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CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

 

 

 

 
Cornell aii Library
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of Methodism in Wisconsin :in f

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Rev. P. S. BENNETT, A M.
HISTORY

OF

METHODISM IN WISCONSIN,

IN FOUR PARTS.

BY

REV. P.S. BENNETT, A. M.,

OF WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

PART III BEING WRITTEN BY
REV. JAMES LAWSON,

OF WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

“ Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God hath led
thee.’’—DEUT, VIII, 2.

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHORS BY
CRANSTON & STOWE, OINCINNATI.
1890.
 

CoPpyRIGHT, 1890, BY

P. S. BENNETT Aanp JAMES LAWSON.

 
GENERAL DIVISIONS.

——_—_—.

 

Part I.

HISTORY OF EPISCOPAL METHODISM IN WISCON-
SIN BEFORE THE FORMATION OF THE WIS-
CONSIN CONFERENCE, 1832-1848.

Part II,

HISTORY OF THE WISCONSIN CONFERENCE OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1848-1889.

Part III.

HISTORY OF THE WEST AND NORTHWEST WISCON-
SIN CONFERENCES, OF THE METHODIST EPISCO-
PAL CHURCH, 1856-1889.

i Part IV.

HISTORY OF OTHER METHODIST BODIES IN WIS-
CONSIN, 1842-1889.

. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

. EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION (GERMAN).
. GERMAN EPIscoPpalL METHODISTS.

. SCANDINAVIAN METHODISTS.

. FREE METHODISTS,

. AMERICAN WESLEYAN METHODISTS.

Nn pW DN HW
PREFACE.

°:

 

 

Tae work was undertaken more from a convic-
tion of the need of something like it than a con-
sciousness of ability to produce what the subject
demands.

This conviction, at first feeble, grew upon me until
it crystallized into a partially formed conclusion to
enter upon the work. At this point the following
resolution was presented to the Conference and unani-
mously adopted :

“ WueErEAS, We learn that Rev. P. S. Bennett is con-
templating the production of a history of Methodism in
Wisconsin ; therefore,

‘ Resolved, That we hereby express our hearty approval
of the undertaking, and will aid him therein by furnishing
historical data as far as we can, hoping an early com-
pletion of the work.

(Signed,) “J. L. Hewirr, B. R. Raymonp,

«J. 8. Davis, H. Favitye,
“8. Luee, E. G. Uppyke,
«T, C. Wiuttson, T. WALKER,
“«W. P. Srowe, H. SEweELL,
“W. D. AMEs, S. Smrru.”

This settled the question. Though a difficult task,

I hardly dared refuse to attempt it.
5
6 PREFACE,

But the difficulties encountered were more and
greater than those anticipated.

We had been making history for more than a half
century. During aconsiderable portion of this period
the country was new, society unsettled, and records
imperfectly kept. Much needed information was
treasured in the memory of persons far advanced in
life, and widely dispersed over our vast country. It
was often difficult to find them, and, when found, their
recollections were not always the same. Much dis-
crimination was needed to balance up. Besides, it
was not easy to get desired and available information
from those in the active work. Circulars were sent
to the pastors, with blanks to be filled and returned.
More than two-thirds of the pastors failed to respond.
This was very embarrassing. To bring order out of
chaos is difficult; to make something out of nothing
is impossible in reliable history.

Nor was this the end of difficulties. The book is
to be, not biographies of the living nor memorials of
the dead, but a record of acts and results. Yet the
actors are to come into view and assigned to their
proper places. And when one leaves the work by
death or otherwise, he must receive appropriate notice.
To do this judiciously is not an easy task.

The plan of covering the entire State and of em-
bracing every branch of Methodism therein, has neces-
sitated abridgment where enlargement would other-
wise have been proper.

The Appendices have cost much labor, and it is
hoped they will be appreciated.
PREFACE. 7

The work has been delayed by a failure to get the
history of West and Northwest Wisconsin Confer-
ences written at an earlier date. Rev. James Lawson,
a highly honored member of the West Wisconsin
Conference, at length undertook the work; and he
will doubtless do it well. It constitutes Part III of
this book.

Considerable space is given to the anti-slavery
and temperance questions ; some may think too much.
But as the former was the absorbing question of the
time, towering above all other National issues in im-
portance, and as the latter is scarcely less so now, I
feel justified in treating them thus.

The question of illustrations was decided at a
rather late period, and the result is not quite satis-
factory to me in not being able to secure more of the
earlier preachers for Parts I and II. The failure is
not due to lack of effort. Brother Lawson has suc-
ceeded far better for Part III. It is hoped that these
faces will awaken profitable reminiscences of past
labors and successes.

- Great pains have been taken to secure historic
accuracy throughout the work; yet entire freedom
from errors is not expected. But the hope is cherished
that it will be serviceable in many ways, and not the
least in aiding some future historian to produce some-

thing better.
P. 8. BENNETT.
PART. I.

HISTORY OF METHODISM IN WISCONSIN

BEFORE THE

FORMATION OF WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

 

©:

CHAPTER I.

 

INTRODUCTORY.

O give the reader a proper view of the situation, a

brief account of the civil relations of this country—
the scene of the conflicts and triumphs to be recorded—may
be beneficial. It has been successively under the jurisdic-
tion of Spain, France, Great Britain, and America.

In connection with the latter it was, at different periods,
a part of the State of Virginia, of the Northwest Terri-
tory, of the Territories of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan,
before becoming a Territory itself. A brief history of these
transitions may be given thus:

On Easter Sunday, 1512, Juan Ponce de Leon, a com-
panion of Columbus, discovered the southern coast of the
North American Continent, and named it Pascua Florida
(Easter Flower Land). A subject of Ferdinand, king of
Spain, he claimed it for his sovereign. The Spaniards
designated the entire region, from the Gulf of Mexico to
the Great Lakes, Florida, and assumed dominion over it;
but as nearly all this vast region was unexplored, and in-
habited only by the aborigines, this dominion was only

ideal. Such as it was, it continued until 1627, when
1 g
10 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

France secured jurisdiction, and held it for one hundred
and thirty-five years.

During this period French Jesuits made extensive ex-
plorations, and established several missions among the
natives. In 1634, M. Nicollet made his way from the
Ottowa River, in Canada, where he had been living
among the Indians, to Green Bay, and soon penetrated the
interior as far as the Wisconsin River. He was, doubtless,
the first white man whose foot pressed the soil of this wide
domain. Other adventurers followed, some as fur-traders,
others as explorers and missionaries.

In 1670 two Jesuits—Pére Claude Allouez and Claud
Dablon—established the mission of St. Francois Xavier,
on the south side of Fox River, supposed to be where the
city of De Pere now stands.

Other missions, also, were founded by similar agencies
among the various Indian tribes scattered throughout the
wilds of this great Northwest.

By treaty stipulations between France and England, in
17638, civil jurisdiction passed to the latter, accompanied
by actual occupancy, and this continued until the issue of
the Revolutionary War brought it under American rule.

In 1778, Virginia extended its jurisdiction over the
‘‘Tilinois country ,” and formed the ‘‘ county of Illinois,” em-
bracing the territory now included within the States of
Illinois and Wisconsin.

The Northwest Territory was organized in 1787, and in-
cluded all north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsyl-
vania, as far as the “Great River”—the Mississippi.
Within this territory the domain of Wisconsin continued
until 1800, when it became a part of the Territory of
Indiana, formed that year.

For nine years it continued in that relation, and then
became a part of the newly formed Territory of Illinois,
with which, also, it remained nine years.
INTRODUCTORY. 11

On the formation of the latter into a State, in 1818, our
many-times espoused country became wedded to the Terri-
tory of Michigan, and passed as many years as in both
the last-named relations.

In 1836 it became more conspicuous, being organized
into a Territory bearing its present name, including also
the domain of the present State of Iowa.

In 1848 it was admitted into the Union, making the
thirtieth star on our National Banner.

For more than a hundred and fifty years, or until 1829,
the aborigines of this region learned nothing of Christianity
except what was contained in Jesuistic teaching. And as
Roman Catholicism is a mixture of paganism, of Judaism,
and of Christianity, and as Jesuits, in their efforts to con-
vert the heathen, always concede largely to their customs
and prejudices, provided they will accept the Cross, the
Mass, and the Confessional, no great improvement of these
sons of the forest can reasonably be expected to have been
made; and appearances indicated very little.
12 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

CHAPTER II.
1832-6.

MISSIONS AMONG THE INDIANS IN THE VICINITY
OF GREEN BAY.

.

N the 21st of October, 1829, by an act of the Legis-

lature of Michigan Territory, in which this country
was included, a Protestant Episcopal Church was incor-
porated at Green Bay. This was probably the first Prot-
estant religious organization west of Lake Michigan. A
mission-school was soon established under the supervision
of Richard Cadle, rector of the Church, for the benefit of
the various Indian tribes that inhabited this region from
time immemorial. Its location was about midway between
the present cities of Green Bay and De Pere.*

About 1822 the Oneida and Stockbridge Indians began
to remove from the State of New York and settle on the
east side of Fox River, near the site of Kaukauna, then
called ‘“‘ Kau-kau-lin.” They continued to come in small
companies at different times, under governmental direc-
tion, until a considerable number of them were here.

This circumstance seems to have formed a sort of con-
necting link between this wild region and the East.

* So far as is known the first religious service conducted by
a Protestant within the present limits of our State was at
Green Bay, in 1820. Dr. Jedediah Morse, father of Professor
Morse, who invented the magnetic telegraph, was sent there
by the Government on business connected with the Indians;
and, being a minister of the gospel, he preached once or more
while there.
INDIAN MISSTONS. 13

* The Methodist Episcopal Church had performed a vast
amount of really missionary work previous to 1819—her
ministers being in large measure self-sustained missionaries.
After that, she began to prosecute missionary operations
in a more systematic way, under her well-organized Mis-
sionary Society, formed that year.

In May, 1832, the sixth delegated General Conference,
was held in Philadelphia. The Committee on Missions
recommended “the extension of the aboriginal missions in
the Western and Northwestern frontiers.”

This fired the heart of John Clark, a delegate from the
New York Conference, whose mind had previously been
directed to the cause of the Indians; ‘‘and, after due
consideration and much prayer, he offered himself to the
Board as a missionary to Green Bay, and was accepted.”

On the sixth day of the next month his Conference com-
menced its session, and the list of appointments closes with
“John Clark, appointed missionary to Green Bay.” He
immediately began to prepare for the long and perilous
move, and on the 2ist of July he arrived safely at his
wilderness field of labor. Considering the poor facilities of
travel at that time, this was a marvelously expeditious
transit. It gave an earnest of the promptitude and energy
needed to prosecute his difficult work.

‘*The Indian settlement whose interests were specially
kept in view in establishing this mission” was not at Green
Bay, but at the ‘‘Grand Kau-Kau-lin” (Kaukauna), on
the east side of Fox River, about twenty-five miles from
the bay. It was made up of fragments of different tribes
from ‘the State of New York, as already stated.

So effectively did Mr. Clark perform his work, that on
the 15th of September—less than two months from the
date of his arrival—he had the pleasure of dedicating to
the service of the Lord a newly erected building, designed
alike as a house of worship and a school for the instruc-
tion of children in secular and sacred knowledge. This
14 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

unpretentious structure, built of logs, twenty-four by thirty
feet, was the first Methodist house of worship west of Lake
Michigan, and north of a line extending west from a point
fifty miles south of Chicago to the Pacific Ocean—an area
sufficient for a dozen States as large as Wisconsin.

At the same time, and in their newly consecrated temple,
Mr. Clark formed a class composed of twenty-five Indians,
“‘most of whom gave evidence of a change of heart,” and
the others of a ‘‘desire to flee the wrath to come and be
saved from their sins.” The sacrament of the Lord’s Sup-
per was then administered to about forty Indians, some of
whom were Stockbridges and Tuscaroras from the Presby-
terian mission near by, under the care of Messrs. Marsh
and Stevens. This seems to have been one of ‘‘ the times
of reireshing from the presence of the Lord.” Such was
the beginning of our missionary work among the Indians
in the vicinity of Green Bay.

Mr. Clark found on his arrival one Daniel Adams, who
had been a preacher among his people in Oneida, New
York, and seemed very much interested in the establish-
ment of a mission for their benefit in these ends of the
earth. Providence had also anticipated the advent of the
missionary by leading thither Miss Quinney, a pious
female Indian from the same place, competent to teach
school there. On the next day they met, sung, prayed,
and then organized a school of thirty Indian children.
Arrangements were also made with the teacher to conduct
a Sabbath-school for the benefit of both children and
adults.

But Mr. Clark could not be confined to that ‘place.
“The Green Bay country” was vast in extent. So, havy-
ing put Mr. Adams in charge of that mission for the time,
he proceeded down the west shore of the bay to Lake
Superior, forming missions or mission stations at different
points, which he continued to supervise for several years.
INDIAN MISSIONS. 15

It would be interesting to trace his labors in those wild
regions; but limited space, as well as the plan of this work,
forbid going beyond our own territory.

The Menomonee Mission deserves a passing notice. It
was located on the site of the present growing city of Mari-
nette, in our State, and the Hon. Isaac Stevenson’s beautiful
residence covers the old mission premises. The mission did
not eventuate in anything permanent, as did the one on
Fox River, to which we again turn attention.

The Oneidas had not yet found their abiding-place.
They soon formed a treaty with the Government, by which
their present Reservation was secured to them; and in the
summer of 1833, Superintendent Clark ‘‘ contracted for two
houses—one for the school, and the other for the teacher.”
Meanwhile, Miss Quinney had become the wife of Mr.
Adams; thus the resident missionary and the teacher were
of the same household.

No harm seems to have come to the mission from the
removal of the Oneidas to their new home. In May, 1834,
when Mr. Clark made his next visit to them, he found the
mission in a prosperous condition, and this pious couple
comfortably settled in a new log house, faithfully prose-
cuting their work.

The residence of Superintendent Clark had been Sault
de St. Marie, on the Straits between Lakes Superior and
Huron. To secure a more central location, he decided in
November, 1834, to remove to Green Bay. So he started
with his family, and arrived at Mackinaw on the 5th of
December, expecting to sail thence to Green Bay ; but, to
his great disappointment, navigation was closed for the
winter.

Having provided as comfortable quarters for his family
as he could, he resumed his apostolic journey alone, via De-
troit, Ypsilanti, Chicago, Milwaukee, and Lake Winnebago,
arriving at the Bay, January 27, 1835. This was a long,

*
16 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

severe, and perilous trip, such as few missionaries have
performed in any age or land. It showed the moral hero-
ism of the man. Mr. Clark found the mission at the Bay
quite prosperous under the labors of Rev. George White,
of whom more hereafter.

The Oneida Mission also continued to grow in numbers
and future promise under the care of Daniel Adams, who
had gathered a society of forty members. About this time
this faithful missionary and his devoted wife, having la-
bored in that field for several years with gratifying success,
removed to the Indian Territory to engage in similar work
among the Senecas there, who spoke the same language—
the Mohawk. About the year 1844, Mr. Adams ‘rested
from his labors,” and passed on to his reward, honored and
lamented by those for whom he had faithfully toiled.

For a time the school was under the care of Rolla H.
Chubb, who, in 1836, was succeeded by Miss Sophia
Mudgett and Miss Ethelinda Lee, just from Newbury
Seminary, Vermont. The latier opened a new school
about four miles north of the other, in a house secured by
a permanent lease, as was supposed; but in less than a
week a mob composed of chiefs and others, under the pas-
toral charge of the Protestant Episcopal missionary, razed
it to the ground. Our missions in this region had been
considerably annoyed by the Jesuits, and this was not very
surprising, as their converts were lifted but little above
their former pagan state; but that any branch of Prot-
estant Christianity should exhibit such fiendish opposition
to real evangelistic work is passing strange, even though
put to shame for their inactivity by their more zealous
neighbor.

Up to this time Mr. Clark had the general oversight
of all the missions under our care, extending from Oneida
and Green Bay to Sault de St. Marie; thence west on
the southern shore of Lake Superior to Ke-wa-we-non—a
INDIAN MISSIONS. 17

distance of about four hundred miles from extreme points.
He was sent out by the New York Conference, in 1882,
as already stated; but was re-enforced by a small corps of
valiant men from the Troy Conference, such as Henry
Whitehead, Milton Bourne, and D. M. Chandler. In the
summer of 1839 the writer was one of four ministers that
bore the latter to his last resting-place in Weedsport, New
York, where he died while on his way back from these
wild regions. The first named died a few months since,
honored and loved by all who knew him. The other—Mr.
Bourne—is still, so far as the writer is informed, on this
side the river. Their lay and native helpers are probably
all in the home of the faithful.

Notwithstanding the vast territory over which the
labors of these men extended, the Argus eyes of the inde-
fatigable superintendent were ever open to see new fields
in the region beyond. So, having heard that a large
band of Chippewas—four or five hundred—were located
at a point about midway between Lake Superior and the
Mississippi, he decided at once to establish a mission among
them, if practicable. For this purpose he sent three trusty
young Chippewas—John Tounchy, George Copway, and
Peter Marksman—to visit the settlement and open the
work there. The place was on a lake at the head of one of
the principal branches of the Chippewa River, called by
the French Lac Court Oreille (Lac Coort Ora), though
called by the Indians Ottawa, as a family of that tribe first
settled there.

Several adverse circumstances rendered this unsuccess-
ful for a time. The next summer (July, 1836), Mr. Clark
visited the place himself, was treated very kindly by the
chief Moo-zoo-jeele (Moose Tail), and accomplished his ob-
ject. He left Copway and Tounchy in charge of the mis-
sion, and made his way to the Mississippi, about two hun-
dred miles above Prairie du Chien. Here he met Rev. A.
18 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Brunson, who had recently been sent from the Pittsburg
Conference as superintendent of the Indian missions on
the Upper Mississippi. Of this pioneer the reader will
hear more hereafter.

Thence this successor of St. Paul proceeded to Green
Bay via the Wisconsin and Fox Rivers, skirted on either
hand by a dense wilderness, little thinking, perhaps, that
within a half century the country all along would bristle
with civilized life, and such cities as Portage, Berlin, Osh-
kosh, Neenah, Menasha, Appleton, Kaukauna, and De
Pere, with a score of lesser towns, would verify the proph-
ecy, ‘‘ The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad
for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as
the rose.”

The reader will be able to form a conception of this
apostolic journey by these reflections of the missionary after
his safe return :

“1. In all my journey of eleven weeks, a distance of
two thousand miles, my strength, courage, and patience
have been equal to my day. To God be all the praise.

‘©2,. The more I travel in the Indian country, the more
does my heart long for their salvation.”

Though much of the seed sown in these fields seems to
have fallen on stony places, there is good reason to believe
that all was not lost. In some there was permanent suc-
cess, and the sowing and harvesting are still going on.
And even in some cases where the unsettled habits of the
Indians may appear to have done more havoc than the
fowls of the air or the shallow soil, the seed of the king-
dom was, perhaps, carried to distant places, and produced
harvests more or less abundant. This tedious and perilous
journey was concluded in September, 1836.
: ITS BIRTHPLACE. 19

CHAPTER III.
1832-5.
WORK AMONG THE WHITE POPULATION.

OR the purpose of giving a connected account of the

Indian missions, some synchronous events in our his-

tory among the white or general population have been
passed. To these we now turn.

The question as to the birthplace of Methodism in Wis-
consin (except our work among the Indians) has long
been in doubt. After a thorough research, the following
seem to be all the ascertainable facts:

At the session of the Illinois Conference, in 1828, John
Dew was appointed to Galena, then a small hamlet, but
the head-quarters of the lead-mining interest of that region.
There were mining camps and settlements at different
‘points in Grant and Lafayette Counties, Wisconsin ; par-
ticularly at Gratiot’s Grove. It is known that Mr. Dew
preached at some of these places, more or less, in the
autumn of 1828, and baptized several children of the
miners.

In the Galena Advertiser of August 15, 1829, attention
is called to a ‘‘two days’ meeting to be held by Rev. J.
Dew, at Mr. Ahab Bean’s, on Fever River, about twelve
miles from this place, on Saturday and Sabbath, August
2ist and 22d.”*

Fever River rises in Wisconsin, a few miles east of

*®See “Memorials of Methodism in Rock River Confer-
ence,” by A. D. Field.
20 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN:

Platteville, and runs nearly due south in its general course
through Galena; and as the latter place is about six miles
from the southern boundary of our State, the said meeting
must have been in Wisconsin. We find no record of any
Church organization in these places; but, judging from the
religious proclivities of the miners in after years, who were
mostly Englishmen, it is very probable that some of them
were Methodists. If classes were formed among these, the
unsettled state of things may account for the failure to
transmit the records to us.

Major J. H. Rountree, well and favorably known
throughout our State, built a miner’s cabin on the present
site of Platteville, 1827. On the 7th of August, 1828, he
was married to Miss Grace Mitchell, who had been for
four years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and settled at once at the last-named place.

This region was then attracting much attention on
account of its mineral deposits. It was known as the
‘‘Lead Mines.” Outside thé mines, with the exception of
the garrison at Fort Howard, and French trading-posts
at Green Bay, Prairie du Chien, and Milwaukee, there
was not a white settlement in the vast region north of
‘Illinois, and probably not a white inhabitant. The beaver,
the badger, the wolf, the panther, and the bear held un-
disputed sway, only as kept in check at the points just
named, and by the native sons of the soil.

From a letter of Major Rountree to the writer, the
following facts are gleaned: In the month of April, 1832,
a Methodist preacher came from Indiana to Platteville on
Saturday, and stayed with him till Monday. On the
Sabbath he preached, held a class-meeting, and took the
names of those present, viz.: J. H. Rountree and wife,
William B. Vineyard and wife, Miss Paine, and a Mr.
McMurry. By this he understood that the preacher in-
tended to form a class; butit seems not to have gone to organ-
ITS BIRTHPLACE. 21

ization. The next day he went to Galena, and hearing that
the Blackhawk (Indian) War was to be prosecuted through-
out the lead region, be returned to Indiana. It is a matter
of regret that the name of this preacher, being now un-
known, can not go into our chronicles. Nor can it now be
known by what authority he visited the country. But
whatever were his intentions as to future operations, they
were thwarted by war rumors, which filled the whole
country with consternation.

According to Dr. W. G. Miller, Colonel Samuel Ryan,
who had been a Methodist for some years, came to Fort
Howard as a military officer in 1826, began to hold relig-
ious services, and continued them till the arrival of Mis-
sionary Clark. He then says: ‘‘ Immediately after his
arrival he began his labors, preaching the first Methodist
sermon within the limits of the present boundaries of our
conference. The sermon was preached to both soldiers
and citizens. The first class was formed by Brother Clark
immediately after, the services being held in the fort.
This class consisted of four members, as follows: Colonel
Samuel Ryan, Sr., Mrs. Sherman, Mrs. General Brook,
and a young man whose name can not be given. Mrs.
‘Brook was the wife of the commandant of the fort, and
Colonel Ryan was the class-leader.

In October, 1832, John T. Mitchell a probationer of
one year’s standing in Illinois Conference, was appointed
to Galena Mission. Galena was the emporium of the
‘‘ Mineral Region,” the largest town in Northern Illinois,
far in advance of Chicago; and yet it contained only about
one thousand inhabitants, many of whom were ‘ prospect-
ing” for mineral, and at best only transient residents.
Being near the northern boundary of Illinois, young
Mitchell extended his labors among the miners at Platte-
ville, Mineral Point, Wiota, and Dodgeville—all now
points of importance in our State—and established appoint-
22 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

ments at each place. He was a brother of Mrs. Rountree,
of Platteville, and, being a single man, made her house
his home much of the time.

John Clark, whose work among the Indians has been
described, antedated him a few weeks as a pioneer; but
Mr. Mitchell was the first ‘‘ voice crying in the wilderness”
to the white population within the present boundaries of
Wisconsin whose work took organic form.

In 1833 Galena was connected with ‘‘ De Buke”—so
we find the orthography—with Barton Randle and John
T. Mitchell as preachers. It was in some way arranged
for the former to occupy the portion of this field west of
the Mississippi, and the latter, that east of it. Thus his
work was substantially the same as the previous year. If
neither could say, ‘‘ The world is my parish,” Mr. Randle
had one that extended from the ‘‘ Father of Waters” west
to the Pacific Ocean, and from Missouri north to the Brit-
ish Possessions; while Mr. Mitchell’s covered more than
forty thousand square miles, so far as pastoral authority
was concerned.

The Conference was held in September, 1833, and on
the twenty-second day of December following, Mr. Mitchell
formed the first Methodist Society, and dedicated the first.
Methodist ‘‘ meeting-house” west of Lake Michigan, ex-
cept the mission-work at and near Green Bay. This was
in Platteville. The edifice thus set apart for public wor-
ship was formerly occupied by Major Rountree, then Ter-
ritorial Judge, as his court-room. But it was recon-
structed, seated, furnished with a pulpit made by the
preacher himself; and so, decidedly orthodox, if not ele-
gant. It was sixteen feet square, one story high, and
built of small logs. In this humble structure the class
was formed—the nucleus of a large, influential Church.
It consisted of six members—Mrs. Rountree and Miss
Ellen A. Mitchell, sisters of the preacher, and four others
ITS BIRTHPLACE. 23

whose names can not go into this history; but we trust
they are in the ‘* Book of Life.”

This may be deemed a small beginning. Be itso. It
was nevertheless a beginning. Besides, there was then but
one Methodist church edifice within the Rock River Confer-
ence. That was in Galena, dedicated a few weeks before. *

From the foregoing it is reasonable to conclude that
Colonel Ryan was the first Jay member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church on our soil; that Mrs. Rountree was
the second; that the first religious services of any sort, .
conducted by a Methodist within the present limits of
Wisconsin, were in the garrison at Fort Howard, and led
by Colonel Ryan; that the first sermon preached, and
the first baptismal ceremonies performed by a Methodist
preacher within the same limits, were at or near Gratiot’s
Grove, by John Dew, the latter part of 1928; that the second
Methodist sermon and the first class-meeting known to have
been held, were at Platteville, in the spring of 1832, con-
ducted by a preacher whose name is lost to our history ;
that in July, 1832, John Clark preached the first Methodist
sermon in what is now Wisconsin Conference, and formed
the first class within the present boundaries of our State;
that John T. Mitchell is the fourth Methodist preacher on
Wisconsin soil, and the first one sent to labor among the
white population, known to have organized societies or
taken any measures to provide a special place for public
worship for them. Both these were done December
28, 1838.

If the pilgrim preacher who visited the place in 1832
intended to form a class, he left no record of it, and it
was not perpetuated. Hence the former date must be re-

*In the summer of 1850, Mr. Mitchell, while on a visit to
Platteville, related the facts concerning the formation of the
class and the little log chapel to the writer, then pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church there.
24 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

garded as the true natal day of Methodism in Platteville.
Those lay pioneers, Colonel Ryan and Mrs. Rountree, de-
serve further notice.

Mr. Ryan was born in Ireland on the 22d of May,
1789. In early life he entered the United States military
service, in which he continued several years. He was
in the War of 1812-1814, and was wounded in the en-
gagement between the Shannon and the Chesapeake, on the
Ist of June, 1813. He was converted in 1821, while
garrisoned in Sackett’s Harbor, New York, and joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He was soon after removed
to Sault de St. Marie. Here he must have had a severe
trial of his faith. There was no chaplain in this garrison,
and the corrupting influences of the post were hard to
stem. But he remained faithful, both as a soldier of the
Cross and of his adopted country. He held frequent re-
ligious services, and many were converted to God. Com-
ing to Fort Howard, he continued the same good work,
and thus is entitled to be regarded as the Barbara Heck
and the Captain Webb of Wisconsin Methodism.

A few years after, he became register in the Govern-
ment Land-office at Green Bay. This was removed to
Menosha in 1852, but he remained in the same office for
several years. The writer enjoyed an intimate acquaintance
with him for many years, and most cheerfully bears testi-
mony to his great moral worth. Though impulsive, and
occasionally a little indiscreet, he was never jostled from a
fixed purpose of loyalty to his convictions of duty. He
died in the spring of 1876.

Mrs. Rountree had a shorter pilgrimage. She died, at
her home in Platteville, on the 16th of October, 1837.
Her honored husband, who has survived her more than
forty years, bears this brief but expressive testimony of this
noble woman: ‘‘She had lived a most exemplary Christian
life, and her last words were, ‘Jesus is with me.’”
ANNALS OF 1834. 25

The reader may wonder that no Church organization
was formed in the mining country for a year or more after
the energetic Mitchell commenced his labors there. But
when we remember that the inhabitants were, almost with-
out exception, in quest of mineral, ready to pack up any
day and move on to a more promising ‘‘ digging,” and also
that the entire ‘‘ West,” in which this country was included,
was in a feverish excitement on account of the ‘‘ Black
Hawk War,” we shall find the explanation.

This beginning of organized work among the white pop-
ulation on our soil was in connection with the Illinois Con-
ference. Thus it continued until the formation of the Rock
River Conference in 1840. In 1832 it was in the Quincy
District, with Peter Cartwright presiding elder, and in
1833, in Chicago District, John Sinclair presiding elder.
There is no evidence that either of them ever set foot on
our territory. No further notice, therefore, is accorded
them here than to say that both were distinguished minis-
ters of our Church. The former became almost world-wide
in reputation—the only man in the history of Methodism
that was fifty years a presiding elder.

1834.

In 1834, Iowa Mission appears in the Conference ap-
pointments, with L. Bevins as preacher. The name is
from Iowa County, and the mission included all the mining
region in what is now Wisconsin. It was included in
Galena District, formed this year, with Hooper Crews as
presiding elder.

Mr. Bevins appears in the list of appointments this year
first and last. In 1836 he located. He turned his atten-
tion to mining, near Platteville, and after a few years
“struck a lead,” which, it was said, yielded fifty-five thou-
sand dollars’ worth of mineral. He died not long after

this success, leaving an amiable wife—a sister of Dr.
2
@
26 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Richard Haney—and several lovely children. In 1849 the
writer, on entering upon his pastorate there, found them still
pursuing the way to Zion.

During this year (1834) the little sixteen-feet-square
church at Platteville was abandoned as a house of worship,
and the young society took possession of a larger structure,
built of hewn logs, designed for the double purpose of
teaching the ‘‘ young mind how to shoot,” and older ones
«the way of salvation.”

The Minutes of Oneida Conference, in the State of New
York, for 1834, show that George White was appointed
missionary to Green Bay. As there is no intimation given
that his labors were to be in connection with the Indians,
it is very probable that he was to serve the white popula-
tion. Yet he was under the superintendence of Missionary
Clark, as appears from the following extract from the
‘‘ Life of Clark,” page 153:

‘On his arrival at Green Bay he found the state of the
mission quite prosperous under the labors of Rev. George
White, who had that post in charge. Mr. White sent a
communication to the Board about this time, in which he
bears strong testimony to the faithfulness and zeal of the
superintendent.”

This refers to the arrival of Mr. Clark from Sault de
St. Marie via Chicago, already described. It was in Jan-
uary, 1835, a few months after Mr. White reached the
place. Why this should be the only allusion to him in
connection with Mr. Clark’s work, is marvelous, as he was
at that post for two years.

From Iowa Mission, in Galena District, were reported
eighty members—the only report from what is now Wis-
consin, for the Conference year 1834-5.

1835.

This year Alfred Bronson, late of the Pittsburg Con-

ference, was put in charge of Galena District, and also of
ANNALS OF 1835, 27

the Indian missions on the Upper Mississippi. Iowa Cir-
cuit, still including all our work in the mineral region, was
one of the appointments. It was a large field, involving
a great amount of travel and many privations. James
Hadley was the preacher. He came from Southern Illinois,
a long distance for that time. Rev. J. Crummer, then
residing on his circuit, describes him as ‘‘a good, laborious
Methodist preacher;” says ‘‘he kept to his work,” and
adds: ‘‘ A man that would do that in those days had good
Methodist preacher timber in him.” He evidently did his
work well, as he reported one hundred and thirty-six mem-
bers—a gain of seventy per cent. This was his first and
last year on our territory. It is supposed he has long
since ‘‘crossed the flood.”

This year Milwaukee—hitherto unknown to Method-
ism—is found in the list of appointments included in
Chicago District, W. B. Mack, presiding elder; and M.
Robinson, preacher in charge. It seems, from the best
available authority, that Mr. Robinson was in the place,
and preached the first Methodist sermon there in June,
1835; but the mission was not formed till the autumn fol-
lowing, when he was received on trial by the Illinois Con-
ference, and appointed in charge of it.

On the 19th of January, that same year, John Clark
reached what he calls ‘‘ the mouth of Milwaukee River,”
on his memorable journey from Sault de St. Marie to Green
Bay, already alluded to, and was ‘‘ kindly entertained at
the house of Solomon Juneau,” a Frenchman, who had long
been an Indian trader—the first white settler there. But
as he makes no mention of any other inhabitants, and as
the first purchase of public land in that region was made
by Mr. Juneau on the 31st of August, 1835—the earliest
date at which it could be purchased—there could have been
but few settlers in the vicinity of our present growing
metropolis. Indeed, there seems to have been nothing like
28 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

immigration till the spring of 1835, though about a year
before two or three young men settled on Milwaukee River,
three or four miles from its mouth, and erected a saw-mill.

From all this, it is a fair inference that Mr. Robinson
worked up such an interest during the summer as to justify
the establishment of a mission there. Within this mission
were several preaching-places, and from the work fifty-
three members were reported at the next Conference. The
class in Milwaukee was formed in the summer of 1836,
and consisted of David Worthington, Mrs. S. Brown,
Mrs. Firman, and Mrs. Lowry. The writer has not been
able to obtain the names of others, if there were any; nor
yet the dates of other classes on the charge, or the names
of the members.

Small though this was, it was doubtless the first relig-
ious organization in the limits of our metropolis. The next
was probably the Presbyterian Church, formed in 1837.

Of the subsequent history of Mr. Robinson, who did
such heroic work in and about Milwaukee, we know little.
His name appears no more in the Conference Minutes, from
which fact it is probable that he retired to the local ranks.

The report of members this year was as follows: Iowa
Mission, 136; Milwaukee, 53; Prairie du Chien, 10;
Oneida, 48; Green Bay, 34; total, 281—more than three
times the number of the preceding year. The ministerial
force increased from two to eleven. This increase is partly
due to the fact that Green Bay and Oneida reported this
year for the first time to the Illinois Conference.
ANNALS OF 1836, 29

CHAPTER IV.
1836.

HIS year the Territory of Wisconsin was organized,

including the present area of Iowa and Wisconsin.
This was an important epoch in the history of this country.
Immigration increased rapidly, and new settlements ap-
peared in all directions. The Michigan Conference was
formed in May, and included the entire territory embraced
in the State as it now is, thus taking in all the Indian
missions in the vicinity of Sault de St. Marie. The rest
were placed under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Conference,
to which Missionary Clark was transferred at the ensuing
session of the New York Conference.

At the Conference in October following he was ap-
pointed presiding elder of Chicago District, and Alfred
Bronson of Galena District. The former included our
work in the vicinity of Lake Michigan; the latter, that in
the western part of the State. Seven pastoral charges on
our territory appear this year in the Minutes of Illinois
Conference, instead of two of the previous year. But this
increase came from change of jurisdiction and division of
circuits.

George White, who, as we have seen, had been for two
years missionary at Green Bay, by appointment from
Oneida Conference, in New York, was transferred to IIli-
nois Conference, but was to continue in charge of the work
at the Bay until the session of the last-named body. He
did so, and then located. He subsequently became a clerk
in some department of the Government at Washington,
and died several years ago.
30 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Milwaukee Mission became two bands—Milwaukee Sta-
tion and Root River Mission, with William S. Crissey in
charge of the former, and S. Pillsbury of the latter.

Up to this time nothing is known as to the place in
which the young society held meetings—probably as in
other localities, in some private house. In December of
this year Leverett S, Kellog came to the place, and identi-
fied himself with the struggling Church. He was a car-
penter, and had a shop on the corner of Huron and East
Water Streets. This became their place of worship for
several months. Mr. Kellog will come under notice more
prominently in due time.

The two pastoral charges above named seem to have
been prosperous, as from them were reported at the next
Conference one hundred and fifteen members.

At the close of this year, Mr. Crissey passed into Illinois.
So far as appears, the first quarterly meeting in Milwaukee
was held by John Clark, January 8th and 9th, 1837.

Iowa Circuit gave place to Platteville and Mineral Point
Circuits, with Collon D. James and James W. Haney,
preachers on the former, and Richard Haney and John
Crummer on the latter. Platteville Circuit embraced all
the settlements in Grant County, and in the western part
of Lafayette; Mineral Point, all the rest of the settled
country west and southwest of Madison. Probably each
had from fifteen to twenty ‘‘preaching-places.”

Prairie du Chien seems to have been formerly included
in the Upper Mississippi Indian missions, so far as supplied
at all. It now embraced all white settlements north
of the Wisconsin River. David King, the pastor, began
the year with ten members, and closed it with twenty-nine.

In the winter of 1836-7, J. Crummer and William
Haney were exchanged. Thus the former became the
junior preacher on Platteville Circuit, and the latter on
Mineral Point. These preachers were all young, both in
ANNALS OF 1836, 31

years and in the ministry. Mr. James had been connected
with the conference but two years; Mr. R. Haney, one;
and the others had just been received on trial. They all
seem to have .been successful in their work. From Platte-
ville were reported at the next conference one hundred

and thirty members; from Mineral Point, seventy-eight.
The country was new, the inhabitants few and poor,

and yet living was somewhat expensive. But these pio-
neers, with no missionary funds to aid them, toiled on, en-
dured many hardships, and, almost selfsupported, laid the
foundation for flourishing Churches. Richard Haney taught
school in Mineral Point for six months, thus making the
burden lighter for the feeble circuit. There was a small
society there, but no church edifice, as we shall see in due
time. He “ preached in what was called the court-house,”
evidently .a building in which were held all public gather-
ings, though primarily designed for judicial purposes.

As Mr. Haney’s time was divided between his circuit
work and his school, he could do but little in the former
beyond meeting his regular appointments. These were
Mineral Point, Dodgeville, Willow Springs, Helena, Ham-
ilton Grove, and Pedlar’s Creek. At the latter place he
formed a class consisting of three Cornish miners, all bach-
elors, living in one cabin. He formed one also at Hamil-

_ton’s Grove. One of the members, William Kimball, first

discovered copper in Wisconsin. In a letter to the writer,
Mr. Haney quaintly remarks, ‘The greater part of my
sheep were late lambs,” thus indicating that most of his
visible success appeared in the latter part of the year.

The names of R. Haney, W. 8. Crissey, C. D. James,
and J. W. Haney appear for the first and Jast time in
connection with Wisconsin. They all passed into fields
further south. Richard Haney became prominent in the
Rock River Conference, and after several years fell into
the Central Illinois Conference by division of territory,
382 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

where he continued to rise in eminence among his brethren,
whom he has several times represented in General Confer-
ences. He is now an octogenarian, in the fifty-fourth year
of the itinerant ministry, never having lost a month from
active service. Few men have a brighter record than
the present Dr. Richard Haney.

Of Mr. James less is known. His colleague bears testi-
mony to his great fidelity and earnestness as a minister of
the gospel.

J. W. Haney’s name does not appear in the list of ap-
pointments the next year.

Two events worthy of note marked the latter part of
this Conference year. One is, the advent to Platteville of
Rev. Samuel Mitchell, called by everybody, ‘‘ Father
Mitchell.” As he was so conspicuous in various ways, a brief
account of him may be given here, though he will come to
view occasionally in the following pages. He was a native
of Virginia; had inherited twenty-five slaves, and held
them as such till he became a Christian. He then eman-
cipated them, and after a while moved to Southern Illinois,
taking with him those who were disposed to go, and pro-
vided them homes as far as he could. Thus he showed
the thoroughness of his conversion. When he came to
Platteville he was upwards of seventy years of age, having
been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for
about fifty years, and a local preacher about forty. He
was the father of Rev. J. T. Mitchell, who formed the first
Methodist class in Platteville, and of Mrs. Rountree and
Miss Ellen Mitchell, two of its members; also of Revs.
James and Frank F. Mitchell, who will come to view
hereafter. About 1855 he removed to Missouri, to spend
his last days with his last-named son, where he soon
died. His remains were taken back to his Machpelah in
Platteville, and laid beside those of his wife, depusited there
in 1842. ,
ANNALS OF 1386, 33

The other event is the erection of a new house of wor-
ship. It was built during the summer of 1837, and dedi-
cated Jate in August or early in September. Rev. W.
Weigley, then stationed at Galena, preached the dedicatory
sermon, using for his text a passage from the Song of Sol-
emon (chapter vi, verse 10): ‘Who is she that looketh
forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners?” As we look back
through the years of successful conflict in connection with
that Church, the text seems a prophecy. The building was
thirty by forty feet, elevated on a stone foundation of suffi-
cient height for a basement above ground. It was prob-
ably the first edifice erected by our people in the Territory,
designed exclusively for a place of worship. The church
at Green Bay was buiit during the same year; but as the
time of its dedication can not be ascertained, this must take
precedence. In it the Rock River Conference held its
second session, commencing August 25, 1841.*

On the 13th of November, 1836, Rev. H. W. Frink,
so long and so favorably known by us, reached a point
about three miles from the present site of Green Bay City,
on a sailing vessel. It was Saturday, and late in the even-
ing. He says there were on board ‘‘ nine passengers, seven
adults and two children. Of this number, six were mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.” As the vessel
could not make the port, he and a few others whose souls
longed ‘for the courts of the Lord,” found a way to reach
the shore in quest of some place of worship. They were
successful. The disciples there had assembled for a prayer-
meeting.

*The reader will remember that the immediate predeces-
sor of this, as well as the mission-houses at Green Bay, were
intended in part for school purposes; and the little log church
at Platteville was at first a court-room.

3
34 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Mr. Frink describes this and attending circumstances
thus: ‘‘The prayer-meeting was held in the only school-
house and only place for religious worship, save that at the
barracks at the fort. In this school-house there was
preaching on the Sabbath, and prayer-meeting in the even-
ing. This meeting was a very excellent one. Persons
present, Colonel Samuel Ryan, George and William White,
George Dorrance, John Driggs, and many others. In this
house I preached my first sermon to citizens, officers, and
soldiers; here I received a recommendation to the travel-
ing connection; here I first formed an acquaintance with
John Clark, of precious memory, presiding elder of Chi-
cago District. This district was bounded on the north by
Lake Superior; on the South by Ottawa, Illinois; on the
east by Lake Michigan; on the west by the verge of civ-
ilization.”

The fort above mentioned was ‘‘ Fort Howard,” on the
opposite side of the river, for a long time a military post.

Mr. Frink further says: “The first quarterly meeting
for the year was held on the 22d of January, 1837.”

This was not only the first of that year, but the first
one ever held at any point nearer than Milwaukee, and
held by the same man that, on the 15th of September,
1832, formed a class of twenty-five Oneida Indians, dedi-
cated the first Methodist church edifice, and held the first
Methodist sacramental service on Wisconsin soil.

The presiding elder secured the services of Mr. Frink
for some point in Illinois, and together they started on a
dreary journey for Chicago, on the 23d of January, 1837.
Their way had been somewhat prepared for them by a
military force. The case was, in brief, this: Fort Dear-
born, in what was then the little hamlet of Chicago, had
long been occupied as a United States garrison. It was
built in 1803 or 1804. In 1812, about fifty who had sur-
rendered to the Indians, under promise of protection, were
ANNALS OF 1836, 35

massacred, and the fort destroyed. It was rebuilt in 1816,
and occupied by a small army until about this time, when
they were ordered to Fort Howard, at the head of Green
Bay, in Wisconsin. Most of the buildings were torn down,
but two remained until the great fire in 1871. The im-
mense wholesale house of W. M. Hoyt & Co,, on the cor-
ner of River Street and Michigan Avenue, stands on the
site of the old fort. This military force cut its way
through forests, whenever these were encountered, which
was a large part of the distance after reaching the south-
ern border of our State. This was long known as the
“Military Road.”

But for this road our itinerants would have found their
journey far more difficult, if not utterly impossible. As
it was, it did not very much resemble a trip in a palace
car. The reader will appreciate this on reading a descrip-
tion given by Mr. Frink of one night’s lodging. After
stating that they found one of the camp-fires, made by the
soldiers of large logs, still burning, he says: ‘‘ With our
horses hitched to a tree, our feet to the fire, the earth for
our bed, and the heavens for our house, we slept, without
fear of being robbed by tramps. Though the woods were
alive with wolves and other animals, they did not disturb
us.” Thus was the promise verified, in which they may
have trusted—‘‘ They shall dwell safely in the wilderness,
and sleep in the woods.”

But, unpleasant as was this trip, it was far less so
than the one already described, made by Mr. Clark, from
Chicago to Green Bay, in January, 1835. Comparing
them, he says: ‘‘ Two years ago not an American family
resided between Chicago and Milwaukee ; now the country
is thickly settled by farmers, mechanics, merchants, etc.,
while the moral aspect of the country is really encouraging.
From Milwaukee to Green Bay, by the lake road, I found
a place of rest, with food for man and beast three nights.”
36 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Now (in 1890), instead of a small hamlet at Chicago,
and an Indian trading-post at Milwaukee, the traveler
will find one city containing a million, and another more
than two hundred thousand inhabitants, with numerous
villages and cities intervening, while the whole country is
humming with a dense population.

Early in this conference year the mission property at
Menominee was sold, and the post abandoned. Such
were the nomadic habits of this tribe, and such the cor-
rupting influences from the rude white people that had
been their only teachers for a long period, that no per-
manent fruits followed our work there.

Oneida and Green Bay, that had previously been sup-
plied with missionaries from Eastern conferences, appear this
year in the Minutes of Illinois Conference, with Daniel Poe in
charge of the former, and Philip W. Nichols, of the latter.
Oneida began the year with 48 members, and closed it
with 82; Green Bay began with 34, and closed with 44.

It should be remembered that the first class known to
have been formed within our Territory was in connection
with the garrison in Fort Howard; and the next was at
the Indian mission near Kaukauna—both by John Clark.
The former was the nucleus of the Church at Green Bay.

On the 6th of September, 1836, a deed of.a lot for a
church edifice was executed to a duly constituted Board of
Trustees. It was in the part of the town then known as
Astor, the same being a part of a large tract owned by
that New York millionaire, John Jacob Astor. A house
of worship was begun in 1836, and finished in 1837. It
was a frame building, the second of the kind erected in
the Territory, and the second of any kind built originally
and exclusively for a -church by any religious denomina-
tion. In size it was thirty-four by forty-eight feet, and
cost about one thousand dollars. The society being weak,
an embarrassing debt was incurred, which crippled them
ANNALS OF 1886, 387

for about ten years, when it was sold to the French
Catholics, of which more hereafter. The whole number
reported at the next Conference was 478—an increase of
about sixty per cent.

As this year closes the official relation of that dis-
tinguished minister, Rev. John Clark, to Wisconsin Meth-
odism, more than a parting word is befitting. His pre-
vious labors have already been sketched. He remained
in charge of Chicago District the full term of four years;
then the demands of the work in Texas kindled anew the
old missionary fire that still burned within him, and he
offered himself for that distant field. He saw toil and
sacrifice before him, but these were light when duty was
in the opposite scale.

Texas had just thrown off the heavy Mexican yoke,
and the heavier despotism of Rome. Her affairs were
still in a somewhat chaotic state, but she was sighing for
a better civilization and a better form of religion. On
her soil was evidently to be a severe conflict between the
Beast and the Lamb of Revelation, and Clark was ready
for the emergency. He started on the 4th of October,
1841, in a private carriage, with wife and son, on a trip
of a thousand miles, and reached San Augustine, the seat
of the newly formed Texas Conference, on the eighteenth
day of November.

He was a delegate to the memorable General Confer-
ence of 1844, and on the great question that agitated
that body, voted with the North. This rendered his posi-
tion in Texas very unpleasant. He returned, and became
connected with the Troy Conference, with which he re-
mained till 1852, when he took a transfer to Rock River
Conference, and was stationed at Clark Street Church,
Chicago. Here he not only perfurmed his ordinary work,
with usual success, but had the rare opportunity of aiding
somewhat in originating an institution that has already
388 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

been an untold blessing to the Great West, and is destined,
we trust, to go on in its career of usefulness to the end
of time.

It was on this wise: Mrs. Eliza Garrett, a wealthy and
devoted widow lady, member of his Church, desired to do
something to aid young men in preparing for the min-
istry. She consulted her pastor as to the most effective
way to accomplish her purpose. The result was the con-
secration of one hundred thousand dollars to found what is
now known as Garrett Biblical Institute—a worthy monu-
ment to its foundress and to her adviser.

Mr. Clark cherished a desire to revisit the scenes of his
missionary labors in our State, but the pressing demands
of his charge prevented. He did, however, make one
visit to Wisconsin. It was to dedicate the second church
edifice erected by our people in Janesville, and now known
as the First Church there. This was in the summer of
1853. The writer then saw him for the first and last
time, and, with many others, highly appreciated his able
ministration.

In July, 1854, after battling with cholera symptoms
for several days, he succumbed to that terrible disease,
but with frequent assurances from his lips that all was
well. Such a death might well be expected to follow
such a life.
ANNALS OF 1837. 39

CHAPTER V.

1837.

WO years ago, ‘‘ Milwaukee Mission ” appeared in the

Minutes of the Illinois Conference. This year we
find, ‘‘ Milwaukee District, Salmon Stebbins, presiding
elder.” It was entirely in Wisconsin. The pastoral
charges and their appointees are here given in full:

Milwaukee Mission—J. R. Goodrich,

Racine—O. F. Curtiss.

Sheboygan—H. W. Frink.

Green Bay—P. W. Nichols.

Oneida Mission—Daniel Poe.

Madison—To be supplied.

Aztalan—S. Pillsbury, Jesse Halstead.

In the western part of the State—Mineral Point, with
H. W. Reed as pastor; Helena, with Wm. Simpson; and
Platteville, with J. W. McMurtry and A. H. Bonney,
were in the Galena District. Bartholomew Weed was
presiding elder.

Mr. Weed came from the Philadelphia Conference;
was in charge of Galena District, which included several
appointments in Wisconsin for three years. He afterwards
returned to his old Conference, and died many years ago.
He was a man of commanding presence, great force of
character, and good abilities. His only daughter became
the wife of a Mr. Virgin, in Platteville, where she re-
sided till her death, a few years since—almost a life-long
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A new district, called Indian Mission District, was
formed, of which Alfred Brunson was placed in charge.
40 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

This contained four Indian missions, one French mission,
and one mission—Prairie du Chien—among the English-
speaking white population. Of the latter, the presiding
elder had the pastoral oversight. As to the French mis-
sion, we hear nothing of it before or after this year. The
Indian missions were mostly beyond the boundaries of our
State. Thus marshaled, this heroic band of Christian
soldiers entered upon their work, probably with expecta-
tions of increasing victories.

But a financial crash soon swept the country, East
and West, carrying devastation everywhere. For two or
three years, cities—‘“‘ paper cities”—had sprung up all over
the land. The wildest speculation prevailed.

A species of currency, called ‘‘ wild-cat money,” had
deluged the country, and thus many accounted themselves
rich, not because they had silver, or gold, or houses, or
lands, but promises to pay by irresponsible parties, and
fancied corner-lots in cities that were never built. The
‘“‘erash” utterly annihilated the supposed value of all
these possessions, and left almost every one very poor.
This severely checked immigration and all healthful enter-
prise. Of course, the young societies were everywhere
greatly embarrassed ; the preachers were poorly paid, nor
could they push out into the regions beyond as they had
planned, yet, like true heroes as they were, they fought
bravely in the circumstances, and won trophies for the
Master, as their reports show.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee, their pastor was com-
pelled to resign his charge about the middle of the year,
on account of failing health. But the little flock was not
left entirely uncared for. Providence had brought Jared
Thomson, a Jocal preacher, into the vicinity, and he sup-
plied them the rest of the year.

Racing, now one of our best appointments, first ap-
pears in the list this year. It seems to take the place of
ANNALS OF 1837, 41

Root River Circuit of the previous year, as the French
name of “root” is racine, and as the former does not ap-
pear as an appointment. O. F. Curtiss was in charge.
Just where or by whom Methodism was introduced in
Racine, it is difficult to decide. And strangely, the date of
the formation of the first class there, can not be ascertained.

At the Conference of 1836, Samuel Pillsbury was ap-
pointed to Root River Circuit, which evidently included
Racine. Indeed, it is probable that both indicated the
same territory. It seems quite safe, therefore, to assume
that Mr. Pillsbury preached there as early as the fall of
1836. But there is good reason to suppose that he was
antedated by Wm. See, a local preacher. He joined the
Illinois Conference in 1825, traveled two years with good
success, and then located. About 1830 he removed to
Chicago, and was the Government blacksmith in Fort
Dearborn. He was still a preacher, and his name appears
as a member of the first class in that city. About 1835
he settled on Root (or Racine) River, about two miles
from its mouth, built a mill, and afterwards became one
of the first class formed in Racine. As all accounts of
him show that he was an active Christian, it is quite prob-
able that he preached more or less there, and thus pre-
pared the way for a new circuit. The last account we
have of this pioneer is, that he removed to the vicinity of
Dodgeville, was useful in various ways, and died in 1859.*

*Tt is impossible to decide with certainty either as to the
time when the first sermon was preached there, or by whom
it was preached. From a paragraph in “Illustrated History
of Methodism,” pp. 588-9, it would seem that Jesse Walker,
preached at Root River, supposed to be at or near what
is now Racine, as early as 1834. No mention is made of
results. But John Clark, who pioneered the country in 1855,
says there was not an American family between Chicago and
Milwaukee. It is therefore probable that Mr. Walker visited
a point on Root River, some distance from Racine.
42 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

The names of those constituting the first class there, so
far as known, were Paul Kingston and wife, Wm. See and
wife, Harrison R. Fay and wife, A. Filer and wife,
Stephen Campbell and wife. From this small beginning
has grown a strong, influential Church. It used to be
said, “Go where you will in Wisconsin, you will find
some one who was converted in the Methodist Church at
Racine.”

From it have gone out several preachers, among whom—
and the only one now in our ranks—is J. L. Hewitt, pre-
siding elder on Milwaukee District.

SHEBOYGAN was a new appointment, embracing an im-
mense area of dense wilderness, with the exception of here
and there a small settlement. The preacher was a new
man, both in the Conference and in the itinerancy itself—
H. W. Frink. He had but recently come from the East
as a local preacher, and settled at Green Bay, then called
Navareino, as already described. His appointment to such
a field—a field in which there was not a religious organi-
zation of any kind, and, perhaps, not a decidedly religious
person—was surely a severe test of his fidelity to the call
of duty. ‘

Among his appointments were, Sheboygan, Manitowoc,
Brothertown, Stockbridge, which latter he could reach
only by way of Green Bay. Surely this was a circuit of
“magnificent distances.” But he was equal to the demand.
He labored on for many years faithfully and well. Much
of the time he was in frontier work, and his visits carried
sunshine to many a household. He was probably one of
the best pastors we ever had in this Conference. He is
now entirely superannuated, residing at Burnett Junction,
in his last pastoral charge, highly esteemed by all who
know him.

The first session of the Wisconsin Territorial Legisla-
ture was held at Belmont, six or eight miles east of
ANNALS OF 1837, 43

Platteville, commencing October 25, 1836; and on the
23d of November following, Madison was selected the cap-
ital of the Territory. It was very natural, therefore, for
the missionary genius of our itinerancy to plan for its spir-
itual welfare. Accordingly, at the next Conference (1837),
it appears in the list of appointments ‘‘ to be supplied.”

AZTALAN, an honored name in our annals, embraced an
immense territory hitherto unexplored, even by the almost
ubiquitous Methodist itinerant. Indeed, Messrs. Pillsbury
and Halstead scarcely knew any bounds to their work.
They traversed the entire Rock River Valley, in Wis-
consin, and extended their appointments as far to the east
and south as Prairieville (aow Waukesha), East Troy, Elk-
horn, Burlington, and Janesville. Thus they sowed the
seed of the kingdom over a wide field, from which was
gathered a good harvest in following years. Of this, that
year’s toil was an earnest, for we find sixty-two members
at the close of the year where there were probably none at
the beginning.

HELENA was a new pastoral charge, set off from Min-
eral Point Circuit of the previous year. Each of these
places received a new man—the former, William Simpson ;
the latter, H. W. Reed, both of whom will appear in
future pages. Helena was a point on Wisconsin River,
quite isolated, and so significantly named. Rev. J. Crum-
mer, referring to the preceding year, says: ‘“‘It was be-
lieved that there was not a white family between us and
-the Selkirk settlement of the north.” He further says:
‘‘On preaching night everything was put in fine order,
and the preacher treated to the best there was.” The
main industry was a shot-factory, owned by a local
preacher, not a resident of the place, who paid fifty to
seventy-five dollars a year to sustain preaching there. The
circuit included Blue Mounds and some other points.

For some cause the preachers on Platteville Circuit
44 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

both left the work somewhat early in this year, and J.
Crummer, who served there a part of the previous year,
but had passed beyond our bounds, was called back to
this field. It involved labor enough for two strong men;
but this indomitable worker managed, by the aid of two
or three local preachers, to push the conquests of the
Cross successfully to the close of the year. The circuit
seems to have been even larger than the previous year.
He had at least one appointment in what is now the State
of Iowa, and also extended his work northward to regions
beyond. We of the present time may be more reconciled
to what seems a little hard, by noting some of the inci-
dents of those days. A few must suffice.

Blue River, now Montfort, was a mining-camp. Mr.
Crummer soon made his way there, being the first preacher
on the ground. He found a “smart sprinkle” of Cornish
people. They assembled—mostly men—to hear preaching
for the first time in those ‘‘ends of the earth.” When the
hymn was announced, they joined in and sang with a
gusto that indicated a familiarity with that kind of wor-
ship, and doubtless greatly helped the preacher. He
formed a class, and slept sweetly in a miner’s bunk. But
his horse—faithful traveling companion—did not fare as
well. There being no stable, he was tied to a tree, and
during the night a heavy fall of snow made his lot very
uncomfortable. It really was enough to make some horses
leave the itinerancy. But he remained true to his master,
as his master to the work.

On one occasion he was all one cold winter day on
horseback, traveling from this to another appointment.
Not a family resided between the two points. At another
time, while preaching in a log school-house, he noticed a
little uneasiness, and presently a large blacksnake was
drawn out from between the logs and dispatched by one of
his hearers. Whether this was a direct descendant of a
ANNALS OF 1857. 45

similar animal that once infested Eden or not, the preacher
went on bruising the head of him who is symbolized by
that ancient intruder.

At another time still, night overtook him as he reached
an Indian’s cabin, and he was compelled to ‘turn in.”
The family seemed to make him welcome in broken En-
glish, but everything indicated filth, if not something
worse. Supper was soon ready, and he was cordially in-
vited to partake. It consisted mainly of fish, boiled as
taken from the water. He dared not refuse, but his ap-
petite did not crave a very large portion of it. Certain
domestic animals of different kinds that occasionally
awaken considerable interest, abounded in some of the
huts in which the itinerant of those days was obliged to
lodge. Though they stuck ‘closer than a brother,” they
really were enemies, and no amount of heroism could
overcome the dread of their attacks. Not unfrequently
were the houses so open that a driving snow-storm in the
night would cover the bed of a sleeper with a white
blanket several inches thick.

Mr. Crummer describes several kinds of corn-bread
made in those days. One kind was called ‘‘ dodgers ;”
they were made of corn-meal and cold water (possibly a
little salt), well manipulated into oval balls, and baked
very hard. He thinks he has seen them so hard that a
‘‘strong arm could knock down a year-old steer with one
of them at a distance of ten paces.” Some may think
this is worse than the hard-tack marked ‘‘B. C.,” that
regaled our ‘‘ Boys in Blue.”

This year of toil on Platteville Circuit was quite suc-
cessful. Among those who entered upon a new life were
at least two who became itinerant ministers. These were
T. M. Fullerton and F. T. Mitchell. The circumstances
attending the conversion of the former were these: Mr.
Crummer was on his way to an appointment in ‘‘ Snake
46 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Hollow,” a mining camp that abounded in vile conduct,
stimulated by the fire-water of death; and as he ap-
proached, there was an outcry, ‘‘ Here comes the Meth-
odist preacher!” At once there appeared on the scene a
drunken, howling mob. Some threw stones, others rolled
whisky-barrels into the street, and altogether the uproar
seemed somewhat like that at Ephesus when the great god-
dess Diana was in danger of being ‘‘set at naught.” The
preacher’s horse, called by his owner, ‘ Judge,” showed
more opposition to the whisky-barrels, though empty,
than some modern judges do to those well filled. The
preacher reached the place of meeting unscathed, and in
no wise daunted by the bacchanalian outburst. The Lord
attended the word, and from that hour young Fullerton
commenced to seek the Savior.*

Young Mitchell was converted at a camp-meeting, the
first, it is supposed, ever held within the present bound-
aries of our State. This was near the Big Platte River.
So successful was it that the brethren fitted up a ground
for another near Platteville, and a meeting was held there
the same fall, attended by several preachers on their return
from the Annual Conference. This will be more fully
noticed in the annals of next year.

The total membership, as reported at the next Con-
ference, was 564—an increase of eighty-six.

*Tn an obituary notice of this excellent minister, in the
Northwestern Christian Advocate of January 22, 1890, he is said
to have been converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church in 1840. This is not in conflict with the former state-
ment. Intelligent Methodists have never considered commenc-
ing to seek the Savior as all that is meant by Scriptural conver-
sion. Mr. Fullerton probably entered upon a praying life at
the former date, and experienced the infusion of spiritual life
at the latter.
ANNALS OF 1838-9. 47

CHAPTER VI.
1838-9.

HE Minutes this year present but few important
changes. The districts are the same, and manned as
last year.

Sheboygan and Aztalan disappear. The territory in-
dicated by the former was probably abandoned on account
of the great financial distress already described. That in-
cluded in the latter took the name of Honey Creek. This
place was a long distance from Aztalan. But, as the
reader will remember, those zealous pioneers, Pillsbury and
Halstead, covered nearly all the country with ‘‘ labors
abundant,” from Aztalan to the southern boundary of
Wisconsin. It is not strange, therefore, that a more eli-
gible point for the head of the circuit was developed. Mr.
Pillsbury was continued in charge of the work, with J. F.
Flanders as colleague.

Fort Winnebago was connected with Madison as a
mission, and John Hodges was pastor.

Deansbury and Fond du Lac also appear as a mission
‘to be supplied.”

W. Wigley was appointed to Milwaukee; 8S. P. Keyes
to Green Bay; H. W. Reed to Oneida; Thomas P. Lopas
to Mineral Point; John Crummer to Helena; and Isaac
J. Stewart to Platteville. The second camp-meeting held
on Platteville Circuit, alluded to on a previous page, was
a great success. The Church in the growing village was
very much improved in numbers and spiritual power.
Among the interesting features of it was the presence of
48 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Jason Lee, missionary in Oregon, accompanied by two
Flat Head Indians from that far-off land.

Though this incident did not contribute largely to the
history of Methodism in Wisconsin, such was the influence
of the Oregon Mission upon our Church at large, upon
Christianity in general, and upon the physical structure
of our country, that a brief account of its origin will be
acceptable at this point.

The Divine hand was as conspicuous in this as in open-
ing the way to send Christian missionaries to the Sand-
wich Islands fifteen years before. Comparatively little
was known of our great country west of the Rocky Mount-
ains until within the last sixty or seventy years. McKen-
zie, sent out by the British. Government, and subsequently
Lewis and Clarke, under the authority of the United
States, demonstrated the possibility of a transit over land
to the Pacific Coast, and awakened considerable interest in
that Great Northwest. And though their expeditions were
for political purposes, the Ruler of the world was directing
results.

It seems that two of the Flat Heads were taken back
by McKenzie to Montreal, and educated slightly in a
Roman Catholic school. They returned to their native
land, and tried as best they could to instruct their breth-
ren in the Christian religion. But as their own light was
dim, and obscured by the superstitions of Romanism, their
efforts seemed to produce no special effect except to awaken
a desire to know more about it than these youth could
tell them.

This desire was greatly increased by what seems an
accidental circumstance. By some means a white man—
by name unknown to history—made his way into their
country. After attending some of their religious festivals,
and observing their devotions, mixed with ridiculous folly,
he ventured to tell some of them that they were wrong in
ANNALS OF 1838-9, 49

their views of the Great Spirit; that he did not require
such worship. They received this kindly. Then he pro-
ceeded to tell them further that there was a people toward
the ‘‘rising sun” that knew all about the true God, and
how to worship him; and that he had given them a
Book from which they had learned all this. They became
so interested that they convened a council, deliberated on
the subject, and decided to send a deputation of four to
obtain the ‘‘ Book that told of the white man’s God.”

They entered upon their perilous journey of about three
thousand miles through the dismal dells and over the
snow-capped peaks of the Rockies, and reached St. Louis
in the latter part of 1832 or the beginning of 1833.
Providentially, General Clarke, who, in 1805, accompanied
Lewis in a similar dreary journey, was the Indian agent
there. They were brought to him. He was interested
for them, and gave them such verbal instruction as he
could touching the object of their inquiry, but did not
seem to meet their desires. Unfortunately they soon
came under the influence of the Roman Catholics, who
then largely dominated the city. They renewed their re-
quest for the ‘‘ Book,” but instead, they tried to satisfy
them with their mummery. All their efforts failed for the
time. Two of their number died there; the others re-
turned without the ‘‘ Book,” and knowing little more of
the white man’s God than when they came.

Wm. Barrows, a writer in the Oregon, a paper pub-
lished in that State, referring to this wonderful event, calls
it a failure. We will see. There was a ceremonial leave-
taking, at which one of the survivors made a farewell ad-
dress, as follows:

“‘T came to you over a trail of many moons from the
setting sun. You were the friend of my fathers, who
have all gone the long way. I came with one eye partly
opened for more light for my people, who sit in darkness.

4
50 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

I go back with both eyes closed. How can I go back blind
to my blind people? J made my way to you with strong
arms, through many enemies and strange lands, that
I might carry back much to them. I go back with both
arms broken and empty. The two fathers who came with
us, the braves of many winters and wars, we leave asleep
here by your great waters and wigwam. They were tired
in many moons, and their moccasins wore out. My people
sent me to get the white man’s Book of heaven. You
took me where you allow your women to dance, as we
do not ours, and the Book was not there. You showed
me the images of good spirits, and pictures of the good
land beyond, but the Book was not among them to tell us
the way. J am going back the long sad trail to my peo-
ple of the dark land. When I tell my poor, blind people,
after one more snow, in the big council, that I did not
bring the Book, no word will be spoken by our old men or
by our young braves. One by one they will rise up and
go out in silence. My people will be in darkness, and
they will go on the long path to the other bunting-grounds.
No white man will go with them, and no white man’s
Book to make the way plain.”

Though this speech, surpassed by few in any age or
land in all that constitutes true eloquence, did not bring
immediate relief to these eager inquirers after truth, their
mission was not a “failure,” as Mr. Barrows supposes.
The account of it soon got into the papers. Dr. Wilber
Fisk, then in his prime, made a stirring appeal through
the Christian Advocate. The heart of the Church pulsated
with sympathy. This Macedonian cry rung in ears
that had been dull of hearing. It echoed and re-echoed
all through the land. The mission of Cox to Africa, and
that of Clark to Green Bay, had increased the missionary
spirit in our Church; but this seemed to intensify it more
than any thing before.
ANNALS OF 1838-9, 51

Soon two young men, Jason and Daniel Lee—uncle
and nephew—offered themselves as missionaries to that
people. They were accepted; and, after spending some
time in still further arousing the Church to the work of
evangelizing the world, they started, and about the 1st of
May, 1834, they left the border of civilization on horse-
back, and reached Oregon in September following.

In the summer of 1838, Mr. Jason Lee returned for a
short time to the East, bringing with him three young
Flat Heads, traveled quite extensively through the country,
and thus gave another impetus to the missionary cause.
The writer well remembers the interest awakened in Cen-
tral New York, where he heard him; and so it probably
was everywhere. Even in this then new country, and
though largely missionary ground, his visits and the pres-
ence of his Indian converts, who spoke broken English,
but could tell something of what the ‘‘ Book” and the
religion it taught had done for them, produced a great
sensation, aud kindled anew the missionary flame, especially
at this camp-meeting.

The presence of these and other missionaries in Oregon,
led there by this wonderful providence, unquestionably
saved all the territory to the United States included in the
States of Washington, Oregon, and about one-half of Cal-
ifornia. The Hudson Bay Company had claimed it for
Great Britain, and that claim was about to be ratified by
the authorities at Washington, when a missionary, who
made his way by almost superhuman effort through the
unbroken forest, reached the National Capital. The in-
formation he imparted saved that vast and valuable region
to our country. The name of this hero was Whitman, a
medical missionary. (For further information see ‘‘ Build-
ing the Nation,” published by Harper Brothers, pages
371-386.)

During the winter of 1838-9 a charter was obtained
52 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

for an academic institution in Racine; and soon after,
during the same session of the Legislature, another was
secured for one at Platteville, through the efforts of Major
Rountree, a member from that place. A school was
opened there at once, and continued as an academy till it
was elevated to the rank of a State normal school. Two
years elapsed before the one at Racine was commenced.
Of its career the writer has no knowledge.

Mr. Wigley thought it best to visit Milwaukee before
moving his family. He found the brethren so disheartened
and embarrassed by the financial pressure, that they did
not think they could pay his moving expenses. This in-
terview closed their relations, and the place was supplied,
as a part of the preceding year had been, by Jared Thomp-
son. This was very disastrous to Milwaukee; not because
Mr. Thompson was not a faithful, good man—he was, in-
deed, and a man of good natural ability—but he resided
nearly ten miles away, was obliged to spend most of his
time in hard manual Jabor, and could not look after the
pressing interests of the Church. Little or no pastoral
work was done; sometimes funerals were attended by lay-
men, and even the Sabbath services suffered greatly. One
who was on the ground says that ‘‘the appointments
were sometimes filled by another local preacher, sometimes
by exhorters; and where no one came to officiate, Brother
Wm. A. Kellogg used to pray with the congregation, sing,
and then dismiss them.”

In these circumstances it is not strange that the young
society diminished to thirty-five during the year. Indeed,
this seems not to have been a very successful year gen-
erally, as most of the charges reported a decrease. The
unparalleled financial distress that had overwhelmed the
country still embarrassed the work. Racine, Honey Creek,
Helena, and Platteville, each had an increase, so that there
was an aggregate gain of eighty-six.
ANNALS OF 1838-9. 53

The first record of a Quarterly Conference at Oneida
Mission, that has been preserved, appears this year. The
body convened December 29, 1838, and consisted of the
presiding elder, the missionary, three local preachers, and
eight other official members, and the business seems to have
been done very correctly. There is also a minute inven-
tory of property belonging to the mission, some articles
being appraised at twelve and a-half cents.

1839.

The Conference Minutes for 1839 show fourteen pas-
toral charges, in place of eleven of the previous year,
which, though not a large increase, was an indication of
fair progress, considering the condition of the country.

Julius Field was in charge of Milwaukee District,
‘Cand the station was supplied by Rev. David Brayton, a su-
perannuated member of the Troy Conference. During the
winter of 1839-40 there was an effort made to erect a
church.” A plan was formed for one sixty by forty feet.
A very eligible site was donated by Hon. Morgan L.
Martin, on Main Street (now Broadway), between Oneida
and Biddle Streets, and some preparations were made for
building. But a few began to talk as some did in the
days of Haggai: ‘‘The time is not come, the time that
the Lord’s house should be built.” This unwise counsel
prevailed, so that little was done that year except to cut
down the plan to fifty by thirty-five feet—a step backward,
against the strong protest of the presiding elder and Leverett
S. Kellogg, a prominent layman, of whom more will
appear.

At the following Conference eighty-nine members were
reported—an increase of fifty-four.

Southport, now and for many years called Kenosha,
makes its first appearance in the Minutes, not as an inde-
pendent appointment, but as an adjunct to Racine, with
54 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Salmon Stebbins as pastor. But this was not the begin-
ning of its religious history.

Late in May, or early in June, 1835, Jonathan Pierce
came, with his family, in the ‘‘ first wagon that ever rolled
through the Indian village” near by, and settled on the
present site of Kenosha, then called Pike River. He was
a devoted Christian and Methodist. He was the only
white man in that vicinity, but others soon came. So far
as appears, no congenial spirit came to the place until the
second day of August following, when Austin Kellogg,
with his wife and five children, landed from a schooner,
and were scattered along the Pike River beach. It was
Sabbath afternoon. As his religion was the kind that
“bears transportation,” he began at once to look around
for a religious meeting. He soon found Mr. Pierce, and
they arranged fur a prayer-meeting the next Sabbath. On
that day, August 9, 1835, they held the first prayer-meet-
ing in the place. They must have been agreeably sur-
prised to find twenty-eight persons in attendance—nearly
every white settler—and more so to see that twenty-one
took some part in the services. They also then and there
formed a Sabbath-school. They thus showed that they
were there for a higher purpose than worldly speculation.

Though religious meetings of some sort were held
every Sabbath, no class was formed till 1837. During the
interim they rarely had preaching. Rev. Mark Robinson,
so far as appears (the preacher on Milwaukee Circuit in
1835) preached the first sermon there. His successor also,
Rey. William Crissey, it seems, gave the place a little
ministerial labor. a

Some time in the year 1837 the Pike River class was
formed, consisting of ten persons, viz.: Rev. R. M. Demming,
Austin Kellogg, Armenia Kellogg, Jonathan Pierce, Charles
Durkee, Mrs. Charles Durkee, Mrs. Harvey Durkee, John
W. Dana, Martha E. Dana, and Susan Dana. The class was
ANNALS OF 1839. 55

formed by Mr. Demming, then a local preacher. He
had been for a time connected with some Eastern Confer-
ence. In his new home for many years he rendered val-
uable service to the Church. Austin Kellogg was the
leader. He belonged to a large family whose name is in-
timately and honorably connected with the early history
of Methodism in Wisconsin. Charles Durkee was after-
wards a United States senator from our State for six years.

After the Conference of 1837, the place (its name
having been changed to Southport) formed a part of
Racine Circuit, though its name did not appear in the
Minutes till two years later. The first quarterly meeting
held in Southport commenced November 4, 1837, 5. Steb-
bins, presiding elder, and O. F. Curtiss, preacher in
charge.

During the ensuing winter, a very extensive revival of
religion swept the place, ‘‘resulting in the conversion of
nearly the entire community.” The fruits of it were seen
in various ways. It gave the place a healthy moral
tone, as nothing else could, and thus aided it in all proper
business matters.

Because the Christian religion imposes restraints to the
greed and dishonest speculations of men, they often think
it unfriendly to their worldly interests. But really, in the
highest and best sense, ‘‘ godliness has promise of the life
that now is.” So it proved in this case.

The young society, thus re-enforced, began to make
preparaton for erecting ‘‘a house for the Lord,” and suc-
ceeded, as we shall see in due time.

Green Bay was under the pastoral care of A.
Chenoeth.

Oneida was left to be supplied; but J. Halstead, who
was appointed to Deansburg (an early name for Brother-
town), was removed by the presiding elder to Oneida. No
Church organization seems to have been effected in Deans-
56 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

burg as yet, though there had been occasional preaching
in the place for some time. The Stockbridge Indians were
in a transition state from a tribal government to American
citizenship. To us, at this distance, that seems a very im-
portant period in their history, and one that should have
been seized with great avidity to bring them under gospel
influences.

During this year the church at Oneida was dedicated.
The following is a copy of the dedicatory proceedings, so
far as their legal bearings are concerned, as found in the
Records of the Mission:

‘“‘In the name and in behalf of our people, we here
present the land laid off for the building of this house,
and all that we have done to complete the same to Gods
to be used as a holy place for religious worship, according
to the order of the Methodist Episcopal Church, for the
benefit of this Nation.

oa JACOB CoRNELIUS,
Signed by 15 onn CoRNELIUS.
( Tuomas Loprick, + His mark.
| Jonn Cooper, + His mark.
“Chiefs, { Isaac Jonnson, -+ His mark.
| Homer Smrra, -+ His mark.

(Moses Cornetius, -+ His mark. !
“ Oneida West, January 4, 1840.

‘In the name and in behalf of the Missionary Society,
J here present this house as a holy place for religious wor-
ship, according to the order of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, for the benefit of this Nation.
«Signed by Juuius Frevp,
“Superintendent of Missions.
“ Oneida West, January 4, 1840.”

Madison was again left to be supplied.
Fort Winnebago, a military post between Fox and
ANNALS OF 1839. 57

Wisconsin Rivers (near Portage City), was in charge of
S. P. Keyes.

Apparently, but little was accomplished in either place,
as from the former only three members were reported ;
from the latter, none. Still, necessary preparations may
have been made for future success.

The pastoral work, known as Honey Creek, the pre-
ceding year, appears now as Walworth, embracing, it
seems, all the settlements in that county, and was in care
of J. McKean.

Watertown appears this year in the list of appoint-
ments, but it does not indicate entirely ney ground. It
took in the northern part of what was Aztalan Circuit of
1837 (called in 1838 Honey Creek), and left all the
country, east and southeast, as far as Lake Michigan, to
be explored. H. W. Frink was appointed to pioneer this
region; and well did he perform his work. Amid great
difficulties, he penetrated the wilderness to Menominee,
Wauwatosa, and .other points in that region, forming
classes in various places, as will be noted in due time.
Thus, at the close of the year, his circuit extended from
the boundaries of Madison and Fort Winnebago charges
to the lake, as far south as Waukesha and Milwaukee,
embracing everything in its sweep but the latter place.

The appointments in the western part of the State
were still embraced in Galena District, with B. Weed,
presiding elder. They were as follows:

Prairie du Chien—Wm. Simpson.

Platteville—H. W. Reed and J. G. Whitford.

Mineral Point—J. Hodges.

Helena—John Crummer.

By some subsequent arrangement the two places last
named were united in one circuit, with John Crummer in
charge.

The returns of this year show far greater gains in mem-

5
58 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

*
bers in the mineral region than in the eastern part of the
State. Perhaps this is due largely to the circumstance
that the hard times affected it less. Speculation seems
not to have run as wild; and, then, their mineral basis was
greatly in their favor.

The following incident will give the reader another
view of the way our early itinerants followed up the tide
of immigration: Though Helena Circuit embraced all the
region east and west between Mineral Point and Madison,
and north and south between the Pecatonica and Wiscon-
sin Rivers, yet the preacher, J. Crummer, whose push and
heroism have already been indicated, on hearing of some
settlers on Sauk Prairie, north of Wisconsin River, started
off in the usual style of a Methodist preacher in those
days, on a trip of thirty miles or more, with only one
house between, to preach to them the word of life. On
reaching that house, he was told that it was impossible to
get across the river, as the ferry-boat was on the other
side, and he could not make the people there hear him call.
To confirm this, it was added that ‘‘Rev. Mr. Quaw went
there a day or two before, and hallooed till hoarse, and
then turned away to Madison.” But the intrepid Crum-
mer replied: ‘‘ We Methodists can make more noise than
the Presbyterians.” The man, seeing his determination,
replied: ‘(I can suggest a plan that will get you over.
There is a cabin at such a point; into this put your
horse. At another point you will find a scythe hidden
away; with this cut grass for your horse. Now, at another
point you will find a canoe under the bank.” Then look-
ing doubtfully at the preacher, he added: ‘‘There is no
paddle—you will have to carry one.”

No time can be safely lost. Twenty miles without a
vestige of civilization, and a wide, rapid stream lie between
him and the place of his destination. Almost instantly
he mounts his faithful “Judge,” with a paddle fastened
ANNALS OF 1839, 59

to his saddle-tow, and speeds for the river. He finds
everything as described, plus the kind of mosquitoes of
which ‘‘a great many weigh a pound,” and reached the
prairie before night. The next day the whole settlement
came to hear the word of the Lord preached. At this
service a class was organized, but of how many composed
the writer is not informed. This was evidently the begin-
ning of our work on Sauk Prairie.

On the Platteville work there was a very extensive re-
vival. This was especially true of the west end of the
circuit, then called Snake Hollow, on account of the im-
mense number of congealed rattlesnakes taken from a min-
eral cave; but afterwards named Potosi, after a South
American city, because of the abundance of mineral de-
posits there.

Numbers reported, 965.

The total gain for the year in the thirteen appoint-
ments was 243—about thirty-three and a third per cent.
60 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

CHAPTER VII.

1840-1.

T the eighth delegated General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in May, 1840, the
Illinois Conference was divided, thus forming a new Con-
ference, called Rock River, which included the northern
portion of the State of Illinois and all the Territory of
Wisconsin, together with the Indian missions of the Upper
Mississippi, wherever located. Henceforth, therefore, for
eight years, the reader will understand that Wisconsin
Methodism was under the tutelage of Rock River Confer-
ence. At the close of the list of appointments of Illinois
Conference for 1839 we find the following:

““ Question: When and where shall our neat Conference
be held? Illinois Conference at ‘Springfield, Sangamon
County, Illinois; Wisconsin Conference at Pine Creek,
Ogle County, Illinois; the times to be published in the
Advocate, after General Conference.”

From this it is evident that the first plan was to name
the new Conference after our Territory, but finally it was
called “‘ Rock River.” At the first session of that Confer-
ence, held in August following, all the appointments in
Wisconsin were included in Platteville and Milwaukee Dis-
tricts—the former in charge of H. W. Reed, the latter of
Julius Field. There were seventeen pastoral charges, call-
ing for the labor of twenty-two ministers. If we take into
account the Indian missions above mentioned, nine more
men will be added to the working force.
ANNALS OF 1840-1, 61

Platteville District was one of ‘‘ magnificent distances,”
extending from near the southwest corner of the Territory
to Green Bay. To pass from one of these points to the
other involved nearly two hundred miles of travel. And
be it remembered there were no railroads or steamboats to
make the trip expeditious and comfortable. Even human
habitations were very rare, and the few that existed could
give but poor accommodation to the traveler. It is not
mere poetry, however, to say that the ‘‘ spaces were beau-
tiful.” They were literally so when, from May to October,
an endless variety of prairie-flowers greeted the eye in all
directions.

Platteville was left ‘‘to be supplied.” This was not
on account of its feeblenesss, for it had 265 members—
the largest number reported from any circuit in the Terri-
tory. The supply was Rufus Spaulding, a returned mis-
sionary from Africa.

Lancaster, the seat of Grant County, first appears this
year in the Minutes. It was probably included the pre-
ceding year in Platteville Circuit; but now, in connec-
tion with Prairie du Chien, seems to embrace all the
northern part of the county, and everything north of Wis-
consin River except the Indian missions. To this circuit
two preachers were appointed —William Simpson and
A. M. Early. At the close of the year they reported
175 members.

With Mineral Point was connected this year Wyota,
thus forming a large circuit, in charge of J. G. Whitford,
with ‘‘one to be supplied.” It was a year of general
prosperity. From the two places 176 members were
returned.

Monroe, the seat of Green County, takes a permanent
place among the appointments of this year, with James Ash,
just received on trial in the Conference, as its pastor. It
seems to have been formed entirely from new territory ;

.
62 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

and, if so, the success of the year was remarkable, as 183
members were reported at the next Conference.

Very little fruit appears as yet from the labor at Mad-
ison. The year began with three members, and closed
with eleven. This is utterly unaccountable. It was the
capital of the Territory, and had been in the Minutes for
the three previous years. Two of those years it was left
to be supplied. But this ought not to mean, left to take
care of itself. The other year of the three it was con-
nected with Fort Winnebago, more than thirty miles dis-
tant. This was a military post, and whatever good was
accomplished by our labors there, the Great Day must
reveal, as no report from there is to be found. The fort
occupied a part of the present site of Portage City, and
was constructed by the arch-traitor, Jeff Davis, soon after
his graduation from West Point, where he was educated
by the Nation he afterwards stabbed and tried to destroy.

Fond du Lac, which stood connected with Deansburg
(Brothertown) two years before, again comes to view, and
is apparently the head-quarters of a circuit which includes
the last-named place, that noble man, Jesse Halstead, be-
ing pastor. In the winter following, the Deansburg por-
tion of the work was visited with a great outpouring of
the Spirit. Many were converted, a Church formed, and
‘a large number received on probation.” He was assisted
by a local preacher by the name of Smith, father of Rev.
Chas. Smith, a superannuate of Wisconsin Conference.
They continued, like ‘‘ true yoke-fellows,” ‘‘in labors abun-
dant” through that year and the next.

