Denmark Baptist Church History

On March 15, 1998 there was a Day of Remembrance at the church. Following are some of the memories that were told then along with others:

Alice Green remembered that she was baptized in a pond owned by Luther Bradley. She has attended Denmark Baptist Church all her life. She was raised in Denmark on the farm that Ruth Mohr had.

An outdoor chicken fry was held in order to raise money for items needed by the church. A committee would go door-to-door of church members and accept donations of chickens and other food for the chicken fry. The soda was purchased at the Denmark Store from Johnny Higgerson and the ice cream was bought from Kimmel's in Cutler. The teenage girls waited on the tables.

Florence Luthy's dad donated the lumber from his stand of timber to rebuild the church after it was burned. Florence said he hauled it to the building site with a team of horses and a wagon. She also remembered they came to church in a horse drawn, two seated surrey.

Helen Smith was baptized in 1940 in Montroy's pond. There were 18 people baptized at that time by Rev. Unruh. Helen also remembered being asked to play the piano for the church service when she was 9 years old. She knew how to play only two songs. They were Take Time To Be Holy and What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Helen told a story about her dad, Erle Hallbauer. He was a small boy when the first church was built. He stole a rake from the building site and his mother made him take it back.

Charles Hallbauer was very active in the Denmark Baptist Church where he served as Deacon. It was told that one time when a preacher was preaching too long, Charles got out of his seat, took out his watch, went to the front and handed it to the preacher.

Rev. Hendrickson, pastor from March 1921 to August 1925, was a small man in stature. He and his wife were visiting Charles Hallbauer's and while there someone took their picture. Rev. Hendrickson stood on a stool behind a snowball flower bush so that he would be as tall as his wife.

Henry Kiehna was very active in the Denmark Baptist Church. He served as a Deacon. His favorite song was We'll Work Till Jesus Comes.

Ruth Mohr remembered that William Mohr, Lawrence's dad, delivered mail on horseback once a week in the Denmark area.

Rev. Northrup and Wesley Heine would go bowling under the post office in Percy. One time they got into a scuffle and Rev. Northrup's shoe got caught in a crack in the floor.

Earla Heisner remembers she liked to sing. She fell down when she went on stage to sing Away in a Manger at Christmas time.

Genie Todd Wilcox said that Rev. Northrup and his wife visited after her daughter was born. She had not named her daughter. She and her aunt both asked Mrs. Northrup what her name was and she said Peggy, so Genie named her daughter Peggy after Mrs. Northrup.

Erle Hallbauer made a small bench for Grace Hallbauer to put her feet on during church services. It was kept under the church pew. She also warmed her feet on the pot belly stove that stood in the middle of the church. She remembered waiting tables at the chicken fries.

Rev. Eddy came from Chicago to DuQuoin on the train. Someone from the church would go pick him up and after the church services someone would take him back to catch a train home.

Rev. Unruh painted barns and helped farmers with their threshing. His son would pitch bundles to Wesley Heine at threshing time.

George Wagner rode to church with Bob Bigham and his folks. One Sunday during a prayer he flipped Bob on the ear with his finger and a lady in the church saw him, came and folded his hands and explained to him to close his eyes during prayer.

Rev. Unruh, his wife and children went to the Edgar's home place for a Sunday dinner. After eating, they sat in the yard and visited. There was a gas pump in the yard and one of the Unruh boys decided to climb up this gas pump. When he got up to the top he opened the door and wasps had built a nest in that area. He got stung on the nose by a wasp.

Mary Lee Collier, daughter of Rev. Wm. Collier, was placed in a laundry basket on the floor during church services.

Mrs. Todd served the church by helping in Bible School, Mission Society, and Sunday School teacher. She always brought live flowers to decorate the church.

Dorothy Jean Egbert Winters remembers that Mrs. Stallins taught a Sunday School class and if any pupil was late, they had to put a dime in a special fund and this was used for Sunday School class parties. Someone in the class asked Mrs. Stallins, who had twin boys, if she ever whipped the wrong boy. She said she had because she did not punish them at the time they were caught doing something wrong, so when she went out to them, they had moved, and she spanked the wrong twin.

Rev. Holder told a story of taking a group from the church on an overnight camping trip. They took soda, hot dogs, and good things to eat. They also took two large tarpaulins. One was put up for the girls and one for the boys. They were having an enjoyable time when along about dusk, up on a hill overlooking them, they saw a figure or something white. As they watched, the figure slowly moved down the hill. Eventually it came into the camp area. This white figure finally revealed it's identity. It was Erle Hallbauer with a broom stuck in his pocket and a white bed sheet over him. I'm sure there were a lot of laughs.

History:

Denmark Baptist Church History,
by Paul Holder, compiled December 16, 1968

Memories of Past Members,
from the 150th Anniversary Book, 1998

Past Preachers & Length of Service

Donors who helped Rebuild in 1942

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