HEALDSBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH
There were Disciples in the vicinity of Healdsburg as early as 1855, but Healdsburg was not on the map at that time; it was laid out and christened in 1857. In February, 1857, a meeting was held at the “Big Plains school house,” now known as the Lieuallen Hall ranch (the old graveyard is still there), at which the following covenant was read and adopted:
The Disciples of Christ on Russian River, knowing it to be their duty and privilege to live together in a church relation, do this day give themselves to the Lord and to one another, to keep house for God, taking the Bible, and the Bible alone, as their only infallible rule of faith and practice.
Signed to this were twenty-five names, beginning with Downing Lamb and wife. Thomas Dittimore and wife, James N. Chitwood and wife, Elizabeth Hall, Alexander and Mary Blair, Samuel Mann and wife, Thomas Miller and wife, and others, and ending with H. L. Johns.
In the spring of 1857, John O. White, a noted evangelist who had come out from Missouri, came over from Napa, where he had just closed a great revival meeting, and held a meeting for the newly-organized chuirch. The result of that special effort was that more than sixty were added to their number. Among those added who had been members elsewhere were W. W. Ferguson and wife, E. N. Ware and wife, Joseph Feese and wife, Dora Dittimore and wife, and Wallace Dittimore and wife (Aunt Manda). Among those baptized were John Ferguson, John Ware, Mary Ann Ware, Francis Powell, John Bidwell, Margaret Lamb, James McAlhaney, Margaret Duncan, Sophia and Francis Haigh.
In 1858, J. P. McCorkle came to Healdsburg, held a meeting in the old Baptist church on Bast street, baptized several! people, and organized a congregation of Disciples. W. H. Tombs and Downing Lamb were made elders. Tolbert Fanning, E. N. Ware (father of E. B.), Dora O. Dittimore and I. M. Lewis were deacons. Among the charter members still living at this writing, are”Aunt Manda” Dittimore of Oakdale, Hugh Brown of San Jose,, Sam Mann of Watsonville, John Ware and wife (Margaret Lamb) of Lodi, John Ferguson and Levi Cummings. W. W. Ferguson, Sr., whose picture with his wife we give, was an elder of the church for years. His sons, H. O. aind P. J. Ferguson, have been members of the Healdsburg church for more than fifty years. Paris and the writer confessed their faith in Christ and were baptized the same day, in Russian River, near where the railroad bridge now stands, in 1859.
In those early days the church had no regular preacher. They were visited periodically by McCorkle, Byrum Lewis, Uncle Billy Brown, Thomas Thompson, and others. In 1872 they built their first house of worship, on “Christian Hill” (Knaak’s Addition). They worshiped in that location for eighteen years. In 1874 the State Meeting of the Christian Church of California was held on the Miller ranch on the Dry Creek road. R. L. McHatton, State Evangelist, held them a meeting in 1883. In 1892, E. B. Ware, State Evangelist, came to Healdsburg and proceeded to raise a salary for a pastor, and Joseph Low of Kansas City, Missouri, was called by wire and accepted. It was during his pastorate that Ujp church purchased the site and built the house of worship in its present location.
The following preachers besides those mentioned have served the church – D B. Austin, H. C. Hining, B. S. Gardner, A. Q. Burnett, Hiram Wallace, R. N. Davis. A. R. McCollough, Joseph Lowe, J. A. Brown, B. B. Ware, J. R. Dickson, I. H. Hazel, J. P. Dargitz, T. D. Butler, J. E. Hood, L. E. Scott, George W. Brewster, U. S. Johnson, Dr. Claude Wingo, and the present pastor, C. H. Hilton.
George W. Brewster held the longest pastorate in the history of the church, over five years. It was during his administration that the church became more thoroughly in sympathy with all of our organized work, and has maintained ever since; a leading place in the community. It is one of the strong churches of the State. One of the chief factors in the work of this church is its splendid Bible School, of which A. R. Gallaway has been the superintendent for over a quarter of a century. It is a front rank school, and is well equipped for work. The 1916 Year Book gives the enrolled membership of the church as 316. Sunday-school, 23f.”
Reference Data:
History of the Disciples of Christ in California, by E.B. Ware, 1916, pages 292-3
