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Show Page 48<br><br>The same year he entered upon his theological studies at the Western Theological Seminary of Allegheney, Pa., but at the end of the first year, returned to Princeton and completed his course in the seminary there, in 1879. Owing to serious ill-health, caused by the severe mental and physical strain of the previous nine years uninterrupted study (pursued largely by means earned from day to day, and during vacation) he was obliged to abandon his cherished purpose of entering the Foreign Mission Field, and accepted a pastorate in an Eastern church. On this first pastorate at Englishtown, N. Y., he entered May 19, 1879, and remained until January, 1881, when he was compelled to resign by reason of continued sickness. In October of the same year, at the urgent solicitation of the Board of Home Missions and friends in Utah, he was induced to enter on the work of a home missionary, in which he has been engaged until the present. From 1881 to 1887, he was located at Payson, at which place he erected a chapel and parsonage, and organized the First Presbyterian church. In 1887 he superintended the erection of the chapel at Richfield and Pleasant Grove, and the Hungerford academy at Springville, in which he served as principal for the next five years, and laid the foundation of that worthy institution. In the fall of 1892 he was appointed principal of the New Jersey academy at Logan, and served in that capacity for one year, when he again returned to the pulpit and was appointed to take charge of the church at American Fork, where he is now laboring. In the face of many hindrances and always more or less a sufferer from nervous prostration, he rejoiced in the fact that, with the exception of two visits to the East, he has never taken a regular vacation, or, lost a month from active service in the past fourteen years.<br><br> Ella C. Herron<br><br> Was born in Cadiz, O., March 26, 1858. In 1881 she moved to Washington Co., Pa. Miss Herron began teaching at an early age, and taught for several years in the public schools of Ohio and Pennsyl- [PHOTO: ELLA C. HERRON.] vania. In 1889, she accepted an appointment under the Presbyterian Board for Freedmen, to teach at Good Will, S. C. After having taught there for five years she received an appointment to teach at Monroe, Utah. She taught there one year as Miss Watt's assistant. She was then transferred to American Fork, Utah, where she is now teaching. Soon after coming to American Fork she was elected president of the Y. P. S. C. E., which position she still fills. <br><br>PLEASANT GROVE PRESBYTERIAN.<br><br> [Condensed from the World's Fair Ecclesiastical History of Utah-Ed.] Mr. Henry Bird, a brother of Rev. G. R. Bird, opened the school at this place in April, 1878. He secured with much difficulty a small building, and a school was opened with about twenty pupils. In September, 1880, Miss Laura B. Work was placed in charge. For a time there was much opposition, but finally her good sense and Christian principal made such an impression on the community that the school began to grow, and before she left became so large that some had to be turned away. The work progressed favorably for four years, when she met with an accident while riding, which injured her so seriously she was obliged to retire from the field. Rev. F. W. Blohm is pastor of the church at this place. <br><br>SPANISH FORK-PRESBYTERIAN<br><br> Mission work was begun at Spanish Fork by the Presbyterian Church in the fall of 1881. It was in the old Momson's store-room on Main street that day-school, Sabbath-school and preaching services were first held. George Butts, Jr., was the first, and for a short time the only scholar in the day-school. Rev. George W. Leonard, located at Springville was the minister in charge, and Miss Lucy Perley of Washington, D. C., was the Mission teacher. The attendance upon the day-school and Sabbath-school was small and upon the preaching services, not infrequently only one person would be present in addition to the minister and teacher. This was Mr. Charles Peterson, who is now an elder in the Church. It was in the fall of 1883 that the present location was bought of Mr. Samuel Cornaby, Jr. What is now the Teacher's Home was a one-story adobe building, which was used for school and preaching services, and as a home for the teacher. In a short time it was enlarged by an additional story, and the kitchen on the north. During her fourteen years of