie,7 miles north of Stiverson church, where most of the members now lived and this house was named Lakeside. In the early summer of 1909 Bro. D. D. Eby of Sunnyside, Washington together with his wife and daughter drove over land and preached the dedication sermon.

In the fall of 1909 Bro. Woods and family moved to Centralia and later Bro. Sutphin and family moved away, that left but few. The members still kept up the Sunday School, although at times there were only enough to have one class. Bro. Simmons preached for them when ever it was possible, he lived far from the church.

In Jan. 1913 Bro. J. U. G Stiverson & wife came and held a two weeks of meeting. Four were added to the Church by baptism.

The next spring Bro. C. A. Wagoner and family moved in from Olympia. Later in the year Bro. and Sister Temby from Arizona moved in, this brought the membership up to twenty.

Nov. 1913 Bro. Woods came in and  held a week's series of meetings and reorganized the church, Bro. Wagoner elected as Elder in charge.

June 1915 Bro. A. C Root of Seattle came & held a series of meetings, four were added to the church by Baptism.

Sep. 1915 the District meeting was held at the Lakeside church. The attendance was good and much interest was shown.

Mar. 1916 Bro. Zimmerman came and held a two week Bible institute preaching at night. Six were added to the Church by baptism.

June. 1918 Bro. L. H. Eby came and held a two week series of meetings and one of the Sunday school pupils was baptized.

Sept. 1917 Bro. Wagner & family moved to Outlook Washington.

Aug. 1919 Bro. M. F. Woods & Bro. Jacob Eby to the Washington District ministerial board came to visit the church and the church was put in the hands of the ministerial board.

Sometime in the late 20's this church was disorganized and the members transfer their membership to the Outlook Church or Yakima Church.

The Presbyterian minister would sometimes come and hold services in the Lakeside church for many years. The community had a Mother's day event at the church for many years.

The Stiverson Church was taken apart in the 1940's by Orvis Wanger & Elmer Beacon and taken to Outlook there it was used in the building of parsonage for that church.

The Lakeside church fell apart and was burned down in 1960 by the Wildlife refuge.

Following is a history by Annie Castle, Nov. 24, 1908

This congregations in Klickitat County, Washington, about 18 miles west of Lyle, on the Columbia River. It is somewhat isolated from railway facilities.

In 1888, J. B. Simmons and wife settled in this county, his wife being a member and the only one hear where the church now stand, her husband not being friendly to the faith.

She was isolated thus five years not hearing a sermon. About this time she learned that Bro. Michael and Sister Elizabeth Rothrock were, like herself living away from church privileges about 40 miles east.

October 1892, Sister Simmon's father, brother and sister-in-law, Christian Spangler and B. B. Spangler and wife moved to the neighborhood. Those with other people religiously inclined, began to hold social meeting in the groves in summer and in the houses in winter.

In 1894, C. Castle and family moved into the vicinity, his wife being a member. This brought the number of members up to five, all from the state of Virginia. A prayer meeting was started then and kept up from house to house. In the same year Bro. Samuel Bowen of Franklin County Va. visited the country and preached a few sermons in the school house. This was the first preaching by the Brethren in this County.

Bro. Bowen returned home discouraged with the wild country and we were left alone again, but the Lord gave us courage to persevere, and Bro. Benjamin Spangler wrote and article to the Messenger asking for help. This was read and answered by Brother George C. Carl, then located at Centralia, in Lewis County, the first Mission station in Washington, He offered to come and hold some meeting if we would pay his expense. We sent him money to meet expenses at once. This was about the first of June 1896. On June 16th, at midnight Bro. Carl arrived at the house of Bro. Benjamin Spangler and next day in company with Bro. Spangler visited homes of Sister Simmons and Sister Castle. He afterwards visited Bro. and Sister Rothrock in their home. He preached nine sermons, and on June 22, baptized C. Castle in the Columbia river at Lyle, Washington.., 22 miles from his home. As he had to remain overnight at this place to take early morning steamer down the river he held meeting that night in the Lyle school house and stayed in the school house over night, sleeping on a rude bench. Next morning he bade us farewell, but promised to come again next year if the Lord would so direct. We were sad to see him depart, for but few can know how we appreciated the rich food he had brought to us from the Master and which as food indeed for many days to come.

On May 28th 1897 Bro. Carl accompanied by his family, bringing his own horse and buggy, came to us again and visited the members, and preached 18 sermons, On June 15, he baptized J. B. Simmons and closed the series of meeting with a love feast on the 19th.

This was our first love feast, and we shall never forget that Saturday night, after years of isolation, to see loved ones who had never walked with the Lord, keeping the ordinance of the Lord's house with us. The strong meat we were getting through Bo. Carl, the prospect of an early organization, all contributed to make the occasion one of inspiration.

Bro. Carl advised us to write the Mission board for Ministerial help. This we did, requesting the Board to send us J. U. S. Stiverson, This petition met with favor and Bro. Stiverson moved in, In the fall of 1897. But he and family came the year before, and he preached for us several weeks with good results.

During this time we decided to build a church house, and some preparations were made looking to this early in the winter of 1897. But that winter was one of deep snows which lasted late in the spring of 1898. However, Brethren B. B. Spangler and C. Castle got in enough logs to make the lumber for the church on their bob-sleds.

In April of this year, 1898, we were called to suffer the deepest sorrow that had yet befallen our little band since coming to the West. Bro. Benjamin Spangler, while attempting to cross the big Klickitat river was drowned. No tongue can tell the grief this brought to us all, and how he was missed by this struggling band of believers, striving for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, But sorrow was not as those who determination to move more diligently forward with the Lord's work. Though deeply regretting our loss, the eight members remaining, when Bro. Stiverson and family come. preceded to erect the church. Bro. Stiverson being a carpenter, did the work, This accounts for its name.

