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=Earliest Brethren=
==Tunbridge-Wells Exclusives==
From about 1894 thru 1973 there was an exclusive brethren family in Dickinson County, Kansas, Judson & Laura M. Bowker Alden. Judson was born around 1835 in New York, and employed as a carpenter by 1870 in Rockford, Illinois, and married Helen "Hattie" Hazard, who was was born in Rockford in 1850. They relocated to the Dickinson county area by the 1890's, and presumed to have setup an exclusive brethren table in their home which was located initially in Manchester from 1894 thru 1904, then there was an exclusive brethren split in 1908/1909 in which the Alden's were included in affiliating with the Tunbridge-Wells brethren (which is the largest exclusive brethren group in the United States today). The Alden's relocated to Talmage from 1908-1923, and Mrs. Alden continued as correspondent thru at least 1933, along with their daughter Grace Alden who continued as a contact for the TW brethren thru 1973 in Abilene.
==Others==
In 1865, Thomas Elwood Broadfoot (b. 1842 Huron County, Ontario, Canada - d. 1927 Wichita, KS) married Charlotte Ritchie (b. 1842 ON - d. 1925 Wichita, KS) in Prescott, Ontario, her parents were born in [[Scotland]]. Thomas was a son of James Broadfoot (b. 1803 [[Scotland|Scot.]]) and Janet Broadfoot (b. 1817 [[Scotland|Scot.]]), and the family relocated to Kansas somewhere between 1865 and 1879, as in the latter year, William Martin recalled in an evangelistic letter (reprinted in May 1967 Words in Season) to his younger brother Dr. A.E. Martin visiting Thomas near Abilene, [[Kansas]] and being given tracts and books including C.H. Mackintosh's "Notes on Exodus" that resulted in him being led to Christ.
From the Topeka State Journal, Sept. 14, 1914: "Abilene Preacher Egged: Saloon Rowdies at Breckenridge, Minn., Insult Kansas Minister on Street": "While Rev. F.H. Nicholson of Abilene, a preacher of the Plymouth Brethren denomination, was speaking in the street here, eggs were hurled at him from a saloon in front of which he was standing. A crowd of more than a hundred present at the time, was not slow in showing that their sympathies were with the speaker rather than the rowdies. Rev. Nicholson has been preaching for about fourteen years and is well known in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa."
==1910's==
From 1910 thru 1917, the aforementioned Alexander "Sandy" Broadfoot, commuted from Iowa to Kansas to visit and hold Gospel meetings in schoolhouses including the Bonaccord schoolhouse, and many were saved. Robert Alexander Robson, of Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian, left to assist George McBoyle, Frank H. Nicholson and others to construct an assembly that met for a time in the large home of Alexander McBoyle, known as the Bonaccord Assembly. It was notable that as early as the 1880's, Alex's farm had electric lights and running water. Eventually the McBoyles donated land at what is now at the corner of Deer & 1400 where they built the Grace & Truth Gospel Hall, thru an indenture between Mary Jane A. McBoyle Deardorff and the original trustees, Grant Engle, Daniel W. Emig and John D. Emig.
