Weslyan Methodist Church History, Bon Homme Co., SD

	This brief history of the Weslyan Methodist Church of Avon
	was found with the WPA Graves Registration Project 
records for the Weslyan Methodist Cemetery.

Transcribed by Joy Fisher, sdgenweb@yahoo.com

This file may be freely copied for non-profit purposes. 
All other rights reserved.

	The Weslyan Methodist Church has its beginning in the year 
1880, on the Ethan Luke farm, located ½ mile east, and one mile 
south of the DeNeau DeNuie farm, across from where Lou Vangerpen 
now lives.

	The first church was built of sod. Labor and material 
costs were supplied through popular subscription. Rev. N. E. 
Jennings served as the first Pastor and resided on the Klaas 
Walkes farm.

	April 7, 1885, Freeman Hayward and Mary A. Hayward, 
husband and wife, deeded to Oscar F. Smith, Lewis Baker and John 
J. Mawhiney, Trustees of the Mt. Zion Church of the Weslyan 
Methodist connection of America, One and one half acres of 
ground, in trust to that particular society, recorded and 
described in Book E, Page 169, Register of Deeds office, 
Tyndall, So. Dakota as beginning at a point 80 rods West of the 
S. E. corner of the S. W. quarter of section four (4), Twn. 94 N 
- R61 W, thence north 12 R, thence West 20 R, thence south 12 R, 
to the place of beginning.

	In 1886 a new, wood frame church was built on this 
property. Dwight McDonald living near by was one of its 
principal members, and it was then that the cemetery was 
organized and platted.

	Dwight McDonald’s little daughter was the first burial. 
The Obituary is still in existence. The cemetery includes 
numerous later burials. Dwight McDonald Sr. in 1929 was the last 
and final burial, no burials having been made since. However, 
some bodies have been exhumed and interred elsewhere recently.

	In the year 1901 this church was moved to the city of Avon 
and placed upon its present foundation, labor and material costs 
were provided through popular subscription. John T. Campbell’s 
name and his one hundred dollar donation is still remembered. 
Sim Luke, Sr. hung the Bell in the belfry, which ever since and 
still is pealing its beautiful chimes to its membership and 
posterity each regular Lords day.