The churches of Garfield County and Pomeroy are entitled to a place in any historic review.
The first church organization in the county seems to have been effected in 1878, by Father Peter Paaps, of the Catholic Church on land donated by J. M. Pomeroy and C. A. McCabe. This church has been maintained to this day, and with it a parochial school, conducted at present by the Benedictine Sisters. The present pastor of the Catholic Church is Father Peter Taufen.
The first Methodist preacher in Garfield County was Rev. George W. Kennedy, already spoken of in the chapter on Columbia County. He first came in 1874. Then a year later came Rev. A. J. Joslyn, whose home was in Dayton. There was no church organized as yet. In 1878 Rev. C. E. Rigsby established preaching places at a number of points, the schoolhouses or private residences furnishing meeting places. Two years later Rev. D. E. George took up the work, and he is remembered as a typical pioneer preacher. The first Methodist Church in Pomeroy was built in 1884 during the pastorate of Rev. W. T. Koontz. A number of pastors followed, the last of whom was Rev. A. Monroe. During his time a parsonage was built.
The first Baptist Church was organized on June 3, 1888, by Rev. J. H. Teale, then general missionary for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Rev. S. E. Stearns became the first pastor. The church building was erected in 1895, being dedicated on March 29, 1895, by Rev. A. M. Allyn. Rev. John Cashman was pastor during that period. During the pastorate of Rev. W. E. Sawyer the parsonage was erected. Rev. C. S. Treadwell was pastor from March, 1912, to April, 1914. The church has not a settled pastor at the date of this publication.
Turning to the Christian Church, we find that the first services in the name of that fellowship were conducted in 1886 by Principal Wolverton of the Dayton schools. On November 20, 1887, "Brother" J. B. Daisley organized a church of twenty-five members. Like other early congregations they held services in store buildings, schoolhouses, courthouse, or almost any available shelter. In 1889, a house of worship was erected on a lot donated by Gilbert Dickson, and this was dedicated by "Brother" N. B. Alley in that year. The present pastor is Rev. R. Tibbs Maxey.
PICKING GRAPES, AUGERMAYLE PLACE, CLARKSTON
GRAPE-GROWING (AND GIRL-GROWING) AT CLARKSTON