This mimeographed then photographed document was found this week when my sister-in-law's basement flooded. She rented a dumpster for the truly ruined stuff and boxed up other stuff that's only half ruined. This history was in the box she sent to me that's full of hard to read documents. I do not know if this is the history written by Leah Kimmell of Topeka KS, or if that's still out there, lost in the Great Beyond. This sounds more like it was written by someone in the David Kimmel family: "HISTORY OF THE McLOUTH BRETHREN CHURCH "Many years ago when Kansas as a state was very young and immature, there came to this community, from Ohio, in 1864, David Kimmel and his good wife, Leah Reigel Kimmel and their family of six children, their youngest child being born in Kansas. They settled on the farm known now as the Kell Property. Then lived there nearly two years. David Kimmel, who had a vision of building churches in new communities, built benches of native lumber and invited the people to his home and preached the Gospel to them. He had a helper, Uncle Billy Gish, who came horseback from his home in Rock Creek, a member of the Ozawkie Church. He was the grandfather of J.J. Groshong's first wife. During these two years the older Kimmel children attended the Round Grove School and had as their teacher, Jennie Cox. Grandmother Kimmel became dissatisfied with the religious privileges that her Family was having, being fifteen miles from a church, so they moved to the vicinity of Auburn, Illinois, where they had planned to move when they came to Kansas in 1864. In Illinois, together with his Brother-in-law, Dan Flory and others, t hey built Sugar Creek Church, a strong German Baptist Church. Soon after or about the time the Kimmels left this community, the McClanys, Yoders, Garret and Miller families came from Pennsylvania to take up the work. After a few years, in the spring of 1878 when David Kimmel's son, H.H. Kimmel had arrived at young manhood and was thinking of establishing a home, and of the business opportunities of a new country, he and his sister and brother-in-law, Lizzie and Andy Bowman came back to the home they had left in Kansas, and started farming. H. H. Kimmel returned to Illinois in the fall, where in December he married Lydia Bowman, the daughter of Abraham Bowman, a German Baptist minister. Together they came to Kansas, in January 1879 when the Missouri River at Leavenworth was frozen so hard that they crossed on the ice. In 1882 there were 12 members in the Church which they established and they had preaching three times a month. In December of that year I.H. Crist held a series of meetings three miles north of the new t own of McLouth, and soon there were 25 members. Again in November 1883, they held another revival at Round Grove School house. They did not establish a separate church organization, but held their membershp in the Ozawkie Church. Those were trying times, but they kept their Faith, and planned that their children should have an opportunity to worship in a church of their choice. About this time, Abraham L. Bowman, father of Andy, John and Abe Bowman, and Mary Hickerson, Lydia Kimmel and Susan Sykes, came from Illinois to preach for them. >From 1884 to 1894 the Methodist Church was leased, and services were held there. On April 2nd, 1892, a group of people of similar faith, at that time called the Progressive Brethren, organized a church in order that they could worship according to the dictates of their conscience, and the way they interpreted the Scriptures, with the following members: William T Stout, his wife Leona Stout, Blanche Garrett, Daniel Whitmer, George Woodhead and his wife Lucy Woodhead, who met at the home of Brother and Sister Woodhead, and organized a Church known as the Brethren Church of McLouth. Elder W.J.H. Baumann, being with them as Bishop and William T. Stout was confirmed or ordained as Deacon. They held meetings in neighboring school houses or borrowed or rented churches in which to hold their meetings. In the early part of the year 1894, J.R. Kimmel, a Minister of the Brethren Church at Litchfield, Illinois, was called by the Brethren at this place to preach for them. Both organizations feeling the need of a church building, Decided to co-operate. They purchased a lot of Philip Crease for $250.00 and erected a building which cost $2,000.00. The Church was dedicated December 25th, 1894. Reverend Vaniman of McPherson preached the Dedication Sermon. The agreement was that each Church should have half time for preaching services with a combined Sunday School. Duty called us. We are proud of the people who have stayed with us and are the ones who have gone from us to serve our Country in its present need, of our members who are taking up the work in other churches, and we are glad to welcome them back to our church whenever opportunity comes for their return either for a day or longer. We have never been a large church, but we feel that the Lod has called us, and has a work for us. It seems that when we gained in members then some would feel the call to other places for service. A number of families have left us. The younger ones have wished for enlarged opportunities. We are glad to have with us to help celebrate this 50th Anniversary of the building of our Church, Friends and former members from far and near. For members of the other churches of our town and community who have co-operated with us to make this a fitting climax to 50 years of Christian Service. May the Wonderful Light of His Gospel shine with increasing brightness from the Temple of His Faith, Blessing those about us, throughout time and Eternity. Sequel to history: 1972 Rev. John D. Bower, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kimmel was pastor from 1947-1970 when the church was disorganized and the church building was sold to the Church of the Nazarene. Our church produced one missionary, Robert Williams and four ministers, Russell Williams, Leland Kuns, John Bower and Margaret Kuns. By act of the membership which had become so small, the church was disorganized _________________ 19__ and letters were transferred in the most part to other sister churches in Topeka and Lone Star."