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The brick building in the background is the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, organized in 1845 - almost 2 years before Iowa became a state. This church is the oldest church in Southwest Iowa (also Northwest Missouri) and is located 3 miles east of Hamburg, in Fremont County.
The Mount Olive Baptist Church was organized in 1845 under the name of Nishnabotna Church. The church has stood in two states and three counties owing to changes made in state and county lines. In 1875 the church was blown from its foundation and the current church was built at a cost of $2000 and was dedicated in 1879. The name was then changed to Mount Olive Baptist Church and in 1881 the membership was thirty-two. Mt. Olive Cemetery, one of the oldest in the county, comprising some five acres, forms the churchyard. It was previously known as Farmer's Cemetery. Thomas Farmer, the 1st postmaster, owned part of the land upon which the church stands.
NOTE: Summary from "History of Fremont County 1881" and "Fremont County Herald 1903".