labor on this field, Miss Perley was assisted or temporarily relieved by the following workers. She was assisted in 1883 by her sister, Miss Fanny, who was soon sent to Springville. Miss Perley labored on alone till the spring of 1887, when she was granted a year's vacation, and her place was filled most acceptably by Miss Helen Congle. In the fall of 1888 Miss Fanny Perley was transferred from Springville to Spanish Fork, and assisted Miss Perley in the school work of 1888-1889. Miss Fanny was succeeded by Miss Dailey, who assisted in 1889-1890. In the following year Miss Lucy was assisted again by her sister, Miss Fanny. Miss Perley was granted another year's vacation and Miss Margaret McCullough and Miss Fanny Perley were the teachers for the school year of 1891-1892. In the fall of 1892 Miss Perley was again in her place, and this year she was assisted by her sister, Miss Fanny, and Miss Margaret Freece. In 1893-1894 she was assisted by her sister and Miss Margaret Nelson. In the spring of 1894 Miss Fanny was again called East and the school was in charge of Miss Margaret Wilson and Miss Perley during the school year of 1894-1895. In the spring of 1895 Miss Perley was transferred to Salina and Miss Margaret Wilson to Hungerford Academy, Springville, and the school was temporarily closed. Rev. George W. Leonard, who was the first commissioned minister in Utah, valley, was called to his reward Thanksgiving morning, 1885, at 4 o'clock. He was a good business man, a conscientious preacher, greatly beloved by those who stood near him and respected by all who knew him. He was greatly over-worked preaching at Springville, Spanish Fork, and for a time at Payson. Besides this, he built the chapel on Main street, Springville, planned for an academy, and purchased the ground upon which Hungerford Academy now stand. At Spanish Fork he superintended the purchasing of property and the enlarging of buildings, and was planning for a chapel when he was called to rest from his labors. On the 8th of May, 1887, Rev. Theodore Lee succeeded Mr. Leonard as minister in charge of the work at Springville and Spanish Fork, and in the fall Rev. J. A. L. Smith, after superintending the work of building Hungerford Academy, entered upon his duties as principal of the same. At the spring meeting of the Presbytery, 1890, Mr. Lee was transferred to Spanish Fork and was succeeded at Springville by Rev. Charles M. Shepherd. During the summer and fall of 1890 Mr. Lee superintended the building of his own home, and with the exception of the tower, the chapel at Spanish Fork. The chapel was used for school and church purposes early in the year 1891. The tower was completed in the spring and the chapel was dedicated, free of debt, on the first Sunday in June, 1891. Rev. Charles M. Shepherd, Rev. Andrew C. Todd and Rev. Theodore Lee were the committee on dedication. It was dedicated as the "Assembly's Church" of Spanish Fork. February 10, 1893, a Presbyterian church was organized in Spanish Fork by the following committee of Presbytery: Rev. F. G. Webster, American Fork; Rev. William A. Hough, Salt Lake City; Rev. Theodore Lee, Spanish Fork. The church was organized with nine members, without an elder. February 23, 1894, the organization was completed by the election of two elders. On the first Sabbath in March, 1895, the congregation called Rev. Theodore Lee to become their pastor. On the 30th of June he was duly installed. The committee on installation was Rev. S. E. Wishard, D. D., Rev. Andrew C. Todd and Rev. Charles M. Shepherd, but Dr. Wishard was unable to be present. Since the organization in 1893 sixteen members have been received into the church, and ten have been dismissed, leaving a present membership of fifteen. Connected with the Presbyterian Church of Spanish Fork is a flourishing Sabbath-school, with a present enrollment of ninety scholars and average attendance of more than sixty. A reading circle of girls meets every Monday evening; a young people's prayer-meeting is held on Wednesday evening, and a reading circle of boys meets on Friday evening. Since the first of September a reading circle of mothers and young ladies has met at the home of the pastor's wife every Thursday evening. Two preaching services are held every Sabbath day, nearly one-half of the scholars remaining for the morning service, and in the evening the chapel is full, often to overflowing.<br><br> Rev. Theodore Lee<br><br> Was born and for the most part educated within the bounds of Alton Pres- |