==1920's==
===Elm Springs Bible Hall1920=======Conference====A gospel outreach On Oct. 6, 1920, in the Ab. Daily Reflector, there were advertised Gospel Meetings: "There will be a general meeting for prayer, study of the word of God and preaching of the Gospel in the Gospel Hall two miles east of Grace & Truth south Bonaccord store and twelve miles southwest of CarltonAbilene, commencing Wednesday evening, Oct. 13, 1920, and east continuing over the following Lord's Day. Hours for meetings: 10 a.m. Bible study; 2:30 p.m. addresses; 8 p.m. preaching of Roxbury the gospel. All are cordially invited." Then, on Oct. 21, 1920, in the mid Ab. Weekly Reflector, it was reported: "Misses Mabel Stockford and Carrie Schwartzel of Detroit, Michigan, and Miss Dorothea Schlueter of Rock Island, Illinois, are guests of Miss Mable (sic) Robson, having stopped on their way home from California to late 1920attend the conference at the Gospel Hall." Miss Mabel Robson married this editor's by Frank Nicholson resulted grandfather, Grant Engle, in home Bible studies1921, which is when he left the River Brethren denom that his (and eventually a group of believers meeting my) ancestry brought from Switzerland to Lancaster Co., PA in the Elm Springs schoolhouse1750's. * Mabel C. Stockford Schermerhorn (1899-1990 Detroit, MI).** Husband: Charles Schermerhorn. Children:*** Carol Jean Schermerhorn Young (b. 1927 Detroit, MI). Husband: Carl Lincoln Young (b. 1919 Detroit, MI - d. 2002 Westland, MI), which became known as [[Elm Springs son of John Henry Young (b. 1880 N.Y. - d. 1955 Detroit, MI) & Louise Ludwig Young (b. 1881 Casco, St. Clair, MI - d. 1954 Detroit, MI). Memorials for Carl suggested to Upper Peninsula Bible HallCamp. *** Doris Maxine Margaret Schermerhorn Zentz (b. 1928 - d. 2013 Livonia, MI). Husband: Frank Earl Zentz (b. 1919 Council Bluffs, IA - d. 1970 Livonia, MI), son of Jesse Earl Zentz (b. 1894 Red Lodge, KS|Elm Springs Bible Hall]]MT - d. Others who assisted from Grace 1960 San Diego, CA) & Truth included Robert Robson and Dan EmigSadie M. Rank Folsom-Zentz-Dickson (b. 1901 Kirkman, IA - d. 1998 NE). * Carrie C. Schwartzel (b. 1896 Detroit, MI - d. In 19371987 Macomb, MI), a plot daughter of ground a mile south of the schoolhouse was donatedGottlieb "George" Christopher Schwartzel (b. 1862 Kloding, Denmark, emig. 1883; d. 1931 Highland Park, MI) & Anna Maria Schweim Schwartzel (b. 1867 Rise Sogn, and lumber from Carlton Denmark). George was used to build a meeting place on infant baptized into the property which would become Church of Denmark. Carrie never married. * Dorothea Ruth Schlueter Twomey (b. 1887 Davenport, IA - d. 1967 Moline, Rock Island, IL), daughter of Claus D. Schlueter (b. 1860 Hamburg, Germany - d. 1926 Rock Island, IL) & Mathilda Lucy Hartz Schlueter (b. 1859 Germany - d. 1920 Rock Island, constructed by Daniel IL). ** Husband: Harry Cornelius Wedel Twomey (b. 1885 McPherson1883 Marengo, KS IA - d. 1950 Logan1967 Rock Island, KSIL), son of Cornelius John Twomey (b. Daniel's daughter Edna 1858 Richmond, Madison, KY - d. 1938 Rock Island, IL) & Elizabeth Jane Burns Twomey (b. 19201861 Williamstown, Oswego, N.Y. - d. 1933 Rock Island, IL) would later marry Menno Dyck . The senior Cornelius was employed by the Rock Island railroad for 49 years. Harry was employed as a locomotive engineer by the same railroad, retiring in 1947, and was in fellowship with the South Park Presbyterian Church in Rock Island at the time of his death. ===1921=======Conference====The AWR advertised on Sept. 29, 1921 of gospel meetings: "Gospel meetings for the study of the Word of God, prayer and preaching will be held at Gospel hall, 2 miles east of Bonaccord store, commencing Wed. evening, Oct. 12 and continuing at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. over Sunday, Oct. 16. All are invited." ===1922=======Conference====The Abilene Daily Reflector advertised the annual conference on Oct. 17, 1922: "A Bible conference for prayer, study of the Word of God, and preaching of the gospel will be held at Gospel Hall, 2 miles east of Bonaccord store and 12 miles southwest of Abilene, beginning Wednesday evening, Oct. 18 and continuing over the following Lord's Day. Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Scott of Alton, Minn., guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Deardorff; R.H. Hall of Dunkirk, N.Y., J.H. Fleming of Minneapolis, MN, and J.H. Elliott of Chicago, are here to attend the gathering." ====McBoyle Memorial====In the Feb. 18, 1922 issue of the Abilene Daily Reflector, the headline was "Alexander McBoyle Dies": "Alexander McBoyle, aged 76, died suddenly Friday evening at his home in Garfield township. He is survived by his wife, four daughters and two sons. Mr. McBoyle has been a resident of this community for nearly 40 years and was highly esteemed by all who would serve as an elder knew him. Funeral services will be at 2 o'clock from the home and at 2:30 from Gospel hall Monday afternoon. Burial in Mt. Pleasant cemetery." The obituary was printed in the Abilene Weekly Chronicel on Feb. 22, 1922: "Mr. Alexander McBoyle was born in Aberdeenshire, [[Scotland]], in the year 1845, and died Feb. 17, 1922, aged 76 years, 4 months and 18 days at Grace & Truthhis home in Garfield township. He came to [[Kansas]] in the year of 1870. Seven years later he returned to Scotland and married Elizabeth Mather Kindness. To this union were born 8 children, two dying in infancy, the wife and six children surviving him. Those are:
He was converted to Christ and died in that faith. He often remarked that christianity was not a religion merely, but the faith of Christ. 'Only one life twill soon be past. What's done for Jesus alone will last.' The funeral took place on Monday Feb. 20th. The service at the house was brief. Scripture reading, prayer and a hymn. Then we repaired to the Gospel Hall one mile south of the McBoyle farm, where a large company gathered to pay their last respects to a time honored friend and child of God. Burial in the Mt. Pleasant cemetery. E.H. Van Loon of Nashua, Iowa addressed the people, taking for his text 'Five Blesseds in the Scripture'." ====1927 split====
Around 1927, several families left Grace & Truth to rent a space at the old Newbern Brethren in Christ church building down the road, and setup an exclusive table that met for nearly ten years, and was known as the [[Newbern Assembly, KS|Newbern Assembly]]. The families included:
==1930's==
Leaders at Grace & Truth included Frank H. Nicholson and Robert Alexander Robson. In ''Light and Liberty'' in 1935, an annual conference was reported at the Gospel Hall beginning on a Thursday evening on Oct. 24th and continuing thru that Lord's Day. In 1936, John Walden had a series of tent meetings south of Abilene, KS. The attendance averaged over 100 nightly for the entire campaign, with good interest. It is debated as to when Grace & Truth changed names from Hall to Chapel, somewhere between the 1930's and 1950's.
===Elm Springs Bible Hall===
A gospel outreach of Grace & Truth south of Carlton, and east of Roxbury in the mid to late 1920's by Frank Nicholson resulted in home Bible studies, and eventually a group of believers meeting in the Elm Springs schoolhouse, which became known as [[Elm Springs Bible Hall, KS|Elm Springs Bible Hall]]. Others who assisted from Grace & Truth included Robert Robson and Dan Emig. In 1937, a plot of ground a mile south of the schoolhouse was donated, and lumber from Carlton was used to build a meeting place on the property which would become , constructed by Daniel Cornelius Wedel (b. 1885 McPherson, KS - d. 1950 Logan, KS). Daniel's daughter Edna (b. 1920) would later marry Menno Dyck who would serve as an elder at Grace & Truth.
Visiting itinerants at Elm Springs would include Ed Bucheneau, John Walden (founder of a children's home in Colorado), [[Henry Allan Ironside|Harry Ironside]] (Moody pastor and author), George MacKenzie, Tom Carroll, Walter Wilson (founder of Calvary Bible College), Leonard Lindsted, Tom McCullagh, O.E. McGee, and Richard Burson (founder of Kansas Bible Camp & [[Hutchinson Gospel Chapel, KS|Hutchinson Gospel Chapel]] in the mid-1940's).
===1936 split===
