Like the rest of the history of Deuel county, the earliest religious activities of the county were in Cheyenne county, of which it was a part for many years. The first meetings were of necessity held in private houses as there were no church buildings in the early days and when a visiting missionary, elder or priest was known to lie coming the people would gather in some sod house in the earliest days and later

in the better homes constructed nt lumber and there conduct services. Chappell, the first town of importance in Deuel county, naturally liecame the religious center after it was settled, and the churches there had much to do with the high moral standard of the people of the entire county as an excellent influence was extended throughout its territory.

From 1883 to 1885, and for a long period

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HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

after that Ira Brashears. a layman, of high religious standing, hesitated not in what he believed to be his duty. He was a good man in a country just merging from a wild state and spoke the word of God with fervor and eloquence, holding meetings in various places throughout the county. Air. Brashears did a fine work as a pioneer evangelist and deserves mention in the history of the county for the good he did when no ordained minister or priest could be obtained. Following him came

Methodist Episcopal Church, Chaitki.i.

Dr. W. H. Babcock, who ministered to the sick in body and in spirit as well, for when not engaged in the duties of his medical profession, he preached good sermons wherever and whenever he found time and a few people gathered to listen. After the frame school house was built in Chappell, services were held there which was the start of real church activities in the town and county.