Browse Items · Decatur Public Library Local History Photo Collection

Mr. & Mrs. John K. Wells' Oral History

This is the oral history of Mr. and Mrs. John K. Wells. They were interviewed by Betty Turnell on June 22, 1986. The interview includes their childhoods, and John's career in life insurance.

Tags: 3I League, Awards, Baseball, Bavaria, Betty Turnell, Bishop Quail, Boys Club, Building Committee, business major, Campfire Girls, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chautauqua, childhood, Christmas trees, church activities, church board, Classes, clients, CLU, committees, concession stands, dancing lessons, Decatur Baseball, Decatur High School, Decatur IL, Delovan IL, Denver CO, District Superintendent, Eloise Neece, Entertainment, Equitable Life Insurance Society, family life, First United Methodist Church, France, fundraising, future of Decatur, general insurance, German family, German fest, Germany, golf, Grace Methodist Church, Greyville IL, Hightide Dr., history/political science minor, Hudson River Dateline, insurance sales, interview, lay leader, Lebanon IL, life insurance, Louise Wells, Marion Plussen, marriage class, McKinley College, Methodist Church, Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Minister, Millikin University, Minister, Mr. & Mrs. John K. Wells, national committees, office manager, oral history, Peoria IL, preachers, Programs, Providence RI, R.C. Sayre, recording, retirement, Sanitary District Board, Secretary of Preachers' Aid, subdivision, sunday school, Superintendent of Junior Classes, Superintendent of Primary classes, superintendent of schools, talks, Television, tent meeting, Travel, trusts, United Methodist Church, Wilmington DE, YMCA

Dr. Laren Spear's Oral History

This is the oral history of Dr. Laren Spear. He was interviewed by Betty Turnell in 1978. The interview covers his time as a minister.

Tags: archery, baccalaureate speaker, Betty Turnell, Bloomington IL, Burma, Charles Spear, childhood, christian work, Council of Churches, Dakota Wesleyan University, Decatur High School, Decatur IL, discrimination, District Superintendent, Dr. Laren Spear, English major, Evanston IL, Farmers, First Methodist Church, Garrett Theological School, heart attack, Hospital Chaplain program, Illinois Wesleyan University, interview, Kintner Gym, latin services, Long Creek Church, Lucille Pagel, ministry, Minnesota Methodist, missionary, oral history, pastor, preacher, Preachers' Aid Society, race relations, Ray Spear, recording, Recreation, relationship with Catholics and Black Churches, religious education program, retirement, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Sam Hale, School of Religion, South Dakota, St. Joseph IL, St. Paul's Methodist Church, St. Thomas Catholic School, Summer Institutes, vacation bible school, White River SD

Photo of Four Square Gospel Church

http://omeka.decaturlibrary.org/files/original/f68ec9841e2a43454ae82e8c85bc4a42.jpg

Photograph of Four Square Gospel Church, 300 Block E. Leafland Ave., Decatur, IL. "Parishioners Build Their Own Church. The 250 members of the Four Square Gospel church in Decatur, Ill. have constructed their new edifice, using only volunteer labor…

Tags: 1948, 300 Block E. Leafland, Associated Press, Decatur IL., Dedication, District Superintendent, Dr. H. d. Mitzner, Evangelical Pentecostal, Four Square Gospel, Great Lakes District Supt., Herald and Review, Photo File: Churches, Rev. Erickson, Rev. K. W. Erickson

Rev. Joseph W. Van Cleve

http://omeka.decaturlibrary.org/files/original/3077565268d090388e7fd41e1149570c.jpg

Photograph of Rev. Joseph W. Van Cleve; (died 6/29/1926). Former pastor of the Grace Methodist church in Decatur. He was a member of the board of control of the Epworth League after 1896. He came to Decatur in 1903, and during pastorate here the…

Tags: biography, District Superintendent, Grace Methodist Church, Ill. Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M., Illinois Inter-Church Federation, J. W. Van Cleve, Joseph W. Van Cleve, Mason, Ministerial Assn., Photo File: Biography, Rev. Van Cleve

Browse Items (4 total)

Mr. & Mrs. John K. Wells' Oral History

Dr. Laren Spear's Oral History

Photo of Four Square Gospel Church

Rev. Joseph W. Van Cleve