H. R. Colman, just transferred from the Troy Confer-
ence, in the State of New York, was appointed to Oneida.

Green Bay was left without a preacher, at their own
request—a very unwise thing, probably. When the body
can remain vigorous without food, a Church can without
the ordinances of religion. The presiding elder put Mr.
ANNALS OF 1840-1. 63

Colman in charge of the Church at Green Bay till he
could procure a supply. He preached there, once in three
weeks, till about the 1st of January, 1841, when the serv-
ices of Boyd Phelps, formerly of Indiana Conference,
were secured for the rest of the year. Notwithstanding
the people were so faint-hearted at the beginning, the year
closed with an increase of more than furty per cent in the
membership.

The incumbent of Milwaukee District has already been
mentioned. John Crummer, who had been laboring for two
years in the mineral region, was appointed to the station.
Soon after his arrival the society were compelled to leave
the building they had occupied for some time as a place
of worship, and, indeed were subjected to several removals
within a few months. ‘‘ Notwithstanding these inconven-
iencies, the congregations were large and the membership
punctual and energetic.” They evidently disliked that
kind of itinerancy; so they set about the work of finish-
ing the church edifice. The Building Committee, consist-
ing of Leverett S. Kellogg, Geo. F. Austin, and Jacob
L. Bean, pushed it with vigor, and on the 28th of May,
1841, it was dedicated as a place of sacred worship by
Presiding Elder Field and the pastor.

Though there was a little relief from the financial press-
ure, the preachers, as well as the people, were compelled
to live on short allowances. Take one example: Mr.
Crummer was a single man, and, though he had a per-
manent place for his study and lodging, he boarded among
the members—now with one family awhile, and then with
another. He had some appointments out of town, and,
of course, would be likely to spend the night with some
one in the neighborhood after an evening service. Break-
fasting one morning with a family in one of those places,
he, with them, made a meal of bread, onions, and salt.
After family devotions, which he enjoyed better than his
64 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

breakfast, ‘‘the good man of the house” took a small box
from a shelf, ‘‘ when out dropped nails, screws, buttons,
and among the rest a half dellar. He asked his pastor to
take out one shilling—the rest he wanted to pay for mend-
ing his boots.” But the pastor, soon after leaving the
house, met a boy that he deemed more needy than himself,
and gave him the shilling. This was doubtless an extreme
case, even for those days, yet it emphasizes the unques-
tionable fact that the country was still under great financial
pressure.

Root River Circuit, formed this year, seems to have
been made up, in part, of territory taken both from Mil-
waukee and Racine, of the former year. Henry Whitehead,
a new man, was appointed to the new circuit. But it
should be remembered that the preachers in those days
were not confined within exact boundaries. They went to
‘the regions beyond,” and won territory by conquest.

To Racine was appointed L. F. Moulthrop, another
new man in our work.

Southport became a separate appointment, with 8.
Stebbins as pastor. During this year the best church edi-
fice in the Territory was completed. It had a seating ca-
pacity of three hundred and fifty, and was valued at five
thousand dollars But, as we shall see, it was owned by a
stock company, and hence can not be regarded at this time
a3 a Methodist Church. It was, however, designed and
occupied by the society as their place of worship.

Walworth Circuit disappears; but in its place come
Burlington and Rochester—D. Worthington, pastor; and
Troy, with J. McKean, and one to be supplied.

Sidney Wood was appointed to Watertown, and H. W.
Frink to Summit, a new circuit, formed in part from
Watertown.

The work of this year shows an increase in member-
ship of 596.
ANNALS OF 1841, 65

1841.

The work is now expanding so rapidly that it is im-
practicable to mention each charge and its incumbent, as
heretofore. New men, new circuits, and changes in bound-
aries, together with incidents connected with the progress
of the work, will continue to claim attention.

Potosi, the scene of a great revival the preceding year
while connected with Platteville, now with Lancaster,
becomes a new circuit, to which were appointed Enos P.
Wood and Joseph Hurlburt, two new men in the work.
The principal event that attended the Church at Platte-
ville this year was the second session of the Rock River
Conference, which began August 25,1841. This indicates
that the charge had attained considerable prominence.

Though Lancaster was taken from Prairie du Chien
this year, to the latter place alone were appointed two
preachers—A. Brunson and C. A. Wager, a new man.

Mineral Point stands alone in the Minutes, with J. G.
Whitford as pastor. Duriug the latter part of this Con-
ference year a church edifice was erected. It was built of
stone, of suitable dimensions to meet the demands of the
place for several years. It has been supposed by many
that a small church was built there in 1834, and so firmly
was this believed that during a session of the West Wis-
consin Conference there, several years ago, a jubilant com-
memoration of the event was held, and canes made of the
wood which was said to have been a part of the old build-
ing were presented, with due ceremony, to certain honored
brethren in the ministry. Others think all this was a
mistake; that no church was built in Mineral Point till
1841.*

*Though this is not a very important matter in itself,such
has been the interest in it that a summary of the information
in possession of the writer is here given:
66 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Soon after the dedication of the new church a gracious
revivalcommenced. Itis thus described in a letter from Mr.
Whitford: ‘The blessed Holy Spirit began its saving work
upon the hearts of the people. Seekers kept joining the
Church until I found it necessary to form a new class. I
proposed to take the new class and called for volunteers.
I think all the new members came to my class, the major-
ity of which were unconverted. At the first meeting the
Spirit of God moved so powerfully upon the hearts of the
people I could not hear them for their cries for mercy. So
I called them to their knees, and before we arose six
were converted. Some were overpowered, and could not
rise. At the next class four more were set at liberty; and
the work continued until fifty were added to the church.”

This was after the old style. A good degree of the
Jerusalem fire and power were evidently there. The deaf-

1. Rev. Jas. Lawson (the writer of ‘‘ Part Third” of this
volume), while stationed there in 1870-1, was told by several
that a small log chapel was built there in 1834.

2. Dr. A. Brunson, in his ‘“ Western Pioneer,” Volume II,
says: ‘‘ At my first visit to Mineral Point, in 1835, we met in
a log chapel that had been built the previous year, and was
the first Methodist, as well as Protestant, church built in what
is now the State of Wisconsin.”

3. Rev. A. D. Field, in a letter to the writer, says that
while teaching school there, in 1848, a brother told him of the
dedication of a church there by Richard Haney, in 1836 or
1837, and that his sermon on the occasion was considered a
very remarkable one.

4. Rev. H. W. Reed, pastor there during the Conference
year 1837-8, speaks of preaching in a log building, a little out
of the more thickly settled part of the village, which he thinks
was built for a church, but also thinks it was occupied for
other purposes. He says: ‘I can not be as positive as I
would like to be.” He resided about thirty miles distant.

Now, though a part of this information is traditional, which
is also conflicting (one tradition placing the matter in 1834,
ANNALS OF 1841, 67

ening cries for mercy were no more confusion than the
many tongues on the day of Pentecost. And the ‘ over-
powering” Spirit was just what may be experienced, more or
less, in every revival where it is allowed free course. O, for
such a divine afflatus upon all the Churches!

Dodgeville and Peddler’s Creek were out appoint-
ments, but not mentioned in the Minutes.

According to the printed Minutes, Madison and Mus-
coda formed one pastoral charge, with T. M. Fullerton
and one to be supplied. But Mr. Fullerton assures the
writer that this is a mistake; that ‘‘Jesse L. Bennett
came from Missouri, and supplied Madison the latter part
of this year and the next;” that his own appointment
was Muscoda. This was a new circuit, and as the preacher
had just been received on trial, it gave him a good oppor-
tunity to prove his loyalty to the itinerancy, as the reader
will see. He describes the extent of his circuit as includ-

the other in 1836 or 1837), and though Dr. Brunson’s account
we know to be incorrect in part, yet, in the absence of fur-
ther information, the claim that a church edifice was erected
there in 1834 would not be questioned.

But there are counter representations:

1. Rev. G. J. Whitford, stationed there in 1840-1, declares
there was no church there at his arrival; that the stone church
(already spoken of) was built and dedicated during bis pas-
torate, and that he never heard an allusion to a previous one.

2. Rev. John Crummer, Mr. Whitford’s immediate prede-
cessor, and who had also been junior preacher there during a
part of the Conference year 1836-7, bears the sume testimony.
He says he preached in the log court-house, and describes its
location as a little out of town, on a ridge or slight elevation.

3. Richard Haney, pastor there in 1836-7, who is said, in
one of the above traditional accounts, to have dedicated the
church, declares ‘there was no church there” when he
went there as pastor; that he did not hear that there ever had
been one; that he did not dedicate one while there; that he
‘“‘ preached in the log court-house.”’
68 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

ing “all settlements both sides of Wisconsin River, from
Muscoda to Baraboo, once in three weeks. Blue Mounds
were on the east line, and all out-doors west.” This surely
gave him sufficient travel for healthful exercise. He
seems to have explored that new region thoroughly,
preaching to small congregations, averaging about “eight
each, through the year; once had only two, frequently
five or six.” He was indeed a pioneer, preaching the first
time in the following places—except, perhaps, one, where
also he established regular appointments—viz.: Prairie du
Sac, September 12th; the Bluffs, same date; Blue River
(now Montfort), September 26th; Muscoda, September
27th; Baraboo, November 16th.

On the 7th of November, 1841, he formed a class at
Blue River, consisting of Eliza P. Meaker, leader; Moses
Meaker, Alex. B'air, Sarah Blair, Lydia C. Blair, and
Harriet Tyrer. On the 5th of February, 1842 (the same
Conference year), he formed one at Baraboo, consisting of
Solomon Shaffer, leader; Ole Shaffer, Parmelia Guilson,
and Mary J. Hill.

We see in this case, as in many, the real genius of our
itinerancy. Instead of waiting for the people to settle,
improve the country, and call a preacher, it sends him on,
almost in advance of the people, to offer them the Bread
of Life at their arrival. These settlements were sparse
and small. That region now bristles with life and ac-
tivity.

It will be remembered that J. Crummer visited Sauk
Prairie in 1839, preached and formed aclass. But as no
preacher had found his way thither during this interim, it
is probable that the class had ceased to exist.

Janesville takes its place in our records this year, and
will be found to occupy an increasingly prominent position.
Alpha Warren, also a new man, was pastor. ‘The first
gospel sermon preached there was in September, 1837, by
ANNALS OF 1841. 69

Jesse Halstead, then on Aztalan Circuit. The services
were held in a rude structure called a tavern, the preacher
standing in the place where the fire-waters of death were
accustomed to be dealt out (they being removed for the
occasion), and there directed a small group of hearers to
the fountain of life. Religious services were held there
but a few times, and with no regularity, till 1840, when
it was connected with Troy Circuit. The preacher, Jas.
McKean visited the place about once in four weeks, and
in the spring of 1841, it is said, he formed a class, every
member of which left the place in course of a few months.
In 1841 it was made the head of a circuit, and was in-
cluded in Platteville District, of which H. W. Reed was in
charge. It is difficult to determine its precise boundaries ;
but it is reasonable to suppose that it embraced about all
the settlements in Rock County, at least. A quarterly
meeting was held by the presiding elder at Milton, some
time in this year.

Hamilton Grove is but another name for Helena Cir-
cuit. It has also borne the name of Wiota. Each of
these, therefore, indicated about the same territory, which
has already been described. This grove took its name
from a son of Alexander Hamilton, the wise statesman
but foolish victim of Aaron Burr, in a duel that marred
the fame of the former and blighted the political pros-
pects of the latter. Mr. Hamilton was taken off by the
gold-fever to California, where he died very poor. His
former neighbors showed their high regard for him by
erecting a monument to his memory.

J. R. Goodrich, whose name does not appear in the
list of active men since the failure of his health in Mil-
waukee in 1837, is this year put in charge of Green Bay
District, and also of the Church in that place, In view
of his pastoral relations to the Church at Green Bay, but
two other charges were included in his district—Oneida
70 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

and Brothertown Missions. The latter has so far been
known as Deansburg, thus called for awhile by the Broth-
ertown Indians, in honor of a Mr. Dean who had rendered
them important service in their efforts to become citizens.
About the same territory seems to be included in it this
year that constituted Fond du Lac Circuit last year. It
embraced all the region around the head of Winnebago
Lake. Jesse Halstead was still in charge of the field. At
some period during the previous year he visited the place
where Oshkosh now stands, and preached in the house of
Webster Stanley. This was the first Methodist sermon in
that vicinity. Soon after the Conference of 1841 he again
visited it and formed atclass, consisting of Ira Aiken
and his mother, Mrs. Aiken; Rachael Aiken, his sister ;
Mrs. Chester Ford, Miss Ann Brooks, and Mrs. Electa
Wright.

John T. Mitchell, who formed the first Methodist class
in Platteville, and dedicated the first house of worship in
Wisconsin among the white population, appears as pre-
siding elder on Chicago District, which embraced seven
appointments on our soil. He had been doing valiant
service for eight years in Illinois. Meanwhile, the six
members he enrolled in Platteville, in 1833, had increased
throughout the territory to 1,491.

Four new men appear in the list of appointments this
year, viz.: Wm. Hewson, junior colleague of L. F. Moul-
throp, at Troy; P. S. Richardson, junior colleague of D.
Worthington, on the Burlington work; Silas Bolls, pastor
at Milwaukee; and F. T. Mitchell, in charge of South-
port.

Prairieville (now Waukesha) first comes to view this
year as a pastoral charge. H. W. Frink formed a class
there in the Conference year 1839-40, consisting of Mr.
Owen and wife, Richard Smart, Truman Wheeler and wife,
Hiram Wheeler and wife, Theophilus Haylett (father of
4

ANNALS OF 1841. 71

Rev. H. P. Haylett, of our Conference), .and Horace
Edsel]. The first named was leader. It thus became a
stated preaching-place in Watertown Circuit. The next
year it formed a part of Summit Circuit. A church
edifice was erected in 1841. It has generally been sup-
posed that Mr. Frink was the first Methodist preacher that
visited Prairieville, if not, indeed, the first of any denom-
ination. This is a mistake. Nathaniel Walton, recently
deceased, was the first settler there. He arrived at Mil-
waukee from Genesee County, New York, the latter part
of March, 1836. The following summer he assisted in
cutting a wagon-road through to the little prairie that aft-
erwards gave name to the place. In October of the
same year he commenced housekeeping in a rude cabin
near the now famous ‘‘ Bethesda Spring.” Others soon
came and settled near. An account of the commence-
ment of religious services is here given in Mr. Walton’s
own words: ‘‘ One devout Christian began immediately to
observe regular hours of secret prayer, and on such occa-
sions all the neighbors within half a mile could plainly
hear his every word. The service for the first sermon
preached was held in my house, the clergyman officiating
being that good Methodist, Father Wheelock.” Of this
pioneer the writer has been able to obtain but little in-
formation, except that he was a local preacher in our
Church, residing a few miles distant in an easterly direc-
tion, quite advanced in life, a very earnest Christian, and
highly esteemed for his work’s sake.

Little is known of the history of Prairieville during
this first year of its separate existence as a circuit, except
that it was left to be supplied, and that 180 members
were reported from it at the next Conference. Thus it
seems to have been well supplied, and the report a proph-
ecy of its future prominence.

Milwaukee also seems to have been favored with a
72 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

‘“‘vefreshing from the presence of the Lord,” as 164 mem-
bers—an increase of about ninety per cent—were reported.

Racine was supplied by some one unknown to the
writer. For some reason its membership and that of
Southport were reported together, and showed but a small
aggregate increase.

From the entire Conference were reported 2,327 mem-
bers—an increase of about thirty-three and a third per
cent.

In the appointments of this year the name of John T.
Mitchell appears for the last time. His next appointment
was Chicago. He remained a member of the Illinois Con-
ference till the formation of the Rock River Conference,
which carried him with it, and in which he became dis-
tinguished. He was one of the representatives of that
body in the famous General Conference of 1844, by which
he was elected assistant Agent of the Western Book Con-
cern, at Cincinnati. He was subsequently transferred to
the Cincinnati Conference, and filled some of her best ap-
pointments. The writer last saw him at the General Con-
ference of 1856. A few years after this he died, in the
prime of manhood, having made a noble record, and leav-
ing a name embalmed in the grateful recollection of
thousands.

David, Worthington had been connected with the Con-
ference but two years. After this session he passed into
Iowa, where he continued for several years a successful
preacher, and became somewhat prominent among his
brethren. He died many years since.
ANNALS OF 1842. 73

CHAPTER VIII.

1842-3.

HIS year eight pastoral charges on our soil are in-

cluded in Chicago District, five in Rock River Dis-
trict (a part of which was in Illinois), and fifteen in Platte-
ville and Green Bay Districts.

H. Crews was presiding elder on the first district named ;
S. H. Stocking was in charge of Rock River District; B.
T. Kavanaugh, of Platteville District; and J. R. Good-
rich was continued in charge of Green Bay District.

Mr. Stocking was a new man among us; Mr. Kava-
naugh had been in the Upper Mississippi Indian work.

One of the most noticeable features of the appointments
this year is the large proportion of new men.

The whole number appointed was thirty-three, of which
fourteen had not been previously connected with our work.
These were Milton Bourne, Jas. Mitchell, J. G. Whit-
comb, N. Jewett, S. H. Stocking, Alfred M. Early, H.
J. Brace, Washington Wilcox, S. Stover, G. L. S. Stuff,
Michael Decker, C. G. Lathrop, R. J. Harvey, William
Vance, and J. P. Gallup, the five last named having just
been received on trial. Some of these soon disappeared
from our view; others made long and honorable records,
as will be seen in due time.

This large force of new men is the more noticeable on ac-
count of the comparatively small increase of new charges—
only five; and some of these seem not to indicate entirely

new territory.
6
74 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Sugar Creek was evidently formed, in part, from Mon-
roe Circuit, though it may have taken on considerable new
ground.

Winnebago Lake included Fond du Lac, that had for-
merly been a part of the Brothertown work, and also took
some new territory on the west side of the lake that gave
name to the circuit.

Potosi was connected the year before with Lancaster.

Wisconsin Pinery Mission was indeed a new work, and
indicated, as has many other appointments, the care of our
Church for those beyond ordinary gospel influences, and
the facility of reaching them by our itinerant system.

Sylvania is the name of a new circuit, and for thirty-
nine years indicated the head of a pastoral charge, but
has entirely disappeared from our Minutes. It seems to
have been formed in part from portions of Southport or
Racine Circuit, or both of the preceding year; for we now
find the two latter united in one charge, with James Mitch-
ell pastor. Milton Bourne, a new man in our territory,
was the preacher on the circuit—Sylvania. He had been
one of John Clark’s helpers in the Green Bay and Lake
Superior Missions, and also for the last few years doing
good work in Illinois.

A prominent point in Sylvania Circuit has been known
as Kellogg’s Corners since the spring of 1837, at which
time three Kellogg brothers settled there. They formed a
part of a large family, most of whom were influential and
useful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their
Christian names were Chauncey, Seth H., and Thaddeus,
and they seem to have been “‘ uncles” to everybody. Like
their brothers, Leveret S., of Milwaukee, and Austin, of
Kenosha, whose zeal and usefulness have already been re-
corded, their religion survived a removal to the West.
So, the first Sabbath after they became settled, they, their
wives, father and mother—eight in all—members of the
ANNALS OF 1842. 75

Methodist Episcopal Church, with ten children, met in one
of the rude shanties just constructed, for a prayer-meeting.
This being over, they formed a Sunday-school, of which
Mrs. Seth H. Kellogg was appointed superintendent.
This school, beginning with ten, has been running con-
stantly since that day. At that time there was but one
other family within ten miles, the place being equidis-
tant from Racine and Kenosha.

In the summer of 1860, Mrs. Kellogg, having previ-
ously removed from the vicinity, returned to a Sunday-school
festival, and saw three hundred children gathered from
contiguous points, the wife of the superintendent being
one of the original ten. Surely, our ‘labor is not in vain
in the Lord.”

These earnest workers soon commenced the erection of
a house of worship. The people were few and poor, but
with the aid of two hundred dollars, raised by a sister of
the Kelloggs in the Sunday-schools of New York—whose
husband, Rev. Julius Field, was one of the pastors in that
city—and much gratuitous labor by Chauncey Kellogg as a
carpenter, it was finished in 1840, and stands to this day,
a monument of their Christian zeal and self-denying devo-
tion. These brothers have all ‘‘rested from their labors.”
It is a pleasure to contemplate the history of such men.
We can scarcely estimate the world’s indebtedness to them.

The report from Sylvania shows 174 members, and
from Southport, including Racine, 279.

Milwaukee was ‘“‘left to be supplied,” but not to be neg-
lected. Wm. H. Sampson, so long and so favorably known
among us, was transferred from the Michigan Conference
and stationed there, arriving at his new field the last of
August.

The reader will be interested in a brief sketch of his
work, as given by himself: ‘‘ He found among the leading
male members of the Church on his arrival, L. S. Kel-
76 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

logg, Geo. F. Austin, J. L. Bean, Dr. Walker, J. L.
Smith, A. Hounsome, Daniel Wait, Alex. T. Wilson, and
Uriel Farmin.” . Mr. Austin is one of the few, if not the
only survivor. He has labored long and well for the
Church of his early choice, highly esteemed as a man of
sterling probity, ‘‘an Israelite, indeed, in whom is no guile,”
and now, weighted with years of toil, is awaiting the call
to the rest of the faithful. Thank God for such men!
Mr. Sampson continues: ‘Soon after my arrival I was in-
formed there had been a committee appointed by one of
the other Churches to visit all the public houses in the city,
to escort all stranger's to their place of worship; and when
inquired of where the Methodist Episcopal Church wor-
shiped, they were not sufficiently acquainted with them to
give any information. Strangers expressed their surprise
to me that certain business men knew so little about our
people and their place of worship, as ours was the only
Protestant church-building in the city. I early formed
the acquaintance of the other clergymen, and as soon as I
thought it prudent proposed a weekly ministerial meeting for
advancing the Redeemer’s kingdom. We met on Monday
morning, and I proposed that we should report to each
other the members of other communions we might chance
to find in our pastoral visiting. This soon had the de-
sired effect, and the Sunday morning committee became
useless, as the necessity was upon us to be faithful in our
reports, or submit to each other’s godly admonitions; for
in these we were sure to be punctual when deserved. I
found it necessary to visit much to defend the interests of
our Church, and was often surprised and pained to find
so many members in other Churches who, in the East,
were converted in our Church and identified themselves
with us, but after coming to Milwaukee, either from mis-
representations or ambitious motives, had joined other
Churches.”
ANNALS OF 1842. 77

Mr. Sampson is not alone in the experience indicated
in this extract. Many of our older ministers and mem-
bers especially, can appreciate them. In instances—not a
few—after the self-sacrificing ‘‘ circuit-rider ” had pioneered
the country, and supplied the people with preaching for a
year or two, living on almost nothing, a missionary direct
from the East, just out of college or theological seminary,
perhaps, would appear in the village or growing settle-
ment, and propose that all interested in the growth of the
place should unite in sustaining meetings every Sabbath.
Meanwhile, as the place grew, and the circumstances of
the people improved, the idea would be made prominent
that ‘‘the best society is in the Church.”

How many have been wheedled by these considera-
tions—‘“‘ town improvement” and ‘‘ best society ”—we have
no means of estimating. Beyond all question it has been
considerable. But this would not be a matter of much re-
gret if the word ‘‘ best” had been used to indicate the
highest degree of moral worth. But, alas! it often meant
the most fashionable, the most worldly, and so, of course, the
least Christ-like. Nor has this argument become entirely
obsolete. To this day it is plied occasionally and with
much earnestness, ‘‘O, the Methodists are a good sort
of people—a little cranky and superstitious—do n’t allow
their young people any latitude.” Thus, those who are
made to think that the ‘‘ best society ” is found at the “‘ social
hop” or the ‘ progressive eucher party,” are drawn away.
While such are lost to Methodism, they are also usually
lost to the cause of righteousness, by being removed from
the instructions that would lead them to better views of
experimental and practical piety.

From all that appears, a kind of work was done this
year in Milwaukee that was demanded by the circum-
stances, though there was a diminution of members.

Jas. Ash was appointed to Root River Circuit, which

 
78 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

had enjoyed the labors of H. Whitehead for the two
years of its existence. It included the towns of Lake,
Greenfield, Franklin, New Berlin, Oak Creek, and Cale-
donia.

The Quarterly Conference records of this circuit are
before me, from this date to 1860, when, after a hard
struggle for life, it lost its identity by the irresistible influx
of a foreign population. It may be interesting to the
reader to see the financial exhibit of the circuit at the
close of the year 1842. It is as follows:

Whole sum received......cscceccecssssseseesceseeensueesees $70 48
AS QUALLCTAGE. ..-.---.ceeeeceeeeeeeereeeeeeeeereeeeeneee seees 46 93
Family expenses .........:.ccsesssereecessssesecaeeeeg teeees 23 50

Fortunately, Mr. Ash had only a wife to support. But
$70.43 would not be deemed at this time a very enticing
salary, and $23.50 would indicate rather short rations.

The Minutes show S. P. Keyes as the preacher at
Madison; but it seems that, his health failing, Jesse L.
Bennett supplied the place.

G. L. S. Stuff was nominally junior preacher at Oneida.
The real design was to aid Rev. J. R. Goodrich, having
charge not only of the Mission District as presiding elder,
but also of Green Bay Church as pastor. So the labors
of Mr. Stuff were divided between the Indian school at
Oneida and the pastoral work at Green Bay, in the absence
of Mr. Goodrich.

The net gain of the year throughout the work was
1,278, the total number this year being 3,605.

After this year, the names of Hooper Crews and S. P.
Keyes no more appear in connection with Wisconsin. Mr.
Crews had been two years on districts that extended into
our territory. He now passed into Illinois, where he be-
came eminent both in ability and usefulness. Few ever
had a warmer place in the affections of all. At an ad-
vanced age he passed, several years ago, from faithful la-
ANNALS OF 1843, 79

bor to final rest. Mr. Keyes spent five years on our soil,
and then went into the more southern part of the Con-
ference. He became somewhat distinguished among his
brethren. He still lives in a ripe old age, awaiting the
Master’s call.

N. Jewitt, H. J. Brace, and W. Vance, after one year
among us, followed those just named to Illinois.

1843.

The districts and their incumbents were the same this
year as last, except Rock River, of which J. Sinclair was
in charge.

The Minutes show six new pastoral charges, viz.: Ge-
neva, Whitewater, Hazel Green, Highland Prairie, Mani-
towoc, and Sugar River. The first of these, however,
probably indicates about the same territory as did Burling-
ton of the previous year; and Sugar River is evidently
substituted for Sugar Creek. Really, therefore, only four
can be called new appointments.

Eleven new men are found on our soil, though this
does not indicate that so many were added to the force of
the preceding year. As the Conference was not formed
with regard to State or Territorial lines, the preachers
were sent from Illinois to Wisconsin, and vice versa, as now
from one county to another.

There did not seem to be a lack of preachers, as only
two places were left to be supplied. These were Sylvania
and Janesville. Special notice has been given to the for-
mer. The latter long ago became a very prominent ap-
pointment in our Conference, and for several years has
contained two important pastoral charges.

W. H. Sampson was removed from Milwaukee to
Southport, and Jas. Mitchell from the latter place to the
former—each the other’s predecessor and successor.

The church edifice at Southport was built and owned
80 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

by a stock company. It was not, therefore, a Methodist
church, though our people were allowed to occupy it. Mr.
Mitchell had secured a relinquishment of the claims of
nearly all the stockholders; but on account of dissatisfac-
tion with him, he could do no more in that line.

Mr. Sampson’s manly bearing and conciliatory manner
were just adapted to the emergency. He went directly
from the seat of the Conference—Dubuque—to Southport,
obtained the requisite signatures of the other parties, and had
the deed properly executed and recorded before he reached
his family in Milwaukee. Harmony being restored, a
house of worship owned by the worshipers, and general
satisfaction with the preacher, a pleasant, prosperous year
naturally followed.

At Milwaukee the most important event of the year
seems to have been the commencement of a new church
edifice. The growing congregation demanded it, and the
future prospects of the town seemed to warrant a consid-
erable outlay for this purpose. As is often the case, es-
pecially in towns divided by a river, there was some diffi-
culty in deciding upon a location. Indeed, in this case,
considerable strife was engendered, and, unfortunately, the
pastor had more skill in fostering than in allaying that
element. The site finally selected was the corner of Spring
(now Grand Avenue) and West Water Streets, where a
plain but substantial brick building was erected, forty-five
by ninety feet. The auditorium was on the second floor,
easily accessible by a well-constructed flight of steps on the
outside. On the ground-floor were four stores.

It was by far the largest and best Methodist church
edifice in our territory. A pretty large debt was incurred
in its erection, which would have been fatal perhaps, but
for the rent of the stores. This debt was not canceled
till 1854, when the building was burned. Of this, more
will be said in due time.
ANNALS OF 1843, 81

Racine appears again this year as a separate charge,
with Milton Bourne as pastor.

The new men referred to on a previous page were N.
Swift, junior colleague of H. Whitehead, on Troy Circuit;
J. M. Snow, at Geneva; S. Jones, at Aztalan; R. Delap
and J. Lewis, on Sugar River Circuit; Jesse L. Bennett,
on Madison Mission; and I. M. Leihy, junior colleague of
Jesse Halstead, on Hazel Green Circuit. In after years
the last named took a prominent position among us, as will
appear in due time.

Prairieville (Waukesha) this year received two preachers—
L. F. Moulthrop and S. Stover. Its dimensions were
probabably not increased, except as they might be able to
push their work into the ‘regions beyond.” Its exact
boundaries are not known, but it evidently included most
of the settlements in Waukesha County, some in Milwaukee,
and all in Washington. It was in Chicago District, and
Presiding Elder Crews—that noble man of God—assisted
the preachers in the most extensive revival of religion,
probably, that had been known in that part of the Terri-
tory.

Whitewater appears as a new circuit, with Alpha War-
ren as pastor. Jt was in Rock River District. At some
time in the Conference year of 1837-8 an appointment was
established in this place by those indefatigable workers, S.
Pillsbury and J. Halstead, of whom it may almost be said
they ‘‘ went everywhere, preaching the Word.” The first
sermon is said to have been preached in a tavern; but
just where, or by which of these veterans, is not known.
Alpha Warren was the first preacher appointed to the charge
under this name, as he was also the first appointee to
Janesville Circuit.

G. L. 8. Stuff, who, the preceding year, divided his
labors between the Indian School at Oneida and the pas-

7
82 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

toral work at Green Bay, was this year put in charge of
the latter place.

H. R. Colman continued to do good work at Oneida.

Manitowoc makes its first appearance this year in our
Minutes, with David Lewis as pastor. Mr. Lewis had
been one year on trial in the Conference, junior colleague
of Rufus Lumery, on Indian Creek Circuit, in Illinois.
To reach his appointment involved about two hundred and
fifty miles’ travel on horseback. In those days there were
no railroads, no easy carriages here. Methodist preachers
were the ‘‘ Lord’s cavalry.” The first of this young itiner-
ant’s journey was over broad prairies and through pleasant
groves, with sufficient inhabitants to render travel some-
what comfortable. The latter part was through dense and
even dismal forests. Especially from Milwaukee to She-
boygan, it presented a kind of romance that few would
covet. He had traveled in company with H. 8. Brunson,
just appointed to Winnebago Lake Mission, from Dubuque,
the seat of the Conference, to Milwaukee. Reaching ‘‘ Kil-
burn Hill,” towards the northern limit of our present me-
tropolis, they separated, one taking the ‘‘ Fond du Lac road,”
the other the ‘‘Green Bay road,” each plunging into a
dense wilderness.

Soon an opportunity arose for the young minister to
exhibit the spirit of the gospel he had recently begun to
preach. He found a young man seated on a log in sadness,
bordering despair. He had just landed from a boat, had
been terribly sea-sick, and was suffering from its effects;
had lost his movey, and had started for some northern
point in that dreary land.

Mr. Lewis encouraged him to go on, and kindly offered
him the use of his horse a part of the time. Thus they
proceeded in company the rest of the way, walking and
riding alternately. At Saukville, twenty-two miles from
Milwaukee, night overtook them, and they stopped at the
ANNALS OF 1843, 83

only house there—a sort of tavern. All seemed agreeable
to the proprietor till, by some means, he learned that Mr.
Lewis was a Methodist preacher. He then began to
rave, and would have turned him out, but the night was
so dark and the road so obscure that he knew it was im-
possible for him to reach another place of entertainment.
The next morning the good Samaritan settled the bill of
his new friend, as well as his own; but he could do so
only by leaving some of his books in pawn for a part
of it. Then he started for his destination—distant about
thirty miles, twenty of which were without a human hab-
itation.

He reached Sheboygan Falls the same day, and found
a hearty welcome in the house of Mr. James Gibbs, whose
wife was a Methodist. This place was a part of his charge,
and the following Sabbath he entered upon his work there,
preaching in the morning at what is Sheboygan City, and
in the evening at the Falls. His circuit was immense in
extent, including all the settlements from Green Bay to
Milwaukee; and these settlements were often remote from
each other—in some instances, five to twenty miles would
intervene between houses. The people were about as rough
and uncultivated as the country. Speaking of them he says:
“The inhabitants were mostly lJumbermen and sailors, and
whisky was almost universal king.” Nor is this marvel-
ous, for probably no minister of the gospel had traversed
that region for five years.

It will be remembered that an earlier pioneer, Rev. H.
W. Frink, was sent there in 1837, the name of the circuit
being Sheboygan. The financial crash so checked immi-
gration, and so impoverished the country, that this vast
wilderness had been neglected from the autumn of 1838 to
that of 1843.

Not far from October 1, 18438, Mr. Lewis preached at
Manitowoc, and formed a class of eleven members. Those
84 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

formed by Mr. Frink, if any, along the lake-shore, had
become scattered by time.

This was a year of severe toil and trial. Few could
have endured so well, and perhaps fewer still would have
had the moral heroism it required. He received from the
people for his year’s toil twenty-five dollars, and from the
Missionary Society fifty dollars. But if the preacher had
hard fare, so did the people. Some of them, he tells us,
boiled wheat for food, as they were unable to get grinding
done without going to Milwaukee.

This year H. W. Frink served Brothertown, which was
one of his appuintments in his great circuit in 1837.

Samuel Spates and J. Johnson were appointed to the
mission at the head of Lake Superior, called Fond du
Lac, but this did not continue long in our Minutes.

Highland Prairie made its first and last appearance
this year in the Conference appointments. It was ina
northwesterly direction from Watertown.

In the western part of the work no very marked changes
occurred. Muscoda and Wisconsin Pinery were dropped
out of the list of appointments, and Hazel Green was
added, which remained for many years as the name of a
pastoral charge.

The total increase of members this year was 600, the
number reported this year being 4,205.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. DAVID LEWIS. Rev. ELIHU SPRINGER.

 

 

 

Rev. W G. MILLER, D. D. Rev. C. HOBART, D. D.

 
ANNALS OF 1844. 85

CHAPTER UX,

1844-5.

HE Conference was this year held in Milwaukee, com-

mencing July 24th.

As stated on a preceding page, in 1837 Milwaukee
gave name to a district which included all our work in the
eastern part ot the State—seven pastoral charges. The
mineral region, in which were four circuits, was embraced
in Galena District. For four years Milwaukee continued
the head of a district, and then was superseded by Chi-
cago. This name also continued for three years. Mean-
while the work had so expanded that the number of
charges within the territory covered by Milwaukee District
in 1837 had more than tripled. In the mineral region the
circuits had just doubled.

This year (1844) Milwaukee District again appears,
with James Mitchell, presiding elder.

Wm. H. Sampson is placed in charge of Green Bay

* District.

B. T. Kavanaugh remains on Platteville District, and
S. H. Stocking, after a year’s absence, returns to Rock
River District, which has five circuits in Wisconsin.

Very little change is seen from the previous year in
Platteville District in the circuits—really none of note,
except that St. Croix was dropped and Blue River added.
The former was on the Upper Mississippi, and had been
more or less connected with the Indian work there, which
at that time was disappearing or moving farther northward.
86 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Blue River had probably been a part of Hamilton
Grove Circuit, and this year becomes the head of a pas-
toral charge. It is now called Montfort, a growing town
in Iowa County, and an appointment of considerable im-
portance in the West Wisconsin Conference. The circuit
extended to Wisconsin River. John Penman, just received
on trial, was the pastor. Though there were so few changes
in the appointments, there were many in the appointees,
C. G. Lathrop and I. M. Leihy only remaining on their
former charges; the former—alone on Lancaster Circuit
the year before—received as junior colleague Wm. Allen;
and the latter, junior preacher the previous year on Hazel
Green Circuit, was placed in charge of it, with P. S. Rich-
ardson as colleague.

Salmon Stebbins was appointed to Madison. This place,
then the capital of the Territory and now of the State,
had been in the list of appointments for seven years, sup-
‘plied a part of the time by local preachers as they could
be obtained; and when a preacher was appointed from Con-
ference it shared only a small part of his labors, which
were extended over a large area. Perhaps this was the
best that the circumstances would allow; but to us, at this
distance, it seems that more concentrated labor should have
been bestowed upon a point of such prospective importance.
In 1837 it appeared first a separate charge, and was in Mil-
waukee District, presided over by Mr. Stebbins. As already
stated, he visited the place and preached the first gospel ser-
mon there November 28th.

Green Bay District underwent a considerable change;
Fond du Lac, at the head of Lake Superior, disappeared
from the Minutes, and Fond du Lac, at the head of Lake
Winnebago, came to view in connection with Taycheedah,
as a pastoral charge.

Watertown and Pewaukee also were included in the dis-
trict. The district, though not so extensive as in some
ANNALS OF 1844. 87

previous years, was yet immense in territory. It extended
from Green Bay and Oneida on the north to Pewaukee on
the south, and from Lake Michigan west to the Wisconsin
River. The paucity of the inhabitants and the wildness
of the country made it a very hard field of labor. Presid-
ing Elder Sampson made Fond du Lac his residence, and
his was the fifth family in the place.

Oneida and Brothertown Indian Missions were the only
charges that retained their former pastors. But H. W.
Frink, appointed to the latter, vacated it after a few months,
to settle the estate of his father-in-law, and W. G. Miller,
then an ‘‘ exhorter,” was employed to fill out the year.

Fond du Lac and Taycheedah seem io indicate the field
of Joseph Lewis, but, like many of the preachers of that
day, he extended his labors to ‘‘ regions beyond.” To the
eastward he penetrated the wilderness far towards Sheboy-
gan, to the southward as far as Waupun.

Winnebago Lake, that had for two years included Fond
du Lac, was extended this year farther west and north.

Mr. Webster Stanley, Geo. and Wm. Wright, with their
families, constituted the inhabitants on the north side of
Fox River, where Oshkosh now stands. A few miles out,
southward and northward, were perhaps a half dozen other
families. Wm. Wright and his wife became members of
the Church, and continued so, as well as residents of the
‘city, for several years, and many an itinerant shared the
hospitality of their house.

Mr. Stanley afterwards removed up the Wolf River to a
place now known as Stanley’s Landing ; thence, after several
years, to Appleton, where he resided for several years, when
he removed to Dakota, where he died in December, 1887,
always respected by those who knew him. To this circuit
J. H. Hurlburt was appointed, and the reader will think,

from its sparse population, that it was not a very inviting
field.
88 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Pewaukee was a new circuit, covering five townships ;
viz., Pewaukee, Menominee, Lisbon, Warren, and Dela-
field. To this, David Lewis was assigned. He seems to
have had a successful year, as here he found a wife (who
still lives to cheer him in his pilgrimage), and reported 65
members.

F. A. Savage was appointed to Milwaukee, Robert
Beatty to Root River, and C. D. Cahoon to Southport—
all new men. The first two had just been received on trial
by the Conference; the last was transferred from New
Hampshire Conference. The next year he was appointed to
Rockford, where, after preaching one Sabbath, he was
called to his reward. He is mentioned with great tender-
ness, by those who knew him, asa very devout man, an
excellent and successful preacher. The other two passed
from our territory after this year.

Washington Mission was a new work, formed in part
from Prairieville Circuit, but extending far north into new
territory, including all the settlements in Washington
County. It was in charge of J. M. Snow.

L. F. Moulthrop remained on Prairieville Circuit with-
out an assistant.

Monroe and Sugar River Circuits, in Rock River Dis-
trict, both received new men—the former, Charles McClure;
the latter, S. W. Martin.

Some time during the winter of 1843-4 a church edi-
fice was commenced by our people in Racine, and completed
not far from the following Christmas. It cost about
$4,500, and would seat three hundred and fifty persons.

The names of James Mitchell and G. L. S. Stuff disap-
peared from our records after this year. The former occupied
a conspicuous position, and was evidently a man of much
ability; but he was quite as distinguished for promoting
party strife as for his usefulness. The latter began a good
record with us, and continued it in the Rock River Con-
ANNALS OF 1845. 89

ference for many years; he recently passed to his reward
in a ripe age, and will be long remembered as a faithful
and able minister of the gospel.

For six years, between 1837 and 1844 inclusive, Sal-
mon Stebbins held a prominent ,position in Wisconsin, two
of which he was in charge of Milwaukee District. He
was a transfer from Troy Conference, and after 1844 he
passed into the more southern part of Rock River Confer-
ence. He died several years ago at an advanced age.

B. T. Kavanaugh and Silas Bowls both appear on our
soil in 1841, and pass off in 1845. The former located in
1846 ; the latter continued for many years a zealous laborer
in connection with the Rock River and Minnesota Confer-
ence. H.S. Brunson gave us but two years’ work.

1845.

No less than eighteen new men appear this year on our
soil. The reader is referred to Appendix A for their
names. Some of them became quite distinquished in our
annals—not the least of whom was Henry Summers, in
charge of Platteville District. Already a veteran, he did
grand service for many years thereafter.

Elibu Springer was another new man among us, though
in the itinerancy since 1834. He was stationed at Min-
eral Point ; he held an honorable position, as will be seen, for
a few years, and then passed on to his reward.

Several new charges’ appear in the Minutes for this
year, though they do not so much indicate new territory as
a demand for increased labor on territory already acquired.
One of these was Dodgeville. It had been included in
other circuits for some years. J. G. Whitford was pastor.
Sauk Prairie, the name of another new pastoral charge,
does not indicate entirely new territory. It was visited first
by J. Crummer in 1839, and in 1841 was taken under pas-
toral care, and continued as a part of other circuits till
90 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

this year. The same is substantially true of Union, Green
Lake, Lowell, Whitewater, and Elkhorn, so far as their
relation to other circuits is concerned.

The territory embraced in Union Circuit was included
in Monroe in 1840 and 1841, in Madison in 1842, in Janes-
ville in 1843 and 1844. After the last date it was the
head of a circuit for several years. Asa Wood was in
charge of it for two years from its formation.

We find two preachers this year on Madison Mission,
but do not learn that much more labor was bestowed on
the village than formerly. =

W. H. Sampson was continued in charge of Green Bay
District. Though it contained but twelve pastoral charges,
it covered an immense area, and the roads in many parts
of it were horrible, rendering it a very laborious field.

The Minutes show that every circuit was furnished with
a pastor from the Conference.

H. R. Colman, who had labored at Oneida successfully
for four years, was succeeded by C. G. Lathrop. The
vast. wilderness included in Monitowoc Mission of the
previous year, now appears in two missions—Monitowoc,
with S. W. Martin in charge; and Sheboygan, with Joseph
Lewis.

The following incident will illustrate somewhat. both
the character of the work in those days and the manner of
doing it: General Blake, an old-time friend of the writer
in the State of New York, having recently come to the
country, was making his way on horseback as best he could
through the dense forest south of Sheboygan, when he met
a small man on foot, and accosted him thus: ‘‘ What in
the world are you doing in such a place as this?” ‘‘ Hunt-
ing up souls,” was the significant reply. The general was
forcibly impressed with his simplicity of manner and ear-
nest zeal. A little further conversation revealed the fact
that he was a Methodist preacher. Each went on his way,
ANNALS OF 1845, 91

but the words ‘‘ hunting up souls” continued to ring in the
general's ears. He was hunting land. The minister was
in search of what was of more value than all worlds.
When the general related this to the writer years after-
wards, he had forgotten the name of the preacher, but. not
the incident. A little inquiry showed that the soul-hunter
was Joseph Lewis. In spite of great opposing influences,
he had a prosperous year.

Three other honored names appear in the list of ap-
pointments this year for the first time, viz.: S. W. Ford,
to Hamilton Grove; W. G. Miller, to Green Lake; and
J. M. Walker, to Elkhorn. It is noticeable that all ap-
pointments in Green Bay District, except Aztalan and
Whitewater, were missions; and perhaps quite as much so,
that the former was a mission the year before with but one
preacher, and this year is self-supporting with two—C. N.
Wager and S. B. Whipple.

H. 8. Stocking was removed from Rock River District,
a part of which, as constructed the previous year was in
Wisconsin, to Milwaukee District.

All our work this year was included in the three dis-
tricts named.

Milwaukee was left to be supplied. Abraham Hanson,
a young man of good ability and winning manners, was
secured for the place. He did a successful year’s work,
and left many warm friends—no enemies. He will come
to view again in due time.

David Lewis was appointed to Root River Circuit,
which covered seven townships; viz., Oak Creek, Lake,
Greenfield, Franklin, New Berlin, Raymond, and Norway.

Racine was served by Julius Field. Mr. Field com-
menced his ministry in the New York Conference, and was
transferred to Illinois Conference in 1839. He served two
years on Milwaukee District, four years as Bible agent,
and at the close of one year’s pastorate at Racine returned
92 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

to his old Conference, where he continued to render effect-
ive service for several years longer, and died well, in the
midst of his earlier associations. Mrs. Field was a sister
of the Kelloggs, several of whom were distinguished and use-
ful laymen in the early history of our work in Wisconsin.

Menominee Mission of this year is substantially the
same as Washington Mission of last year, J. M. Snow
continuing in charge.

Washington Wilcox became identified this year with
Wisconsin Methodism, and continued so to the close of a
long and useful life. He was in charge of Sylvania Circuit.
The reader will learn more of him hereafter.

It is difficult to give the boundaries of some of these
circuits—indeed, some of them seem to have had none.
Said Presiding Elder Sampson to W. G. Miller, in answer
to an inquiry as to the boundaries of Green Lake Circuit,
to which he had just been appointed: ‘‘ Fix a point in the
center of Winnebago Marsh [now known as Lake Horicon ],
and draw a line to the north pole, and another due west to
the Rocky Mountains, and you will have your eastern and
southern boundaries; as to the other lines you need not be
particular.” This was about as good a description as he
could give in few words.

The young itinerant started out to explore his field, and
make conquests for his Master. His labors extended to
Ceresco (where now stands the beautiful city of Ripon),
Dartford, Kingston, Waupun, Marcellon, Fox Lake, Bur-
net, Alto, Oakfield, Cambria, and Wedge’s Prairie, near
Brandon, forming classes in nearly every place. Waupun,
also in his work, already had an organized society, of which
the preacher was a member when called out into the itiner-
ant work. He desired to establish an appointment at
Strong’s Landing (now the City of Berlin), but on reach-
ing the place found not a human habitation. Thus the
“itinerancy was ahead of the pioneer.”
ANNALS OF 1845, 93

Early in the Conference year the demand for preaching
at new points was so general that another preacher, Uriel
Farmin, was put into this field as the pastor’s colleague.
They worked together in great harmony and with mutual
esteem for each other. But though very successful in win-
ning souls, the preacher in charge received only thirty-six
dollars and board; and he thinks Mr. Farmin did not re-
ceive more. They left the circuit with twenty-four appoint-
ments and 184 members, most of whom were gathered in
that year.

Lowell included also Fountain Prairie, Columbus, and
the country far south.

Monitowoc Circuit meant at least the entire county.
Its few inhabitants were a rough class of people. The fol-
lowing incident, furnished by Rev. W. H. Sampson, will
confirm this, and in part explain the reason for abandon-
ing the field as it was for a time after this year. After
referring to the great difficulty in getting a house to live in,
he says: ‘‘ Brother Martin was earnest in defense of the
truth. There was a great amount of intemperance on his
work, and he favored the community with a course of tem-
perance lectures, and announced that the closing one would
be King Alcohol’s funeral sermon. There wasa general gath-
ering of everybody in the country around. At the close
of the opening exercises, as he arose to take his text, the
door opened, and about a dozen men, dressed in the most
fantastic costume conceivable, presented themselves. He
very composedly requested the audience to make room for
the mourners, and after having them seated he proceeded
with the sermon, and at the close addressed the mourners
very pathetically and appropriately. Mr. Bruce, who
gave me the account of the affair, was shocked and dis-
gusted with the chaps, and, although not religious, went
after the fellows, and made them furnish Martin with a
full suit of broad-cloth—coat, pants, vest, hat, shoes, socks,
94 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

gloves, etc., and he came to Conference as well dressed as
the best.”

This incident suggests two thoughts: 1. Methodist
preachers in the past, as now, were fearless in denouncing
intemperance, even amid the rage of its infuriated victims.
2. It is always safe to stand erect on Christian principle,
and it often “‘ pays” better, so far as this world is con-
cerned.

This year is distinguished as the first from which
there was a reported decrease in numbers. There was a
falling off of 52 members, but an increase of six preachers.
When we remember that through the labors of this heroic
band 600 were added to the host of Immanuel the previ-
ous year, this reaction is not a matter of astonishment.
ANNALS OF 1846. 1)

CHAPTER X.
1846-7,

HE work in Wisconsin continues this year as last, in

three districts—Platteville, Green Bay, and Milwau-
kee—presided over respectively by the same men, viz.: H.
Summers, W. H. Sampson, and 8. H. Stocking. A. Wolis-
craft performed his first and last year’s work among us as
pastor at Platteville.

Lancaster and Potosi were this year united in one pas-
toral charge, to which John Crummer was appointed.
He had explored this territory in 1836 and 1837, while
on Platteville Circuit. The reader may recall his adven-
ture with a drunken rabble, on his way to an appointment
in Snake Hollow (now Potosi), and the triumph of grace
that attended his work there.

J. Penman completed the full constitutional term of
ministerial service at Prairie du: Chien.

St. Croix first appeared in our Minutes as an appoint-
ment in the Indian Mission District in 1841, and thus
continued until 1843, when it was included in the work
among the general population, but disappeared thereafter
for two years. It now resumes its place, with J. W.
Putnam as pastor. Though St. Croix was in Wisconsin,
he extended his labors into Minnesvta, and formed one or
more classes. During his second year a lot was donated
for a church edifice on the present site of St. Paul.

Madison Mission still had two preachers—F. Smith
and R. R. Farnsworth. Its boundaries fur this year can
96 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

not be given here, but they must have been considerably
curtailed by the formation of new circuits from its original
territory.

Asa Wood is still at Union, on his second year. At
some time during the Conference year 1842-3, S. P.
Keyes, then in charge of Madison Circuit, which embraced
what had now become Union Circuit, secured the erection
of a house on the present site of Evansville, designed
both for a school and a place of worship. The society
continued to occupy it for the latter purpose till the sum-
mer of 1847, when, under the labors of Mr. Wood, it
gave place to a neat frame church edifice, forty-five by
thirty feet. It was dedicated in June of that year by H.
Summers, the presiding elder of the district.

No special circumstances are known in connection with
Monroe, Hamilton Grove, or Dodgeville. Each had a
change of pastoral oversight. To the latter, as junior
preacher, was appointed Benj. Close, just received on trial
by the Conference.

I. M. Leihy, who had been absent a year from ‘our
soil, is this year in charge of Mineral Point, and his
predecessor there, Elihu Springer, is removed to Hazel
Green.

The pastoral charges in Green Bay District—twelve in
number—remain the same as last year, with a single ex-
ception ; viz., Manitowoc is dropped and Waupun is added.
Five new men are in the list of appointments in this
district, viz.: R. P. Lawton, at Green Bay; J. S. Pres-
cott, at Sheboygan; A. B. Randall, at Green Lake;
A. P. Allen, at Waupun; and N.S. Green, at Aztalan.
They had all just been received as probationers by the
Conference, and, so far as appears, all did the work as-
ssigned them creditably. All the charges were missions
except Watertown, Aztalan, and Whitewater. Three of
the appointments were filled with two preachers each, viz.:
ANNALS OF 1846, 97

Green Lake, with A. B. Randall and G. N. Hanson;
Lowell, with 8. Jones and 8. W. Martin; and Whitewater,
with J. H. Hurlburt and A. Warren. Some of the others
covered territory enough to employ more ministerial labor,
but neither men nor means were adequate to the demand.

Sheboygan is worthy of special notice in this respect.
It included the entire county—a dense forest, dotted here
and there with settlements. Its pastor, J. S. Prescott, was
a man of great energy and commensurate physical endur-
ance, as the reader may infer when told that he traveled
that immense circuit entirely on foot. This gave an earnest
that he would be heard from in coming years—as he was.

Though there was no change in the incumbent of Mr1-
WAUKEE Disrrict, every pastoral charge in it was fur-
nished with one or more new preachers except Root River.
Here David Lewis remained, and finished his two years
of successful toil,

J. P. Gallup also remained on Troy Circuit, where he
seems to have been alone the previous year, and now re-
ceives as a colleague M. L. Reed, a new man on our soil,
as well as on this circuit.

Six other new men appear in our territory, viz.: W.
M. D. Ryan, at Milwaukee; John Chandler, at South-
port; J. C. Parks and Geo. Lovesee, on Geneva Circuit ;
J. Bean, on Big Foot; and J. Leekenby, on Menominee
Mission.

Mr. Ryan was a remarkable man—remarkable in sev-
eral ways. He was remarkable for his histrionic talent; for
his power to sway an audience; for his unbounded self-as-
surance and self-assertion; for the way he could use these
last two traits to draw so many and disgust so few; in
short, for his ability to do an immense amount of business
on small capital, aside from the qualities above named.
At the close of this year he was transferred to Baltimore

Conference, whence he came a few years before, and where
8
98 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

he passed most of his ministerial life. With many eccen-
tricities, he was always successful in sustaining himself, and
usually in advancing the work committed to his care.

John Chandler, in charge of Southport, passed after this
year into another part of the work, and has made an hon-
orable record in the Rock River Conference.

Delavan makes its first appearance this year in our Min-
utes; not, however, as an independent pastoral charge, but
in connection with Elkhorn; and yet but one preacher—
G. W. Cotrell—is appointed to the circuit.

Mequon also was set off this year as a separate charge,
with that immense worker, Jesse Halstead, as pastor. Last
year it formed a part of Menominee Mission, and yet that
circuit demanded the labors of two men. J. Lecenby
was the Conference appointee, and one was to be sup-
plied.

Beloit, with Joseph Lewis pastor, takes its place this
year in the list, and has remained one of our permanent
and important appointments. It is impossible to give the
date of the first Methodist sermon, or the first sermon
preached by any one at this place. The following extract
of a letter from Thos. McElhenny gives several impor-
tant facts in a small space: ‘‘I left Milwaukee, September
28th, and arrived at Beloit, October 1, 1838, but found no
Church organization of any kind. Rev. Mr. Adams, a
Presbyterian or Congregational minister, living at Rock-
ton, and Albert Fuller, a local preacher, living at Ros-
coe, preached occasionally. Geo. Lovesee, Sr., who had
been licensed by Adam Clarke, the Commentator, would
give us a talk sometimes; he also lived at Roscoe.
I attended a quarterly meeting at Roscoe, and the presid-
ing elder, Rev. John Clark, said we should have preaching
regularly. Rev. Nathan Jewett preached the first regular
circuit sermon on December 2, 1838, in the evening, in
Caleb Blodgett’s kitchen. That was the regular preaching-
ANNALS OF 1846, 99

place until the school-house was built. The first class was
formed on Thursday evening, December 27, 1838, in Tyler
Blodgett’s shanty, on Broad Street, east of the Presby-
terian Church. It consisted of five members, viz.: Horace
Barkley (leader), Mrs. Holland Moore (the mother of Pres-
dent W. B. Strong, of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fee Railroad), and her sister, Miss Lucena Cheney (now
Mrs. Dearborn), Tyler K. Blodgett, and Thos. McEl-
henny.” It was taken into Sycamore Circuit, of which
Rev. L. S. Walker was in charge, and by whom Rey. A.
D. Field, in his ‘‘memorials,” says the society was formed.
But Mr. McElhenny says it was formed by ‘ Father
Lovesee,” though he says Jewett and Walker alternated in
serving the place—the former being stationed at Rockford ;
whence it is evident that, by some understanding between
Walker and Lovesee, the latter officiated in forming the
“class. This organization was the first of a religious char-
acter in Beloit, antedating the Congregational Church just
three days.

In this first year of Beloit as a separate pastoral charge,
the society commenced the erection of a church edifice.
The members were few and poor, but they pushed the en-
terprise with yigor and much real sacrifice. Stephen Adams,
a local preacher, ‘‘ sold his last cow to buy lime that the
walls might go up.” All did nobly.

At the close of this year one of our most energetic and
succesful pioneers—John Crummer—retired from the active
field, and counted one in a list of twenty superannuates.
He had been in connection with the Conference since 1836,
and had done grand service for the Master. Four also re-
tired by location, viz.: J. Hurlburt, Alpha Warren, J. B.
Gallup, and G. W. Cotrell. The first two had rendered
each seven years’ service; the third, five; the last, two.

The year was one of considerable success, as appears
from a reported increase of 767.
100 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

1847.

The work had so expanded that a new district was this
year added in Wisconsin—four in all.

H. Summers continued on Platteville, and Wm. H.
Sampson on substantially the same ground as before, the
name being changed to Fond du Lac District.

Elihu Springer succeeded 8. H. Stocking on Milwaukee
District; and Chauncey Hobart, a new man among us,
was placed in charge of the newly formed Racine District.

Twenty new men appear in the list, some of whom be-
came distinguished, but none reached the eminence of the
last one named. He commenced his itinerant ministry in
1836 in Illinois Conference, and had become distinguished
as a safe administrator and able defender of Christianity.
In Quincy he successfully exposed the abominations o
Mormonism, which was making inroads there. While he
was attentive to all the interests of the Church, he was
also adapted to special occasions. He was therefore selected
in 1845, at Jacksonville, to address a large meeting of citi-
zens in commemoration of Ex-President Jackson, recently
deceased; and at Chicago, in 1847, to preach to an im-
mense gathering in connection with a ‘‘ National River and
Harbor Convention.”

Some changes in the pastoral charges may be briefly
noted.

Lancaster and Potosi, in the Platteville District, re-
ceived two preachers instead of one as last year. These
were F. Smith and Jesse Pardun.

Franklin was the name of a new circuit, taken prob-
ably from adjoining ones.

A new mission was established among the Welsh, but
left to be supplied, and little is known of its success this
year.
ANNALS OF 1847. 101

I. M. Leihy completed his full two years’ term at
Mineral Point, and left the charge in a prosperous condition.

Black River is the name of another new work, and in-
troduces us to a wild region and rough inhabitants.

In the winter of 1848 there was a consultation among
some of the lumbermen along the river as to obtaining a
preacher. They appointed a committee to circulate a sub-
scription and find the preacher. Each subscriber was to
designate his choice as to the religious denomination to
which the preacher should belong, and a very large major-
ity were found to be in favor of securing a Methodist.
Probably religious conviction had little to do in the mat-
ter, as the chairman is said to have been a skeptic, and the
others perhaps scarcely knew what they were in this re-
spect. Besides, the reason they assigned for their choice
_was that they thought there ‘‘ was more go-aheadativeness
about Methodist preachers than any others.”

A petition was accordingly sent to Rev. H. Summers,
presiding elder on Platteville District, and at the following
Conference the mission was formed, and R. R. Wood ap-
pointed thereto. This was the entrance to a field now
swarming with inhabitants and bristling with church-spires.

As already stated Green Bay District takes the name
of Fond du Lac this year. Watertown and Aztalan were
transferred to Milwaukee District, and Whitewater to the
newly formed Racine District.

Two new circuits were added ; viz., Columbus and May-
ville.

Nearly all the preachers were changed. This was no
uncommon thing in those days. J.S. Prescott, at Sheboy-
gan, and Stephen Jones, at Lowell, were the only ones
that remained the second year. The former was re-enforceed
with 8. R. Thorp as a colleague. The appointment at
Mayville proved an unfortunate one. The others seemed
to be attended with considerable success.
102 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Presiding Elder Sampson says that H. R. Colman “did
good service” at Fond du Lac; that though the work was
laborious on Green Lake Circuit, C. G. Lathrop “had a
good year” there; and, in short, he bears a good testimony
for his fellow-workers generally.

At Brothertown, H. Requa succeeded in the erection of
a framed church edifice, in place of a log building previously
used as a place of public worship. This and those at Green
Bay and Oneida were the only ones in the entire district
at the close of this year. Nor were there many of any
other denomination. The Presbyterians had one at Green
Bay, and one at Stockbridge, the Episcopalians one at
Green Bay and another at Oneida Mission. The Congre-
gationalists built one about this time at Whitewater that
had, previous to this year, been within Elder Sampson’s
district. The era of church-building bad not arrived. The
people were poor, and could only with difficulty build
houses for themselves.

Mr. Sampson’s work during his term of four years was
a success in more ways than one. In the spring of 1846
he received a letter from H. Eugene Eastman, of Green
Bay, informing him that a gentleman in the East, of whom
he was the authorized agent, proposed to give ten thou-
sand dollars, on certain conditions, for the founding of a
literary institution of high grade, and proffering the op-
portunity to the Methodist Church as the one most likely,
in his judgment, to make the enterprise a success. The
conditions were that a like sum should be raised by other
parties, and that the school should be located at some
point between the outlet of Lake Winnebago and the head
of Green Bay. Mr. Sampson presented the proposition
to the Conference at its next session. It was favorably
received, and he was requested to reduce the matter to
definite and legal form. The gentleman making the offer
proved to be Hon. A. A. Lawrence, of Boston. In due
ANNALS OF 1847, 103

time the conditions were met, and the institution was
called Lawrence Institute, being located in a dense forest
where now stands the beautiful city of Appleton.

Milwaukee District was put in charge of Elihu Springer,
as already stated, and important changes made in its
boundaries. Nine circuits were taken from it to help
form Racine District, to compensate for which, Madison
and Sauk Prairie (changed in name this year to Prairie
du Sauk) were taken from Platteville District, and Water-
town and Aztalan from Fond du Lac District.

Prairieville Circuit had enjoyed an extensive revival
the preceding year, under the labors of W. Wilcox and
J. M. Walker. They reported an increase of 128 mem-
bers—about forty per cent. The work having become so
extensive, it was divided, at the Conference of 1847, into
three pastoral charges; viz., Waukesha, Oconomowoc, and
Palmyra.

Mequon was changed in name to Grafton, embracing
about the same territory as before

Milwaukee was supplied by another transfer—F. M.
Mills, from Baltimore Conference. He had a well-bal-
anced and well-stored mind; his sermons were thoroughly
evangelical, and very instructive; he was cautious, safe,
and commanded general respect. But his physical energies
were feeble, and his manner a striking contrast to that of
his predecessor, so that he stood at disadvantage with those
who especially admired the rush and storm of the former.
Those of his style may not bring as many souls to God
as some others, but may edify the Church in righteousness
quite as extensively, or more so. At the close of this
year he was compelled to retire from the active work, and,
after a time, returned to his old Conference.

Geo. Lovesee also passed from our territory after this
year, falling into Rock River Conference at the division
104 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

that will be noted in due time, and did good work for
years in connection with that body.

Chauncey Hobart, who first appears this year on our
soil, and in charge of Racine District, will be heard of
hereafter. Few men among us ever obtained a more en-
viable distinction. His district extended from Lake Mich-
igan to the western boundary of Rock County, being com-
posed of twelve pastoral charges, nine, as already stated,
being taken from Milwaukee District, viz.: Racine, South-
port, Sylvania, Rochester, Geneva, Elkhorn, Troy, Janes-
ville, and Big Foot. Beloit was taken from Mount Morris
District, and Whitewater from Fond du Lac. To these
was added Union Circuit, newly formed from territory
taken apparently from Janesville and Madison Circuits.

A. Hanson, who had done very successful work in
Milwaukee two years before, as a supply, had become con-
nected with the Conference, and had served Galena the
previous year, now appears in the list of appointments as
pastor at Southport.

It is remarkable that of the one hundred and seventeen
that had been in our lists of appointments previous to
this year, not one had reached the end of his pilgrimage.
Some of these, it is true, had been on the ground but one
year; but others had been here several years. A careful
investigation shows that more than three hundred and fifty
years of ministerial service had been performed in Wiscon-
sin before a death occurred among the ministers. C. D.
Cahoon, who had spent one year among us, was called
to his reward soon after leaving our bounds; and, so far
as is known, he was the only one of the hundred and
seventeen. But during the Conference year commencing
August 11, 1847, death invaded our ranks, and bore away
two—Geo. Whitman and Joseph Lewis. ;
 

 

 

 

 

Mr. G. H. FOSTER. Mr. EDWIN HYDE.

 

 

 

Rev. R. W. BOSWORTH, D. D. Rev. JOSEPH ANDERSON.
PART LI.

HISTORY OF WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

 

CHAPTER I.
1848-9.

HE Rock River Conference, at its session in 1847, took
measures for the division of its territory by the forma-
tion of a separate Conference in Wisconsin. The General
Conference in the May following sanctioned this proceeding,
and constituted the Wisconsin Conference, which embraced
the entire State. For twelve years this domain had an or-
ganized Territory. On the 29th of May, 1848, it was ad-
mitted into the Union as a State. So its birth, as such,
was almost simultaneous with that of our Conference.
This newly formed body held its first session in South-
port (now Kenosha), commencing July 12, 1848. Bishop
Morris presided, and on the Sabbath preached to a large
concourse in a grove or park of that rising city. The
bishop was a remarkable man. Measured by the standard
of those who deem bluster and dash evidences of superiority,
he surely would not be called great, for he was the far-
thest possible from these. His sermons were short, earnest,
evangelical, simple in construction, terse in style, and full
‘of thought. A word added to or taken from almost any
one of his sentences would have marred its beauty, and
detracted from its force. Ia short, few men could pack
9
106 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

as much bacon in a small knapsack as he. He was elected
to the episcopacy in 1836.

Presuming that many would feel an interest in reading
the appointments of this first session of our Conference
who have not access to them, they are here given:

PLATTEVILLE Disrrict—Henry Summers, Presiding Elder.
Platteville—I. M. Leiby.

Lancaster and Potosi—Francis Smith, R. E. Thomas.
Hazel Green—I. Searls, J. W. Putnam.

Hamilton Grove—Jesse Pardun.

Mineral Point—J. G. Whitford.

Dodgeville—David Brooks.

Franklin— Asa Wood.

Monroe—A. P. Allen.

Prairie du Chien Mission—Wm. Tasker,

Black River Mission—R. R. Wood.

St. Croix Mission—Benjamin Close.

Welsh Mission—To be supplied.

Etk Grove—B. L. Thomas.

Fonp pu Lac Disrricr—Washington Wilcox, Presiding
Elder.

Fond du Lac—H. R. Colman.

Sheboygan—Stephen Jones, H. Leet.

Manitowac—To be supplied.

Green Bay Mission—S. R. Thorp.

Oneida Indian Mission—S. W. Ford.

Brothertuwn Indian Mission—D. Lewis.

Winnebago Mission—A. B. Randall.

Green Lake Mission—C. G. Lathrop; one to be supplied.

Waupun—J. 8. Prescott; one to be supplied.

Columbus—G. N. Hanson; one to be supplied.

Centerville Mission—Samuel M. Stone.

Portage—To be supplied.

Lowell—Henry Requa; one to be supplied.

Mayville Mission—O. Smith, W. H. Sampson, Principal of
Preparatory Department of Lawrence Institute.

MitwavuKkee Disrricr—Elihu Springer, Presiding Elder.
Milwaukee—J. E. Willson.
Walker’s Point—Warner Oliver.
ANNALS OF 1848. 107

Root River—Jesse Halstead; one to be supplied.
Grafton—J. W. Wood.

West Bend Mission—A. C. Pennock.
Wauwatosa—H. V. Train, Ricbard Shane.
Waukesha—Wesson G. Miller.
Oconomowoc Mission—S. W. Martin.
Watertown Mission—John Bean.
Aztalan—Wm. Willard.

Palmyra Mission—H. W. Frink.

Madison Mission—John Penman.

Albion Mission—Edrick Holmes.

Pleasant Valley Mission—C. G. Adams.
Prairie du Sauk Mission—J. Williams.

Racine Disrrict--C. Hobart, Presiding Elder.

Racine—Mathew Bennett.

Southport—A. Hanson.

Sylvania—R. J. Harvey, C. R. Foster.

Rochester—W. M. Osborn.

Geneva—To be supplied.

Elkhorn—R. W. Barnes.

Troy—J. M. Snow.

Delavan and South Grove—R. P. Lawton, S. H. Stocking
Sup.

Whitewater—Leonard Dickins.

Rock Prairie—J. M. Walker.

Janesville—Wesley Lattin.

Union—C. McClure, H. Hersey.

Spring Valley—John Luckock.

Beloit—Eli C. Jones.

Exeter—To be supplied.

Geo. Lovesey transferred to Rock River Conference.

The reader will note that the Conference starts in
active work with four presiding elders’ districts, fifty-seven
pastoral charges, and one institution of learning, manned
by sixty-two preachers; and provision made to employ ten
more. We find also, in the Minutes, one supernumerary
preacher and three superannuates. The entire member-
ship, including probatiovers and local preachers, was 6,943—
more than twice the number constituting the Christian
108 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE. i:

Church at the close of the Great Pentecost. The latter
force was to subjugate the world to Christ, the former to
aid in extending his reign in Wisconsin. The following
pages will give a partial view of their success. ;

Ten new men appeared in the Minutes, seven of whom
were admitted at this Conference. Seven new pastoral
charges also appear—‘‘ new” in name rather than in terri-
tory, though some new ground was occupied.

Walker’s Point was the Fifth Ward of Milwaukee, on
the south side of Menominee River.

West Bend and Wauwatosa were substantially Menom-
inee Mission of the previous year, now demanding the
labors of three preachers, instead of one as then.

Albion had probably formed a part of Madison Circuit ;
and Pleasant Valley, of Aztalan, and perhaps is nearly
identical with Summit of 1846.

Elk Grove seems to have been mostly included in
Hamilton Grove, and Spring Valley in Union.

Exeter and Rock Prairie Missions probably covered
much new ground. J. M. Walker, long and favorably
known to us since then, was in charge of the latter. In
the western part of his circuit was a village of about two
hundred inhabitants, called Indian Ford. Here was ‘a
small class,” but it could enjoy the preacher’s services only
once in every two weeks. A few miles west was another vil-
lage called Catfish, of about the same size and natural ele-
ments of growth. Ofcourse they were rivals. ‘‘In order
to attract settlers and build up their town, the Catfish
people employed a Universalist minister to reside among
them and preach every Sabbath. During the winter of
1848-9 nearly the entire population of the town of Indian
Ford was converted. This event completely revolutionized
the character of the place. Immigrants came pouring in,
business became brisk, a church edifice was erected, a good
school wasestablished, and the population more than doubled.”
ANNALS OF 1848. 109

The results of the agencies in the two places being so
entirely opposite that the Catfish people seemed to awake
to the idea that ‘godliness is profitable unto all things,”
and moved, perhaps, by no higher motive than worldly
gain, discussed the matter among themselves, and appointed
a committee to wait on Rev. ©. Hobart, the presiding
elder of the district, and ‘‘ request him to send them a
gospel minister.” The request was honored, and the place
put in charge of the preacher on Union Circuit. Surely
‘their rock is not as our Rock, our enemies themselves
being judges.”

W. H. Sampson was nominally principal of the Law-
rence Institute, but as there was no building yet in which
to open it, he was to act asagent till one should be erected.
To this work he applied himself diligently.

About this time the excitement over the discovery of
gold in California began to prevail. It arose to a fever-
heat in some instances, and ‘“‘carried off” a considerable
number of our people. Rev. Warner Oliver, the pastor
at Walker’s Point, was either so affected by it, or so desir-
ous to care for its victims, that he left his charge and went
to the Pacific Coast. This was the second year of his con-
nection with Wisconsin. His subsequent history can not
be given here.

Many of the pastoral charges had become very much
contracted by the formation of new ones from their terri-
tory. A few had lost their names in the same way. But
the membership had greatly increased. For example, the
ground covered by Iowa Circuit at its formation in 1834,
from which were reported 80 members at the close of that
year, had now become six separate charges with 1,311
members. Aztalan, formed from new ground in 1837,
had growninto eleven charges with an aggregate member-
ship of 1,317. Well has this been called ‘‘ the mother of
circuits.”
110 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Benj. Close was appointed to St. Croix, and at some
time during the year he organized a class at St. Paul, which
then meant only a place where the French Catholics had
a log church known by that name. Here, also, a rude
building was erected on the lot donated the year before,
and our people worshiped in it for a while, but for some
reason the lot reverted to the donor. In that building
Henry Summers, presiding elder of Platteville District,
held the first quarterly meeting on Minnesota soil, in
May, 1849.

In Milwaukee our cause was growing in importance.
The church edifice mentioned in the annals of 1843 had
been completed, and a new pastoral charge had been de-
veloped in the south part of the city, known as Walker's
Point.

Indeed, a general advance seems to have been made
during this first year of our existence as a Confer-
ence, though Mineral Point and Platteville—two very im-
portant charges in the mines—suffered severely by seces-
sions.

In these churches was a large number of Englishmen.
Some of these found it difficult to conform to American
customs, especially to the manner of singing in the public
congregation. For lack, perhaps, of mutual forbearance
and concession, this dissatisfaction culminated in a secession
of about one hundred members in each place, who found a
more congenial home in the Primitive Methodist Church.
Notwithstanding this, the reports from the entire Confer-
ence show an aggregate membership of 6,942. This makes
the apparent increase 1,436. But as Big Foot Circuit,
with 294 members, was transferred by the division to Rock
River Conference, the real gain was 1,711. This was an
unusually large increase.

Our benevolences were fewer in number than now.
The reports show only three, viz.: Missionary Society, $517 ;
ANNALS OF 1849, 111

American Bible Society, $119; Conference claimants, $92.
Many object—and, perhaps, with good reason—to calling
the latter a benevolence.

As briefly stated in the annals of last year, GEORGE
Wuitman and JosepH Lewis had passed from labor to
rest. The former had done good work for five years, and
on the 22d of October, 1847, soon after he reached his
last appointment, he met his last foe; but ‘his triumph
was complete.”

Joseph Lewis’s labors on Fond du Lac and Sheboygan
Circuits have already been noticed. He was appointed to
Beloit in 1846, at which time that important place was
made a separate charge; reappointed in 1847, and labored
successfully till called to the rest of the faithful, May
22, 1848.

1849.

The Conference this year met in Platteville, on the
26th day of June, Bishop Janes presiding. W. H. Samp-
son was again elected secretary. It will be remembered
that this is the second session of Wisconsin Conference,
and also that the Rock River Conference held its second
session in this village eight years before.

Bishop Janes, elected to the Episcopacy in 1844, was
on his first tour in what was then called ‘‘ the West ;” and,
though in feeble health, he endeared himself to all as a
judicious administrator and an ‘‘able minister of the New
Testament.”

At this session thirteen were admitted on trial, nine
into full connection, and three by transfer from other Con-
ferences, viz.: Elmore Yocum, from North Ohio; Philo 8.
Bennett, from Black River; and Orrin F. Comfort, from
Genesee. The first named, though not present at the
Conference, was put in charge of Platteville District ; the
second, of Platteville Station ; and the last, of Geneva, a
place rapidly coming into prominence.
112 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

John Tibballs, formerly of the North Ohio Conference,
was readmitted from the local ranks.

One had died—James Ash, a decidedly good man, and
a useful member of the Conference since 1840. He had
been superannuated four years.

H. R. Colman, who had performed many years of val-
uable service (in Troy Conference previous to 1840, and
in Wisconsin since that time), this year retired to superan-
nuation, and A. B. Randall, who had rendered three years’
service, was returned supernumerary.

Isaac Searls, who had been in Wisconsin two years,
was superannuated, but soon regained his health, and did
active service for several years.

The eagle-eyed bishop had evidently been viewing the
ground before he saw it, and had become impressed with
the importance of the work developing in the Upper Mis-
sissippi region. The Indian missions there had not been
much of a success ; but white settlers were rushing thither,
and the genius of our itinerancy required that they be met
with the saving influence of the gospel. Besides, the ele-
ments of physical enlargement there augured a populous
country in the near future.

The question, ‘‘ Who will go for us?” was appropriate
and momentous. For some days this question remained
unanswered. At length, Chauncey Hobart responded,
‘‘Here am I; send me.” His proffer was accepted, the
Minnesota Mission District was formed, and he was ap-
pointed its presiding elder, and also pastor of St. Paul’s.

For three years there had been a mission at St. Croix,
and the preachers there had skirmished along the line of
Minnesota. But now it was determined to enter the cita-
del, and take possession of the land made ready by the
labors of Hurlburt, Putnam, and Close. Yet the heroic
leader was accompanied with only four men—Enos Ste-
vens, at St. Anthony’s Falls; James Harrington, at Still-
ANNALS OF 1849. 1138

water; and Jesse Pardun and Charles Hill, on Bad Axe
and Black River Mission. The last named charge was in
Wisconsin. Of course the presiding elder confined himself
mainly to St. Paul, visiting the other points when neces-
sary. Subsequent events showed that they were not on
the ground any too soon.

E. Yocum succeeded H. Summers on Platteville District,
and the latter followed C. Hobart on Racine District.

Milwaukee and Fond du Lac Districts remained under
the same supervision as the previous year.

The reader has already seen that the writer of these
chronicles was this year a new man in Wisconsin. He
was present during several days of the preceding session
of the Conference, and was deeply impressed with the
earnest, aggressive spirit of its members; nor less so
with the importance of more laborers in this growing field.
The Conference, also recognizing the same, very cordially
invited his transfer. These concurrent influences, together
with a special impulse felt several weeks before, drawing
him hither, which he has ever believed was of the Lord,
produced a clear conviction that this was the place where
the Master had the most need of him. But having just
received an appointment in his own Conference, he could
not come till the close of that year. Providence won-
derfully opened the way for the consummation of the
plan, and on the fifth day of June he started for what
was deemed the far West, and arrived in Milwaukee on
the 15th, via the Erie Canal and the ‘‘ Lakes.”

This second session of Wisconsin Conference was of
unusual length—commencing on the 27th of June and
closing on the 9th of July. The cause of this was the
trial of two of the members on charges preferred against
each other. The difficulty seemed to have largely grown
out of a misunderstanding. One was entirely acquitted,
the other slightly censured.
114 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

When the appointments were announced, the writer
found himself in charge of the Church there. He was
not dissatisfied, though he had already come several hun-
dred miles to reach the eastern boundary of Wisconsin,
and Platteville was near its western line. It was one of
the best appointments in the Conference in point of finan-
cial and numerical strength and social position; yet, as
there had been for some time an unfortunate partisan
spirit prevailing, it was not deemed a very desirable place.
Perhaps it was on this account that a stranger in the
country was appointed there.

It is due the people to say that the preacher met a very
cordial reception among them, and a hearty co-operation.
One instance is deserving of special notice. At the First
Quarterly Conference, when he reported the amount of his
traveling expenses from Milwaukee, Rev. Samuel Mitchell
arose and moved that they allow his traveling expenses
from his former charge in New York. The preacher ob-
jected on the ground that he did not think he had any just
claim to traveling expenses outside the bounds of the Con-
ference. Mr. Mitchell replied: ‘‘The Conference invited
his transfer, and it is only fair that we bear the expense of
the entire removal.” The preacher, seeing the Conference
was evidently in favor of the motion, arose and said, half
playfully: ‘‘ Brethren, if you desire to pay my entire ex-
penses from New York, allow me to suggest that you pay
one half this year and one half next. I am told that you
have never kept a preacher but one year. But I have
moved so far that I expect to stay with you two years.”
The motion was modified to meet the suggestion, which
created a little pleasantry, and was adopted unanimously.
They carried out their agreement to the letter, that year
and the next.

Such co-operation augured well; an extensive revival
soon followed, and the last vestige of the old partisan feud
ANNALS OF 1849, 115

disappeared. The presiding elder proved himself the man
for the place, as he has for every place to which he has
since been assigned.

The district contained four new charges, viz.: Patch
Grove, taken from Lancaster and Potosi of the previous
year; Council Hill, that had formed a part of Hazel Green
Circuit; Exeter Mission, transferred from Racine District ;
and Wyoming Valley, which seems to have included much
of the territory embraced in the Helena work, dropped
from the list of appointments some years before.

St. Croix Mission was included in the Minnesota Dis-
trict under another name.

Linden makes its first appearance this year in the
Minutes, not as a separate charge, but in connection with
Dodgeville.

The year proved to be one of very considerable pros-
perity throughout the district; there was an increase in the
membership of about twenty-four per cent.

In Fond du Lac District there was a general change of
pastors—S. W. Ford, at Oneida, being the only one that
remained in his former field. But in the pastoral charges
there was but little change, and that mostly in names.

Monitowoc was dropped out.

Sheboygan became two—Sheboygan and Sheboygan
Falls.

Portage of last year is now Plover Portage, thus show-
ing its location in Portage County, and not what is known
as Portage City, in Columbia County.

Marcellon is a new charge, though possibly only changed
from Centerville of the previous year.

Beaver Dam and Oshkosh, now two very important
appointments, come to the front this year. So far as ap-
pears, A. P, Allen was the first Methodist preacher in
Beaver Dam. While on the Waupun Circuit, in 1846-7,
he established an appointment there, and formed the first
116 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

class, of which L. H. Marvin was leader. The exact date
is unknown. Religious services were first held in a car-
penter-shop. At some time during the Conference year,
just indicated, a church edifice, 26 by 40 feet, was com-
menced and slowly carried to completion through a series
of years. Beaver Dam seems to have formed a part of
Lowell Circuit next year, of which H. Requa had charge.

The reader can trace in previous pages the earlier his-
tory of Oshkosh from a point in Winnebago Circuit to a
separate pastoral charge.

The Legislature had changed the corporate name of
Lawrence Institute to Lawrence University. Whatever
may be thought now of the propriety of giving such an im-
posing name to an institution yet in embryo, it showed that
its friends were in l.igh expectation as to what it would be.
W. H. Sampson was again appointed principal of its pre-
paratory department. On the twelfth day of November
this department was opened with a very encouraging num-
ber of students, in an unfinished building in the center of
the block next north of the Methodist Church property, in
the city of Appleton. His associates were R. O. Kellogg
and Jas. M. Phinney, professors, and Miss Emeline M.
Crocker, preceptress.

The pastoral charges of Milwaukee and Racine Dis-
tricts underwent but few changes. In the former, Adams,
a new appointment, was a part of Prairie du Sauk
Mission of the previous year. In the latter, South
Grove, which was connected with Delavan, becomes
the head of a new circuit. Exeter was transferred to
Platteville District. Honey Creek is another name for
Rochester of last year. Eagleville is a new charge, taken
evidently from Palmyra Circuit. The reader will readily see
that as the country becomes populous, the boundaries of pas-
toral charges become better established. The presiding elder
on this district was reared in a more southern latitude, and he
ANNALS OF 1849, 117

found some customs among the people in his new field—
who were almost entirely from Eastern States—that were
not at first very agreeable to him. He was a thorough
Methodist, a preacher of the older style, strongly attached
to the usages to which he had beenaccustomed. But being
a man of good common sense, as well as piety, he so man-
aged as to avoid unpleasant friction.

John Penman, stationed at Beloit, left his work in the
midst of the year for the land of gold, and his place was
supplied by A. P. Allen, removed from Elkhorn.

Whitewater, that had been in the list of appointments
for several years, and had been visited by Pioneer Hal-
stead as early as 1837, had not yet come into much prom-
inence as a post of Zion. It is difficult to ascertain just
when or by whom the first class was organized there. The
first church edifice was commenced under the administra-
tion of L. Dickens, the previous year. Jas. Harrington, who
enters the itinerant ranks this year, was then a local preacher
in that charge. It is said he went into the woods, cut,
hewed, and hauled the timber, and did most of the work
with his own hands—all without cost to the society.

James AsH had passed on to his final home. He was
received on trial in 1840, and did effective service for four
years, when he was returned superannuated, in which re-
lation he continued until his death. He was a man of
marked piety. Of him it is said: ‘‘ Religion was his con-
stant theme in public and in private. It was the atmos-
phere he breathed and the element in which he lived.”

