Island to Chicago and then to Wamego, Kansas. Blythe never forgot the way the immigrants were mistreated on Ellis Island.

          Blythe worked in the machine shops for the Kansas Pacific Railroad and later the Union Pacific Railroad at Wamego, and Abilene. In 1878 he homesteaded land in the Sedalia community and became a farmer.¹³

III. EARLY CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND CHURCH CONSTRUCTION

          The Sedalia community operated its own school. It is not clear exactly when the first school classes were held, but there are references to social activities held at the school house as early as 1870. The first school house was a limestone house which was purchased from Alpheus Blodgett. This school house was located 5 rods southeast of the present school house. (see Figure 1) ¹⁴  There is no mention of any Sunday School classes or Sunday services ever being held in this school house. It is likely that if any were held, they were not community organized services. In 1877 a tornado destroyed the school house. The community built the present school from the debris of the old school house. ^15*

          The first attempt to organize a community Sunday School came in 1878. The Charles Howe family, the G.M. Burgstressor family and the Moore family met together in May of 1878 and organized the first Sunday School. It was started in June, 1878 and was attended by approximately 6 or 7 families. ¹⁶ Classes were held in the school house and included both adult and children classes. Community members taught the classes.

          This Sunday School was successfully run for several months until, according to one account, "Clark Hartshorn thought he was converted and should go to Sunday School and be the teacher." ¹⁷ According to a letter written by Mary Burgstressor, he ran the Sunday School into the ground.¹⁸  From January of 1879 until 1882 residents of Sedalia went to the neighboring wildcat Sunday School. That school, however, dissolved in 1882.

         The next attempt to organize a Sunday School was initiated by Anna B. Cooper (Mrs. Hugh Cooper). ¹⁹ She organized a meeting in the Sedalia school house on April 23, 1882 which included the three surrounding school districts; the Sedalia school district, the Silver Creek school to the southeast, and the Highland school district to the west. ²⁰ This Sunday School was called "The Sedalia Union Sunday School." ²¹

            The Sedalia Union Sunday School thrived. It included over 70 regular members and met every Sunday at the Sedalia school house. ²² There were seven Sunday School classes and they were divided up into four sections: bible classes, intermediate classes, juvenile classes, and an infant class of approximately 25 children. ²³ Anna B. Cooper served as superintendent of the Sunday School for 25 years. Teachers of the Sunday

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