The first conference of representatives of this church, looking forward to establishing a Methodist class and church in this community was held in the log cabin which was the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. B. O'Linn, out near Dakota Junction. This was the germ of our church organization in this city. The charge was called "The White River O'Linn Charge," Niobrara Valley District, West Nebraska Conference. This was in 1884. The first pastor was Rev. J. B. Gray and the first presiding elder was Rev. G. W. Martin. Services were held in private homes and school houses and then our people were allowed to use the court room which is the room now occupied by Reynolds & Hood as their law office. Later we were permitted to hold services in the Congregational church alternating with their services.

In 1886, at the Fourth Quarterly, Conference, July 10, Rev. G. W. Martin, presiding elder, in the chair, and Rev. J. A. Scamahorn, (whose widow now lives at Gordon, Nebraska), pastor in charge, the following report was made by the trustees : Rev. T. W. Wilson, secretary ; J. B. Boone, S. H. Glover, Burr Shelton and L. Butler : "To the members of the Quarterly Conference of the Chadron Methodist Episcopal church. Dear Brethren: The Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of Chadron would beg leave to make this their first annual report. During the year ending with this report we have had under consideration the erection of a suitable house of worship and have procured plans that call for a building 32x28 feet with a lecture room 14x28 feet, to be built of brick. We have in the further prosecution of this work bought and paid for lots one and two in block nineteen in the city of Chadron, for which we paid the sum of one hundred twenty-five dollars.