The reports of the year show a total membership, in-
cluding preachers, of 7,295 —increase, 277; $89 collected
for Conference Claimants, $527 for missions, and $334 for
the Bible Society.
118 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER II.
1850-1.

HE Conference this year met in Beloit, commencing
July 3d. Bishop Hamline presided, and J. E. Wilson
was elected secretary.

This first and only visit of the bishop was hailed with
great delight by the preachers. He had presided at the
Rock River Conference in Galena, in 1846, so that he was
personally known to the older members; and all had con-
siderable knowledge of him. How could it be otherwise ?
At the memorable General Conference of 1844 he proved
himself a masterly expositor of law, civil and ecclesias-
tical. In the case of Bishop Andrew, he made a speech
so logical, so forceful, so convincing, as to remove all doubt,
from the minds of the Northern delegates at least, as to the
constitutionality of the proposed action. This turned their
minds to him at once as the man fora bishop. After the
settlement of that case it was decided to elect two bishops.
As the Southern delegates knew they could not elect one
of their own number, or one who had voted in favor of
Bishop Andrew, and as they would not support one who
had voted against him, they sought a candidate outside
the General Conference. The result was the election of
Leonidas L. Hamline and Edmund Storer Janes. Both
were well and favorably known throughout the connection.
The former had been editor of the Ladies’ Repository during
the preceding quadrennium ; the latter had been for sev-
eral years financial secretary of the American Bible Soci-
ANNALS OF 1850, 119

ety. We had, the year before, enjoyed the presidency of
the latter; now we were favored with that of the former.
We were pleased with both; but we found Bishop Ham-
line so rigid in the enforcement of order as to be a little
annoying to some. We have seldom had a better spirit-

al atmosphere at an Annual Conference than prevailed
at this.

The business of the Conference proceeded with great
dispatch.

A committee was appointed on ‘‘ Temperance and the
Use of Tobacco,” and brought in a very sensible report on
each. By its adoption, the Conference ‘‘heartily ap-
proved” a stringent liquor-law recently enacted by our
State Legislature, and pledged all proper resistance to ef-
forts for its repeal. Moreover, it characterized the tobacco
habit as a ‘‘ wasteful and filthy practice;” and pledged
itself to ‘‘discountenance its use in any form, both by
precept and example.” In following years the Conference
wrestled with these gigantic evils even more vigorously.

Beloit, that had been a pastoral charge since 1846, had
become a point of considerable importance. The breth-
ren there were struggling against strong competition.

Several persons from New England had located at this
point some years before, and soon proceeded to found a
college, under the joint patronage of the Congregationalists
and Presbyterians of Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
This, of course, drew many members and friends of those
denominations to the place, and gave them financial and
social, as well as numerical, strength. Thus, Methodism
was placed at disadvantage. Probably many new-comers,
who would have gravitated to us under equally favorable
circumstances, were attracted by the larger bodies by a
sort of ‘ natural law in the spiritual world.”

Yet we had a living force there. A neat, commodious
church edifice had been erected. It was built of stone,
120 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

with a basement partly above ground. It was begun
in the Conference year 1846-7, and the auditorium was
ready for occupancy the year following. In this con-
dition we found it in 1850. Great economy must have
been used in its construction thus far, as it had cost only
$4,300.

Still, over it hung an embarrassing debt of about one
thousand dollars beyond the ability of the society to raise.
The matter was brought before the Conference and fully
explained. The bishop proposed to give two hundred dol-
lars towards the liquidation of the debt, and the members
of the Conference pledged about eight hundred dollars
more, thus rescuing the church from impending peril.
The pledges generally ran from two to ten dollars each.
These were large sums for the preachers in those days to
pay from their scanty receipts.

Here it may be stated that the charter of Lawrence
University required the annual election of nine visitors from
the Conference, who, with the trustees, should constitute a
‘¢ Joint Board,” for the transaction of all business pertain-
ing to the said university. The visitors appointed at the
preceding Conference made a very encouraging report at
this. Though the school had not been in operation a year,
and was literally located in the woods, accessible only by
bad roads that can hardly be conceived of by many of my
readers, it was found that there had been in attendance
105 students—the highest number at one time being 80.
The Oommittee on Education gave it a hearty commenda-
tion, and the Conference as heartily pledged co-operation
in promoting its interests.

At this Conference eighteen were admitted on trial,
two located—John Tibballs and Wm. Tasker; Chas.
McClure gave up his parchments, but retained his member-
ship in the Church; Stephen Jones withdrew from the
connection, and five were returned as superannuated ; three
ANNALS OF 1850, 121

were transferred from our Conference—J. E. Willson, who
had been with us two years, doing great service as pastor of
Spring Street Church, Milwaukee, to Missouri Conference ;
Frank Smith, an active, useful, growing young man, to Rock
River Conference, where he rose to considerable promi-
nence, and died January 4, 1889, having performed many
years of successful work. J. Luckock was also transferred,
but to what Conference is not stated. He became a member
of Rock River Conference, but subsequently was trans-
ferred to the Central Illinois Conference. He was a man
of considerable ability, especially as a controversialist. He
passed to his reward several years since, having been for
some time on the retired list. J. Penman, mentioned in
the annals of last year, was deprived of his ministerial
standing for leaving his work without sufficient cause. In
California he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
but afterwards returned to this country, and for a short
time was connected with our work in Minnesota. Dr.
Hobart, the historian of that Conference, summarizes his
career thus: ‘‘This man left behind him only a record of
dishonor and disloyalty.”

The changes above narrated left the Conference with
eighty effective men—sixteen less than the growing work
demanded. But our well-adapted economy enabled the
presiding elders to supply these vacancies.

The five districts were in charge of the same men as
the year before, with no change in their boundaries except
the transfer of two or three charges to Minnesota Mission
District. Of course there was expansion wherever there
was opportunity.

Minnesota District was enlarged so that it took in not
only all of that territory, but all of Wisconsin west and
north of the Wisconsin River. This was a vast region of
almost unbroken forest. It is difficult to conceive that a
country teeming with inhabitants and dotted with villages

10
122 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and cities, was so recently the undisturbed haunt of wild
beasts.

Some of the trips of the presiding elder present very
romantic scenes. Here is one: On his first round he
wished to pass from Baraboo to Round Prairie, about where
Viroqua now stands. To reach it by any well-known route
would cost about two hundred miles’ travel, with slow and
difficult means of traveling. So far as he could Jearn from
a study of the map, it was about eighty miles directly west ;
but between him and it there was a continuous and dense
forest. He proposed to try this route if two men would
join him. Six volunteered. It was Tuesday, and they
wished to reach their destination by Friday, as the elder
had a camp-meeting appointed to begin there that day.
Providing themselves with provisions for three and a half
days, they plunged into the wilderness, with no guide but
the ‘‘ king of day” anda pocket-compass. They journeyed
on, meandering somewhat, encountering thunder-storms,
and sleeping one or two nights where the bears had but re-
cently enjoyed similar repose, until their provisions were
gone. It was now Saturday morning, and yet they knew
not where they were with respect to their objective point.
Strangely, game seemed scarce. And yet hunger was ren-
dering theirs a perfect ‘‘ woodchuck case.” But instead of
this animal, they succeeded in killing a porcupine. It was
soon flayed, cut into seven pieces, roasted on the ends
of as many long sticks, and eaten with the blessing of the
Lord invoked upon this hastily extemporized meal.
Strengthened thereby, they journeyed on, and reached the
camp-ground early Sabbath morning, weary, but grateful for
Providential guidance. The camp-meeting was very suc-
cessful, though attended by but few ministers. ‘‘About
fifty were converted and added to the Church.”

In Fond du Lae District there was much enlargement—
no less than seven new pastoral charges appearing in the
ANNALS OF 1850, 123

list. These, as already noted in other cases, did not indi-
cate entirely new ground. Byron was probably included
the year before in Fond du Lac Circuit; Kingston and Dart-
ford in Green Lake; Appleton in Oshkosh; and Green Bush
in Sheboygan Falls. Metomen and Omro seem to have been
formed largely from new territory; and, indeed, much of
the others were also. all River probably took the place
in name of Columbus.

J. M. S. Maxson, just received on trial, was appointed
to Omro Mission, but there was no organized society there.
The first class was formed the following winter (1850-1),
with thirteen members, viz.: M. T. Holcomb, wife, and
two children; J. W. Craig and wife, Elijah Clark and
wife, Chas. Rogers and wife, a Miss Dodge, and probably
a few others whose names the writer has not been able to
obtain. ,

Appleton (or the place where it now is) was included
in the Winnebago Circuit in 1848, in charge of A. B.
Randall. As yet the primeval forest there and in all that
region remained intact. On the eighth day of September,
1848, W. H. Sampson began to cut the trees, and prepare
a way to the spot where the Preparatory School-building
was to be erected. On the 8th of October he preached
in a rude shanty, just completed by J. F. Johnston, which
stood on the north side of College Avenue, between Mor-
rison and Durkee Streets. This, so far as is known, was
the first human habitation erected by a white man within
the limits of the present city of Appleton.

The contemplated school-building was erected in the cen-
ter of the block, bounded by the same streets on the west
and east, immediately south of College Avenue. It was
afterwards destroyed by fire.

In February, 1849, A. B. Randall formed the first
class in the place, consisting of Robert R. Bateman, leader;
R. 8. Bateman, Mary Bateman, Amelia Bateman, Electa
124 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Norton, Theresa Randall, L. L. Randall, and J. F. John-
ston. The next month he organized a Sabbath-school—R.
R. Bateman, superintendent.

At the Conference of 1849, Oshkosh took the place of
Winnebago as the name of the charge, with Cornelius
Smith, pastor.

In 1850 Appleton was detached, and became the head
of a circuit, embracing Neenah and Menasha.

The ten thousand dollars necessary to secure the like
sum from Mr. Lawrence, had not yet been all pledged,
and as it was thought no one would be as likely to obtain the
needed amount as W. H. Sampson, he was appointed agent
of the institution.

To Milwaukee District were added five new pastoral
charges by division and the acquisition of new territory.
These were Oak Creek, taken from Root River; Hartford,
probably included last year in Oconomowoc; Bark River,
Sun Prairie, and Norwegian Mission. Adams and Prairie
du Sauk were transferred to Minnesota District.

This Norwegian Mission was located at Cambria. It
was the first mission on this continent established by our
Church for the special benefit of Norwegians and Danes,
and was this year supplied by C. Willerup, of whom and
his work we shall have good reports hereafter.

The special changes in Racine District were very novel.
Instead of expansion, there was contraction. Honey Creek,
East Troy, Eagleville, and South Grove were merged
into other charges. Milton appears as the head of a
circuit, known the previous year as Rock Prairie, and
Kenosha is now the name of the place formerly called
Southport.

At the Conference of 1850 a plan was adopted for the
publication of our Annual Minutes. It was this: Rev.
A. Brunson, then a superannuate, gave his dividend,
$67.01, as a nucleus of a fund for this purpose, which
ANNALS OF 1851. 125

fund should be kept good by the payment at each Confer-
ence thereafter for the Minutes taken by the preachers.
The rest of the sum needed was made up by different
parties.

The report of the Sunday-school Department this year
was as follows: Schools, 144; officers and teachers, 1,132;
scholars, 4,826; volumes in library, 9,165; Bible classes,
63; scholars in infant classes, 252; conversions, 183; for ex-
penses of schools, $620.04; and for Sunday-school Union,
$42.71. The report informs us that a decided advance was
made during the year—from 30 to 50 per cent.

The number of church edifices was 36, and of parson-
ages 31. For further account of these, and for all statistics
in following years, the reader is referred to the appropriate
appendices.

1851.

On the twenty-fifth day of June the fourth session of
the Wisconsin Conference commenced. It was held in a
small edifice in Waukesha, the first one erected by our
people there for a house of worship. W. H. Sampson was
elected secretary.

At the two next preceding Conferences, we had the pres-
idency of Janes and Hamline, respectively. They were
elected in 1844, amid the partisan excitement over the
action of the General Conference in the Hardin and An-
drew cases. Though elected on different issues apparently,
they both stood on the same platform of loyalty to the
Church in its antagonism to the further encroachment of
slavery. |

Beverley Waugh, elected bishop in 1836, presided at
our session this year. He was rather small in stature, with
a piercing eye that took in all the features of every pass-
ing scene. This greatly aided him in being ‘‘ master of
the situation.”

At this Conference a Committee on Slavery was ap-
126 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

pointed. In due time they made a report, too moderate in
tone to suit the writer, on whose motion the committee was
appointed; but as no test of sentiment on this subject ‘had
ever come before the Conference, he, and others of his views,
would gladly have voted in its favor if it had been acted
on at once. But as some discussion was anticipated, and
as some other business was just then pressing, it was laid
on the table, with the express understanding that it should
come up at another time for action. But a fever for ad-
journment set in, the cars were soon to go, and in the
bustle the report continued to slumber; it never awoke.
Though it can not here be reproduced, it is safe to say that
it was probably in advance of any expression on the subject
given by any Annual Conference of our Church west of
the Alleghanics.

In 1841 the Rock River Conference, goaded by peti-
tions from the laymen, appointed a Committee on Slavery,
but responded to the petitioners thus:

“ Resolved, That it is inexpedient for this Conference to
take any action on the subject of slavery.”

This item of information is given in ‘‘ Memorials of
Methodism in Rock River Conference,” and from that au-
thority it seems that the Conference adhered to that resolu-
tion till 1854.

With us it was otherwise. We gave the question no
rest, as will be seen, till it was settled by the utter destruc-
tion of the system to which it related.

Other subjects of interest engaged the attention of the
Conference at that session for the first time, as the Bethel
work, church and parsonage building, and missionary work
among the Scandinavians.

With the first we pledged hearty co-operation. A com-
mittee appointed on the second, gave sume information and
made some suggestions, valuable at the time, all of which
the Conference indorsed.
ANNALS OF 1851, 127

At the preceding Conference a Norwegian Mission had
been arranged for in the appointments, and left to be sup-
plied. The head-quarters of this mission were to be at
Cambridge. It was supplied by C. Willerup, a Dane, con-
verted at Savannah, Georgia, in 1844, and had become
connected with Genesee Conference, in Western New York.
As the Norwegian and Danish languages are essentially the
same, he was well adapted to the work. When he went
to it, few, if any, there had experimental knowledge of
‘the way of salvation,” if of the theory even. Yet many
seemed tired of the lifeless ‘‘ form of godliness” in which
they had been reared, and as they began to Jearn some-
thing of ‘‘ the power thereof,” they became earnest inquir-
ers after the ‘‘truth as it is in Jesus.”

Mr. Willerup’s simple narration of the moral attitude
of this people enthused the Conference, and steps were
taken to aid in erecting a church edifice—the first Norwegian
Methodist house of worship in the world. So extensive was
the interest awakened in that field that three additional
laborers were demanded. Just then Providence favored us
with one. C. P. Agrelius, a Lutheran minister, late from
Sweden, had received a spiritual baptism, and offered him-
self for this work. He was accepted, and provision made
for employing two more. ‘‘So mightily grew the word of
God and prevailed.” More will be heard of these mission-
aries, and of the work among the people of this nationality.

This Conference also appointed a committee to consider
the question of a “‘ Book depository and weekly paper in
the northwestern portion of our Union.” An able report
was submitted, in which the need of these was set forth in
a forcible light, and heartily adopted. It recommended
Chicago as the place, the Northwestern Christian Advocate
as the name of the paper, and instructed our delegates
elected to the General Conference of 1852 to use their in-
fluence to secure these results. To make success more cer-
128 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

tain, the Conference instructed the secretary to furnish
copies of the report to the bishop, to be presented to the
Rock River and Iowa Conferences for their concurrence.
It is scarcely necessary to add, that in due time our recom-
mendations were carried into effect, almost to the very letter.

The Conference this year, as formerly, showed a lively
interest in our rising university. The Visiting Committee
reported very favorably as to its doings and prospects. The
conditions upon which Mr. Lawrence had pledged ten
thousand dollars had been met, and a “‘ man of experience,
[as a teacher] established reputation, and commanding in-
fluence,” had been elected ‘“‘ president of the faculty.” This
was Davis W. Clark (afterwards a bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal Church). Among the considerations to induce
him to accept this position was a proffered salary of six bun-
dred dollars and traveling expenses from the city of New
York. The fact that he declined did not prove that the
Board was too lavish in the use of funds. ‘David Brooks
was elected traveling agent.”

The Conference also showed itself in the front rank of
workers in the temperance reform, pledging themselves to
“‘preach at least one sermon on the subject of temperance
during the year at each appointment in our [their] respec-
tive charges.”

Another measure of more importance than may appear
to some, and one which it is feared has been too little re-
garded, was to add to the by-laws of this Conference the
following, viz.: ‘‘ Each member and probationer shall pre-
pare and deposit with the secretary, to be put in the ar-
chives of the Conference, a sketch of his life, including his
birth, date and place of his conversion, and call to the min-
istry, and the dates of his license, ordination (if ordained)
and entering the itinerancy.”

The Wisconsin Conference having been organized since
the last preceding General Conference, this was the first
ANNALS OF 1851. 129

time that delegates to a similar body could be elected by
us. As no sharp issues were pending there was no special
agitation over the matter. We were entitled to three dele-
gates, and three good men were honored with an election, viz.:
Chauncey Hobart, Wm. H. Sampson, and Henry Summers.

As to the appointments, the most notable feature is the
formation of two new districts—Madison and Fox River.

Platteville, Minnesota, Racine, and Milwaukee Districts
retained their former incumbents. I. M. Leihy was ap-
pointed to the latter early in the last Conference year, to
fill the vacancy caused by the death of the lamented
Springer. W. G. Miller was appointed to Fond du Lac
District, and W. Wilcox and Boyd Phelps, respectively, to
the two first named. The location of all these except Fox
River will be pretty well known by their names. Perhaps
Dartford or Waupun would have been a more appropriate
name, yet it extended north of Fox River as far as Wau-
paca and Plover.

Twelve new charges were made, several of them by the
division of circuits. Prairie du Sauk was transferred from
Minnesota District to Madison, and divided into two—
one retaining the old name, the other called Reedsburg.
Adams was changed to Baraboo. Thus placed, the presid-
ing elder had little difficulty in reaching it; still he had an
occasional opportunity for heroism of some sort.

On one of his trips from Prairie du Chien to Black
River he killed fourteen rattlesnakes. Some may take this
also as proof of the special adaptation of Methodist preachers.
If so, well. But it is evident that he and his fellow-helpers
in that far off battle-field did much toward bruising the
head of a serpent that for ages had been destroying the
human race.

Extensive revivals attended the word in different parts
of the Conference as an increase of 1,950 communicants
indicates.

11
130 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Fort Winnebago reappears among the appointments,
after an absence of several years.

De Pere had been included in Green Bay charge. Now,
and henceforth, it becomes a separate appointment, except
in one instance (1862).

There was a large advance in all lines of Church work.

Early in this Conference year, death invaded our ranks,
and took.two very effective workers.

Eisu SPRINGER, in charge of Milwaukee District for
the last three years, fell a victim to that fearful disease
the Asiatic cholera, on the 22d of August, 1850, in Ocon-
omowoc, while making the first tour of his district for that
year. He began his itinerant ministry in 1833, in the II-
linois Conference, but had been identified with the work
in Wisconsin only since 1845. He was a marked charac-
ter—a man of great firmness and clear convictions. When
a lad, sixteen years old, he was sent away to an academic
institution, in which he was the only professor of religion
among the students. He says: ‘‘I was taunted with be-
ing a Methodist, hissed down, and hooted out of their com-
pany.” This was a severe test of his piety, but he endured
it heroically. It probably aided in developing the strong
man, the talented and influential preacher that he was.
On the day of Mr. Springer’s death he dined with Rev.
David Brooks, our pastor at Watertown; and in less than
twelve hours both he and Mrs. Brooks passed to their final
home by the same terrible disease.

JAMES HARRINGTON, a probationer of the second year
in the Conference, succumbed to the same disease just the
day before Mr. Springer’s departure, at his home in Still-
water, Minnesota.
ANNALS OF 1852. 131

CHAPTER III.
1852-3.

/ T the Sixteenth General Conference, held in May,
1852, four bishops were elected, viz.: Levi Scott,
Matthew Simpson, Osmon C. Baker, and Edward R. Ames.
The last named began his episcopal work as president of the
Wisconsin Conference, which commenced its session on the
second day of September next following, in Fond du Lac ;
Wm. H. Sampson was re-elected secretary.

At this Conference fifteen were admitted on trial, and
all but two of the twenty-three admitted the year before
were continued, and one was re-admitted ; one had died very
triumphantly—C. G. Connable, a promising probationer of
the second year. Six located, six were placed on the list
of superannuates, and three were transferred to other
Conferences. This left but a slight increase of effective
men.

The name of S. C. Thomas appears first in the list of
appointments this year, though he had been transferred
since our last session from Erie Conference, and stationed
at Spring Street Church, Milwaukee.

General harmony prevailed at this session, though a
warm discussion occurred over the report on slavery. In
view of the way action on this subject was shut off at the
last Conference, the writer moved for the appointment of a
committee, with instructions to report at a given hour on a
specified day, and that the order of the day at that time
should be the consideration of said report. This was car-
ried, with but feeble opposition.
182 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

The committee consisted of five, of which O. F, Com-
fort was chairman. At the appointed time he brought for-
ward a good report, signed by only three of the committee;
the other two, it was understood, could not fully indorse
it, though they did not present a minority report. On the
floor it was assailed by two or three influential and highly
esteemed brethren of more conservative views.

Of course ‘‘the irrepressible conflict” was upon us.
Motions to amend, so as to modify the sentiments expressed,
were made and advocated with great earnestness, and op-
posed with as great earnestness, if not with equal ability.
The effort to tone down the report was partially successful ;
and then it was adopted as amended, five or six voting in
the negative. Thus ended a bloodless battle with a deci-
sive victory.

The report is too lengthy to be given in full, but the
reader is furnished, with enough to see its moral tone:

“¢ Resolved, 1. That we are more than ever convinced of
the great evil of American slavery, and hereby solemnly
pledge to each other our best efforts and ardent prayers
for its total abolishment.”

“« Resolved, 3. That in the judgment of the Wisconsin
Annual Conference, our Discipline should be so modified as
to prevent the future admission of slaveholders into the
Church, and require those members now holding slaves to
set them at liberty, except in those instances in which,
owing to the stringency of the slave laws, it may be found
necessary to permit the legal relation to exist for the pro-
tection and support of the slave.”

Among other things, a very strong protest was made
against the Fugitive-slave Law, recently enacted by Congress.

These utterances may seem tame now, but then they
were quite radical, and our Conference was thenceforward
known as one of the most progressive on this subject.

A Committee on Temperance, of which Dr. A. Brunson
ANNALS OF 1852. 133

was chairman, presented a strong report, which was adopted
with great unanimity. The Pine-tree State had enacted
the original ‘‘Maine Law” a few months before, and this
report fully committed the Conference thereto, and affirmed
it as our ‘‘duty, as well as our right and privilege, to use
our influence, both in and out of the pulpit, to procure its
enactment.” This meant more than simply moral suasion.
The report boldly advocated the use of the ballot in this
work, ‘‘irrespective of party lines,” and called on “our
people” to act accordingly. It also invited “the clergy of
other denominations, and all friends of temperance, re-
ligion, and good morals, to unite heartily, firmly, and pru-
dently in this humane and noble effort.”

Thus the Conference put itself boldly on record more
than thirty-five years ago in favor of political action to pro-
cure the enactment of a law totally prohibiting the liquor
traffic, with stringent provisions for its enforcement.

It is probable that few similar bodies, if any, of our
Church or any other, preceded us in thus indorsing the
best prohibitory liquor law ever before enacted in any State
of our great Commonwealth. And we have never receded
from our position.

Nor was this all. The committee, according to instrue-
tion, considered the question of alcoholic wine at the sacra-
ment of the Lord’s Supper. The report gave good reasons
for its disuse, and closed thus: ‘‘ Your committee recom-
mend and earnestly advise brethren to procure the juice of
the grape in the purest state possible for sacramental or
medicinal purposes, regardless of expense or trouble.”

When we consider the facts that very few grapes were
then raised in this State, and that means of transportation
were very limited, this will indicate a determination to make
every practicable effort to give our people ‘the fruit of the
vine” in the Eucharist according to the true Scriptural idea,
instead of an alcoholic concoction of drugs labeled ‘‘ wine.”
134 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

The interests of our rising university were fully set
forth in the reports of the Visiting Committee and of the
Committee on Education. The former reported the elec-
tion of Rev. E. Cook, of Boston, as president.

The districts, except Minnesota, remained substantially
the same as last year, and the incumbents the same, ex-
cept that Isaac Searl was appointed to Madison District,
and A. P. Allen to Racine.

Very little change occurred in pastoral charges. Fay-
ette, in Platteville District, Richland City and Delton, in
Madison, and North Ward, in Fond du Lac, appear for the
first time. J. 8. Prescott, who had been stationed in Fond
du Lac the previous year, was a man of great energy, and
by his indomitable zeal he had succeeded in securing the
erection of two church edifices in that growing town.
They were distant from each other about a mile and a
half, and thus accommodated people in different extremes
of the city.

A few years before we read of a “‘ great conflagration ” in
the place, by which ‘‘ the court-house, city hall, Methodist,
Baptist, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Episcopal
churches were all consumed—in the district school-house.”
At the period under consideration, each of the other
Churches above named was represented by a respectable
house of worship.

There were nine other churches built during the year,
none of which awakened more interest than the one in the
Norwegian Mission, at Cambria. It will ever be known as
the first Methodist Church in the world for the special
benefit of that nationality, and probably the first of any
Protestant denomination, except the Lutherans.

The late General Conference had attached the Indian
Missions at the head of Lake Superior and Sandy Lake
to our territory, and they were placed in Minnesota Dis-
trict. This made it of vast extent. Prairie du Chien, its
ANNALS OF 1853. 135

southernmost appointment, and Sandy Lake, its northern
extremity, were distant from each other eight hundred
miles. The latter was four hundred miles from St. Paul,
the residence of the presiding elder, and could be reached
in winter only by dog-teams of the Hudson Bay Company,
and in the summer by ascending the Mississippi in a canoe
most of the way. Presiding elders now, who can ride in

“palace cars in summer’s heat and winter’s cold, can prob-
ably travel ten thousand miles with less fatigue and loss of
time than one such trip involved.

As usual, there was an advance in all the lines of
Christian work.

The General Conference of 1852 ordered the appoint-
ment of some one at each annual conference to preach a
missionary sermon at its next session. C. Hobart was ap-
pointed to perform this service at our Conference in 1853.
The reader is referred to Appendix G for the names of the
appointees in the years following.

1853.

On the thirty-first day of August, 1853, the Wisconsin
Conference assembled in Baraboo for its sixth annual ses-
sion. Bishop Scott presided, and 8S. W. Ford was elected
secretary.

Dr. Scott had attended one or two of our sessions as
one of the book agents of the New York Concern, and
endeared himself to us by his unaffected urbanity and
great kindness of heart. On this account, if no other, he
would have been cordially received. But he now came to
us in a new relation, one which, in itself, inspired respect.
He had been in his present office but little over a year, as
the reader has seen. He left us with the profound respect
of all.

Baraboo was a thriving village in a region to which the
tide of emigration had been increasing for a few years. A
136 WICONSIN CONFERENCE.

class was formed there, February 5, 1842, by Thos. M.
Fullerton, and thus made a part of the Muscoda Circuit.
It had probably been connected with Prairie du Sauk most
of the time thereafter till 1849, when it became the head
of a circuit, under the name of Adams, which name it
bore for two years, and was then called Baraboo. Though
so young, the Conference was well sustained there. It is
now an important appointment in the West Wisconsin
Conference. That body has held several sessions there.

During this Conference a camp-meeting was in progress
in a grove near by, in which many of the younger ministers,
whose time was not occupied in Conference business, labored
with profit to themselves and the work. The savory influ-
ence of the meeting was felt throughout the session.

The reports of the Visiting Committee and of the Com-
mittee on Education, showed that our cherished institu-
tion, Lawrence University, was in a very prosperous con-
dition. Rev. Edward Cook, A. M., elected president the
year before, had entered upon the duties of his office.
Rey. D. Brooks, general scholarship agent, had sold schol-
arships to the amount of $10,000. ‘‘H. Requa, who spent
a few months as Indian scholarship agent, obtained $2,900;
and J. S. Prescott, foreign agent, had secured in cash and
valuable pledges $17,300.” This was a very fine showing;
but, alas! it never showed as well thereafter.

The report of the Visiting Committee also represented
that the annual exhibition of the students was of a high
order; that the president-elect gave a fine inaugural ad-
dress, and was duly inducted into office; and that the cor-
ner-stone of the college edifice ‘‘ was laid by Dr. M. C.
Darling, the president of the Board of Trustees, and an
appropriate address was delivered by Rev. Alfred Brunson,
accompanied with appropriate religious exercises.”

It also appeared that ‘‘the mineralogical cabinet and
apparatus of the late Professor Buck, of Milwaukee, con-
ANNALS OF 1858. 137

sisting of astronomical, philosophical, and chemical instru-
ments, had been procured, in exchange for lands in Wal-
worth County.” This was deemed a very fortunate bargain ;
but time changed the aspect of the case very much.

The Committee say further: ‘‘ In addition to the above,
the foreign agent, since the meeting of the joint board,
has obtained $2,200; President Cook has secured a library
and additional apparatus worth about $1,000, which, when
added to the former ones on hand, with the cabinet and
apparatus are valued at $3,000, making the whole prop-
erty of the university worth at least $77,000.” In this
sum were included the estimated value of the college
grounds and of building material on hand. It seemed,
therefore, but reasonable that they should say: ‘‘ Never
in the history of this rising institution have its prospects
been so flattering as at present.” They recommended, and
the Conference concurred in, the appointment of J. S. Pres-
cott as foreign agent, H. Requa as Indian scholarship, and
A. B. Randall and Asa Wood as general scholarship agents.

The following resolution, adopted by the Conference,
shows still further its interest in the cause of education :

‘* Resolved, That each preacher in charge of a circuit
or station, shall preach, or cause to be preached, at least
oncé a year, a sermon on education at each principal ap-
pointment.” ,

How well this was carried into effect, the writer has
no means of knowing.

Nor was this all. At a meeting of the preachers of
Racine District, held in Janesville a few months before,
the question of establishing an academical institution in
that city was raised, and, after a free discussion, and con-
sultation with prominent laymen, the meeting resolved,
with great unanimity, to attempt it.

A little inquiry revealed the fact that there was a very
suitable building almost in the heart of the city, on a plat
138 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

of ground sufficiently large—about two acres—that could
be purchased or rented at a very reasonable rate. It was
a stone edifice, two stories high, built for school pur-
poses, and could have been purchased for the small sum
of $2,000.

The matter was left in the hands of a committee, with
considerable discretionary power. They rented the prop-
erty, employed a Seventh-day Baptist as principal, and the
school was opened in the fall with such favorable auspices
as to induce the Conference to appoint a Board of Visitors.
But it was soon found that the principal, though represented
as ‘‘almost a Methodist,” seemed to take special pains to
display his disregard for the Christian Sabbath. The school
sank into disrepute, and was soon given up.

Thus ended ‘‘ the Janesville Wesleyan Seminary,” which,
with proper management, might have been a grand success.

In reference to the temperance and anti-slavery ques-
tions, the Conference maintained its high position.

The last State Legislature had submitted to the voters
the question as to a prohibitory liquor law, and it was to be
voted on at the approaching election. As the Conference
at its last session had taken positive ground in favor of
such a law, and had, indeed, led other ecclesiastical bodies
in this enterprise, so at this it boldly met the issue.

An extract from the report on temperance, which was
enthusiastically adopted, will show the unflagging deter-
mination of the Conference. After an unqualified indorse-
ment of the ‘‘ Maine Liquor Law,” they ‘recommended
that all the members of this Conference whose fields of
labor may be in Wisconsin exert their influence by preach-
ing or by lecturing on temperance, and by all other appro-
priate means calculated to secure a prohibitory law; and
we do hereby solemnly pledge ourselves as a Conference,
and publish our determination to the world, that whatever
may be the other qualifications of candidates for the Leg-
ANNALS OF 1858. 139

islature of the State, no man shall have our support who shall
either neglect or refuse to give perfect satisfaction that, if
elected, he will both vote and labor for a prohibitory en-
actment that will be creditable to our State, and will be
adapted to suppress the great evil of intemperance.”

This was nearly forty years ago, and it is earnestly com-
mended to those who now, after being deceived and be-
trayed by politicians. over and over again, will continue to
vote in the same line for fear of ‘‘ weakening our party.”

The report on slavery was fully up to that of the pre-
ceding year in moral tone, and was adopted with less oppo-
sition. The first and fifth resolutions will give the reader
an idea of its general character :

‘* Resolved, 1. That slavery is contrary to the laws of
God, man, and nature; hurtful to society, contrary to the
dictates of conscience and pure religion, and the doing to
others what we would not they should do to us.

“ Resolved, 5. That it is the opinion of the Wisconsin
Annual Conference that the original design of the general
rule prohibiting ‘the buying and selling of men, women,
and children, with the intention to enslave them,’ was to pre-
vent all traffic in human beings by members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and that it should now be so
interpreted and enforced.”

Our Conference has the honor of opening fraternal cor-
respondence with other ecclesiastical bodies, which dates
from this year, as seen by the following resolutions, unan-
imously adopted by the Conference :

‘Resolved, 1. That a delegate be appointed by this
Conference to the State Convention of Presbyterian and
Congregational Churches in Wisconsin, to tender to said
body, at its next session, our fraternal salutations, with a
view to cultivate more extensively feelings of reciprocity
between the said Convention and the Wisconsin Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
140 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

“ Resolved, 2. That Rev. O. F. Comfort be, and he is
hereby, appointed said delegate.”

Our delegate performed his duty faithfully, and asked
the Convention to reciprocate, which they did by appoint-
ing one to bear their greetings to our next Conference.
The measure thus introduced has been kept up with con-
siderable regularity between us and those Churches, in
their representative character, to the present time. ‘‘ Be-
hold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell
together in unity,” even though they may differ on some
points.

This Conference made a new departure in Sabbath-
school work. An agent was appointed ‘‘to travel as ex-
tensively as possible within the bounds of this Conference,
and use all proper and practicable means within his power
to promote the interest of Sabbath-schools within our
limits.” H. W. Frink, one of our earlier pioneers, was
appointed to this work, and he was also to associate with
it the interests of the Tract Society of our Church. *

In looking over the general work, it was found to have
greatly increased, especially in Minnesota and in Northwest
Wisconsin. Immigration was rapidly filling those re-
gions, and the ubiquitous itinerancy must thrust its men
into the frontiers to meet the demands of the case. Ten
new pastoral charges were formed in that part of our work.
This required the formation of a new district also; hence,
Prairie du Chien District came this year into existence,
with A. Brunson, presiding elder.

David Brooks was placed in charge of Minnesota Dis-
trict, and S. C. Thomas of Platteville.

The other five districts retained their former incum-
bents. In these the changes of pastoral charges were
but few.

Beetown, in Platteville District, is a new work, and
Montfort is another name for Franklin.
ANNALS OF 1858. 141

South Bristol, Hebron, Monticello, Berlin, Montello, and
Jackson Street, Milwaukee, appear in the Minutes for the
first time. The latter was a development of ‘ City Mis-
sion,” formed the year before, and connected with Grove
Street, under the pastoral eare of J. M. S. Maxson.

Soon after the last Conference, the Universalist Church
that stood on the site of the afterwards ill-fated Newhall
House, was purchased for four hundred dollars and moved
to a lot on Jackson Street, which had been purchased by
Geo. F. Austin and Osmon Bailey, for eleven hundred
dollars. ‘When fitted up, the edifice and lot cost two
thousand dollars, and was dedicated December 1, 1852, by
Rev. A. Hanson.”

Most of the other last named charges also were formed
from territory previously occupied.

Not so with all in the ‘“‘upper country.” Take one
case: At this Conference Benton County Mission was
formed. It included all the country above the Falls of St.
Anthony—a tract one hundred and thirty miles in length,
and in the entire region were but two Methodists—Lucy
Olmstead, near Fort Ripley, and Mrs. Becker, near Sauk
Rapids. To this mission, Jas. H. White, an energetic, ear-
nest man, was appointed. He established ten ‘‘ preaching
places,” some of which are important points now in the
Minnesota Conference. With the exception of C. Hobart,
who constituted himself a scouting party the year before,
while presiding elder on St Paul District, this missionary
was the first voice crying in that wilderness, ‘‘ Prepare ye
the way of the Lord!”

A serious calamity-came to our cause this year in Mil-
waukee. On the night of January 14, 1854, the Spring
Street Church edifice was consumed by fire. During the
rest of the year the Church worshiped in Young’s Hall.

At this Conference 22 were received on trial, 19 were
continued, 4 located, 3 probationers were discontinued at
142 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

their own request, 1 was returned supernumerary, 5 super-
annuated, 1 deposed, and 114 appointed to active work.

There were 112 pastoral charges, and among these 27
places to be supplied. If these were all filled, as is prob-
able, the entire force of effective preachers was 141, with
a total membership of 11,593. An increase of 837 is a
good indication of fidelity and success. The total of benevo-
lent collections were $2,518.

The custom of giving ‘‘ quarterly” or ‘‘ love-feast
tickets,” introduced by Mr. Wesley, had been for years
going into neglect. So faras the writer can determine, this
was the last year he observed it, and he thinks but few con-
tinued it to that time.

As it is probable that many who read these pages never
saw one, a fac-simile of the only one he finds among the
papers of his departed wife is here given. It was issued
several years before this, as the reader will see.

FOI BI IS AIBAISO
ES IP IID IAAI SS FIO

6. € Bosiaeee
INO OB LON Na ONANISM
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
FOUNDED A. D. 1784.

      
 
 

    

Member.

POLAR

 

 

      
   
 

et QUARTERLY TICKET, oe/rgy. 5, 1848.

 
 

PhP &f Bexsete Minister, ay

Christ died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we
should live together with him.—1 Thess. y, 10.

 
   
    

In assurance of hope, we to Jesus look up,
Till his banner unfurl’d in the air
From our graves we shall sce, and cry out, “It ishe!”’
And fly up to acknowledge him there.
Ee

    
     
 
 

 

 

 

MAJOR E. L. PAINE.

 
ANNALS OF 1854. 148

CHAPTER IV.

1854-5.

N the thirtieth day of August, 1854, Bishop Morris
called our Conference to order, in Janesville, for its
seventh annual session. It will be remembered that he or-
ganized it, and presided at its first session in 1848. But
the present Conference was almost new to him. It had,
during the six years, far more than doubled in the number
both of preachers and pastoral charges.

W. H. Sampson was elected secretary, and J. C. Dana
assistant.

The business of the Conference proceeded with usual
harmony and dispatch.

Considerable new interest was awakened in the educa-
tional field, and, indeed, in our temperance and anti-slav-
ery work as well.

The Northwestern University had been projected a few
years before, and our Conference had been solicited to ap-
point some trustees and visitors, to meet the requirements
of the charter, and thus enable its friends to organize and
proceed to work at once. Failing to comply with their
request would compel them to wait until their charter could
be changed by the next Legislature of Illinois. Of course
we cheerfully granted their request. But now they ap-
pear, by a representative, at this Conference, and ask the
patronage of the southern portion of our Conference ter-
ritory. This was not contemplated in the former action of
our Conference. Dr. Hinman, the president elect of that

‘institution, urged the case strongly; and Dr. Cook (as
he can now be designated, having recently been hon-
144 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ored with the doctorate) as vigorously opposed it. With
great unanimity, the Conference refused to accede to their
proposal. It expressed the utmost good-will toward their
enterprise; but as we were engaged in a similar one, with
far less favorable prospects, we could not consent to allow
them to send an agent into our territory to canvass
for funds or students. It hardly seemed generous for
them to ask it; it was eminently just for us to refuse.
Indeed, if ‘‘ cheeky ” had been invented before that occur-
rence, some one might have hastily used it in this case.
The Conference appointed no more trustees or visitors to
that institution.

Measures had been taken to found an institution at
Red Wing, Minnesota, with encouraging prospects, to be
called Hamline University. Bishop Hamline had already
donated to it $25,000. That point was then within our
boundaries, but it was not expected to remain so long. It
seemed an eligible site for such an institution. It was on
the ‘‘ Father of Waters,” and that vast region was fast
filling up with enterprising people. The Conference gave
it a hearty indorsement. The subsequent development of
the country in ‘‘regions beyond” seemed to demand its
removal to Minneapolis—that city of marvelous growth—
where for several years it has been in successful operation.

A communication came to us from Ohio setting forth
the importance of a college for colored people, to which
the Conference responded very cordially.

Of course the interests of Lawrence University were
kept in view. The college-building was nearly completed,
the collegiate department organized. N. E. Cobleigh, A.
M., and R. Z. Mason, A. M., had been elected to fill
different chairs. H. A. Jones, A. M., was elected tutor.
All these were well recommended for their places. The
prospects of the institution were still very flattering. Pro-
fessor R. O. Kellogg, who had been connected with it
ANNALS OF 1854. 145

almost from the first, resigned, and retired from its halls.
This was unfortunate to human view. No man was ever
connected with the institution in its entire history, before
or since, who exerted a more salutary influence over the
students than he.

Since our last session the people had expressed at the
polls their desire for a prohibitory liquor-law, by a major-
ity of about four thousand. The Legislature obeyed their
will, and enacted one essentially the same as the famous
‘*Maine Law.” W. A. Barstow, the governor, vetoed it,
and thus thwarted the will of a large majority of the peo-
ple. Four thousand then were probably equivalent to
ten thousand now.

This case illustrates the wisdom of our action at the
last Conference in pledging ourselves not to vote for any
one who should fail to give entire satisfaction that he
would, if elected, ‘‘ both vote and labor for a prohibitory
enactment.” Mr. Barstow was publicly interrogated on the
subject before the election, and responded in a way that led
his political friends who favored the temperance cause to
believe he would give his official sanction to such an act
if approved by the people at the polls. But his answer
was that of a wily politician—ambiquous. Of course the
liquor men were satisfied with it; they knew what it meant.
True to his artfully-concealed intention, when the bill was
presented for his signature he killed it in one short sen-
tence—‘‘ It is unconstitutional ”—without assigning a soli-
tary reason. ;

O, when will temperance men learn not to trust a man
that occupies an equivocal position on this great question !
Especially, when will they break away from all political
parties that are wedded to and controlled by the liquor-
power?

Notwithstanding this defeat, the Conference showed a
determination to push the battle till victory for the right

12
146 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

should be achieved. This was evinced in a short but strong
report, unanimously adopted, as follows:

“The Committee to whom was referred the subject of Tem-
perance, respectfully present the following report:

‘That the moral -and political position of the Wisconsin
Annual Conference having been clearly defined from time to
time, is so well understood that your Committee deem it su-
perfluous to consume time by any reference to the past.

“We therefore submit, for the consideration of the Con-
ference, the following resolutions :

“Ist. That from the observations of the past year, we are
confirmed in the conviction that the only effectual remedy
against this gigantic evil, is the enactment and enforcement
of a most stringent Prohibitory Liquor Law.

“2d. That in order to secure this desirable object, we mutu-
ally pledge ourselves to vote for such men only as are avow-
edly and openly in favor of the passage of such law; and
that by preaching or lecturing, and by all other prudent
means, we will endeavor to secure the co-operation of all the
people within our respective fields of labor.

“3d. That the expressed will of a majority of more than
four thousand voters on November last, and the correspond-
ing action of the popular branch of the Legislature in favor
of a Prohibitory Law in this State, demand our sincere grat-
itude to God, and should inspire the friends of temperance
with new courage, and prompt to increased and vigorous ef-
forts for the consummation. of the glorious Temperance Ref-
ormation. O. F. Comrort, Chairman.”

The most absorbing subject, aside from the direct work
of leading souls to Christ, was that of slavery. The fail-
ure of the General Conference of 1852 to put forth an ex-
pression in regard to it, though urged by that well-bal-
anced man—Calvin Kingsley, afterwards bishop—and
others, had probably aroused many, and intensified more.
Meanwhile the rising tide received additional force from
the aggressive action of the slave power in securing the
passage of a law in defiance of the ‘‘ Missouri Compromise”
of 1819, by which slavery might be extended into the new
ae

ANNALS OF 1854. 147

Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and thus place the
Nation more completely under its domination. Meanwhile
a discussion had been opened in our newly established
paper, the Northwestern Christian Advocate, on the subject
of ridding our Church from a complicity with this ‘* sum
of all villainies.” Its editor, J. V. Watson, seemed for
some time rather conservative, yet he freely admitted ar-
ticles on both sides. Possibly his caution led to the best
results.

One or two Conferences had proposed substitutes for our
General Rule on Slavery, but they were not satisfactory to
the more progressive. From no quarter did the clarion
of freedom—entire freedom of the Church from this sin and
shame of the Nation, sound out in clearer notes than
from within our borders. ‘‘No compromise!” was our
watchword.

The report of the Committee on Slavery, adopted at
this session, will show the reader the position of the Con-
ference at that time. It is here given entire:

“The Committee on Slavery respectfully report: That
while we deem any elaborate discussion of this subject super-
fluous, we do believe it incumbent on this body of ministers to
express clearly and unmistakably their views of its character
and of their duty in regard to it.

“For this purpose we propose for adoption the following
resolutions:

“Ist. That our opposition to slavery in all its forms was
never more decided and uncompromising than at present.

“2d. That we regard the Kansas and Nebraska Bill, passed
by our National Legislature at its recent session, as an alarm-
ing exhibition of the slave power, surpassed in atrocity only
by the Fugitive-slave Law of 1850.

“3d. That we deem it our duty as ministers of the gospel, to
preach against slavery as against other violations of religion
and humanity, and in every other proper way to labor for its
removal from the Church and the world.

“Ath, That we affectionately invite our people to co-operate
148 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

with us by their prayers and in the use of the elective fran-
chise to effect a repeal of the Fugitive-slave Law, to prevent
the further extension of slavery, and to secure its final extir-
pation from the Nation.

“5th. That we consider it highly improper for the Methodist
Episcopal Church to extend to the Church South such saluta-
tions as imply fraternal relations.

“6th. That we deem it altogether inexpedient for the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church to appropriate money either for the
support or maintenance of missions in slave territory, except
on a basis of entire freedom from slavery.

“7th. That while we believe the Troy Conference resolu-
tion, submitted to this Conference for concurrence, is well in-
tended, we consider it inadequate to the demands of the case,
and therefore we do not concur therein.

“8th. That we request the next General Conference so to
alter the General Rule on Slavery as to read as follows: The buy-
ing, selling, or holding a human being as a slave.

‘Oth. That our secretary be instructed to forward to each
of our bishops a copy of th® last resolution, to be presented
to the several annual Conferences for their concurrence. Re-
spectfully submitted. P. 8. Bennett, Chairman.”

This new rule was presented to all the Annual Confer-
ences for concurrence, but did not receive the requisite
three-fourths majority. It will receive further notice in
the annals of next year.

In reviewing the labors of the year just passed, we see
evidences of continued progress. To meet the growing
demands of the work 37 were received on trial, 25 were
continued on trial from the last year, and 10 were received
into full connection. Nineteen new charges were developed,
making in all 132, demanding the labors of 174 preachers.
‘The tctal increase of communicants was 1,716.

H. J. VANEHOICK, a probationer of much promise,
had gone to his heavenly home.

At this Conference 1 located, 8 were discontinued at
their request, 3 were returned supernumerary, and 8 super-
annuated. The places left to be supplied were about the
ANNALS OF 1854. 149

same as the preceding year, so the new recruits, though
many, did not fill all the vacancies.

The districts, as to boundaries, remained about as the
year before, and all retained their former incumbents ex-
cept Milwaukee, to which C. Hobart was appointed, to
succeed I. M. Leihy, who had completed his full term.

But the pastoral charges had continued to increase.
The Norwegian Mission, in Milwaukee District, had so ex-
panded as to demand six preachers. A new one had been
developed in Minnesota requiring two, and another in Fond
du Lac District that needed the labors of at least one—
three missions aud nine missionaries. The last one named
was supplied by Edward Peterson, then a student in Law-
rence University, who will come more to view hereafter.
A new Welsh Mission was also opened in Racine, to which
Wm. R. Jones was appointed.

A new church edifice was reported from Manitowoc,
and six from other places noted elsewhere.

On the 14th of January, 1854, the Spring Street
Church edifice in Milwaukee was consumed by fire. In a
directory of the Grand Avenue Church—as it is now called,
to agree with the altered name of the street—is a ‘‘his-
torical sketch” which, though it contains no false state-
ments, can not fail to make an erroneous impression as to
the disposition of this property and the reinvestment of its
avails. After speaking of its destruction by fire, the
sketch says: ‘‘The lot was sold, and with the proceeds the
society purchased the Congregational church on the corner
of Spring and Second Streets, thereby incurring a debt of
$2,000.” This conveys the idea that all the proceeds were
thus used, and yet that they were insufficient to pay for
the property purchased. The essential facts are as follows:
There was a debt on the original church of about five
thousand dollars. The society commenced to rebuild some-
what after the plan of that edifice; i. ¢., with stores on the
150 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ground-floor, and the auditorium over them. This work
was going on when the writer of these pages was appointed
to the pastorate of that Church in September, 1854.

The hall in which the society had worshiped since their
disaster seemed to him so unlike a sanctuary that he in-
duced the trustees to seek a more suitable place. Fortu-
nately they obtained the use of the ‘‘ Free Congregational
church,” whose location has already been described. We
were tenants at will, as the society owning it were unde-
cided as to just what they would do in the future. They
had no minister then. Soon our people became attached
to the house. It was a plain but neat brick edifice, that
would seat about as many as the old church. It was lighted
with gas, and the acoustic properties of the auditorium
were very fine. It soon became apparent that the property
was for sale, and the pastor employed what skill he had to
induce the trustees to purchase it. Meanwhile they had
an offer for the old church property of $15,000.

There was not the utmost harmony among the trustees.
Some were in favor of selling the property and uniting
with Jackson Street society, and building a very large
church. Others claimed that as that society was an organ-
ized body, and as independent of the Spring Street society
as any in the Conference, they had no claim to its funds.
This was strictly true. Yet as some of the trustees desired
to join the Jackson Street society, who were contemplating
the erection of a new church, they insisted that a part of
the fund, at least, should go for that purpose. They were
the majority, and some of them very intent on their plan.
It was finally decided to give the Jackson Street brethren
$4,000, and apply the rest, after paying the indebtedness,
to the purchase of the Free Congregational church. The
pastor had never been in so difficult a position, but he has
reason to believe that he had some influence in harmonizing
the discordant elements.
ANNALS OF 1854. 151

The arrangement was carried into effect, and the church
was purchased for $7,200. After using all that fell to
the Spring Street Church by the agreement, and making
necessary repairs, a debt remained, as stated in the
“ sketch,” of $2,000. But the lot was 65 feet on Spring
Street and 120 on Second Street. Soon 20 feet on Spring
Street were sold for $2,000; this left us 45 feet front
by 120 in depth, with a church property worth nearly
as much to us as our interest in the old one before
the fire.

This building was burned on the 4th of July, 1861. A
new one was erected on its site at a cost of $9,500, and
sold in 1869 for $20,000. Thus the lot itself (65x120 feet)
brought $5,300 more than the entire property cost, includ-
ing the last named edifice. Now, if every brick were re-
moved, the site probably could not be purchased for less
than $100,000.

The writer’s only apology for being thus minute is that
no one who has attempted to write a history of Method-
ism in Milwaukee has given an account of these transac-
tions and simple justice requires that the facts should be
stated.

It is due the Jackson Street brethren to say that not
one of them, so far as is known, exerted any influence to
secure the $4,000; but they accepted it, and used it to aid
them in building what is now Summerfield Church. And it
is noticeable that not one of these trustees went into that
new enterprise. One moved from the city; one became so
mixed up with worldly follies that he withdrew from the
Church ; one united his religious interests with another de-
nomination, and one—Leverett S. Kellogg—‘ an Israelite
indeed, in whom was no guile”—was called to a better
temple than earth can furnish. His (carpenter) shop had
been the public sanctuary of the struggling society. He
afterwards built the first and second church edifices already
152 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

noticed. He lived honored by all, and died in the autumn
of 1854, lamented by all.

1855.

The Wisconsin Conference convened on the thirtieth
day of August, 1855, in Racine, for its eighth annual ses-
sion. Bishop Edmund 8. Janes was its presiding officer,
and the secretaries of last year—W. H. Sampson and J.C.
Dana—were re-elected.

It will be remembered that this bishop presided at our
second session, which was a long and tedious one. He
was then in feeble health. Now he is more robust, though
worn with excessive labor during the summer.

It is rather a noticeable coincidence that Bishop Morris
presided at our first and seventh sessions, and Bishop Janes
at our second and eighth—the latter immediately following
the former in both instances.

In the main, the Conference dispatched its usual busi-
ness quite rapidly. One new departure marked its pro-
ceedings, which caused some delay. For some time there
had been dissatisfaction as to the distribution of our mis-
sionary funds. The presiding elders were always the com-
mittee to make appropriations, and their reports were
subject to but one modification by the Conference, viz.,
striking a proposed mission from the list. It was thought
by many that the Conference ought to have more control
over this matter. For this purpose the Conference ap-
pointed a Committee on Missions, consisting of one from
each district, leaving out the presiding elders entirely.
This experiment proved to be impracticable, as the latter
had to furnish the committee information as the basis of
intelligent action. Had the two been united, 7. e., had
the committee been composed of the presiding elders and
one from each district, it might have been a success.

Our missionary funds should be very judiciously ap-
ANNALS OF 1855. 153

propriated, and it seems eminently proper for the presiding
elders to be assisted by the counsel of others as competent
to judge as themselves. If no better results are reached,
better satisfaction will probably be given to all concerneu.

The reports of committees this year, and the discussions
on them, were of more than ordinary interest. They may
now be briefly considered.

The report on Education opens a wide field of action
in this line of work, and presents a very encouraging
view. 7

Arrangements having been made by the Joint Board,
in August, 1854, for the organization of the collegiate de-
partment of Lawrence University, freshman and sopho-
more classes were formed at the beginning of the fall term.
Hence the college proper, as well as the preparatory de-
partment, had been in operation for a year. The latter,
be it remembered, was opened on the 12th of November,
1849. The average attendance during the year just
closed was a little over two hundred. This was remarka-
ble, considering the poor facilities of travel in those days.
A donation of $10,000 from the estate of Samuel Apple-
ton, of Boston, had been made as a permanent endowment
fund for a library, the interest only to be used. This has
‘been an immense benefit to the institution, and its career
of usefulness will go on perpetually. The Board had taken
steps for the endowment of a chair in Hebrew and Biblical
Literature, which the Conference heartily indorsed. But
the rapid development of the Garrett Biblical Institute,
and our lack of funds, rendered it unwise to push this
measure, and it was afterwards abandoned.

The preparatory department of Hamline University,
at Red Wing, Minnesota, had been opened with very flat-
tering prospects; and the Conference showed its continued
good-will towards it by favoring the appointment of prin-
cipal, agent, and trustees, as desired.

18
154 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Two other institutions of learning of lower grade
sought and received the indorsement of the Confer-
ence. These were the ‘‘ Evansville Seminary” and the
‘Mineral Point Seminary,” at the places indicated by
their names. The former will come to view again.

The temperance question was, as now, pushing to the
front, and our Conference took advancing positions against
the rum-power throughout the contest.. Every time the
sober people had trusted demagogues, they had been ‘“ sold.”
It may be well now, after more than thirty years of expe-

"rience, to note the position of the Conference, and the na-
ture of the fight then, that we may compare both with
those of the present.

The report, which was unanimously adopted, after re-
hearsing some achievements of moral suasion in various
forms, takes advanced ground thus: ‘‘But such is the
weakness and depravity of human nature, that no measures
have been found adequate to suppress the great evil of in-
temperance so long as the traffic in intoxicating drinks is
permitted to continue in our midst.” In this fact the re-
port finds the necessity of a probibitory liquor law, and then
adds: ‘‘ No sooner have the friends of temperance asked
for a law prohibiting entirely the sale of intoxicating
drinks, and making such sale, like every other moral nui-
sance, a misdemeanor, than they are charged with having
made this a political question. This issue having been
forced upon us, as in duty bound, we accept it; and in the
name of our God we set up our banners in a great moral
contest with the artifice and avarice of designing and
wicked men, who love the gain of ungodliness, and are
contributing their influence, their efforts, and their money
to corrupt our legislation, to purchase vetoes of the Maine
Law, and to reward craven-hearted lawyers and jurists,
who vainly hope to acquire or retrieve a reputation for
legal lore by declaring prohibitory laws unconstitutional.”
ANNALS OF 1855 155

A. series of resolutions follows, the first of which is:
‘That, as a body of Christian ministers, we do hereby
renew our sacred pledge, and republish to the world our
solemn declaration, that whatever may be the other quali-
fications of candidates, no man shall have our suffrages
for any legislative, executive, or judicial office in the gift
of the sovereign people, who is not known to be openly
consistently, and antecedently in favor of a prohibitory liquor
law.” Here is no uncertain sound. The Conference did
not shrink from political action, and it had learned that
pledges of politicians, not ‘‘ antecedently in favor of a pro-
hibitory liquor law,” were not to be deemed of any value.
Nothing has been more clearly demonstrated by history
since then. How, then, can any conscientious prohibitionist
give his vote for such a man?

The greatest interest centered in the slavery question.
The convictions of the preachers and people respecting this
monster sin, and the absolute importance of extirpating it
from the Nation, and especially from the Church, had _ be-
come greatly intensified by the general agitation of the
subject. And as this was the time for electing delegates
to the General Conference of 1856, petitions came up from
the laity, entreating us to select such men ‘as delegates
as will give their undivided influence in favor of a rule or
such legislation that shall fix a time, not far distant, when
slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church shall forever
cease.” These were referred to the Committee on Slavery,
already appointed, consisting of P. S. Bennett, S. L. Brown,
I. M. Stagg, J. B. Mills, and J. L. Williams. Their re-
port, too lengthy for insertion here, was fully up in tone
to any previous one on this subject. As to these petitions,
it said: ‘‘ The object contemplated in these memorials we
most heartily approve, and we doubt not a decided majority
of this body take the same view of the matter. There
may, however, be a diversity of opinion, as to the manner
156 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

of securing this object. We have already heard the sug-
gestion, ‘Let us instruct our delegates to carry out our
views.’ This might suffice on questions of mere policy or
propriety ; but where conscience is concerned, and where
matters of such moment as cluster around the slavery
question are pending, merely instructing our delegates is
altogether inadequate to the end. Nor does your Com-
mittee believe that pledges made, even by good men, in
view of an election, are alone sufficient. In fine, we
know of no other way of securing the object desired
in the memorials, than by selecting men as delegates
who are known to be in favor of such a rule as is men-
tioned, and who are known by their votes to have been
in favor of it while as yet the issue of the battle over
it in this Conference hung in doubt.” This was ap-
proved by all the committee but one. He had re-
cently come to us from a Conference in a more southern
latitude. The entire report was adopted by the Confer-
ence with a gusto, not more than three or four voting ad-
versely.

Thus the opposition had been growing “‘ beautifully less”
in every contest. Immediately after this action the fol-
lowing named persons were elected delegates to the General
Conference: Philo 8. Bennett, Isaac M. Leihy, Edward
Cook, Elmore Yocum, and Chauncey Hobart.

At that time our Church Extension Society, that is accom-
plishing so much everywhere, had not come into existence.
But the brethren in and about Chicago, with their usual
foresight and zeal, had formed the ‘‘ Northwestern Church
Extension Society,” the object of which was to encourage
and aid in the multiplication of church edifices and par-
sonages in the vast region known as the Northwest. This
enterprise was brought to the notice of the Conference,
and met a favorable response by the formation of a society
auxiliary thereto, with president, vice-president, secretary,
ANNALS OF 1856, 157

treasurer, and twenty directors. One-half of the latter
were laymen. The Conference recommended activity in
taking collections, soliciting donations, and procuring lots
in eligible places for the intended purpose.

Our Conference territory had now become very large,
and the hitherto unoccupied portions of it were rapidly
coming under pastoral care. The number of preachers
also had greatly increased. At this session 31 were re-
ceived on trial, 3 were added by re-admission, and 6 by
transfer from other conferences, making an increase of 41
to our ministerial force.

The list of appointments shows 176 pastoral charges,
37 of which were developed during the preceding year.
To these 169 were appointed by the Conference, and 36
more were needed to fill vacancies or places ‘to be sup-
plied.” In addition to these, 5 were appointed to our lit-
erary institutions and to the agency of the Tract Society.

J. W. Waterbury was transferred to Rock River Con-
ference.

S, Stein had died, but no obituary appears in the
Minutes.

Among the new charges that have risen to importance,
are Neenah, Ripon, and Evansville.

As early as 1839, Boyd Phelps, then a local preacher,
preached the first sermon in Evansville. In 1840 the first
class was formed there, probably by Jas. Ash, in charge
of Monroe Circuit, then included in Platteville District.
It continued as a subordinate appointment until 1855.
During the Conference year 1842-3 a place of worship was
furnished by the erection of a log-building, designed both
for church and school purposes. It was that year included
in Madison Mission. In 1847 the first Church proper was
erected.

The list of appointments appears quite formidable.
There were 14 districts—6 more than the preceding year.
158 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

There were ten new presiding elders appointed to these,
viz.: To Milwaukee, P. S. Bennett; to Racine, E. 8.
Grumley; to Janesville, J. W. Wood; to Beaver Dam,
J. M. Walker; to Appleton, E. Yocum; to Portage City,
R. W. Barnes; to Platteville, E. C. Jones; to La Crosse,
R. R. Wood; to Winona, N. Hobart; to Red Wing, J.
Kerns. The other districts were manned as last year, ex-
cept that Minnesota, of which D. Brooks was in charge,
became three—Winona, Red Wing, and St. Paul, the old
incumbent being on the latter.

Beaver Dam District covered nearly the same territory
as Fox River of the previous year, now dropped from the
list of appointments.

The reports of the year just closed show 11,999 mem-
bers, 2,371 probationers, 297 local preachers; these added
to the 175 effective preachers and 13 superannuates,
make a total of 14,855—an increase of 1,546.

Twenty-one churches and 13 parsonages had been built
during the year, and decided advance made in the beney-
olences and Sunday-school work. On the whole, this was
one of our most prosperous years.

In view of our extending territory and increasing num-
bers, it was deemed advisable to divide the Conference.
After a full canvass of the subject, it was decided to ask
the General Conference to constitute three from the terri-
tory we then occupied, to be called respectively Wisconsin,
West Wisconsin, and Minnesota. This was done, the
boundaries being much as at present, except that the latter
took a small portion of the northwest part of our State.
It was also arranged that Wisconsin Conference should
meet at Appleton, West Wisconsin at Madison, and Min-
nesota at Red Wing.

The fate of the ‘‘new rule,” proposed at our last ses-
sion, should be noted. Having failed to receive the requisite
three-fourths majority of all the members of the Annual
ANNALS OF 18565, 159

Conferences, it did not go to the next General Conference
with a constitutional demand to be heard. Yet it was
there. The slavery question was then the all-absorbing
one before the American people, as the temperance ques-
tion is to-day. And our Church was thoroughly awake to
it. A ‘Committee on Slavery” was appointed, consisting
of one from each Annual Conference, to which all papers
relating to the subject were referred. The writer was the
member from Wisconsin Conference. No less than three
other Conferences—Troy, Erie, and North Ohio—had each
proposed a new rule on slavery, which went the round of
Conferences; but the ‘‘ Wisconsin Rule,” as it was called,
received the most favor from the progressive anti-slavery
men. In fact, no other one was considered in the com-
mittee. This was gratifying to the writer, not only on
account of paternal regard, but especially because he
deemed it just what was demanded by the nature of the
case. It was brief, comprehensive, and had the needed
grip. So he guarded it to the best of his ability. But it
failed of a majority, even in the committee.

Still the cause did not meet a Waterloo or an Appo-
mattox. Like Banquo’s ghost, it would not down. But
it was evident that no very radical measure could be
carried through the General Conference, and equally evi-
dent that two adverse reports would be made to that body
by the committee. A sub-committee was therefore ap-
pointed, consisting of Wm. Hosmer, Calvin Kingsley (aft-
erwards elected bishop), Asbury Lowrey, Daniel Wise, and
Philo 8S. Bennett, to prepare a chapter on slavery, to take
the place of the one then in the Discipline. This was done,
and the proposed chapter formed a part of the minority
report, which was written by the chairman, Dr. Miner
Raymond. The report was a very strong one, and pro-
duced a profound impression. The subject was thoroughly
discussed, and anti-slavery sentiment was doubtless greatly
160 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

increased thereby, but the proposed chapter was not
adopted.

No one, however, knowing the facts, could fail to see that
the cause was ‘‘ marching on.” In the General Conference
of 1836—twenty years before—there were fourteen Aboli-
tionists. Two of the number attended an anti-slavery
meeting one evening, and were, by a formal vote of the
General Conference, censured for thus bringing disgrace
upon the body. Now the subject was freely discussed in
open Conference day after day, with nearly equal forces
arrayed on either side. And even a public political anti-
slavery meeting was attended by scores of the members,
and no thought of censure was entertained.

The writer is aware that he has traveled outside the
scope of this history in giving some of the above facts,
but he thought the reader would desire this amount of in-
formation on the general subject.
ANNALS OF 1856, 161

CHAPTER V.
1856-7.

HE Ninth Session of our Conference was held in Ap-
pleton, commencing on the seventeenth day of Sep-
tember, 1856.

Many of the preachers had never seen this young and
promising town, and they were delighted, both with the
appearance of the college and with the majestic Fox, one
of the grandest rivers in the Northwest. The immense
water-power was thought by some of them to insure a city
of large proportions in the near future.

The beginning of our work here has already been
chronicled. In 1850 it became the head of a circuit, em-

* bracing what is now Neenah and Menasha. It soon de-
manded, and received, the entire labors of a minister. In
1854 the first church edifice was reported. It was a frame
building 40x60, with a basement above ground, and a gal-
lery at each side and one end, which greatly increased its
seating capacity.

Bishop Simpson, elected to the episcopacy in 1852,
presided at this Conference. He will be characterized
hereafter. W. H. Sampson was re-elected secretary, and
J. C. Dana and Geo. Fellows assistants.

The ordinary routine of business passed on with usual
dispatch. Some new interests were brought to the view
of the Conference, which were promptly considered.

Among these were the Wilberforce University, in
162 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Ohio, and the Evansville Seminary within our borders.
The former was designed for the benefit of the African race
especially, and was just struggling into existence. It seemed
very proper that an institution for such a purpose should
bear the name of the distinguished Christian statesman
whose efforts were so effective in the abolition of African
slavery in the British West Indies. But this was of com-
paratively small account. The intrinsic character of the en-
terprise commended itself to every true philanthropist,
and the Conference heartily commended it, and pledged co-
operation with other Conferences in its establishment.
The other institution also received a cordial indorsement,
and five visitors were appointed to aid the trustees in
their new undertaking.

Lawrence University was still very promising, and
prosperous in everything except in finances. Said the
Committee on Education: ‘‘It has now fully organized
the four regular college classes, with a course of study
prescribed in its catalogue equal in extent and variety to
that of any college in the Eastern States.” It was doing
its work in three departments—preparatory, academic,
and collegiate—with a large patronage of students.

But its exchequer was very meager. The plan of
raising fifty thousand dollars by the sale of perpetual
scholarships at fifty dollars each, had not met expectation.
The requisite number had been sold, but as the purchasers
had considerable time on them, many were never paid for.
On some, one or two payments only were made. On the
whole there was a failure of many thousand dollars. The
causes for this were various. The process of selling ex-
tended through a period of several years, such was the
poverty of the sparsely-populated country. Then only one-
third of the price was due, leaving one and two years for
the other payments. During these five or six years some
had died, some had removed from the country, some had
ANNALS OF 1856. 163

experienced reverses of fortune, and some, perhaps, who
supposed they could sell at a great advance, when they
found they could not, refused to pay up, Those who sent
their children at once, or intended to soon, of course paid
for their scholarships; so did some others. This brought
a large number of students, but very little money to pay
expenses, as only the interest on the scholarships sold was
available. Thus the trustees became very much embar-
rassed, and, but for the self-sacrificing spirit of the profes-
sors, the college could not have long survived.

The Committee on Education looked the difficulty di-
rectly in the face, and frankly informed the Conference
of the facts.

There were some hopeful signs. Citizens of Appleton
had pledged ten thousand dollars to increase the endow-
ment, on condition that twenty thousand dollars should be
raised from other sources. Then there were several stu-
dents in the college classes who intended to enter the min-
istry. This was an additional incentive to action. So,
with unflagging courage, the heroic band went on.

As usual the slavery question was prominent. A com-
mittee, consisting of H. Requa, P. B. Pease, and O. E.
Hall, was appointed on the subject. Following a well-
written preamble are seven resolutions, four of which are
here given:

‘* Resolved, That while we deeply regret the failure of our
last General Conference to effect a change in our General
Rule on Slavery, we record with gratitude the fact that a
large majority declared in favor of the highest measure
ever proposed by an Annual Conference on that subject.

“* Resolved, That we highly approve of the provision made
by the last General Conference for the publication of anti-
slavery literature by our Book Concern, and confidently
look forward to the day when slavery shall be treated in
all our publications like intemperance or any other sin.
164 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

‘ Resolved, That in accepting the ministerial office we
have never relinquished our rights, as citizens or as Chris-
tians, to speak our sentiments, to vote our principles, and
to pray for the universal triumph of the principles of the
gospel of Christ; and, by the grace of God, we never will.

‘* Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the suffer-
ing freemen of Kansas, and that we will ever pray and
vote for the complete triumph of the glorious cause of
liberty.” :

Young readers will probably see, as older ones will call
to mind, that Abolitionists then met the same influences that
Prohibitionists do now. The cry, “Political preachers!”
“ Keep politics out of the pulpit!” etc., then meant, “‘ You
must do nothing to hurt my party.” It means the same
now. But as we were not awed into silence by the slave-
power then, so we will not be by the liquor-power that is
now dominating this Nation.

The Conference last year was much more formidable in
appearance than this, as about one-half of the preachers had
fallen into the newly formed Conferences. The absence
of many of the older members was especially noticeable ;
as, A. Brunson, W. Wilcox, C. Hobart, D. Brooks, A.
Calendar, I. Searl, and M. Himebaugh. Still there re-
mained ninety-two with us, including those on trial, among
whom was a sufficient number of experienced men to guide
matters safely. The two last named returned to our Con-
ference after a few years.

Of the young members who were removed by the divis-
ion, one especially—John L. Dyer—reached an enviable
distinction. This distinction was won, not by discoveries
in science, inventions in art, or brilliant pulpit orations, but
by selfsacrificing toil. After a few years he went ‘‘ West,”
and became a pioneer presiding elder. His district covered
all there was of Colorado and Arizona. Perhaps he could
not, with Paul, speak of ‘‘perils in the city,” but he prob-
ANNALS OF 1856, 165

66

ably could of ‘‘perils in the wilderness,” “‘ perils by the
heathen,” and ‘“‘journeyings often.” And those journey-
ings were not performed in palace cars. ‘‘ A noble son” of
his became territorial judge, and was assassinated by a mob
on July 3, 1875, for standing erect ‘for law and order
and principle.” The old veteran still lives, respected and
honored by all.

One remarkable circumstance came to light in the cab-
inet work of the Conference this year; viz., not one of the
six presiding elders was in the cabinet the year before. This
was a little embarrassing, yet we got along tolerably well.

The bishop was on his first episcopal tour in this part of
our great field. He was elected in 1852, and had already
acquired considerable fame as a pulpit orator, though he
had not reached his zenith. His sermon in College Chapel
on Sabbath produced a profound impression. It was
founded on Acts xx, 24.

A pen-and-ink description of the magic power of the
preacher, or of the effect of the sermon on his hearers,
would be a vain attempt. Suffice it to say, that more were
ready to be martyrs at its close than at its beginning, and
some probably settled the question as to their life-work who
had been vacillating.

In looking over the work of the year it was seen that
a decided advance had been made in all our borders. Such
bad been the success of the Norwegian Mission that a sepa-
rate district was created for it, containing ten appointments,
the charge of which was committed to I. M. Leihy.

The work had so extended among our own people that
more than twenty new pastoral charges appear in the Min-
utes. A few of these will be mentioned here, and for the
others the reader is referred to the proper appendix.

A new district was also formed in the English work,
called Watertown, to which C. G. Lathrop was appointed.

A. P. Allen was appointed to Fond du Lac District at
166 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

the preceding Conference; but his health failing somewhat,
he resigned it, and I. M. Leihy was appointed thereto for
the rest of the year. At this Conference it was put in
charge of H. Requa. The incumbents of the other dis-
tricts were the same as the previous year.

Very little change occurred in the appointments except
in name. City Mission, in Milwaukee, became Grove
Street; and Wauwatosa, Brookfield.

Kewaunee, a circuit almost without bounds, in Fond
du Lac District, was a new pastoral charge. N. J. Aplin,
in charge of Manitowoc the previous year, skirmished along
its southern border, and had some romantic experiences.
West Beloit, in Janesville District, was also a new charge,
and its subsequent history indicates that its formation was
premature. Appleton District showed the most enlarge-
ment. Seven new charges appear, besides New London, in
connection with Hortonville. But ‘Appleton, Second
Ward,” was not a success.

The statistical report would show a great lack of success
were it not for the removal of so many ministers and mem-
bers by the division of the Conference. The report is as
follows: Members, 6,690; probationers, 1,366; local preach-
ers, 158; effective preachers in Conference 105; superan-
nuated preachers, 11; total, 8,330; pastoral charges, 109;
places to be supplied, 13.

Eighteen preachers were received on trial, and one re-
admitted—C. S. Macreading. Eleven were transferred to
other Conferences.

C. Willerup, the father of the Norwegian Mission work
in the Northwest, deserves special mention. He was not
transferred, but appointed a missionary to Norway, remain-
‘ng a member of our Conference. This was the beginning

f our work in that land, and now for years we have had
an Annual Conference theze, Mr. Willerup will receive
further attention in due time.
ANNALS OF 1857. 167

1857.

This year the Conference met in Milwaukee, in Spring
Street Church, commencing on the 20th of August, Bishop
R. E. Ames presiding. W.H. Sampson was again elected
secretary, with S. W. Ford and Geo. Fellows, assistants.
This was the second time Mr. Sampson had thus served
the Conference.

Bishop Ames presided over us five years before, at our
session in Fond du Lac, it being his first Conference after
he was elected to the episcopacy. In the proper place some
of his prominent characteristics will be noted.

Though this was the tenth session of our Conference, it
had never convened in the metropolis of the State.* It is
believed that the Churches in the city and the members of
the Conference were mutually profited by their intercourse.

The session of an Annual Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church ought to be a benediction to any place.

Small towns may appreciate such occasions more than
large ones, but the latter are often quite as much in need
of their savory influence. Milwaukee has shown its appre-
ciation by receiving the Conference in annual session four
times since then.

Among the standing committees of this year was one
on ‘‘ Lay Delegation.” Previous to this time laymen had
never been admitted to seats in our Conference. Of course
they had been welcomed as spectators, and encouraged to
thus attend. But many felt that this did not meet the
spirit of the age nor the demands of the case. A commit-
tee was therefore ordered, who presented the following
report:

“WHEREAS, The finances of the Church are inseparably
connected with her spiritual prosperity ; and

* The Rock River Conference, which covered all this coun-
try, was held there in 1844,
168 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

‘“ Wnerzas, She is principally dependent on her laity for
pecuniary assistance ; and

“Whereas, A voicein the management of her finances, as
connected with our Annual Conferences, would, we apprehend,
greatly increase the interest of our lay brethren therein;
therefore,

“ Resolved, 1. That we will receive a lay delegation on the
subject of finance, composed of one member from each district
within the bounds of our Conference, who shall be entitled to
give counsel and speak on all subjects directly involving the
pecuniary interests of the Church.

“ Resolved, 2. They shall be elected yearly by the nomina-
tion of the presiding elder and the vote of the Conference.

“J. Searts, Chairman.”

This was probably all that the existing law of the
Church warranted the committee in doing, and the report
is written with the characteristic caution of the honored
brother whose name as chairman is appended.

The report was adopted, and nine laymen were elected
to meet with us the next year for the purpose stated. As
this was a new departure, their names are here given, as
follows: David Wilcox, E. A. Foot, P. Porter, 8. Mc-
Laughlin, W. W. Wright, R. R. Bateman, D. Scott, John
Bangs, Geo. H. Foster.

A committee was appointed on another subject also,
which had not before engaged our special attention, viz.,
“Peace,” of which C. S. Macreading was chairman. The
report in a small compass set forth the Scriptural idea of
war as proceeding from the perversion of manly powers,
and looked forward to the day when, through the “‘ active
instrumentality of Christians,” it should be no more known
in the earth. Little did we think as our hands were lifted
for the adoption of this report that our Nation would so
soon be involved in the greatest civil war known in the
history of our race.

In other respects the business of the Conference went
on in about the usual way.
ANNALS OF 1857. 169

The report of the Committee on Education showed the
university to be prospering, although, like most young in-
stitutions of the kind, struggling with financial difficulties.
The trustees had not abandoned the project of endowing a
chair in Hebrew and Biblical literature, and had also re-
solved upon an effort to add $50,000 to the Endowment
Fund. To both projects the Conference gave its hearty
approval.

At the recent Commencement the college liad graduated
its first class, consisting of four gentlemen and three ladies.

It is proper to state here that our cherished institution
was commenced on a plan of giving equal opportunities,
every way, to both sexes. In this respect it was a pioneer.

Female colleges existed before this; but few, if any,
had adopted the policy of the co-education of the sexes in
the same institution, and in all the departments of the col-
lege curriculum. It was therefore a novel affair to see
ladies constituted ‘‘ Bachelors;” but being done scientifically,
none could say aught against it.

Now many colleges are conducted on the co-educational
plan, and the old idea that the female mind can not suc-
cessfully grapple with the sterner studies—chemistry and
the higher mathematics—is pretty thoroughly exploded.
Our pioneer institution has contributed its share in settling
this question.

The action of the Conference on the temperance and the
slavery questidn showed a firm adherence to the principles
previously enunciated on these subjects.

The report on Tobacco, written by the late P. B.
Pease, was a brief but able discussion of its origin, nature,
and the injurious effects of its use. It boldly declared
that its habitual use in any form is wrong, and that ref-
ormation should ‘‘ begin with the teachers of a pure
Christianity.” The report closed with the following reso-

lutions, all of which were adopted with great unanimity :
14
170 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

“1st. That we regard the practice of smoking, chewing, and
snuffing tobacco, as wasteful and filthy, alike subversive of
the principles of self-denial and that purity of body required
by the gospel.

“Od. That as ministers we will discountenance its use in
any form, as an indulgence, both by precept and example.

“3d. That we will not vote to receive on probation any
candidate for admission to our Annual Conference who in-
dulges in the use of tobacco, until the presiding elder repre-
senting the case can give satisfactory evidence of a determi-
nation to reform.

“Ath. That we will not vote to receive into full member-
ship, or to receive ordination for the traveling connection, any
candidate who is in the habitual use of tobacco, until he shall
first satisfy the Conference of a determination to abstain from
its use; and, in order to secure this, we most respectfully re-
quest the presiding bishop, in the examination of candidates,
to ascertain these facts by interrogation.

“Pp, B. Pease, Chairman.”

So far as is known, this is the highest ground ever
taken before by any Annual Conference in our connection.
It attracted attention and some adverse criticism, but we
steadfastly maintained our ground, and have had the
pleasure of witnessing its good effects in keeping our preachers
from polluting their mouths and vitiating their breaths
with the poisonous weed ; and finally of seeing the principle
incorporated in our Disciplinary regulations for licensing
preachers and receiving them into the itinerant ministry,
the world over.

The changes in the appointments still indicate progress.
A new district, called Steven’s Point, appears in the list,
with S. L. Brown, presiding elder.

A. Hamilton succeeded C. G. Lathrop on Watertown
District; A. Callender, I. M. Leihy, in charge of Norwe-
gian District; and J. H. Jenne, E. Yocum, on Appleton
District.

A few months before the Conference convened, the
health of Rev. 8. C. Thomas, pastor of Jackson Street
ANNALS OF 1857. 171

‘Church, partially failed, and resigning his charge, the
place was supplied by Rev. H. C. Tilton, late of the East
Maine Conference. In the meantime a new church-edifice
had been commenced on the corner of Van Buren and
Biddle Streets, called Summerfield Church, by which name
it is still known. The self-sacrificing struggles of the no-
ble band of brethren there will be noticed in due time.
To this charge, H. C. Tilton, having been readmitted, was
appointed.

The ‘Walker's Point,” ‘‘ Reed Street,” and ‘‘ Grove
Street” Church of former years received another christen-
ing, and has since borne the name of Asbury Church with
becoming grace.

The Norwegian District was vast in extent—embracing
all the settlements of that nationalty in Wisconsin, and
then reaching out to Chicago in the south, and to Upper
Towa and St. Paul in the northwest.

Fourteen peachers were received on trial this year, and
five readmitted to full membership who had previously
been members of Annual Conferences.

At this session seven located.

G. N. Hanson, having been connected with our work
since 1844, had passed to the home beyond, at the age of
forty-five years. For six years he had been on the retired
list. He was a thoroughly consecrated man. ‘‘ His life
was one of labor and usefulness; his death, triumphant
and glorious.”

Rev. Elmore Yocum was transferred to West Wiscon-
sin Conference. This eminently devoted man deserves a
more extended notice than can be given him here. In
1830 he was received on trial in the Ohio Conference, and
into full connection in 1832. On the formation of the
North Ohio Conference he fell into that body, and in 1849
came into our Conference by transfer, and was appointed
presiding elder of Platteville District, on which he per-
172 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

formed four years of very successful work. The next two’
years he was pastor at Appleton, and the two following
he was in charge of Appleton District, then extending
over an immense region, to which settlers were just push-
ing their way, many parts of which could be reached only
with great difficulty. His faithful ‘‘ Oscar,” that had been
his traveling companion for many years, bore him on his
back to many a secluded settlement and lonely cabin, al-
most inaccessible by any other method. He represented
his Master so much that his presence was both a doxology
and a benediction. He is still mentioned by the older
inhabitants with expressions bordering on veneration. And.
what is quite as remarkable is, that in so hard a field to
traverse he visited every part of it with great punctuality,
and explored much new territory, though well on towards
threescore years of age. Since his transfer he has been
almost incessantly in active ministerial work. Now, an
octogenarian, he is awaiting the call of the Master, who
doubtless will soon say, ‘‘ Well done, good and faithful
servant !”

Some of those who located also deserve a brief tribute.
Two of them were subsequently readmitted to our Confer-
ence, and therefore will not be mentioned here. The
names of John Tibballs, O. E. Hall, J. C. Dana, N.
Oleson, and Wm. McDonald, do not reappear in our Con-
ference records.

Mr. Tibballs was a noble man, earnest, devout, firm in
principle, and of good ability as a preacher; but he was
a victim of ill-health. He attempted the itinerancy in the
North Ohio Conference, and two or three times in this;
but in each case was compelled to desist on account of
physical disability. When last seen by the writer he re-
sided in Bloomington, Ill., ‘‘ faint, yet pursuing.”

Mr. Hall did several years of good work among us,
ANNALS OF 1857. 173

and then felt compelled to desist from the active ministry
to care for aged parents.

Mr. Dana was a rising young man, and re-entered the
itinerant ranks in Minnesota Conference.

Wm. McDonald bas been so long and so prominently
before the world as an able preacher of Christian holiness
and editor of a journal devoted to the cause as to render
it unnecessary to say much in this place. Of all the able
men that constituted the National Committee under whose
direction so many camp-meetings have been held for the
promotion of “Scripture holiness,” no one possessed a
keener intellect, or could give a clearer or more con-
vincing view of the subject.

Of Mr. Oleson the writer has no knowledge after his
location.

Notwithstanding the great diminution in our numbers
last year by the division of the Conference, the reports of
this year show a very healthful advance. They are as
follows: Members, probationers, and preachers, 9,562, be-
ing an increase of 1,232. There were 131 pastoral charges,
an increase of 21. 7
174 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER VI.
1858-9.

HE Conference this year was held in Beloit, with

Bishop Morris as president; W. G. Miller, secretary ;
and 8. W. Ford and Geo. Fellows, assistants. It com-
menced on the 12th of May, which was much earlier in the
season than we had been accustomed to meet.

