The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church
The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Sedalia in July, 1864, by Rev. C. E. Carpenter. Rev. C. E. Carpenter died at Fairfield, Iowa, in Slay, 1867, at twenty-nine years of age. In 1862 Rev. Stanford Ing preached in a school house in or near Sedalia, but the house having been occupied as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers, the preaching was necessarily discontinued. In November, 1865, Rev. George McKee effected a permanent organization in Sedalia, with a membership of seven, viz: Elizabeth Hulland, Dr. J. F. Tobias, James N. Johnson, A. McAlpine, Eliza McAlpine, Sarah A. Russell and Rachel McKee, the wife of the pastor. Under the direction of Rev. Mr. McKee a church edifice was commenced, the cornerstone being laid in 1865. The building was enclosed and the lecture room was dedicated by Bishop E. R. Ames in March, 1867. Rev. J. W. Bushong succeeded Rev. McKee in the pastorate charge of the Sedalia Church in 1867. The church was located on the corner of Ohio and Fourth streets. The present edifice was built of Warrensburg stone in 1888. Church has been served by many able ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Rev. Leroy Vernon, D. D., was the pastor of this church and was the first missionary to carry the King James version of the Holy Scriptures into the city of Rome. The Church building has the largest seating capacity of any Church in the city of Sedalia. The property is worth about $60,000 and is free of debt. Rev. Eli P. Anderson is the present minister. Church has a membership of 685 with a Sunday school attendance of 500. The trustees are: E. E. Johnston, Jacob Brandt, H. E. Carpenter, Earnest W. Dugan, Frank Faulkner, J. L. Butterworth, Harvey D. Dow, W. L. Porter, William Jolly.
(History of Pettis County Missouri by Mark A McGruder 1919)