Source: From the files of the Valley Falls Historical Society.
In the winter of 1855, William Gragg moved his family from Platte County, Mo., to the North Cedar community. He chose the south side of Cedar Creek for his homestead. His family of eight sons and daughters settled in surrounding quarter sections and soon the area became the Gragg Settlement.
By April 1, 1855, the settlement consisted of George Parrott, Robert L. Shanklin, John Wood, W.H. Lang, Henry Gragg, John Gragg, Thomas Wood, his wife, and two children, Zack Gragg and Granville McDaniel and his wife.
Others joined the community where land sold for $1.25 per acre. Roads were planned, a saw mill moved in, frame houses, barns, and a store were built as well as a stone school house near North Cedar that served as a community center.
Zachariah Gragg donated ground that first became a cemetery, then a neat frame building was constructed at a cost of $1,400. It was named Gragg's Chapel. In 1870, the Methodist Episcopal South organized with Rev. McEwan as the first pastor of the chapel. Charter members were Zachariah Gragg, John Gragg, and Isaac Ferrell.
During the late 1880s, Gragg's Chapel enjoyed a large membership, serving Bloomfield, Rock Creek and south of North Cedar — who had no churches. The nearest houses of worship were several miles east at Valley Falls. From 1884 to 1888, during Rev. Faubion's ministry, attendance was so large that folks had to stand along the walls during services.
Regular church services were discontinued about 1920 because of lack of funds to support the minister; however, Sunday School classes were held into the 1930s.
On August 23, 1936, approximately 150 people met at Gragg's Chapel under the leadership of M.H. Ginter. It was decided to hold an annual meeting at Gragg's Chapel on the third Sunday of August, officially designated the "Gragg Chapel Community Picnic." Beginning in 1936, 150 to 200 people attended the meetings and picnics. Meetings were held every year except 1944 and 1951, because of floods. Attendance declined and the building was sold in 1950 for $212.50 and dismantled about 1953.
Gragg Chapel Cemetery remains intact on Hwy. 116 approximately five miles west of Valley Falls. Regular maintenance continues by volunteers.
The VFHS museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23. Admission is free.
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