While building the house. Bro. Stiverson preached in the grove and five more were added to our number.

Up to this date our membership was with the Oysterville congregation over on the coast, over 200 miles away. On August 13, 1898, we were organized as a body known as the Stiverson Congregation.

Elder P. S. Myers of Los Angles, California taking the oversight, and Brother Stiverson, not an elder at that time, in charge.

The members enrolled at the organization were C. Spangler, Amanda Spangler, J. B. Simmons and wife, Ellen, C. Castle and Anne his wife, B. F. and Olivia C. Oneal, P. J. and Samaria Quesinberrys and Sister T. E. Anderson, Those lived in the immediate neighborhood of the church.

Brethren Michael and Horace Rothrock, Living 40 miles to the east and Sister Emmer Shearer of Dalles, Ore were also enrolled.

This made 14 members in all with J. B. Simmons and Crockett Castle, deacons, Anna C Castle, clerk and correspondent, and J. B. Simmons, treasurer. On the next day, August 14, the church house was dedicated, the dedicatory sermon preached by Brother Stiverson. This was the first dedicated church of Brethren in Washington.

During this and the following year, Brethren began settling in different parts of the state.

March the 5, 1899, Elder D. B Eby of Sunnyside, Washington, was chosen as our elder. This was getting an elder much nearer to us. August 25, of this same year Bro. M. F. Woods and wife joined by letter from Floyd County, Va. Bro. Woods, at that time being a minister in the first degree. This was quite a help to us and we were rejoicing in the gradual, but constant growth of our little band, when we were made to suffer the loss of our little church in the wilderness. This happened not by accident or carelessness, but was the work of drunken incendiaries. We were discouraged but not utterly cast down. On the 14, 1899 we met at home of Sister T. E. Anderson for council, our Elder D. B. Eby being with us and also Bro. Carl. At this council and election was held, resulting in the call of Bro. J. B. Simmons to the ministry and Bro. P. J. Quesinberrys to the office of deacon. J. U. G. Stiverson was advanced to the full ministry and M. F. Woods to the second degree, at this meeting.

Bro. Eby now requested to be relieved of the oversight, which request was granted, and Brother Stiverson chosen as our elder.

The following week Bro. Stiverson moved to North Yakima to open up that mission, but returned the next summer and helped erect another church house on the same location of the first house, and preached the dedicatory sermon of this second house on June 17, 1900.

Sometime in 1901, Bro. M. M. and Matilda Martin from Virginia, joined us by letter. During the years of from 1898 to 1901 other letters had been received and some granted, so that our number alternately increased and diminished. This has continued with variations one way or the other down till this our Centennial Year of 1908.

In those years that have gone by three were called away by death, two were disowned. The variation came mostly from moving in and out.

October 10th, 1908, Elders D. B. Eby and G. C. Carl come to us and advanced M. F. Woods to the full ministry. Brother Carl preached twice and had to return to his mission work in Portland, and Bro. Eby continued the meetings a week and baptized seven. Our number now is 19. Still we struggle on, hoping, praying, trusting.

We are now building a new church house in the Valley of Camas Prairie, 7 Miles north of Stiverson church where most of the members live. Trusting that the Lord will still bless our efforts we dedicate this little chapter of our joys and sorrow in our struggles to maintain the truth we so much love, to the glory of his name, and to this end , we hope it may find an humble place in the History of Brethren in North West.

Anne C. Castle, Nov. 24, 1908

More history of the Stiverson church. - Lakeside church house. (Believed to have been written by Ann Castle though not dated or signed.

The church house in Camas was finished in the spring of 1909 and in the early summer of 1909 brother D. B. Eby of Suunyside Wash. Together with his wife and daughters drove over land & was with us a few days he preached the dedication sermon.

The members & those who were interested had helped to build the ch. named it the LakeSide Ch. House.

In the fall of 1909 Bro. Woods and family moved to Centralia & later Bro. Sutphin & family moved away that left but few. We still kept up a S. S. Altho at times there were only enough to have one class, Bro. Simmons preached for us when ever it was possible, He living far from the ch.

In Jan. 1913 Bro. J. U. G. Stiverson & wife came to us Bro. Stiverson holding a two weeks meeting. Four were added to the ch. By baptism.

The next spring Bro. C. A. Wagoner & family moved in from Olympia. Later in the year Bro. & Sister Temby from Arizona came in this brot our number up to twenty.

Nov. 1913 Bro. Woods came in & held a weeks series of meetings & reorganized the church, Bro. Wagner Elected as Elder in Charge.

June 1915 Bro. A. C. Root of Seattle came & held a series of meeting, four were added to the church by baptism.

Sep. 1915 the District meeting was held at the LakeSide church. The attendance w as good & much interest was shown.

March 1916 Bro. Zimmerman came & held a two weeks Bible instituted preaching at night, six were added to our number by baptism.

June 1918 Bro. L H Eby came & held a two week series of meeting one of our Sunday school pupils was baptized.

In Sep. 1918 Bro. Wanger & family moved to Outlook Wash.

In Aug. 1919 Bro. M. F. Woods & Bro. Jacob Eby of Washington district ministerial board came to visit the church & we then put our self’s in the hands of the ministerial board.

Since 1918 there have been seven sermons preached in the Lake Side church house.

At the present time there are eleven members holding membership in Stiverson congregation.

There is a union S. S. being carried on in the church house on the Hill (or the Stiverson church house), there being quite a settlement around owning to many mills running.

We are in the hands of board wanting a resident minister, There are no other denomination especially interested in this field.

Not dated or signed