For several years, both before and after this, there was
considerable variation in the times of holding our sessions.
Previous to this year they varied from June 25th to Sep-
tember 17th. Their subsequent variations will be noted
hereafter. The main argument for an early session was
that every man might reap the fruits of his own garden,
and strangely enough it prevailed.

The reader will remember that on the 12th of July,
1848, Bishop Morris organized the Wisconsin Conference,
and presided during the session. In this interim Time’s
fingers had wrought some change, both on the robust frame
of the bishop and on the personnel of the Conference. Very
few were at this session that received appointments ten
years before. This was due in large measure to the divis-
ion of the Conference already described.

Eight years before, the Conference had held a session in
Beloit, and the people were so delighted with it that some
of them expressed a strong desire for it the next year.
And surely this should not be an exception. A convoca-
tion of fifty or a hundred ministers of the gospel in any
place for a week ought to be a ‘‘savor of life unto life,”
and thus awaken a desire for its recurrence.
ANNALS OF 1858. 175

The business of the Conference proceeded with the
usual dispatch of those days. If anything was done out
of the ordinary course deserving of special mention, it
was the appointment of a ‘Committee on Historical
Records.”

This consisted of H. W. Frink, P. 8. Bennett, and
David Lewis. Had that committee been fully awake to
the importance of the matter, they doubtless would have
saved much to enrich these pages that is now beyond re-
covery. But it is difficult for those that are making his-
tory, or who are familiar with recent events, to realize their
. value in coming years. Now, after thirty years, we are

searching and searching for some things that were then
well known, and, perhaps, appeared too trivial to record.
May the readers of these pages act more wisely !

The reports adopted showed no special change from
former years.

The resolutions of the previous year on the use of to-
bacco were reaffirmed.

The first resolution of the report on Slavery affirmed,
as the sense of the Conference, ‘‘that all voluntary slave-
holders who are received and remain among us, obtain and
retain their membership in violation of the spirit and letter

of the Discipline of the Church.” Another demands sub-

stantially the change in our General Rule that the Con-
ference had been insisting upon for years, while another spe-
cifically commends the editors of the Quarterly Review and
the Sundayj-school Advocate (Doctors Whedon and Wise)
for their bold utterances against slavery.

The report on Sunday-schools closes thus :

“Resolved, 4. That we, asa Conference, highly approve
of the man-like, Christian-like, and Wise-like course of our
editor of the Sunday-school Advocate, and that his refusing
to bow down or obey the dictation of the slave-power gives
his paper a larger and warmer place in our affection; and
176 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

this affection should be manifest by our increased efforts
for its enlarged circulation.”

That the reader may fully understand this, it should
be stated that considerable anti-slavery matter had appeared
in the Sunday-school Advocate previous to the General Con-
ference of 1856, and that a strong but ineffectual effort
was made by those opposed to this to defeat his re-election
at that time. All who are acquainted with Rev. J. An-
derson, the chairman of the committee, will see that the
above resolution is quite characteristic.

In accordance with the Conference action already re-
corded, laymen were this year allowed to take a part in some
of our business matters. The general question of lay delega-
tion had not yet been agitated very much.

Of course the affairs of the university were duly con-
sidered. The report of the Committee on Education showed
its liabilities to be $17,686, and its assets of all kinds
$144,531. But succeeding years proved a great falling off
in the latter, while the former held on with a very tena-
cious grip.

It was also shown that the Evansville Seminary had
made a promising beginning, and the Conference gave it
the sanction of appointing visitors thereto.

The labors of the year had developed fifteen new pas-
toral charges; but as the Norwegian District was disbanded,
and the appointments distributed among the Conferences
within whose boundary-lines they were located, this increase
is not apparent in our Minutes. Really but thiee of these
were in our Conference territory. The others were within
the Rock River, West Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota
Conference limits. Some of these new charges have as-
sumed positions of considerable importance, notably Sharon,
Clinton, Shopiere, and Vinland. :

All the districts, except the one just mentioned, re-
mained substantially the same as last year, and the only
ANNALS OF 1858, 177

change in the incumbents was that Jos. Anderson was ap-
pointed to Fond du Lac District, in place of Henry Requa,
who retired temporarily from the active work.

The ‘‘ Disciplinary Questions” and answers present an
unusual appearance. They show 21 received on trial, 1
located, 1 withdrawn from the connection, 1 expelled, and
11 transferred to other Conferences.

The new recruits will come to view more or less in
future pages, some very prominently.

C. 8. Macreading, who retired to the local ranks, had
been in the itinerancy in New England for more than a
quarter of a century. In the spring or summer of 1856
he located, came to Wisconsin, and was employed as a sup-
ply in Spring Street Church, Milwaukee, until the ensuing
session of our Conference, to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Milton Rowley, who had also been a supply
there during the former part of the year.

Mr. Macreading was readmitted to our Conference in
1856, and was continued in the pastorate of that Church
for two more years, at the expiration of which he located.
A few months after, he withdrew from the Church with
which he had long been identified, and joined the Presby-
terian Church, being admitted thereto as a minister of the
gospel on his certificate of location.

For some time a dissatisfaction with our itinerant sys-
tem had been growing upon him. He finally concluded
that, after ‘‘ allowing others to look up his appointments
for twenty-seven years, he was capable of doing that work
himself.” A few weeks of trial in the new work of ‘“can-
didating,” impressed him with the fact that ministers of
other Churches can not select their fields of labor at will.
He soon saw his mistake, returned to the Church of his early
choice, and was employed as a supply at Belvidere, Il,
where, before the year closed, he was called to his reward.

Mr. Macreading was an able preacher, a frank, noble,
18
178 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

generous man; but these good qualities were discounted
-by strong impulses, which fact explains the unwise step
described. He frankly admitted his error, and accused
himself more severely than his brethren did.

J. W. Donaldson was admitted on trial in 1854, had
been ordinarily successful, and now deemed it best for
him to enter the Congregational ministry. For this pur-
pose he withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Wm. Stevens, who had been a few years in the Con-
ference, closed his career among us quite dishonorably.

Of the eleven who were transferred to other Confer-
ences, seven were in the Norwegian work, and no special
account of them can here be given.

John Nolan took his place among us in 1850, acquit-
ted himself well in several appointments, had been on the
list of, superannuates for two years, and now, having re-
cuperated, came into the effective ranks, was transferred
to West Wisconsin Conference, and appointed to the
charge of Mineral Point Seminary. He had served the
Church in that place as pastor for two years, and his re-
turn in this new relation indicated the esteem in which
he was held.

J. C. Aspinwall was a veteran. For many years he
was an itinerant minister of considerable mark in New
England, and two-years in Wisconsin Conference, his ap-
pointments being Fall River and Appleton. From the latter
place he was removed, by transfer, to Madison, in West
Wisconsin Conference. He did good service for years,
reached a ripe old age, and passed, a few months since, to
a better inheritance.

J. De La Mater had been with us but a short time.
The writer knew but little of him, and is not able to give
his subsequent history.

T. C. Golden, connected with the Conference since
1851, was transferred to the West Wisconsin Conference.
ANNALS OF 1859, 179

Duriug this year a new church edifice in Milwaukee,
known now as Summerfield Church, was completed, It
was built by the Jackson Street Church and congregation.
The contract for its erection was let February 26, 1856,
and on February 3, 1857, the lecture-room was dedicated.
In this the society worshiped till April 4, 1858, when
the auditorium was dedicated by Dr. R. 8. Foster, now
one of our bishops. It stands on the corner of Biddle and
Van Buren Streets; is a brick edifice, rather imposing in
size, has little architectural beauty, but is well equipped
with needed rooms, and has a seating capacity of about
six hundred. A good brick parsonage stands in the rear
of the church, fronting on Biddle Street. The present
valuation of the entire property is $32,000.

It seems almost invidious to mention particular names
where others did so well; but all will admit that great
credit is due Mitchell Steever, Geo. H. Austin, and R. P.
Elmore in pushing the enterprise to completion. The
charge has been for years one of the most prominent in
the Conference.

1859,—FIRST CONFERENCE.

This year is memorable as the one in which our Con-
ference held two sessions. The first commenced on the
20th of April, at Sheboygan Falls; the other, October 13th,
at Whitewater. Of course they must be treated sepa-
rately.

The one at Sheboygan Falls gave a good opportunity
to test the force of the garden argument, already alluded
to; but really the preachers did not wait for that to de-
velop its strength. There was no railway in that part of
the State, and the roads were almost impassable with pri-
vate conveyances. So great was the dissatisfaction that
no opposition was made to a return to autumn as the time
for our annual sessions.
180 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Bishop Osmon C. Baker ‘presided at the session at She-
boygan Falls. He was elected to the episcopacy in 1852,
and this was his first visit to our Conference. A more ex-
tended account will be given of him hereafter. W. G.
Miller was the principal secretary, and 8, W. Ford and
Geo. Fellows, assistants.

A new and a very unpleasant circumstance met us at.
this Conference. J. W. Wood, presiding elder on Janes-
ville District, had divorced his wife and married another
woman, for other causes than the one specified by our
Lord as the only ground of justification for such action.
Charges had been preferred; but, with consent of par-
ties, their prosecution was postponed till this session of
the Annual Conference, on condition that he should
cease to exercise his ministerial functions till then, which
he did.

The bishop called W. G. Miller, who had been pastor
at Janesville for two years, to represent the district in his
council.

In due time Mr. Wood was put on his trial, and, after
a patient hearing of the whole case, he was expelled from
the ministry and membership of the Church by an almost
unanimous vote.

This was a very serious transaction. It was concluded
at an evening session. Sadness was in every heart. The
darkness without symbolized the gloom within. Mr. Wood
had stood well among his brethren, was a rising, promising
man; and could the Church have been vindicated, and the
proper moral effect produced by sorrow on the part of the
Conference, he would have been spared. But the issue was
forced upon us, and we were compelled either to maintain
the Scripture standard, or practically indorse the loose
views so alarmingly prevalent relative to divorce and re-
marriage.
ANNALS OF 18659, 181

After the case was decided, the following resolutions
were presented and adopted :

“1, That this Conference shall deem it a high misdemeanor
for its members to solemnize matrimony between parties,
either of whom has a husband or wife not divorced for the
cause specified by our Lord in Matthew v, 32, and xix, 9.

“2. That in administration, all such marriages, as well in
the laity as in the ministry, should be treated as cases of im-
morality. P. S. Bennett,

“8. C. THomas,
“W. H. Sampson.”

The writer offers no other apology for giving so much
space to this affair, than the principle it involves. This
was firmly maintained by the Conference against a strong
current of sympathy, and equally so by the General Con-
ference, to which the case was appealed.

As to the business of the Conference, there was nothing
remarkable.

Favorable mention was made, in the report on Education,
of our rising university, of Evansville Seminary, and of
the Garrett Biblical Institute.

Several Conferences had recommended changes in the
General Rule on Slavery; and as all were in the line of
progress, we deemed it best to concur in them all, but
gave our decided preference to our own, viz.: ‘The buy-
ing, selling, or holding a human being asa slave.” Its
brevity, comprehensiveness, and unmistakable import made
it, to our minds, the best of any proposed.

As the intoxicating quality of lager-beer had been
called in question, the Committee on Temperance consid-
ered the matter, and reported that its use ‘‘as a beverage
is a violation of the General Rule in our Discipline on
the subject of spirituous liquors,” and this view of the case
was heartily concurred in by the Conference.

The general plan of the work underwent a slight change.
182 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Watertown District was dropped as such, and its charges
distributed among other districts.

Four presiding elders (including J. W. Wood, whose
case has already been noted) finished their full terms.
But as there was one district less, only three new men
were appointed to fill the vacancies. These were, W. G.
Miller, to Milwaukee District; C. D. Pillsbury, to Racine
District; and Daniel Stanbury, to Janesville District.

There were but eight new pastoral charges formed at
this Conference, and the increase of effective laborers was
about the same; but the reports showed a total increase
in the ministry and laity of 1,269.

J. M. 8S. Maxson had died during the year, and also
‘the wife of Rev. S. W. Martin.

We had not previously published the dhitanites of
ministers’ wives in our Minutes; but it seemed eminently
proper to do so, and the custom inaugurated this year has
continued to the present time.

Mr. Maxson was received on trial in 1850, continued
seven years in the active work at Omro, Fall River, Grove
Street (Milwaukee), Oconomowoc, Rosendale, and, in May
1848, he was appointed to Ripon, where, on the nine-
teenth day of the next month, he ceased almost at once
to work and live, at the age of thirty-six.

Mrs. Martin died on the 21st of March, 1859, after
bearing ‘with Christian fortitude and cheerfulness” the
burdens incident to our itinerancy for nearly twelve years.
‘(A few hours previous to her departure she appeared se-
rene and joyful, and passed away, shouting ‘Glory!
Glory! Glory! to her home in heaven.”

1859.—SECOND CONFERENCE.

As already stated, two sessions of our Conference were
held this year. The second was in Whitewater, com-
mencing on the 13th of October, less by one week than
six months from the first.
ANNALS OF 1859, 183

It will be noticed also that this fraction of a calendar
year was in a season when few special revival services are
usually held. During the preceding winter many had
been brought under the watch-care of the Church as pro-
bationers, and the figures indicate a remarkably small
number that bore the process of sifting, as there was a de-
crease of 944. There was an increase in the full mem-
bership of 153, thus reducing the loss to 791. Taking the
two fractional years as one—which is the only fair way
to do—we find an increase of members and probationers
of 359.

For the third time this Conference enjoyed the presi-
dency of Bishop Ames. 8S. W. Ford was elected secre-
tary, and Geo. Fellows and R. M. Beach, assistants.

A new and needed office seems to have been created at
this Conference; namely, a statistical secretaryship. It
was filled by H. C. Tilton, with M. Himebaugh as as-
sistant.

So brief had been the Conference year that but little
business had accumulated.

The action relative to the benevolent and literary insti-
tutions was much as at the next preceding Conference.

On the absorbing subject of slavery we maintained our
well-chosen position, concurred in all the proposed changes
that indicated progress, and adhered tenaciously to the rule
proposed to the other Conferences four years before.

No one of the preachers had died; but the wife of
Professor L. L. Knox had been called to her rest. She
was a woman of rare endowments and culture. A daugh-
ter of Rev. Elias Bowen, D. D., of Oneida Conference, she
inherited much of his strong mental qualities and decision
of character. She graduated from Oneida Conference Sem-
inary in 1841. Soon after this she became preceptress of the
Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary, in which Rev. L. L. Knox
was a professor. The last exercise of the exhibition at the
184 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

close of the year—though not printed in the program—was
their union in the bands of matrimony. Her last earthly
home was in Appleton, her husband being a professor in
the university there. Her present home, we trust, is in
one of the ‘‘ many mansions.”

As the reader has noticed, the work had not expanded
much in any respect during this short year. But since
our session in 1855 there had been a marked increase,
especially if we take into account the fact that nearly one-
half our ministers and laymen were set off that year into
other Conferences, as already noted.

The following facts will give some idea of this expansion
in the ministry. In 1855 we elected five delegates to the
General Conference, to be held in May following. At
that time the basis of representation was so changed as to
allow but one delegate to every forty-five members of an
Annual Conference in full connection. Previously the basis
was one to every twenty-four—a difference of twenty-one.
Yet notwithstanding this, and the division of the Confer-
ence, we found ourselves entitled to the same number as
in 1855. The delegates were W. G. Miller, I. M. Leihy,
S. C. Thomas, Edward Cook, and P. 8. Bennett. Re-
serves—H. W. Frink and H. Requa.
 

 

 

 

 

Mr. R. P. ELMORE.
ANNALS OF 1860, 185

CHAPTER VII.
1860-1.

N the twenty-sixth day of September, of this year,
our Conference convened in Janesville for its four-
teenth annual session. For the second time Bishop Scott
presided over the body, and for the second time the Con-
ference was held in the enterprising city just named. For
the third time 8. W. Ford was elected secretary; R. M.
Beach and J. C. Dana were his assistants. M. Himebaugh
was statistical secretary, with R. C. Parsons as assistant.
The business of the Conference was done about as
usual.

Dr. Edward Cook, for the last two years pastor of
Summerfield Church, Milwaukee, had been re-elected pres-
ident of Lawrence University. It was the understanding,
however, that he should devote the year to the financial
interests of the institution, and that Professor Mason
should act as president.

Co-operative action was pledged to the Evansville Sem-
inary and the Garrett Biblical Institute. To the latter the
Conference committed itself more fully than ever before.

The anti-slavery agitation had for years been forcing
itself upon the public mind. It began in the Eastern
States more than a quarter of a century before this period.
The attention of our Church was especially called to it,
about 1836, by the discussions in the General Conference
held that year. Many of our ‘‘chief ministers,” honest
and earnest in their zeal for the peace of the Church,
186 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

sought to smother the rising flame. It was impossible.
Every such attempt led to a more thorough investigation,
a better understanding of the horrible system of slavery,
and of the relation of our Church to it.

The subject began to be discussed every where—through
the press, on the rostrum, in the pulpit—and it soon be-
came evident that an ‘“‘irrepressible conflict” was upon us.
It found its way into the United States Congress, and be-
came a disturbing factor in National politics. A remark-
able circumstance about it was that the very bodies that
tried the hardest to quiet the agitation did the most to
promote it.

Slaveholders took offense at J. Q. Adams for his manly
determination to defend the rights of all, and sought to expel
him from the House of Representatives. His masterly de-
fense, which occupied several days and was published in
the Congressional Globe, was an earthquake shock to the
Nation.

The General Conference of 1836 discountenanced all
agitation of the subject; yet at the very next meeting of
that body, in 1840, they passed a resolution to the effect
that in a Church trial a colored member should not testify
against a white member. This sent a thrill of indignation
far and wide, and awoke many to a realization of the
growing evil that had crept into our Zion. So also in
other cases that a want of space forbids to mention.

Nothing intensified and crystallized anti-slavery senti-
ment like the enactment of the Fugitive-slave Law of
1850, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, already
noticed.

A political party had already been formed to antago-
nize the slave-power. It was known as the Liberty party
in 1840 and 1844, as the Free-soil party in 1848, as the
Free Democracy in 1852, as the Republican party in 1856,
and so to the present time.
ANNALS OF 1860, 187

While our General Conference of 1860 was in session
in Buffalo, New York, the National Republican Conven-
tion put in nomination, for President of the United States,
Abraham Lincoln, who was elected in the November
following.

If the pending election did not intensify the excitement
of the General Conference on the slavery question, it
surely did not allay it. A committee was appointed, con-
sisting of one from each Annual Conference, as at the
previous General Conference, to whom all communications
relating to the subject of slavery were referred. W. G.
Miller was the member from our Conference. Calvin
Kingsley was chairman. He had done very effective
work for the cause. At the General Conference of 1852
he contended earnestly for advanced action against a strong
conservative and semi-proslavery current; and as he saw
himself overpowered, he said: ‘‘I will be heard on this
subject at some time.” Prophetic words! The time had
now come. A strong report was presented to the General
Conference on the 16th of May, by the chairman, read in
a clear voice, and with modest yet commanding dignity.

It was deemed best to recommend but a slight verbal
change in the General Rule on Slavery, and thereby to
make it express no more or less than it was believed by
many that our fathers meant by its adoption. This change
was to add the word ‘‘ holding,” and to substitute ‘‘ or”
for “and.” It would then read: ‘The buying, selling,
or holding of men, women, or children, with an intention
to enslave them.” The report also recommended our
present ‘Section on Slavery.” It is here reproduced, for the
benefit of those who have not a copy of our Discipline :

“Question—W hat shall be done for the extirpation of the
evil of slavery ?

“Answer—We declare that we are as much as ever con-
vinced of the great evil of slavery. We believe that the buy-
188 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ing, selling, or holding of human beings, as chattels, is con-
trary to the laws of God and nature, inconsistent with the
Golden Rule, and with that Rule in our Discipline which re-
quires all who desire to remain among us to ‘do no harm, and
to avoid evil of every kind.’ We therefore affectionately ad-
monish all our preachers and people to keep themselves pure
from this great evil, and to seek its extirpation by all lawful
and Christian means.”

A minority report was also presented, opposing any
change in the Discipline on the subject. Both reports lay
on the table till the 23d, when the majority report was
called up for action. Granville Moody, of the Cincinnati
Conference, opened the discussion, which was continued
by ten others for several days. Much other business was
done in the meantime. On the 29th of May a vote was
taken on the adoption of the proposed new General Rule,
138 voting for, and 74 against it, Thus it failed by 17
of the required two-thirds majority.

The discussion continued on the adoption of the pro-
posed new chapter till the 31st, when it was carried by a
vote of 155 for, and 58 against it, being 48 more than
the requisite majority. In the entire contest, on all the
side issues as well as on the main question, our delegation
was a unit, all voting for the most stringent measures pro-
posed to extirpate slavery from the Church.

Wisconsin Conference was also represented in the dis-
cussion.

The excitement was high, and it was difficult to obtain
the floor. One of our delegates, however, succeeded, and
spoke in favor of the majority report, under three propo-
sitions, namely:

I. The report clearly expresses the sentiment of the
Church on the subject.

II. The report indicates the very line of conduct
which our border brethren have all along declared they
pursue.
ANNALS OF 1860, 189

III. The aggressive character of slavery demands its
adoption.*

At the session of our Conference now under considera-
tion, the action of the General Conference on this subject
was heartily approved. Though not all that we desired,
it was decided progress, and, as such, very encouraging.

Turning our attention to the general plan of the
work, we see but little essential change. The seven dis-
tricts continue about as the year before; but on four of
them there are new incumbents. Daniel Stanbury, in
charge, the last year, of Janesville District, had been
prostrated by paralysis, and’ H. C. Tilton was appointed
as his successor; I. Searls succeeded A. Hamilton on Bea-
ver Dam District; M. Himebaugh, J. H. Jenne, on Ap-
pleton District ; and R. 8. Hayward, 8. L. Brown, on Ste-
ven’s Point District.

There had been no deaths of members of the Confer-
ence; but a distinguished local elder, Rev. Wm. Fox,
who had rendered much valuable service as a supply and
in other relations, had passed to his reward. The Confer-
ence, in view of his services, made the following minute:

‘WHEREAS, Our dear and venerable brother, Rev.
Wm. Fox, a local elder, who ‘helped us much in the
Lord,’ has, during the past year, exchanged mortality for
life; therefore,

‘‘ Resolved, That we cherish a grateful recollection of his
useful and selfslenying labors in building up the cause
of the Redeemer among us, and that we tender our
Christian condolence to his afflicted friends.”

*The reader may deem the foregoing a digression from
the proper trend of this history. Perhaps it is. Yet in view
of the absorbing interest then felt in the subject, and of the
difficulty those who now desire to become acquainted with the
facts may have to find reliable sources of information, the
writer has felt justified in presenting them here.
190 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Five located at this Conference; but as two of them
were afterwards readmitted, they need not he noticed here.
J. H. Hazeltine was received on trial in 1852, and had
acquitted himself well in the work for eight years. A.
Griswold was received one year later. He was zealous
and quite successful. After his location, he was em-
ployed at different times as a supply. R. M. Beach came
to us from an Eastern Conference in 1856. : He was a re-
liable man, a fair preacher, and always commanded
respect.

The entire lay and ministerial force for beginning an-
other year’s work was 11,828, an increase of 318.

Nine new churches had been erected, and seven par-
sonages.

This year our conference was first represented in the
missionary work in the Orient by the appointment of I. L.
Hauser missionary to India.

1861.

This year the Conference met the second time in Fond
du Lac, and the second time Bishop Osman C. Baker took
the chair as our presiding officer.

The reader may have noticed a similar coincidence in
the last session.

S. W. Ford was elected secretary, with R. M. Beach
and H. Colman as assistants, and R. C. Parsons statistical
secretary.

The session commenced on the 18th of September.

The preceding year had been one of immense agitation,
not only within our bounds, but throughout the Nation.

Reference has already been made to the anti-slavery
agitation and its increasing intensity. A few additional
words will place the subject in a more intelligible light,
before young readers especially, and better prepare them
for what follows. The object of the Liberty party, organ-
ANNALS OF 1861. 191

ized in 1840, was to awaken the whole country to. the
enormity of slavery, and to secure, as soon as possible, the
abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia and in the
Territories over which Congress had jurisdiction ; and also
the suppression of the slave-trade between the States of
the Union. These were deemed important steps to the
final destruction of the system. The party retained its
name and purpose in the next Presidential campaign, with
the same standard-bearer. In 1848 it took the name of,
the ‘‘ Free-soil Party,” with Martin Van Buren for its
Presidential nominee. In 1852, John P. Hale was the
candidate of the same party under a slightly changed name.

Soon after this, an act was passed by Congress, in utter
violation of a solemn compact made in 1819, known as the
Missouri Compromise. By that compact slavery was to be
forever excluded from all new States and Territories formed
north of 36° 380’ north latitude. The Act referred to
opened all unorganized territory to the introduction of
slavery if the people so willed. This tended to awaken
the Nation to the aggressive power of slavery more than
the Fugitive-slave Law of 1850.

The anti-slavery elements from all parties soon con-
solidated into the ‘‘ Republican Party,” and John C. Fre-
mont was its first candidate for President. This was in
1856. In 1860 it triumphed in the election of Abraham
Lincoln as President of the United States.

_ This greatly enraged the South. It was understood
there to mean the death of their cherished institution—
Negro Slavery. To protect this, eleven States seceded
from the Union, formed a ‘‘Southern Confederacy,” and
elected Jefferson Davis their President. He was inau-
gurated February 18, 1861, two weeks before the inau-
guration of Abraham Lincoln.

Meanwhile the Confederates were making warlike
preparations, and soon commenced open hostilities.
192 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

An extra session of Congress was ordered, and seventy-
five thousand troops were called for by the President, to
quell the rebellious insurrection. To these, others were
soon added, and the whole country was convulsed with a
gigantic civil war.

In these circumstances our Conference met in 1861. A
committee, unknown in our former history, was now de-
manded. It was called a ‘“‘ Committee on the State of the
Country.” The committee, of which J. H. Jenne was
chairman, presented a strong report, fully sustaining the
Government, and pledging co-operation in suppressing the
Rebellion, which was enthusiastically adopted.

The following extract will show the spirit of the Con-
ference and the reasons for their action:

“J. We regard the pending war, waged by some of the
States of this Union against the Federal Government, as grow-
ing out of disloyalty to truth and hatred of justice, leading
them to desire a larger liberty for wickedness than is allowed
them in a loyal relation to the Nation. The following reasons
justify this conclusion: 1. They have never been restrained
by the Government, in any form or degree, from such pursuit
of life, liberty, or happiness as is consistent with the rights of
others. 2. They have been protected most effectually in all
their lawful interests and pursuits. 3. The Government has
denied them nothing which it has accorded to other citizens.
4, As compared with the Free States, they have shared in large
excess the offices, honors, and pecuniary subsidies of the Gov-
ernment. Relatively, they have been more supported than
supporting. 5. Still further, to meet a peculiarity in their case,
growing out of a great social wrong among them, the Govern-
ment has discriminated in their favor by an exceptional ad-
ministration, limiting and restraining the great principles of
equal justice with respect to them, while the same have uni-
versal application with respect to all other citizens.

“Tnasmuch, then, as in the Union they have all the aids
and securities they can have, or ought to have anywhere in
the lawful pursuit of lawful ends; and inasmuch, also, as they
have had, by courtesy and favor, both toleration and support
from Government, beyond the claims of equity and natural
ANNALS OF 1861. 1938

justice--and somewhat to the reproach of both—they can have
no other reason for this revolt than to secure a larger liberty
for unrighteousness. This rebellion, therefore, is not only
against this Nation, but is treason to the entire race and to
Heaven.”

‘““A war meeting” was held in the Conference-room
during the session, at which several patriotic speeches were
made. Enthusiasm reached a high point. One brother,
who was evidently so excited that he hardly knew whether
he was fighting rebels at the front, or in a ministerial
gathering in Wisconsin, declared he was ‘perfectly cool.”

The action of the General Conference of 1860 in rela-
tion to slavery has already been described. It produced
considerable agitation and dissatisfaction in the ‘‘ Border
Conferences.” Some of them declared they could not
carry into their administration the requirements of the new
chapter. The East Baltimore Conference proposed that
each Annual Conference should be empowered to make its
own regulations on the subject; and to effect this, and per-
haps other ends favorable to their locality, incipient steps
were taken to call an extra session of the General Conference.

Against all these positions our Conference took une-
quivocal ground, declaring not cnly in favor of the new
chapter, but also ‘that there can be administration under
said chapter in all Conferences in which the Methodist
Episcopal Church has a moral right to send her money
and her men;” and that to grant the request of East Bal-
timore Conference ‘‘ would be a shift of the responsibility,
while it would roll all the guilt that might follow upon
the whole Church.”

Though the slavery question and its culmination in the
Civil War had become the absorbing one, a new departure
was proposed in our war with the liquor-traffic in the
adoption of the following:

“That H. C. Tilton be, and is hereby, appointed to
16
194 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

confer with the governor of the State, most respectfully
requesting his excellency to appoint a committee of seven
to institute a thorough temperance investigation through-
out the State; the duty of this committee to be to ap-
point sub-committees in every county in the State to
collect facts and statistics as follows: 1. The number of
liquor-shops licensed and unlicensed. 2. The number of
habitual drinkers. 8. The number of families suffering
from the intemperance of their connections. 4. The num-
ber of cases of delirium tremens and serious accidents occa-
sioned by liquor-drinking. 5. The number of deaths,
murders, and other crimes caused by intemperance. 6.
Such other facts as may aid in forming an estimate of this
fearful wrong. The sub-committees to report the results
of their investigations to the Central Committee, who will
compile and publish them.”

An effort to secure a committee in Congress for similar
purposes has been persistently made for several years by
the National Temperance Society; but, so far, the liquor-
power has prevented success.

It will be seen that our Conference was several years
in advance on this subject.

R. Z. Mason, for some years a professor in our univer-
sity, appears this year as president, in place of Edward
Cook, resigned. As financial agent, P. S. Bennett suc-
ceeded 8. C. Thomas, who had rendered good service since
1857. Dr. Cook was president of the college from 1853
(the year the collegiate department was organized) until
1859, when he resigned, and was pastor of the Summer-
field Church, Milwaukee, for the two succeeding years.
It will be remembered that in this calendar year two Con-
ference sessions were held. In 1860 he was again elected
to the presidency of the college, but it was understood
that this relation was nominal, and that Professor Mason
should act as president, while he should devote his time to
ANNALS OF 1861. 195

increase the endowment. His name appears in our records
this year for the last time. He subsequently took charge
of Claflin University, in South Carolina, and, after doing
grand work there for many years, closed a long and use-
ful life.

The districts remained about the same as before, and
there was but one change in the incumbents—T. O. Hol-
lister succeeded J. Anderson on the Fond du Lac District.

In an early day immigration furnished an important
element of our growth. Now, and for a few previous
years, the tide was turning, and emigration began to de-

_ plete our ranks. The effects of the war also, in this respect,
were appearing. It is not strange, therefore, that but
seven were admitted on trial, or that there was a slight
decrease in the laity.

There was, however, a gain of four church edifices and
five parsonages, with a total increase in their valuation
of $8,795.

On the 4th of July, 1861, the Spring Street (Milwau-
kee) Church lost their house of worship by fire. This was
their second calamity of that kind in the space of a little
more than seven years. Undaunted, they entered upon
the work of erecting another on the same lot, similar to
the second one built by them, described in the annals
of 18438.

Our nominal war record began this year by the appoint-
ment of S. L. Brown chaplain of the Seventh Regiment
of Wisconsin Volunteers.

Daniet StanBury, who appeared once or twice in
the Conference-room at our last session, a physical wreck,
had passed to his inheritance beyond the vale. He was a
man of great moral worth—sincere, devout, earnest, and
strongly attached to the Church of his choice. He died,
honored and lamented by all who knew him, October 28,
1860, a few days after the close of our last session.
196 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Three of the preachers were bereft of their wives dur-
ing the year, viz.: S. W. Ford, W. H. Sampson, and R.
P. Lawton.

Mrs. Forp, after a protracted and severe illness, died
in Waupun, where her husband was pastor, on the 13th
of January, 1861. For about fourteen years she had been
her husband’s faithful companion in his work. ‘‘She was
of modest, retiring habits, her piety consistent and deep.
She died in great peace.”

Mrs. Sampson was the daughter of Rev. Julius Field,
one of our pioneer preachers. She was a person of fine
literary attainments. She had been preceptress in Amenia
Seminary, New York, and had also occupied other re-
sponsible positions. She was amiable, modest, unassum-
ing as a child. After adorning her husband’s home for
a little more than seven years, she passed to a better home,
August 27, 1861.

Mrs. Lawron was a great sufferer for many years, es-
pecially during her hushand’s ministry, and therefore could
render him but little active assistance. On the 31st of July,
1861, her physical sufferings terminated in death.

Samuel Watts, L. Hallock, and J. Van Voris—all
good men and true—located this year. The former had
been in the work since 1850. He settled in Appleton,
where he lived a very exemplary life till January 28, 1889,
when he was suddenly killed by a train of cars. The
writer has no knowledge of the others after they located.
ANNALS OF 1862, 197

CHAPTER VIII.
1862-3.

HIS year the Conference met in Kenosha, where, in

1848, it held its first session. The preachers came
together with unusual sadness. The war-cloud spanned
the horizon, and it was very dark; faith only could discern
even a silver lining.

Bishop Janes, who was with us for the third time as
our president, opened the Conference with a prayer that
will never be forgotten. He seemed almost cruslied under
the terrible outlook; yet he took such a firm hold of God,
of his promises, of his attributes, that? he also seemed as-
sured of the final suppression of the Rebellion. In both
these all heartily sympathized.

The session began on the first day of October. S. W.
Ford was re-elected secretary, with H. Colman and Samuel
Fallows assistants. R.C. Parsons was again elected sta-
tistical secretary.

An inside view does not reveal much advance in this
part of the Church militant. Indeed, the Nation militant
engrossed universal attention, and doubtless weakened
many lines of religious work. Still, in some respects we
made a little progress, and, on the whole, about held
our own.

Only four were received on trial in the Conference.
Three, however, were readmitted from the local ranks, so
our recruits were about the same as the year before.

At the previous session one of our ministers had en-
198 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE

tered the army—S. L. Brown—as noted already. But in
course of the year H. C. Tilton accepted the chaplaincy of
the Thirteenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, went
into the service, was taken severely ill, resigned his com-
mission, regained his health, and re-entered the regular
ministerial work at this Conference. Few have so varied
an experience in one year.

The general plan of the work was about the same as
the previous year. But two new pastoral charges were
added. The districts were the same, and manned the
same, except that W. H. Sampson succeeded W. G. Miller
on Milwaukee, and H. C. Tilton, C. D. Pillsbury on. Ra-
cine District.

Two of our number—Thomas White and J. M. Snow—
were removed by death. So also was the wife of Rev.
Cyrus Scammon. -

Mr. WHITE was received on trial in 1857, preached
about two years with great promise of usefulness; then,
in failing health, he removed to California, in hope of
averting that fatal disease, the consumption. It was too
late. He died, ‘‘triumphing in the same Savior he
had so successfully preached to others,” in September, -
1861.

Mr. Snow was one of our pioneer preachers, entering
the work in 1838. In 1853 he became disconnected with
the Conference. He was subsequently readmitted, and
‘died in great peace, in the city of Chicago, Illinois,
April 80, 1862.”

Mary Y. Scammon died in Kenosha, where her hus-
band was at the time stationed, September 24, 1862.
Since 1837 she had been an itinerant’s wife. ‘‘ Her piety
was uniform and consistent, shedding a glow of sunshine
on all around her. She lived a useful life, beloved by all,
and died a triumphant death.”

Our war record was continued by the appointment of
ANNALS OF 1862. 199

two chaplains—C. D. Pillsbury to the Twenty-second, and
Samuel Fallows to the Thirty-second Regiment of Wiscon-
sin Volunteers.

The reports showed a small increase in the member-
ship, but a decrease in most of the benevolences. Such
are the effects of war.

It had now become apparent to many minds that either
slavery or the Federal Union must be destroyed. So our
Conference action on the slavery question, as last year,
was merged into that on the ‘state of the country.” The
report of the committee on this absorbing subject, as
adopted by the Conference, was full of patriotic and loyal
assurances. President Lincoln had a short time before
publicly declared his intention to issue a proclamation of
emancipation, as a war measure, in all States and parts of
States in an attitude of rebellion at a specified date. The
Conference fully indorsed this, and expressed strong
‘*faith in the ultimate triumph of human rights.”

Though the country was in such a ferment of excite-
ment, the Conference did not forget those interests that
conserve the Nation and the world in times of peace. It
planned for the cause of education on a larger scale than
ever before, by providing for the formation of a Conference
Educational Society. This seemed to promise well, but it
failed to meet expectations.

The temperance cause was not overlooked, though it
was impossible to awaken the enthusiasm over it that had
existed in former years.

The benevolences also were cared for, notwithstanding
a slight diminution in collections,

The General Conference of 1860 ordered that the ques-
tion of lay representation to that body should be submitted
to the male members of the Church for their approval or
disapproval; and also that a vote should be taken in each
Annual Conference on the same question. The vote of
200 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

the laity in our territory was very small. It was re-
ported thus:

For lay representation, § ...... » 429
Against lay representation, . . . - 486
Majority against lay representation,.. .. 657

The Conference voted as follows:

For lay representation, ...... i woes 85

Against lay representation,.. . caw, se 789.

Majority against lay representation, ...... 21
1863.

Waukesha was this year favored with the Conference
for the second time, and Bishop Scott appeared as its
president for the third time.

The session began October Ist, the same as last year.
S. W. Ford was elected secretary for the sixth time; this
year his assistants were S. Fallows, R. M. Beach, and
George Fellows.

The war was still raging, but the prospect for the Na-
tion’s triumph was much brighter than the year before.

On the first day of January, 1863, President Lincoln
issued a proclamation as commander-in-chief of naval and
military forces of the United States, by which all slaves in
all territory under rebellion became free. This was an
event long desired by many, and it was hailed with enthu-
siastic joy in all loyal circles. Some of the most discerning
thought the President was altogether too tardy in his re-
sort to this war measure.

On the thirty-first day of August, 1861, more than a
year before the President became impressed with the neces-
sity of such a measure, General J. C. Fremont felt con-
strained to declare all the slaves owned by those in active
rebellion within his jurisdiction, ‘‘ free men.” This order
was so modified by Mr. Lincoln as to be ineffectual. But
ANNALS OF 1863. 201

now, after long, sad months of disaster, he awoke to a
realization of the situation as seen by the equally discern-
ing and less conservative Fremont.

This is not the place to discuss the question as to the
President’s delay in issuing the Proclamation, which will
ever be regarded as a fit companion of the immortal
Declaration of Independence. It is enough for us now
that it came in time to save the Nation. It destroyed one
of the main sources of rebel strength—the production of
supplies and care for the families of those in arms. Be-
sides, many of the freedmen soon became soldiers in the
Union army, and did valiant service.

The moral effect also of this measure throughout the
loyal portions of the country was assuring. Devout people
saw the hand of the Invisible in it. Nor were their con-
victions mocked by succeeding events. Thenceforth nearly
every important battle resulted in a Union victory. The
most notable event, probably, was the capture of Vicks-
burg, on the 4th of July, 1863.

The report on the State of the Country, from the
vigorous pen of C. D. Pillsbury, was enthusiastically
adopted. Among many other good things it declared that
“at such a time neutrality is treason, silence crime, and
inaction unpardonable.” It gratefully indorsed the ‘ Proc-
lamation” as ‘(a propitious offering to a justly offended
God,” and hailed it as a “‘ harbinger of some coming proc-
lamation of universal peace.”

A new responsibility was rolled upon the public by the
Proclamation of Emancipation. Millions of human beings,
who had been cared for by their masters as they had cared
for their horses and cattle, were thrown upon their own
resources. They needed assistance in various ways.
Especially did they need instruction in morality and re-
ligion. This the Government did not propose to give, but

17
202 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Christian philanthropy flew to their relief in the formation
of what was called ‘‘The Western Freedmen’s Aid So-
ciety.” To this the Conference gave its indorsement, and
pledged ‘‘hearty co-operation in their noble work.”

The report on Sunday-schools takes a wider range than
usual. It informs us that the Methodist Episcopal Church
had an increase of 295,000 members; that of our Sunday-
school scholars 246,000 were converted, notwithstanding
293 schools were broken up by the war; and that of the
Sunday-schools in Wisconsin ‘‘ more than one-half (aside
from Union schools) have been given by the Great Shep-
herd into the bosom of the Methodist Episcopal Church.”
While this might be considered a cause for gratitude, it also
showed our relative responsibility.

The Conference expressed a lively interest in our Church
literature—giving preference, as ever, to the Northwestern
Christian Advocate as the paper for our locality. It took
decided ground against a paper called the Methodist in these
words: ‘‘ This paper, originating in disappointed ambition,
coupled with a desire to perpetuate slavery in the Church, has
been from the first arrayed in hostility to the Christian Ad-
vocate and Journal. And being sustained by a large mon-
eyed monopoly, it has secured the patronage of many in
influential positions, and thus curtailed the circulation of
our noble official journal.”

A word of explanation is demanded. ‘‘ Baltimore and
the Border,” as the phrase then went, were greatly dis-
pleased by the adoption of the new chapter on Slavery.
And when, in addition, Dr. Edward Thomson, afterwards
bishop, was elected editor of our leading paper over their
favorite candidate, they showed their disloyalty by starting
one in the same city with the avowed determination on
the part of some, if not all, to run that paper under.
This was detestable in every point of view, and especially
ANNALS OF 1863, 203

so as Dr. Thomson was a very conciliatory man, and in
all respects well qualified for the important position.

But the real object in starting the Methodist was never
made very conspicuous, as the heavens soon became lurid
by the fires of the Rebellion, which made slavery more
and more a subject of abhorrence to the American people.
So, to give a respectable excuse for living, it took up and
championed the question of lay delegation. Thus it drew
many to its support. So far as is known to the writer,
our Conference was the only one that, by formal action,
opposed it.

The plan of our work and the ministerial force employed
this year presents less change than any previous one. The
districts and their incumbents were the same as the last
year. Only three new pastoral charges were developed,
and six ministers added to the effective ranks. Yet there
was an increase in communicants of 730.

Two promising young preachers died during the year—
J. K. SHetpon and Epwarp Peterson. The former en-
tered our Conference on trial in 1857, and in due time
came into full connection. In 1862 he was placed on the
list of superannuates. He rapidly declined till January 5,
1863; then, in the twenty-seventh year of his age, passed to
his reward.

The loss of Edward Peterson was sensibly felt. He
was a Norwegian, a graduate of Lawrence University,
deeply pious, and very successful. His diligence and
scholarship, as well as his genuine manliness, may be in-
ferred from his standing in college. During his entire
course he did not fall below second grade in a single study
(often reached first grade), and did not receive a discredit
mark. ‘This was the more remarkable, as he had a very
limited knowledge of our language when he entered the
institution. He was greatly needed in the rapidly grow-
204 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ing work among the Scandinavians, but in the midst of
his usefulness, and with a very promising future, he closed
his work, and entered into rest June 30, 1863, having
labored with us nearly six years.

The wives of three of our preachers also passed to
their final home this year.

The first in order of time was Mrs. Exizapera D. An-
DERSON, wife of Rev. Joseph Anderson. She died of ty-
phoid fever, in Appleton, April 28, 1863, during her bus-
band’s pastorate there. For twelve years she had been an
earnest worker with him in the itinerant field. Though
her ‘‘disease rendered her bewildered much of the time,”
none who knew her devoted life doubted her preparation
for the closing hour.

Mrs. Minerva 8. LAVELLE, sister of Mrs. Anderson,
and wife of Rev. J. Lavelle, followed next. She had been
in attendance upon her sister in her last illness, returned
to her home, and died of the same disease, on the 21st of
May, ‘‘ peacefully, submissively, and with the utmost as-
surance of a blissful immortality.”

The last demise to be recorded here, is that of Mrs.
JENNIE M. Ames, wife of Rev. W. D. Ames, who departed
June 13th following, in the thirtieth year of her age.
She had been walking in the way to Zion for about thir-
teen years, and for nearly six aided her husband in his
itinerant work.

H. Bannister, 8. C. Thomas, C. D. Pillsbury, and M.
Himebaugh were elected delegates to the General Confer-
ence, to be held in Philadelphia the following May. J. H.
Jenne and W. G. Miller were elected as reserves.

There was evident activity all along the lines of Chris-
tian work, showing a decided increase in the membership,
the benevolences, and in churches and parsonages.

A very marked improvement was made during the
year in Asbury Church, property. A new, ueat, brick
ANNALS OF 1863. 205

house of worship was erected, and the old one converted
into a commodious parsonage. Much credit is due the
pastor, Rev. Geo. Fellows, in pushing the enterprise to
completion. This was the third church that society had
built. The first was consumed by fire in 1857.
206 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER IX.
1864-5.

a HE general episcopal superintendency ” of Methodism
may become somewhat special. Bishop Scott pre-
sided over the Wisconsin Conference in 1860, 1863, and
1864—three times in five years. This was an unusual
occurrence in the modern history of our Church.

The Conference met this year in Oshkosh, on the fifth
day of October, and after usual devotional exercises Samuel
Fallows was elected secretary, with Wm. P. Stowe, R. M.
Beach, and H. Colman, assistants. For the fourth time R. C.
Parsons served as statistical secretary.

The effects of the war were still everywhere apparent.
From the time the rebels fired upon Fort Sumter till
now, about two and a half millions of our adult male popu-
lation had gone to the front in defense of our country.
Many of our women had also rushed to the hospitals to
care for the sick and wounded. Of course heavy drafts
were thus made upon the Churches, and upon none more
so than our own.*

*The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church was held in May of this year, in Philadelphia. A
patriotic address was adopted by that body, and sent to Presi-
dent Lincoln by a special committee. Mr. Lincoln made a
brief and characteristic reply, thus: ‘‘Nobly sustained as the
Government is by all the Churches, I would utter nothing
which might in the least appear invidious against any; yet
without this it may be fairly said that the Methodist Episco-
ANNALS OF 1864, 207

It is reasonable, therefore, to suppose that but little
apparent progress would be made in our home-work. Still
we endeavored to push every benevolent and humanitarian
enterprise, as well as to labor directly to bring men to God,
and build them up in righteousness. The records show
that we did. Indeed, new schemes of benevolence and
new developments of old ones were adopted, as the reader
has already seen, and will more fully hereafter. But the
condition of our country, imperiled as it still was by a
formidable revolt, was the absorbing theme.

Strange as it may appear to the young reader, there
were some in the free States (perhaps more than were sup-
posed) who secretly hoped the rebels would be successful.
These were called ‘‘Copperheads”—named after a species
of serpent in the South, whose bite is as venomous as that
of a rattlesnake, but give no audible warning to their vic-
tims before assault.

Our ministers were true to the National cause. No one
would have been tolerated if he had shown any sympathy
with the cause of the rebels. All our utterances gave
proof of this.

The report on the ‘‘State of the Country” was fully
up to those of former years. It was followed by one or two
on humanitarian organizations, of which the war furnished
the occasion, but were eminently the product of our Chris-
tian civilization. These were the Christian Commission
and the Freedmen’s Aid Commission. The Christian Com-
mission, in its organic form, owes its existence to the

pal Church, not less devoted than the best, is, by its numbers,
the most important of all. It is no fault in others that the
Methodist Episcopal Church sends more soldiers into the field,
more nurses into the hospitals, and more prayers to heaven,
than any other. God bless the Methodist Church! God bless
all the Churches! And blessed be God who giveth us the
Churches!”
208 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

instrumentality of that renowned Christian philanthropist,
George H. Stewart, of Philadelphia. Its great thought
was to carry relief, spiritual and physical, to our soldiers
in field, camp, or hospital. Its work was done mainly by
ministers who would give six or eight weeks of their time—
having only their expenses borne—to circulate religious
literature, labor with the sick and wounded in any way
that was needed, and to preach in camps, hospitals, etc..,
as there was opportunity. Thus many were cared for that
could not have been assisted in any other way. These
“delegates,” as they were called, were not regarded as sol-
diers; so they were not, as were the chaplains, controlled
by strict military discipline. They supplemented the
work of the chaplains, and were regarded, by such as were
fit to be chaplains, as important auxiliaries.

Florence Nightingale, an English lady of rank and
wealth, went as an angel of mercy to the bloody fields of
the Crimean war to perform some of these offices; and
perhaps her work there suggested the idea of the Chris-
tian Commission. Be that as it may, both were in the
spirit of the Great Master’s teaching—practical exhibitions
of the lesson inculeated by the parable of the Good
Samaritan.

Though no one was appointed at the Conference of
1868 to any work connected with the army, yet, in course
of the year, four offered themselves and were accepted in
the relations now to be stated. C. G. Lathrop, P. S.
Bennett, and Geo. Fellows were sent as delegates of the
Christian Commission to the Department of the Mississippi.
Mr. Lathrop was taken ill in St. Louis, and soon returned
to Wisconsin. Mr. Bennett spent several weeks in the
work, mainly in Vicksburg and Memphis, where he saw
something of the ravages of war, and was twice under
rebel fire. Mr. Fellows’s work was all in Memphis.

An incident will here be given to show the spirit that
ANNALS OF 1864. 209

prevailed in the ‘‘ better class of society” in St. Louis:
Mr. Bennett reached that city on Friday, May 13, 1864,
and immediately reported to the office of the commission
there. He was ordered to remain till Monday, when he.
was to proceed down the river to Vicksburg. By invita-
tion of the pastor, he occupied the pulpit of a fashionable
Presbyterian Church on Sabbath morning. The member-
ship was divided on the great issue of the day—some were
intensely loyal, others in strong sympathy with the Rebel-
lion. In the opening services he prayed for the success of
the Government in the terrible ordeal through which
it was passsing; for those in arms against it, that they
might be brought to a better mind; for that unfortunate
race that was in a transition from bondage to freedom.
All this was very offensive to rebel sympathizers, and a
score or more left the house in disgust and disorder before
the prayer was ended. The Missouri Democrat, the next
day, gave them a scathing rebuke, and called on the com-
mandant of the post to take them in custody as rebels.

G. A. England also served for a short time as a del-
egate; but of his work the writer has no knowledge.

Samuel Fallows was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of
a ‘hundred-day regiment,” and went to Memphis with it
in June of the same year. He did good service there, and
was afterwards brevetted brigadier-general.*

As to the general plan of the work, as well as the work
itself, we see but little change.

Beaver Dam District was disbanded as such, and its
appointments placed in other districts.

* A considerable number of this regiment were students in
Lawrence University, one of whom, McKendree, son of Rev.
M. Himebaugh, fell a victim to the typhoid fever, in Memphis,
Tennessee. He was a noble youth, of much promise to the
Church and the world.
210 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

8. C. Thomas succeeded W. H. Sampson as presiding
elder of Milwaukee District; and P. S. Bennett was ap-
pointed to the charge of Appleton District, in place of M.
_Himebaugh.

The other districts retained their former incumbents.

Six preachers were received on trial, 7 located, 7 were
returned supernumerary, and 17 superannuated. Thus
we had 5 less effective men than the year before, and 8
less pastoral charges.

A diminution of numbers appears in all the reports of
this year. The total loss in the laity and ministry was 997.

But with this loss of numbers, our benevolent contri-
butions amounted to $794.68 more than the preceding
year.

Six preachers were received on trial, and one was dis-
continued. Seven located, some of whom were, in after
years, readmitted.

The Norwegian work throughout the State was organ-
ized into a district, and connected with the West Wiscon-
sin Conference, with O. P. Peterson as presiding elder.
This arrangement carried with it 248 ministers and
members, which fact accounts, in part, for the loss of this
year.

Death spared our preachers this year, but seized four
of their wives.

Mrs. Racueu C. Knox was the first victim. Her death
occurred December 28, 1863. She wasa superior woman.
In 1846 she graduated from the State Normal School, at
Albany, New York, and thereafter was preceptress in
schools of high grade, till disease and death closed her
work. She sustained that relation to the female depart-
ment of Lawrence University from the time of her mar-
riage to Dr. Knox, in 1861, till near the close of her use-
ful life. Few more noble and symmetrical characters ever
graced any literary institution or Church.
ANNALS OF 1865. 211

Mrs. EvizaABETH Prisstuy, wife of Rev. T. C. Willson,
followed her, on the first day of February, 1864. She was
a graduate of our Lawrence University; a woman of uni-
form piety and great promise of usefulness.

Mrs. Cornetia B. Oucort, wife of Rev. D. T. Olcott,
another very devoted Christian, exchanged mortality for
life, July 20, 1864. Like Mrs. Willson, she promised
great usefulness. Among her last utterances were, ‘‘ Pre-
cious Jesus!” ‘I can not sing here, but I shall soon
sing, ‘Unto Him that hath loved us, and washed us from
our sins in his own blood—to him be glory and dominion
for ever and ever!’”

The name of Mrs. N. Louisa Requa, wife of Rev. J. D.
Requa, completes the death-roll for this year. She de-
parted October 2, 1864, three days before the session of
our Conference began. She had been but a short time a
pastor’s wife, but had greatly endeared herself to all who
knew her, as an amiable, devoted, Christian woman, of
great future promise.

1865.

The nineteenth session of the Wisconsin Conference
commenced this year on the fourth day of October, in
Summerfield Church, Milwaukee. Bishop Baker appeared
for the third time as its president.

But two Methodist Conferences had been previously
held in the metropolis of our State, the Rock River Con-
ference, in 1844, and the Wisconsin, in 1857. So even
there our convocation was a very enjoyable rarity; and
that, too, though the State Convention of the Presby-
terian and Congregational Churches was in session at the
same time.

Samuel Fallows was re-elected secretary. W. P. Stowe
and E. D. Farnham were his assistants. R. W. Bosworth
was statistical secretary.
212 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

The year had been a very eventful one in the history
of our country. At the last session of our Conference the
War of the Rebellion was raging. The long, bloody
‘‘ Battle of the Wilderness” had been fought, and indi-
cations of the Nation’s triumph were more encouraging
than perhaps at any former time. But there was still
much strength and determination on the part of the rebel
army. Now all was changed. On the third day of April,
of this year, Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy,
was taken by our forces; and on the ninth day of the same
month, General Lee’s army surrendered to General Grant,
which event virtually ended the Rebellion. The next day
Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy, who had
fled from Richmond while the Union army was entering,
was captured in Georgia. These were days of great re-
joicing throughout the North, which continued until] the
14th, when a wave of sorrow not easily described rolled
over all our loyal domain at the announcement that our
noble President, Abraham Lincoln, had been assassinated.

Still, we came together with far less sadness than for
several years before. The Rebellion was crushed; the
supremacy of the Government was demonstrated; slavery,
as a system in the United States, was destroyed; and of
the nearly one hundred thousand that had gone out from our
State to the beleaguered field, those that survived had re-
turned to their homes. Many of these were of our own
household, and were now taking their places again in the
ranks of Immanuel, to fight a bloodless battle with the
enemy of all righteousness. Of course we were encour-
aged, even though sad at the havoc of the last few years.

The report on the ‘‘State of the Country,” of course,
recognized the altered condition of things. .While ex-
pressing appropriate gratitude to the Ruler of nations and
the brave men who had imperiled their lives to save the
commonwealth, it justly censured the oppression of the
ANNALS OF 1865, 213

colored race in being deprived of the right of civil fran-
chise. The reader will bear in mind that the Fifteenth
Amendment to our National Constitution had not then
been adopted, and that the Conference was still trying to
shape public sentiment in regard to human rights and the
best interests of our country, instead of following the lead
of demagogues.

For several years the subject of lay representation in
the General Conference had been agitated in some portions
of our country, particularly in New York, Philadelphia,
and New England. The Church at large did not seem to
feel much interest in it. The General Conference of 1860
submitted it to a vote of the conferences and male mem-
bers of the Church; but it failed to receive their sanction,
as previously stated. Still the agitation continued. It
seemed more intense and more general in the ministry
than in the laity. Some doubted the wisdom of the meas-
ure, though all admitted the right of the laity to repre-
sentation, at least that this should be accorded them when-
ever they signified a desire for it with any considerable
degree of unanimity. The Conference, therefore, this year
referred the matter to a committee, of which I. Searls
was chairman. The substance of their report was that
representation in the higher councils of the Church should
be allowed to the laity whenever they should be united in
asking it. The Conference accepted this, and we shall
hereafter see they acted in good faith.

The educational and benevolent interests of the Church
were all duly cared for through the year. Rev. George
M. Steele, of whom more will be heard, was elected presi-
dent of the College at the previous annual meeting of the
Joint Board, and had entered upon his work. But, to the
regret of all, he was kept from the Conference session by
illness. Appropriate mention was made of this in the re-
port on Education, and also a hearty welcome extended to
214 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

him as the head of our cherished University. A noticeable
feature of the report was a commendation of our ‘‘ Public
Schools.” The resolution relating to them is here given:

“ Resolved, That we, in common with other Christian de-
nominations, have a deep interest in the public schools of the
State, and that we deem it the duty of our ministers and peo-
ple to manifest their interest by frequently visiting the schools,
atttending the business meetings of the districts and wards,
and by assisting in every practicable way to promote the use-
fulness of these schools. L. L. Knox, Chairman.”

Accessions to the ministry continued to be very slight—
four being received on trial, and only one into full con-
nection. Taken together, this is the smallest number
received in our history thus far. It is true two were
readmitted who had formerly been members—making, in
all, seven accessions. But one located, and four proba-
tioners were discontinued.

Last year we recorded the deaths of four preachers’
wives. During the year just closed three preachers were
called away.

Romutus O. KELLoge was received on trial in 1862,
and into full membership in 1864. His death occurred
January 27, 1865, in the third year of his itinerant minis-
try, and in his first pastorate. He was the son of Leverett
8. Kellogg—so prominent in the early days of Methodism
in Milwaukee. Graduating at the Wesleyan University,
in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1849, he soon became con-
nected with the Board of Instruction in our rising institu-
tion at Appleton, where he continued several years, and
exerted a most salutary influence upon the students there.
His moral worth can scarcely be overstated. He was
a fine scholar, but not an easy extemporizer. His sermons,
therefore, cost him much labor; and on this account he
overtaxed himself, shattered his nervous system, and pre-
maturely closed a useful life.
ANNALS OF 1865, 215

Henry Requa commenced life on earth, January 6,
1820, and closed it May 19, 1865, at Little Rock, Arkan-
sas, where he was caring for our ‘‘ Boys in Blue,” as a
delegate of the Christian Commission. His itinerant minis-
try began in this State in 1847. He filled some important
appointments, was two years a presiding elder, and at the
time of bis death was pastor of our Church at Ripon.
This was the second time that Church bad been bereft of
a pastor. He was a man of marked individuality.
Earnest, and somewhat impulsive, he took his positions
promptly, and adhered to them firmly till convinced he was
wrong. His end was quite triumphant.

GrorGE CHESTER was converted in England, under
the labors of Rev. James Caughey, at the age of about
sixteen years. He joined our Conference in 1851, and
labored quite successfully till near the close of the year
1865, when, on the 24th of September, after battling that
terrible disease, typhoid fever, for about three weeks, he
yielded to its power. Just before he passed away ‘‘he
clasped his hands, nearly palsied in death, and whispered,
‘Glory! Glory! Glory!’”

Three more were placed on the list of supernumeraries
than the previous year, and three had died; so we had a
smaller force of effective men. We had, however, made a
gain of five church edifices, two parsonages, and 554 mem-
bers, with a commendable advance in our benevolences.
216 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER X.
1866-7.

HE beautiful young city of Ripon was this year favored
with the annual session of our Conference. The city
stands on the northwestern verge of what was known as
Ceresco Prairie—perhaps the queen of Wisconsin prairies—
and owes its existence largely to an unusually fertile
country around it.

Ripon College, founded in an early day, under the
auspices of the Congregational denomination also con-
tributes to its importance and growth.

Ripon first appears as a pastoral charge in 1855, and
the next year a church edifice is reported. It is a very
neat framed building, 90 by 40 feet in size, with a good
lecture-room and three class-rooms in the basement. It cost
$7,000, and will seat five hundred people—almost twice as
many as some churches that cost much more. A parson-
age followed after a few years, and in the summer of 1889
a much better one was purchased for $1,700.

The Conference convened on the sixth day of Septem-
ber, and was called to order by Bishop Davis W. Clark,
All the secretaries were the same as the preceding year,
but the president was an entirely newman among us. His
name, however, had long been familiar to us. In 1851 he
was elected president of our rising university at Appleton ;
but as he did not accept the situation, few of our preachers
had been favored with his acquaintance. From 1852 to
1864 he was editor of the Ladies’ Repository, and thus his
became a household name in all our land.
ANNALS OF 1866. 217

The General Conference of 1864 added to the episco-
pal force three strong men—D. W. Clark, Edward Thom-
son, and Calvin Kingsley. The two last named never
visited us. They both died in the performance of their
official duties, away from their homes—the former at
Wheeling, W. Va., March 22, 1870; the latter at Beyrout,
Turkey, on the sixth day of the following month. Bishop
Clark endeared himself to us by his great kindness, wise
utterances, and marked executive ability.

The usual custom is for the bishop to preach one ser-
mon during the Conference session—on Sabbath morning.
But Bishop Clark gave us, in addition, a fine discourse on
Friday afternoon on the ‘‘ Centenary of American Meth-
odism.”

The reader should bear in mind that on the twenty-
sixth day of October, 1766, the first Methodist class on
this continent was formed by Philip Embury, in the city
of New York, and that, per order of the General Confer-
ence, this event was celebrated throughout the country by
“* special services and thank-offerings.”

October seems to have been a somewhat epochal month
for Methodism. On the 25th of October, 1739, Mr. Wesley
formed the first Methodist society or class in England. As
just stated, the first one in America was formed in the same
month. And two years and two days from the latter event—
viz,, October 28, 1768—the first Methodist church edifice
in all this broad land was dedicated by Mr. Embury.

Two new benevolent enterprises were assuming organ-
ized forms, with pressing demands upon the Church. These
were the Freedmen’s Aid Society and the Church Exten-
sion Society. The latter, or something like it, had been a
felt. want of the Church for years. Rev. Dr. Kynett, of
the Upper Iowa Conference, is the accredited originator of
this new departure in Church-work. It was brought before
us at this session by Dr. 8. Y. Monroe, its first corre-

18
218 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

sponding secretary, and a Conference society was formed,
of which G. M. Steele was president. This was auxiliary
to the parent society, organized by the last General Con-
ference, whose head-quarters were in Philadelphia. We
shall hear of its grand achievements in coming years.

The Freedmen’s Aid Society grew out of the abolition
of slavery. The fetters of four million bondmen were
melted in the fierce fires of the Rebellion. Scarcely one
of this vast number knew a letter of the alphabet, yet all
soon became citizens of the United States. Such a mass
of ignorance, with all the rights of the most cultured,
would have been a very dangerous element in the body
politic but for the intense loyalty of the Negro race to
the General Government. Indeed, this was not a sufficient
guarantee of safety, for it was evident that unprincipled
demagogues could mislead them. The United States Con-
gress, therefore, began to make provision for their education.
But after a little time the adverse clamor of politicians
prevailed, and this abused race was deserted by the Gov-
ernment which they gallantly aided to rescue from the
bloody hand of treason. But the Church of Christ, as it
ever has, acted the part of the Good Samaritan. Nor was
the Methodist Episcopal Church laggard in this work. It
organized a society, and provided for auxiliaries in all the
Annual Conferences. Such an auxiliary was this year
formed in our Conference.

Another grave question had arisen out of the issues of
the war; viz., that of reconstructing the Southern States.
While the Conference disclaimed all intention and all right
to dictate legislation, it did assert its privilege and duty to
use its influence by public and private speech to dissemi-
nate and impress the moral principles that should dominate
the Nation. Politicians told us we were meddling with
what did not concern us, that we had better confine our-
selves to the gospel, etc., just as they do now, to oppose
ANNALS OF 1866. 219

our temperance work. But they did not silence us, nor
will they in the present contest with the liquor-power of
this Nation.

Although the institutions calling for pecuniary aid in-
creased, the Conference did not neglect those already ex-
isting. Indeed, they were more liberally supported.

During the war we had hard work to hold our own in
membership. This was the first year, with one exception,
that our aggregate number of ministers, members, and
probationers equaled that of 1860. But our benevolent
collections increased in that time from $2,131.41 to
$10,409.54.

During the same period we built more than twenty
churches, and nearly as many parsonages, with an aggre-
gate increase in the valuation of church property of
$174,425.

During the year just closed we had increased our be-
nevolent collections $1,149.97, the value of our church
property $87,675, and our total membership 470. The
number of pastoral charges was precisely the same as the
last year, and that of effective ministers six more, thus re-
ducing the number of places ‘‘to be supplied.” Only
four were received on trial, two of whom have risen to
distinguished positions, Samuel Lugg and J. L. Hewitt.

Mrs. Exuiza ANN JENNE, wife of Rev. J. H. Jenne,
and Mrs. Mary WiILiarp, wife of Rev. W. Willard,
were taken away by death during the past year.

Mrs. Jenne died at Lake Mills, November 16, 1865,
after bearing, with her husband, the toils and responsibili-
‘ties of our itinerancy for twenty-four years. She was a
very noble woman, universally esteemed, and died sus-
tained by the hope of the righteous.

Mrs. Willard had a shorter pilgrimage in the itinerant
field, most of which was in mission-work among the
Oneidas, where she was very useful as a teacher and as an
220 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

exemplar to the female Indians. She died January 22,
1866, of consumption, brought on by overwork and ex-
posure.

Geo. Fellows, J. Van Voris, Wm. Morse, J. D. Requa,
and Thos. Orbison, who had been temporarily disconnected
with the itinerancy, were readmitted.

The Minutes show one district less than last year.
Racine District, as such, was disbanded, and its appoint-
ments incorporated in other districts. H.C. Tilton had
been in charge of it for four years. The incumbents of
the other districts remained as before.

1867.

The twenty-first session of our Conference was this year
held in the city of Beaver Dam, commencing on the sec-
ond day of October. Bishop Matthew Simpson appeared
as president, called the Conference to order, and pro-
ceeded in the solemn service of the eucharist, according to
our established custom.

This remarkable man had presided over our Confer-
ence once before, and during the eleven intervening years
had occasionally visited our territory for some special
work. Meanwhile his reputation as a preacher, as the
intimate friend and counselor of President Lincoln, and,
indeed, in almost every respect, had spread far and wide.
We therefore hailed his second episcopal visit with great
delight.

The same secretaries that had served us for the two
years next preceding, were re-elected.

In the routine of Conference business there was little
to distinguish this from ordinary sessions.

A coincidence similar to that of the secretaries may
be seen in the number received on trial. For three suc-
cessive years this class consisted of just four.

Pastors and pastoral charges did not increase as fast as
ANNALS OF 1867. : 221

the laity; nor they as rapidly as their contributions for
benevolent and religious purposes.

We had a small re-enforcement from other sources.
Geo. W. Wells was admitted to membership in the Con-
ference from the Primitive Methodist Church, and E. W.
Stevens from the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Wm. Averill, who had retired to the local ranks a few
years before, was readmitted.

Two located and two withdrew from the connection.
Five less were returned as supernumerary, and one more
placed upon the superannuated list than the previous year.
So we gained six to the effective work, being just the num-
ber gained the year before.

Several brethren received at this Conference deserve
honorable mention, but as they will naturally come to
view hereafter, they are passed for the present.

As the name of Professor Mason appears among us for
the last time this year, it is but just to pay him deserved
tribute. Russell Z. Mason was a graduate of Wesleyan
University, at Middletown, Connecticut. For some time
he was professor in McKendree College. In 1855 he was
elected to, and accepted, a professorship in Lawrence Uni-
versity, and was president from 1861 to 1865. He was a
scholar of no ordinary rank, especially in the sciences.
As a man he was genial, kind, frank, and noble. It was
difficult for any one to dislike him; but unfortunately he
became tinctured with modern spiritism. Just to what
extent he received its dogmas or vagaries, it is not easy to
tell; but while he had no affinity for its blasphemous and
immoral teachings, he accepted enough of the system to
unsettle his faith in some theories usually deemed orthodox,
aud to unsettle the faith of orthodox Christians in him as a
safe counselor of youth. Thus, for several of the latter
years of his connection with the college, many believed
that he was sowing the seeds of skepticism in young minds,
222 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

that would produce a harvest of ruin. Being convinced
that the interests of the college demanded it, he quietly
resigned in 1865, but continued a firm friend of the insti-
tution. None regretted the necessity of this more than
those who believed it imperative. During the Conference
year ending 1867, he withdrew from the ministry and
membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church. So far as
is known to the writer, he has never connected himself
with any other. He is now in Colorado, an assayist of ore.
This may be an honorable calling; but with his abilities
he ought to be ministering to human needs on a higher
plane and broader scale.

As time passed on we see no weakening of the moral
spine of the Conference in opposing sin in high places,
even though intrenched in political organizations. The
following resolution, adopted at this session, is significant
of this:

“* Resolved, That we recognize, with fearful apprehen-
sions, an existing purpose to repeal the laws in reference
to our holy Sabbath, and that any political party sympa-
thizing with such a measure forfeits all claims upon the
confidence and support of Christian men.”

This hasthe rightring. If all ecclesiastical bodies would
thus enter a protest against anti-Christian schemes in legis-
lation, and then, in case politicians disregard it, utterly
withdraw their ‘‘ support,” the future of our country would
be much brighter than it is.

Special agents for Churches, or some other worthy cause,
often visit our Conference to solicit financial aid; and they
always ask in faith. And probably their faith is strength-
ened by the fact that they always have received.

At this Conference, Rev. Frank De Haas, D. D., pas-
tor of the Metropolitan Church in Washington, appeared
in its behalf. Years before—even as early as 1855—the
enterprise was brought before us; and it was urged that
ANNALS OF 1867. ‘223

we, as a denomination, were not properly represented in
the Capital of our Nation, and that this would meet the
demands of the case. This appeared all right; but such
was the relation of the Baltimore Conference (in whose
bounds this Church was located) to slavery, that the Con-
ference did not espouse the cause very heartily. Some,
however, gave liberally to it. But now the case was
changed. Slavery was dead, and the Nation was alive.
The Conference showed its interest in the cause by pledg-
ing $680.

At the same session the Conference gave $45 to aid
in a church-building for colored people in Janesville.

It still further showed its good-will by the adoption of
the following resolutions:

‘‘ WHEREAS, The interests of Methodism in the State
of Wisconsin demand a representation at the Capital com-
mensurate with their great and growing importance; and

“WHEREAS, The feebleness of our Church at that
point has hitherto prevented a fair showing before the
world; therefore,

‘‘ Resolved, That we will hail with satisfaction any well-
directed movement towards building a church at Madison
worthy the denomination, and will heartily co-operate in
such an enterprise.”

It should be remembered that none of these stood con-
nected with our Conference, and also that the contribu-
tions were almost entirely from the pockets of preachers.

For some years hop-raising had been on the increase,
and some of our people had gone into the business, with the
idea that hops were extensively used in tanning leather.
This was a delusive snare. It required but little investi-
gation to satisfy any one that all the tanning they did was
on the coating of human stomachs. The Conference put
itself on record in this way :

‘« Resolved, That we will ever discountenance supplying
224 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

the market with that which will probably be used in the
manufacture of malt or spirituous liquors.”

The small church edifice mentioned on a former page,
though improved in its appearance, was entirely inadequate
to the present needs of the people. Great anxiety was
therefore felt in regard to ‘“‘ our next preacher.” So much
depended on the preacher, especially in early times, in
carrying on church-building enterprises, that this was a
very natural feeling. Rev. C. E. Carpenter, then a rising
young man, was selected for the responsible place.

Among the prominent laymen there may be mentioned
Mr. David Newman. He and his estimable wife were deeply
interested in this enterprise. The latter has become ex-
tensively known as the first woman in our Church elected
as a lay delegate to the General Conference. Several years
before, they had removed to Colorado.

The Freedmen’s Aid and Church Extension Societies
came prominently to view, and decisive steps were taken
in their favor. So, indeed, of all the benevolencies.

The state of the country was still an absorbing subject.
The most alarming feature was that ‘‘ political parties were
showing signs of succumbing” to this influence. Against
all this the Conference uttered a decided protest in the
adoption of a strong report on the State of the Country,
evidently written by Dr. Bannister, chairman of the com-
mittee on that subject.

True, the war had closed, slavery as a system was no
more, and reconstruction was progressing. But another
gigantic evil began to loom in the moral heavens. A large
class of our foreign-born population—mostly Germans—
were not only turning the Christian Sabbath into a holiday
for all kinds of sports and wickedness, but demanding the
repeal of all laws for its observance, and for the protection
of others from their noisy demonstration on that day.

There was no change in the general plan of the work.
ANNALS OF 1867, 225

The districts were the same as the year before, and their
incumbents also.

There were 124 effective ministers, three of whom were
missionaries in foreign fields, three were employed in the
interests of the Western Seaman’s Friend Society, four in
the Bible work, and three in the educational field. So, as
usual, several were employed by the presiding elders to
man the pastoral charges.

The whole number connected with the Church was
12,635.

Fifteen churches and five parsonages were built during
the year.

At Evansville the old church edifice gave place toa
better one, which was erected at a cost of $6,000. It seats
about three hundred and fifty. A parsonage followed in
1869, valued at $1,000.

The total collection for benevolent purposes was $10,925,
an increase of $516.

G. M. Steele, W. G. Miller, Samuel Fallows, Henry
Bannister, and C. D. Pillsbury were elected delegates to
the General Conference, to be held in Chicago, commencing
May 1, 1868. S. C. Thomas, Jos. Anderson, and E. S.
Grumly were elected reserve delegates.

19
226 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

t CHAPTER XI.
1868-9.

ue HE twenty-second session of the Wisconsin Confer-

ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church was held
at Racine, Wisconsin, beginning at nine o’clock, A. M.,
October 1, 1868, Bishop E. R. Ames presiding.” Samuel
Fallows was elected secretary, with H. Colman and E. D.
Farnham as assistants, and R. W. Bosworth, statistical
secretary.

The reader may see that the only change in the secre-
taries, for the three last preceding years, was the first as-
sistant, H. Colman, taking the place of W. P. Stowe.

Bishop Ames was well known to us, as this was his
fourth official visit to our Conference. It also proved to
be the last. He was elected to the episcopacy in 1852,
and honored the office for many years. His presidency in
Annual and General Conferences was marked with prompt-
ness and magisterial dignity. Englishmen were sometimes
reminded by his manner of judges in their own country.
Yet there was nothing unkind in his nature. If, at any
time, he seemed severe, it was because the case demanded
a sort of severity. He was occasionally sarcastic, but his
sarcasm was of the highest order, as the reader can see by
the following incident:

Many years ago, while he was presiding elder on In-
dianapolis District, a severe contest was going on in Indi-
ana in reference to the establishment of public schools.
His duty called him to attend a camp-meeting in a county
 

 

,
ANNALS OF 1868, 227

where there was great opposition to the proposed innova-
tion. There were two newspapers in the county, diverse
in politics generally, but vying with each other in oppos-
ing the public-school project. On the Sabbath there was
a crowd, and the editors of the two papers were present.
Elder Ames preached in the morning, and, in course of
his sermon, said: ‘‘ Before I came to this county I sup-
posed its inhabitants were a very ignorant class of people,
and iu favor of having their children grow up in igno-
rance. But my horse cast a shoe, and I stopped to have
it reset. While the smith was doing this I amused myself
in viewing the pictures pasted on the walls of his shop,
and saw one of a half-grown hog, under which was printed,
‘The Learned Pig.’ Then said I to myself: ‘The people
of Rush County are not opposed to education, after all.
The only question with them is, where to begin; and they
have decided to begin with the pigs!’ Well, all right;
the children will come in by and by.”

At another time an indiscreet person spoke in a Con-
ference love-feast, and mentioned some of his mean tricks
before he was converted, greatly to the disgust of all
present. As he sat down the bishop remarked, in his cool
way: ‘‘I trust that brother is so thoroughly ashamed of
those bad actions that he will never allude to them again in
public.”

Such sallies of real wit bespeak a masterly mind.

The subject of lay representation in the General Con-
ference, which had been agitated for years, took on a new
phase at this session. The Fifteenth Delegated General
Conference, held in Chicago in May of that year, adopted
a plan of representation with unexpected unanimity,
and submitted it to a vote of the whole Church for
action. This was quite different from the submission
years before, as it allowed all members—male and female—
over twenty-one years of age to vote. If sanctioned by
228 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

the ministry and laity, two lay delegates were to be
elected by an Electoral Conference, composed of laymen
within the bounds of each Annual Conference, to meet
once in four years, at the place of the Annual Conference
session next preceding each General Conference. But in
case an Annual Conference was entitled to but one delegate
by the basis of representation, then only one lay delegate
was allowed from its territory.

The Conference heartily acquiesced in the plan, and
pledged faithful co-operation in its execution.

The Conference still watched with careful eye the
great moral issues that entered into our National politics ;
for our country was still imperiled, as the following state-
ments will show.

Andrew Johnson, President since the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln, in April, 1865, had evidently sold him-
self to the South, and was in complete antagonism to the
plans of Congress to reconstruct and restore order in that
part of our country. This was a surprise to the North, as
during the war he was intensely loyal. On the day of his
inauguration as Vice-President he was so grossly intoxi-
cated that his maudlin utterances were a disgrace to the
Nation. It was suspected by some that the South cap-
tured him while under the influence of. liquor, as it appears
they carried the question of Secession by the same fiery
agency.

Be that as it may, it was soon evident that, though
slavery as a system was destroyed, its spirit was not dead.
Violence and fraud began to act their part in elections,
and the lives of loyal men, white as well as colored, were
in jeopardy. The Democratic party as such had no word
of protest to this anti-American policy. It was thus made
evident that the same moral issues enter into the present
political situation that were involved in the Rebellion.
Hence the Conference was shut up either to silence or to
ANNALS OF 1868, 229

partisanship. But as silence, when moral issues are pend-
ing, is either cowardice or disloyalty to conviction, it could
not remain silent. And as the “partisanship” was either
‘Christian ” or ‘‘ anti-Christian” in character, its duty was
plain ; it boldly denounced these outrages.

As usual, our benevolent and humanitarian interests
were duly cared for.

Our literary institutions were considered in a promising
condition. Our cherished university was still in need of a
greatly increased endowment. The following extract from
the report on Education shows its financial condition :

‘‘There is now in building, grounds, apparatus, cabi-
net, and library, property to the amount of about one
hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars ($135,000) ; pro-
ductive endowment funds, about twenty-eight thousand
dollars ($28,000) ; library endowment, ten thousand dol-
lars ($10,000); making a total of one hundred and
seventy-three thousand dollars ($173,000).”

It will be seen that only a small portion of this sum
afforded any help in meeting the current expenses of the
school. How teachers and trustees kept heart and strug-
gled on is marvelous.

The Evansville Seminary had been doing ordinarily
well; and the Biblical Institute at Evanston, Illinois, in
which the Conference felt a deep interest, in common with
several other Conferences, was constantly rising in im-
portance and usefulness.

A request came from parties in Whitewater to estab-
lish a ‘‘Seminary” there, accompanied with what seemed
to be a fair proposal to give financial aid to the under-
taking. The matter was referred to a large and judicious
committee of ministers and laymen to consider, and with
authority to act in a specified way.

The districts remained the same as the year before, but
there was considerable change in their incumbents.
230 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

S. C. Thomas and C. D. Pillsbury, who had been on
Milwaukee and Janesville Districts respectively, were ex-
changed.

P. B. Pease succeeded P. 8. Bennett on Appleton Dis-
trict, and T. C. Willson, Joseph Anderson on the Waupaca
District. W.G. Miller only, remained in his former field.

Seven were received on trial; 3 who had been for
a time in the local ranks were readmitted; 4 located;
8 transferred to other Conferences; 29 were placed upon
the list of superannuates; 3 were appointed to educational
work ; 5 to special agencies; 3 to foreign missionary fields;
6 new pastoral charges were formed; 9 new churches-were
built; and 13,010 ministers and members were reported.

In addition to these the old church at Oconomowoc was
succeeded by a far better one. The former was erected
in 1851, at a cost of $2,000, and would seat two hundred
and fifty persons. The cost of the latter was $6,000. It
is furnished with a lecture-room and class-rooms, in addi-
tion to the auditorium, which will seat about four hundred
and fifty.

1869,

This year our Conference was held the second time in
Appleton, and Bishop Scott appeared for the fifth time as
its president.

No bishop had visited us officially as often, and no one
was more heartily esteemed. His preaching abilities were
not of the highest order, but he was exceedingly well-
balanced—weak at no point. He had filled nearly every

_ office in the gift of the Church, and proved equal to the
demands of all. He seemed to have the meekness of Moses,
combined with the unimpeachable fidelity of Daniel. His
heart was full of sympathy for all, and especially for the
families of itinerant ministers. He died July 18, 1882,
beloved of all who knew him.
ANNALS OF 1869, 231

There is a little variation from former years in the way
the secretaries are designated. The record stands thus:

‘Rev. S. Fallows was re-elected secretary, and Rev.
W. P. Stowe was appointed assistant secretary ; Rev. E. D.
Farnham, recording secretary; and Rey. R. W. Bosworth,
statistical secretary.”

By order of the General Conference, fully indorsed by
our own, a vote of the laity, male and female, had been
taken in the month of June preceding, on the question of
lay representation in the General Conference. The
result in our bounds, as reported at this session, was as
follows :

 

Whole number of votes cast, oe 3,189
For lay delegation, ........ + + 2,805
Against lay delegation, .. ete Bo Vg BBE

Majority for lay delegation, .. . .. 2,421

This vote did not indicate a great amount of interest
in the matter pro or con.

The vote of the Conference was more general, and the
proportionate majority for the measure about three times
as large. It was 122 for, and 4 against, lay delegation.
The Committee on the proposed Seminary at Whitewater
appointed the year before, reported adversely, and the
matter was dropped. Since then the State has established
a normal school there. But this fact does not prove that
the committee or the Conference acted unwisely. We had
already on our hands two literary institutions, and both
were struggling for continued existence. So, while we
highly appreciated the generous offer made by the peo-
ple of that fine city, we did not deem it wise to accept
it. The new benevolent enterprises—the Church Exten-
sion, Freedmen’s Aid, and Ministerial Educational Soci-
cieties—were becoming better understood, and receiving
more attention and support from year to year. And
232 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

though some who had acquainted themselves very thor-
oughly with them, thought the Church far too slow
in appreciating their claims, she was by no means indif-
ferent, and probably moved as rapidly as was reasonable
to expect. It takes time to introduce new customs, es-
pecially so if they call for money. Still, when our people
see a worthy cause, they are not disposed to close their
ears to its cry for help. To give the reader a bird’s-eye
view of the Church Extension Society, a condensed account
of it is here presented.

The Society was formed by direction of the General
Conference of 1864, then in session in Philadelphia, and
incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania on the
thirteenth day of the following March. Its object was to
aid feeble Churches to build houses of worship. This it
proposed to do in two ways: First, by direct donation,
on express condition that the edifice should be completed
and be free from debt after applying the donation. Sec-
ondly, by loans to such Churches, for a reasonable time,
with or without interest, at the discretion of a competent
‘Board of Managers,” whose head-quarters are in Phila-
delphia. Each Annual Conference also was to appoint a
board to aid in making judicious appropriations.

All applications for aid must be made through this
last-named board to the parent board, indorsed by the
pastor of the Church and presiding elder of the district in
which it is located.

In this way an injudicious appropriation is very im-
probable.

The Society is mainly supplied with funds from public
collections, to be taken in all the Churches every year; from
private donations and bequests; it also receives money
from parties who need the income of it during their lives,
or for a specified time, and places it, at moderate interest,
where it will help a poor Church, and benefit them as well.
ANNALS OF 1869. 233

Donations made to this fund are carefully looked after,
and a report made to the donors of the good work accom-
plished thereby.

The report of the Committee on Temperance this year
was written by Geo. C. Haddock, who was assassinated by
order of Gambrinus, in Sioux City, August 2, 1884.
The following extract will show that he, and others who
are in earnest for ‘practical temperance work,” foresaw
what must soon be done:

‘*Inasmuch as the present political organizations in our
State persistently ignore this great question, . . . we see
no other way left open to us than to labor for the speedy
formation of a political organization that shall have for its
object the securing of prohibitory legislation, and that
will present pure, virtuous temperance men for the suf-
frages of the people.”

