St. Clair County Missouri
Churches

Osceola Presbyterian Church
Osceola, Mo.

Then ... and now ...

May 2009 - submitted by Mary Zeiler

The building is now used as the Osceola Community Church, organized by Rev. Jack Keifer.

May 2009 - submitted by Mary Zeiler

OSCEOLA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Osceola, Mo.

Early history from St. Clair County Library Files:

The early settlers of Osceola needed a place to worship. Harmony Mission was so far distant
that they planned an organization of their own. In 1842, there were found to be eight members
of the far distant church living in Osceola. They called for representatives from the Mission to
come and meet with them and organize them into a church body.

Rev. Amasa Jones and Rev. E.P. Nod met with them on the first Saturday in March 1842.
Those members presenting their letters were: Samuel W. Harris, Robert Osborn,
Melissa Osborn, Dovey Osborn, Elizabeth Osborn, Lawrence Lewis, Jane S. Moore
and Elizabeth Cox.

First record of a church building was 1857. Then the whole town of Osceola was destroyed
in 1861 by a band of guerillas.

When peace returned to the community, they organized and built a church under the leadership
of Rev. J.M. Brown. The Hon. Waldo P. Johnson donated two lots where the old church
stood and later, three more lots were added. A substantial brick church building was erected.
This bell hangs in the church tower today.

The Big Brick Church

After several years, this building called “The Big Brick Church”, was considered unsafe because
 of the weakening of the walls. It was torn down and another church was built in 1885 and
dedicated April 5, 1891.

Submitted by Mary Zeiler