“The Rev. Alanson T. Wood came to Nebraska in the fall of 1869, commissioned by the Home Mission Board (of the Presbyterian Church USA) and began preaching at Helena, Tecumseh, and Elk Creek. At Helena a lot was donated for the proposed church edifice and one lot to be owned by Rev. Wood. The church was erected, which became the center of a group of preaching points. Preaching appointments were made under large trees on the bank of the river, also in the homes of John Wilson, on Turkey Creek; Harrison Curtis, on Coon Creek; a school house at Rock Ford, of the Nemaha, and in one near David Livingston. These points were from four to eight miles from Helena in all various directions. The Helena church became the forerunner of the present Hopewell church, in Otoe County. He preached in the court house in Tecumseh and various school houses in Johnson County, thus extending Mission Field over a territory of thirty miles in length.
“The Helena church, in later years, was sold to the Methodists, and moved some six miles southwest to the vicinity of Smartville. Rev. Wood moved to Falls City and was the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church there. The first services were held in the courthouse and later in the Episcopal Church chapel. He also supplied Salem, and held services in a school house south of town, and northwest in what was known as the Hall neighborhood, which was near the present town of Verdon.
“Trying days came upon this earnest and untiring Missionary at Falls City. He had raised funds to build a church. A lot was purchased and the lumber was on the ground when his wife was taken ill while Rev. Wood was attending Presbytery at Beatrice, in 1873, the year of the Easter blizzard. She died before the absent husband could be notified of her illness. This caused the family to be scattered and the faithful minister resigned his pastorate and went to Beloit, Kansas. His son, Elder D. J. Wood, is today a member of the Session of the Fairbury Presbyterian Church. He is also the chairman of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministerial Relief and Sustentation.” (From the History of The Presbyterian Church in Nebraska, by Rev/Dr Julius F. Schwarz, 1924, pages 38-9.)
“The Helena church, in later years, was sold to the Methodists, and moved some six miles southwest to the vicinity of Smartville. Rev. Wood moved to Falls City and was the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church there. The first services were held in the courthouse and later in the Episcopal Church chapel. He also supplied Salem, and held services in a school house south of town, and northwest in what was known as the Hall neighborhood, which was near the present town of Verdon.
“Trying days came upon this earnest and untiring Missionary at Falls City. He had raised funds to build a church. A lot was purchased and the lumber was on the ground when his wife was taken ill while Rev. Wood was attending Presbytery at Beatrice, in 1873, the year of the Easter blizzard. She died before the absent husband could be notified of her illness. This caused the family to be scattered and the faithful minister resigned his pastorate and went to Beloit, Kansas. His son, Elder D. J. Wood, is today a member of the Session of the Fairbury Presbyterian Church. He is also the chairman of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministerial Relief and Sustentation.” (From the History of The Presbyterian Church in Nebraska, by Rev/Dr Julius F. Schwarz, 1924, pages 38-9.)
“The Rev. Alanson T. Wood came to Nebraska in the fall of 1869, commissioned by the Home Mission Board (of the Presbyterian Church USA) and began preaching at Helena, Tecumseh, and Elk Creek. At Helena a lot was donated for the proposed church edifice and one lot to be owned by Rev. Wood. The church was erected, which became the center of a group of preaching points. Preaching appointments were made under large trees on the bank of the river, also in the homes of John Wilson, on Turkey Creek; Harrison Curtis, on Coon Creek; a school house at Rock Ford, of the Nemaha, and in one near David Livingston. These points were from four to eight miles from Helena in all various directions. The Helena church became the forerunner of the present Hopewell church, in Otoe County. He preached in the court house in Tecumseh and various school houses in Johnson County, thus extending Mission Field over a territory of thirty miles in length.
“The Helena church, in later years, was sold to the Methodists, and moved some six miles southwest to the vicinity of Smartville. Rev. Wood moved to Falls City and was the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church there. The first services were held in the courthouse and later in the Episcopal Church chapel. He also supplied Salem, and held services in a school house south of town, and northwest in what was known as the Hall neighborhood, which was near the present town of Verdon.
“Trying days came upon this earnest and untiring Missionary at Falls City. He had raised funds to build a church. A lot was purchased and the lumber was on the ground when his wife was taken ill while Rev. Wood was attending Presbytery at Beatrice, in 1873, the year of the Easter blizzard. She died before the absent husband could be notified of her illness. This caused the family to be scattered and the faithful minister resigned his pastorate and went to Beloit, Kansas. His son, Elder D. J. Wood, is today a member of the Session of the Fairbury Presbyterian Church. He is also the chairman of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministerial Relief and Sustentation.” (From the History of The Presbyterian Church in Nebraska, by Rev/Dr Julius F. Schwarz, 1924, pages 38-9.)
“The Helena church, in later years, was sold to the Methodists, and moved some six miles southwest to the vicinity of Smartville. Rev. Wood moved to Falls City and was the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church there. The first services were held in the courthouse and later in the Episcopal Church chapel. He also supplied Salem, and held services in a school house south of town, and northwest in what was known as the Hall neighborhood, which was near the present town of Verdon.
“Trying days came upon this earnest and untiring Missionary at Falls City. He had raised funds to build a church. A lot was purchased and the lumber was on the ground when his wife was taken ill while Rev. Wood was attending Presbytery at Beatrice, in 1873, the year of the Easter blizzard. She died before the absent husband could be notified of her illness. This caused the family to be scattered and the faithful minister resigned his pastorate and went to Beloit, Kansas. His son, Elder D. J. Wood, is today a member of the Session of the Fairbury Presbyterian Church. He is also the chairman of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministerial Relief and Sustentation.” (From the History of The Presbyterian Church in Nebraska, by Rev/Dr Julius F. Schwarz, 1924, pages 38-9.)
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