In the general plan of the work there was but little change.

The Norwegian appointments within our Conference
limits, that were transferred to the West Wisconsin Con-
ference in 1864, were this year re-transferred, and formed
into a district, with A. Haagersen as presiding elder.

H. S. White succeeded W. G. Miller on Fond du Lac
District; the appointees to the others were the same as
the year before.

Our number in the ministerial ranks had been gradu-
ally increasing since the war. This year 9 were received
on trial and 2 readmitted; but we lost 2 by withdrawal, 4
by transfer, 1 by location, and 1 by death.

Of some of these it is proper to add a few words.

A. B. Randall, one of the two who this year withdrew
from the Church, had been connected with the Conference
since 1846. He was a man of good ability, and had
done good service in different fields. But he eventually
found himself out of harmony with our doctrines and
work, in consequence of his affinity for spiritism.
234 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Cyrus Scammon came to us, in 1857, from Maine,
where he had been for some time in the itinerant ministry,
and, after filling several stations with fair success, be-
came a believer in Swedenborgianism, and peacefully with-
drew from the Church.

T. O. HotiistEr, a mighty man of God and a most
indefatigable laborer, had passed to his inheritance be-
yond the flood. For about seventeen years he was one of
our most reliable, earnest, and successful ministers, both in
pastoral and district work. He had an iron constitution,
yet he overtaxed his energies, and died prematurely,
March 18, 1869.

The reports to the Conference showed an increase of
eight churches and five parsonages, with an increased
valuation of $41,455. Perhaps the most successful of the
eight churches are those in Oshkosh and Bay View.

Occasional services were held on the south side of the
river, in Oshkosh, in the Conference year 1867-8. At
the Conference of .1868 the place was made a pastoral
charge, to which C. W. Brewer was appointed. A society
was organized’ of thirty-five members. They entered
promptly upon the erection of a church edifice, and ded-
icated the basement on the 6th of December following.
The building was finished in 1872, during the pastorate
of J. Anderson. Much embarrassment was experienced
in its completion, but the energy and push of the pastor
were equal to the emergency. They have since erected
a good parsonage. The present valuation of the entire
property is $8,500.

Bay View may be noticed in another place.
ANNALS OF 1870, 235

CHAPTER XII.
1870-1.

HE Conference of 1870 was held in Court Street

Church, Janesville, commencing October 12th. This -
was a pastoral charge of recent origin. Its first appear-
ance in the Minutes was in 1869. Two sessions of the
Conference had been held in the ‘‘ First Church,” in 1854
and 1860.

We were pleased to greet Bishop Davis W. Clark for
the second time as president.

According to the record, ‘‘ Rev. Samuel Fallows was
re-elected secretary, and W. P. Stowe, W. W. Case, E. D.
Farnham and §. Smith were appointed assistant sec-
retaries.”

There seems but little to record this year, unless we
look into the work of individual Churches. But as this
would require too much space, the reader must accept a
brief sketch.

The work is growing moderately. Nine were received
on trial, five were transferred to us from other Confer-
ences, and two were received from other denominations.
Per contra, two located, and seven were tranferred to other
Conferences, leaving a net gain in our ministerial force
of only seven.

Five new names of pastoral charges appear; but Clem-
ensville and Menominee Falls being merely changes of
names, there were really but three. At the latter place

_H. W. Frink formed a class in 1839, while in charge of
236 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Watertown Mission; but Samuel Pillsbury, in charge of
Aztalan Circuit, visited the place and preached there
in 1837,

The districts and their incumbents were the same as
last year. We were evidently looking after various in-
terests, as four were appointed to the Bible agency, two to
the Seaman’s Friend work, three to the educational field,
and four to foreign missions.

One of our number, Rev. S. Fallows, had been hon-
ored with an election to the State Superintendency of
Public Instruction, and the Conference unanimously re-
quested the bishop to appoint him thereto. A favorable
recognition of public schools by the Conference was noted
in the annals of 1865.

This year the Conference appointed a Committee on the
‘* Relation of the Church to Common Schools.” Dr. G. M.
Steele, president of our university, was chairman. Their
entire report, heartily adopted by the Conference, is
worthy a place in these pages; but a brief extract must
suffice :

‘The common-school system is the offspring of the
religion of the Bible. The opponents of a real, and the
advocates of an emasculated or spurious Christianity, make
much boast of their zeal for popular education ; but it re-
mains historically demonstrable that nowhere - except
among Evangelical Protestants has a plan of instruction,
embracing all the children of the community, ever been
adopted. It is true that even in false religions, in propor-
tion as they have approximated the true, there has been
an influence favorable to education; and out of these va-
rious religions have come all the successful systems of
mental training the world has ever seen. Atheism and ir-
religion have never devised any permanent scheme with
this object in view.”

Very different is the tone of this from the violent as-
ANNALS OF 1870, 237

sault of the Roman Catholic priesthood upon our common
school system, one of the pillars of our National fabric.

Our general educational interests appeared to be in a
prosperous condition, though this year Evansville Semi-
nary disappears from our records.

Eight new church edifices were reported—in one of
which the Conference held its session. Its estimated value
was $35,000. A part of this value is in two stores in the
first story. Over these is a fine auditorium, 50 by 75 feet,
that will seat 600 persons; also a Sunday-school room, 40
by 50 feet; two class-rooms, 20 by 20 feet, and a good hall
for various religious and humanitarian purposes. It is a
massive brick edifice, in good architectural taste, and seems
well located (on the corner of Court and Main Streets) for
a “ People’s Church.”

A beautiful brick church had been erected at Wauwatosa
also. This place had been the head of a circuit for twenty-
two years; and although three church edifices had been
built within its boundaries this growing village had re-
mained destitute of one till now.

The enterprise was undertaken with some misgivings as
to success; but enconraged by the zeal and liberality of
the pastor—J. P. Roe, to whom much credit is due—the
small band worked with great harmony and pushed it to
completion. The edifice is 65 by 36, feet with addition in
the rear of 24 by 30 feet. The auditorium will seat 325
persons. Its valuation in 1889 was $10,000, and a fine
brick parsonage near, erected about ten years after the
church edifice, is valued at $4,000. They are models of
neatness and convenience.

Statistics do not always indicate the exact progress of
religious work. Still they are an important factor in the
problem. By these we must judge of the work of this
year. The reports show an increase of communicants in
the Church of 519; of church edifices, 6; of parsonages, 3 ;
238 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

with an increased aggregate value of $205,530. Also
an increase of 54 Sunday-schools and 1,412 scholars. But
in the general benevolences there was a decrease.

1871.

For the third time Milwaukee was this year favored
with the session of our Conference, and for the third time
it was favored with Bishop Simpson as president, who
called it to order in Summerfield Church at nine o'clock
A. M., October 11, 1871. As a presiding officer his ability
did not rise above that of some of his colleagues in the
episcopacy. But as a preacher he had a world-wide repu-
tation, and for occasional sermons especially, he was doubt-
less the ‘‘ Prince of the American pulpit.” Gentle, court-
eous, kind, he was a favorite with all. This was his
last official visit to our Conference. He continued to do
grand service to the Church until June 18, 1884, when
he joined the long list of victors through the blood of the
Lamb beyond the conflicts of time.

As to the other Conference officers the record says:

“S. Fallows was elected secretary; E. D. Farnham,
recording secretary; S. Smith, statistical secretary ; and
W. P. Stowe and W. W. Case, assistant secretaries.”
Afterwards the last named was excused from acting.

The general plan of the work was about the same as
during the two previous years. The districts were the
same, and their incumbents the same.

There was an increase of but three pastoral charges.
The reader will see the reason for a less increase in this
respect than in former years, if he will note that the coun-
try has been pretty well covered by our work for some
time, and hence new charges are formed more by division
of old, than by acquisition of new territory.

But four were this year received on trial. Two were
received by transfer, and one from another branch of the
ANNALS OF 1871, 239

Methodist Church. But as three were transferred to other
Conferences, and three removed by death, the addition to
the ministerial force was very small.

The action of the Conference in regard to the various
lines of benevolence and moral reform was similar to that
of former years. The following extract from the report
on Temperance, written probably by G. C. Haddock, will
show the unwavering firmness of the body:

“ We can not but regard it as wicked and grossly in-
consistent for men professing to be Christian and temper-
ance men to vote for individuals who are in sympathy
with the liquor-interest. In the present status of political
affairs there is no question before the people that can at
all compare with the suppression of the liquor-traffic, with
all its attendant evils; and when we are brought to a
point where loyalty to the party is treason to temperance
and morality, there can be no doubt as to the course
which temperance men ought to take. They must be
true to their highest moral convictions, whatever may be-
come of parties or politics.”

It would be very assuring of speedy victory over the
liquor-power if all ‘‘ professing to be Christian and tem-
perance men” stood firmly on this platform.

A spirited discussion occurred in connection with the
report on ‘“ Popular Amusements.” In the preamble were
urged what seems to the writer very sensible reasons why
Christian people should refrain from certain ones, even if
in themselves they are not vicious, such as dancing, theater-
going, card-playing, and the like. Then came a supposed
question from the laity: ‘‘How about croquet? If you
ministers play this for amusement, and become all ab-
sorbed in it, as some of you seem to, may not we play
at other games for the same purpose?” To this it was
replied: ‘‘Some of us play at croquet for mental relaxa-
tion. If we have reason to believe that many of our,
240 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

people, good and true, see in this the appearance of evil,
we feel bound by Scripture authority to desist.” This
part of the report elicited the discussion referred to.

The report closed with a resolution, ‘‘ that such amuse-
ments as dancing, playing at cards, circus and theater-
going, are inconsistent with Christian character ;” and all
was adopted.

The long struggle for the admission of laymen to the
General Conference had culminated in the triumph of the
proposed measure. And as the Sixteenth Delegated Gen-
eral Conference was to be held in the May following, an
electoral Conference was held on Friday afternoon, Octo-
ber 13, 1871, to elect lay delegates thereto. Each pas-
toral charge was entitled to one delegate to this body,
and this body was authorized to elect two representatives
to the General Conference. Eighty-five responded to the
roll-call. Edwin Hyde was elected president, Byron Kings-
bury, vice-president; George F. Lane, secretary. R. P.
Elmore, of Milwaukee, and Hon. W. P. Lyon, of the
Supreme Court of Wisconsin, were elected delegates to the
General Conference; and Professor H. A. Jones, of the
Lawrence University, and Byron Kingsbury, of Ripon,
reserve delegates.

This, be it remembered, was the first gathering of the
kind within our Conference territory, and they expressed
their strong attachment to the Church of their choice,
which, under God, had done so much for the world. Just
the Sabbath previous to the session of these Conferences—
viz., October 8, 1871—the great fires occurred which re-
duced to ashes the best part of Chicago, utterly annihilated
Peshtigo, in Northern Wisconsin, and nearly devastated a
large region in that part of our State. Both Conferences ex-
pressed their warm sympathy for the sufferers, and planned
for substantial aid. This was seemly and a natural result
ANNALS OF 1871. 241

of Christianity—a striking contrast to the indifference of
the heathen world in like cirenmstances.

The visible fruit of the year’s work was, on the whole,
encouraging. The reports show an increase of 9 churches
and 7 parsonages, with an increase in the valuation of
church property of $22,350. Also, an increase of 22
Sunday-schools and 983 scholars, a large increase of the
benevolences, and a total increase of the ministry and laity
of 1,162.

The ministerial delegates to the General Conference
were G. M. Steele, P. B. Pease, H. Bannister, C. D.
Pillsbury, W. G. Miller. Reserves—S. Fallows, W. H.
Sampson, W. P. Stowe.

Three preachers had died, and the wives of four others.

Rev. Isaac SEARLS, who entered the itinerancy in the
Rock River Conference in 1841, but did not become iden-
tified with the work in Wisconsin till -1847, closed his
earthly life, December 8, 1870, in Brandon, to which place
he was appointed at the previous Conference. He was a
safe, reliable man, had done good work as pastor and as
presiding elder, and commanded universal respect. His
robust constitution seemed to promise more years; but by
such cases we are often reminded that ‘‘ the battle is not
to the strong.” The closing scene with him was glorious.
He said: ‘‘ Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine. He saves to the
uttermost. He saves me to the uttermost. I am standing
on the Rock, on the Rock!”

Tuomas Hueus was received on trial in our Confer-
ence in 1863, did good work among his Welsh countrymen
for a few years, then passed to the superannuate list, and
died, a few weeks before the present Conference, in Utica,
New York.

R. H. STincHFIELD came to us in 1864, by transfer
from the Maine Conference, and died suddenly on his way

20
242 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

to an evening Church service, December 8, 1870. He was
reputed as a very good man, but did only a little service in
our Conference.

Mes. Exiza Movutturop, wife of Rev. L. F. Moulthrop,
was numbered among the dead at some time during the
past year; but the writer has not been able to learn just
when. She was highly esteemed by those who knew her.

Mrs. Mary S. Jonzs, after a brief sojourn in a re-
ligious life and in the itinerancy with her husband, Rev.
H. H. Jones, ‘‘died in great peace,” in Lowell, Novem-
ber 11, 1870.

Mrs. SusaAnNAH TEAL died, after a brief illness, Jan-
uary 27, 1871. Her husband, Rev. W. Teal, ‘‘ever found
her a faithful wife, calm and trusting; a safe counselor, a
devoted mother; esteemed and loved by all.”

Mrs. Rutu L. Wooprvrr is the last of the long mor-
tuary list for this year. She died September 3, 1871. For
eight years she worked faithfully with her husband, Rev.
W. Woodruff, in the itinerancy, and calmly met her
last foe.
ANNALS OF 1872. 243

CHAPTER XIII.
1872-3.

N the 9th of October, 1872, the Wisconsin Conference
QO convened in Division Street Church, Fond du Lac,
for its annual session.

Twenty years before, we were cordially greeted by the
people of this rising city, and held our fifth session there
in a much smaller building—the first Methodist church
edifice erected in the place. Now we met for our twenty-
sixth session—the ecclesiastical year having outstripped the
solar, in the ratio of twenty to nineteen. The reader will
find the key to this problem in the annals of 1859.

Once in the interim the Conference had been enter-
tained in that City of Fountains, so this was its third
session there.

The present church edifice was originally built to
propagate a sort of religious latitudinarianism, sometimes
called ‘‘ Liberal Christianity ”—liberal, indeed, to almost
everything but real Christianity. The building is 50x104
feet. Our people purchased it, and refitted it by adding
a basement above ground, containing Sunday-school and
class-rooms, all well finished, at a cost of $23,000. The
audience-room seats 650, and the orchestra 60. It is now
called Division Street Church. About three years after
this Conference session, it was graced with a three-thousand-
dollar organ.

Bishop Gilbert Haven presided over our deliberations
for the first and last time. He was elected to the episco-
244 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

pacy in the month of May, next preceding, and thus was
young in the office. Yet his administration was able and
satisfactory. In many respects he was a very remarkable
man. As a preacher he may not have excelled. As a
writer he did. In versatility, scope, and strength of
thought, elegance, and even fascination of style, he had
few equals. He was a man of strong convictions, and as
fearless as John Knox in proclaiming them. For many
years he was one of the foremost in the Nation in cham-
pioning the rights of the colored race. It is said that as
the time for the election of bishops approached in the
General Conference, these people held prayer-meetings
nightly, and prayed for the election of ‘‘ Massa Haven.”
He chose Atlanta, Georgia, as his episcopal residence, and
commanded the respect of all fair-thinking people there,
as elsewhere, notwithstanding occasional insults offered by
the fire-eaters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
On the third day of January, 1880, he passed very tri-
umphantly to his inheritance on high.

For the ninth successive year S. Fallows was elected
secretary of the Conference—the longest term any one has
served us in that capacity. He, being authorized, ap-
pointed W. P. Stowe, assistant; E. D. Farnham, record-
ing secretary; and 8S. Smith and G. S. Hubbs, statistical
secretaries.

Soon after the organization of the body it was ordered
«that all the proceedings of the Conference be printed in
full in the Minutes, and that such printed Minutes, suita-
bly bound, shall be sent up to the General Conference as
the journal of this Conference.”

This new departure was a very sensible one, and if all
Annual Conferences would adopt the same, they + would
confer a great favor on the General Conference committee
that have to examine and report on all their journals
during the preceding quadrenuium.
ANNALS OF 1872. ~ 245

Among the first things that impressed us in this annual
gathering was the fact that five of our ministers, and the
wife of another, had passed to their inheritance on the
other shore since we last met. Hence, it was fittingly
arranged to hold ‘suitable memorial services.” These
took place on the fourth day of the session, at which time
their memoirs were presented, and the ‘‘ burial service
read in a most solemn manner.”

Some of us had observed that the omission of prayer
at the close of our public services was becoming more fre-
quent; so the matter was brought before the Conterence,
and with much emphasis it was voted that at such times
‘‘ prayer should seldom, if ever, be omitted.” Probably
this action produced good results. Nothing seems more
appropriate than to follow the service of preaching the
word, and singing the songs of Zion, with an earnest
prayer for the divine blessing upon the sacred service.
Better leave off five minutes of the most interesting ser-
mon, if need be, than to omit this. It is said that the
closing prayers of the great Doctor Bunting contributed
largely to the effectiveness of his ministry.

About this time the observance of Children’s-day was
provided for, and the Conference heartily commended it to
our people.

The report on Education had some features of special
interest. Of course the success of our cherished university
was, as ever, an important object of solicitude. J. P.
Roe had been agent during the year just closed, and had
succeeded well, having obtained in cash and in pledges
about thirty thousand dollars for the endowment fund. A
gracious revival influence also had pervaded the institu-
tion, and a considerable number of the students had been
converted.

Reference has been made to the great fire in Chicago.
By that fire the Garrett Biblical Institute—to which our
246 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Conference holds a close relation—lost from its endowment
fund about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in-
vested in buildings in that ill-fated city. But, with great
sacrifice on the part of teachers, this ‘‘School of the
Prophets” continued. Meanwhile, by the generous as-
sistance of friends in other parts of our great country,
its heavy loss was partially repaired, and it was moving
on with encouraging success. Four of its last graduates
had started for mission-work in India. The Scandinavian
brethren were moving vigorously to establish a depart-
ment in the Institute for the education of their young
ministers.

The Conference maintained its former position relative
to humanitarian and reformatory agencies. A Jaw known
as the ‘‘Graham Act,” had been enacted by our State
Legislature, intended, probably, to curtail intemperance
more than its predecessor. Though not satisfactory to us,
we pledged ourselves to its enforcement till we could ob-
tain something better. The Conference also gave a scath-
ing rebuke to those civil officers who persistently neglect
to enforce the laws according to their sworn obligations.

The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society was formally
indorsed by the last General Conference, and as heartily
approved by ours, at this session, as an agency to accom-
plish a work that no other can.

The Scandinavian work among us had assumed consid-
erable proportions. From a small beginning in 1850,
two presiding elders’ districts had been developed among
the nationalities comprehended in that name. One of
these was connected with the Minnesota Conference, the
other with the Wisconsin. Of the pastoral charges be-
longing to the latter, one was in Chicago and one in Ey-
anston, in the State of Illinois.

Meanwhile, also, a Danish-Norwegian Department in
the Northwestern University had been established, with.
ANNALS OF 1872. 247

great promise of usefulness. Karl Schou was the teacher
therein.

Just before the hour of service, one Sabbath morning
in March, 1872, our church edifice in Appleton was de-
stroyed by fire. Though it was a sad sight to see a place
rendered dear by so many hallowed associations thus con-
sumed, yet perhaps it was a ‘‘ blessing in disguise.” The
growing congregation needed a larger place of worship,
and, however it might have been but for this fire, all felt
the necessity of the immediate erection of a new church.
That morning the people met in the college chapel for
service, which continued to be their place of worship for
several months. The trustees moved promptly, and soon
the present beautiful edifice was commenced, the corner-
stone of which was laid on the eighth day of October fol-
lowing, with appropriate religious services, conducted by
Bishop Gilbert Haven. This church will receive further
notice hereafter.

Thirteen came to us by transfer and readmission; 3
located; 1 withdrew, and 8 were transferred to other Con-
ferences. Some of the latter returned to us.

Two deserve special notice—A. H. Walter and J.
Howd. The former came to us, by transfer, from North
Ohio Conference, in 1851. On the division of Conference
in 1856, he fell into the West Wisconsin Conference, but
in 1865 was transferred to ours, and stationed at Green
Bay. He did good work in both Conferences, and died
in Kansas, a few months since, after much and prolonged
suffering. The latter was received on trial in 1854, and
labored successfully in various fields till 1864, when he
was appointed missionary to the Oneida Indians. He re-
mained there till this year, and did a grand work. His
transfer was to Central New York Conference, in which
he was very successful, until his health failed. In the
winter of 1885 he returned to Wisconsin, and reluctantly
248 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

(on account of feeble health) again took charge of Oneida
Mission, but was compelled to desist entirely from work
after a little over two years.

There was no change in the number or names of the
districts ; but in the appointees there were several changes,
though only two—C. D. Pillsbury and 8. C. Thomas—
retired from the presiding eldership.

To Milwaukee, Janesville, Appleton, and Waupaca
Districts were assigned, respectively, W. P. Stowe, P. B.
Pease, T. C. Willson, and A. J. Mead. The others re-
mained.

Though this can not be regarded as the most successful
year of our history, the reader will see by the appropriate
appendices that considerable was done all along the lines
of Christian activity.

Five preachers were called to their reward during the
year.

AuRoRA CALENDER was born, October 23, 1778; con-
verted in 1818; joined the Pittsburg Conference in 1828 ;
came West in 1859, after which time he labored in the
Wisconsin and West Wisconsin Conferences until 1863,
when he was returned superannuated. While in our Con-
ference he was at one time presiding elder of the Norwe-
gian District, and in the West Wisconsin Conference he
was once in charge of Mineral Point District. Most of
the time he was in the pastorate. He was a true man,
faithful in his work, and died of typhoid fever, October
23, 1871, in Pinckneyville, Ilinois.

TxHos. Wixcox died of pneumonia, near Elkhorn, April
19, 1872, aged sixty-one years. He commenced his min-
istry in 1838, in Oneida Conference, New York. In
1856 he was transferred to ours, and did effective work
till 1862, when he retired from the active ranks. He
lived well and died well, saying to his pastor, about an
ANNALS OF 1878. 249

hour before his death, be was learning by experience
“the triumph of faith.”

Joun Hity was a native of Ireland, born in Belfast,
January 14, 1834. In 1855 he joined the North Indiana
Conference. In 1868 he was transferred to ours, and ap-
pointed to Cotton Street Church, Fond du Lac. His sub-
sequent appointments. were Summerfield, Milwaukee, and
Bay View. In this latter place he finished his work.
On the 30th of April, 1872, he was thrown from a wagon
and received an injury that terminated fatally in about
twenty hours.

E. W. Krrxuam, a native of Wales, came to us by
transfer from the Ohio Conference, in 1866, and was sta-
tioned successively at Whitewater and Court Street, Janes-
ville. In this latter place his health failed. His mind
also seemed unbalanced. He died in Minneapolis, Minne-
sota, May 2, 1872.

Revsen B. Curtiss died May 21, 1872, in Appleton,
where he had resided for some time after he retired from
the active ministry. He entered the itinerant ministry in
Maine, in 1845. In 1862 he came to us, and preached
about five years in Janesville and Delavan respectively.
He had evidently been a strong man, but his work was
mostly done before he came West. Indeed, he ought to
have retired from labor much sooner than he did, but
his interest in the cause impelled him on. His last at-
tempt to preach was in Appleton, in the month of No-
vember, 1871, from Revelation vii, 14. He doubtless
knows more now of that blood-washed company than he
did then.

1873.

The General Conference held in Brooklyn, New York,
in May, 1872, elected eight bishops—the largest addition
to our episcopacy ever made at one time. One of these

was S. M. Merrill. At the General Conference of 1868
Zh
250 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

he had distinguished himself as the leader of opposition to
the introduction of lay delegates to the highest ecclesias-
tical body in our Church until the question was submitted
to, and sanctioned by, the Annual Conferences. The plan
he advocated was adopted, and resulted as already stated.
He was elected editor of the Western Christian Advocate,
published in Cincinnati. There he distinguished himself
as an able writer and strong defender of evangelical Chris-
tianity, as embodied in the doctrines and polity of our
Church. It was therefore very natural for the General
Conference to regard him as a proper man for a bishop.
On the 15th of October, 1873, he appeared as the presi-
dent of our Conference, in the city of Whitewater, where
we had previously held one session.

Henry Colman was elected secretary ; A. Moore, A. A.
Hoskins, and E. B. Cummings, assistants; S. Smith,
statistical secretary; and M. V. B. Bristol, assistant.

Our people in Whitewater had just erected a fine
church edifice at a cost of about twenty-five thousand dol-
lars. But as it was not quite ready for occupancy, the
Congregationalists kindly proffered the use of theirs, and
most of the sessions were held there, for which the Con-
ference made grateful acknowledgment. Much credit is due
the pastor, Rev. C. N. Stowers, for pushing the enterprise
so near to completion. But already an embarrassing debt
had been incurred, so the preachers had an opportunity to
render material aid, which they cheerfully improved.

For several months before the Conference began, there
was considerable excitement over reported deals in silver-
mining stock in the far West. Several had been engaged
in them. All but one, however, showed, to the satisfac-
tion of the Conference, that their transactions were
honorable. The exception was H. 8S. White, who was
put on trial, and suspended for one year from the func-
tions of the ministry. This is not the place to pass judg-
ANNALS OF 1878, 251

ment upon the guilt or innocence of the accused. That
was done by a properly constituted tribunal. But it is
proper to say that in a state of high excitement it is dif fi-
cult to give palliating circumstances due weight. Such
may have been the case in this instance.

With the exception of this unpleasant matter, this
session was quite uneventful.

The plan of the work was the same as the preceding
year, except that G. C. Haddock succeeded H.S. White as
presiding elder on Fond du Lac District.

We see very little change for the last two or three
years, either in the membership or in the general work of
the Churches within our bounds.

The Conference maintained its usual firm stand in
regard to the great reforms of the day.

The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society was a newly
organized agency for conveying the blessings of ihe gospel
to heathen women. Though the ‘good tidings of great
joy” were designed for ‘‘all people,” yet in parts of the
earth, particularly in India, women were as completely
shut in from these tidings as if surrounded with walls of
adamant as high and impregnable as those of Babylon.
The society above named had been in operation in some
parts of our country long enough to prove its claim to
recognition by the Churches as an important auxiliary to
our parent Missionary Society. Within our territory it
had been operating only during the preceding year, yet its
report of $2,128 evinced a healthy organism, and gave an
earnest of the success that has so far attended it.

Two transfers came to us from another Conference, and
ten were received on trial.

Two located—A. P. Allen and C. E. Goldthorp. The
former had resided in Colorado for some time, engaged in
secular business. He died, a few years since, at an ad-
vanced age. The latter soon returned to the Conference
252 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and is making a good record as an efficient minister of the
gospel.

THomas Orpison had died. He entered our Confer-
ence in 1851, having been a Wesleyan Methodist in Ire-
land for several years. With the exception of a temporary
location, he continued in the effective ranks till the Con-
ference of 1872, when he was placed on the list of super-
numeraries. The Conference closed on the 14th of
October, and on the 10th of the next month he was called
to his reward, with very little premonition of his approach-
ing end. He was the first to be buried in the beautiful
‘* Riverside Cemetery,” in Appleton.

The reports show a decrease in the aggregate number
of ministers, members, and probationers, of forty-three ;
but there was a large increase in the benevolences, and an
addition of eleven Churches and three parsonages, with an
increased valuation of $46,322.

A. C. Manwell, who came to us in 1857, by transfer
from an Eastern Conference, left us this year by transfer
to the Upper Iowa Conference, where he is doing good
work as he did with us.

E. H. Bronson was transferred to the Minnesota, and
G. A. England to Colorado Conference. For ten years
the latter had been with us, and had rendered valuable
service. Though of a frail constitution, he continued to
work on in different lines for several years after his transfer.

Mrs. Lypra A. SHEPHERD died October 14, 1873, just
the day before our Conference assembled. She is repre-
sented as a noble Christian woman, faithfully working
with her husband, Rev. 8. V. R. Shepherd, for twenty
years in his ministry. Her last hour is described thus:
‘* Being full of confidence in Christ her Savior, she passed
away, while a radiance overspread her face as if a view of
the excellent glory was given to her as she crossed the
river.” Thus she closed her life, loved and esteemed by all.
ANNALS OF 1874, 253

CHAPTER XIV.
1874-5.

HE twenty-eighth session of our Conference was held

in Oshkosh, commencing October 7, 1874, Bishop

R. S. Foster presiding. Ten years before, we had met in
the same growing city, under the presidency of Bishop Scott.

Henry Colman was elected secretary, with 8. Halsey
and A. A. Hoskins, assistants. S. Smith, L. N. Wheeler,
and G. W. Wells were the statistical secretaries.

Soon after the close of the Civil War, emigration began
to seriously affect our Churches all through the State.
During the war a large draft was made upon them, which
greatly retarded progress. Many who returned from the
bloody fields had become impressed with the possibilities of
the South; hence an attraction, hitherto feeble, became
quite potent. Meanwhile the cheap and fertile plains of
the West continued to draw the attention of all classes,
especially of honest laborers. In addition to these causes,
and operating with them in the same direction, was a gen-
eral financial crash, which began to be severely felt about
this time. Many heavy failures occurred in business circles ;
manufacturing institutions suspended or curtailed operations
all through the land. Thus thousands were thrown out of
employment, and compelled to seek homes in other places.
Of course either the South or the West was their only resort.
And as our Church was largely represented in this class, it
suffered severely from these causes.

True, there was an increasingly -large immigration to
our State, but the incomers were of many nationalities, few
254 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

of whom were accessible by our agencies. It is, therefore,
not strange that we made little advance during these years.

Since our last session five had been transferred to other
Conferences. Two of these—viz., C.G. Lathrop and Samuel
Fallows—deserve a more extended notice than can well be
given in these pages. ;

The former had been, since 1842, one of our most faithful
and reliable workers. He was a man of strong native powers,
considerable mental culture, and good preaching ability.
No interest committed to his care suffered from neglect.
If occasionally he was too straight, as some thought, it was
always evident that his conviction of right was the motive
power. Since his transfer he has been doing effective work
in the Nebraska Conference.

The latter, Dr. 8. Fallows, came to us by transfer in
1861, and was stationed successively at Oshkosh, Apple-
ton, Summerfield, and Grand Avenue—the last two charges
being in Milwaukee. In all of these places he greatly en-
deared himself to the people, and took high rank both as
a man of fine culture and asan ‘‘able minister of the New
Testament.” While in his last pastorate, in 1871, he was
appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and
served in that important work, by elections, until 1874,
when, having been elected to the presidency of the Illi-
nois Wesleyan University, he was transfered to the Illinois
Conference. In May, 1875, he united with the Reformed
Episcopal Church, and became rector of St. Paul’s Church
of that denomination in Chicago. On the 15th of July,
1876, he was elected a bishop in that newly formed body, in
which office he has continued to increase in popularity and
usefulness to the present tite.

Jas. Lavelle also had been connected with the Confer-
ence for several years. He was received on trial in 1860,
had succeeded fairly well, and was transferred to the New
Jersey Conference.
ANNALS OF 1874. 255

T. E. Webb came to us by transfer at the last Confer-
ence, and in the interim had secured a transfer to the
Northwest Indiana Conference.

O. P. Peterson had been in the Norwegian work since
1869, and was transferred to the New York East Conference.

In the annals of last year, mention was made of the
suspension of H. S. White. At this session a long com-
munication was received from him, severely criticising the
action of the Conference in his case. He was allowed to
locate, but was justly rebuked by the adoption of the
following resolution :

“ Resolved, That the communication received from Rev.
H. S. White, and read before the Conference, is untrue
in some of its statements, unjust in its insinuations, and of
such a character as not to be allowed to pass without dis-
approval.” :

On the Sabbath, Bishop Foster preached a very able
sermon from Acts x, 48. He presented a strong, logical,
and convincing chain of argument showing that ‘‘ Jesus
was the Christ.” The next day the Conference requested
its publication.

The bishop is a remarkable man. Before he was thirty
years of age he had a newspaper controversy with Dr.
Rice, an Old-school Presbyterian Doctor of Divinity, of
Cincinnati, in which city he also was a pastor. His articles
were afterwards embodied in a book entitled, ‘‘ Objections
to Calvinism.” It is the most complete refutation of Old-
school Calvinism known to the writer. When elected to
the episcopacy in 1872, he was a professor in Drew Theo-
logical Seminary. But with all his ability, there was some-
thing for him to learn in his new office, as the following
incident will show: In his address, just before reading the
appointments, he told us that he had been for several days
in a focus, at which all possible rays of light had coucen-
trated, as to matters pertaining to the appointments. But
256 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

only a few minutes after adjournment “ rays of light,” en-
tirely unanticipated, began to pour upon him, and he felt
compelled to change some of the appointments.

The reports of the usual committees did not contain
anything specially new. They showed a firm adherence to
principles and work already described in these pages. There
was one, however, on a subject not before included in our
list. It was on ‘‘ Fraternal Relations.” It was designed
to promote harmony between different denominations,
especially in places where there seems to be a call for but
one. Our Conference was the first to appoint a fraternal
delegate, and invite other religious bodies to do the same.
It was also the first to move in this matter.

It is a little remarkable that none left us by transfer
at this session, though five, as already stated, had thus
been removed since our previous session.

Six came to us by readmission and transfer, and six-
teen were received on trial.

The effective ministerial force was 155, of which three
were missionaries to Denmark, and fourteen to Norway.

There was no change in the districts, and but two
changes in their incumbents—A. J. Mead followed C. G.
Haddock on Fond du Lac District, and Geo. Fellows, Mr.
Mead on Waupaca District.

The year was not one of marked success. Only three
new church edifices were reported, and these of small
dimensions. Our Church property at Neenah, however,
was greatly improved by the sale of a small edifice and
the purchase of a much larger one. This has been im-
proved from time to time, and is now a very commodious
house of worship. It will seat three hundred to four hun-
dred people, and is valued at $6,000. The parsonage
there is valued at $1,500, and we have a living, active
membership.
ANNALS OF 1875, 257

1875.

This year, for the third time, Racine was favored with
our Conference session, commencing on the thirteenth day
of October. ‘‘Favored?” Yes. The presence of a hun-
dred and fifty ministers in any place for a week, reporting
their work and planning for another year’s campaign,
ought to be a benediction; and from the way our people
welcume us the second, third, or fourth time, we have rea-
son to suppose they so regard it. At this Conference
Bishop I. W. Wiley presided. Like the three that next
preceded him, he was elected to the episcopacy in 1872.
Previous to this he had honored the Church as a medical
missionary in China four years; as principal of Pennington
Seminary, New Jersey, five years; and as editor of the
Ladies’ Repository (now superseded by the Methodist Maga-
zine), four years. Though young in his present office, he
had already evinced a creditable adaptation to it.

The secretaries were the same as the previous year,
with one exception—P. W. Peterson took the place of
L. N. Wheeler.

It seems unnecessary to detail the proceedings of the
body relative to the various lines of work on which it had
been operating, as they were so similar to those of several
successive years in the past. It is noteworthy, however,
that no diminution of earnestness was discernible.

A very sinfular case of ministerial defection had come
to light during the year. J. M. Craig, who had been or-
dained an “elder in the Church of God” at our last an-
nual session, was soon after reported guilty of stealing
books at different times, and on a pretty large scale. At
this Conference he was tried, and expelled from the min-
istry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In defense he pleaded “ kleptomania ;” that is, a species of
insanity that so impels one to steal that he is not responsi-
258 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ble for his acts in stealing. The committee, however, who
adjudicated the case—fifteen in number, with G. M. Steele
as chairman, very competent men—were not convinced that
he was a kleptomaniac. In their view, there was every in-
dication of a long-continued disposition to steal, which he
had cultivated, just as all thieves do. This sad case is
dismissed with the remark that it nearly wrecked one of
our best pastoral charges.

O. B. Thayer and Moses Alley withdrew from the
connection at this Conference. The former came to us a
few years before from the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and, as has too often been done by us with men we know not,
was appointed to a very important charge, and advanced
to those still more so for several years, being held up by
the strength of the Churches he served, until he finally—
collapsed. The latter was received on trial in 1864. He
might have succeeded well had he given a few years to
study before entering the work. But he was nearly ruined
by flaitery in his early itinerant ministry. He failed to
meet the expectations he at first awakened. Both of these
entered the ministry of the Congregational Church; but
succeeded no better than with us.

E. D. Huntley was transferred to the West Wisconsin
Conference, and W. W. Case to the Cincinnati Conference,
where he is doing very effective work, as he did with us.
Mr. Huntley will come to view again in connection with
our educational interests. .

One of our number, W. W. Warner, had died.
‘«¢EKleven years he had been a member of the Erie Confer-
ence, and then came by transfer to ours, where he labored
for about four and a half years. His ministry was marked
with unusual success. It is believed that more than one
thousand souls were converted as the direct and immediate
result of his ministry, covering a period of less than seven-
teen years.”
ANNALS OF 1875, 259

Seven were added to our ranks by transfer, and eight
were received on trial.

Our lists of supernumeraries and superannuates had be-
come very large, the former seven, the latter thirty-one.

Our people at Racine were burdened with a heavy
debt, incurred in the erection of a new house of worship.
So the preachers at this Conference, as at Whitewater two
years before, had an opportunity to materialize their liber-
ality. Unfortunately, much injudicious management had
attended the enterprise. It was attributed to the pastor,
by whose influence the contract for building was let to irre-
sponsible parties from abroad, which resulted in a loss of
several thousand dollars, and a poorly built edifice. This
produced great disaffection, not only in the membership of
the Church, but with responsible resident contractors, and
thus shut off the sympathy, to a considerable extent, of
those without.

This church was greatly needed. It was located on the
corner of Eighth and Main Streets—a very eligible site.
The cost of the ground was $3,250, that of the organ
$3,500, and that of the building itself $35,850. It was
dedicated on the first Sabbath in July, 1871. Its seating
capacity was nine hundred.

Six other churches were erected during the year where
none had previously existed. The reader will see their
locations in Appendix I.

In short, there was a fair advance on all the lines of
Christian work.
260 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER XV.
1876-7.

\ AUPACA was the seat of our Conference in 1876.

It being a small city, and our numbers having in-
creased, some doubted whether our people could entertain
us without embarassment. But they gave us a royal wel-
come. Indeed, the whole community seemed interested,
and cordially assisted in making us ‘feel at home.” Our
session was evidently a blessing to the place, and to the
Conference as well.

For years all that region had been supplied mostly
by young men, and scarcely one of the older members
of our Conference were willing to go there. It was not
only the frontier, but was known as the ‘Indian land,”
and, for some reason, was not so attractive as Oklahoma
is now. Much of the prejudice against it was probably
removed by personal observation.

On the 4th of October the Conference was called to
order by Bishop Thomas Bowman. He was one of the
eight elected at the General Conference of 1872. At the
time of his election he was president of Indiana Asbury
University. The secretaries were the same as the year
before. Thus organized, the Conference proceeded to its
usual work.

Methodism was introduced here in a somewhat early day.
The place appears first as a pastoral charge in 1851, and
at the next Conference a new church edifice was reported.
It was a plain wooden building, well suited to the time
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. STEPHEN SMITH. Rev. €. D PILLSBURY, A. M.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Rev. HENRY SEWELL, Rev. C W. GALLAGHER, D. D.
ANNALS OF 1876. 261

and place. The one in which we met this year was begun
in May, 1874, and dedicated in February, 1875. It is
80x30 feet in size, with a transept on each side, and will
seat about three hundred people. It is a brick building,
with good architectural proportions, and cost $10,000.
The entire Church property here, including a parsonage, is
valued this year at $13,500.

One member, C. R. Chapin, who had proved to be
“unacceptable” to the people—really a failure as a
preacher—was located without his request. This was in
accordance with a rule of Discipline authorizing an Annual
Conference to thus do with any member who is adjudged
to be unacceptable in the sense above indicated.

Early in the Conference session we find the following
action: ‘‘A. E. Wanlass, seconded by L. N. Wheeler and
G. M. Steele, offered the following resolutions, which, after
some remarks by Dr. Edwards, were adopted:

‘“Wuereas, Section 2, Article H, of the Constitution
of the Conference Missionary Society is comparatively a
dead letter, being inoperative during the interim of Con-
ferences;

“Resolved, That the officers and managers of the Con-
ference Missionary Society be, ex officio, a committee to ar-
range for and assist in getting up anniversaries and such
other exercises as shall be deemed necessary and effective
in securing the success contemplated in the organization of
the Society.

‘« Resolved, That the presiding elders and pastors through-
out the Conference recognize this committee as such, and
co-operate with them.”

This surely augured great advance in this line of work,
and especially so as two of the movers of the resolutions
were returned missionaries from foreign fields, and leading
officers (president and secretary) of the society. But for some
reason the resolutions, if not ‘‘ comparatively a dead letter,”
262 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

did not accomplish what they were intended to. There
was, indeed, an advance in the collections the following
year. though they did not reach the amount of some former
years. Nor were the ‘‘anniversaries,” etc., inaugurated
to any considerable extent, if at all. But why may not
this, or something similar, become a part of our missionary
work every year?

The Conference continued its cordial approval of the
Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. Mrs. Dr. Steele
was the president of that society in our Conference.

A proposition came from the General Conference to so
alter the ‘Second Restrictive Rule” of our Church con-
stitution as to allow that body to make the basis of repre-
sentation one to every ninety-nine members of Annual
Conferences, other provisions of the Rule remaining un-
changed. This received the unanimous vote of the Con-
ference.

On another proposition from the same source, to alter
the ‘‘ Third Restrictive Rule,” so as to give each Confer-
ence authority to determine the number of districts they
will have —‘‘ Provided, no Conference shall have less than
two nor more than eight districts; nor shall any district
have more than sixty pastoral charges”—the Conference
voted 51 in favor, and 46 against.

Our educational interests were carefully looked after ;
bor were any other lines of work neglected. The uni-
versity, that had been from the first a cherished child, still
needed care. From a lack of adequate endowment, and
the failure of certain parties to meet their pledges, it be-
came so embarrassed that this Conference decided to ap-
peal to the Churches for aid by special collections. Though
the necessity of this ought not to have existed, the appeal
was eminently just. The institution had furnished the
Churches with twenty ministers, and sent back to them
many of their sons and daughters with renewed lives and
ANNALS OF 1876, 260

cultured minds. The Church therefore owed the college
more than a debt of gratitude.

A strong report from the ‘‘ Committee on Temperance
and Tobacco,” of which W. H. Thompson was chairman,
and H. Sewell secretary, was adopted. In it we find the
following: ‘‘ The existence of 980,000 drones in our na-
tional hive; the example of 750,000 regular drunkards ;
the incubus of 800,000 paupers; the tears of 200,000
orphans bedewing the graves of 65,000 victim-fathers ;
the ravings of 30,000 maniacs; the crimes of 200,000
criminals in our jails; the ignorance of 2,000,000 children,
debarred from our public schools; a host of women chaiued
by solemn vows to the rotting carcasses of sottish and
brutal men; and an army of recruits, consisting of 1,000,-
000 young men, under drill for the drunkard’s degradation
and doom, cry aloud to the Christian Church to help heal
this festering sore, and drain the land of this Dead Sea of
crime, heart-breaks, poverty, widowhood, orphanage, idiocy,
madness, delirium, and death.”

Then follow three resolutions pledging continued activity
in driving this scourge from the land. After a few earnest
words relative to the use of tobacco ‘‘in the ministry and
membership,” two resolutions follow, not lacking in per-
pendicularity of sentiment. Here they are:

“Resolved, That we will continue to associate the use of
tobacco with the vice of intemperance, and enter our com-
plete protest against its use by the ministry of our Confer-
ence and the membership of our Church.

“‘Resolved, That we will hereafter refuse to receive into
our Conference, either on trial or into full conncction, any
one who uses tobacco.

As early as 1857 the Conference passed resolutions
substantially the same as the last; but after nearly
twenty years of trial we were ready to reaffirm our de-
termination.
264 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

As good as this report was, one important thing was
omitted; viz., the use of alcoholic wine in the eucharist.
We had years before recommended ‘that stewards take
pains always to provide the pure, unfermented juice of
the grape, and never the fermented wine in common use.”
But -this ‘‘ recommend” had not accomplished the desired
end; so at this Conference a resolution was presented and
passed pledging our own action, viz. :

“* Resolved, That we will make special efforts to have
our Churches procure and use only the unfermented juice
of the grape in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.”

At this Conference two that had been in our ranks in
other years returned by transfer. One, F. S. Stein, was
readmitted, having been a member of a Western Confer-
ence; and eight were received on trial.

William Averill and C. R. Chapin were located—the
latter as already described. Mr. Averill entered our work
in 1852, and though in the local ranks several years dur-
ing the interim, he did good service while in the Confer
ence. His name now appears in our Minutes for the last
time.

Edrick Holmes, after giving several years to our work
with fair success, withdrew from the Church.

L. F. Moutrnrop ‘‘rested from his labors” in April
next preceding the present session. The reader will re-
member him as one of our heroic pioneers. He entered
our work in 1840, and for several years was very success-
ful on Racine, Troy, and Prairieville (mow Waukesha)
Circuits. In failing health he located, not being willing to
become a burden to the Conference for so few years of
service. He recuperated, was employed at different times
to fill vacancies, and in 1859 was readmitted. For several
of his last years he was on the list of superannuates.

John Haw, a promising young man, was transferred to
the West Wisconsin Conference; and fifteen Norwegians,
ANNALS OF 1877, 265

who had been for some time missionaries to their native
land, were transferred to the newly formed Conference there.
Among these was C. Willerup, the father of the Norwegian
work in Wisconsin. He will receive further notice in the
account of that work.

For a year or two our advance has been very moderate.

Four changes occurred this year among the presiding
elders. W. G. Miller was appointed to Milwaukee Dis-
trict, W. P. Stowe to Janesville District, J. W. Carhart

to Appleton District, and J. H. Johnson to the Norwegian
District.
1877.

The Conference met this year in Waupun, on the
eleventh day of October. Many years before we accepted
an invitation to hold the following session there; but by
some special effort the motion fixing that as the place of
meeting the next year was reconsidered, and the Confer-
ence voted to meet in another place. It is probable the
people of Waupun deemed this rather unkind treatment;
so it seemed to some of the preachers, at least. We were
cordially received and well entertained, though a large
number of the preachers found themselves in the State
Penitentiary, and some even in the cells before the session
closed. Yet they did not deem their incarceration there a
punishment.

Bishop Jesse T. Peck presided at this Conference. He
was the sixth in succession of the eight elected to the epis-
copacy in 1872 that had come to us officially. Like all
our bishops he was very prominent before election to this
office. He was an influential member of the Black River
(now Northern New York) Conference when the writer en-
tered that body a half century ago. He was then principal
of the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. In the educational
field he was subsequently principal of the Troy Conference

Seminary and president of Dickinson College. He after-
22
266 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

wards spent several years in California, doing heroic work.
At his elevation to the episcopacy he was pastor of Uni-
versity Avenue Church, in Syracuse, where he aided, by
his enlarged experience, and otherwise, in fuunding the
Syracuse University, one of the most important institu-
tions of the kind in our denomination.

The secretaries of the last two sessions were all re-elected.
At some time in the Conference 1844-5, Joseph Lewis, in
charge of Fond du Lac Circuit, had visited this place and
formed a class of six members—all belonging to the Miller
family, the youngest of whom was Wesson G., who after-
wards became prominent in our ministerial ranks. A house
of worship there was first reported in 1854. This had been
lengthened once or twice, making its length and width out
of proper proportion. It had now fallen far behind the
growing demands of the place.

At this Conference two were transferred to us, and three
received on trial—the smallest addition to our ministerial
force for many years. One located, one had died, and two
were transferred to other Conferences.

Thus we entered upon the work of the next year with
very little change in our active ranks.

H. H. Jones was the one referred to as located. He
was a true man, but did not, for the few years he was with
us, take high rank.

Evcene I. Avuine, who died on the 24th of August
of this year, had been connected with the Conference less
than three years. He was a man of earnest piety, and,
had his life and health been spared, would doubtless have
accomplished much for the Master. His death was more
than peaceful. His obituary, as published in the Minutes,
closes thus: ‘‘ He longed for rest; and the happy, peace-
ful look that settled upon his dead face told of a joyful
entering into ‘the rest that remaineth to the people of
God.’”
ANNALS OF 1877. 267

The wives of four of the preachers died during the
year.

Mrs. I. M. Wurre, whose husband was in his second
year of probation in the Conference, passed peacefully to
her rest, April 2, 1877, in the twenty-third year of her age.
Thus early was a promising life of usefulness terminated.

In contrast to hers, in point of years, was the death of
Mrs. Rev. AsaHEL Moore, who died March 9, 1877, aged
fifty-eight years, about forty of which had been given to
our itinerant work, with her husband, in Maine and Wis-
consin, when the Master said, ‘‘Come up higher.” All ac-
counts represent her as a noble woman and an active
Christian.

Mrs. IsapeLLa H. B. WALKER closed her work after
a sojourn on earth of nearly thirty-seven years, a life with
God of about twenty-three years, several of which were in
the itinerant work with her husband, Rev. T. H. Walker.
She was a devoted Christian, and ‘‘ died well,” in full pros-
pect of ‘‘home, home, home,” which she uttered three
times just before she departed.

Mrs. Jane E. Carpenter, wife of Rev. C. E. Carpen-
ter, an honored member of Wisconsin Conference, is the
last whose death is this year recorded. During her hus-
band’s absence at the last Conference she was attacked
with typhoid fever, but, after a while, so far recovered as
to be thought able to move to the new pastoral charge, to
which he had been assigned. It was, however, too hard a
strain on her enfeebled system, and, on the 16th of De-
cember, 1876, she succumbed to the great destroyer, in
Palmyra, at the age of forty-one.

The year seems to have been marked with at least or-
dinary prosperity, there being an increase of 639 in the
membership, and of $936 in the benevolent collections.
268 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER XVI.
1878-9.

N the second day of October, 1878, the Wisconsin
Conference convened at Fort Atkinson, with Bishop
Foster as president. The organization was completed by
the election of the same secretaries as had served for the
three next preceding sessions.

Fort Atkinson is a fine town on Rock River, perhaps
sixty miles from its source. For several years of our early
history it was a point in the old Aztalan Circuit. It thus
continued until 1854, when that honored name, Aztalan,
that had been in our Minutes since 1837, gave place to
Lake Mills and Fort Atkinson, and ceased to indicate the
head of a pastoral charge. The first class was formed here
by Rev. H. W. Frink, in the Conference year 1839-40,
in the house of Jesse Roberts, a little west of the present
site of the town.* The church was commenced in 1850, and
soon completed. The parsonage was built in 1865. The
church property has been improved at different times, and
the place ranks well with our Conference appointments.

We did not find an embarrassing debt here, as at some
other places; but a very urgent appeal for relief on this
score came to us from Oshkosh. A few years before, the
First Methodist Episcopal Church there had purchased a
large building, in process of erection, commenced for an
opera-house. The pastor, Dr. J. W. Carhart, found it

* Its jubilee was celebrated January 19-26, 1890.
ANNALS OF 1878. 269

could be procured at a very reasonable rate, and became
deeply interested in securing it for a sanctuary. The
growing Church and congregation needed something of
the kind. He therefore moved promptly in the matter,
aod induced the trustees to purchase it. Some thought
this movement was too hasty. This has been a stereotyped
ery, when the ‘‘Lord’s house is to be built,” since the days
of Haggai. Others, who preferred to have it the devil’s
play-house, clamored against the undertaking. Others
still, who were every way well disposed toward the enter-
prise, feared it could not be accomplished. Altogether,
therefore, it was entered upon with fearful odds against
success. A few, however, were confident that they were
well able to ‘“‘go up and possess it;” and so they were,
had there been more Calebs and Joshuas. The church
was finished; but for lack of anticipated co-operation, a
heavy debt hung over it on the day of dedication. Hopes
were entertained of clearing it of embarrassment on that
occasion. But a few days before the appointed time for
that service arrived, a sweeping fire destroyed a large por-
tion of the city; just missing the new church, however,
yet laying in ashes the homes of many of its friends, thus
greatly increasing the difficulty of providing for the pay-
ment of the debt. After struggling under this for some
time, the trustees sought the advice of the Conference.
The matter was thoroughly canvassed, and some severe criti-
cisms were made, evidently intended to bear on Dr. Car-
hart. Of the two who were the most liberal with this kind
of help, one had never distinguished himself in any church-
building enterprise; the other had led a church into about
as great an embarrassment for an edifice that proved almost
a failure. But the Conference generally felt a deep sym-
pathy with the brethren who so heroically battled with ad-
verse circumstances. The result of the canvass was an
arrangement to apply to the Churches throughout the
270 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Conference for aid. We shall see hereafter how it suc-
ceeded.

Another Macedonian ery came from the Garrett Bib-
lical Institute. The great Chicago fire of 1871 and the
‘hard times” had so reduced for the time its resources,
that, after paying insurance, taxes, etc., it had not ‘‘one
dollar of income.” Yet ‘upwards of one hundred young
men,” says the appeal, ‘‘are now applying for instruction.
The faculty say: ‘Paid or not paid, these men can not be
turned away.’”

Small as were the salaries of some of the preachers, all
had received something; so they pledged $538.92 to aid in
running this ‘‘ School of the Prophets.”

What a contrast between such public institutions and
individuals! When unaveidable calamities come upon the
former, sympathy is awakened and needed aid is rendered.
This is well. When similar things come to individuals,
they must not only bear them alone, but often be subjected ,
to stinging criticism.

The plan of the work was slightly changed. The Nor-
wegian District, being divided, thus formed two, called
Chicago Norwegian District, in charge of J. H. Johnson ;
and Milwaukee Norwegian District, of which O. P. Peterson
was presiding elder. A. J. Mead and George Fellows
having completed their full terms on Fond du Lac and
Waupaca Districts, respectively, L. N. Wheeler succeeded
the former, and J. M. Walker the latter.

No special departure from usual methods of work is
discernible in the reports of this year. On all questions of
reform and benevolent operations the Conference main-
tained its former erect position. An extract from a pre-
siding elder’s report of his district, incorporated in the
report on Temperance, is worthy of serious thought. It
is this:

‘‘T have found by careful calculation that, could the
ANNALS OF 1878, 271

money be saved for the Lord that is spent for tobacco by
the members of the Church on my district, I could pay
the presiding elder’s salary, make up the deficiencies on
the preacher’s claims, put a good library into every Sun-
day-school in the district, and have a handsome sum to
send abroad for missions.”

If this be an accurate estimate, and a fair specimen of
other districts, Heaven pity us!

Death had been doing its work during the year. Three
preachers, and the wives of four others of our Conference,
had fallen by his power.

Isaac WILTSE, whose name first appears in our Min-
utes in 1859, was called to his reward, March 30th of this
year, in the forty-second year of his age, and in the nine-
teenth of his itinerant ministry. . He died at Ripon, being
the third pastor of our Church there that had been taken
from it in like mafner. From the first his ministry was
characterized with diligence, prudence, and success. He
was appointed to Ripon in 1876, one year after the Con-
ference disposed of the Craig case, while the elements were
yet in a very unsettled state. But by skillful management
for a year and a half they were rapidly growing harmoni-
ous. Though he was facing death in triumph, the inter-
ests of his people burdened his soul; and a little before his
departure he charged his presiding elder thus: ‘‘ Take
care of my work.” Few more valuable men have ever
passed from our ranks.

Wiu1am Sarorr was transferred to our Conference
from Ohio in 1850, and for ten years did effective service,
when he was compelled by personal and family illness to
retire from the field. He remained in a superannuate
relation until his death May 5, 1877, his wife, after suffer-
ing much, having gone a few years before. As he resided
beyond our Conference bounds, we knew little of him
272 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

during the years of superannuation. But all reports were
favorable.

Exvisan P. Beecner was received on trial in the
Oneida Conference, New York, in 1840, and in 1855 was
transferred to ours. With the exception of about a year
and a half he did effective work till 1869, when he was
placed on the list of superannuates, where he remained till
his death in Beaver Dam, November 3, 1877. He was a
true man, an earnest worker, a fair preacher, and highly
respected.

Mary E. Otrn, wife of Rev. S. A. Olin, died of
malignant diphtheria in April, 1878, in Hortonville, where
her husband was in pastoral work. In 1871 ber husband
commenced his work in our Conference. She had many
fears that she should not be competent to the position of a
minister's wife. But all accounts say she had already
become a very useful worker in that rélation, and was con-
stantly improving. She died well. A little before the last
summons came she said: ‘‘I have been wonderfully filled
with the presence of the Lord, as a preparation for this
hour, to enable me to get a complete victory. I have
been down to the brink of the river; the waters were not
dark, for Jesus was with me there.”

Lypra F. Farreanks, wife of Rev. C. J. Fairbanks,
closed her earthly life August 8, 1878, in the fifty-seventh
year of her age. For many years her health was frail, but
she would not consent to have her husband locate on ac-
count of it. ‘‘ Near the closing scene, as a friend sang,

‘I know I am nearing the holy ranks
Of friends and kindred dear,’

she exclaimed, ‘Glory! Glory! Glory! How bright it
looks on the other shore!’”

Frances M. Peep passed to her inheritance, March 30,
1878, her husband, Rev. Thomas Peep, being in charge of
ANNALS OF 1879, 273

Pleasant Prairie Circuit. She rendered valuable assist-
ance, aud was universally esteemed. Among her last
words were, ‘‘ All the bells of heaven are ringing a welcome
to me.”

CaarLotte Ror was born in England, March 31,
1824, became the wife of J. P. Roe, January 5, 1848, and
died May 23,1878. Both she and her husband were mem-
bers of the Church of England. In 1857 they united with
the Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter afterwards
became a member of Wisconsin Conference. She was a
most estimable lady and a devout Christian.

Our ministry this year was re-enforced by six transfers
and readmissions, and nine receptions on trial. But as
three had died, two located, and three were transferred to
other Conferences, the increase was but seven.

The reports show a general advance in numbers, benevo-
lences, church edifices, parsonages, and pastoral charges.

W. R. Jones, who left us by transfer, had been a success- *
ful minister among us since 1860, and is still doing good
work in Nebraska.

1879.

For the fourth time in the history of Wisconsin Con-
ference our session -this year was held in Milwaukee. But
the reader may remember that in 1844 the Rock River
Conference met there, while Methodism in Wisconsin was
under its care.

The session now in consideration commenced in Grand
Avenue Church, October 1st, Bishop E. G. Andrews pre-
siding.

The society worshiping here is the oldest in the city.
It was formed in the summer of 1836. The little band—
the only Protestant organization in the place—held serv-
ices wherever it was most convenient, until after the ar-

rival of L. S. Kellogg, in December next following. He
23
274 ; WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

soon built a carpenter-shop for himself, which also was
used as a place of worship for the society for a year or
more. On the 28th of May, 1841, their first church edi-
fice, already described, was dedicated. They occupied this
until 1848, when they moved into a much more capacious
one, on the corner of West Water and Spring (now Grand
Avenue) Streets. -On the 14th of January, 1854, this was
consumed by fire. For about nine months the society wor-
shiped in Young’s Hall, on Wisconsin Street. In October,
1854, they rented, and soon after purchased, the Free
Congregational church, on the corner of Spring and Second
Streets, which was also burned, July 4, 1861. Thus the
society was subjected to other removals. After their de-
molished structure was rebuilt, they occupied it until, for
lack of needed room, they provided for themselves their
present well-arranged temple, which they began to occupy
October 8, 1871. Notwithstanding they were pinched with
poverty, pursued by fire, and driven from place to place,
they never lost heart, nor ceased to be an active, aggressive
Church, loyal to every part of Methodism, though not par-
tial to the kind of itinerancy they had been compelled to
practice.

Bishop Andrews appeared among us for the first time.
He was one of the eight elected to the episcopacy in
1872, and the seventh one of that number that visited us
officially. He made a very fine impression, fully sustain-
ing the high reputation he had before earned. At the
time of his election he was pastor of the Seventh Avenue
Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, New York, though
he had spent many years in the educational field before
entering upon pastoral work.

H. Colman had been for six successive years principal
secretary, and, for the last four, A. A. Hoskins and 8.
Halsey had been his assistants; Stephen Smith, G. W.
Wells, and P. W. Peterson had also been statistical secre-
ANNALS OF 1879, 275

taries for four years. They were all re-elected, at this
session, to the same positions.

Little of the usual routine business of the Conference
demands special notice.

J. W. McCormie was transferred to us from Indiana
Conference, and R. W. Bosworth was returned by transfer
from Colorado, whence he had gone a few years before.

Ten were received on trial.

J. Jones located; G. M. Steele, M. Evans, W. H.
Thompson, and A. Hollington were transferred to other
Conferences.

8. L. Leonarp and H. C. Tivron were removed by
death. The last-named began his itinerant ministry in
1841, under the care of the Maine Conference, and served
in that and the East Maine Conference sixteen years. In
1857 he located, not to leave the work, but to enter some
Conference in the West. He was readmitted into our
Conference a few months after, of which he continued a
prominent and an honored member until he was called to
his inheritance on high, March 26,1879. He served some
of our best stations, was presiding elder on Janesville
and Racine Districts. About the middle of his term on
the former he accepted a chaplaincy in the Thirteenth
Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers, but was compelled, by
injured health, to resign before the Rebellion was crushed.
He also served one term in the Wisconsin Legislative As-
sembly, where his influence was felt in opposing some po-
litical chicanery. For several months toward the close of
life, he had unusual manifestations of the divine presence,
and of the power of Christ to save to the uttermost. Writ-
ing to the last Conference before his death, he said:

‘** Dear BretareN—This has been a hard-fought bat-
tle; but it is not without its blessed results. It has been
the best year of my life, spiritually. The majesty and
power of Christ Jesus have been gloriously revealed to me.
276 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

His tender love and faithfulness have been inexpressible
sweetness to me. The blood of Christ saves me from the
love, the pollution, the power, and practice of sin. The
fullness of joy and peace can fill the soul of one, though
burdened with weakness, ignorance, and disease. Death
is conquered ; the grave is conquered; devils and hell are
conquered. Amen! amen!”

It is not strange, after such experiences,.that he whis-
pered, as life was ebbing out: ‘‘I am ready, through the
blood of the Lamb.”

8. L. Leonarp entered our ranks in 1850. He was
faithful to his work, very studious, and for a time was
considered a very promising young minister; but from
feebleness of health, which grew upon him and assumed a
nervous form, or from other causes, he did not meet the
expectation of his friends. It is well said in his obituary
that he ‘‘was a man of strong convictions, and never
swerved from any course which he believed to be right.”
For many years he was on the superannuate list. He
bore with great patience the extreme suffering that at-
tended the closing weeks of his life, and ‘his soul tri-
umphed gloriously in Christ, his all-sufficient Savior.”

As last year, so this, several of the preachers were be-
reft of their wives. These may here be noted.

Mrs. Saran K. Sampson died in Appleton, September
23, 1879, just a few days before the Conference began.
She was the third wife of our much esteemed and venerated
brother, W. H. Sampson. Though a member of the Prot-
estant Episcopal Church, she seems to have entered as
heartily into work with her husband as could be ex-
pected. She is represented as a noble woman and sincere
Christian.

Mrs. Harriet AnN ANDERSON, wife of Rev. W. M.
Anderson, died September 20th—three days before Mrs.
Sampson—in Kansas. She was an earnest worker in
ANNALS OF 1879, 277

various lines of Christian activity, and died exclaiming,
‘Jesus is precious now!”

CATHERINE E. Coox, wife of C. D. Cook, for some
time an active member of our Conference, now superannu-
ated, died at Eagle Lake Station, Minnesota, May 16,
1879. She is represented as an earnest Christian woman.
“‘She died as she lived so many years, in the Lord.”

We can not close the annals of this year without hon-
orable mention of Dr. Geo. M. Steele. In June, 1865,
he was elected to the presidency of Lawrence University,
and entered upon its duties at the beginning of the next
academic year, in the September following. He filled
the position for fourteen years with marked success, and
won the respect of scholars and educators throughout the
State. We parted with him reluctantly, but with the
best wishes for his success as principal of Wilbraham Acad-
emy, Massachusetts, the oldest institution of learning in
American Methodism. He is still at that post of honor.
We miss his manly form, benignant words, and healthful
influence.

The other brethren who left us by transfer, had done
good service for several years.

The reports show an increase of members in full con-
nection among the laity, but a decrease of probationers.
A decided advance was made in the benevolences and in
Church edifices.

The list of appointments shows no change in the in-
cumbents of the districts; but there was one made soon
after the close of the session, which will be noticed in an-
other place.

This year closes the connection of the Norwegian
work with our Conference. The General Conference that
met in the May following placed it in a Conference by
itself. It will receive further notice in Part IV of this
volume.
278 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

L. N. Wheeler, W. P. Stowe, O. J. Cowles, and
J. H. Johnson were elected delegates to the General Con-
ference of 1880; and A. J. Mead and Henry Colman re-
serves. The lay delegates were Robert McMillen and
Z. P. Burdick, with E. L. Grant and R. P. Elmore
as reserves.
ANNALS OF 1880, 279

CHAPTER XVII.
1880-1.

PPLETON was this year for the third time the seat

of Wisconsin Conference.

Bishop William L. Harris opened the session on the
13th of October, and presided over our deliberations. He
was one of the eight so often referred to in the annals of
recent years, and the last with whose presidency we were
favored. He was in various ways a remarkable man. For
several years he had been a professor in the Ohio Wesleyan
University. He stood high in the esteem of the North
Ohio Conference, of which he was a member, and was
chosen as one of their representatives to the General Con-
ference held in Indianapolis in May, 1856. By a large
majority he was elected secretary of that body. This
brought him into prominence before the Church at large—
especially so, as he proved peculiarly adapted to that im-
portant position. He was re-elected at each General Con-
ference till that of 1872 inclusive, when he was elevated
to the episcopacy. For twelve years also previous to the
last date he was one of the secretaries of the Missionary
Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had great
physical endurance, and was ‘‘in labors abundant” in
every position he occupied. In 1868 he said to the writer
and others: ‘‘If J] know what you mean by tired, I never
had the sensation.”

S. Halsey, who had been assistant secretary for six suc-
cessive years, was this year elected principal; and J. W.
280 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

McCormack and J. R. Creighton, assistants. The statistical
secretaries for the last four years were re-elected.

In the annals of 1872 allusion is made to a new church
in process of erection in this city, to take the place of one
then recently consumed by fire. In this finished edifice the
Conference held its present session. It is a massive brick
structure, of good architectural proportions. The audi-
torium is richly frescoed, furnished with a fine organ, and
will seat about seven hundred people. In the basement are
five rooms, capable of being thrown into one by sliding
doors, and is thus well fitted for effective Church-work. It
is valued at $37,000. A parsonage near is valued at
$4,000.

This was probably the most unpleasant session in our
history. Undesirable as it is to review the circumstances
that made it so, they can not be ignored by a faithful his-
torian—so public were they and so far-reaching in their
influence. Several months before, Rev. George C. Had-
dock wrote an ‘‘ Open Letter,” which appeared in a secular
journal, charging Rev. Dr. J. W. Carhart with very grave
offenses, and declaring his readiness to sustain them with
proof. Dr. Carhart promptly signified his readiness to
meet them, and at his request a ‘‘ Committee of Inquiry”
was summoned, according to the law of the Church in such
cases. After a rigid investigation for several days, the com-
mittee failed to find cause for a trial. Formal charges were
prepared against him at this Conference by Mr. Haddock,
and the case went to a committee of fifteen for trial, proper.
This committee rendered a verdict of guilty, and J. W. Car-
hart was declared ‘‘ expelled from the ministry and mem-
bership of the Methodist Episcopal Church.” He appealed
to a ‘ Judicial Conference,” as also provided by our ecclesi-
astical law in such cases.. This body reversed the decision
of the lower court, and restored him to membership in the
Church and in the ministry.
ANNALS OF 1880, 281

A bill of charges was also presented to the Conference
against Rev. G. C. Haddock, by Rev. R. J. Judd, based
mainly on the very improper way in which he had assailed
Dr. Carhart. Before the committee were ready to call him
to answer to these charges, he wrote a confession to the Con-
ference, in which, after affirming his conviction of the truth
of the allegations of the ‘“‘ Open Letter” at the time it was
written, he said: ‘‘ In view of all facts and circumstances,
I now say that I regret the publication of the ‘ Open Letter’
as an unwise and imprudent act, and I cast myself upon the
unfailing love of my dear brethren, whom I have ever found,
in a Conference acquaintance of twenty years, to be unsur-
passed in charitable kindness and tender consideration.”

These matters created a very unpleasant atmosphere ;
for not all believed that Dr. Carhart had been justly
treated.

The reader will remember that we took leave of the
venerable Dr. Steele at our last Conference. Dr. E. D.
Huntley, of the West Wisconsin Conference, was elected
to succeed him in the presidency of our cherished ‘‘ Law-
rence.” He was duly installed at the Commencement, in
June, 1879. During the year just closed he had devoted
much of his time to soliciting financial aid for the college.
According fo the report of the Committee on Education,
he had thus secured ‘‘about $12,000 for current ex-
penses ;” and the institution ‘‘once more was proclaimed
out of debt.” The outlook seemed in all respects to be
encouraging. So also it was with Garrett Biblical Insti-
tute. It was fast emerging from its heavy “ financial em-
barrassment,” caused by the great fire of 1871.

The Conference expressed its hearty approval of an
act of the late General Conference providing for a Com-
mittee on Temperance in every pastoral charge, to be ap-
pointed at the last Quarterly Conference of each year.
Nor less so, of the insertion of a new question to be pro-
282 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

pounded by the bishops to candidates for reception into
full Conference membership; viz., ‘‘ Will you wholly ab-
stain from the use of tobacco ?”

We had been battling on these lines for years. On the
latter we were probably the pioneer Conference of the en-
tire Methodist family. Nearly a quarter of a century
before (1857) we had solemnly pledged ourselves not to
vote to admit any one to membership in our Conference,
or to receive ordination, who habitually used tobacco, with-
out a positive promise before the Conference of total ab-
stinence therefrom in the future. It was therefore very
gratifying to see the highest ecclesiastical body in our
Church move in this direction.

In the annals of last year allusion was made to a
change of one of the presiding elders, with a promise of
explanation in the proper place.

The case was this. W. G. Miller was appointed pre-
siding elder of Milwaukee District. He was in process of
moving his family to Nebraska at the time the Conference
was in session. He was expected to remain with us
through the year; but being needed in that (Nebraska)
Conference, which was held about the same time as ours,
he consented to a transfer; and Henry Colman was re-
moved from Bay View to fill the vacancy thus created.

W. P. Stowe, presiding elder on Janesville District,
had been elected at the General Conference in May next
preceding the present Conference, agent of the Western
Methodist Book Concern ; and entering at once upon the
duties of his office, A. J. Mead was removed from the
Algoma Street Church to succeed him. Hence, both these
brethren who had had been appointed to pastorates, ap-
peared at the beginning of the Conference of 1880 as pre-
siding elders.

Though Dr. Miller was transferred soon after our Con-
ference of 1879, the fact is not indicated in our Minutes
ANNALS OF 1880, 283

till 1880. So we must give him a parting word at this
point. Several years ago he published a book entitled,
‘Thirty Years in the Itinerancy,” which was really an au-
tobiography up to that time. It contains much interest-
ing matter relating to our work in Wisconsin in early times,
and also to a considerable number of preachers besides
himself. It has been quite helpful to the writer, at some
points, in preparing this work. He entered our ranks in
1845, and continued in the active work, with a brief in-
terval of partially broken health, until 1879, filling some of
our best appointments, performing district-work for many
years, representing us in General Conferences and in the
Missionary Board—in all of which relations he acquitted him-
self well. He is still making a good record in his newer
field.

E. L. Eaton, G. A. Smith, R. Cooley, J. P. Roe, C.
N. Stowers, T. F. Allen, C. R. Pattee, and R. E. McBride
also left us this year by transfer to other Conferences; all
of whom had rendered us more or less valuable service.

J. R. Creighton and J. E. Gilbert were received by
transfer.

A. A. Hoskins withdrew from the Conference and
Church.

J. T. Chenoweth located.

Six were received on trial; so our ministerial force re-
mained numerically about as last year.

There was an entire change in the district incumbents
as appointed last year. H. Colman appears in charge of
Milwaukee District; A. J. Mead, of Janesville District;
J. M. Walker, of Appleton District; and A. P. Mead, of
Waupaca District. The first named two, however, were
in charge of the same districts during a part of the pre-
vious year, as already stated.

The two Norwegian districts were transferred to a newly
284 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

formed Norwegian Conference, of which an account will
be given in another place.

1881.

On the 21st day of October, 1881, our Conference as-
sembled in Whitewater. Twice before we had been wel-
comed by the people of that place.

Since our first session there in 1859 the town had taken
on much larger proportions.

Our Church had also grown in numbers, wealth, and
social position. One of the State Normal Schools being
located there, it is very important to keep the pulpit aglow
with celestial light, and the pew with the old Jerusalem
fire. So it is everywhere, but especially in our centers of
high-school instruction.

Bishop C. D. Foss presided at this session. He was
elected to the episcopacy in 1880, having been in the minis-
try twenty-three years, fourteen of which were spent in the
pastoral work, and nine in the educational. At the time
of his election he had been president of the Wesleyan Uni-
versity at Middletown, Connecticut, for five years.

8. Halsey was again elected secretary and J. R. Creigh-
ton and A. J. Benjamin, assistants.

The statistical secretaries of last year were re-elected.

On the second day of July next preceding, Charles J.
Guiteau attempted the assassination of James A. Garfield,
President of the United States. The President lingered till
September 19th—two days before our session began—then
yielded to the increasing power of his fatal wound.

Immediately after the organization of the Conference
arrangements were made for suitable memorial services in
view of this sad event, which in due time were held—
Bishop Foss and Rev. 8. N. Griffith each giving a very
fine address.

The financial condition of the First Methodist Episcopal
ANNALS OF 1881, 285

Church at Oshkosh again came to view. The pastor, D. J.
Holmes, made a report that showed hopeful progress in
“canceling its embarrassing debt. At this Conference relief
was sought by our Church at Columbus. It seemed that
our people there had been led into embarrassment in build-
ing their house of worship, by the under estimates of their
architect—a thing so often done that Churches ought to
be more cautious.

The Conference provided for the relief sought, by an
appeal to the Church Extension Society and by author-
izing the pastor at Columbus to solicit aid from other
Churches in the Conference territory.

J. W. McCormic, whos came to us two years before
from Indiana, was reported to have preached doctrines
contrary to our recognized standards. He frankly admit-
ted it in a written statement, and by request of the Con-
ference he withdrew from the ministry and membership of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Another case of withdrawal occurred of a very different
character. Dr. Carhart, who was expelled at the last
Annual Conference, had been restored to membership by a
Judicial Conference, as already stated. Of course, he
‘“stood before the law” with the same rights as any of us
possessed. But it was declared by several of the presiding
elders that they could not find a place for him, and on
this account a motion was made, and vehemently urged,
that he be placed on the list of supernumeraries. He pro-
tested, saying that he was able to do full work, and that
he was ready to take the poorest charge in the Conference.
Strange as it may seem, the motion prevailed—with but
one majority, however. He was so grieved with this action
that he withdrew. All this proceeding was doubtless erro-
neous. He was entitled by all law and usage to an
appointment.
286 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

For several years the general plan of the work has
been essentially the same.

Only one change in the district incumbents occurred
this year. G. H. Moulton was appointed to the charge of
Fond du Lac District in place of L. N. Wheeler, who had
been sent to establish a mission in Western China.

For about eight years—from 1865 to 1872 inclusive—
he was a missionary in Eastern China, and was now
selected as a suitable person to undertake this new enter-
prise.

Two of our esteemed brethren were this year removed
by death—P. B. Pease and 8. V. R. SuepHerp. Mr.
Pease entered upon a course of study at Oberlin, Ohio,
but was compelled to desist on account of a partial failure
in health. He recuperated, and in 1852 was received on
trial in our Conference. From the first he was considered
a man of promise. He continued to rise, filled several of
our best appointments successfully, served two full terms
as presiding elder, and was once (in 1872) a delegate to
the General Conference.

In 1880 he was appointed to Waukesha. He went to
his new field, preached one Sabbath, returned to his home
in Fort Atkinson to prepare for moving, was taken ill, and
on the 10th of November he passed from earth, saying a
little before to his wife: ‘‘I think I shall get well; but
whether I do or not, it will be all right.” He was in the
sixty-second year of his age at death. Mr. Shepherd died
at his home at Iron Ridge, June 13, 1881, at the age of
about seventy years.

He entered our ranks in 1855, did effective work for
about twelve years, then retired to a superannuate relation,
in which he continued until called hence.

While in the active ministry he was earnest, faithful,
and successful. ‘‘ God owned his labors in the salvation of
sinners. His end was triumphant peace.”
e

ANNALS OF 1881, 287

Mrs. Exvten B. Ropryson, wife of Rev. Elijah Robin-
son, was also this year numbered with the dead. Her heart
was in the work of an itinerant minister’s wife, but the fail-
ing health of her husband greatly interrupted her hopes.
About 1857 they came to this State from Vermont in quest
of better health for him, but with little success. Calmly
resigning all to God, she passed from labor to rest on the
24th of May, 1881.

Besides those who died and withdrew, four left our work
by location and three by transfer—eleven in all. To com-
pensate for this loss, sixteen were received on trial and by
transfer from other Conferences. But as four were assigned
to foreign mission-fields, the force for home-work was but
little changed.

The reports of numbers, benevolences, etc., show but
little variation from last year.
s

288 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER XVIII.
1882-3.

UR Conference assembled in 1882, on the twenty-
eighth day of September, in Fond du Lac. This was
our fourth session there—the first being thirty years before.
Bishop Wiley presided. This was his second official
visit to us. He came under the weight of a great sorrow.
His son—a noble, promising youth—was burned to death,
a few days before, by the accidental ignition of a cask of
kerosene he was assisting to move. In his introductory
words at the opening of the Conference he briefly alluded
to it, and then requested us to make no reference to it in
the Conference-room during the session.

The re-election of all the secretaries of the preceding
year completed the organization of the body for business.

Nothing of special interest appears in the records of
this year. The districts and their incumbents are the same
as last year.

Aggressive action is evident on all lines of Christian
work, both in the ministry and in the laity. On all the
great questions of reform the Conference still occupied a
firm position.

The changes in our ministerial force were not remark-
able. We received three by transfer and seven on trial.
We lost two by death, four by transfer, one by withdrawal,
one by location, and two by discontinuance from probation.
Those discontinued showed no adaptation to our work.

J. S. Bolton had been with us for twenty-seven years,
and worked faithfully in various places, frequently on the
ANNALS OF 1882. 289

frontier. He was deemed loyal and every way reliable;
but he became impressed with the idea that the Methodist
Episcopal Church was not up to the Bible standard of
holiness. This idea grew upon him, and during the pre-
ceding year he withdrew and joined the Free Methodist
Church, of which he is still a minister.

It is evidently the duty of any minister who finds him-
self really out of harmony with his denomination to seek
a more congenial home. But it is not easy to see where
any one can find a place that affords more freedom for
real Christian experience and holy living than in the
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Eugene Yager, a promising young man—three years
with us—was transfered to Detroit Conference; and Geo.
C. Haddock, to Upper Iowa Conference. Mr. Haddock
had been connected with our Conference twenty-two years.
He early took rank as a preacher of unusual ability. He
was a very positive character, and naturally given to con-
troversy. These traits were probably fostered by his former
political associations, having been engaged in secular news-
paper work. The reader will remember him as the victim
of the liquor-power in Sioux City, Iowa. The extensive
and intense interest felt in this will justify a statement
of the essential facts. They are in brief as follows:

1. Mr. Haddock was exercising the right of a citizen
of Iowa in trying to secure the enforcement of the pro-
hibitory liquor law of that State in Sioux City.

2. The enraged liquor-dealers there formed a conspiracy
to ‘‘do up Haddock,” in which one Arensdorf was con-
spicuous.

3. On the night of August 2, 1886, he was shot and
instantly killed by one of the conspirators.

4, Arensdorf was arrestel, and put on trial for the
murder. The jury disagreed—eleven for acquittal, one
for conviction.

24
290 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

5. The juror that caused the division positively stated
that he was asked to ‘‘ name his price.”

6. During the trial it was boldly talked on the street
that the jury would divide, just as it did. It contained
one man that could not be bought.

7. A second trial was ordered, and the sheriff this time
seems to have been more successful in ‘‘ packing” a jury;
for after an immense amount of testimony against Arens-
dorf, that probably convinced ninety-nine in a hundred of
his guilt, and a charge from the judge of three-quarters of
an hour, bearing heavily against him, the jury retired, and
in ten minutes returned with a verdict, ‘‘not guilty.”
Probably all the deliberation they ever gave the case was
to decide what their ‘‘ price” should be.

8. Immediately after the trial, Arensdorf and the jury
went to a photograph gallery, which was already “ filled
with Arensdorf’s friends,” and had their pictures taken in
a group—the assassin, as he doubtless was, occupying the
center. All this showed pre-arrangement.

Some features of this case will come to view in a futur
page.

Jesse Cole had been in our Conference since 1868, and
W. C. Cook since 1870. The former went to the North-
west Iowa Conference, the latter to Minnesota. Both seem
to be making good records, as they did with us.

AsAanureL Moore, one of those whose demise occurred
during the year, became a member of our Conference in
1868. He had been a member of the Maine and East
Maine Conferences since 1836, till a few months before
being readmitted to ours; and for ten successive sessions
was its principal secretary. Of course his best work was
done there. He was highly respected, and ‘died well”
in April, 1882, in the seventy-second year of his age.

John N. Nelson was received last year by transfer,
as a preacher on trial of the first year, and appointed a
ANNALS OF 1882, 291.

nissionary at Para, Brazil, under Father (now Bishop)
Taylor's direction, and fell a victim to the yellow fever there
on the 26th of September, 1881, the very day after our
Conference adjourned. He was reared with us, was a
graduate of Lawrence University, the son of noble parents,
once residing at Menomonee Falls, but now within the
bounds of West Wisconsin Conference. He was a teacher
in ‘‘Collegio Americano,” and gave promise of great
usefulness.

The wives of two others passed away during the year.
The first was Mrs. Saran McFaruane. In 1848 she
came with her husband (now Rev. W. McFarlane) from
Scotland, where she had been strictly reared in the Pres-
byterian Church. In 1856 she began a somewhat new ex-
perience as the wife of a Methodist itinerant minister, her
husband being that year received on trial in our Confer-
ence. She was much attached to the work, and seems to
have done her part well. She was called from it Decem-
ber 5, 1881.

The other, Mrs. CornetrA A. S. RicHarpson, fell a
victim to typhoid fever, September 3, 1882. She was a
devoted Christian, a great help to her husband, Rev. Jas.
Richardson, and died very triumphantly. <A little be-
fore her departure she seemed to catch a glimpse of the
other shore, and with a countenance aglow with heav-
enly radiance, she exclaimed: ‘‘They are so happy over
there.”

The reports of this year show a general ‘‘ advance all
along the lines,” in numbers, church edifices, benevolences,
etc. The total increase in the collections for the latter
was $5,557.

At this Conference, Rev. C. D. Pillsbury, a veteran in
Immanuel’s army, retired to superannuation. In 1843 he
began his itinerant ministry in Maine, where he labored
successfully for fourteen years. He then located, and in
292 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

a few weeks was readmitted to the Wisconsin Conference,
in which he performed twenty-five years of very efficient
ministerial service, twelve of which were in district work.

1883.

On the third day of October, this year, our Conference
convened in Summerfield Church, Milwaukee. This was
its third session in that church, and its fifth in the city.
And as the Rock River Conference met there in 1844, while
Methodism in Wisconsin was under its supervision, six
Annual Conference sessions have been held there.

Bishop J. F. Hurst appeared as president. As this
was his first visit, few of our preachers had ever seen him.
Though his personal presence is not specially imposing, he
is an intellectual giant. It is saying much, but probably
not too much, to say that, in point of critical, profound,
and varied scholarship, he excels all in our Board of
Bishops. At the time of his election to the episcopacy, in
1880, he had been professor and president in Drew Theo-
logical Seminary for nine years, and he had previously
been a professor in Martin Mission Institute, in Germany,
for five years.

