Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star, August 20, 1933:
Photo of Wesley Chapel
headline: 
 
THE EARLY HISTORY OF WESLEY CHAPEL IS RECALLED 
BY REV. J.D.M. BUCKNER

Forty-seven years ago a busy young University of Nebraska student whose name was 
J.D.M. Buckner was serving four Lancaster county churches. On August 27, one of 
these parishes, Wesley Chapel, ten miles southwest of Lincoln is celebrating the 
fortieth anniversary of the erection of its modest fram church.

Rev. Buckner will preach the afternoon service for the all day services. 
The morning sermon will be delivered by Rev. J.W. Embree, now at Wood 
River, who was pastor of the congregation at the time of the church's 
dedication. It was thru Rev. Embree's efforts that the church was built 
without incurring a debt.

Rev. Mr. Buckner clearly recalls first services of the chapel, held bi-weekly in a 
schoolhouse on the Bower section. The four Bower brothers, William, Ed, Dudley 
and Arthur, were leaders in the church and were owners of the section on which 
the school stood. All of them are now deceased.

Fred Hay, Charles Coffman, W. Reddish and Mr. Osborn were other elderly leaders 
in Wesley chapel, according to Rev. Mr. Buckner.

The congregations served by the young student minister were at Roca, Hickman 
and Jamica. He preached two sermons each Sunday, alternating among the four 
groups. While in the dual capacity of student pastor, he was living in Roca and 
"commuted" to school and churches, either by train or horse and buggy.

The chapel has been served, until recently, by Rev. Richard Miller.

Sponsors of the anniversary observance are anxious to have as many of the older 
members as possible attend the services. Nearly thirty of the original forty-five or 
fifty members of the congregation are living in the vicinity of Lincoln, according to 
Orin Peterson who is assisting in the arrangements. A basket dinner will be served 
at noon between the services.

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