Franklin County, Nebraska

For Another Day

Editor’s note: the following are excerpts from the Franklin County Historical News concerning the church that is just northeast of Hildreth, over the Kearney County line.

“The Franklin County Historical Society are indebted to Mr. and Mrs. Art Madsen of Minden for the following information on the Garden Plains Cemetery.

“Garden Plains was among the first rural churches in Kearney County, NE, having been built in the year 1882. It was located at the northeast corner of the Northwest Quarter of Section 28 in Sherman Township. The first church building was sod and was replaced by a frame structure in 1887.

“The land for the church site was made available by George Witters, whose daughter, Mrs. Frank Amann of McCook has provided a part of the information for this church record. Others who were instrumental in establishing this church, which was a United Brethren affiliate, were George Faser, O. B. Slusser, Tom Woody, John Harding, Will and Albert Johnson and Sanford Witters.

“Early ministers were Rev. Martin, Rev. Mason, Rev. White and Rev. Swartwood.

“In 1907 church services were discontinued but Bible school classes were held regularly for the next few years. When the United Brethren decided to sell the building, about 1912, the people living in the community for the purchase of the church so that it would remain at the original location contributed money.

“Services were then held by Rev. Matthew Satchell, a Methodist minister of Hildreth, who was the father of the late Velma O. Samuelson. The Lutheran Church of Minden conducted later services.

“The congregation was finally dissolved and the church building was sold in 1918 and moved in a farm southwest of Hildreth where it was converted into a farm building.

“The Garden Plains Cemetery established soon after the congregation was formed, is still in use. It is located immediately east of the site of the church building. Many of the earliest settlers of the southern part of the county are buried there.”

Our hearts shall breathe the old refrain, thy will be done! John Whittier

Rena Donovan, For Another Day.

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