S. Halsey was again elected secretary, with J. R.
Creighton and A. J. Benjamin, assistants. A slight change
is seen in the statistical secretaries. S. Smith was again
elected principal, and P. W. Peterson was still his first as-
sistant; W. B. Robinson and Geo. W. White were also
elected as his assistants.

In reviewing the work of the year we see nothing re-
markable. The hosts of our Zion seem to have done little
more than to hold the ground already gained. This, when
a fever of emigration rages (as about this time it seems to
have done), is success. Still we can hardly be satisfied
with such a state of things. Itshould awaken anxiety and
prompt to greater activity.
ANNALS OF 1883. 293

The membership in the Conference underwent consider-
able change. We received five by transfer, fifteen on trial,
and one on credentials from the Bible Christian Church.
On the other hand, we lost five by transfer, two by death,
and four by location.

Of those who were transferred to other Conferences,
one, B. M. Fulmer, had been with us a score of years. He
went to the West Wisconsin Conference. The name of
G. W. Burtch first appeared in our Minutes in 1869. He
was transferred to the Nebraska Conference. F. F. Teeter,
who came to us in 1877, was transferred to Minnesota Con-
ference. C. L. Logan, who went to Rock River Confer-
ence, had been with us since 1878. So far as appears they
all did good work and left grateful memories behind them.

The name of J. E. Gilbert appears in our list of ap-
pointments in 1871, as ‘‘General Superintendent of State
Sunday-school Institute and Missionary Classes.” This was
a new department of work among us, and it seems not to
have been perpetuated. Our published records give no in-
formation as to whence Mr. Gilbert came, or whither he
went. In 1880 his name reappears. He served Summer-
field Church, Milwaukee, three years, and was then trans-
ferred to Michigan Conference. He was a man of energy,
tact, good address, fair ability, sufficient self-assurance, and
emphatically an itinerant—remaining but a short period in
any Annual Conference.

JONATHAN Wauirney and Henry BAnnIsTER were
removed by death.

Mr. Whitney entered the Vermont Conference in 1844,
and located in 1852. In 1857 he was readmitted to the
itinerancy in our Conference, and did effective work for
twelve years, and then retired to the superannuate ranks,
where he remained until he entered into his long-sought
rest, February 18, 1883. Hedied in Minneapolis, having
spent the last few years of his life in Minnesota.
294 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Seldom does it fall to the lot of any one to chronicle
the death of such a man as Dr. Henry Bannister. In real
manliness, true nobility, profound and extensive scholarship,
unaffected humility, and uniform piety, he has had few
equals. The writer’s second pastoral field was the residence
of Henry Bannister’s boyhood. He was then just entering
upon his life-work as a teacher. Such was the impression
made on the writer’s mind by the tender expressions of esteem
for ‘‘ Brother Henry,” that there were few men in the Church
or the Nation whom he desired more to see. After the
acquaintance was formed, matured, and continued through
many years, his ideal was fully realized. Mr. Bannnister
prepared for college at the Oneida Conference Seminary,
graduated from Wesleyan University in 1836, and from
the Auburn Theological Seminary in 1839. This was a
Presbyterian institution; we had none then of that kind.
He was engaged in teaching in the first named school, and
others, until 1856, when he was elected professor of exe-
getical theology in the Biblical Institute, at Evanston, IIl.,
just chartered. The faculty consisted of Drs. Dempster,
Kidder, and Bannister—a noble trio. He was a member
of the Oneida Conference from 1842 until his transfer to
ours, in 1857. He ceased to work and live, April 15, 1883.
Thus for more than a quarter of a century he honored both
our Conference and the Institute. No pen can describe the
influence for good that went out from him through the
hundreds he had faithfully instructed in Biblical lore.

In addition to the two ministers who “ finished their
course” this year, Mrs. Aprzia S. ANDERSON was called
away. In early life she had a thorough religious and Meth-
odistic training. At the age of fifteen years, she conse-
crated herself to God, united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and continued a faithful member until her death,
on the 13th of April, 1883. On the fourth day of No-
vember, 1863, she was married to Rev. Joseph Anderson,
ANNALS OF 1888. 295

of our Conference, and assumed the care of a large family
of boys, whose mother had gone to her reward. It was a
delicate position, but she was equal to it. So kind in her
temper, and so skillful in government was she, that after a
little they seemed not to realize that any change had taken
place in the domestic circle. Asa pastor’s wife she was
modest, earnest, useful, much esteemed by the people, and
a wise counselor.

A new exhibition of Christian philanthropy was this
year brought to the attention of the Conference; viz., the
‘“Woman’s Home Missionary Society of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.” This was intended, not to antagonize
the foreign work in which the women of the Churches had
become very much interested, but to supplement it. It
came to us in this light: ‘‘The plan of this society is to
send into the neglected and destitute regions of our own
land, Christian women to teach in schools where such can be
collected, and also to give religious instruction by going
into the homes of the needy.” The Conference gave it a
hearty indorsement, assisted to organize it for work, and
sent it on its mission. It is still a living force in the gen-
eral work.

Dr. E. D. Huntley was this year succeeded in the presi-
dency of the university by Dr. Bradford P. Raymond. The
former was appointed to the pastorate of the Metropolitan
Church in Washington, D. C., and soon after was elected
chaplain of the United States Senate. The latter will be
heard from in future pages. It is sufficient now to say that
the friends of the college were greatly encouraged by the
outlook.

The districts were the same as the last year, but there
were several changes in their incumbents. I. S. Leavitt
succeeded H. Colman on Milwaukee District; 5. Luge,
A.J. Mead, on Janesville; and J. R. Creighton, A. P.
Mead, on Waupaca.
296 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Delegates were also elected at this Conference to the
General Conference to be held in May, 1884. They were
as follows: ‘‘W. P. Stowe, S. Halsey, Joseph Anderson,
J. M. Walker; reserves—A. J. Mead, Thos. Clithero.

The Electoral Conference held this year was organized
on Friday, the 5th of October, by the election of Hon.
Edwin Hyde as president, and Leander Ferguson as secre-
tary. Mr. Hyde had been president of two similar
Conferences; so this third election was very complimentary.
Geo. H. Foster and M. D. Moore were elected delegates
to the General Conference; H.S. Alban and S. C. Blake,
reserves.

Both Conferences— clerical and lay—took decided
ground against any change in the ‘‘ time limit” as to the
,term of pastoral service. i
 

 

 

 

Rev JOHN L. HEWITT, A M
Presiding Elder, Milwaukee District,
ANNALS OF 1884, 297

CHAPTER XIX.
1884-5.

N the first day of October, 1884, the Conference met
() in Oshkosh, being its third session in that city, with
intervals of just ten years.

Biship W. F. Mallalieu, elected to the episcopacy in
the next preceding May, presided. Though Dr. Mallalieu
had been for several years a prominent and highly es-
teemed member of the New England Conference, he was
probably less known to the Church at large than those
elevated to the episcopacy usually are. Perhaps his most
distinguishing characteristics are fervent piety, thorough
consecration to ‘his work, and great skill in reaching prac-
tical results.

S. Halsey was re-elected secretary, and A. J. Benjamin,
assistant; S. Smith was also re-elected statistical secretary,
with W. B. Robinson and W. J. Fisher, assistants.

The Conference was held in the ‘‘ First Church ”—so
called after one had been erected on the south side of the
river. But the edifice was quite different from the one in
which we held our former sessions there. This church was
somewhat described in the annals of other years, especially
its financial embarrassment. It is now recorded with grat-
itude that the noble band of brethren on whose shoulders
a heavy burden rested were so encouraged by the sym-
pathy and aid of the Conference that they renewed their
efforts and rescued the Church. It is practically free from
debt, the rent of the stores under the auditorium fully

25
298 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

meeting their interest. It is also expected that they will
soon pay off the indebtedness itself. The house stands on
the corner of Main and Merritt Streets—just the place for
a people’s church—is a magnificent structure, will seat a
thousand people, has a fine organ, and all the conveniences
for successful work. In short, it is a monument to the
wisdom and foresight of its projectors.

The reader will see in the Annals of 1869 an account
of the Second Methodist Episcopal Church of this city.

Since our session here in 1874 still another Church
has been organized, known as Algoma Street Church.
As early as 1870 it was seen that church privileges were
needed in the western part of the city. Services were ac-
cordingly commenced there by John Cowham, a local
preacher, in the upper part of a carpenter-shop owned by
E. L. Paine. These were continued until 1874, when a
separate charge was formed, and W. F. Randolph ap-
pointed pastor. During that year a church edifice was
erected. It has been a prosperous field. Altogether our
cause has obtained a strong position in thé city.

In looking after the changes among our members this
year, we find that two had fallen by death—Hiram HEr-
sEY and J. T. Boynton.

Mr. Hersey entered the itinerant field in Wisconsin
Conference at its formation, in 1848, and did faithful work
for about twenty years; then became superannuated,
and soon removed to Jowa, where he died, February 9,
1884, after more than forty years of irreproachable Chris-
tian life.

Mr. Boynton was received in 1868, and proved himself
a very useful minister until the partial failure of his health,
which compelled him to retire to the supernumerary ranks.
His death occurred in Alto, May 27, 1884.

Mrs. Eva F. Curtiss, wife of Rev. O. A. Curtiss, also
passed from labor to rest during this year. She was a
ANNALS OF 188;. 299

noble, promising young woman. She graduated from Law-
rence University in 1877, in the same class with her hus-
band, taking the second honor, as he did the first. On the
22d of November, 1883, this promising life ceased on earth,
to be continued in a brighter sphere.

There were still other changes. W. C. Waldron and
S. N. Griffith were located. They were both graduates of
Lawrence. The former was also a graduate of Garrett
Biblical Institute. The latter had been a professor in the
university. For some reason, neither of them met expec-
tation in their Conference work.

Five were transferred to other Conferences. They had
been in Conference relations but a short time, but deemed
it best to go to other fields.

Eight were received on trial; tw came to us by trans-
fer, and seven on credentials from other Churches. Of
these last-named, four came from the Bible Christians, two
from the Methodist Church in Canada, and one from the
Primitive Methodist Church.

G. W. Wells succeeded J. M. Walker on Appleton
District.

As usual, the Conference sent forth bold utterances
against the rum-fiend, and gave encouragement to other
benevolent and humanitarian lines of work.

There was an increase this year of nineteen church ed-
ifices, ten of which were from the Bible Christians. This
denomination was a branch of the Methodist family. It
had its origin in England by a secession from the Wesley-
ans in 1815. In that country and in Canada it became
quite numerous; but in the United States, outside of Wis-
consin, it was scarcely known, and here it had only four
pastoral charges. These were under the jurisdiction of
the Conference in Canada, and, as all the branches of
Methodism there had recently consolidated into one body,
the Churches in this State, with the ministers, deemed it
300 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

unwise to continue a separate denomination. After due
deliberation, they disbanded, and united with the Wiscon-
sin Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1881, Antigo, a rising town on the Milwaukee,
Lake Shore and Western Railroad, first appeared in our
Minutes as a pastoral charge. This year a new church
edifice is reported from there, and there is every indication
of continued prosperity.

The most remarkable of all is Washington Avenue
Church, in Milwaukee. It seems to be the child of the
‘*City Missionary and Church Extension Society.” The
project of erecting it was conceived in 1883, and a sub-
scription of $2,100 was secured by Dr. H. Colman, then
presiding elder of the district. The contract for the build-
ing was made in March, 1884, and it was dedicated on
the 13th of the following July. In size it is sixty-two by
thirty-six feet. On the 17th of July the organization of
a society was effected by the transfer of eighteen members
from Grand Avenue Church, and one from Asbury, in
the city. They were at once supplied with a pastor, and
entered immediately upon aggressive and successful work.
During the two years’ pastorate of Rev. J. R. Creighton,
which commenced in 1886, the edifice was remodeled and
enlarged. A parsonage was also erected, valued at $6,000.
The estimated value of the church in 1889 was $18,000.
At Marinette a neat, attractive church was erected, to take
the place of one that had served a good purpose since
1870, but could no longer meet the demands of the grow-
ing city. It is well furnished with rooms adapted to evan-
gelistic work. Its estimated value is $14,000.

A new church was erected at Kenosha, also—not as
the sanctuary for a new pastoral charge, but as successor
of the one described in preceding pages, dating back to
1840. In 1845 it was removed from its original site. In
1871 it was greatly improved at an expense of $2,500.
ANNALS OF 18865. 301

It was burned February 4, 1883. The present edifice was
dedicated on the 16th of the next December. In size it
is sixty-six by thirty-six feet, and will seat three hundred.
It also has space for a large organ, and ample entrance under
tower. The lecture-room in the basement will accommodate
the Sunday-school of two hundred and fifty scholars. Near
by isa fine parsonage, valued, in 1889, at $2,600. The
church was valued at $10,000.

1885.

In 1851 and in 1863 our Conference was entertained at
Waukesha. We met there again this year for our annual
session. But what a change in the appearance of the
town !

An unpretentious spring, that had been for ages send-
ing out a small rivulet to refresh man and beast, had now
become almost world-wide in its reputation for its wonder-
ful curative properties. Many were thereby attracted, and
the small village was rapidly taking on the aspect and pro-
portions of a city—a result due largely to water-power.

Our people here had been unfortunate as to their church
edifices. The first, a frame building, was erected in 1842,
and burned September 15, 1861. This was followed by a
much larger one, built of stone. It was dedicated late in
1862, and burned July 24, 1882. The one, in which we
this year held our session, was dedicated June 17, 1883.
It is a massive stone edifice, well equipped with needed
rooms, and cost $10,350. Its seating capacity is 450.

On the eighth day of October, Bishop Bowman called
the Conference to order. According to our custom, the
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper preceded the business of
the session.

S. Halsey was again elected secretary, and A. J. Ben-
jamin and R. W. Bosworth, assistants.

S. Smith, for the sixteenth time elected statistical sec-
302 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

retary, asked to be relieved, and, on his nomination, W. J.
Fisher was elected as such. W. B. Robinson and F. A.
Pease were his assistants.

Four were received on trial, four by transfer from other
Conferences, and one on credentials from the Free-will
Baptist Church ; three had died, two were discontinued from
probation, two withdrew, seven were transferred to other
Conferences, one located, and three more passed to the re-
tired list than last year. So our active force was consider-
ably diminished.

Appleton and Waupaca Districts were reconstructed,
portions of each forming what is now Appleton District,
and other portions constituting Oshkosh District. J. D.
Cole was appointed to the former, and G. W. Wells to the
latter.

8. Halsey was appointed to the charge of Fond du Lac
District, G. H. Moulton’s term having expired.

J. M. Warxer, for forty years a member of the Con-
ference, failed at this session to respond to the roll-call of
the secretary—a higher authority having called him to a
greater ‘‘assembly.” He served the Church long and well,
and when his work was done he was ready to depart.
‘‘His sufferings during his last illness were extreme.
He often wondered uncomplainingly at the mystery of suf-
fering. Yet faith triumphed. His frequent exclamations
were: ‘AJ is bright beyond the river.’ ‘I am at the
brink waiting.’ ‘I have many friends to hold me here,
but many beckon me on.’” He chose, as the text for his
funeral sermon, 2 Tim. iv, 7-8: ‘‘I have fought a good
fight.” Thus passed this veteran, on the 3d of April, 1885,
from conflict to coronation.*

 

*Mr. Walker was the fourth pastor taken away by death
from the Church at Ripon. J.M.8. Maxson was the first. He
died June 19, 1858; Henry Requa followed May 19, 1865;
and Isaac Wiltse, May 30, 1877.
ANNALS OF 1885, 303

ALEXANDER C. Hunruey, another veteran, scarred
with the battles of forty years, followed Mr. Walker, on
the 7th of September, the same year. In 1845 he was
received by the Genesee Conference on trial. Thus both
were in the itinerancy about the same period. Mr. Hunt-
ley was transferred to our Conference in 1857, and con-
tinued in the active work until stricken down by disease,
early in January, 1885. His last sermon was preached
on the 4th of that month, from the text, ‘‘ Godliness is
profitable unto all things,” etc. (1 Tim. iv, 8.) He had
proved its value ‘‘in the life that now is,” and was soon
called to realize its value in ‘‘ that which is to come.”

JAMES RICHARDSON was received by our Conference
on trial in 1878, and served in the effective ranks about
six years. In 1884 he was placed on the supernumerary
list, and died December 29th of the same year. But
though his term of service was much shorter than the
veterans just described, he may have received the same
plaudit—‘‘ Well done!”

There had been considerable success during the year
in securing additional endowment for the university, by
the earnest efforts of the agent, Thomas Clithero, and
President Raymond.

The benevolences were generally well cared for, though
a slight falling off in some of them.

Of the seven transferred, only three had been with us
long. G. H. Moulton was received on trial in 1868, J. H.
Brooks in 1869, and T. H. Walker in 1874. They had
all done valuable work. The first named was in charge
of Fond du Lac District for four years. D. J. Holmes
was transferred to us from Rock River Conference
in 1878, and C. M. Heard from Minnesota in 1881.
This year they were re-transférred to their former Con-
ferences.

The withdrawal of two has been mentioned. They were
304 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

I. L. Hauser and Samuel Reynolds. The former joined
our Conference in 1860, and was for a time a missionary in
India. He never held an effective relation to the Confer-
ence after his return. The latter was transferred to us in
1867, and was for several years district superintendent of
the American Bible Society in Wisconsin and Michigan.
After leaving that work, he was in the pastorate till about
the time of his withdrawal.

Ordinary success attended the labors of the year. A
small church edifice at Wausau, that had served its pur-
pose, was succeeded by a much larger and better one. Its
estimated value is $6,000.

In the report on Temperance, which is well ‘‘ up to the
times,” there is an allusion to the supposed ‘‘ centenary of
the temperance movement in this country,” and a recogni-
tion of ‘‘ the providence of God in all that has been accom-
plished from the time of Dr. Benjamin Rush until now.”

This was well. But the Conference wisely refrained
from committing itself to the assumption that 1885 was the
true centenary of this reform. This idea originated with
Dr. Daniel Dorchester, who had become so noted as an au-
thority that many received his conclusions without ques-
tioning them. His position was, that as Dr. Rush, in
1785, published a treatise setting forth the injurious effects
of alcoholic liquor ‘‘on the body and mind,” which pro-
duced a deep and wide-spread impression, and probably led
to the formation of a temperance society in 1808, therefore
1885 should be regarded as the centennial of the temperance
reformation. Plausible as his reasoning is, it is difficult
to find a more fallacious argument urged by an intelligent and
honest man. But this subject can not be discussed here at
length. It is enough to say that no organized work sprang
from this treatise for nearly a quarter of a century, and
that this society of 1808 was ephemeral, having a short
existence, without succession. Now, as all Churches and
ANNALS OF 1885, 305

other associations trace the beginning of their existence to
some organization, or concerted action of a representative
body, 1785 should not be regarded as the natal year of the
. Temperance Reformation.

Besides, if an exception is made in this case to uni-
form custom, then the date should be carried back many
years; for Dr. Dorchester admits that Dr. Rush was in-
fluenced largely in the formation of his temperance senti-
ments by Bishop Asbury, who was a frequent guest at his
house. And the bishop owed his views and practice as
largely to Wesley’s rule on the use of spirituous liquor as
it now stands in our book of Discipline. This fact would
place the date of the temperance reformation back more
than forty years prior to 1785, according to Dr. Dorches-
ter’s reasoning.*

* On the 13th of February, 1826, the American Temperance
Society was formed, after considerable preliminary arrange-
ments. This was the beginning of organized temperance-
work in this country, except in sporadic cases; and therefore
should be regarded as the beginning of the temperance refor-
mation.
306 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER XX.
1886-7.

ISHOP MERRILL appeared in 1886 as the presi-
ident of our Conference. This was his second official
visit, the first being thirteen years before. He had gained,
in the meantime, considerable reputation as a presiding
officer and as a man of more than ordinary analytical and
judicial ability. Had he been bred to the law, he would
have been competent for a seat on the bench of the Su-
preme Court of the Nation.

The Conference was held in Berlin, a fine, growing city
on the Upper Fox River, commencing on the twenty-third
day of September.

The beginning of Methodism here was in 1850, when a
Mr. Bassenger preached and formed a class. The next
year the existing church edifice was commenced. The
place first appears as a pastoral charge in 1853. In 1863
the parsonage was built. The charge has been constantly
rising in importance.

S. Halsey was again elected secretary of the Confer-
ence, and R. W. Bosworth and A. J. Benjamin assistants.
The statistical secretaries of the last year were re-elected.

The roll-call showed that two of our old and well-tried
members had finished their work, D. C. Jones and W. H.
Winvow.

The former entered our Conference on trial in 1851, and
remained in the effective work thirty-four years. He was
a Welshman by birth, and always showed marks of his na-
tionality. He was thoroughly trustworthy, carefully guard-
ANNALS OF 1886, 307

ing every interest committed to him. In 1885 he was
placed on the list of supernumeraries, though he seemed
reluctant to admit that he was sufficiently enfeebled to jus-
tify him in taking that relation. On the 20th of the follow-
ing May he passed beyond the scenes of earth. The day
before he baptized his little grandson, saying, as he did so:
‘«This is probably the last official act of my life.”

Mr. Window, though an older man, had not been as
long with us. He entered the Illinois Conference in 1834,
preached several years, and then located and practiced
medicine for several years more: He joined our Confer-
ence, by readmission, in 1868, labored successfully for a
few years, and then became superannuated. He entered
into rest July 5, 1886, in the seventy-third year of his age.

C. W. Brewer, who was readmitted to our Conference
in 1866, and had done good work when his health would
permit, was this year transferred to Colorado Conference.

J. H. Cooper, a probationer of one year’s standing, was
transferred to Liberia Conference.

H. C. Myers, transferred to us in 1883, located. So
also did E. B. Lounsbury, who had been with us since
1880.

John Faville, who joined our Conference in 1876, with-
drew from the connection this year, and became pastor of
the Congregational Church in Appleton. We regarded
him as a young man of much promise. He is having fine
success in his new field.

C. Bristol also withdrew from us; but whence he came
or whither he went, this writer knows not.

It will thus be seen that from all causes we lost eight.
But as an offset we received sixteen; one of whom, Enoch
Savage, came from the Congregational Church.

The report on Temperance was enthusiastically adopted.
In it the liquor-traffic was severely castigated. The Sioux
City tragedy is attributed to it, and all our people are
308 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

urged to exercise their civil franchise for its destruction.
A strong and well-written petition to Congress was adopted,
urging that body to indemnify those Chinamen who had
suffered so severely from hoodlums in the West, and to
protect them in the future; also that all oppressive re-
strictions be removed. The Conference was still earnest
in its attempt to more fully endow the university. The
reports of numbers and of benevolent work make a very
fair appearance, yet they came far short of the desirable
point.

A committee, appointed at the last session, reported at
this a constitution of a Conference Historical Society.
The society was duly organized, by the adoption of the
constitution and the election of Dr. B. P. Raymond, presi-
dent; C. E. Carpenter, J. L. Hewitt, Henry Sewell, T. C.
Willson, and J. T. Woodhead, vice-presidents; P. S. Ben-
nett, corresponding secretary ; H. P. Haylett recording sec-
retary; Dr. H. Colman, treasurer; and D. W. Ames,
archivist and librarian. The special object of the society
is to collect and preserve historical facts and incidents of
value for future use.

The most remarkable though not the most pleasant fea-
ture of this session was, that it being near ‘car-time,” not
more than one-quarter of the members remained till the ad-
journment. Much of the moral effect of an Annual Confer-
ence is sometimes discounted by a too hasty adjournment.

1887.

Appleton received the Conference this year for the
fourth time. It was held October 5-10.

Bishop Charles H. Fowler presided. Like all the other
bishops, he had a previous record that showed the high es-
teem in which he was held by the Church at large.

He had been successively pastor of important Churches
in Chicago, president of the Northwestern University, at
ANNALS OF 1887, 809

Evanston, Ill., editor of the Christian Advocate in New
York, and corresponding secretary of the Missionary So-
ciety of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was elected
bishop in 1884.

R. W. Bosworth was elected secretary, and H. P. Hay-
lett and C. E. Goldthorp, assistants.

W. J. Fisher was re-elected statistical secretary, with
W. B. Robinson and E. Duckworth, assistants.

Since the last session five of our ministers and the wives
of two others had joined the larger company on the other
shore.

A. P. Mean was the first of this number to go thither
at the Master’s call. He entered the itinerancy in 1850,
in the Oneida Conference. In 1862 he became connected
with the Rock River Conference, and in 1875 was trans-
ferred to ours. He served several important charges, and
one district for three years. In 1883 he retired from the
active field, and removed to Nebraska, where he died,
December 14, 1886, after an effective ministry of thirty-
three years, some of which are said to have been marked
with unusual success in winning souls to Christ.

Exzau Ropryson died March 10, 1887, at Evansville,
where he had resided for many years in a superannuated
relation to our Conference. He commenced his ministry
in Vermont. In 1857 he entered our Conference, but was
soon compelled to retire, on account of permanently broken
health.

Rossirer C. Parsons was received on trial in our Con-
ference in 1857, having been employed a year or two by
the presiding elder at Port Washington. He remained’
with us a few years, then was transferred to New England
Conference, where he rendered valuable service till 1876,
when he returned to us. In 1881 he ceased from pastoral
work, in which he had always done well, and expired on
the 27th of July, 1887.
310 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Epwarp 8. GRUMLEY was called to his inheritance on
the 6th of August, 1887. He gave thirty-one years to
active ministerial service, ten in North Ohio, and twenty-
one in Wisconsin Conference. During four of these he
was in charge of Racine District. In all his fields of labor
he was diligent, successful, and highly esteemed. For
about sixteen years he was on the retired list, the last six
in Garnett, Kansas, where he died. During the period
of his superannuation he did much for the Master, aiding,
by his prayers, his sympathy, and his counsels, those who
could be more active, and especially his pastors. No won-

*der his daughter could write: ‘‘ Father died as he lived,
a holy man, and has found his long-wished rest.”

Davin 8. Howes entered our ranks in 1878, and was
a faithful, devoted, successful preacher and pastor till the
Conference of 1886, when he was placed among the su-
perannuates. On the 23d of the following November
he was called to his reward, testifying to the last ‘the
power of Jesus to save.”

Two of our ‘‘aged women,” who had been intimate
friends for nearly thirty years, and faithful workers with
their husbands for a much longer period, were this year num-
bered with the victorious dead. These were Mrs. OrPHA
Piuuspury, wife of Rev. C. D. Pillsbury, and Mrs. Cat-
PHURNIA C. BENNETT, wife of Rev. P. S. Bennett.

Mrs. Pillsbury consecrated herself to God in youth.
With her husband, she spent several years in the itinerant
work in Maine. When they came to Wisconsin Confer-
ence, in 1857, she had attained mature age and command-
ing influence. She was a woman of rare excellences.
Firmness, kindness, frankness, blended with sincerity, and
entire devotion to her work, were among her prominent
moral traits. For several years she was a great sufferer,
wasting away by the constant gnawing of a cancer, which
terminated her life on the 23d of February, 1887, in the
ANNALS OF 1887, 311

seventieth year of her age. Paul’s reckoning ‘‘that the
sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be com-
pared with the glory that shall be revealed in us,” comes
in to console such asufferer, and also sympathizing friends.
Those sufferings are ended; the revelation of the ‘“ glory”
is only begun.

Mrs. Bennett followed her friend on the twenty-sev-
enth day of August, 1887, aged seventy years, six months,
and twenty-one days. She, too, in early youth—even in
childhood—began a devoted Christian life, which she
maintained ‘to the end.” She had eleven years of ex-
perience in the itinerant field, with her husband, in the
Black River Conference, New York, and thirty-eight in
Wisconsin. Everywhere, and in every way, she was
eminently helpful to him in his work. Nor was she lim-
ited to the duties arising from that relation. ‘‘ With
many important interests, social and religious, she was
actively and officially identified. Her sympathetic nature
was a telephone audible with the whispers of every human
need. . . . Heaven was in her plans, her work, her
words, her feelings, her thoughts. She climbed where
Moses stood. Even while disease and suffering preyed on
the body, the spirit was crowned with glory. She thought
she was in heaven. It was beautiful! It was glorious!
‘O, my precious Savior!’ she said, then soon passed to the
full realization of her rapturous vision.”

In addition to our loss by death, twelve were trans-
ferred to other Conferences. Of these, only three had been
with us for any considerable length of time. D. T. Olcott
entered our Conference on trial in 1856, and did good,
faithful work for twenty-seven years, then passed to the
supernumerary list.

Wn. Teal, another true man and faithful worker, was
with us in active service from 1858 to 1881, and as a su-
perannuate after the last date.

°°
°

312 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

C. E. Smith, a young man of promise, had been with
us in effective work for eight years.

We had received seven by transfer, and six on trial.

Three changes were made in district appointees. J. R.
Creighton succeeded S. Halsey on Fond du Lac District,
who, in turn, succeeded I. 8. Leavitt on Milwaukee District ;
and R. W. Bosworth followed 8. Lugg on Janesville
District.

P. & Bennett, having been forty-nine years in the
itinerant ministry, the Conference invited him to preach
his semi-centennial sermon at the next session.

The reports of the year show a gratifying advance on
all the lines of Christian work. Two church edifices were
completed at important points; namely, Kaukauna and
Sherman Street, Milwaukee.

The reader will see, by referring to chapter ii of this
work, that the first house of worship connected with our
Church between Lake Michigan and the Pacific Ocean,
was erected in 1832, at the former place. It was aban-
doned when the Oneida Indians removed to their present
reservation, and long since went to decay. The place being
settled largely by foreigners, little has been done there by
our people till recent years. It has received some pastoral
labor in connection with Wrightstown, and in 1881 was
nominally the head of the circuit. During the Conference
year 1885-6, under the administration of Rev. W. D.
Ames, the new church edifice was begun, and it was com-
pleted in November, 1886. It is a, beautiful, substantial,
commodious church, built after one of our Church Exten-
sion plans, at a cost of $4,500. Its extreme length is 68
feet, its extreme width 40, and will seat 250 to 300. A
young but spirited membership worships there. Great
credit is due them for their united efforts in its construc-
tion ; to no one more than to N. H. Brokaw, who was really
the inspiration of the enterprise,
ANNALS OF 1887, 313

Sherman Street Church was the “outgrowth of a mis-
sion Sunday-school, which was started several years ago on
Tenth Street” by several members of Grand Avenue Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, among whom J. B. Bickford and
wife were very prominent. Such was the success of the
enterprise, that the ‘‘ City Missionary Society of the Meth-
odist Church soon became convinced that a Church was
needed in this promising field.” So in June, 1886, a lot
was purchased (60x120 feet), work commenced, and the
Church dedicated on the third day of the following Octo-
ber. ‘It is an attractive structure, 44x72 feet in its
ground dimensions, and has a seating capacity of 500.
The gallery across the front end of the church will seat
fully 100, and the lecture-rooms beneath as many more.”
Its reported value is $9,000. The dispatch which marked
its construction augured well, and so far it is fully meeting
expectation. Besides these, an old church edifice at Pal-
myra, erected in 1851, gave place toa new and far better
one during the year just closed. The former was a small
structure, in size 24x32 feet, that met the needs of the
people for the time. The latter is a neat, tasty building,
costing $3,000 with a seating capacity of about 300, three
times as many as the former one. Four new parsonages
also were erected during the year.

26
314 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER XXI.
1888-9.

ACINE was the seat of our Conference in 1888, and
for the fourth time. In this respect it shared equal
honors with Appleton and Fond du Lac, being outdone
only by Milwaukee. The session commenced on the twenty-
sixth day of September, Bishop Andrews, who was with
us nine years before, presiding. He had grown more ven-
erable in appearance, but not less kind and affable in his
manners. H. P. Haylett was elected secretary, and F. A.
Pease and G. H. Trever his assistants. The statistical
secretaries of last year were re-elected. J. L. Hewitt was
elected Conference treasurer.

In previous pages the erection of two church edifices
in Racine has been sketched. The last one described was
burned on the 5th of February, 1882, ‘‘ leaving the brick
walls in fair condition.” To repair them, however, cost
$550; and to restore the church, without spire or organ,
$18,500 ”—total, $19,050. This was a heavy burden,
especially as it came so soon after the former. But by ex-
cellent financiering it was soon removed. Great credit is
due the pastor, Rev. Thomas Clithero, for his earnest and
wise efforts in the struggle. It is difficult to discriminate
between the members, as they all did so well. If any one
should be designated as deserving special commendation,
the honor would probably fall on A. G. Knight—an old
resident of the place, one of the early members of the
ANNALS OF 1888. 315

Church, and one of its most reliable friends through all its
vicissitudes. Ripe in years, and ‘‘rich in faith,” he re-
cently departed to that ‘“‘kingdom” of which he had been
for many years an ‘‘heir.” In this edifice our Conference
held its session. In the afternoon of the first day the
writer tested the acoustic properties of the auditorium by
preaching his semi-centennial sermon, according to a re-
quest of the last Conference. The sermon was from the
text, ‘‘ Preach the word” (2 Timothy, iv, 2), and was
especially intended for the younger ministers.

There is another Church under our care in Racine, of
which no mention has been made in these chronicles. It
is called ‘‘ Union Church.” It took its name froma Union
Sunday-school in the northern part of the city, where it is
located. As an appointment, it first appears in our Min-
utes in 1881. The church edifice was first reported in
1882. For a year or two it promised well. It then began
to be weakened by removals, and more so for lack of care.
It was supplied by students from Evanston, who could
give it next to no pastoral work—a very effectual way to
prevent the growth of a Church in a formative state.
Meanwhile the missionary appropriations formerly made
were cut off. This tended to discourage all the members,
and to disaffect some. At the preceding Conference (1887)
there were appropriated over five thousand dollars for
missions. Of this, two missions in Milwaukee received
$400 and $500 respectively—$900 in all. After each pre-
siding elder had secured all he asked for his district, there
were about one hundred and fifty dollars left that they did
not know what to do with. This sum was distributed
among places that had already received all that was even
asked for them, and not a dollar to the poor, struggling Union
Church, though an appropriation had been promised. The
appointee felt that the treatment was severe; but he went
uncomplainingly, as he ever had done, to his work. Such,
316 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

however, were the discouragement and disaffection of the
society that he remained but a short time. It is difficult
to properly explain the action of the Committee on
Missions in this case. The least that can be said is, that
it shows inexcusable indifference to the trust committed
to them. It also suggests the inquiry whether it would
not be well to associate an equal number from the pastoral
work with the presiding elders to make the missionary
appropriations.

For several years more changes had occurred in the
personnel of the Conference than formerly. This year was
not an exception. We were re-enforced by three transfers,
by seven received on trial, and by four from other de-
nominations—fourteen in-all. This number was exactly
matched by seven deaths, six transfers, and one with-
drawal.

Those who left us by transfer stood well with us,
though they had not been long in the Conference.

Olin A. Curtiss, one of the number, has recently been
elected to a professorship in the theological department of
Boston University. C. A. Stockwell went to Tennessee
Conference; T. H. Dry, to West Nebraska; Victor Char-
roin, to Black Hills; W. H. Hollister, to South India;
E. O. Bullock, to Dakota; and O. A. Curtiss, to Rock
River Conference.

Of the deceased, the first called was GEorGE 8. Huss
He was received on trial in 1865, and though rather frail
physically, he continued in the effective ranks till 1883. In
vain he sought health by a change of climate. He con-
tinued to decline till October 12, 1887, when, to use his
own words in anticipation of the event, he ‘‘ got ‘over the
line,” and was “well.” He was a man of more than ordi-
nary ability, and acquired much knowledge under great
difficulties. He filled several important appointments suc-
ANNALS OF 1888, 317

ee-sfully, everywhere commanding respect as a preacher
and pastor.

GerorcE FELLows commenced his itinerant ministry in
1852. During most of the intervening time until his
death, which occurred January 31, 1888, he was connected
with our Conference, filling several important appoint-
ments, and serving four years on Waupun District. In
1882 he retired from the active field. He was still able to
study, aud as he had paid some attention to medicine, he
renewed his studies in that line, graduated from the
Hahnemann Medical College in 1885, and settled in
Waukesha. On the evening of January 31, 1888, he ate
his supper in usual health, and in a few minutes expired
without a groan, stricken by apoplexy.

Wittram ANDERSON was received on trial in 1867,
worked earnestly and with considerable success till 1870,
when he superannuated, and moved to Missouri, where he
died on the 28th of April, 1888.

Gerorce W. WELLS came from the Primitive Methodist
Conference to ours, in 1867. From that time on, until
prostrated by disease, he was one of our most useful minis-
ters. He was skilled in many ways—as a Church finan-
cier, as a pastor, as a preacher, and as a presiding elder.
Everywhere he not only commanded respect, but became
greatly endeared to the people. He was in charge of Osh-
kosh District, and continued in active work far beyond the
bounds of prudence, but was finally compelled to yield.
‘«He died at his home in Oshkosh, after weeks of great
suffering, August 28, 1888.”

Jesse Hatsteap, of whom so much is said in the
earlier part of this work—one of our distinguished pioneers—
‘‘was gathered to his fathers from his home in Rockford,
Illinois, August 24, 1888.” His abundant labors in the
wilds of Wisconsin began in 1837. Toils and joys, con-
318 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

flict and victory, attended him. He ‘‘rests from his
labors, and his works do follow him.”

Wii1am Morse, a meek, devout, earnest man of God,
passed to his inheritance, in Charles City, Iowa, August
30, 1888. He rendered several years of valuable service
in the itinerancy, both in New York and in Wisconsin,
and when obliged to retire from the active ministry he was
useful in various ways. ‘‘At the time of his death,” says
his pastor, ‘‘he was the most respected, loved, and vener-
ated man in Charles City.”

Detos HALE was received on trial in 1854, and per-
formed a considerable amount of work in the effective
ranks. Most of the intervening time, however, he was on
the retired list. Yet he was very useful there. He could
always be relied upon to do what he could. He finished
his course September 1, 1888.

Mrs. Emma Pratt, wife of Rev. G. W. Pratt, passed
from earthly toil December 5, 1887. For twenty-six
years she was a faithful companion of her husband in the
itinerant field, and died with ‘‘an intense longing to de-
part and be with Christ.”

JuLtiA May Suerwin, wife of Rev. F. B. Sherwin,
completes the mortuary list of this year. She was an in-
telligent, devoted young woman. During five years of
earnest work with her husband in the itinerancy she gave
promise of great usefulness in the future. Her sufferings
for eleven weeks, with spinal fever, were very severe.
“Read me about the mansions,” she said; and soon, on the
25th of February, 1888, she was permitted, we doubt not,
to enter one of: them.

As Rev. M. Himebaugh was just entering the fiftieth
year of his itinerant ministry, the Conference by vote asked
him to preach his semi-centennial sermon at the next Con-
ference.

There was a general advance this year also in our work,
ANNALS OF 1889, 319

though but a small increase in church edifices. The
Division Street Church, at Fond du Lac, purchased a very
fine parsonage.

For several years our work had been extending into
the newer portions of the State, and church edifices had
correspondingly increased in those places. Some of these
will become centers of considerable importance.

1889.

In 1867 our Conference met in a small church in the
city of Beaver Dam. Reference is made in the annals of
that year to the project of erecting a church edifice. But
the desired object was not accomplished until 1871, in the
pastorate of Rev. A. A. Reed. By wise and persistent
effort he led his people to believe that the ‘‘time had
come to build the house of the Lord,” and in spite of many
discouraging circumstances they entered upon the work,
and carried it to successful completion. It is a brick edifice,
well equipped with lecture and class-rooms. It cost $10,000,
and will seat three hundred. In this editice the Confer-
ence commenced its forty-third session on the 25th of Sep-
tember, 1889, with Bishop J. P. Newman as president.

In May, 1888, Dr. Newman was elected, with four
others, to the episcopacy. Few if any of our bishops were
as extensively known previous to their election as he, and
perhaps none possessed more extended and varied scholar-
ship. At the great secession in 1844, many of our mem-
bers were compelled, by force of circumstances, to go into
the Church South. After the Rebellion ceased, Dr. New-
man was sent South to look after such as desired to be
recognized as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
there; and he reorganized it in Mississippi, Louisiana, and
Texas. He also acted an important part in founding an
orphan asylum, the New Orleans University, and the South-
western Christian Advocate. He subsequently served three
820 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

terms of three years each as pastor of the Metropolitan
Church, D. C., and was thrice elected chaplain of the United
States Senate. He is the author of several works of merit,
the one entitled “Thrones of Nineveh and Babylon”
securing him membership in the Biblical Archeological
Society of London.

The organization of the Conference was completed by
the election of the following officers, viz.: Secretary—John
Schneider, with Perry Millar and T. W. North as assistants.
Statistical Secretary—W. J. Fisher, with E. Duckworth
and W. B. Robinson as assistants. Treasurer—J. L.
Hewitt, with S. Jolliff and B. F. Sanford as assistants.

Three ministers, and the wife of another, had fallen by
death during the Conference year.

Henry Orcutt was the first to meet the Master's call
to a higher seat. He was received on trial in our Confer-
ence in 1854, and did good work till the session of 1870,
when he was returned superannuated. ‘‘ He was a man of
sweet spirit and spotless life—a faithful minister of Jesus
Christ ”"—‘‘ an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile.” He
was a model of meekness, unless his meekness induced too
low an estimate of himself. He closed his earthly pilgrim-
age, November 15, 1888, in the sixty-seventh year of
his age.

Joun W. Fripp was received as a member in full con-
nection from another branch of the Methodist Church in
1871, and performed effective work for four years, when he
was placed on the list of supernumeraries. In this relation
he continued until released by death, November 27, 1888.
‘During his retirement from the active ministry he ren-
dered much valuable service to the Church.”

JoserH H. Jenne followed these fallen heroes, on the
21st of January, 1889, in the eighty-third year of his age.
He was a man of unusual native powers, well disciplined
by close thought and careful reading. He was a native of
ANNALS OF 1889. 821

Maine, in which State he performed twenty-five years of
ministerial labor, being presiding elder on Bangor and Port-
land Districts respectively, and once a delegate to the Gen-
eral Conference. In 1856 he came to Wisconsin, and in
connection with our Conference continued about twenty-
three years longer in the effective ranks—one as agent of
Lawrence University, and eight as presiding elder of Ap-
pleton and Janesville Districts. For about ten years he
was superannuated, awaiting the Master’s call.

Mrs. Nancy HouaH Was, wife of Rev. John Wills,
passed to her rest, after a brief illness, on the 30th of
April, 1889, in the thirty-third year of her age. She
was an estimable lady, an earnest Christian, and a very
helpful wife for a minister. She died as she lived in
joyful expectation of the ‘inheritance of the saints in
light.”

Soon after the close of the Conference of 1888, Henry
Faville withdrew from the ministry and membership of
our Church. He graduated from Lawrence University in
1871, and subsequently from the Boston School of The-
ology. In 1876 he entered the itinerant ranks of our Con-
ference, and for twelve years did effective service, constantly
rising in the esteem of all among whom he labored. An
unhappy combination of circumstances induced him to
change his ecclesiastical relations. He went from us with the
confidence and good-will of all his brethren, though some
of us believed he did not act wisely in so doing. He is
now pastor of the Congregational Church at La Crosse.

Five were transferred to other Conferences, viz.: D. J.
Whiting, B. P. Raymond, J. C. Jackson, M. T. C. Seeley,
and F. S. Stein. While it may be said of all, well done,
two or three deserve special notice.

F. 8. Stein came to us by transfer, in 1877, and filled
successfully several of our best appointments.

J. C. Jackson, also transferred to us in 1886, had
27
822 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

proved himself, in a pastorate at Appleton of two and a
half years, a man of unusual pulpit ability.

Bradford P. Raymond graduated from our university
in 1870, and from the Boston School of Theology in 1878.
He then entered the itinerant ministry in New England,
where he performed several years of successful pastoral
work, and in 1883 was elected president of Lawrence Uni-
versity. In the meantime he went to Germany, studied
at Leipsic and Gottingen, whence he received the degree
of Ph. D., in 1881. During the six years of his presi-
dency of Lawrence, he constantly rose in favor with all
connected with the institution, and commanded universal
respect throughout the State. He was this year trans-
ferred to New York East Conference, having been elected
to the presidency of the Wesleyan. University, at Middle-
town, Connecticut, the oldest and most honored institution
of its grade in American Methodism.

In parting with Curtiss and Raymond, we have the
compensating thought that we of the West have paid the
East a large share of the debt we owed them. Still, it
seems hardly fair that so large a draft should be made on
Lawrence, unless it be that we could furnish the best
material.

For several years the importance of providing more
amply for our superannuated preachers had engaged the
attention of the Conference. This year a new plan was
proposed by Major E. L. Paine, a prominent layman of
Oshkosh, which received favorable consideration. It is in
substance this: That each member of the Church should be
induced, if possible, to pay two cents per week, and each
Sunday-school scholar two cents per month for this purpose,
one-half of the amount thus raised to be used to supple-
ment the annual income from other sources for this pur-
pose, the other half to be funded, the interest only to be
used annually. In this way, if all could be induced to
ANNALS OF 1889, 823

follow out the plan, the sum of $20,264 could be raised
every year, which would give $10,132 directly to Con-
ference claimants, and the same to the permanent fund.
This surely is a magnificent scheme, and who dares to say,
«Tt can not be done?”

Considerable advance was made during the year in
building and improving church property. By far the best
edifice erected was in Bay View, Milwaukee. It is now
known as Trinity Church. It isa massive brick edifice,
standing on the corner of two important avenues, Kinnick-
innick and Clement. The auditorium is 70x50 feet, the
lecture-room, 70x80 feet, two parlors, 16x20 and 20x20 feet
respectively, with a dining-room and kitchen below the three
last mentioned, the former being in size 70x80 feet, and
the latter 16x20. The audience-room will seat 500, and
the entire structure cost but $23,000. Where is its equal
for all kinds of Church work at so small a cost?

Our people in Waupun had commenced a much-needed
church edifice to take the place of the one they had occupied
for many years. Its size is 70x54 feet in extreme; the
auditorium, 60x30 feet, with 5-feet transepts on the sides,
so nearly 60x40 feet. It will seat nearly 300. It will
contain a good lecture-room, two class-rooms, and a kitchen,
thus well equipped for all kinds of good work. Itis a
wooden structure, with cathedral-glass windows, and is
really a fine edifice.*

Mrs. Ann E. Scott, of Merrill, formerly of Grand
Rapids, recently deceased, left a bequest to the former
place of $13,300, to the latter of $4,000, to be used in
improving the church property in those places. In the
church at Grand Rapids a memorial window of her de-
parted parents is to be placed. Mrs. Scott had been much
devoted to the interests of our Church for many years,

*It was dedicated May 4, 1890.
824 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and, like David, she had the Lord’s house in her heart to
the last.

During the three years’ pastorate of E. R. Hayward,
which closes this year, the Church at Menasha has been
greatly improved, both in its membership and in its house
of worship. The latter has been extensively repaired. It
is now valued at $6,000.

On December 27-30, 1888, our Church in Beloit cele-
brated its jubilee, the fiftieth anniversary of itsexistence. It
was a very interesting and profitable occasion. The Con-
gregationalists there celebrated theirs three days later,
being so much younger. In these jubilees there was much
very fraternal and pleasvnt interchange.

The routine work of the Conference this year was very
much as usual, cnd the general plan for the ensuing year
differed little from the last.

Two changes were made in the district incumbents.
W. W. Painter succeeded J. R. Creighton on the Fond
du Lac District, and J. L. Hewitt, S. Halsey on the Mil-
waukee.

The record of this Conference must not be closed with-
out grateful mention of the unusual religious influence
that generally prevailed. This was due largely to the
early morning prayer-meetings, and the half-hour talks of
‘Bishop Newman, which were full of mental and spiritual
aliment.
RETROSPECTIVE. 325

RETROSPECTIVE.

ITH the forty-third session of the Wisconsin Confer-
ence, this history closes; yet not without a few
words by way of retrospection.

In reviewing the ground passed over, nothing, perhaps,
is more apparent than the adaptation of our itinerant sys-
tem to real evangelism. It does not wait for a call from a
Church council, but, anticipating the needs of the people,
it sends the heralds of salvation to them with the Word
of Life.

The moral heroism—the unselfish devotion of these men
to the work—is also very apparent. We see them start
out for a year’s toil without the promise of a dollar, either
from a missionary society behind them, or the people be-
fore them. Indeed, in some instances the people were as
. ignorant of their coming as they were of the country they
were about to explore. Thus multitudes heard the ‘good
tidings of great joy” that probably would not have been
reached by any other system for years.

Nor is the effectiveness of this system seen only in pio-
neering. With scarcely an exception it supplies every
Church with a pastor, and every itinerant minister, in
health, with a pastoral charge, from the beginning to the
end of the year. And when vacancies occur, by death or
otherwise, it can usually fill them with very little delay.

The reader must have been impressed with the fearless
and advanced position of the Conference on all questions of
moral reform. Neither the anti-slavery nor the temperance
contest found the Conference at any time ‘‘ fearful or faint-
a

326 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

hearted.” Though a few were hesitant for a time relative
to the former, the body of the Conference were from the
first uncompromising in antagonizing the system and spirit
of slavery in every form and everywhere. Nor has it
been less erect in its opposition to the liquor-traffic. It
stands unequivocally committed to its legal prohibition, as
does the entire Methodist Episcopal Church, though as yet
it has not deemed it a duty to declare for separate political
action. But this.will probably come by the ‘logic of
events.”

Nor was the Conference wanting either in loyalty or
patriotism in the Nation’s contest with treason. Its utter-
ances were fearless, and its practical response to the demand
for help demonstrated its sincerity.

More than half a score of our ministers volunteered
their services in some form to aid in quelling the Rebellion.

We have also made a creditable record in the cause of
education. If some premature efforts were made, they in-
dicated our zeal in this direction, and it should not be con-
sidered as much of a reproach to fail in an honest, earnest
effort to do a good thing as indifference and inactivity.

The missionary spirit has been cherished in every pe-
riod of our Conference existence. In an early day some
of our ministers were almost self-sustained missionaries.
Later we gave our money and our men to the missionary
work at home and abroad. Nearly every mission-field
under the care of the Methodist Episcopal Church has been
re-enforced by the Wisconsin Conference.

We have made changes in methods of work, but have
never felt the need of trying to improve or in any way
modify our doctrines. While one highly respected denom-
ination has formulated a ‘‘ new creed,” and another is in
an earnest effort to do the same, we preach, print, and
sing the same doctrines that our fathers did a hundred
years ago, and find them effective in leading sinners to
RETROSPECTIVE. 827

repentance, and then in edifying them in righteousness.
Meanwhile, we rejoice to see the Protestant world moving
toward those standards of faith which have distinguished
us from the beginning.

But methods of work are, and always have been, sub-
ject to variation. The genius of Method-ism is to utilize
every proper method, new or old, that promises to advance
the Redeemer’s kingdom. Hence we encourage young
people’s societies that are vitalized with the spirit of Christ.
These are increasing among us; and if they continue to
glow with celestial fire, as they seem to now, they will be-
come a mighty agency for good. If they fail at this point,
they will be a snare.

In the natural working of our itinerant system, through
more than half a century, some will almost unavoidably be
subjected to what may appear unfair treatment. A com-
bination of circumstances may necessitate such a result,
while all concerned would fain have it otherwise. It is
not strange that this sometimes leads to a change of eccle-
siastical relations; but it should be remembered that no
system of ministerial appointment or employment is free
from objections. We have received quite as many to our
ranks from the ministry of other Churches as have gone
from us. And if all are at their greatest point of power,
it is well. Let the ‘‘ watchmen see eye to eye,” and lift
up their voices together to avert the common danger,
though at different points on the walls of Zion.

While we may see many causes for regret in looking
through the labors of the past, we surely can see much to
awaken gratitude.

In 1832 there were a few widely scattered settlements
of white people in the present domain of Wisconsin. That
year our work was begun here in a small way. Now we
have in this State 32,851 communicants, of which 341 are
ministers; 502 Sabbath-schools, with 388,849 scholars;
328 WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

461 church edifices, and 219 parsonages, all valued at
$1,694,829.

How many have passed on to a better inheritance, the
Book of Life only can reveal.

Confining our observations to Wisconsin Conference, we
find, in its germinal and developed condition, the names of
seven hundred and sixty-eight in the lists of appointments
through these years.

During the first fifteen years not a death occurred in our
ministerial ranks. This was very remarkable, even though
our number was then small. The first one departed October
22,1847. Up to the present time sixty-three have gone to
their ‘‘ long home,” forty-five of whom had previously passed
to superannuation.

In concluding these Annals, the question presses upon
the writer, will these pages accomplish the purposes in-
tended? The mere collation and preservation of historic
incidents are matters of minor importance. If the fact that
a faithful sowing of “‘ the word of God” will be followed by
the fruits of righteousness, has not been so impressed as to
secure continued and even greater activity and more glorious
results in the years to come, his highest aim will not be met.
This book, therefore, goes forth with the earnest prayer that
the Great Head of the Church may enable those in the
active work to leave it to their successors with an improve-
ment commensurate with the vantage-ground bequeathed
them.
 

 

 

 

 

Rev JAMES LAWSON
PARLE,

BY REV. JAMES LAWSON.

 

HISTORY

OF

WEST WISCONSIN AND NORTHWEST
WISCONSIN CONFERENCES.

 

CHAPTER I.

HISTORY OF METHODISM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN PRIOR
TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WEST WISCONSIN
CONFERENCE IN 1856.

HE reader is referred to the pages in this volume

prepared by Rev. P. 8. Bennett for much valuable
information of early Methodism in this part of the State.
We shall only add in this chapter a few brief notes in ad-
dition to what he has so well written and recorded.

The territory now embraced in the West Wisconsin
Conference as early as 1828 was attached to the Illinois
Conference, where it remained until 1840, when it became
a part of the Rock River Conference. In 1848 it was
taken out of that Conference, and the Wisconsin Confer-
ence was organized. In 1849 there were the following
charges in this territory: Adams (Baraboo), Bad Axe and
Black River, Exeter, Elk Grove, Franklin (Highland),
Dodgeville and Linden, Hamilton Grove (Wiota), Hazel
3830 METHODISM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

Green, Lancaster, Lodi, Madison, Monroe, Mineral Point,
Platteville District, Platteville, Potosi, Patch Grove, Prairie
du Chien, Prairie du Sac, Wyoming Valley, and Welsh
Circuit. In 1850 it contained 23 pastoral charges, 20
itinerant ministers, 2,119 members, 9 parsonages, and 13
church edifices.

The West Wisconsin Conference was organized by the
General Conference of 1856. The whole of Wisconsin, as
well as Minnesota, had been for eight years prior to this in
the Wisconsin Conference. This Conference had become
somewhat unwieldy, there being over two hundred mem-
bers in it. To attend Conference the preachers had to
travel, on an average, over two hundred miles to and from
the seat of Conference, thereby incurring a heavy expense,
as well as a loss of valuable time. There existed at that
time little railroad facilities, so most of the traveling had
to be done on horseback, in a buggy, or in the old-fashioned
stage.

The largeness of the numbers attending Conference also
made it quite difficult to entertain it, and it became some-
what of a burden upon the people. Very wisely, therefore,
the territory was divided into three Conferences—the Wis-
consin, West Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

In this division the West Wisconsin Conference received
comparatively a small territory. The boundaries are thus
described in the Discipline of 1856: ‘‘The West Wisconsin
Conference shall include that part of the State of Wisconsin
which lies south and east of the Minnesota Conference, and
west of a line beginning on the north line of the State of
Illinois, at the southeast corner of Green County, and run-
ning north on the Range line of the north line of Town
Twenty (20), thence west to the fourth principal meridian,
and thence north on said meridian to the line of the Min-
nesota, Conference, with the addition of that portion of
Spring Grove Circuit, which lies in the State of Illinois.”
PRIOR TO 1856. 331

From these boundaries it appears that, of the State of Wis-
consin, twenty-seven counties were assigned to the Wiscon-
sin Conference, and among these were several counties most
heavily populated.

To Minnesota Conference was given a vast territory in
the northwest portion of the State, and to West Wisconsin
Conference only fourteen counties in the extreme southwest
corner of the State.

On the territory in Wisconsin set off from the Wisconsin
Conference in 1856, there were sixty-eight pastoral charges,
most of which were placed in the West Wisconsin and
the remainder in the Minnesota Conference. We give the
names of the districts, charges, and missions which fell into
the West Wisconsin Conference, as follows: Portage Dis-
trict, Portage City, Oxford, Roche-a-Cri, Winnebago Mis-
sion, Point Bluff Mission, Baraboo, Reedsburg, Delton,
Lemonweir Mission, Jackson, Madison District, Madison,
Madison Circuit, Monticello Mission, Monroe, Spring Grove,
Bellville Mission, Blue Mounds Mission, Black Earth,
Lodi, Poynetta, Wyoming Mission, Prairie du Sac, Platte-
ville District, Platteville, Potosi, Jamestown Mission, Platte
Mission, Elk Grove, Hazel Green, Fayette, Wiota, Shulls-
burg, Mineral Point, Dodgeville and Linden, Welsh Mis-
sion, Montfort, Prairie du Chien District, Prairie du Chien,
Eastman Mission, Orion, Richland Center, Richland City,
Muscoda, Marion, Fennimore, Patch Grove, Beetown, Lan-
easter, La Crosse Mission District, La Crosse Mission, On-
alaska, Mendora, Black River Falls Mission, Robinson’s
Creek, Sparta Mission, Norwegian Mission, Viroqua, Bad
Axe Mission, and La Crosse Valley Mission—61 pastoral
charges.

Those charges which fell into the Minnesota Conference
were: Kansas Mission (Pepin), Chippewa Falls Mission,
Montoville Mission, Osceola Mission, Hudson Mission,
Prescott Mission, and Lake Superior Mission—7 pastoral
832 METHODISM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

charges. By consulting Appendix E, it can readily be seen
at what time previously these charges first appeared on the
list of appointments, and thus a general idea of the be-
ginnings of each charge in different localities may be ob-
tained.

Casting our eye over the names of those who filled the
above appointments at that time, we are impressed with the
rapidity in which changes take place in an Annual Confer-
ence. Only three, Brothers Sims, Delap, and Lawson, are
now effective; a very few of the number are on the retired
list; but Brothers Stanbury, Searls, Summersides, Wilcox,
Brunson, Weirich, Bean, and Pryor, with several others,
have gone from labor to reward.

As stated in the earlier pages of this volume, there were
occasional services as early as 1828 among the miners of
Southwest Wisconsin.

J. T. Mitchell was one of the early preachers in the
‘‘lead-mines.” The following incident of one of his visits
to Mineral Point was given the writer by one of the old
residents, who was an eye-witness of the occurrence: ‘In
1833, Mr. Mitchell preached in Mineral Point, holding his
service part of the time in a building used for the deposit
of arms during the Black Hawk War; also in Nichol’s tav-
ern. Seats being scarce, many brought something with
them to the service to sit upon. Among the number an
Trishman, by the name of Jimmie Scanlin, came to hear
Mitchell preach, bringing with him a block of wood on
which he sat. Mr. Mitchell that day preached a sermon
in which he dwelt largely and feelingly on the work of the
blessed Jesus for humanity. Jimmie appeared very atten-
tive. Just as the preacher was winding up his sermon,
Jimmie rose from his seat, and addressing the preacher,
said: ‘‘ And, by Jasus, why don’t you tell us something
about the blessed Virgin?” Robert Dougherty, a justice of
the peace, being present, ordered Jimmie to sit down, and
PRIOR TO 1856. 333

Mr. Mitchell went on and closed his service. On the fol-
lowing day (Monday) Dougherty summoned Scanlin be-
fore him to answer the charge of disturbing the congrega-
tion, and fined him five dollars. Scanlin paid the fine,
and demanded a receipt for his money, which was given
him, and which Scanlin preserved to his death.

In 1846, Rev. R. Haney was sent as preacher to Mineral
Point. He taught school during the week, and served them
as preacher on the Sabbath. While there he organized at
Pedlar’s Creek (Linden), the first class, in a miner’s cabin,
consisting of three young men—William Webster, class-
leader, with William Bowden and John Pryor as members.

In 1839, John Hodges, who is still living and a super-
annuate member of the Rock River Conference, was sent,
along with John Crummer, as preacher on Mineral Point
Circuit. One of their numerous appointments was Blue
Mounds, nearly forty miles distant. In a recent commu-
nication from Brother Hodges, written in a most remark-
ably neat hand, he says: ‘‘At Mineral Point we were
blessed with a large class of English Methodists from the
mines of Cornwall, very industrious in business, and fer-
vent in spirit—strong men and women in faith and prayer,
always eager for the word of life from the pulpit, worthy
followers of the Wesleys, of Fletcher, and Bramwell, of
former days; would to God our people everywhere were as
exemplary as they!” In 1841, Mineral Point Circuit em-
braced the villages of Dodgeville, Pedlar’s Creek, Willow
Springs, Fayette, Wiota, Wolf Creek, Garrison’s, and
several other-preaching places. In 1841 a rock church
was built, which continued in use until the present beauti-
ful Gothic church was erected in 1868, which is returned
in the yearly valuation as worth $16,500, but doubtless
cost a much larger sum. Mineral Point Methodism in
1848 experienced a severe trial in the separation of fully
one-half of its membership by the organization of the
334 METHODISM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

Primitive Methodist Church; but there remained true to
the old Church such men as Brothers Curry, Priestly,
Phillips, Ogders, Rule, and a few others, who stood man-
fully by the old ship. She weathered the storm, and it is
worthy of note that from that time to the present they
have never failed to pay their preacher all his salary.

This section of the State has not only been blessed with
a spiritual and earnest membership, but has witnessed
many powerful revivals. It has always been at the front
in benevolent collections, and in the lead for missions. In
these they have been actuated by principle rather than by
impulse.

We are indebted to Mr. Samuel Basye for some valua-
ble notes in regard to early Methodism in parts of Grant
County.

Rev. A. Brunson, as early as 1835-6, frequently
preached in log-cabins to the north of Platteville. He
organized the first class north of Platteville, in the town of
Clifton, during this year. There were belonging to that
class, James T. Brown (class-leader), Elizabeth Brown,
Bosmon and Sarah Clifton, J. 8. and John Kirkpatrick,
Isaac M. Reynolds, J. J. Basye (a local preacher), Anna,
his wife, and a few others. One of these log cabins is
still standing, and owned by James C. Kirkpatrick.

Many incidents of interest might be mentioned of these
early times, but our space will only admit of one. Meet-
ings of a protracted character were being held by Rev. J.
L. Dyer, the pioneer preacher, at the house of Bosmon
Clifton, when John Livingston was persuaded by his
mining comrades to attend. As he approached the thresh-
old of the cabin he heard Brother Dyer read these words
as his text: ‘‘ Pay thy vows unto the Most High.” Con-
‘viction seized him, and he said, before he got into the
room, ‘‘That means me.” He was soon after converted,
and became a faithful Christian.
PRIOR TO 1856. 335

The first mention of the city of Madison as an appoint-
ment was in 1837, when it was ‘‘left to be supplied,” and
was attached to the Milwaukee District, with Rev. Salmon
Stebbins as presiding elder. The impressions made by Mr.
Stebbins in his sermons were wonderful. One who heard
him preach during this year says: ‘‘The sermon was the
sublimest exhibition of human effort I ever witnessed.”

Mr. A. A. Bird, in an address delivered at an old
settlers’ meeting, says: ‘‘The first sermon delivered in
Madison was by Mr. Salmon Stebbins, a Methodist clergy-
man, in the month of September, 1837. There were but
four families then in the place, and about thirty-six work-
men on the capitol building.

In the spring of 1838, Rev. Sam. Pillsbury was sent to
Aztalan Circuit, with Madison as one of the appointments.
On one occasion he remained a whole week in the family
of A. A. Bird, the young girls of the family keeping a
record of the morning and evening prayers by a chalk-
mark upon the wall. Mr. Pillsbury opened by prayer the
first session of the Territorial Council held in the unfinished
State-house.

In the fall of 1838 Rev. John Hodges was appointed
to Madison, Fort Winnebago, and Honey Creek Mission,
with Revs. Pillsbury and Flanders. In a recent communi-
cation he says: ‘‘ We bad a six weeks’ circuit of five
hundred miles for each of us. Our appointments were
principally in log cabins, twenty-five or thirty in number,
with here and there a log school-house. The meetings at
Madison were held in the stone capitol. At my first
appointment there, I was happy to find my good presiding
elder, Rev. Salmon Stebbins, just in from Green Bay. At
my request he preached for me, and formed the first class
of eight or ten members. The outskirts of the charge
were Johnson’s Rapids on the north, Mr. Janes’s solitary
cabin on the south, where the city of Janesville now
836 METHODISM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

stands, and a small village on the east, eight or ten miles
west of Milwaukee, embracing Geneva, East and West
Troy, Round Prairie, Aztalan, and other points.

The first class was organized at Monticello in 1848, by
Rev. Boyd Phelps, who was supplying Exeter Mission.
His residence was at the ‘‘ Grove,” the present site of
Evansville. Two members of the first class still live—Mr.
W. H. Coates and his wife.

The first preaching in the immediate vicinity of Mon-
roe was in the township of Clarno, at the house of Elijah
Austin and Enoch Evans, in 1835, by Daniel Harcourt,
who was a local preacher from Indiana. The first class
was formed by James McKane, in 1836, composed of
Matthew Wells as leader, Sarah Wells, Maria Blunt,
James Wells, and William Beard. The latter still lives,
to whom we are indebted for many of these items of his-
tory. The first church-building was erected in 1849. The
site was donated by Jacob L. Brand. In 1858 it was
remodeled, and was used until 1869, when the present
beautiful building was begun, which remained uncom-
pleted until 1887. It was completed by funds donated by
B. Chinoweth, Esq., on condition that the society build a
parsonage to cost the same amount as needed to finish the
church. By this means the society now has a beautiful
parsonage worth $4,500, and a church valued at $25,000.
It is well finished, and furnished with a fine pipe-organ,
the gift of Mrs. Fidelia Pike.

The Annual Conferences of 1859 (spring Conference)
and 1878 were held in this city, being well sustained by
the citizens.

In 1845, Rev. Rufus Harvey, then stationed in the
city of Madison, seeing at the post-office of that place some
Methodist Church papers addressed to Rev. H. Maynard
and the Bartholomews, inquired where they could be
found. The postmaster told him the direction to take as
PRIOR TO 1856, 337

best he could, and the missionary started to hunt them up.
He found them waiting for him in the wilderness, where
Lodi now stands. He immediately seit i there an
appointment, and organized a class, consisting of G. M.
Bartholomew (leader), Catherine, M. C., Mary, and
Christina Bartholomew, and Rev. Henry and Harriet
Maynard. Three of the number, Father and Mother
Maynard and Catherine Bartholomew, still survive. They
then had preaching once in two weeks in the log cabin of
the Bartholomews. In 1855 the present church was built.
In 1863 the Annual Conference was held in this place.

In 1856 the Brodhead charge was organized, Nathaniel
Wheeler, pastor. In 1858 John P. Dickson, of Janesville,
donated Jots on which to build a church and parsonage.
The church was erected and dedicated by Rev. Hooper
Crews. A bell costing $400 was donated by E. H. Brod-
head, Esq. During the pastoral term of E. H. McKenzie,
the church was greatly improved and beautified. The An-
nual Conferences of 1865 and 1874 were held in this place.

At Boscobel, Father Ransom, now in his eighty-second
year, and Mother Ransom, in her seventy-second year, are
the only surviving members of the first class in that place.

The region of country now embraced in the Darling-
ton, Fayette, Wiota, and Argyle charges were all included
in 1848 in what was then known as Hamilton Grove
Circuit.

In 1857, Providence charge was set off from the Hazel
Green Circuit. It was so named after one of the churches
on the charge. This church was erected on an eminence in
the center of a mining settlement. It was then, and for.
many years, the largest church in the Conference, and at
each service, until the mining interests failed, it was crowded
with worshipers. It was an inspiration to stand in front
of the church on Sabbath afternoon, and see the miners,
with their families, wending their way to ‘the house of
838 METHODISM IN SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN.

the Lord ;” but it was a greater inspiration to hear the sev-
enty-five or one hundred singers and musiciansin the gallery
praising the Lord in sacred song. This new charge reported
123 members and 63 probationers at the close of the year.

Lancaster was first connected with Fennimore Circuit.
Previous to this it had been often visited by the Methodist
itinerant. Judge J. T. Mills says, ‘‘In 1837, Methodist
services were held in a cabin at Bushnell Hollow.” The
first Quarterly Conference held in Lancaster was in 1849,
Rev. Elmore Yocum, presiding elder, and Benjamin Close,
preacher in charge. In 1850 a parsonage was built, and
in 1851 a church erected.

The first sermon in the section now embraced in the
Oregon Circuit was preached in the house of R. W. Salis-
bury, in 1843, by Rev. Jesse Bennett, who was then in
charge of Madison Mission. At this service, R. W. Salis-
bury presented his certificate of membership in the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and Brother Bennett remarked:
“Brother Salisbury is the Methodist Episcopal Church of
this place.” In 1862 a church was built in Oregon, and in
1866 the church-building was removed from Union to
Brooklyn. Oregon charge has been a desirable resort for
retiring presiding elders, and as long as Brother James
Day lives will be blessed with one of the best of stewards.

The first class organized on the Albany charge was by
Rev. Hussey, and consisted of eight members; John Ash
was appointed class-leader. Jeremiah Brewer, one of the
number, still lives, waiting, in extreme old age, for his
translation to glory. This charge has well sustained its
reputation for fidelity to its pastors and activity in church-
work.

In 1856, Mauston Circuit was organized. Methodism
has taken firm hold of the Maustonians. The Church has
grown and prospered. All the pastors love the place and
people. It has nobly sustained two Annual Conferences.
PRIOR TO 1856, 339

This year, also, Necedah Circuit was organized. Meth-
odism from the first in this place has been in the lead.
Hon. John T. Kingston has given to Methodism there for
years his influence and support. Here, also, resided
for many years, until his death, Brother George Summer-
sides, who delighted to narrate how he had, while running
as engineer in Italy, on the first railroad ever built in that
country, smuggled many hundreds of Bibles into that land ;
and he claimed, no doubt truly, that he had something to
do in preparing the Italians to throw off the temporal
power of the Pope.

Our limits forbid further detail in regard to the charges
at this early period. The reader is referred to the various
Appendices, which have been prepared with great care, for
much information bearing upon this subject.
340 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

CHAPTER II.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, FIRST SESSION, 1856.

HE West Wisconsin Conference met to hold its first
annual session, in the city of Madison, August 20,
1856, Bishop Simpson presiding. At this Conference the
bishop preached his great sermon from the text, ‘‘ This is
the victory that overcometh the world; even our faith.”
The Conference at that time embraced 71 pastoral
charges, 67 effective preachers, 1 supernumerary, and 4
superannuated preachers. Sixty-seven preachers were sta-
tioned, and 10 places left to be supplied. There was a
membership in the Conference of only 4,926, and 823 pro-
bationers; total, 5,749.

Of those who were sent out to labor from this Confer-
ence only four are now found in the effective work in the
Conference; viz., Jas. Lawson, Jas. Sims, Christopher
Cook, and W. F. Delap. Three are found among the su-
perannuates; viz., R. Dudgeon, C. P. Hackney, and E. B.
Russell. A few are found in other Conferences, but most
of them have passed from labors to reward.

Jas. Lawson has sustained an unbroken effective rela-
tion for forty Conference years, W. F. Delap for thirty-
eight, Jas. Sims for thirty-six, and E. B. Russell for thir-
ty-four. The lamented and recently departed brother, Wm.
Haw, referring to these brethren, remarked that ‘‘ they may
well be called the ‘Home Guards’ of the Conference.”

It was at this Conference that Wm. Haw was admitted
on trial, and received his first appointment as junior
 

 

Rev. ALFRED BRUNSON, D. D. Rev. ELMORE YOCUM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. T. M. FULLERON Rhev. MATTHEW DINSDALE.
ANNALS OF 1856, d41

preacher at Black River Falls. His experience in going
to this, his first charge, we will give in his own words—
giving us a slight glimpse of an itinerant’s difficulties in
those days. He says: ‘‘ Leaving my home near Platte-
ville, on the Ist of September, 1856, I started north, fur-
nished with a good horse. I crossed the Wisconsin River
at Muscoda, and came, on the night of the third day, to
a place then known as Jacksonville—a few houses not far
from the present Tomah. Forty miles yet lay between me
and my destination, and that, in part, over an Indian trail.
The next day being Saturday, and not wishing to travel
on Sunday, I started early. At noon I found in the woods,
on the head-waters of the La Crosse River, a mill, and
near by a large encampment of Indians. Taking dinner
at the mill, I started on. Soon after a drenching rain com-
menced; this so added to the dreariness and loneliness of
the way that, having never been away from home much,
I began to have longings in that direction. Having
crossed the dividing ridge between La Crosse and Black
River, I came to a marsh over which the Indians, in pass-
ing, had laid poles or logs, and, in attempting to turn
from this—as I saw I could not cross—my horse sank be-
neath me in the quicksand! Dismounting, I stood, the
rain falling, the tall grass waving, and the taller pines
sighing a most mournful dirge, while I inwardly resolved
if out of that I could be delivered I would think of some-
thing else than to be a Methodist preacher! After a few
efforts the horse came out on the homeward side of the
marsh. So, remounting, I began to retrace my steps,
thinking that I would stop at the mill over Sunday, and
then on Monday start for home. At the mill, however, I
found an angel. A rough, uncouth man, learning what
had befallen me in the swamp, advised me to return, and
offered to pilot me on the way five or six miles for a dol-
lar. The offer was accepted, and, as the sun was near its
842 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

setting, the guide was paid a gold dollar, and I pursued
my journey alone. I was yet in the woods, however, and
it was long after night when, wet, and tired, and home-
sick, I found, in Black River Falls, the Methodist parson-
age. In this, after vouching for myself as the junior
preacher for Black River Falls, I was furnished a lounge
on which to sleep; and next morning I was on my way to
Alma Center, where, on the fifth day of September, 1856,
I preached my first sermon as an itinerant preacher.”

At this session there were transfered to the Conference
J. W. Miller, J. S. Prescott, M. Bennett, J. Trotter, and
Jas. Lawson—the latter having been placed in the Rock
River Conference by change of boundaries. Isaac Searls,
S. W. Martin, and D. Stanbury were transferred to the
Wisconsin Conference.

At this time there were several in the Conference who
afterwards passed out of it, who, in a history of this nature,
ought to have a passing notice.

Eli C. Jones, as early as 1852, was appointed to St.
Anthony, in Minnesota. He afterwards filled several im-
portant charges in Wisconsin, and was presiding elder of
Platteville District for four years. Taking a superan-
nuated relation, he resided several years near Montfort,
and engaged in running a small grist-mill. During the
dark days of the Rebellion he was a sympathizer with the
South. In 1862 he was arraigned before the Conference
to answer for his expressed disloyalty to the Government.
He made some concessions, and promised to cease advo-
cating the cause of the South, but he very soon forgot
his promise; for, in 1864, he is returned as withdrawn
under charges. He went South, joined his brethren in the
Confederacy, and is lost from our sight.

E. Buck was of a kindred spirit with his brother, Jones.
During the early period of the Rebellign he was stationed
in Platteville, a place well known for its patriotism and
ANNALS OF 1856. 343

loyalty. He refused to pray for President Lincoln and our
soldiers who had gone South to put down the Rebellion.
He wrote several articles for a disloyal Chicago paper.
His conduct caused a charge of disloyalty to be made
against him. He, however, refused to appear at the An-
nual Conference to meet it, but sent a letter of withdrawal
from the Church to the Conference. He was allowed to
‘withdraw under censure.” He also went South, uniting
with one of the Conferences of the Church South, from
which, it is reported, he was expelled.

E. 8. Bunce was effective in Wisconsin twenty-eight
years, when he was transferred to the Minnesota Con-
ference, where he is yet doing effective work. He was a
powerful preacher, and very useful in his work.

R. Dudgeon was effective twenty-eight years, in eight
of which he was presiding elder. As early as 1852 he was
pastor at Stillwater, Minnesota. He was a delegate to the
General Conference in 1868. During the period of his
effective work he was most highly esteemed by all who en-
joyed his acquaintance. He was safe in council, discreet
in his administration, and a blessing to the Conference.
His son, Professor R. B. Dudgeon, is a successful teacher
and a talented local preacher.

A. H. Walters at this time was an able, vigorous young
man in the Conference. He was pastor, presiding elder,
or chaplain in the army until 1866, when he was trans-
ferred to the Wisconsin and afterwards to Kansas Con-
ference. After prolonged suffering, he died in 1885.

M. Himebaugh was in the Conference for four years, and
served as presiding elder of Madison District, and then
was transferred to the Wisconsin Conference, where he is
still in the active work. He is a man of good pulpit
ability, and often preaches with great power. It is said
that at the Lodi camp-meeting, in 1853, during his preach-
344 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ing, the greater portion of the congregation rose to their
feet, and many were powerfully convicted and converted.

Joseph Odgers was licensed to preach by the Quarterly
Conference of the old Council Hill Circuit, Llinois, which
at that time was in the Wisconsin Conference. In a large
Quarterly Conference of over thirty members his license
was granted by a majority of one, many doubting that he
would ever make a preacher. In this, however, they
were mistaken. After doing most excellent work for seven
years in Wisconsin, he was transferred to the Rock River
Conference, in which he has been a success, and is now in
his fourth year at Halstead Street, Chicago.

J. W. Miller was six years in the Conference. He
was an able preacher, but appeared, however, to have a
‘‘ thorn in the flesh” in regard to his name. Miller being
such a common name, he said, ‘‘his mail-matter became
greatly demoralized.” He first changed his name to Mil-
lour, and in 1861, by legal enactment, to J. W. M.
Vernon, by which name he was transferred to Illinois
Conference in 1861.

_ For several years prior to the division of the Con-
ference in 1856 the anti-slavery principle had been in-
creasing in the Conference, although great effort was
made to keep it in check by some of the ‘ fathers” of
the Conference, who not only opposed for a time the ap-
pointment of a committee on the subject, but were ever
ready with the utterance, ‘‘It [slavery] is a question en-
tirely of a political character, and we have nothing to do
with it.” But the tide of opposition to slavery kept rising ;
so that, in 1855, the Report on Slavery, denouncing it in
all its forras, was passed by a large majority, and the
General Conference asked “to modify the General Rule
so as to prevent the admission of any slaveholder into the
Methodist Episcopal Church!” At the first session of the
West Wisconsin Conference, after considerable opposition,
ANNALS OF 1856. 845

a committee of three was appointed on Slavery; but such
was the opposition and influence of a few of the ‘‘ fathers”
of the Conference upon the committee, that a majority of
the committee presented a report expressive more of sym-
pathy with, than of opposition to, the institution. On the
presentation of this report, Rev. J. M. Wells presented a
minority report, declaring that our ‘‘ General Rule on Slav-
ery ought to be changed so as to read ‘ buying, selling,
or holding a human being as a slave.’” This minority re-
port was adopted by a large majority; and thus, from the
first, the West Wisconsin Conference gave no uncertain
sound against ‘‘ the sum of all villainies.” This action of
the Conference was not pleasing to some of the laity of
the Conference. One case came to the personal knowledge
of the writer. In going to his new charge from this Con-
ference, he had but just arrived in the place when he re-
ceived a note from one of the oldest and most influential
members of his Church, asking to withdraw from the
Church on account of the action of the Conference on this
subject. After visiting and advising with this brother,
he concluded to withdraw his request, and he was saved
to the Church. In less than six years from this time he
had himself become strongly opposed to slavery, and the
Civil War made him an out-and-out Abolitionist.
29
346 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER III.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1857-9.

HE Conference of 1857 was held August 12th, at Min-

eral Point, Bishop Ames presiding. During the ses-

sion the rain was incessant, and great difficulty was experi-

enced by the preachers in getting to and from the Conference

sessions, there being but a very limited supply of sidewalks,
and the clay of the region being most adhesive.

At this Conference an increase of 544 members was re-
ported, and 16 preachers were admitted on trial. Among
these, several worthy names are found.

J. B. Bachman has given thirty-one years of the best of
his days to the itinerancy, during four of which he was
presiding elder of the Kilbourn City District. At the
present he sustains a supernumerary relation, and is edit-
ing a paper at Eau Claire, the name of which, The Progress,
fully indicates its exalted motive and aim.

John Knibbs, who had been employed as a supply on
the Eastman Mission during the previous year, in going
to one of his appointments, lost himself in the Kickapoo
woods. He wandered about from Tuesday morning to
Friday afternoon—four days and three nights—in the
coldest part of winter, without food or drink, save the
snow which he melted in hismouth. When found, his hear-
ing and his speech were nearly gone, and his hands and
feet and face frozen! His hearing was never. restored;
one foot was lost. After much suffering, and faithful
preaching for twenty-seven years in the Conference, he
died in Prairie du Chien, February 1, 1884, universally
ANNALS OF 1857-9, 347

beloved and respected by all who knew him. His devoted
companion, Amelia Knibbs, was a Christian lady of rather
retired habits, yet useful and esteemed by all. She sur-
vived him only about three years, spending the last of her
days near her brother, Rev. C. W. Blodgett, presiding
elder of Atlantic District, Des Moines Conference.

Isaac E. Springer was the son of Rev. Elihu Springe,
of precious memory, who died of cholera, in 1850, when he
was presiding elder of the Milwaukee District. His son Isaac
was a young man of promise, and grew in the favor and
confidence of his brethren. He served several years as
Conference secretary, spent seventeen years of successful
pastoral work in the Northwest and West Wisconsin Con-
ferences, was transferred in 1873 to the Rock River Confer-
ence, and is now doing excellent work in one of the Michi-
igan Conferences.

John Holt was received and appointed at this Confer-
ence to the Mindora Mission. He found thirty-seven mem-
bers, all told, on the charge. The former pastor had left
for the want of support; but he went to work, making
four hundred visits before his first quarterly meeting, en-
larged the parsogage, and, before the close of November,
had witnessed forty conversions and additions to the
Church. In 1860 he, with his wife and three children
(one of them a babe), was sent to the Leon charge. After
being houseless and homeless for more than three months,
at the very worst season of the year, he succeeded in get-
ting up the kitchen part of a parsonage, he working on
it with bis own hands for many weeks through the day,
and preaching at night. In the month of January he
moved into it, when it was without doors or windows.
Providence threw around him a sheltering care, his loved
ones were preserved, and souls were converted. We can
not follow this brother during the thirty-three years of his
effectivefitinerant life. He has been an earnest, faithful,
348 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

and devoted toiler in the Master’s cause. Few have ex-
celled him in what one bas called ‘‘ knee-work,” and this,
joined with his irrepressible energy, has made him a
blessing to the people on every charge, and God’s chosen
instrument in the conversion of many hundreds of souls.

G. W. Nuzum has given twenty-eight years of his val-
uable life (nineteen in the effective, and nine as super-
numerary) to the Church, and during all this period he
has been ready to lift up the banner of the cross. As a
preacher and pastor he has been greatly beloved by the
people, and especially by the children of his charge. He
is blest with a talent—only given to a few—of greatly
interestiug the children, and is always in demand when
a children’s meeting is to be held. One of his sons, Rev.
I. F. Nuzum, isa member of the Conference. He is fast
rising in popularity, and is now filling one of our best and
most important charges. Another son, Dr. Thomas Nu-
zum, of Brodhead, is a successful physician, a Christian
gentleman, and a devoted Methodist. Another son is
John E. Nuzum, of Merrimack, who, on account of his firm
stand for temperance and prohibition, has recently suf-
fered several losses, the last being the hurning of a new
barn, well filled with grain. Father Nuzum has also two
daughters, who have married itinerant ministers, one being
the excellent wife of Rev. Thomas Snodgrass, and the
other the companion and helper of Rev. Thomas Foulkes.
Such sons and daughters are indeed a ‘‘ crown of glory”
on the hoary heads of their revered parents.

Rey. Elmore Yocum was transferred at this session
from the Wisconsin Conference, and appointed presiding
elder of Point Bluff District. This dearly beloved brother,
on account of the length of time he has been an effective
preacher, is certainly worthy of being called the father of
all the Conferences from the Ohio to Lake Superior. In
the year 1829 he became an effective itinerant, and for
ANNALS OF 1857-9, 349

twenty-six years he labored as such in Ohio. In 1849 he
was transferred to the Wisconsin Conference, and his work
in Wisconsin has been a full vindication of the remark of
Bishop James, when he announced his transfer, namely :
“You are getting one of the strong men of the Ohio Con-
ference.” He has been, during his long itinerancy, effective
fifty-four Conference years, in fourteen of which he was em-
ployed as presiding elder. He is now in his fourth year in
the superannuated relation, but is supplying a charge just
as he ever has done for fifty-eight years, and is greatly re-
vered and beloved by all the people. In recording such a
life it is beyond our powers to do justice to the subject;
there is so much contained in it of devotion to Methodism
and the cause of Christ, that some abler pen would do well
to record it in a separate biography.

