CHURCH MARKS 140TH YEAR

     Osborn Prairie Church will mark its 140th anniversary during special services Sunday, November 12.  Sunday School will be at 9:45 a.m. and church services at 10:45 a.m.  There will be a carry-in dinner at 12:30 p.m. followed by a program at 2:30 p.m.  Present and former members will be participating in the observance.

     The first settlers arrived near what was to be Osborn’s Prairie Christian Church about 1823 and 1824.  They held religious meetings in their homes and barns until sometime between 1835 and 1838 when they formed a permanent organnization and started planning a church-house which became a reality in 1838.

     This was the second society to be formed, the firdt was United Brethren both in VanBuren township.  The first minister of Osborn Prairie was Elder Joel Thompson followed quickly by John Dudley in the same year.

     Thirteen women and three men became charter members on August 9, 1838.   In December 1857, the church-house burned down at one of the morning meetings when fire caught in the roof from a defective flue.  Elder Wilkins was holding the meetings at this time and they adjourned to a shop of E.B. Jenkins.  Another church was quickly built.

     After some 80 names were on the roll in the first year from that time on through 1849 about 20 became members each year.  The average c ollections at this time were A$37.33 each year.

     In 1892, with a total cost for ground and building of $4,205, the present and third church was built with Isaac Spinning giving $100 which was set aside for the bell that is still in  use.  Simon Minick and his wife Prudence Boord Minick gave the old cupboard still in use and a marble top table.

     In 1872 feet washing was observed at a picnic in 1869 and the program closed by a total eclipse of the sun .

     In 1860 the Christian Church founded Mermon College which was heavily subscribed to by Osborn Prairie.  E.W. Humphreys who taught school in the Osborn Prairie church-house moved to Merom and helped in  the beginning of the work.

     The one cemetery on the west side of the church was plotted at the time the first church was built.  Many of the oldest church members are resting there as well as "Old Aunty" on the southeast and a "Tramp" in an unmarked grave on the northwest side on the edge of the cemetery as close to the road as possible.  The cemetery on the east of the church was purchased at the same time as the present church ground was added to the original plot.  More ground has been added since that time.