DeGraff church to close after 100 years years ago
The 100th anniversary of the founding of the DeGraff Presbyterian Church will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Sunday at the church. This also will be the final service and closing of the church.
Anyone who has an interest in the church is invited.
According to the recollections of Mrs. Robert (Grace Young) Templeton, who came to DeGraff with her parents July 15, 1900, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Stimpson and J.W. Smith of Jacksonville, Ill., considered purchasing the Buckeye Ranch from Col. A.C. Ramsey. Mrs. Stimpson said, "Before I sign any papers, I must be assured of a church."
"With this incentive," said Mrs. Templeton, "in October of 1902 a meeting was held to vote on building a church in DeGraff on the present site."
At that time, Sunday school was being held in the Ridgeway schoolhouse south of DeGraff.
The church building was constructed in 1903 by Ruben Reed. Masonry was done by Charles A Jamieson; plastering by Enoch Locke, grandfather of Eldon and Kenneth Locke and Wilma Watkins; and decorating by A.C. Lyman. The cornerstone was laid by J.B. Templeton, grandfather of John and Edgar Templeton.
Session records state that First Presbyterian Church of DeGraff was the name chosen, but the charter was issued to the Presbyterian Church of DeGraff.
The new church listed 12 people as members.
On April 30, 1903, the Ladies Aid Society was organized with Miss Grace Young as chairwoman. On May 21, committees were appointed to select carpeting, hymn books, a piano, lamps, and other equipment.
The new building was dedicated Oct. 18, 1903, and remained unchanged except for shortening the steeple after it was damaged by a wind storm. In 1956, two additional classrooms were added to accommodate the growing number of youth.
Two hundred seventy-five people have been recorded as members. Two members have been ordained as ministers, the Rev. Kenneth Locke and the Rev. Alvin Young. Membership has declined in recent years due to deaths, relocation of members, and the decline of the number of people in the agricultural community.
There presently are seven active members and five youth who attend regularly. Robert Brunell Jr. serves as pastor.