A request was made at this Conference that the time
of holding the Conference should be changed from the fall
to the spring, as a more favorable time to secure a house
for the pastor, and a better prospect of deriving greater
benefit from a garden.

At this session Rev. I. M. Stagg was transferred to the
Southern Illinois, ‘and 8. W. Ford and A. Callender to the
Wisconsin Conferences.

At this Conference William Owens was received by
transfer, and appointed to the Welsh Circuit, in the vicin-
ity of Dodgeville. Here he remained for several years,
laboring faithfully among the Welsh population until, by
removals, the special work among that people was no
longer demanded. The church edifice was given to the
English-speaking Church. Brother Owens still retains his
connection with the Conference, residing near Dodgeville,
living a consistent Christian life.

The trustees of Galesville University sent to this Con-
ference an offer, accompanied with a request ‘‘for the
Conference to take that institution under its supervision
350 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and control,” whereupon an able committee was appointed
to consider the expediency of the request, and report to
the Conference at its next session.

Any Appendices referred to in this part refer to those
relating to the West Wisconsin Conference, unless other-
wise stated.

The Conference of 1858 convened in La Crosse on the
29th of April, Bishop Morris presiding. As usual, the
bishop received a number of letters and petitions from va-
rious places in the Conference, setting forth their wants,
and describing the kind of preacher they desired. For
instance, one letter, to which was attached several signa-
tures, asked for a ‘‘ man to stir them up with a long pole;
yes, send us a snorter.” Another was from a place where
unfortunately they had no road to the church, only as
they went through the possessions of their neighbors, and
they therefore sent their petition ‘‘asking the bishop to ex-
ercise his authority, and open a road to their church.”
Over this petition the good old bishop had a hearty laugh,
and expressed a willingness to grant relief, but was sorry
it was beyond the powers of even a Methodist bishop to
do so.

At this Conference thirteen were admitted on trial,
some of whom are well worthy of a brief notice in these
pages.

Henry Colman was received and was stationed at Brod-
head, as the first minister sent by the Conference. He
only remained one year, when he was transferred to the
Wisconsin Conference, and of whose work reference is made
in the earlier pages of this book.

Samuel Fallows, now Bishop Fallows, of the Reformed
Episcopal Church, is another of the “ bright and shining
lights” received this year. He remained with us four
years, when he was transferred to the Wisconsin Confer-
ence. The writer of these pages has a personal interest in
ANNALS OF 1857-9, 351

this talented brother. In the winter of 1852, during a
protracted meeting held by him on the old Fall River Cir-
cuit, Samuel, then a young man of seventeen, was con-
verted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. To
the General Conference of 1880 he was sent as the frater-
nal delegate from the Reformed Episcopal Church. In
delivering his message to the General Conference, of which
the writer was a member, he thus touchingly referred to
his conversion: ‘‘At seventeen years of age, in a humble
school-house in Wisconsin, under the faithful labors of a
devoted Methodist Episcopal preacher, a delegate to this
General Conference, into whose tearful eyes my own are
now looking, I gave my heart to God in an unconditional
surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. An exhorter, 2 local
preacher, a circuit-rider, I passed through the various
grades of the Methodist preacher’s work. Ordained deacon
by the glorified Bishop Baker, an elder by the honored
senior bishop of your Church, Bishop Scott, I never went
back on that ordination, and have suffered no man unre-
buked to call it in question.”

Matthew Dinsdale was another received, who has done
long and faithful work in the Conference. In the fall of
1845 he was received on probation in the Rock River Con-
ference, and was appointed to Potosi, Wisconsin. He
“boarded round,” and was in labors and privations abun-
dant. In 1846 he was sent to Winnebago Lake Mission,
with Oshkosh for head-quarters. He had the whole county
to attend to, and preached the first sermon in many parts
of that county, having at least twelve appointments.
The membership increased that year from 82 to 64. His
health failing, he went into the mercantile business at Lin-
den, Iowa County, Wisconsin, where he remained, exerting
a most hallowed Christian influence, until he united with
the Conference. In 1850 he selected a most estimable
Christian lady for his life-companion. He has devoted
352 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE

nineteen years to the effective work, and during a super-
annuation of several years has but seldom passed a Sabbath
without preaching the gospel. For many years he was
the faithful missionary treasurer of the Conference, and
has long served the Church on the Conference Board of
Church Extension, on which Board his business tact, ex-
cellent judgment, and deep devotion to the interests of the
Church have been invaluable.

J. D. Searls, admitted at this Conference after trying
the work for three years, thought he saw a ‘“‘ more excel-
lent way” in a sister denomination; but after a trial of
two years he returned to the Conference, to which he has
since given twenty-seven years of faithful, successful
service. During this period he has been thirteen years
presiding elder, three of which were spent as superintend-
ent of the Black Hills Mission. He is now presiding
elder of Portage District, in which he is active and
efficient.

This year Rev. P. S. Mather was received by trans-
fer from the Providence Conference and stationed at
Prairie du Chien. He became well and favorably known
during bis twenty-two years effective work in the Confer-
ence, during six of which he was presiding elder.

The committee appointed to report on the \expediency
of taking Galesville University under the supervision of
the Conference, reported ‘that they found eighty acres
of land in the heart of Galesville upon which to build the
college; also one thousand and eighty-seven acres of land
to be reserved for its endowment; that the trustees
reported sufficient income to complete the building and
endow it; that they did not ask the Conference to assume
apy financial burdens ;” therefore they recommended the
Conference, in view of these things, to accept the offer of
the trustees and take the institution under its patronage
and control.
ANNALS OF 1857-9, 358

The fourth session of the Conference met at Monroe,
April 6, 1859, Bishop Baker presiding. This was the
second trial of spring Conferences, which proved sufficient
to quench the ardor of all the advocates of a spring Con-
ference. The doleful plight in which some of the preach-
ers reached the Conference, who had come on horseback
or on wheels, through the storm and sleet in the mud at
the breaking up of winter, was a complete quietus on
spring Conferences in Wisconsin. To add to the situation,
it rained almost incessantly during the Conference, and
the mud in the streets was so deep as to make it all but
impossible to get about, and the result of the whole mat- ,
ter was the passing of a unanimous and urgent resolution
to have our Conference sessions in the fall. At this Con-
ference there was not that degree of harmony which
should ever prevail in an Annual Conference. The princi-
pal matter of discord was a serivus division in the local
Church at Monroe, and a spirit of sectionalism which had
crept into the Conference, but which was so wisely han-
dled and adjusted by the wise counsels of the bishop and
his cabinet that it never after even so much as raised its
head. An increase of 1,043 members was reported. A
report prepared by Rev. P. 5. Mather on Divorce was
adopted, taking firm and positive ground against ‘‘ con-
tracting a second marriage during the natural lives of the
parties, except it be for a positive violation of the Seventh
Commandment; disapproving of preachers performing the
marriage rite for persons who had been divorced, unless
assured said person has been divorced on Scriptural
grounds; and that no preacher shall be received who has
been divorced, nor any presiding elder be allowed to
employ any such person on his district.”

Another Conference was held, October 5, 1859, in
Platteville, Bishop Janes presiding. In the seven admitted
on trial we find the names of two Englishmen, John Medd
354 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and Thomas Lawson. The former has held an effective
relation for twenty-seven, and the latter twenty-four years.
They have labored upon some of the hardest fields, but have
witnessed the conversion of many souls. They now both
sustain a supernumerary relation. Joseph E. Irish was
also admitted. He has filled, during his connection with
the Conference, some important positions, both in Church
and State. He has been in the effective ranks twenty-six
years, during which time he has been presiding elder seven
years. For the past four years he has been supernumer-
ary, and at present, on account of enfeebled health, is able
_to do but little for the Master. He received the degree
of D. D. from Lawrence University.

At this Conference two of the most promising men
of the Conference were expelled for gross immorality.
These cases of discipline, so unusual at one Conference,
were a great affliction to the Conference, and a stain on the
blessed cause of the Master. We are happy to say, how-
ever, that both of the expelled brethren, after contrition
and reformation, were again restored to the Church and
ministry, both laboring successfully in other Conferences.

During this year the first death occurred in the ranks
of the ministry since the organization of the Conference.
Rev. Joun Buacxyurst died in Argyle, October 6, 1859.
He was an excellent preacher, and passed away in his
forty-first year, with shouts of ‘Glory! glory! glory!” fall-
ing from his lips. Nine thousand four hundred members
and probationers were reported, being an increase for the
three years of 3,651, the largest membership being on the
Platteville District, which has ever been the banner dis-
trict for membership and missionary collections. The
ageregate value of Church property this year was $85,750.

At this Conference, delegates were elected to the Gen-
era] Conference to be held in Buffalo in 1860. The issue
before the Conference in this election was to select only
ANNALS OF 1857-0, 355

»

those who favored the change of the General Rule on
Slavery, prohibiting slaveholding in all its forms. Among
those elected was one of the fathers of the Conference,
who, on account of his well-known and expressed views that
slavery was ‘‘ wholly a political matter, with which the
Church had nothing to do,” had four years before failed of
an election, but during the quadrennium had been serving a
probation as to his change of views on the subject, and, be-
ing otherwise capable and efficient, was therefore elected.
The delegates were A. Brunson, J. L. Williams, and T. C.
Golden, who faithfully represented their Conference on that
question; but it appeared the time was not yet come for
the General Conference to adopt the new rule.

Among the visitors to the Conference this year was the
old veteran, Rev. Henry Summers, whose daughter, Mrs.
Kirkpatrick, resided in Platteville. Few men did more or
better pioneer work in Llinois and Wisconsin than he had
done. His memory is precious, while he rests from his
labors, and his works do follow him.
356 METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

CHAPTER IV.

METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN PRIOR TO ORGANI-
ZATION OF THE NORTHWEST WISCONSIN
CONFERENCE, 1856-60.

S already stated in a previous chapter, the General
Conference of 1856 placed a large portion of North-
west Wisconsin in the Minnesota Conference. This terri-
tory was one hundred and eighty-six miles long and from
sixty to one hundred and twenty six miles wide. It cov-
ered almost the entire lumber region of the State, em-
bracing the rich but as yet undeveloped valleys of the Black,
Chippewa, Cedar, and St. Croix Rivers, with their numer-
ous tributaries. At this date it was yet comparatively new
territory. The richuess of the lumber interests, however,
were fast developing, while the pioneer itinerant was
pushing his way among the early settlers.

A review of Methodism as to its origin in this part of
the State, during those years, now appears to be neces-
sary. As early as 1842, Rev. Alfred Brunson, being com-
missioned by the Secretary of War as Indian agent, made
a trip from Prairie du Chien, where he then resided, to
La Pointe, on Lake Superior, passing up through the Black
River Valley to Black River Falls, and up the Chippewa
Valley to Chippewa City, then on to La Pointe. In his
interesting account of his trip in the Western Pioneer, we
find no reference to the religious condition of the country
at that time, any further than his finding a company of
Mormons at the mills of Black River Falls, who were get-
ting out lumber for their temple at Nauvoo. He says:
“‘Our Mormon friends insisted on my preaching, and not
 

 

 

 

Rev. ENOCH TASKER. Rev. JAMES SIMS.

 

 

 

 

 

~ Rev. JOHN HOLT. Rev. JOHN MEDD.
PRIOR TO 1860, 357

knowing what good might result from it, I consented.”
This was probably the first sermon ever preached in the
valleys of the Black or Chippewa Rivers—at least by a
Methodist preacher. Among those who stand identified
with this field, there is no one who, on account of the long
and valuable service rendered, is more entitled to the name
of the founder of Methodism in Northwest Wisconsin than
the Rev. Chauncey Hobart, D. D. He, with his twin-
brother Norris, was born on the east side of Lake Cham-
plain, June 9, 1811. In 1834, after deep conviction and a
long struggle, he found ‘‘sweet peace in believing.” The
same year he was appointed class-leader, steward, and
exhorter, and from Rev. Peter Cartwright, in 1835, he
received his first license to preach. In 1836 he was admit-
ted, on trial in the Illinois Conference. In 1846 he was
transferred to the Rock River Conference, and stationed at
Clark Street, Chicago. He still lives at Red Wing, Min-
nesota, beloved and respected by all. In closing a recent
note to us he says: ‘I am walking by faith, and not by
sight, and have a good hope that on ‘ some sweet day, by and
by,’ the angels will open the pearly gates, and I shall enter
in to be ‘forever with the Lord,’ and to meet so many
whom I have known and loved in this world. O, what a
time of rejoicing that will be!” To him the writer of these
pages is greatly indebted for information in regard to our
work in the Northwest Wisconsin Conference, in which
he was very conspicuous.

Whatever there was pertaining to Methodist history in
this part of the State and in Minnesota prior to 1856, was
under the supervision of the Wisconsin Conference. For
an account of it the reader is referred to the history of that
Conference, in Part II of this volume. Still, a few addi-
tional particulars will be given here.

At the second session of the Wisconsin Conference
(1849), Dr. Hobart was appointed presiding elder of Min-
3858 METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

nesota Mission District, and pastor at St. Paul. His dis-
trict consisted of three charges in Minnesota and three in
Wisconsin. Those in Wisconsin were Round Prairie
Mission (Viroqua), Jesse Pardun; Black River Mission,
R. R. Wood; and Chippewa Mission, to be supplied. The
returns made from the entire district in 1850 were 102 mem-
bers, 44 probationers, 4 local preachers, and 1 church. ‘The
whole ministerial support of the district for the year was
$433. In 1850 the district was enlarged so as to include
not only all of Minnesota, but that part of Wisconsin lying
west of the Wisconsin River up to the mouth of Dell Creek,
where Kilbourn now stands. This vast territory was
divided into ten charges, those in Wisconsin being Chip-
pewa River Mission, to be supplied; Black River Mission,
William Shroff; Round Prairie Mission, Jesse Pardun ;
Prairie du Chien Mission, Alfred Brunson; Prairie du
Sac Mission, E. 8. Bunce; and Adams (Baraboo), Nelson
Butler. The returns from these charges at the close of the -
year were as follows: Chippewa River, blank; Black
River Mission, 19 members; Round Prairie Mission, 41
members; Prairie du Chien Mission, 35 members; Prairie
du Sac Mission, 72 members; and Adams (Baraboo), 127
members and 1 Church. There were but two church
edifices in the entire district, one being located at St.
Paul, and the other in Baraboo. The first missionary
contribution made in this part of Northwest Wisconsin
was made by the Bad Axe and Black River Mission, and
amounted to $5.45.

Confining our attention to the territory in the north-
west portion of the State, we find in 1851 the following
charges: Chippewa River Mission, N: Mayne; Black
River Mission, Jesse Pardun; Prairie La Crosse Mission,
G. Chester; and Round Prairie Mission, Enos Stephens.
From this it appears that Brother Nicholas Mayne was
the first preacher appointed by the Conference to Chip-
PRIOR TO 1860, 359

pewa Mission, and that La Crosse appears this year for
the first time on the list of appointments.

Of Brother Chester, the first pastor on La Crosse
Mission, Brother Hobart says: ‘‘ Brother Chester did a
hard year’s work. His charge was over two hundred
miles in circumference, as he traveled it, and it was an
exceedingly rough country. Over this he journeyed on
foot, and filled all his appointments. But this labor
proved too exhausting for him; he was taken ill, and
although he partially recovered, yet he never regained his
health.” He received $123 for his year’s work. The re-
turns at the close of the year were: Chippewa River Mis-
sion, 12 members; Black River Mission, 20 members; and
Prairie La Crosse Mission, 40 members.

This is the first mention of any members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church in the entire Chippewa Valley.
As yet there was not a single church-building, and only
one parsonage located in the Black River Mission.

The following appears in 1852: Round Prairie Mis-
sion, Nicholas Mayne; Prairie La Crosse Mission, Jesse
Pardun; and Willow River Mission (Hudson), George
Chester. Black River and Chippewa Missions are not
found in the appointments this year.

In 1853 the name of Willow River is changed to Hud-
son Mission, Norris Hobart, pastor; Chippewa Mission is
left to be supplied; Sparta and Flemond Creek Mission,
J. Pardun; Round Prairie Mission, N. Mayne; and La
Crosse, Enoch Tasker. Black River Mission does not ap-
pear this year.

Part of this territory was on the Prairie du Chien Mis-
sion District, Alfred Brunson, presiding elder; and the re-
mainder on Minnesota Mission District, David Brooks,
presiding elder.

In 1854, Black River Mission appears again, after hav-
ing been left off for two years, under the name of Black
3860 METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

River Falls and Sparta Mission, N. Mayne and J. Pardun,
preachers. The name of Round Prairie Mission drops out
this year, and Viroqua Mission is substituted. Luis Valley,
Monteville, and Prescott appear as new appointments.

During the summer of 1853, Rev. R. Dudgeon organ-
ized the first classes at Prescott, at a quarterly meeting
held in the barn of Mr. McMurphy. This quarterly
meeting was the first ever held in that county. In 1857,
Rev. Wm. Hamilton was transferred from the Northwest
Indiana Conference, and stationed at Prescott. In 1859,
Rey. A. G. Nelson was pastor.

In 1855 we find the addition of Kansas, Osceola, and
Superior Missions. To the latter, John Bean was appointed ;
but, on account of its inaccessibility—there being no way
of reaching it except by going by way of Chicago or Mil-
waukee, and round the Jakes—he did not go. Kansas
Mission embraced that section at present known as Pepin,
and was ‘‘left to be supplied.”

The total membership at this period in this vast terri-
tory in Northwest Wisconsin was 256 members, 1 church
at La Crosse, and 1 parsonage at Black River Falls.

In 1856 this territory, except the La Crosse District,
which was then part of the West Wisconsin Conference,
was attached to the Minnesota Conference, which had just
been organized. It consisted of the following charges:
Osceola, Chippewa Falls, Hudson, Willow River, and Su-
perior Missions in the St. Paul District; and Prescott,
North Pepin, Galesville, and Kinnickinnick (River Falls), in
the Winona District.

During 1855, Rev. D. Brooks, then presiding elder of
St. Paul District, visited Superior and preached the first
English Protestant sermon there. In 1856, Jas. Peet was
sent to the work, and remained about three years. The
difficulty he experienced in reaching his work is thus de-
scribed by himself: ‘‘ The distance from St. Paul to Supe-
PRIOR TO 1860, 361

rior City is about one hundred and fifty miles, one huudred
and thirty lying through the wilderness, and not a white
family living in the whole distance. On our journey we slept
out of doors at night, on the snow-covered ground—wife,
children, and myself, wrapped in blankets, by our camp-fire.
We thawed our frozen provisions, from time to time, by a
little fire kindled for that purpose. Our road was the ice
of the St. Croix River and an old Indian trail, the under-
brush of which had been cut just wide enough for a team
to get through with a sled. After nine days we arrived
at the head of Lake Superior, and at Superior City found
two Methodists—Brother C. Felt and wife.”

Brother Peet, securing some little aid from the East,
set about building a church; but after awhile the debt
took it. Another church was afterwards built, which shared
the same fate; a third church was built, which, although
small and rather badly located, has served the small but
faithful society as a place of worship. Another charge at
West Superior was organized in 1887, which promises
good results in that fast increasing and flourishing city.

In 1858 a district was formed in Wisconsin, viz., Pres-
cott District, Dr. Hobart, presiding elder, on which he re-
mained until it was merged in the Northwest Wisconsin
Conference, in 1860.

We are indebted to Rev. T. M. Fullerton for valuable
information in regard to early Methodism through this lum-
bering section of the State at this period. Prescott District,
as organized in 1858, embraced thirteen charges, six of
which were ‘‘left to be supplied.” The district extended
from the St. Croix Falls to the mouth of Chippewa
River, some two hundred miles in length, and included all
the inhabitants along the Trempealeau, Beef, Eau Claire,
Chippewa, Rush, Willow, and Apple Rivers. The country
was rough, almost mountainous, thinly settled as yet, and

most of it religiously unorganized. The roads were largely
30
862 METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

those made by lumbermen, and generally ran to points on
the river back to the pineries.

One or two quarterly meetings had been held in the
Chippewa Valley, in the fall of 1857, by Rev. S. Bolles,
presiding elder of St. Paul District, and a few sermons
had been preached; but the work as yet was largely un-
organized. There were at this time three small churches
on the district—one at Hudson, one at Prescott, and one
at Pepin; these three churches furnished all the accom-
modation in that line the district afforded.

Of the Bear Creek Mission, which was afterwards
changed to Maxville, and still later to Durand, some
interesting items are given by Rev. E. Doughty, who is
now with the hosts aoe as prepared in 1867 by Rev.
Isaac Springer.

The first Methodist family which settled in this section
was that of Edward Doughty, who landed at Alma in
April, 1856. With the aid of his four sons, Daniel,
Henry, Samuel, and William, a ferry-boat was built, with
which they crossed the Beef River. The boys then went
before, cutting the logs out of the way, and thus making
the first wagon-track from Alma to Maxville. The next
family of Methodists was that of Henry Coleman. About
the last of June, 1857, Rev. E. A. Day preached the
first gospel sermon at Brother Coleman’s house. At this
meeting a class was formed, consisting of Edward Doughty
and wife, Daniel Doughty and wife, Samuel, Henry, and
William Doughty, Henry, Alice, and Charles Coleman,
and Mary Maxwell. Occasional sermons were preached
in 1857-8 by Revs. Lorin Campbell, Ezekiel Webster,
and James Gurley.

The first minister appointed to this charge was Sylves-
ter M. Webster. He came as a volunteer under Elder
Bolles’s direction. He labored with great success, the Lord
working mightily through him to the confounding of
PRIOR 10 1860, 363

Satan’s kingdom and to the spread of the gospel. In his
work among the people he sometimes became so over-
powered by a sense of the worth of and love for souls,
that he would sit down in the road and weep. This
religious awakening which attended his labors was not
confined to his charge. The work spread over a part of
four counties; viz., Buffalo, Pepin, Dunn, and Eau
Claire. The whole valley of the Chippewa felt its influ-
ence. At Rock Creek, fifty miles up; Fall Creek, ten
miles lower down; at Chippewa village; at the mouth of
Bear Creek Valley; at Mondovi on Beef River, and at
Rocks, three miles above Alma, on the Mississippi—scores
were at each place converted. At Pepin over one hun-
dred were converted.

Brother E. 8. Havens, who had just received license
to preach, although one of the most timid and distrustful
of men, yet of a most sympathetic and loving nature, ren-
dered valuable assistance to Brother Webster in this
extensive awakening. He afterwards united with the
Conference, in which, for fourteen years, he labored with
success. In 1874 he was transferred to the West Texas
Conference. After a few months of faithful work in that
Conference, he died in the triumphs of faith.

Brother Webster was admitted into the Conference this
year. In 1860 he was ordained deacon by Bishop Scott,
at Sparta, and in 1863 received a location. Of his later
life we have no information.

During these revivals, there were several remarkable
instances of divine power. Many of the converts were
among the roughest specimens of humanity, the men being
nearly all raftsmen, rivermen, and lumbermen. In the
number of those who came among the crowds there were
occasionally some of the ‘‘sons of Belial,” whose intention
and purpose were open to suspicion. In one instance the
brethren appointed a committee to watch when they went
364 METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

away, to see that they did not make too free with the
horse-blankets and other loose property.

Of the Doughty family, mention is made elsewhere in
these pages. Several of the sons are still pillars in the
Church, while William E. has been for several years a suc-
cessful itinerant in the Conference. Our space will not
allow further detail in regard to this religious awakening,
only to add that it was the greatest, more general, and
extensive than the valley of the Chippewa has ever known.

The first Methodist Church in the Chippewa Valley
was erected in Pepin, in 1859. It was a very humble
structure, and said to be worth $300. One who knew it
wellsays: ‘‘ The interior and exterior appearance strongly
indicated that it was built in troublous times, to meet pres-
ent necessities, and not for generations following.” The
Rev. Matthew Sorin, who supplied the Chippewa District
during the absence of Brother Hobart as chaplain in the
army, used to say, in reference to his humble church at
Pepin, that ‘it was the cathedral of Methodism in the Chip-
pewa Valley to as late a period as 1866, when Eau Claire,
Menomonee, and Durand began to make efforts to build a
house for God.”

Brother Sorin bears an honored name in the annals of
Methodism. He was an eloquent and able preacher. His
sermon on the “Influence of Religion on Civil Govern-
ment,” preached in Galena in 1854, in which he: showed
the pernicious influence of popery on the affairs of State,
was long remembered in that city, and, by request,
was published. In 1865 he was presiding elder of the St.
Louis District; in 1869, of Kansas City District; in 1873
he was stationed at Austin, Missouri, and afterward at
Rollo. He was stricken with paralysis in 1879, and died
at Golden City, Colorado.

About 1859, Rev. B. Phillips, a Presbyterian minister,
built a church in Chippewa Falls, said to have cost $3,500.
PRIOR TO 1860, 365

This and the small church at Pepin were probably the only
churches at this date in the Chippewa Valley.

In 1859 we find the first official mention of Methodism
in Eau Claire as an appointment, “left to be supplied.”
This year Rev. J. 8. Anderson was removed from
Menomonee, to which place be had been sent as the col-
league of Rev. J. L. Dyer, to Eau Claire. He reported
at the end of the year 49 members and 7 probationers, and
a Sabbath-school of 36 scholars. In 1860 the charge was
divided—to East Eau Claire, Robert Cobban, and to West
Eau Claire, W. A. Chambers, pastors.

In this stirring city the work has prospered. In 1866,
during the pastorate of H. W. Bushnell at East Eau
Claire, a neat church was erected, valued at $4,000,
which has since been enlarged and beautified.

At West Eau Claire services were held sometime in
the Seminary building. During the pastorates of A. J.
Davis and E. E. Clough, a Jarge and beautiful church was
erected, at a cost of over $15,000. In this church the
Annual Conferences of 1872, 1877, and 1884 were held,
and were most royally entertained by the Church and citi-
zens. A session of the Northwest Wisconsin Conference
was held in this city in 1863.

Chippewa River Mission appears as early as 1849, but
little, however, appears to have been accomplished at this
place for several years. In 1854 Dwight Kidder was
appointed to Chippewa. At the close of the year he
returned forty-two members. After this it was ‘sup-
plied” until 1860, when Thomas Harwood was sent as
pastor. His circuit was large, embracing Chippewa City,
Bloomer Prairie, Randall’s Prairie, Duncan’s Creek, and
Coop’s Prairie. Most of it was a trackless wilderness to
travel, but through it, winter and summer, he labored.
He organized during the year five new classes. He very
largely supported himself by teaching and running lines
3866 METHODISM IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

for settlers as a surveyor. Shortly after the breaking out
of the war he enlisted. At its close he went to Colorado,
and since then has been connected with the Spanish
Mission in New Mexico, where he is at this time superin-
tending the work, an honored, faithful, and useful minis-
ter of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1868 a commodious church was erected at Chip-
pewa Falls, E. E. Clough pastor, costing over $5,000,
which in 1883 was enlarged and beautified during the pas-
torate of E. L. Semans.

The four years in which the northwest portion of the
State was connected with the Minnesota Conference were
years of great sacrifice and arduous labor and toil on the
part of both ministers and laity, but not without success
in laying the foundations of Methodism in this extensive
field. The returns at the close of the last year’s work
were 948 members, 12 local preachers; 3 churches, valued
at $4,000; 1 parsonage, valued at $400; collected for
missions that year, $10.80; 86 Sunday-schools, and 1,000
scholars.
ANNALS OF 1860-65, 367

CHAPTER V.

WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1860-5.

HE General Conference of 1860 again changed the
boundaries of the Conference, by forming the North-
west Wisconsin Conference out of part of the West Wis-
consin, and that portion of the Minnesota Conferences in
the State of Wisconsin, thus taking from the West Wis-
consin Conference the counties of La Crosse, Monroe, Jack-
son, and a portion of Vernon, and reducing the limits of
that Conference to eleven counties in the extreme south-
west corner of the State, with no possibility of obtaining
any new territory. This arrangement could not be other-
wise than embarrassing to the work, and greatly retarded
the Conference in both material and spiritual success.

We will now trace the history of the West Wisconsin
Conference during the eight years of the existence of the
Northwest Wisconsin Conference, and then devote a chap-
ter to the latter.

The sixth session of the West Wisconsin Conference
met in Baraboo, September 12, 1860, Bishop Levi Scott
presiding. A previous Conference had been held in this
most hospitable city in 1853, presided over by the same
bishop. At that time the bishop dedicated the Methodist
Episcopal Church, which has since been greatly enlarged
and neatly refitted. There had been, prior to this, a
somewhat rude church built of rough lumber, and filled
with saw-dust between the boards, in which the people
worshiped, and in which many souls were converted.
368 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

At the Conference of 1860 an afternoon was taken to
visit Devil’s Lake, a beautiful sheet of clear water, about
one mile long and half a mile wide, surrounded by high
bluffs on almost every side. Among the preachers were
several who professed some knowledge of geology, and it
was amusing to see the now departed and glorified Dr.
T. M. Eddy, with several others, hammer in hand, en-
deavoring to break splinters from some of the massive
rocks which surround the lake. The only matter that
occurred which’ might have proved serious, if help had
not been near, was the slipping of Bishop Scott from
one of the rocks into the lake, which at that place was
quite deep.

The La Crosse District being now in the new Confer-
ence, the districts were reduced to five. Seventy-nine
preachers were appointed, and ten charges left to be sup-
plied. By the change of boundaries, seven hundred mem-
bers had been transferred to the new territory, leaving in
the Conference, with additions made during the year, 7,158
members, 46 churches, and 32 parsonages.

Only three preachers were received on trial this year.
William Cook, one of the number, after traveling two
years, enlisted in the army. As the company in which he
had enlisted was at the time of the session of the Confer-
ence leaving for the seat of war, his case was called im-
mediately after the Conference was organized, his charac-
ter was passed, and he was elected to deacon’s orders.
Bishop Janes immediately put some one in the chair, and,
passing out of the church, ordained him deacon in front
of the church, and gave him his blessing. He shouldered
his knapsack and departed. During the three years of
the war he was in active service, and faithfully served his
country. On his return he fell into the ranks, and has
given twenty years of faithful service in the Conference.
His health, however, was greatly impaired by his ex-
ANNALS OF 1860-5, 369

posure in the army, and he has been compelled, greatly
beloved by his brethren, to retire from active work.

During the year Rev. Samuel Anderson died. He was
among the first preachers in America to the Scandinavian
people. He was a scholar, and could readily speak four
or five languages. After devoting several years to faith-
ful work among his countrymen, he died, saying: ‘It is
good to be near Jesus.”

The north line of the Conference having been placed
farther south than it was intended, it was found that the
charges of Viroqua, Newton, and New Brookville were
cut in two by the arrangement; a committee was appointed
to confer with the Northwest Wisconsin Conference, so
that by mutual consent, until the next General Confer-
ence the north Jine of Vernon County should be the line
of division. This was effected, and the above charges
were served by the West Wisconsin Conference.

Previous to this time the amount that each preacher
should receive of financial support was uniform, and was fixed
by the law of the Church. This law allowed him, if married,
$200, and for each child under seven years of age $16;
from seven to fourteen, $24 yearly; after which the chil-
dren’s claim ceased. This plan was known by the general
name of ‘‘quarterage claim.” In addition to this, the
Discipline made it the duty of the Quarterly Conference
of each charge to fix the amount of ‘‘ table expenses” for
their preacher and his family, which, added to the quarter-
age claim, fixed the salary of the preacher for the year.
By this arrangement a more equal adjustment of salary
prevailed, as it was graded by the number of claimants in the
preacher’s family. At this Conference, however, we have
the new plan inaugurated, which is substantially the same
as at the present, requiring the Quarterly Conference to fix
the salary of their ministers, and all reference to ‘“‘ quarter-
age” or table expenses vanishes from the Discipline.

31
370 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

During the summer of this year, Bishop Simpson made
an unofficial visit to the Conference, holding informal Dis-
trict Conferences in most of the districts. His visit was a
great blessing to the Conference. The counsel he gave to
the preachers in regard to methods of work, the sermons
and addresses he delivered, were indeed a benediction to
all. Such visits made by our chief pastors at other times
than during the hurry and business of an Annual Con-
ference would be of incalculable value to the Church.

The Conference of 1861 met in the city of Madison,
Bishop Baker presiding. The Conference held its session
in the Assembly Chamber in the capitol, having the com-
mittee-rooms of the capitol at its disposal, which was a
great accommodation. F. 8. Houghowout, W. H. Palmer,
and James Temby, having enlisted in the army, asked for
locations, which were granted. Only three were admitted
on trial, all of whom in a few years retired from the work.
Nelson Green, a most excellent, sweet-spirited brother was
transferred to the Northwest Indiana Conference, from
which he came a few years previously. A. Brunson and
R. Langley were appointed as chaplains in the army.

The eighth session of the Conference convened in Dodge-
ville, September 4, 1862, Bishop Janes presiding. Dur-
ing this Conference, as before stated, a company of soldiers
left for the seat of war. Another company was recruiting
in the place. The public mind was much excited and un-
settled; but the Conference had a peaceful session, and the
preachers went to their work to more fully, if possible,
infuse a spirit of patriotism and save souls. e

In the statistical report of this year a column was de-
voted in the published Minutes to show the number of
members from each charge who had enlisted in the army
to put down the fearful rebellion. The returns were very
imperfect, and many who had enlisted were not enumer-
ated; but the report shows that in the Conference,
ANNALS OF 1860-5, 371

which, as before stated, only embraced eleven counties of
the State, from Madison District there had enlisted 75,
Mineral Point District 68, Point Bluff District 43, Platte-
ville District 34, and Prairie du Chien District 19—a
total of 239. The membership of the Conference at this
time was a little short of seven thousand, which, when we
deduct the women and minors, leaves a very favorable show-
ing in favor of loyalty and patriotism in the Conference.

Six preachers were received on trial at this Conference,
only two of whom are now found in our ranks—J. D.
Searls, of whom mention has been made elsewhere, and
James Evans. ‘This dear brother had, previous to his com-
ing among us, done several years of effective work in the
Primitive Methodist Church in this State. Since he came
among us he has done most excellent work on several
of our best appointments. His large family have grown
up around him, a credit to their parents, and a blessing
to others. Several of his sons are graduates of Lawrence
University. One of them is now district attorney of Sauk
County, another an efficient and successful teacher, while
still another, Thos. M., united with the Conference, and
labored with us six years, when he was transferred to the
Upper Iowa Conference, in which he is filling with suc-
cess some of the’ best appointments. His daughters are
also equally eminent, but of whom our space will not
permit us to speak. Such a family is an honor to parents,
and a blessing to humanity.

During this year, by order of the General Conference of
1860, a vote was taken of the male members of the Church
over twenty-one years of age on ‘‘ lay representation in the
General Conference.” The result of the vote was as follows:
Ministry—11 for, 45 against; laity —280 for, and 500 against.

At this Conference, Wm. Mullen, H. Chadeayne, and
W. H. Kellogg were readmitted, the latter only being now
in the Conference. After laboring with acceptability for
372 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

six years, he located. In 1870 he was again readmitted,
and remained effective ten years, when he again located.
In 1884 he was again readmitted, and was appointed to the
Ellsworth charge, but his health failing, he did not go to
the charge. At the ensuing Conference he was given a
superannnated relation, which he still sustains.

The ninth session of the Conference was held at Lodi,
September 2, 1863, Bishop Simpson presiding.

Ameng those received on trial were B. C. Hammond,
who, previous to his reception, had served as chaplain of
the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry. He remained in the Con-
ference five years, when he was transferred to the Upper
Jowa Conference. He is now chaplain in the United States
army, and a member of the Utah Mission Conference.

Christopher Bushby was a young man of fine parts, and
a brilliant speaker. He labored in the Conference thir-
teen years, filling some of the most important appointments,
to the satisfaction of tne people, when he was transferred
to the Rock River River Conference. At his first appoint-
ment he was suddenly taken sick, and died ; and thus his
‘“sun went down while it was yet day.”

H. D. Jencks is the only one of this class who remains
effective in the Conference. He has been doing full work
for twenty-six years. He is well known for his strong
anti-saloon principles, and is always in demand asa speaker
and vigorous advocate of prohibition. His work on his
charges has been owned of God in many revivals of religion.
He is still hale and vigorous, and is the present faithful
missionary treasurer of the Conference.

At this Conference charges were preferred against O. B.
Knudson, a Norwegian brother, arising out of the fact that,
having awakened among his people a great interest in mis-
sionary contributions, so that many of them put their ear and
finger rings into the missionary collection, he had appropri-
ated some of the money that he sold them for to his own use,
ANNALS OF 1860-5. 373

and was therefore guilty of both dishonesty and lying.
This alleged crime had been committed on one of the
Norwegian charges in the Wisconsin Conference, while
Knudson was 2 member of our Conference ; therefore one
of the ablest men in that Conference, in behalf of the
Church, came to prosecute the charges. A select number
of nine was appointed to try the case, with a chairman ap-
pointed by the bishop and one of the secretaries of the Con-
ference. When the case was opened, the counsel for the
accused pleaded for a dismissal of the case on account of the
great indefiniteness of the charges and _ specifications,
whereupon the presiding officer ruled out the entire case,
and dismissed the court. An appeal was taken from his
decision to the General Conference, and at its next ses-
sion, in 1864, the following decision was given on the case:
‘“That the select number appointed to try accused mem-
bers of an Annual Conference act in the case in the stead
and with the powers of the Conference itself, and its
chairman ix in the place of the bishop. It is therefore
improper for the chairman in such a case to dismiss a
complaint.”

During this year, Rev. Caristran E. WerricH died in
camp before Vicksburg, Mississippi. Fourteen years of his
life he had devoted to the ministry in the Pittsburg Con-
ference, and eight more after hix transfer to Wisconsin.
He also gave some years of his life to the publication of
a periodical entitled The Beauty of Holiness. After xerving
several important charges in the Conference, in 1862 he
was appointed chaplain of the Twenty-third Regiment of
Wisconsin Volunteers. After four months of untiring
labor, his earthly toils terminated in his death. He was
a good man, an able preacher, and dearly beloved by all
who knew him. Just before he died he lay some time as
if in prayer, then exclaimed: ‘‘ Farewell to this beautiful
world! I seem to hear beautiful bells! This is death!
374 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

It is not hard to die, provided a man is a thorough Chris-
tian!” Then sweetly and peacefully he passed heaven-
ward,

The delegates elected to the General Conference, to
meet in the city of Philadelphia in May, 1864, were Mat-
thew Bennett and James Lawson. They were instructed
by the Conference to seek some kind of readjustment of
the boundaries of the Conferences in the State, so as to
relieve the West Wisconsin Conference of its great embar-
rassment of teing confined in such narrow limits; but as
the Northwest Conference did not desire any change, and
the Wisconsin Conference being of the same mind, it was
impossible to accomplish anything. As a matter of fact,
the Wisconsin delegates were willing to give us on a part
of our eastern border a six-mile strip, but as that would
bring into our Conference a seminary already sick and
about to die, and as we had some such cases then on our
hands, it was thought best not to accept the offer, but to
continue as we then were, and cultivate our small territory
with as much care as possible.

This General Conference was held during probably the
darkest days of the Rebellion of the Southern States. The
Battle of the Wilderness, so called, was then being fought.
In the city where it was convened the excitement was at
fever height, and in the Conference the anxiety was
intense, especially among the delegates from the border
States, many of whom knew not what might befall their
homes and families during their absence.

There was one member of the Conference especially
who was full of patriotism—Rev. Granville Moody, a dele-
gate from Ohio. He was a colonel in the Union army,
and had obtained a furlough to attend his duties as dele-
gate to the General Conference. On the rostrum, or in
the’ street standing on a dry-goods box, his voice was
heard urging the people to patriotism and devotion to the
ANNALS OF 1860-5. 375

cause of the Union. He had no sympathy with the spirit
of rebellion when and wherever it appeared. During the
Conference it appeared that a secretary of one of the bor-
der Conferences had joined the rebel army, and had taken
the Annual Conference Minutes with him, whereupon
Colonel Moody, claiming that the Journal of an Annual
Conference was the property of the Church, demanded
that the Journal of the General Conference should say,
‘‘that said secretary had stolen them.” This proposition
stirred some of the border brethren, and for a few minutes
there was a scene of great excitement in the Conference,
which, for the time being, was ended by a premature
adjournment of the Conference for the day.

During the session the venerable Bishop T. A. Morris
preached his semi-centennial sermon before the Conference.
In this sermon there were some utterances well worthy of
recording ip these pages. In referring to the doctrines
generally preached in other Churches when he began his
ministry, he said: ‘‘The Five Points of Calvivism—total
depravity, particular election, partial redemption, effectual
calling, and infallible perseverance—were generally
preached, and any Church which did not subscribe
to these points of doctrine was scarcely recognized as a
Church of God. The doctrine then generally made promi-
nent was about as follows: ‘If I was converted, it
was because I could not help it; if I enjoy religion, I do not
know it; if I have it, I can not lose it; and if I lose it, I
never had it.” ‘In 1819,” said he, ‘‘ I was treasurer of the
Missionary Society of the Ohio Conference, which embraced
the States of Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and
Michigan. During that year, from that entire region, the
total amount of missionary money was only nineteen dollars
and a few cents.” Said he, ‘‘I had been a traveling
preacher four years before I saw a Sabbath-school, and the
first I saw was in connection with a Presbyterian Church. I
376 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

visited it, thought it to be a good thing, and I took my
daughter, introduced her to the superintendent, and she
became a member of the school.”

The tenth session of the Conference was held in Man-
ston in 1864, Bishop Kingsley presiding.

Two only were received on trial—Edward McGinley,
who was effective twenty years, and a superannuate for two
years. 8.8. Benedict was the other received at this session.
He graduated with honors from the State University of Wis-
consin in 1856, and received the degree of A. M. in 1859.
For eight years he taught in various academies and high-
schools, and spent some time in reading law with a view of
entering the profession. In 1864 he took charge of Brun-
son Institute, and was received on trial in the Conference.
He has given twenty-five years of faithful service to the
Church, and is still doing full work in the Conference. He
has also well served the Conference as its secretary for seven
sessions. He is an able preacher, discreet and careful, as
well as intensely conscientious in all he does.

At this Conference the Scandinavian charges, which
had, up to the present, been connected with the different dis-
tricts in the Conference, were made into a separate district
embracing six charges, and O. P. Peterson appointed as
presiding elder. They reported at the end of the year 238
members and 5 probationers.

Three deaths of members of the Conference occurred
this year. Rev. Wasuineron Wiicox died in Baraboo,
August 23,1864. In his twenty-third year he united with
the New Hampshire Conference. In 1846 he was transferred
to the Illinois Conference, and was one of the early preach-
ers at Galena, Dubuque, and Mineral Point. He was
thirty-four years effective, eleven of which he served as pre-
siding elder. He was strong in debate, powerful as a
preacher, strict as a disciplinarian, and punctual in duty.
He lived well, and died exclaiming: ‘‘ All is well! The
ANNALS OF 1860-5, 377

Lord is my portion, portion, portion!” His companion,
CAROLINE WILcox, survived him nineteen years. All whu
knew her bear witness to her perfect sincerity and fidelity
in her Christian life. As long as she was able she was
found in her place in the sanctuary and social meetings.
During a long cancerous affection she suffered great physical
pain, but patience had in her its ‘‘ perfect work.” Having
no children, she distributed among her Christian friends her
small effects as simple tokens of her regard and esteem;
then arranging for her interment, she requested that what
was left should be given to the Woman’s Foreign Missionary
Society, which amounted to about four hundred dollars.
Her work then appeared to be done, and when near her end
she said: ‘‘God has been to me a father, husband, friend,
sustaining and helping; his word is the food of my soul;
in his hands I trust myself; he is the strength of my heart;
it will be well with me.”

Rev. Joun M. SprinceEr died at Nashville, Tenn., May
28, 1864. He was another son of the venerable Elihu
Springer. ‘After seven years of effective service, he
was drafted into the army, and was immediately ap-
pointed by the governor of Wisconsin chaplain of the
Third Regiment Wisconsin Veteran Volunteers. During
an engagement in Georgia the captain and first and second
lieutenants, fell in battle. Brother Springer, seeing the
emergency, seized the lieutenant’s sword, and led the
company to the charge, when immediately he was shot.
and one of his limbs fearfully shattered. He lingered
along in the hospital until May 28th, when he suddenly
raised up in bed, and said: ‘‘I am dying! Good-bye.
Tell my friends I die in the Lord.” He then sank back
upon the bed, closed his eyes, placed his hands upon his
breast, and fell asleep in Jesus, in the twenty-eighth year of
his age.

Rev. 8. D. BassenGer died in Avoca, August 31, 1864,
378 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE,

He had been seven yearsin the Conference. When dying
he exclaimed: ‘‘ All is well!”

By order of the General Conference a vote was taken
at this session on changing the General Rule on Slavery, so
as to have it read, ‘‘Slaveholding, buying or selling slaves.”’
The result of the vote was, forty-five voted to concur, and
none against it. So overwhelming was this vote in favor of
the change in the Annual Conferences that the future
editions of the Discipline contained the amended rule, and
‘slaveholding ” forever ceased in the Methodist Episcopal
Church—not, however, before it had cost the sacrifice
of many precious lives, amid tears and suffering and blood.

During this year, notwithstanding the excitement of
war, an increase of five hundred and ninety-three members
was reported in the Conference.

By order of the General Conference of 1864, the
names and addresses of the local preachers in the Confer-
ence were this year printed in the Annual Conference
Minutes, which has been continued to the present. The
first enrollment contains 114 in the West Wisconsin,
and 38 in the Northwest Wisconsin Conferences—total,
152. Of this number, 7 were Scandinavians. Of the
number found on the list in 1864, only nine now remain ;
viz.; George Bonham, John U. Baker, William Harvey,
Robert Osborne, J. T. Pryor, H. V. Train, John Jane,
John Whitworth, and Wm. Egbert.

Methodism in Wisconsin and through the entire con-
nection is greatly indebted to the noble, persevering, and
gratuitious work done by its local preachers, which, when
systematically used, is a great help to the itinerant min-
ister. There are at present only 107 local preachers em-
ployed on this field, and it is to be feared that the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church is losing much influence for good
by permitting this arm of the service to rest, which has
been so signally owned of God in the past.
ANNALS OF 1860-5, 879

The next session was held in Brodhead in September,
1865, Bishop Thomson presiding.

Six were admitted on trial, of which only two are at
present in the Conference.

W. W. Wheaton has been for twenty-six years effective.
He is an able writer and a strong preacher, and, although
afflicted with deafness, he has nevertheless done good work
in our Zion.

G. W. Case also started in the work this year, and was
appointed principal of Brunson Institute, where he remained
two years. After that, on account of feeble health, he be-
came supernumerary for one year. He then began his
work in the regular itinerancy, in which he has eminently
been blest and owned of God. During the twenty-three
years of his effective work, in which he has been presid-
ing elder for six years, he has been in every regard a suc-
cess, several monuments of his labor in the form of beau-
tiful church edifices and parsonages being found in the
Conference; and he has a warm place in the affections of
the people on the charges where he has been pastor.

John H. Johnson, a young Norwegian brother, was also
admitted. He was a finely educated young man, and
after preaching among his people in Wisconsin for sevy-
eral years, was transferred to the Norway Conference.
He was the delegate from that Conference to the
last General Conference, and is now presiding elder in
Norway.

For several years a few of the old ministers and mem-
bers had opposed the use of instrumental music in the
sanctuary ; so at this Conference a ‘‘ Committee on Music”
was appointed. In their report, which was adopted, they
favor its use, denouncing any one, whether minister or
layman, old or young, who applies terms of contempt on
instruments so used indivine worship, and that the ques-
tion of choir or congregational singing should be settled
380 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

by the light of expediency, using that which will best
promote the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Rev. Alfred Brunson preached his semi-centennial ser-
mon before the Conference, in which he reviewed his min-
istry for fifty years, and contrasted the Church of the
present to what it was a half century in the past.
 

 

 

Rev. JOHN STEELE Rev. GW. CASE.
ANNALS OF 1866-7. 381

CHAPTER VI.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1866-7.

HE twelfth session of the Conference was held at
Hazel Green, August 29, 1866, Bishop Scott pre-
siding.

A decided improvement appears this year in the printed
Minutes, in publishing for the first time a synopsis of the
daily sessions of the Conference.

A question of ecclesiastical law came before the bishop
in his cabinet-work at this session. Rev. J. C. Aspinwall’s
term as presiding elder on the Platteville District having
expired, the preachers of that district were about unani-
mous in asking for a certain brother as his successor. On
presentation of his name in the cabinet of the bishop, it
was stated that this brother had served a full term as pre-
siding elder only four years before, on part of the then
Platteville District; was it not, therefore, the same dis-
trict? If so, it would be contrary to the law of the Church
to appoint him to that district. The bishop decided that
if there was at that time a majority of charges on the
Platteville District over which this brother, during the
period referred to, had presided, he would consider it the
same district, and would not appoint him; but if contra-
riwise, he would appoint him. A majority of one charge
appeared against him, and he was not appointed.

Six at this Conference were admitted on trial, three of
whom are still in the Conference. E. W. Allen was in
the effective ranks for eighteen years. He was a very ac-
ceptable and useful laborer, a man of excellent spirit, and
382 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

universally beloved by all. He is now a supernumerary,
residing at Mankato, Kansas. R. Pengilly has given twen-
ty-three years of faithful service, in the prime of his days,
to the Church, serving on some of the most important
charges, and has been every way efficient in the work.
W. R. Irish joined the Conference when twenty-five
years of age, and for twenty-one years has done excellent
service, four of which he was presiding elder. He is an
able preacher, sought after and beloved by the people.
Although yet in his prime he has been obliged to rest, and
is now supernumerary.

The General Conference of 1864 having organized the
‘*Church Extension Society,” a committee was appointed
at this session on this subject, who reported favorably on
the enterprise, urged liberal collections, and that it should
be made a prominent object in the centenary offerings.
They also reported and spread upon the Journal of Confer-
ence a circular just issued by the Parent Society, which
stated that the ‘‘ Parent Society had appropriated $3,000,
payable in quarterly installments, to the West Wisconsin
Conference, and urged the Conference Board to be careful
and discriminating in regard to its disbursements.” At
the same time they stated that ‘‘ the ability of the Parent
Society to give that amount to the Conference depended
on the contributions it received from the Churches.” The
Conference Board either greatly overlooked the qualifying
clause, or had such faith in the Church filling up the
treasury of the Parent Board, that they made a distribu-
tion of the entire $3,000; and the consequence was that
great expectations were raised in those places to which do-
nations had been recommended, which were doomed, on
account of the shortage of funds, to great disappointment.
Thus the commencement of this valuable society was not
at all flattering in the Conference. The Parent Society
after this adopted the pro rata system, giving to each Con-
ANNALS OF 1866-7. 383

ference of the amount appropriated in proportion to the
amount apportioned and raised.

This being the Centenary year of American Methodism,
a large committee of ministers and laymen was appointed,
a plan was adopted by the Conference for its proper ob-
servance, and objects specified to which Centenary thank-
offerings should be made.

The report of E. Tasker, Conference missionary treas-
urer, showed that $3,364 had been raised in the Conference
this year for missions—being a little over fifty cents per
member. This was a good record, and we are only sorry
that the Conference has not retained the standard to the
present time.

The report adopted on the ‘‘ State of the Country”
indicates the prevailing feeling of the times in regard to
the treatment of rebels. It is as follows:

‘‘Resolved, That in our view the policy and measures
of the President in regard to rebels are highly detrimental
to the permanent peace and prosperity of the country, and
that our only hope, under God, for our safety is in Con-
gress and the patriotism of the people.”

The West Wisconsin Conference had now reached its
first decade. During that period about seven hundred mem-
bers, by the organization of the Northwest Conference,
had been transferred to that territory. The present mem-
bership, including probationers, was 7,400, showing a gain
during ten years of 2,351. The missionary collections had
averaged nearly two thousand dollars annually, or thirty
cents per member during the decade. ‘This is a very cred-
itable showing, especially when we remember the small-
ness of the field embraced in the Conference.

The next Conference was held at Prairie du Chien,
September, 1867, Bishop Simpson presiding.

At this Conference the bishop preached out of doors
one of his powerful sermons, from Romans i, 16.
384 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Seven were received on trial, only one of whom re-
mains in the Conference. John Steele has been twenty-
two years effective and efficient. In 1873 he was appointed
missionary to New Mexico, where he remained six years
as superintendent of the mission. He was successful in
his work while there, and is still doing excellent work in
the Conference.

W. E. Huntington was also admitted. He was a
graduate of the State University. He remained in the
Conference three years, when, to further prosecute his
studies, he went to Boston University, expecting to return
when he had completed his education; but he has failed
to do so, as we feared he might when he left us. He is
now one of the professors in Boston University. This is
only one of the many instances in our history as a Con-
ference which, on account of the smallness of our territory,
and, consequently, the comparatively few places of prom-
inence in it, of our losing talented young men who have
gone to more promising fields. Another reason has doubt-
less been the reflections, by far too often made by a very
limited number among us in regard to college graduates,
but which we are glad to know is now all in the past.

Three died during the year.

PETER PEARson, who had been nine years in the Con-
ference, was a man of feeble constitution, but emphatically
a good man and an able preacher. His last testimony in
the Conference love-feast was: ‘‘ Brethren, I may never
meet you again on earth, but I do expect to meet you all
in heaven.”

SamvuEL Dopee died at Boscobel. He sustained an ef-
fective relation for thirteen years. He was indefatigable in
his labors, and most kind and generous in his disposition.
A faithful man, he died as the Christian dies, and went home
to rest with God. His companion still lingers on the shores
of time, waiting for the blessed reunion.
ANNALS OF 1866-7, 385

A. CEDERHOLM died in Sweden. He was one of the
early preachers among his countrymen in Wisconsin, was
sent as missionary to Sweden, and died at his post.

Rev. O. P. Peterson, presiding elder of the Norwegian
District, reported that they were laboring among a people
who by birth, education, and confirmation, were members
of the Lutheran Church; that the people ‘think it an
almost unpardonable sin to leave it and unite with another
Church, which they call‘ a sect.’” He reported 8 churches,
valued at $10,000, and 277 members.

The financial report of Centenary offerings was made
to this Conference, which, although not a full showing, in-
dicates that, in addition to the blessed spiritual benefits of
its observance, the collections by districts were: From
Madison District, $15,569.07; Mineral Point District,
$17,235.20; Kilbourn District, $4,547.25; Prairie du
Chien District, $1,684.45; total, $39,035.97.

The total number of members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church in the three Conferences in the State by
their returns of 1866, the Centennial year, was: Wiscon-
sin Conference, 10,203; West Wisconsin, 6,337; North-
west Wisconsin, 2,573; total, 19,118. Church property
in the three Conferences was reported to the value of
$623,700.

The delegates elected to the General Conference were
A. Brunson and R. Dudgeon, with P. S. Mather and E.
Yocum as reserves.

32
386 NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER VII.
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1860-7.

HIS Conference was formed by the General Confer-
ence of 1860, and embraced that portion of Northwest
Wisconsin which had been for four years attached to Min-
nesota Conference, and also the La Crosse District of the
West Wisconsin Conference.

Its first session met at Sparta, September 5, 1860,
Bishop Scott presiding.

At its organization twenty ministers were recognized as
members. T. M. Fullerton was readmitted. He was born
in Kentucky, June 1, 1817. Soon after he was born his
mother became partially insane, and remained so for sixty
years, dying in Minnesota in 1877. When he was in his
sixteenth year his father was thrown from a horse and was
killed. Thomas was providentially placed in a family who
were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
who endeavored to train him up in the fear of the Lord.
In 1836, when in his nineteenth year, he came to Wiscon-
sin, and was employed as a salesman at Snake Hollow
(Potosi). In 1840, during a protracted meeting held by
Revs. N. W. Reed and J. G. Whitford, he united with
the Church, and while yet a probationer was appointed a
class-leader. He was licensed to exhort the same year,
and was sent by the presiding elder to assist J. G. Whit-
ford on Mineral Point Circuit. He gives the following
account of his outfit: ‘‘ George Medeira, in whose employ
I was at that time, said to me: ‘Go to my barn, and take
ANNALS OF 1860-7, 8387

the pony; take a new saddle and bridle out of the store,

and all you need beside, and go in the name of the Lord.’

The pony was a very small Canadian. Charles Crockwell

furnished me with a pair of old saddle-bags, and the em-

hryo itinerant’s outfit was complete.” At a camp-meeting

held near Fayette, July 19, 1841, he was licensed to

preach, and recommended for admission on trial in the

Annual Conference. He had then been itinerating five

months as an exhorter. He joined the Rock River Con-
ference, held in Platteville, Wisconsin, in 1841. After
traveling three years his health failed, and he was super-
annuated for two years. After this he was located for five

years. In 1851 he was readmitted and stationed at St.

Paul, Minnesota. Having been unexpectedly appointed

register of the United States Iuand-office, at the close of his
pastorate at St. Paul he removed to Stillwater, and again

received a location. During the years he was residing at
Stillwater he devoted much time, money, and influence in

the interests of Methodism there, preaching often himself,

and aiding liberally in Church-work. He was identified

with the Northwest Wisconsin Conference during the eight
years of its existence. Since then, until his superannua-
tion in 1882—a period of fourteen years, during seven of
which he was presiding elder—he was a most invaluable
blessing to the Conference and a safe administrator of disci-

pline. For several years he resided at Brownville, Iowa. .
He died at that place December 4, 1889, beloved and

lamented by all.

T. C. Golden was another of the charter members of
this Conference. He was in the Conference thirteen years,
during eight of which he was presiding elder. He was one
of the delegates to the General Conference of 1864, and was
the mover of the resolution by which a deputation was sent
to Washington to wait on President Lincoln, assuring him
of the sympathy of the Conference and the Methodist Epis-
388 NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

copal Church in the great struggle through which the Nation
was then passing. The deputation was received by the
President with great respect and kindness, and through
them he sent to the General Conference an autograph letter,
thanking them for their loyalty and patriotism. In 1862
Rev. Golden was commissioned as chaplain of the Twenty-
fifth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. In 1867 he located,
and in a few years after died, entering into his eternal rest.

J. L. Dyer and Daniel Clingman were also two of the
original members of this Conference. Both of them were
noted for their pioneering spirit and work. The former,
after being on the frontier for many years in Wisconsin and
Minnesota, went to Colorado, and is well called ‘‘ the Father
of Colorado Methodism.” The latter, after lifting many
Churches out of debt and building many others in Wiscon-
sin, went to Lower California in 1888, to engage in mission-
work.

This Conference, at its organization, consisted of La
Crosse District, T. C. Golden presiding elder; Galesville
District, J. W. Millour, presiding elder; and Prescott
District, C. Hobart, presiding elder. There were stationed
38 preachers, and 6 charges left to be supplied. The
total membership was 1,771 members and 520 probation-
ers. There were only 7 church edifices and five parson-
ages in the Conference, and the average yearly salary of
the preachers did not exceed $200.

A resolution was passed at this first Conference ex-
pressive of their highest regards and esteem toward the
brethren of the West Wisconsin and Minnesota Confer-
ences.

The second session of the Conference was held Septem-
ber 26, 1861, Bishop Baker presiding.

Four were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.) R.
Cobban, C. P. Hackney, J. B Reynolds, and H. T. Ma-
gill, were received by transfer. HH. T. Magill, after spend-
ANNALS OF 1860-7, 389

ing one year as pastor at La Crosse, and one year at Eau
Claire, was transferred to the Ohio Conference. He,
however, left in the State two sons, Harry P. aud Edwin
B., who have long been active and efficient workers in the
Methodist Episcopal Church at La Crosse, both as trus-
tees and Sabbath-school superintendents. The former is
president of the Exchange Bank at North La Crosse, and
the latter is a real estate agent. They are both active
and useful members of the Church.

At this Conference Galesville District in name was
dropped, and Chippewa District was organized, C. Hobart
presiding elder. During the year, Brother Hobart was
commissioned as chaplain of the Third Minnesota Regiment,
and Matthew Sorin supplied the district as presiding elder.

The next session was held at Hudson, September
24, 1862, Bishop Janes presiding. Two were received
on trial.

The vote on lay representation in the General Confer-
ence was taken this year with the following result: Laity—
134 against, and 55 for; Ministry—19 against, and 6 for.

The fourth Conference was held in West Eau Claire,
October 7, 1863, Bishop Ames presiding.

Four were admitted on trial. An increase of 194
members was reported, aud a small increase in the mis-
sionary collection. There were 4 transfers from the Con-
ference, 34 preachers were stationed, and 6 places “left
to be supplied.”

The newness of the field, the smallness of the member-
ship, and the comparatively small aid from the Missionary
Society, made this a hard Conference in which to labor.
The average yearly salary was as yet only $220, and, while
some laborers withdrew, there were those who remained,
never shrinking from toil and suffering in the midst of
privation.

An appeal was made at this Conference to the Gen-
390 NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

eral Missionary Committee for an increased appropriation
to the Conference, which was effectual, giving to the Con-
ference a total of $2,200.

The fifth session of the Conference was held at Black
River Falls, September 21, 1864. Bishop Kingsley, being
sick at Winona, did not reach the Conference. Wm.
Hamilton was elected president. This honor the Confer-
ence could not have conferred on one more capable and
worthy. Brother Hamilton has labored in Indiana, Wis-
consin, and Minnesota for over thirty-three years. Dur-
ing this period he has been presiding elder thirteen years.
He was delegate to the General Conferences of 1876 and
1880. He now sustains a superannuated relation, wait-
ing, watching, and ready for the Master to call him home.

Thos. Crouch aud George Benham were admitted on
trial. The former is still doing good work in the West
Wisconsin Conference. The latter has been effective for
twenty-three years. He was long employed as a success-
ful agent of the American Bible Society. The churches
at Onalaska, North La Crosse, and Fairchild were built
during his pastorate at those places. He is now a super-
annuate in the Conference.

The vote of the Conference was taken at this session
on the change of the General Rule on Slavery, so as to
prohibit slaveholding in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Twenty-three votes were cast in the affirmative, and none
in the negative.

J. W. Johnson and Isaac E. Springer were commissioned
as chaplains in the army in Wisconsin regiments, making
five ministers in this small Conference; viz., Revs. Ho-
bart, McKinley, Golden, Johnson, and Springer, who
were appointed by the bishops as chaplains. Dr. Hobart
was transferred to the Minnesota Conference, where he
has ever since been a member. He still lives, revered by
the entire Methodist Church in Illinois, Wisconsin, and
ANNALS OF 1860-7, 391

Minnesota. His two volumes, ‘‘ History of Minnesota Meth-
odism,” and ‘‘ Recollections,” are most interesting books.

J. B. Reynolds enlisted during the year as a private,
and a resolution was passed requesting Governor Lewis to
commission him as a chaplain in any regiment without a
chaplain. This dear brother, after his return from the
army, re-entered the ministerial ranks in the Conference,
where he remained thirteen years, during three of which
he was presiding elder. He was transferred in 1874 to his
old Conference—Southern Illinois—in which he preached
Jesus only a few years, dying in the prime of life, but
greatly beloved by all.

The sixth session of this Conference met in Menomo-
nee, September 14, 1865, Bishop Thomson presiding.

A Committee on Lay Representation in the General
Conference was appointed, and reported favorably on the
measure, ‘‘as soon as it could be ascertained that the
Church desired it.”

Five were received on trial. (See Appendix D.)

A. G. Davis has given twenty-four years to the effect-
ive work in the Conference. He has labored with great
acceptability. At Eau Claire, Augusta, Platteville, and
other places he had marked success. He is still hale and
vigorous, promising many years of successful work.

The missionary appropriation was this year again in-
creased to a total of $3,500, which tended somewhat to
relieve the embarrassments which from the first had been
experienced in this Conference.

The seventh session met at Prescott, September 12,
1866, Bishop Scott presiding.

Six were admitted on trial in the Conference. H. W.
Bushnell, one of the number, was born in Barkham-
sted, Conn., in 1842. At the age of sixteen he was con-
verted and united with the Church. When eighteen he
was licensed to exhort. He received a liberal education
392 NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

in the village high-school and in Wilbraham Seminary.
In 1865 he came to Wisconsin and joined the Conference
on trial. In 1869 he was county superintendent of schools
in Dunn County. He has devoted twenty-three years of
faithful work to the ministry, and is now presiding elder
of the Mission District. He is well adapted to the work,
being careful, correct, and energetic. James Havens was
another of those admitted. With the exception of a short
time spent in Kansas, he has continued in the work. He
is a faithful and devoted laborer.

Arrangements were made at this session to celebrate
throughout the Conference the Centenary of American
Methodism, and several objects were specified to which the
donations of the Church should be invited. During the
year there had been an increase of 313 members in the
Conference, and a small increase in the missionary contri-
butions. (See Appendix B.)

The Conference Church Extension Board, misunder-
standing the circular issued by the Parent Board of Church
Extension, apportioned the $3,000, which they understood
to be at their disposal, to nine localities in the Conference ;
but on account of the smallness of the collections of the
Parent Board, but few of the places received at that time
any aid from this society.

The eighth and last session of this Conference met at
Sparta September 12, 1867, Bishop Simpson presiding.

Henry M. Springer was admitted on trial. He is
another son of the revered Elihu Springer. Sister Springer
survived her companion many years, and resided in Bara-
boo, a ‘‘ burning and shining light.” Afterwards she
removed to Dakota, to which Conference Henry had been
transferred; and after a few years’ residence there, she
entered into rest. One daughter still resides in Baraboo—
Mrs. L. Thompson. She is a devoted Christian, and
active in all Church-work.
ANNALS OF 1860-7. 393

At this Conference only thirty-four preachers were
stationed, being four less than at its organization eight
years previous, indicating the hardships incident to this
field of labor. Many ministers drifted into other more
favored Conferences. The men of this Conference un-
doubtedly performed labors and endured privations un-
known to any other Conference in the connection not in a
state of war; yet, with the heroic spirit of the fathers, they
gave themselves to their work, and God was with them.
During the eight years these men of toil and sacrifice had
increased the membership over one thousand, erected
eighteen churches at a cost of $40,500, and sixteen parson-
ages at a cost of $10,000.

T. M. Fullerton was elected delegate to the General
Conference, and C. P. Hackey, reserve.

The report of the Centenary offerings made at this Con-
ference shows, in addition to the rich spiritual benefits,
that for the various local and connectional objects $15,231
had been raised in the Conference, much of this amount
being for the erection of churches and paying debts on
churches and parsonages within the Conference, while each
of the objects named received more or less attention.

It is worthy of note that during the eight years of the
existence of this Conference no minister was expelled and
none died.

For further information in regard to this Conference
the reader is referred to the various valuable Appendices
of the West and Northwest Wisconsin Conferences at the

close of the volume.
33
394 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER VIII.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1868-73.

HE General Conference of 1868 changed the bounda-

ries of the West Wisconsin Conference by transfer-

ring the whole of Northwest Wisconsin to it, except
the counties of Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland, which
were attached to the Minnesota Conference. This ar-
rangement relieved the Conference by opening out a large
field for cultivation; and if the missionary appropiation
had only been continued as it had existed for several
years, the growth of the Conference would have been much
greater. At the very first Conference in 1868, the mis-
slonary appropriation was reduced from $7,425 (the amount
in 1867 to the two Conferences) to $4,700, showing a re-
duction of missionary aid in one year of $2,725 for the same
field. The next year it was rednced to $4,000, in 1875
to $3,000, and in 1877 to $1,500, remaining at that amount
for several years. This arrangement greatly crippled the
work, and is one of the reasons why the increase of our
Zion has not been larger. Itis proper, however, to state that
the withdrawing of funds from this field was largely due to
the depressed condition of the General Missionary treasury.
The fourteenth session of the West Wisconsin Confer-
ence met at Mazomanie, September 28, 1868, Bishop
Ames presiding. Rev. Isaac E. Springer, secretary of the
late Northwest Conference, presented a certificate of the
members of that Conference, and a vote of greeting and
ea = r

   

Rev. WM. HAW Rev. JOHN HAW.

 

 

 

 

 

Rev. S. S. BENEDICT. Mr. D. J SPAULDING.
ANNALS OF 1868-78, 395

welcome was unanimously passed to the brethren coming
from that Conference.

At this Conference one brother was charged with im-
morality, and the case referred to his presiding elder for
trial. Another was charged with refusing to go to his ap-
pointment, and as he was not at the Conference to an-
swer the charge, he was ‘‘ suspended until he should give
satisfaction to the Conference.”

Twelve were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.)
E. E. Clough was effective twenty years in the Confer-
ence. His appointments embraced several of the most im-
portant charges, and for four years he was presiding elder.
He was successful in his work, the Churches at Chippewa
Falls and West Eau Claire being monuments to his per-
severance. In 1888, on account of family sickness, he
was transferred to the Dakota Conference, and stationed at
Watertown. He was elected representative to the Consti-
tutional Convention of South Dakota in 1889.

W. E. Conway served in the effective work for ten
years, and has been eleven years superannuated ; his health
is still poor.

G. D. Brown has made no break in his work for
twenty-one years. His field has been in the northern re-
gions of the Conference, on many hard charges; but he
has left his mark for God and the Church at every place,
and has witnessed many powerful revivals of religion. He
expects, through grace, to sing all the way up to the golden
gates of paradise.

W. C. Ross, who was received from the Protestant
Methodist Church, has been twenty-one years in the Con-
ference, sixteen of which he was effective and five super-
numerary. His work has been largely on new and hard
fields, where the support has been small, but he has ‘ en-
dured as seeing Him who is invisible.”

J. T. Bryan has also been the same length of time on
396 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

the list and able to say: ‘“‘Here am I, send me!” He is
a man ofa ‘meek and quiet spirit,” and greatly beloved
by the people of his charges.

T. J. Lewis is another of the number of the recruits

of this year. His record of twenty-one years of diligent:
work is unbroken. His now sainted father was one of the
early pioneers of Wisconsin, preaching early in the forties
in Southern Wisconsin. Brother Lewis gave a son of
promise to the ministry, who was suddenly removed in
1888 from his earthly labors by death.
# During the year two of the members of the Confer-
ence died. Rev. Wm. Summersides, who had been over
fifty years in the itinerancy, was sent out at an early day
as a missionary from England to America by the Primi-
tive Methodist Church. After laboring in Pennsylvania
and New England for some years with but little success,
he became convinced, as he often expressed himself, ‘‘ that
the work he sought to accomplish could be done better
and at less expense by the Methodist Episcopal Church;”
he therefore united with that Church. His work in Wis-
consin continued twelve years, when at the age of seventy-
one, on the 12th of May, 1868, at Hazel Green, he passed
from earthly toil to the rest of heaven.

James Cady died at Tomah, August 7, 1868. His
ministerial work had been both in Wisconsin and Minne-
sota. He was converted under me labors of Jas. Law-
son, ‘lived well, and died in peace.”

"The Conference was divided into eight districts, one of
them being a Norwegian District. One hundred preachers
were stationed, and 21 places left to be supplied. The
total membership of the Conference was 10,514, being an
increase of 810 for the year.

During the year application was made to the State
Legislature to amend the ‘‘ Act of Incorporation of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in the State of Wisconsin,”
ANNALS OF 1868-78, 397

so as to do away with the necessity (which the old act re-
quired) of recording the names of the trustees of our Church
property after each election. The old act was accordingly
repealed, and a new ‘“‘ Act of Incorporation” passed and
approved, March 5, 1868, which was essentially the same
as the old act, except the clause requiring the recording
of names, thus making all our trustees legal without re-
cording the names, provided they are ‘‘ appointed according
to the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church.”

The next session was held at Portage City, October 4,
1869, Bishop Scott presiding.

H. K. Cobb, D. W. Couch, and Wm. Sturgis were
received by transfer.

The General Conference of 1868 had ordered that in
the month of June, 1869, a vote of all the members of
the Church in full connection, and not less than twenty-
one years of age, should be taken by vauot on the question
of the admission of lay representation in the General
Conference, and that at the session of each Annual Con-
ference in 1869 a vote of the ministry on the same ques-
tion should be taken. At this Conference the vote of the
laity in the Conference was reported as follows: For lay
delegation, 1,894; against,527. The vote of the ministry
was: For lay delegation, 69; against, 14. Some of the
wisest and best of both the laity and ministry were num-
bered in the minority.

The Conference now consisted of 7 districts, the Nor-
wegian District, containing 6 preachers and 317 members,
having been transferred to the Wisconsin Conference ;
thus the Scandinavian brethren passed from our observa-
tion as a Conference. Wedesire, however, to record our
high estimate of those dear brethren, sympathizing with
them in their difficult work, and rejoice in their remark-
able success in planting Methodism among their people.

In order somewhat to relieve the embarrassment of those
398 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Churches and Boards of Trustees which had failed to re-
ceive the aid which they had hoped to receive from the
Church Extension Society, a resolution was passed by the
Conference stating the cause of the failure, and recom-
mending all those Churches which expected aid “to rely to
the utmost extent on their own resources, and withdraw
all their claims on said society.”

At this Conference, in addition to the three received by
transfer, fourteen were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.)
J. S. Leavitt was one of the number. He graduated from
the State University, then joined the Conference, and
married the amiable and talented daughter of Rev. A. C.
Pennock, long a member of the Wisconsin Conference.
In 1873, Brother Leavitt was transferred, and since then
he has been stationed on some of the best charges in the
Wisconsin Conference. He was also for four years the
successful presiding elder of the Milwaukee District, and
is now filling an important charge.

J. D. Brothers and N. OC. Bradley have both suc-
ceeded in the work, but on account of impaired health are
now supernumerary.

H. §. Richardson was also received. He was in the

Jonference six years, three of which he was pastor at
Madison, where he labored hard in the erection of the
new and beautiful church edifice, now carried forward to
completion. In 1875 he was transferred to the Wisconsin
Conference, of which he is now a supernumerary member.

Another of this year’s class is C. C. Swartz. For twen-
ty-three years he has been in the work, and most of that
time his field has been in the more northern portions of the
Conference—in the sand, or among the big pines—but he
is now in the ‘‘ clover,” within the bounds of the Platte-
ville District, doing good work for the Master. He is an
able preacher, and respected by the brethren of the Con
ference. .
ANNALS OF 1868-73. 399

Wm. Massee was also admitted. He has been effective
fifteen years, doing much frontier and hard work, during
which he has led many souls to Christ. For the last five
years he has been superannuated.

The two brethren against whom complaints had been
made at the last Conference were located.

The sixteenth session of the Conference met in La
Crosse, October 3, 1870, Bishop Clark presiding.

It is seldom that at one Conference a class has been
admitted, which, although small, contained so many men
who have grown to power and greatness, as some of those
young men have who were admitted at this Conference.
I give the first five names as they appear in the Confer-
ence Minutes of this year: M. B. Balch, E. L. Semans,
John Tresidder, W. J. McKay, and B. E. Wheeler. They
have each served well in the work, on circuit, station, or
district, for nineteen years, and, without any disparagement
to others, we give them the well-earned title, ‘‘ Excelsior.”

W.J. McKay, although born in County Down, Ireland,
has ever gone up since his conversion in 1869. Himself
of tall stature, he has been able to stand up and be
seen and heard with great acceptance in several of the
most important charges of the Conference. After five
years of ministerial work he was married to Mrs. A. A.
McKendree, who has proven herself an efficient helper in
both home and Church. Although but yet a young man,
the Conference honored both itself and him by sending
him as one of the delegates to the General Conference in
1884, and again in 1888. He is now serving his fourth
year as pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in
Madison.

Rev. H. K. Coss died in the city of Madison, Novem-
ber 29, 1869. Only the year previous he had been trans-
ferred from the Vermont Conference, where for sixteen
years he had been a member. He had just entered his
400 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

second year’s work at Madison, when he was suddenly, in
the very prime of life, at the age of forty-two, called to
his reward. He was a man of scholarly habits and good
ability. He was an effective speaker, and his sermons were
well prepared, clear and pointed. He was a man of one
work, and the Church in his death lost a most promising
laborer. His companion still lives, revering the memory
of her departed husband, and loving the Church in which
he labored and died.

Ropert Coppan died at Mondovi, January 4, 1870.
He had spent fuurteen years in the work as a Methodist
minister, and was in his fourth year as presiding elder
when called to his reward. He was away from family and
home, attending his quarterly meeting, when he was at-
tacked with pneumonia. He lingered only a few days,
leaving as a dying message to his brethren: ‘‘ Be sure to
hold up Jesus.” His remains repose in the cemetery at
Eau Claire, over which the preachers of the Chippewa
District erected a suitable monument. His companion
still lingers on the shores of time, in joyful anticipation of
the meeting to part no more. One of the daughters is the
devoted companion of Dr. Irish. She still is, as she long
has been, an earnest and talented worker in many of the
moral and religious enterprises of the day.

Avucustus Hatt died in Bellville, November 15, 1869.
He came to this Conference by transfer from Canada, in
1858. His last moments were triumphant, repeating
slowly, in dying accents, most of the hymn commencing
‘‘How happy every child of grace.” His companion also
still lives, loving the Church from which her departed hus-
band ascended to heaven.

The work of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society
came before the Conference this year, and a resolution was
passed ‘approving of its object and organization, and
pledging to it all possible aid.” The work of this society
ANNALS OF 1868-73, 401

has been a marvel of success, Says Bishop Thoburn, of
India: ‘Its history reads like a romance. ‘This society
was organized in March, 1869. There were raised the first
year $4,096.86. In nineteen years there had been raised
$1,886,623. Thesociety has work in Japan, Corea, China,
India, Burmah, Singapore, Bulgaria, Italy, South America,
and Mexico. One hundred and sixty missionaries have
been sent out.” The Conference secretaries of this Con-
ference have been Mrs J. E. Irish, Mrs. E. L. Eaton, Mrs.
Jas. Lawson—the present secretary being Mrs. W. A.
Lawson, of Baraboo.

The seventeenth session of the Conference met at Min-
eral Point, October 5, 1871, Bishop Simpson presiding.

P. E. Knox was received from the Canada Methodist
Episcopal Church, and A. D. Dexter by transfer from the
Maine Conference. The former has been supernumerary
for six years, residing in Dakota; the latter was trans-
ferred to the Dakota Conference in 1889. Four were
admitted on trial, of whom only two remain in the Con-
ference, viz., John Harris and R. W. Nichols, who have
for eighteen years been faithful in their work, They are
both good preachers and excellent pastors.

‘The Conference Minutes for the first time contain the
reports of the presiding elders for their several districts.
They were then, and for a number of years, very brief
and greatly condensed. For this year they only covered
two pages of the printed Minutes. They have since that
time been constantly growing. In 1888 they filled twenty
pages of the printed Minutes, or nearly one-fourth of the
whole. <A very pleasing incident occurred at this Confer-
ence in the presentation to the venerable A. Brun-
son, D. D., of a cane made from part of the log of a
building which was built in Mineral Point in 1834, and
was used for school and meeting purposes, and in which
Brother Brunson preached in 1835, and in it administered
402 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

the sacrament. This building is thought by some to have
been the first Protestant church among white people in the
then Territory of Wisconsin.

At this Conference the first Electoral Conference of
Laymen met. There were fifty-six delegates present.
J. H. Rountree, of Platteville, was elected president, and
J. T. Pryor, Jr., of Dodgeville, secretary. Many of the
laymen brought their wives with them to enjoy the Con-
ference, so that, with the ministers and ministers’ wives,
the citizens of Mineral Point could not have had less than
three hundred persons to entertain; but it was all done
nobly and well. A very appropriate address was framed
and forwarded to the Ministerial Conference. They were
especially desirous of being recognized as “ re-enforce-
ments to and co-workers with the ministry in accomplish-
ing the aims of our honored Church.” By resolution they
expressed their loyalty to the Methodist Episcopal Church,
their satisfaction, with her polity, and were desirous of
aiding in creating a fund for the comfort of the superan-
nuate preachers of the Conference.

J. H. Rountree, of Platteville, and John E. Stillman,
of Hudson, were elected delegates to the General Confer-
ence, and Thomas D. Steele, of Sparta, and D. T. Abell,
of Darlington, reserve delegates.

A resolution was adopted by the Ministerial Confer-
ence promising aid to the ‘“‘ Madison Church Enterprise,”
and recommending the appointment of an agent to raise
funds.

The Conference of 1872 met, September 18th, at West
Eau Claire, Bishop Gilbert Haven presiding. Bishop
Haven was elected bishop in May previous to this session
of Conference, but never again visited our Conference.
He died in Malden, Massachusetts, in January, 1880. He
was emphatically the friend of the colored race, laboring
for and sacrificing much for their welfare.
ANNALS OF 1868-73, 408

Nine were admitted on trial (see Appendix D); but
two—E. T. Briggs and W. H. Chynoweth—remain at
present in the Conference, who are doing excellent work
on their fields of labor. Another recruit of this year, who
has but recently been transferred to the Northwest Iowa
Conference, was G. W. L. Brown, who did fifteen years
of vigorous and efficient work in several of the most im-
portant charges. When transferred, in 1886, the Confer-
ence expressed their great regret at his leaving, and
‘hoped that his future relations with another Conference
may be as pleasing as he has always tried to make them
for the brethren of his Conference ;” and should he ever
wish to return he ‘‘ would be welcomed most gladly to a
place among us.”

S. W. Horner was received by transfer from the Pitts-
burg Conference. With the exception of two years, when,
on account of impaired health, he was supernumerary, he
has given seventeen years of most efficient and acceptable
service in the Conference. He has been pastor in Baraboo,
Sparta, and Madison, and is now succeeding finely at First
Church, in the city of La Crosse.

One brother was located who had refused to go to the
work assigned him at the last Conference.

This Conference was marked by some business not of
the most pleasant character. It appears to have been one
of the few Conferences in West Wisconsin marked by liti-
gation. Complaints were made against four of the breth-
ren. Two were cases of maladministration, and two
affecting character. All the complaints were investigated,
but were found to be without foundation, and the charac-
ter of all the brethren was passed.

A special collection was taken in the Conference for
the aid and relief of Dr. Brunson, which amounted to
$337. This collection was taken at each succeeding
session up to the period of his death.
404 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Dr. Dashiell, missionary secretary, thrilled the Confer-
ence by his addresses. A few years afterwards he died.
The Church lost in him a man of great promise and of
great intellectual and spiritual power.

Robert Smith was received by transfer from the Ten-
nessee Conference, where he had for five years done heroic
work. For sixteen years he has been a faithful laborer in
this Conference.

The nineteenth session of the Conference was held at
Baraboo, September 22, 1873, Bishop Merrill presiding.

Hight were admitted on trial (see Appendix D), of
whom only two remain; viz., Jas. Jefferson and J. P.
Greer, both of whom have been faithful laborers in the
Conference.

Matthius Matthioson was received, and under the mis-
sionary rule was ordained deacon and elder, and appointed
missionary to New Mexico.

Dr. Twombly was transferred from the New England
Conference, and appointed to- the State University, to
which he had been elected as its president. He was a
finely educated gentleman and an able minister.

Some difficulty had occurred the previous year in the
Sparta Church, under the pastorate of an untried man and
a stranger in the Conference. This year, under the ad-
ministration of J. B. Bachman, the difficulties existing
were adjusted. The Conference at its next session ap-
proved of his administration, although it was somewhat
‘‘informal,” in securing peace and harmony in.the Sparta
Church.

Jas. GILLESPIE died this year. He was born in Scotland
in 1843, and came to the United States when a child.
When he was but ten years of age both of his parents
died, leaving him in charge of an older brother, Thomas
Gillespie, an old and honored member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. At the age of fifteen he was converted.
ANNALS OF 1868-78. 405

He served two years as first lieutenant in the army. In
1866 he was admitted on trial, and labored for six years
in the Conference, when he was stricken with consumption.
He hastened to California, hoping that the climate would
be beneficial to him. He was, however, disappointed.
On the 6th of May, 1873, he died at Kilbourn City, in
blissful assurance of a blessed immortality. A few hours
before he died he said to one of his brethren: ‘‘ Tell, O
tell my brethren for me that the religion of Christ stands
the test of the dying hour.”

Reference has been made in previous chapters to Gales-
ville University, in which it was shown that when the
Conference accepted the institution from the trustees, it
was stated by them that ample provision had been made
to endow the university, so that no pecuniary aid would
ever be asked of the Conference, but the Conference were
simply asked to give it their influence and patronage in
supplying it with students, and to be represented in its
management. Notwithstanding this expressed agreement,
the president and some of the trustees of that institution
had for several years been intimating to the Conference
that they needed aid in securing a suitable endowment,
and that they looked to the Conference to secure it. At this
Conference the pressure was made so strong that the Com-
mittee on Education recommended that the Conference
pledge $59,000 to that institution. This report was
withheld from the Conference until the last moments of
the Conference session. This session was the third held
that day. It was now past ten o’clock P. M., and many
members of the Conference were anxions to adjourn, in
order to leave on a train then about due. This report
thus came at this late hour before the Conference, and but
little time was given for discussion or objections. It ap-
peared to many, who knew the conditions upon which the
iustitution was received in 1858, as entirely unjust and im-
406 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

practicable; but it was rushed to a vote, and passed by the
Conference.

This Conference ordered the publication in the Con-
ference Minutes of the obituaries of preachers’ wives. This
was certainly very proper. Their privations, toils, and
devotion are certainly worthy of recording. In Appendix
J may be found the necrology of the wives of ministers as
far as the author has been able to obtain them,
ANNALS OF 1874-80. 407

CHAPTER IX.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1874-80.

HE twentieth session of the Conference met in Brod-

head, September 9, 1874, Bishop Ames presiding.

Six were admitted on trial, of whom only two are now
found in the active work in the Conference; viz., E. C.
Booth and J. E. Webster. They have both been fifteen
years in the Conference without a break, and have been
successful in their work. Brother Booth is now in charge
of South Baraboo, where he is erecting a much-needed and
beautiful church, that will cost six thousand dollars.

Five were transferred to the Conference, and seven
transferred from the Conference, at this session. Among
the latter was Dr. Twombly, a man of a finished educa-
tion, but who, on account of the ‘‘ bossism” that has too
often marked some of the regents of the State University,
resigned, and returned to New England.

At this Conference an instance occurred of the presid-
ing bishop overruling his cabinet. The term of one of
the presiding elders of the Conference had expired. Four
or five of the six presiding elders nominated and requested
the bishop to appoint on the vacant district a brother in
whom they had the fullest confidence as to his suitability
and success. The bishop, however, refused to appoint him,
giving as his reasons that ‘‘ this brother was then in a good
appointment, and his return was desired,” whereas another
brother, whom he named, was on the “ floating list,” and
must be provided for; hence he appointed the latter to the
408 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

vacant district. After the appointments were announced,
the good bishop asked the brother whom the presiding
elders had nominated “if it was all right.” ‘‘O yes,’

replied the brother; ‘it is all right, bishop, but you were
rather hard on me.” ‘‘O, well,” replied the bishop, ‘‘ wait a
little, wait a little, brother ; this great ‘ iron wheel’ they talk
so much about will bring you up, by and by.” The brother
‘‘waited ” with the greatest of serenity and composure, and
in four years the ‘‘ iron wheel” brought him up—or down;
for at that time he was appointed presiding elder. The
bishop and the brother shook hands at this Brodhead Con-
ference, and parted in the bonds of Christian frieudship.

At this Conference a ‘ Preacher’s Aid Society” was
organized, and a constitution adopted. The object of this
society is the aiding of widows and families of deceased
ministers of the West Wisconsin Conference. This society
was legally incorporated ‘September 19, 1881, and the ar-
ticles of incorporation duly filed in the office of the Secre-
tary of State, at Madison. From 1874 to 1888, a period
of fourteen years, the society has lost by death five of its
members, to whose families benefits have been paid,
amounting, in the aggregate, to about two thousand dol-
lars. The.society now numbers fifty members, which will
give a benefit, at death, to the family of the deceased, of
about three hundred and fifty dollars. This society is well
worthy the co-operation of every member of the Confer-
ence. It furnishes a better and cheaper insurance than
any other in existence. It is carried without any expenses
or agents’ salaries. The present officers of the society are:
J. W. McKay, president; John Holt, vice-president; H.
D. Jencks, secretary; and G. W. Case, treasurer.

O. A. Britton this year began his itinerant work. For
the seven years he was effective the Lord gave him many
souls. His health failing, he has been supernumerary
eight years.
ANNALS OF 1874-80, 409

The twenty-sixth session met at Hudson, October 6,
1875, Bishop Wiley presiding.

E. D. Huntley and H. Goodsell entered the Conference
by transfer. The former did a grand work in the city of
Madison, in pushing the ‘“‘ Madison Church Enterprise,”
which had been so long in hand. He was transferred, in
1883, to the Baltimore Conference, and was stationed at
the Metropolitan Church, Washington, where he was
equally successful. The latter came to us from the Min-
nesota Conference, in which he had labored for nine years.
This year he was stationed at Hudson, after which he was
pastor at Prescott and Platteville. He was then presiding
elder for four years on the Platteville District, and is now
stationed at Eau Claire. He has been prospered in all
departments of his work as a minister of the Lord Jesus
Christ.

The Conference, with regret, had to part, by their
transfer to other Conferences, with T. H. Phillips, J. H.
Whitney, W. F. Delap, H. S. Richardson, and C. E.
Hawkins.

Ten were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.)

A. L. Tull was received on trial. He, until quite re-
cently has been the one-year man of the Conference, never
remaining over one year on a charge. This, however, is
not the fault of the people; for in every instance they
have urged and begged for his return; but he, evidently
believing that ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss,” has per-
emptorily declined to return. We are, however, happy in
recording that as he gets older he is increasing in wisdom ;
for he was actually returned the second year to Black River
Falls. It is not for us to say how much that magnificent
‘“gold watch,” presented to him by that benevolent people,
had to do with his return. He is, anyway, one of the
men always in demand.

In the list of admissions on trial is the name of G. T.

34
410 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Newcomb. He appears in Appendix D, among those ad-
mitted in 1873. It was at that time he was first admitted, but
dropped out of the work after one year’s work at Bloomer.
He was again admitted in 1875. After one year at Men-
omonee he was discontinued at his own request. He then
went to Evanston to attend the Northwestern University
and the Garrett Biblical Institute. After graduation he
taught and preached in several places. He is now pro-
fessor of theology in the Grant University, Athens, Ten-
“nessee.

J. E. Irish preached, by request of the Conference, a
sermon on the ‘‘Centennial of American Independence,”
in which he showed the marvelous growth of this Republic
and the rich prospects of a successful future. The dis-
course, by request of the Conference, was published.

This Conference resolved to observe the approaching
Centennial of American Independence by appropriate
services in the month of June, 1876.

Three members of the Conference had died during
the year.

Rev. F. W. Dicuton was born in the State of New
York, September 24, 1832, and died at Durand, February
8, 1875. He came to Wisconsin from Canada, where he
had preached for several years, having seen many powerful
revivals. He was effective six years, and superannuated
five in Wisconsin. The latter relation he sustained at his
death.

Rey. W. H. Pavmer was born August 16, 1821, and died
in Platteville, September 23,1874. In 1859 he was admit-
ted on trial in the Conference. After three years’ work
in the Conference he enlisted, and was commissioned as
captain. In 1864 he was readmitted, and after ten years
of faithful service he received a superannuate relation.
He loved the Church, and to her interests he gave the
ANNALS OF 1874-80, 411

best of his days. His companion still lingers among us,
soon expecting to meet her beloved husband in glory.

Rev. Roserr Lanewey was born in Virginia January
4, 1805, and died at Reedsburg October 16, 1874. In
January, 1840, at Potosi, under the joint labors of H. W.
Reed and J. G. Whitford, he was converted and united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1854 he was
admitted on trial in the Wisconsin Conference, and subse-
quently, by division, fell into this Conference. He re-
tained an effective relation for fifteen years. He served a
few months during the war as chaplain of the Fifth Regi-
ment of Wisconsin Volunteers, when, on account of fail-
ing health, he was compelled to resign. He was super-
annuated for seven years. During his ministry he
supervised the erection of several churches and parson-
ages. He was a good preacher,.and a firm believer in
the standard doctrines of Methodism.

Two other brethren died this year, who had been until
recently connected with the Conference; viz., Rev. H. H.
BrakemMan and Rev. E. 8. Havens. These two brethren
had done a great amount of pioneer work in Wisconsin, and
although not members of the Conference when they died,
the Conference ordered their obituaries published in-the
Conference Minutes. Many revere their memory, and
hope to meet them in heaven.

The second Electoral Conference of Laymen met this
year, electing again J. H. Rountree, of Platteville, presi-
dent, and Miletus Knight, of Durand, secretary. M. Her-
rick, of Hudson, and D. W. Ball, of Monroe, were elected
delegates to the General Conference, and E. E. Bently, of
La Crosse, and E. C. French, of Eau Claire, reserve dele-
gates. This Conference declared itself as not favoring any
change (which was being agitated in some places) in the
presiding eldership. It favored the introduction of lay
412 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

representation in the Annual Conferences, and again
pledged itself as ready to aid in securing a fund for
the ‘‘ worn-out preachers and preachers’ widows in the Con-
ference.”

The ministerial delegates to the General Conference
elected were W. Hamilton, W. Haw, and P. S. Mather;
Reserves—J. E. Irish and R. Dudgeon.

William Galloway was admitted on trial at this Confer-
ence. He has been in the active work for thirteen years,
laboring on the frontier, the Lord being with him. He is
now supernumerary.

The twenty-second session of the Conference was held
in the Assembly chamber of the capitol at Madison, Septem-
ber 13, 1876, Bishop Bowman presiding.

Five were admitted on trial. J. F. Zeigler is one of
‘ the number remaining in the Conference, who, for twelve
years has faithfully preached Christ and him crucified.

M. Bénson was readmitted from the Methodist Episco-
pal Church of Canada, where he had labored for about
twenty years, filling several of the most important charges.
During this period he was presiding elder eight years.
For fourteen years he was secretary of the Conference in
Canada, and also served as fraternal delegate, in 1872,
from that body to the General Conference of our Church.
Since his admission into the West Wisconsin Conference,
a period of thirteen years, he has been presiding elder
four years, and is now stationed in the city of Monroe.
F. Howarth was also received by readmission. For eleven
years he was a faithful laborer in the Conference. In
1886 he was transferred to the Wisconsin Conference.

John Haw was this year received by transfer from the
Wisconsin Conference and stationed at Osceola. For the
thirteen years in which he has been in the Conference, he
has prospered in his labors, and, like his revered brother,
s careful and correct in all his work.
ANNALS OF 1874-80. 413

It was reported to this Conference that in certain quar-
ters there was some doubt in regard to the ‘legal status ”
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the State of Wis-
consin, by which our Church property is held, as based
upon the Act of Incorporation of 1868, to which reference
has been already made. The. Conference, therefore, ap-
pointed three of the best legal minds of the Conference to
confer with a similar committee of the Wisconsin Confer-
ence, in order that they might ascertain if any further
enactments were necessary in order to make our ‘legal
status” perfect.

The Conference was invited to visit in a body the new
Methodist Episcopal church, in course of erection. They
did so, gathexing in the lower room of the building. Under
the direction of Bishop Bowman and Pastor Huntley the
members of the Conference were invited to aid in the
work. With the spirit and enthusiasm which ever marks
a Methodist Conference, they responded by subscribing
$500, for which, if the cash was not then paid, they gave
their notes, which, it is probable, were all paid on or
before maturity.

Two others were received on trial at this Conference
whose names do not appear upon the list in the published
Minutes; viz., W. P. Hathaway and G. W. Smith. The
latter, after thirteen years of faithful work, is still a
laborer in the Conference. The former located in 1882.

A ‘Conference register,” prepared by J. B. Bachman,
was printed in the Minutes of this year. This register
showed when and where each session of the West Wiscon-
sin Conference had been held, the presiding bishop and
secretary ; also the number of the members of the Church,
with the number and valuation of churches and parson-
ages each year. In the Appendices of this volume, tables
embracing all these items, with others, may be found.
414 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

The twenty-third Conference met at West Eau Claire,
October 3, 1877, Bishop Andrews presiding.

Six were admitted on trial. G. N. Foster, F. L. Hart,
I, F. Nuzum, and W. W. Hurd still remain in the Confer-
ence, all of them doing excellent work. One was trans-
ferred to, and four from the. Conference.

Mrs. Jennie Willing, of Chicago, visited the Confer-
ence in the interests of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary
Society. She delivered an able address, and greatly aided
the work of this society in the Conference.

Rev. A. Carman, D. D., bishop of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church in Canada, who had been on a tour of
inspection in the then new Manitoba region, visited the
Conference. His rich, sound, and Scriptural experience
was indeed a benediction to the Conference.

Through the courtesy of Mr. Stanley, superintendent
of the Chippewa Falls and Western Railway, the Confer-
ence was given a free ride to and from Chippewa Falls,
which was much enjoyed by the Conference and many
citizens of Eau Claire.

The committee appvinted at the last session to inquire
into and report on the ‘“‘legal status” of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in the State of Wisconsin, reported
through A. Brunson, ‘‘ that having obtained the decision
of the Judiciary Committee of the Wisconsin Legislature,
in which Judge Lyons, of the Supreme Bench, concurred,
that the special charter granted the Methodist Episcopal
Church in 1868 [see Appendix F] remains intact, and
that there is no need of any further legislation on the sub-
ject.”

The report on Education at this session contains the
final action of the Conference in regard to Galesville Uni-
versity. The reader is referred to the history of this
institution as given in previous chapters of this volume.
During this year, through some secret effort, the charter of
ANNALS OF 1874-80, 415

this institution was annulled by an act of the State Legis-
lature, transferred from the West Wisconsin Conference,
and given to another Church. The action of the Confer-
ence in the following resolutions will indicate something of
the agencies employed in accomplishing this change, and
the views of the Conference in regard to it:

‘* Resolved, 1. That we do not recognize the moral or
religious rights of the Legislature to thus summarily trans-
fer the vested rights of this Conference in said institution.

“2. That the result accomplished is contrary to the
intent and design of the founder of said institution.

‘©3. That a failure to notify the Conference trustees of
said university of the real purpose of the special meeting
of the Board of Trustees, which adopted resolutions asking
for a change in the charter, was an act highly reprehensible
on the part of those who made the call.

‘‘4, That we utterly deny that we have broken faith
with said institution, in failing to secure an endowment
thereof.

“5, That while we insist on the unfairness and injustice
of the course pursued, yet we do not believe the interest
involved of sufficient magnitude to warrant a prosecution in
the courts for the securing of our rights.”

Rev. THomas Manvet died this year. He was converted
and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in his twentieth
year, under the labors of P. S. Mather. In 1867 he was
admitted on trial in the Conference. His health having
been failing for some years, in 1873, under the advice of
his brethren and medical adviser, he was placed under
treatment at the asylum in Madison. He remained there
without any apparent improvement until bis death, which
occurred June 23, 1877. In all his infirmities of body
and mind it was noticed that there was one name he
never forgot, for whenever the name of Jesus was spoken
in his presence he would manifest great delight. His
416 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE

body was committed to the tomb in Hazel Green, in “sure
and certain hope of a glorious resurrection.”

For the first time in the history of the Conference a
table of ‘‘ deceased members of the Conference from 1856
to 1878,” prepared by James Lawson, was printed in the
Minutes. (See Appendix H.)

The twenty-fourth Conference was held at Monroe,
September 25, 1878, Bishop Foster presiding. The bishop
failing to reach the seat of conference at its opening ses-
sion, Rev. A. Brunson, D. D., was elected president pro
tem. He took the chair amidst the cheers of the Conference.
The bishop arrived to preside at the second day’s session.

One was transferred from, and one to the Conference.
George Tyacke and H. Dockham were readmitted. Four
were received on trial. Of Thomas Snodgrass and Wm.
E. Doughty mention has already been made. Charles
Barker has been effective for nine years. He is endowed
with excellent natural abilities for usefulness, having
the faculty of becoming acquainted and familiar with all
the people. James Ford has been effective twelve years.
He ig a young man of congenial spirit, and useful in the
work. W. J. Bullivant, N. Leach, and 8. E. McLain
received locations at their requests.

Three cases of litigation occurred at this session. One
resulted in an acquittal; the second, in its reference to the
presiding elder for investigation. The third related to a
business transaction between two brethren, which was re-
ferred to a ‘‘ Committee of Arbitration,” who reported that
the accusing party had ‘‘no cause of complaint” against
the other, whereupon the Conference requested the former
to cease the contention, and do all in his power to “‘ counter-
act the evil reports” against the latter. It was expected
that the brother would regard the request of the Confer-
ence; but unfortunately he did not do so, but continued
the agitation against the brother for three years. The
ANNALS OF 1874-80, 417

Conference bore with him patiently, until finally the case
was sent to a committee for trial, who reported that the
brother ‘should be admonished by the bishop in open
Conference, and that his character should then pass.”

A new committee, at the suggestion of Bishop Foster,
was appointed at this session, entitled ‘‘On Conference
Relations,” to whom all cases in which any doubt existed
as to what relation a member should sustain to the Confer-
ence might be referred. This committee was a great re-
lief to the presiding elders of the Conference, who pre-
viously had to assume more responsibility than was pleasant
or agreeable. This committee has been continued in the
Conference, being now recognized as one of the ‘“‘stand-
ing committees” of the Conference.

The twenty-fifth Conference was held at La Crosse,
September 24, 1879, Bishop Peck presiding.

P. S. Mather, who had been twenty-two years in the
Conference, was transferred to the Nebraska Conference.
The Conference expressed their regrets at his leaving, and
that, ‘“‘should he ever return, they would receive him with
open hands and hearts.”

George and Jeffry Haigh withdrew from the ministry,
no resolution of regret being passed by the Conference.
Eight were admitted on trial (see Appendix D), of whom
five still remain in the work. W. Shepherd, I. B. Bick-
ford, L. N. Wooley, aitd James McManus have continued
without any break for ten years. F. W. Hall, after three
years in the active work, was compelled, on account of
his health, greatly to the regret of the Conference, to ask
a supernumerary relation, which relation has been con-
tinued to the present. He has resided in the city of
Madison ever since his effective relation ceased. He is
a popular and successful lawyer, which he conducts on
Christian principles. He has ever been a faithful sup-
porter of the Church, and ever ready to aid the pastor

35
418 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

or presiding elder in whatever ministerial work he is
able to do.

There were at this Conference two cases of litigation—
one resulting in an acquittal, and the other in an ‘ad-
monition ” to the erring brother “by the bishop in open
Conference.”

A committee was appointed to confer with a similar
committee of the Wisconsin Conference on ‘‘a change of
boundaries between the two Conferences.” At this time
the boundaries of Wisconsin Conference gave to them the
line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad to Ashland, and
also the counties of Bayfield, Ashland, and Douglas, situ-
ated north of the West Wisconsin Conference, thus shut-
ing us out from the Great Lakes. The commission was
successful in securing the much-needed corrections, and
the General Conference of 1880 authorized the change.

A new Committee on ‘‘ Admissions” was appointed,
which has been continued in the Conference, and has be-
come one of the ‘‘ standing committees.” It has furnished
to the. Conference, from year to year, much valuable
information in a small compass in regard to candidates for
the ministry ; and, although some have sarcastically named
it the ‘‘ smelling committee,” yet it has been of great ben-
efit to the Conference.

A Conference register was prepared by T. M. Fuller-
ton, giving the time and place of birth, when and to what
Conference first admitted on trial, and the years superannu-
ated or supernumerary, of each minister of the Conference.

The delegates elected to the General Conference this
year, were Wm. Hamilton, Wm. Haw, and Jas. Lawson;
reserves—E. D. Huntley and J. E. Irish.

The Electoral Conference met on Friday, September
26th, and organized by the appointment for the third
time of J. H. Rountree, president, and E. E. French,
secretary. D. J. Spaulding, of Black River Falls, and
ANNALS OF 1874-80. 419

J. T. Knigston, of Necedah, were elected delegates to the
General Conference of 1880; and Wm. H. Curry, of
Mineral Point, and E. C. French, of Eau Claire, reserves.
Some weeks after the Conference, it was found that J. T.
Kingston was not eligible, and, although every way fitted
and worthy, as soon as he ascertained that fact he resigned,
and Wm. H. Curry, first reserve delegate, filled his place.
Brother Curry was of pure Methodist stock. His sainted
father was a pillar in the Church at Mineral Point in
the stormy times of 1848-9, when it would seem as
though our Zion at that place was on the point of final
dissolution. Brother Curry and his lay colleague were
faithful delegates at the General Conference. By resolu-
tion this Electoral Conference expressed itself in favor of
maintaining the class-meeting, the itinerancy, and the old-
fashioned quarterly meeting, each district to have thirteen
or, at the most, sixteen appointments.

O. B. Kilbourn retired from the active work at this
Conference, in which he had spent fifteen years, and was
made supernumerary. He still continues to preach as far
as he is able.

The twenty-sixth Conference session was held at Platte-
ville, September 22, 1880, Bishop Harris presiding.

T. M. Fullerton, having served the Conference as sec-
retary for three years, declined a nomination. The Con-
ference by ballot elected in his place Bert E. Wheeler,
who, for a period of seven years, until he was appointed
presiding elder, faithfully served the Conference in that
capacity. The neatness and correctness of the Minutes
during his secretaryship will compare favorably with any
in the connection.

Warren Woodruff, an old member of the Wiscovsin
Conference, was received, by change of Conference bound-
aries, from that Conference. He is a most faithful laborer,
esteemed and loved by the people of his charge.
420 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

E. L. Eaton came to the Conference this year by
transfer from the same Conference. Brother Eaton is a
native ‘‘ Badger,” having been born in Hebron, Jefferson
County, Wisconsin, in 1846. He received a common-
school education, attended for some time Milton Academy,
after which he taught school for several years. He was
licensed to preach in 1870. In 1871 he joined the Wis-
consin Conference, and, after preaching for over three
years, he took a theological course at the Garrett Biblical
Institute, Evanston. After his graduation he returned to
Wisconsin, and for three years was pastor in Beloit. At
the close of his pastorate at Beloit he was transferred to
the West Wisconsin Conference, and stationed in the city
of Madison, where he remained three years. After this he
was for four years presiding elder of Madison District.
During his seven years’ residence in the capital city of
Wisconsin he was not only respected and popular with the
masses, but was always in demand for any special work on
the great moral questions of the times. At the close of
his work on the district he -was sent as pastor to North
La Crosse, in which place he remodeled, enlarged, and
beautified the church edifice. It is but little to say that
this is a most remarkable brother. His varied gifts make
him a power-in the choir, pulpit, or rostrum, and we be-
speak for him a glorious future, while he fearlessly goes
forth to battle against the wrong, whether in politics or
religion.

John Harrington was received on his credentials from
the Primitive Methodist Church. He remained but two
years in the Conference, when, on account of the health
of his companion, he was transferred to the Colorado Con-
ference.

T. B. Killiam was readmitted. At the end of the
year he was transferred to the Minnesota Conference, and
soon after died.
ANNALS OF 1874-80, 421

Seven were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.)
J.T. Morgans, E. H. McKenzie, and J. H. Avery are still
in the Conference, able, faithful, and successful in their
work. -Two others, sons of the writer, were also received
on trial; viz., W. A. and Jas. C. Lawson, who had both
just graduated at the Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston.
The former, after a year’s trial, concluded that he could
serve God and the Church as well, if not better, in the
local ranks, and, at his request, was discontinued. He has
been for several years chief train-dispatcher on the Mad-
ison Division of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad,
and mainly through his efforts the new and _ beautiful
church at South Side, Baraboo, is, at this writing, nearly
completed. The latter, after only a few weeks’ work at
Bloomington, his first charge, was called by the Mission
Board to go as a missionary to India. He responded with-
out delay to the call, and, on December 4, 1880, sailed
from New York on his way to India. The Lord has gra-
ciously preserved his health, given him a most suitable
and devoted companion, and most blessed success in
their work. He has never forgotten his ‘‘ home Confer-
ence,” but has sent annually a letter of greeting to it,
which the Conference has heard with interest, and appro-
priately responded. He hopes, with his wife and the three
dear children the Lord has given them, to be back on a
furlough of two years to his native country and home, in
April, 1891.

Several new questions were, by the General Conference
of 1880, added to the business of the Annual Conferences.
Among those we notice a distinction in regard to loca-
tions—one of the questions,‘‘ Have any been located at
their own request?” and another, ‘‘ Have any been lo-
cated?” Also in regard to withdrawals—one question
being, ‘‘ Have any withdrawn?” and the other, ‘‘ Have
any been permitted to withdraw under charges?” This
422 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

latter question, unless carefully guarded, is liable to be
misapplied, by permitting a person to withdraw when the
honor of the Church and the cause of Christ might de-
mand expulsion.

Two members of the Conference died this year.

Joun Bran died of apoplexy, near Baraboo, May 1,
1880, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was con-
verted at the age of fourteen, and commenced his itinerant
life in 1845. He continued in the effective ranks for
twenty-four years, during which he witnessed many power-
ful revivals. From infirmities brought upon himself by
exposure in the work, he was compelled, in 1869, to take
a supernumerary relation, which he retained for eleven
years. During the years he was laid aside from active
work he often regretted his inability to labor, and frequently
said: ‘‘I would give all I have for the privilege of labor-
ing on the poorest circuit in the Conference.” The Lord
prospered him in his temporal affairs, so that he acquired
considerable property. It was his often expressed desire
and purpose that he hoped to make it a benefit to the Church
of his choice, and especially to assist the faithful itinerant.
He knew not the hour or moment when the Lord came to
take him home. He dropped dead in his own yard, the
ministering spirits conveying his spirit safely to his heav-
enly rest. His companion (Mrs. Fruit) still resides in
Baraboo. She is always found in her place in the Church,
and ever ready to advance its interests.

Epwarp Douceary, of whom mention is made elsewhere,
died at Louisville, August 13, 1880, in his seventy-fourth
year. Father Doughty (as he was familiarly called) was
one of the Lord’s noblemen, and a shining light in the
Church. He was an instructive preacher, especially to the
children, and a good pastor. His last words were: “I
must be dying; I hear sounds of heavenly music.”
 

 

 

 

 

Rev B E. WHEELER,

 

 

Rev. M B. BALCH. Rev. E. L. ‘EATON, ‘D. D,
ANNALS OF 1881-6, 423

CHAPTER X.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1881-6.

HE twenty-seventh Conference session was held at
Sparta, September 14, 1881, Bishop Foss presiding.
At this Conference only one was admitted on trial; viz.,
James Bartholomew. In 1882 he was sent to the Black Hills
Mission, in Dakota, where he remained four years. He then
went to Boston University. After his graduation he was
transferred to the New England Southern Conference. He
is a young man of great promise, and is another of our
“ Badger” boys we have furnished for the Eastern States.
Lodi, where he was raised, has cause to be proud of such
a son.

A. W. Cummings was transferred to the Minnesota,
D. W. Couch to the New York East, and James C. Lawson
to the North India Conference. C. R. Kellerman was
received by transfer from the Detroit, and E. Bradford, Jr.,
from the New Hampshire Conferences. The latter is now
the efficient presiding elder of the Chippewa District, and
the brother of Hon. I. B. Bradford, one of the efficient lay
delegates to the General Conference of 1884.

George A. Joslin was received from the Bible Christian
Church, of England. He had been connected with that
Church thirteen years, and is doing efficient work in our
Conference.

By resolution of the Conference no less than four mem-
bers of the Conference were notified that it was the desire
424 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

of the Conference that they should locate at the next
session. ‘This was an unusual occurrence to take place at
one Conference. It is to be hoped that the remoteness of
the year to elect delegates to the General Conference had
no influence on that action.

Two cases of litigation took place at this session. To
one reference has already been made, and its final result
stated. The other was a complaint made against a recently
appointed presiding elder, which was referred to the pre-
siding elder who should succeed him on the district, to be
investigated. After a formal trial at the next Conference
he was acquitted.

A resolution was passed by a rising vote, expressive of
sympathy for Mrs. Garfield in her deep sorrow, which was
forwarded to her by telegram.

A committee was appointed for the purpose of express-
ing the disapproval of the Conference on Mormon Polyg-
amy. Strong resolutions were passed against the evil by
the Conference, calling upon the ‘“‘ Government and Church
to do their utmost for its speedy overthrow.”

A letter was addressed to the Conference, and published
in the Minutes, from the venerable Father Brunson, who
was sick and unable to be present at the Annual Confer-
ence, which he had attended for over sixty-three years. A
brother was appointed by the’ Conference to make a suita-
ble response to the letter.

Four ministers died this year. Rev. Enocn Tasker
was born in Sheffield, England, February 20, 1826, and
died at Eau Claire, December 16, 1880. He had been in
the ministerial work for thirty-one years. During this
period he was pastor on several of the best charges in the
Conference. For five years he served as chaplain of the
Wisconsin State Prison, at Waupun. For four years he
was presiding elder. He was a brother of more than ordi-
nary ability. His sermons were carefully prepared, gen-
ANNALS OF 1881-6. 425

erally short, containing no superfluities, and were pointed
to the heart. He was a good pastor, and diligent in
attending to all the interests of the Church. His life was
that of a true, exemplary Christian. He was dearly
beloved by all his brethren, and is now enjoying the full
fruition of eternal life. His companion, who faithfully
with him endured the toils and labors incident to the life
of an itinerant, resides at Eau Claire, a consistent Chris-
tian, and devoted to the Zion in which her translated hus-
band lived and died.

Rev. Ira A. SweaTLannD was born in Derby, Vermont,
October 12, 1810, and died at Mauston, April 30, 1881.
In his twenty-second year he united with the New Hamp-
shire Conference on trial. In 1854 he came to Wisconsin,
and was stationed at Baraboo, Madison, and other impor-
tant places in the Conference, until his health failed. He
sustained a superannuated relation to the Conference for
twelve years prior to his death. In broken tones, a short
time before his death, he exclaimed: ‘‘ Happy! Happy!”
His aged companion still lingers on the shores of time,
full of hope and expectation.

Rev. C. Z. Crossett was born at Danbury, Vermont,
September 16, 1852, and died at Pepin, January 5, 1881.
His term of service in the ministry was short, he being
received on trial in 1877. Just before be died, he said:
‘‘T would not exchange what I now possess for half a
dozen worlds like this.”

Rev. W. 8S. Wricut was born in Wolford County,
Canada, in 1832, and died in Dodgeville, August 25, 1881.
In his seventeenth year he was converted. In 1855 he
joined the Niagara Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Canada. In 1866 he came to Wisconsin, and
was admitted on his credentials into the Northwest Wis-
consin Conference. He labored in Wisconsin fifteen years,
during four of which he was presiding elder. His death
426 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

was sudden but peaceful. His companion resides in her
Dakota home.

The twenty-eighth session was held in Portage, Sep-
tember 13, 1882, Bishop Andrews presiding.

J. J. Austin was received by transfer from the Troy
Conference. James Havens and E. Tench were readmit-
ted. Five were admitted on trial. E. Trimm, S. W.
Trousdale, and B. Nott remain in the Conference in the
active work. Although but seven years since their admis-
sion, yet they are now successfully filling three important
charges in the Conference. M. J. Robinson and T. W.
North were also received, the former being now super-
numerary ; and the latter, after two years, was transferred
to the Wisconsin Conference, and is now stationed at Lake
Geneva.

Five were located at their own request. Brother J. H.
Whitney was one of the number. He had done several
years’ good service in this and the Tennessee Conference ;
but his health failing him, he, reluctantly to himself and
to the regret of the Conference, thought it best to locate.
He resides in Baraboo, ever ready to assist the pastor, and
by his presence and means aiding in the good work.

One was located by the Conference; but it was thought
by some that a trial and expulsion would have more fully
honored the Church.

Against three brethren charges were preferred, and
trials were held by select numbers appointed by the Con-
ference. One case resulted in an acquittal. Another was
the case of a brother who refused to leave the charge upon
which he had been for two years, and who was appointed
to a much better charge on the same district. The fact of
the officials of the charge having requested his removal
did oot appear to have the least weight with him. He
persistently refused to leave the parsonage. He was ar-
raigned before a committee, who ‘ suspended” him, and
ANNALS OF 1881-6, 427

as he failed to appear at the Conference in his defense,
but sent a request that he should be ‘located or allowed
to withdraw,” the Conference allowed him to ‘‘ withdraw
under charges.” The other brother was charged with im-
morality. He had been repeatedly informed of the time
and place of trial, but failed to appear in his defense; there-
fore the ‘‘ select number,” after considering the case, ‘‘ ex-
pelled” him.

E. E. Clough was appointed ‘‘ Custodian of Conference
Historical Records.”

Two of the veterans of the Conference died this year.
Rey. ALFRED Brunson, D. D., was born in Danbury, Con-
necticut, February 9, 1793, and died at Prairie du Chien,
Wisconsin, August 3, 1882, in the ninetieth year of his age.
In July, 1809, he was converted, and joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church. In 1820 he joined the Ohio Conference.
During the fifteen years of his labors in it he gathered into
the Church hundreds of souls. In 1835 he was appointed
superintendent of the Indian Missions, on the Upper Mis-
sissippi. He moved his family in 1836, and settled in
Prairie du Chien, bringing his house with him, from
which he never moved his family up to the time of his
death. During the forty-seven years of his residence in
Wisconsin, he sustained an effective relation for twenty-
four years, in fourteen of which he was presiding elder.
He was superannuated twenty-three years. For some time
during this period he was, under the appvintment of the
Secretary of War, Indian agent on Lake Superior. The rest
of his superannuation embraced those years when bodily
infirmity compelled him to rest. He was delegate to the
General Conferences of 1832, 1860, 1868, and 1872. He
was a man of great force of character, of indomitable will,
and wonderful perseverance. It was not without some
reason that he was sometimes jokingly called ‘‘ King
Alfred.” His convictions of duty were strong, and his
428 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

love for truth very great. His habits were exceedingly
methodical, and he acquired a large store of knowledge.
As a writer he was known throughout the Church. The
pages of the secular and religious papers, and the more
ponderous Methodist Quarterly, bristled with his many utter-
ances. He was the author of the ‘‘ Western Pioneer,” in
two volumes, and a ‘‘ Key to the Apocalypse.” He was
the recipient of several academic titles. In 1834, Alle-
gheny College, Pennsylvania, conferred on him the hon-
orary degree of A. M., and Galesville University that of
D.D. During his last affliction, although his once stal-
wart body wasted to a skeleton, no word of complaint fell
from his lips but once, when he expressed a hope that he
would soon be at rest. A few days before his death, he
said to a ministerial brother in broken accents: ‘‘ The
name of Jesus never seemed so sweet to me as now.” The
power of speech failed him for some days before his spirit
fled, but he seemed conscious of what was passing around
him. In his death it may be truly said, ‘‘ A prince and a
great man has fallen in Israel.”

Rev. J. L. Wiit1as was born in Washington County,
Pennsylvania, January 15, 1808, and died in Lafayette,
Tlinois, December 16, 1881. In 1833 he was admitted
on trial in the Pittsburg Conference, in which he remained
for sixteen years. In 1849 he was transferred to the Wis-
consin Conference. In 1856, by change of Conference
boundaries, he became a member of the West Wisconsin
Conference. He took an active part in the business of the
Annual Conference. He was the first secretary of the
West Wisconsin Conference, in which capacity he served
eight years. He was one of the delegates to the General
Conference of 1860. When in his vigor he was an able
preacher, often moving the entire audience. In debate he
had the faculty of maintaining, on his part, great composure
and self-possession. For many years he was in feeble
ANNALS OF 1881-6. 429

health, he being superannuated twenty years. He was a
good man, and an able minister of the gospel of Christ.

The twenty-ninth session was held at Barabob, Septem-
ber 26, 1883, Bishop Hurst presiding.

W. F. Delap returned to the Conference by transfer, and
the Conference was glad to welcome his return, he being
one of the ‘‘Home Guards” of the Conference. With
regret the Conference had to part with J. 8. Thompson,
E. D. Huntly, and J. F. Zeigler by transfer. The latter,
however, saw the ‘‘error of his ways,” and soon returned.
One was located at his request, and one was located by the
Conference.

The Conference was greatly entertained and edified by
the visit of Rev. B. H. Badley, D. D., and his wife, from
Lucknow, India, who, by their addresses and intercourse
with the Conference, greatly endeared themselves and the
cause they represented to the Conference. Brother and
Sister Badley have now been in that distant and difficult
mission-field seventeen years, and have done a noble work
for our Church.

James Lawson was appointed to preach a centennial
sermon at the next Conference.

Two ministers died during the year. Cyrus Liscomp
was born in Vermont, September 21, 1806, and died at
New Richmond, Wisconsin, March 23, 1883. He preached
in his early days in the Vermont and Troy Conferences. In
1866 he was transferred to the Northwest Wisconsin Con-
ference, but was only able to do two years of effective work
in that Conference: For fourteen years he was a super-
annuate in Wisconsin, and at the ripe age of seventy-seven
years, he entered into rest.

James T. Pryor was born in Cornwall, England, Sep-
tember 4, 1814, and died at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Sep-
tember 11, 1883. He came to the United States in 1842,
and settled in Mineral Point. Soon after his arrival he was
430 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

converted. In 1851 he was admitted on trial in the Wis-
consin Conference, and by Conference division, in 1856,
became a member of the West Wisconsin Conference. He
was effective for twenty-four years, during which he was
presiding elder for four years. Prior to his death he was
superannuated for eight years, residing in Dodgeville, near
his son James, who is a local preacher, and loyal to the
Church of his now sainted parents. Brother Pryor, as a
preacher, was earnest and logical, ever maintaining the
great fundamental doctrines of our holy Christianity. His
death occurred very suddenly, and he expired without a
struggle.

The delegates to the General Conference of 1884 were
W. J. McKay, M. Benson, and J. E. Irish; reserves—
G. W. Case and H. Goodsell.

The Electoral Conference of Laymen met September 28,
1883, and organized by the appointment of Ira A. Brad-
ford, president, and J. T. Pryor, secretary. The Confer-
ence expressed itself by resolution as opposed to the exten-
sion of time of the pastoral office, fearing it would ‘‘ impair
the efficiency of the itinerancy.” They favored “ universal
and absolute prohibition of the liquor-traffic” by State and
National Constitutional provisions, and urged that “‘ peti-
tions should be sent to the Legislature of the State asking
them to submit to the votes of the State an amendment
to the State Constitution to prohibit the manufacture and
sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage.”

H. Harnden, of Madison, and Ira A. Bradford, of
Augusta, were elected delegates to the General Conference ;
and F. L. Sanborn, of Portage, and E. E. Bentley, of La
Crosse, reserves.

John A. Willey, A. Chalfant, and James Barnett were
admitted on trial. The two former, since their admission,
have taken the theological course at Garrett Biblical Insti-
ANNALS OF 1881-6, 431

tute, Evanston. The latter, for six years, has continued in
successful circuit work.

The thirtieth annual session met at Eau Claire, Sep-
tember 25, 1884, Bishop Mallalieu presiding.

This was the fourth Annual Conference held in this
city. The first appointment of a Methodist minister to
this city was in 1859, and yet in the short space of twen-
ty-five years four Conference sessions meet there and are
admirably taken care of by the citizens.

A. M. Pilcher was received by transfer. He has occu-
pied several important stations in the Conference with suc-
cess. He accomplished a much needed work in Sparta, in
remodeling and beautifying the church at that place.

Three were admitted on trial. Two of the number—
John F. Cowling and Frank Haight—continue in the
ranks, giving promise of much usefulness.

G. A. Fulcher was received from the Methodist
Church of Canada. After being in the Conference two
years, he was permitted to withdraw.

D. M. Sinclair was readmitted on credentials from the
Free Methodist Church. He was formerly a member of
the Genesee Conference, and afterwards, coming to Wis-
consin, he labored several years among the Free Method-
ists, being presiding elder several years. He saw, however,
that the polity and usages of the Methodist Episcopal
Church presented greater “opportunities of usefulness.”
Since he joined our Conference he has done good work.
He is an able preacher and a good pastor.

' The Conference passed the following resolution :

‘¢ Having heard with pleasure the very able Centennial
sermon preached by Rev. Jas. Lawson, and deeming the
same worthy of a careful reading by all our people, we
hereby request the author to furnish a copy for the pub-
lisher of our Minutes, and that the publisher be instructed
432 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

to give the same a place in the Minutes for the present
year.”

Agreeably to this resolution the sermon was published.
Our space will only permit the briefest review of the dis-
course. The author, after stating the object of the Gen-
eral Conference in ordering the celebration of the organi-
zation of the Methodist Episcopal Church of December 25,
1784, gave a review of the progress of the Church during
the century; so that at the present the followers of Wesley
are sO wide-spread that ‘‘ over five million communicants
are called by his name; over one hundred and twenty-five
thousand itinerant preachers are preaching the same gospel
he preached; nearly six millions of children are in Meth-
odist Sabbath-schools, and thirty millions of adherents
are under Methodist influence.” The aythor then pro-
ceeded to show what the ‘influence of Methodism had
been, during the century, on other denominations and on
the Nation.” This influence he pointed out to be that of
“‘ modifying the methods of other Churches, teaching them
the power of woman in Christian work, shortening the
pastorate of other Churches, in great modifications of their
doctrines, and in their Christian life and experience.” The
influence of Methodism during the century on the Nation,
he showed to have been most beneficial in ‘its loyalty to
the Republic, in the adaptation of her usages and doctrines
to the American people, in her outspoken sentiments on all
moral questions, and her beneficial influence in the actual
conversion of many millions of American citizens.” Her
present prominent position in the world was shown by
many forcible quotations from the secular press of the
world, closing with the immortal words of George C. Cook-
man, uttered during the Centennial of Wesleyan Method-
ism, in 1839: ‘‘Methodism, like the eagle, has proudly
reached her centennial; but not like the eagle to fold her
ANNALS OF 1881-6. 433

wings, bow her head, and die; but only to plume her pin-
ions for a loftier and grander flight.”

Measures were taken at this session to organize a Su-
perannuated Preachers’ Endowment Fund. A constitution
was adopted, and trustees of the fund appointed, with in-
structions to secure its incorporation. This the trustees
attended to, and the society was placed in working order.

Three ministers died during the year.

Rey. Joun Kwrpss was born in Woodstock, England,
March 2, 1829, and died at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin,
February 1,1884. He was educated at Oxford University,
where he remained for twelve years as student or teacher,
and was there prepared for the Episcopal ministry. He
came to the United States in 1856, and immediately united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. On his uniting
with the Church in Prairie du Chien, he was given license
to preach, and employed, by the presiding elder, on the
Eastman Mission. His experience during this year has
already been detailed, in which he was crippled for life.
For twenty-seven years he was engaged without any inter-
ruption in the ministry, serving on several of the most im-
portant stations in the Conference. When conscious of his
nearness to death, he talked with his family and made all
arrangements for his funeral, and said ‘‘ that were it not
for their sorrow, he would gladly go home and be at rest.”
He was a very able preacher, a ripe scholar, and an exem-
plary Christian. He was kind and congenial to all. He
lived to bless the world, and did all his work well.

Rev. 8. O. Browne was born at Acworth, New Hamp-
shire, September 23, 1821, and died in Baraboo, Wisconsin,
October 21, 1883. He was converted in early life. In
1869 he came to Wisconsin and was admitted on trial in
the Conference. He remained in the active work for seven
years, after which he was supernumerary for eight years.

36
434 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

He was a man of strong and positive character, and had a
deep religious experience.

Rev. W. E. Ropinson was born September 30, 1857,
and was drowned in Lake Pepin, December 3, 1883. He
was on his first charge when he met his untimely end. He
was a young man of fair promise.

The thirty-first Conference session was held in Dodge-
ville, September 24, 1885, Bishop Bowman presiding.

Six were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.) In
regard to their nationality they were widely scattered, two
being natives of the United States, two of England; one
of French, and one of Welsh origin, but were all young
men of promise.

8. P. Blake was received by transfer from the Michigan
Conference, where he had traveled eleven years. In Wiscon-
sin he has been cordially received by the Conference, and
upon the charges on which he has been pastor he has
been blest and owned of God. On all moral questions
he is in the advance, always ready to strike heavy blows
against evil.

One was permitted to withdraw if he paid his debt at
the Book Concern, and one was charged with ‘ unminis-
terial conduct,”-and the Conference ordered that he be
“‘admonished by the bishop.”

The report of the Committee on Temperance, at this
session, created quite a discussion. Some thought it was
too outspoken in regard to those who, of ‘ two evils,
thought they chose the least” by voting at the recent elec-
tions in the State for ‘‘ high license.” After discussion,
the report of the committee was substituted by the para-
graph of the Discipline which declared that ‘‘ we are unal-
terably opposed to the enactment of laws that propose by
license, taxing, or otherwise, to regulate the drink-traflic,
because they provide for its continuance and afford no pro-
tection against its ravages.” This substitute was adopted
ANNALS OF 1881-6, 435

by the Conference, many voting for it who were much op-
posed to the report of the committee, though that report,
many thought, was not near as strong a protest against
license as the substitute which was adopted.

The Superannuated Preachers’ Eudowment Fund was
increased at this Conference. An afternoon was devoted
to its interests, and $1,500 was pledged, $650 of which
was from the laity then present. This fund has contin-
ued slowly to increase, so that at the present (1889) it
amounts to $4,355. There has been no very large amount
given to it by any one individual, the largest being $100.
It ought to receive the legacies and bequests of our wealthy
laymen, and be run up without delay to $20,000. The
society is legally organized; the trustees, one-half of whom
are laymen, are true and faithful. The funds of the so-
ciety, under the able management of Hon. M. Herrick, of
Hudson, are not only amply secured, but in 1888 earned
94 per cent.

Rev. J. J. Austin died at Sechlerville, Wisconsin,
May 23, 1885. He was born February 18, 1838, in
Brooklyn, Ohio. In early life he was converted and
united with the Church. After preaching about twenty
years in the Troy Conference, in 1882 he was transferred
to the West Wisconsin Conference, where he labored three
years, when he was suddenly called away in the midst of
his labors. His companion and three children are left to
mourn his loss.

The thirty-second session met at Black River Falls,
September 30, 1886, Bishop Merrill presiding.

G. W. Horton was received by transfer from the Wis-
consin Conference.

‘Nine were admitted on trial (see Appendix D), who,
with one exception, are proving themselves to be good
workmen in the ministry.
436 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

W. S. Hayes was received on credentials from the
United Brethren Church.

Hon. Wm. Price, representative to Congress, was in-
vited to address the Conference. He spoke very feelingly
of what Methodist preachers had endured in carrying the
gospel to the people, especially in the northwest part of
the State. Mr. Price had himself done much in aiding
them in their work, and that, with his strong and out-
spoken temperance sentiments, made him a general fa-
vorite with the ministers of the Conference. It is with
regret that we have to record his lamented death a few
weeks after this Conference.

A memorial was adopted, to be forwarded to Congress,
asking that ‘they would enact such measures as would se-
cure to to the Chinese in the United States the same pro-
tection afforded to all others, in life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, and asking that the ‘Indemnity Bill’
be passed.”

Three ministers died during this year.

Rey. Jas. HigursHor was born in Ohio, April 28,
1835, and died at Marble Rock, Iowa, January 27, 1886.
He was converted in early life. In 1856 he was admitted
into the West Wisconsin Conference on trial. During the
twenty-eight years of his connection with the Conference,
on account of physical debility, he was only able to render
eight years of effective service. He was a deeply pious and
devoted Christian man.

Rev. Henry DockHam was born in Ogdensburg, New
York, March 16, 1826, and died at Prescott, Wisconsin,
April 24, 1886. In 1849 he was admitted on trial in the
Bay of Quinte Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Canada. In 1878 he came to Wisconsin’ and
settled in business in Monroe. In 1878 he was readmitted
into the West Wisconsin Conference, in which he remained
eight years, up to the time of his death. His death was
ANNALS OF 1881-6, 4387

sudden and unexpected. He pursued his work during the
day, and retired to rest as usual. At about one o’clock
he complained to his wife of being very ill, and in about
one hour he died. He was a man of good talent, and of a
pure spirit.

Rey. Epwarp McGintey was born in Ireland in 1813,
and died at Avoca, Wisconsin, May 15, 1886. In 1864
he was admitted on trial in the Conference. He was
twenty years effective and two superannuated. He be-
lieved in Methodist theology, especially in the doctrine of
entire sanctification. Asa Christian he was always happy ;
his prayers almost always ended in ecstasies. There was a
wonderful influence in his outbursts of praise. His utter-
ances of Amen! Hallelujah! Glory be to Jesus! would often
inspire a whole congregation and lift it heavenwards. In
his experience he would often enthusiastically say: ‘‘I am
twelve leagues above cloud-line, and still rising, hallelujah !”
438 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

CHAPTER XL
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, 1887-9.

HE thirty-third Conference session was held at Mineral

Point, September 28, 1887, Bishop Fowler presiding.
O. H. P. Smith was received by transfer from the
Wisconsin Conference. W. Ingersoll was transferred to
the Montana, and C. R. Kellerman to the Minnesota Con-
ference. H. C. Myers, who had traveled eight years in
the North Indiana, and H. W. Troy six years in the Min
nesota Conference, were readmitted. The latter was
stationed at Coleman Chapel, La Crosse, where he did
good work. He is now the popular pastor at Black River
Falls.

Seven were admitted on trial. (See Appendix D.)
Five of the number continue in the work, one has been
transferred to Nevada, while another has been promoted
to his ‘* heavenly home.”

The Conference was greatly privileged and profited by
the visit of Rev. J. M. (now Bishop) Thoburn, of India.
His able sermons and addresses were greatly enjoyed. ‘The
Conference and audience cheerfully gave him about $200, to
assist in forwarding a missionary immediately to India.

A memorial was prepared and forwarded by the dele-
gates to the General Conference, petitioning that body to
establish a ‘‘ Board of Conference Claimants.” The Gen-
eral Conference of 1888 organized such a ‘‘ Board,” but
as yet its efficiency is not manifest; we have no doubt but
that in the near future it will become active and efficient.

E. L. Eaton, B. E. Wheeler, and W. J. McKay were
ANNALS OF 1887-9, 439

elected delegates to the General Conference, and J. Tresid-
der and M. B. Balch reserves.

The Lay Electoral Conference held its session, Septem-
ber 30, 1887. M. Herrick, of Hudson, was elected pres-
ident, and W. T. Jennings, of Platteville, secretary. The
Lay Conference expressed itself by resolution as pleased
with the action of the General Conference of 1864 in its
utterances on prohibition. They also again declared their
readiness to assist in raising a permanent fund for the
superannuated preachers of the Conference. The delegates
elected to the General Conference were, E. E. Bentley, of
La Crosse, and J. B. Jones, of Hudson, with P. J. Layne,
of Viroqua, and Jas. Spensley, of Mineral Point, reserves.

Two aged veterans died this year. Rev. J. C. Aspmn-
WALL was born at Bradford, Vt., April 5, 1809, and died
in Lodi, Wis., September 7, 1887. He united with the
Maine Conference in 1831, and remained in that Confer-
ence for over twenty-six years, during four of which he
was presiding elder and delegate to the General Confer-
ence of 1852 at Boston. In 1857 he was transferred to
the Wisconsin, and in 1859 to the West Wisconsin Con-
ference. He was identified with the work in Wisconsin
for thirty years, during five of which he was presiuing elder.
He was a man of strong aggressive convictions, and on all
moral questions of reform was always in the advance.
During the years of controversy, through which the Church
and Nation passed in regard to the freedom of the colored
race, he was most active. It was his delight to admit that,
in those stirring days, ‘‘he had assisted many a slave on
their way to Canada.” On the question of the prohibition
of the liquor-traffic he was equally active. He was a
good preacher. His sermons were evangelical to the coré,
and full of the fire of the Spirit. In his Conference relation
he was pleasant and congenial. For nearly thirty years he
drafted many of the Conference reports. His companion
440 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and several children, all of whom are now settled in life,
live to revere the memory of one they loved and one who
lived so long as a ‘“‘ burning and shining light.” About
two weeks before his death he preached a sermon in the
city of Madison, on Old People’s Day, selecting as his
theme, the ‘‘ Ministry of Angels.” He dwelt feelingly on
the thought that angels ‘‘ minister to the saints at death.”
This was his last sermon. Soon he experienced the blessed
truth that he preached to others, in angelic ministrations
to himself at death.

Rev. Ransom Goutp died at Mount Vernon, Iowa, in
1887. He was received on trial in 1854. He was only
effective in the West Wisconsin Conference for nine years.
He was a superannuate for twenty-two years, which rela-
tion he sustained at his death. He was a man of fair pul
pit abilities, and to his death maintained a good Christian
character.

F. W. Straw was received from the Canada Conference,
and elected todeacon’s orders. In 1866 he went to Garrett
Biblical Institute, Evanston, to pursue a three year’s course,
and was employed as a supply up to the time of his
graduation.

The thirty-fourth session of the Conference met at Mau-
ston, October 3, 1888, Bishop Andrews presiding.

F. H. Harvey, John N. Mills, E. F. Marcellus, W. M.
Martin, G. W. Merrifield, and C. W. Bennett were trans-
ferred to the Conference. The latter is one of the pro-
fessors in Garrett Biblical Institute, a ripe scholar, a min-
ister of thirty-two years’ experience, and the author of
several valuable theological works. All of the brethren
received by transfer this year were fine accessions, and were
all heartily welcomed to the Conference. Seven were ad-
mitted on trial (see Appendix D)—a class which the
bishop, in view of their age, education, and devotedness,
called ‘‘a promising class of candidates.”
ANNALS OF 1887-9. 441

Dr. J. O. Peck visited the Conference as representa-
tive of the Missionary Board. He greatly interested and
impressed the Conference with his thrilling representation
of the mission-field.

E. B. Russell, after over thirty years of unceasing labor
in the itinerant life, was compelled to retire. The Confer-
ence expressed its regret at parting with him from the active
work, and promised to welcome his return (should he ever
be able) to the effective ranks.

The Conference this year adopted the method of ap-
pointing the ‘‘ standing committees” for the succeeding year,
thus giving more time for the preparation of their reports.

Two aged members of the Conference died this year.
Rev. W. B. Hazetine was born in Middletown, Vt., May
22, 1816, and died at Mazomanie, June 13,1888. He was
received on trial in the Troy Conference in 1843, and for
twelve years labored in that Conference. In 1856 he
came to Wisconsin, and at the first session of the West
Wisconsin Conference, he was readmitted. For twenty-six
years he labored successfully on various important charges
in the Conference, and during four of these years he was
presiding elder. For seven years he was superannuated,
but continued to preach whenever he was able. He was a
man of thought. He prepared and preached his own ser-
mons. Asa preacher, when at his best, it would not have
been any easy work to find his peer. Only a few years ago
his son Theodore, a member of the Rock River Conference,
died in the prime of life. His son William resides near
Baraboo, deeply attached to the Church in which his father
lived and died. He is an able, efficient, and consistent
Christian. Sister Hazletine, a truly devout and intelligent
Christian lady, resides on the old homestead near Baraboo.

Rev. W. H. Tsomson was born in Tyringham, Massa-
chusetts, October 7, 1817, and died April 19, 1888. He

was converted when young in a prayer-meeting under the
37
442 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

leadership of ‘‘Old John Brown.” He was received on
trial in the Wisconsin Conference in 1850. In 1852, after
the devastating ‘‘snow-storm,” he was stationed in Madi-
son, where he succeeded in quieting the troubled waters,
and measurably restoring peace in that place. The first
Methodist Episcopal Church at Madison was finished and
dedicated during his pastorate, much of the work on the
church being done “with his own hands. While pastor in
Baraboo in 1853, he instituted a system of uniform lessons
in the Sabbath-school, having the text and topic for the
entire year printed. He was thus many years in advance
of the later “Berean” idea. He was for thirty years a
superannuated member of the Conference, residing most
of that time in Chicago. During his long residence in
Chicago, he was engaged, as far as his strength would per-
mit, in mission-work in that city. He organized and car-
ried on a Sabbath-school among the Chinese. They learned
to love him, and many a Chinese in that city will tell to
others their indebtedness to ‘‘Good Brudder Thom Sing.”

The thirty-fifth Annual Conference met in Sparta,
September 18, 1889, Bishop Newman presiding.

The Conference was honored with the presence of Dr.
Hobart and his wife, from Minnesota. He presided at the
Conference love-feast. All felt that to him, Methodism in
Wisconsin was more indebted than to any other man.
Chaplain McCabe was also present, and with his songs and
addresses greatly entertained the Conference.

Nine most promising young men were admitted on
trial (see Appendix D), one being the son of Rev. A. M.
Pilcher, of Sparta.

David Whiting was received by transfer from the Wis-
consin Conference. He was ordained in the Free-will
Baptist Church in the State of New York. In 1873 he
was received on his credentials into the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. In 1879 he came to Wisconsin, and in 1880
was admitted on trial into the Wisconsin Conference, and
ANNALS OF 1887-9, 443

was successful during the nine years in which he remained
in that Conference. He is now in his second year on the
Benton Circuit.

E. W. Allen, A. H. Yokum, R. Burnip, J. I. Bar-
tolomew, and E. L. Eaton were transferred to other Con-
ferences to the regret of the brethren.

A new feature of this Conference was a half-hour lec-
ture by Bishop Newman each morning on “ Appliances,
Means, and Methods” for successful work in the ministry.
These lectures were very entertaining and instructive, both
to young and old.

A resolution was passed looking towards arrangements
by the two Conferences in the State for a proper observ-
ance of the Semi-centennial of the first Annual Confer-
ence held in the State of Wisconsin, which convened in
Platteville, August 25,1841. A committee was appointed
to confer with a similar committee of the Wisconsin Con-
ference. The joint committees met in Beaver Dam, Sep-
tember 26, 1889, and after due consultation agreed to
recommend the observance of that event by the two An-
nual Conferences (if it be possible) holding a reunion dur-
ing their sessions of 1891, and that each Conference at
their sessions of 1890 adopt suitable plans for its observ-
ance through the two Conferences.

The dividend from the Book Concern to the Confer-
ence was a most liberal one, amounting to $1,023. The
nearest approach to this amount was in 1851, when the
Conference received $800 from the Book Concern.

An increase of 1,019 members and $1,121 missionary
collections was reported this year.

Jas. Lawson, E. Bradford, Jr., Professor J. C. Free-
man, and Professor R. B. Dudgeon were appointed dele-
gates to the Ecumenical Conference of Methodism, to be
held in the United States in 1891; and M. B. Balch and
Jas. Spensley, alternates.

The West Wisconsin Conference Historical Society
444 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

was organized, and a constitution adopted. Its object is “‘ to
collect and preserve such records, reminiscences, memorials,
and relics as are connected with the rise and progress of
the Methodist Episcopal Church (having more special ref-
erence to Wisconsin), and to promote and disseminate a
knowledge of Methodist history by means of addresses, es-
says, and public meetings.” The following officers of this so-
ciety were elected: B. E. Wheeler, president; I. F. Nuzum,
recording secretary ; Jas. Lawson, corresponding secretary ;
F. W. Hall, archivist; and M. B. Balch, treasurer.

The Conference favored the organization of a ‘‘ Mutual
Church and Parsonage Insurance Company,” believing
that we could in that way insure our churches and parson-
ages at a much cheaper rate than was offered by any other
company.

A communication was addressed to the Conference in
regard to ‘‘ Chaplains in the Army,” from which it ap-
peared that, out of 134 posts in the United States Army,
only 34 were provided with chaplains. The Conference
urged that ‘‘ our senators and representatives in Congress
should see that this delinquency should be rectified by the
appointment of men to those posts who should represent
the vigor, intellect, and piety of the Church.”

A West Wisconsin Conference Epworth League was
organized and a constitution adopted. The following ofticers
were elected: B. E. Wheeler, president; S. W. Trous-
dale, corresponding secretary ; B. Nott, recording secretary ;
and A. M. Pilcher, treasurer. This organization is fast
growing in popularity with the young people of the Church
and congregation. It promises to be a power for good in
the near future.

Five brethren died during the year. Rev. Wm. Haw
was born near Ripon, England, February 22, 1836, and
died at Monroe, Wis., October 13, 1888. At the age of
nineteen he was converted at a camp-meeting near Platte-
ville, Wis., and united with the Methodist Episcopal
ANNALS OF 1887-9. 445

Church. At the first session of the West Wisconsin Con-
ference, in 1856, he was admitted on trial. In 1860, by
the organization of the Northwest Wisconsin Conference,
he became a member of that body, where he remained
during the eight years of its existence. In 1868, that
Conference being merged in the West Wisconsin Confer-
ence, he became a member of it, and remained in it for
twenty years, filling successfully several important ap-
pointments to the time of his death. During his ministry
of thirty-three years, he was presiding elder for ten years.
He was.delegate to the General Conferences of 1876 and
1880. Asa preacher he excelled. His sermons were ar-
ranged with great care, and were both on his memory and
heart. He was a safe and wise counselor, and his judg-
ment generally correct. His death was sudden and un-
expected. The evening before his death he retired to resi,
apparently well; about four o’clock the next morning his
companion was awakened by his making strange and unin-
telligible sounds. She spoke to him, but received no an-
swer. Medical aid wascalled, butit wasin vain. He never
spoke, but lingered until about six o’clock P. M., when his
spirit fled to the regions of the blest. His companion, in
about three months after his death, joined his society again
in the home of the blest. ,

J. M. WE tts was born in the State of New York, July
24, 1815, and died in Arkansaw, Wis., October 30, 1888.
In 1849 he moved with his family to Wisconsin. In 1851
he was admitted on trial in the Wisconsin Conference, and
by change of boundaries in 1856 became a member of the
West Wisconsin Conference. During the thirty two years
in this Conference he was effective nineteen, located eight,
and superannuated five years. He was a good preacher,
Wesleyan in doctrine, and sound in the faith, winning many
souls to Christ.

Rey. P. K. Jones was born at Cape Vincent, New
York, May 18, 1851, and died at Eau Claire, Wis., May
446 WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

30, 1889. He was in early life left an orphan, being
thrown entirely on his own resources. At a camp-meet-
ing in his seventeenth year he was converted, and from
that time became an active worker, especially among the
colored people and the lower classes. In 1874 he came to
Wisconsin, and in 1876 was admitted on trial in the West
Wisconsin Conference. For ten years he did noble work on
his charges, and never failed to have an extensive revival.
His health failing, in 1887 he was made supernumerary.
He was a kind husband, an indulgent father, a tireless
worker, and a fearless, faithful preacher. After a brief
sickness, he died triumphantly in the full assurance of faith.

Rey. W. 8. Hayes was born December 27, 1846, and
died at Judah, Wis., January 16, 1889. In 1875 he
joined the Rock River Conference of the United Brethren
Church, remaining with them until 1885, when he was re-
ceived on his credentials into the West Wisconsin Confer-
ence, in which he labored three years, until the Master
called him home. His last moments were triumphant,
saying: ‘‘ Praise God, deliverance has come!”

Rev. Frep. F. Lewis was born in the town of Green,
Pa., May 27, 1855, and died at Argyle, January 31, 1889.
He was converted in early life. In 1887 he was admitted
on trial in the Conference, and returned to Sextonville
charge, upon which he had traveled the previous year. In
1888, very soon after Conference, he was taken sick, and
realizing that his work was done, he went to the home of
his father, the Rev. T. J. Lewis, at Argyle. There he
lingered for a few months, until he exchanged’ labor for
rest and earth for heaven. He was a young man of prom-
ise, being studious, energetic, and pious.' His death was
a complete triumph over the ‘‘ last enemy.”

W. W. Wheaton and W. H. McMillan were super-
annuated—the former having been twenty'six and the latter
seventeen years in the work.
PART IV.

HISTORY OF OTHER METHODIST BODIES.

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

VERY intelligent reader understands that the form of
Christianity designated as Methodism originated in
England, about the middle of the last century.* For sev-
eral years all adherents thereto were known as Wesleyans,
or Wesleyan Methodists.

At length secessions from the main body occurred. One
of these culminated in the formation of what was called
the Primitive Methodist Society. It seems to have had a
providential mission in that country.

The year 1842 is the date of its inception in Wiscon-
sin. In that year several persons, who had been members
of the society just named, in England, residing in South-
western Wisconsin and Northwestern Illinois, formed them-
selves into a similar organization. Their names were John
Leekley, Margaret Leekley, Robert Hodgson, Jane Hodg-
son, Richard Hodgson, Mary Ann Hodgson, F. Dobson,
James Thompson, and Mary Leekley.

As these resided on either side of the line between
the States just named, we know not how many were within

our territory.

*The first society was formed by Mr. Wesley, October
25, 1739.
448 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

Their first Quarterly Conference was held at Grant
Hill, near Galena, February 25, 1843. At this they ‘‘en-
gaged an itinerant preacher, and made suitable regulations
for carrying forward the work of God.” Their organiza-
tion seems yet to have been incomplete. So, on the 7th
of September, 1844, a convention was held, at which an
Annual Conference was ‘appointed, and a Discipline
adopted.” Meanwhile ‘‘a second itinerant preacher” had
been called into the work. It will thus be seen that they
entered this field about ten years after the Methodist Epis-
copal Church did. The writer has not been able to as-
certain the number of members at the time of their com-
pleted organization; but from the ‘‘ Introduction” to their
Discipline it would seem they had greatly prospered since
their beginning.

Their work in Wisconsin now stands connected with
what is called ‘‘The Western Conference” (there being
another in the more Eastern States), which embraces pas-
toral charges also in Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, and one in
New Mexico—in all, twenty-four. Of these, thirteen are
in Wisconsin.

The reader is here furnished with a statistical summary
from the Minutes of their last (forty-fifth) Conference :

Effective preachers (i. e., those in the active

pastoral work),...-....- ue Ud 13
Superannuate, ..... 2. eee ee eee 1
Pastoral charges, .*. 6 6 ee ee ee ee 13
Local preachers, .------ +e eee 38
“Approved members,” .-. ... ..+-- 1,249
On trial, . - 6 2 te tee 106
Sunday-schools,...-.+--+--+-- 8 27
Scholarsin same,.-.....-.- eee 1,864
Church edifices,. ..--- +--+. 33
Parsonages,. -- + +++) 8 ee eee 13
Valuation of Church Proper are ae . $51,250
Mission Fund, .....+--+--+--+++eees 421

Bible Society Fund, a SE OR a at we ie 20
PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. 449

It will be seen that the advance of this branch of Meth-
odism in Wisconsin has been small. As their work is
mainly among a certain class of English people, some have
doubted whether they have a divine mission in Wisconsin.
Yet they may have brought some to Christ who would not
have been reached by any other agency. Their continu-
ance as a separate body must be determined by a con-
viction of their own responsibility. Far be it from this
writer to forbid their ‘‘ casting out devils because they
follow not with us.”,
450 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

METHODISM IN WISCONSIN, AMONG or
GERMANS.

HIS is an important branch of evangelistic work in
our State. It has been carried on by two distinct
ecclesiastical bodies; viz., the Evangelical Association and
the Methodist Episcopal Church. These will be treated in
the order of their introduction into Wisconsin.

The Evangelical Association originated in Pennsylvania
about the beginning of this century. One Jacob Albright,
a German local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church,
had been preaching among his countrymen in the eastern
part of that State with great success for a few years. See-
ing himself at the head of an extensive religious move-
ment, and being unambitious for fame, he desired Bishop
Asbury to take those thus brought to God under his care
by recognizing them as members of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and furnishing them with pastors. But the
bishop did not think it wise to connect this with the En-
glish work. Hence, Mr. Albright was shut up to one of
two things—either to leave these people without proper
pastoral care, or to organize them into a body and supply
them with the ordinances of religion. He very wisely
chose the latter, and in the year 1800 the organization was
effected.

They are a zealous, successful, and influential people—
the most numerous of any branch of Methodism among the
foreign population of this country. In doctrine they are
identical with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and very
similar in polity. They are episcopal in government,
AMONG THE GERMANS. 451

though this word is not a part of their corporate name.
Their bishops and presiding elders are elected quad-
rennially.

In 1840 their work began in this State under the min-
istry of Rev. John Lutz—a young man “ full of faith and
power.” Milwaukee and vicinity were the scene of his
labors.

The writer made definite arrangement for a full ac-
count of this department of Wisconsin Methodism; but
failing to obtain it, the Rev. John L. Stroebel, late pastor
of the Church of this denomination in Appleton, has kindly
furnished the following condensed sketch, which must
suffice: ‘‘The first class was organized in the town of
Greenfield, and E. G. Eslinger, one of the late ministers,
was elected as class-leader. Our first church was built at
Milwaukee, on the corner of Fourth and Cedar Streets.
The beginning was hard and full of sacrifice; but with
God’s help the work prospered and spread from year to
year. We now have six churches in Milwaukee, with a
membership of over one thousand. We also have churches
in all the principal cities and villages of the State. The
total number of preachers in charge in the State is 80,
and the local preachers 30; total membership, 11,588.
Church edifices, 165, valued at $340,437; parsonages, 62,
valued at $77,200; Sunday-schools, 184; officers and teach-
ers, 2,057; scholars, 10,000. The prospects of our Church
for the future were neyer better than at present, the
Church being in a growing condition. In a great many
places our work is carried on in the English language, and
many of our preachers officiate in both languages.”

It is due this denomination to add that, like every
other branch of Methodism in this country, they stand in
antagonism to the liquor-traffic—the greatest scourge and
curse of the present age.
452 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

THE GERMAN WORK,

IN CONNECTION WITH THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH IN WISCONSIN.

HIS has never been a part of the Wisconsin Confer-
ence. On this acconnt, and as a matter of conven-
ience, it is noticed in this part of our history.

The general work of evangelism among the Germans
by the Methodist Episcopal Church began, in 1835, by the
conversion and subsequent labors of William Nast, who
still remains to witness its continued progress. He was
born on the 15th of June, 1807, in the city of Stuttgart, in
the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, and educated at
the university of Tubingen for a minister in the State
Church. The widely known David Friedrich Strauss was
one of his class-mates; but what a contrast in the results
of their lives! Strauss, prostituting his extensive erudi-
tion and brilliant talents to the destruction of evangelical
faith, probably never awakened an aspiration for a better
life, nor led to a serious consideration as to God’s
design in man’s creation. Nast, as we shall see, inaugu-
rated a movement that has already rescued tens of thou-
sands from vicious lives, and lifted them to the relation of
“sons and daughters” of the ‘‘ Lord Almighty.” After a
long and painful struggle for light, he was brought into a
clear experience of salvation through Christ, at a camp-
meeting held near thé Monongahela River in 1835. The
same year he was received into the Ohio Conference, and
appointed missionary to the Germans in Cincinnati. For
some time he saw little fruit; but at length the promise,
THE GERMAN WORK. 453

“In due time ye shall reap if ye faint not,” was verified.
The work spread in every direction, and with mighty
power, till now it numbers over eighty thousand commu-
nicants in the United States, included in seven Annual
Conferences. Nor is this all. One Conference in Europe,
several religious periodicals, colleges, and otber literary
institutions of high grade, have grown out of this work ;
and Dr. Nast, in a green old age, with the blessings of
thousands that were ready to perish, on his head, is
calmly awaiting the call of the Master to a better in-
heritance.

In the summer of 1846 the now sainted Schreck, pastor
of the German work at Quincy, Il., visited Milwaukee on
a missionary tour, and the next fall was appointed mission-
ary to that city. This was the beginning of our German
work in Wisconsin. The difficulties encountered were
many and severe. Dr. L. 8. Jacoby, the presiding elder
of Quincy District, in which Milwaukee was included, pro-
nounced them worse than they had found at any other
place. Mr. Schreck commenced his public work in a
room on Cedar Street, near West Water. In 1847 several
German Methodist families arrived from New York City,
thus greatly encouraging him in his work.

The first class consisted of six; the three first-named
having brought Church letters from New York; viz.,
Jacob Schreck, Christina Schreck, Maria Roth, Karolina
Schmidt, Regina Rheinfrauk, and David Rheinfrauk. A
Sabbath-school was soon formed with twenty scholars.

‘Wm. Madlung was sent the same year to explore the
German settlements in the adjacent country, and thus lay
the foundation for further work.

In 1847 a Wisconsin District was formed, with ‘‘ Con-
rad Eisemeier presiding elder.”

At the same time Casper Jost, a very talented minister
was appointed to Milwaukee. Under his pastorate the first
454 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

German Methodist church edifice was commenced, and
carried so far towards completion that services were held
in it on and after the first Sabbath in November, 1848. To
accomplish this cost the pastor much toil at home and
abroad. At the close of his second year there he reported
forty members and twenty probationers. The church cost
$3,200, three-fourths of which had been collected and paid.
This was wonderful success. Philip Barth was pastor
from 1849 to 1851, and Wm. Schreck again for the next
year, and Louis Tuny for the two years following. G. L.
Mulfinger was in charge of the district. In 1854 John
Plank succeeded him as presiding elder, and Jacob Haas
was appointed pastor at Milwaukee, where he remained
two years, and was succeeded by Fred Schuler. This able
minister also remained two years, and then followed John
Plank as presiding elder of the district. He was succeeded
on the district by Peter Himers. The two last named
have entered into rest—Himers in March, 1887, and Plank
in February, 1890.

In 1860, C. A. Loeber, D. D., one of the strongest men
in German Methodism, was pastor at Milwaukee, and was
very successful. He was followed by G. L. Mulfinger, an-
other distinguished minister, and his labors there were also
‘wonderfully blessed.” In 1864 two were appointed —
Fred Schuler, with F. Rinder as assistant. By their
faithful labors they paved the way for a second church.
Mr. Schuler remained three years, and was followed by
F. Kopp, who was succeeded by J. W. Roecker.

In 1870, John Schnell was pastor of this First
Church, as it now began to be called. He remained three
years as pastor, and one year as financial agent. ‘The
object of this agency was to raise funds to erect a larger
edifice, which was greatly needed. As he was away much
of the time, F. C. Allert, a rising: young minister, was ap-
THE GERMAN WORK. 455

pointed his assistant; and during their term of service the
new church was completed and paid for. It stands on the
corner of Elventh and Chestnut Streets.

The pastors following these were Peter Himers (ap-
pointed in 1874), Fred. Rinder, Richard Frickenseker,
Chas. Swert, each three years; Wm. Keller, two years;
and Henry Lerupke, the present incumbent.

SECOND CHURCH.

This was an outgrowth of the First German Meth-
odist Episcopal Church in Milwaukee. In 1865, during F.
Schuler’s second pastorate of the First Church, many of
his members lived in the Sixth Ward, far away from the
church, and the need of one nearer was severely felt.
Accordingly lots were secured on Third Street, between
Harmon and Loyd, and a church edifice erected.

The first pastor was Richard Frickenseker, who alter-
nated with Mr. Schuler, pastor of the First Church, in
pulpit labor. His three years’ pastorate was very success-
ful, many being brought to God. His successors were
Jacob Bletsch and Henry Wegner, each three years;
John Schnell, two years; J. J. Keller, three years; R.
Frickenseker, one; Fred. Rinder, two; G. H. Simons,
three; C. Hedler, two; and E. J. Funk, one.

In Mr. Hedler’s pastorate his Church was greatly dis-
turbed by the Seventh-day Adventists, whose special
work seems to be to tear down other Churches, rather than
lead sinners to repentance. But he proved equal to the
emergency, and greatly endeared himself to his people.
Under Mr. Funk’s administration the church property on
Third Street was sold, and a very large, elegant edifice
erected on the corner of Garfield Avenue and Second
Streets. :

B. Lampert, now doing grand work in the temper-
456 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

ance cause in Chicago, was its next pastor, and was suc-
ceeded in 1889 by H. Meyer, who is still doing good work

there.
THIRD CHURCH.

In 1875 a mission was commenced on the south side
of Menomomee River, which eventuated in the formation
of this Church. A house of worship and parsonage were
erected on Fifth Avenue. J. C. Rinder, S. F. Fritz, W.
Wilke, Wm. Keller, Mr. Deibold, H. Lembe, and A.
Meixner have been its pastors. The last named is there
still, in bis second year. °

During Mr. Keller’s pastorate the location of the church
was changed from Fifth Avenue to Mineral Street.

EMANUEL (FOURTH) CHURCH.

This was an outgrowth of the Second Church. Wm.
Wilke, its first pastor, appointed in 1881, secured the
erection of a house of worship 40x60 feet on Center Street ;
and in W. Keller’s pastorate, who succeeded him in 18838,
a parsonage was built. C. Swert, J. C. Rinder, and C. F.
Allert—the present pastor—were his successors.

FIFTH CHURCH.

Early in 1885, after due consultation, it was decided
to organize another pastoral charge. Lots were soon pur-
chased on the corner of Fifth and Wright Streets for $975,
and a church edifice, 60x36 feet, was built during the fol-
lowing summer.

At the ensuing Conference (1885), J. A. Mulfinger
was appointed its first pastor; and during his two years’
service the church was paid for and a parsonage erected.
Jacob Schaefer, its second pastor, is still in his work there,
succeeding well. ,

Thus far this sketch has been confined to German
Methodism in Milwaukee; and though the hardest field
THE GERMAN WORK. 457

this evangelistic agency had ever entered, it has succeeded
so well that five growing Churches are there in active
work. But it was not confined to Milwaukee.

It has been already stated that Wm. Madlung was ap-
pointed in 1847 to assist Mr. Schreck. His work was to
explore the country. He did this with great success,
preaching and forming societies in several different counties.
P. Lalk and others followed in similar work, until every
part of the State where there were German communities
was pretty thoroughly canvassed. Of course some fields were
more fruitful that others, which, in part, was due to the
different degrees in which the people were intrenched in
superstition and infidelity. Still wonders of grace pre-
vailed extensively.

Several places were very productive of ministers to supply
the growing work. From West Bend and the region
around, thirteen were sent out. From Watertown and
vicinity (‘‘ vicinity ” means a large area), five; from Lowell,
three ; and from Windsor Prairie five joined the itinerant
ranks.

Manitowoc and Oshkosh were visited in 1850, and
church edifices followed as speedily as could be expected.
The one at Oshkosh was destroyed by the great fire there
in 1875, but was speedily rebuilt.

‘At Columbus German Methodism has long been a
power for good.” The charge has furnished four ministers
for the work.

Early in the fifties a Macedonian cry came to Water-
town from Wausau which was promptly heeded by Rev.
Pfaeffle, the pastor there. He went on a “missionary
tour,” and at the ensuing Conference was appointed to that
then distant and destitute region. Sixty joined the Church
during the year.

By similar process the work spread throughout the

State.
38
458 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

A short account of the districts, and a summary of the
present condition of the work will close this sketch.

It will be remembered that L. 8. Jacoby, presiding
elder of Quincy District, in Illinois, was the first presiding
elder who visited Milwaukee. In 1847 a Wisconsin Dis-
trict was formed, and Conrad Eisemeier was appointed in
charge. It, however, took in the northeastern part of
Illinois, extending from Pekin in that State to Sheboygan
in Wisconsin. He was succeeded by G. L. Mulfinger in
1851, at the conclusion of whose term in 1853 it was divided,
the appointments in Illinois being formed into a district
called Chicago, and those in our State into one still called
Wisconsin, John Plank being put in charge of the latter.
He was succeeded by those whose names follow, who served
the terms indicated by the figures; F. Schuler, 1858-1860 ;
P. Himers, 1860-3; F. Kopp, 1863-7; C. A. Loeber,
1867-8; J. J. Keller, 1868-1870.

At the latter date the district was divided—one part
being called Milwaukee, the other Fond du Lac. The
incumbents of Milwaukee District were J. J. Keller, C.
Schuler, G. L. Mulfinger,* C. A. Loeber, John Schnell,
and C. Swert, the present incumbent. To the Fond du Lac
District the following were the appointees: Geo. Haas
(who, after serving faithfully for two years was called to
his inheritance above), Richard Frickenseker, C. Schuler,
J. Bletsch, B. Lampert, H. Wegner, and S. F. Fritz, who
is still doing good work there.

These districts are a part of the Chicago German Con-
ference, and are in the eastern part of Wisconsin.

In the western part of the State are seven pastoral
charges connected with the Northern German Conference.
According to their last report they have in Wisconsin 38

 

*This eminent and useful minister passed to his reward
in July, 1886, having fought a good fight and kept the faith
for many years.
THE GERMAN WORK. 459

ministers in active service; 4,743 full members; 672 pro-
bationers; 37 local preachers; 95 church edifices valued
at $179,000; 43 parsonages valued at $50,000; 105
Sabbath-schools; 1,070 officers and teachers; and 4,626
scholars.
460 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

METHODISM AMONG THE SCANDINAVI-
ANS IN WISCONSIN.

CANDINAVIA is understood to embrace Sweden, Nor-

way, and Denmark. But as two distinct languages

are spoken in these nations, our work among their people
is in two departments.

So far as is known to the writer we have but one
Church among the Swedes in Wisconsin. It is in Mari-
nette, where there is a large number of this nationality.
They have both a church edifice and parsonage, and seem
to be doing a good work.

The work among the Norwegians and Danes has already
been sketched, with the promise of something farther.
The following from Rev. A. Haagensen, long a presiding
elder among them, contains a condensed account of it
which will be appreciated :

“Evanston, Iuz., August 2, 1889.
“Rev. P. 8S. BENNETT:

“Dear Broraer,—Your letter of June 4th has been duly re-
ceived, and I have taken care to answer the points regarding
our work which you wish to know, and send you the following
facts :

“1, The so-called Scandinavian District, consisting of Nor-
wegians, Danes, and Swedes, was disbanded in 1858.

“9 Tn the fall of 1864 the Norwegian and Danish work in
West Wisconsin and Wisconsin Conferences was organized into
a Norwegian District, with O. P. Peterson as presiding elder,
and the district belonged to West Wisconsin Conference until
1869, when I was appointed presiding elder, and the whole
work was transferred to Wisconsin Conference.

“3, The Norwegian and Danish work in Minnesota and
AMONG THE SCANDINAVIANS. 461

Iowa came under the supervision of the Swedes, but was later
a part of the work brought under Norwegian supervision again.

“4, Inclosed I send you a table of charges.

“5. In 1870a monthly paper called Missionaren was started ;
it did much good, and continued until 1877, when we started
a weekly paper. The name is Den Christelige Talsmand. I was
for several years assistant editor of Missionaren, and four years
editor of Talsmand.

“6. We have also a theological school for young men called
to the ministry among Danes and Norwegians. The school is
located at Evanston, Illinois, and cost $10,000, and stands in
connection with Garrett Biblical Institute.

“7, Since we organized as an Annual Conference our work
has grown rapidly among us. It includes six States; viz., Illi-
nois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Dakota.

“8. Our Conference has 3,800 members, with probationers ;
65 churches, 29 parsonages, valued at $175,000.

“9, Besides the Conference, we have work in Oregon, Wash-
ington, and Idaho, which was organized as a mission last Gen-
eral Conference. They have three hundred members, and
four or five churches.

“10. Several of our ministers have been sent to Utah, where
we have several churches and many members.

“The result of the small beginning among us has been that
we have grown to be thousands. Thank the Lord! To him
be the glory and honor forever! I hope that these few facts
will be of some value in your forthcoming history.

“Yours, fraternallly, A. HAaAGENSEN.

“P. §.—In respect to the difference between Norwegians
and Swedes I will only state that, although Norway and Swe-
den are under one king, they are two different nations, and
have different languages. The Swedish king has had a certain
supervision over Norway since 1817. Before that time Norway
was under Denmark for four hundred years. The Danes have
the same language as the Norwegians, and therefore the Danish
and Norwegian work is organized into one Conference. The
Swedes have confused the Church in this matter, and call the
work of all the Scandinavian work; whereas there is no such
work, and can be no such work. ‘This confusion has caused
the Church much trouble. The Swedes have their own Con-
ference and missions. In the beginning of our missionary

* work we had great trouble with this mixing of the three na-
462 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

tionalities, and I do not think the Church is clear on this sub-
ject yet. A. H.”

The above shows wonderful progress. True, in num-
bers, the German work far exceeds this; but it should be
remembered that the Norwegians and Danes are few in
this region compared with the Germans. Besides, the
work began among the latter several years before the for-
mer were reached.

Two slight omissions should be supplied in the foregoing
letter. One is that when the ‘‘Scandinavian District”
was disbanded in 1858, the appointments were not, but
were mingled in the general work. The other is that
in 1880 all the Churches among the Norwegians and
Danes, between the Alleghany and Rocky Mountains,
were organized into an Annual Conference. Of this Con-
ference there is but one district in Wisconsin. The fol-
lowing is a statistical summary of it:

Number of church edifices, ...-.-.... 26
Number of parsonages, .......- ie os 9
Estimate value, ..- - - ee ee ees $54,700
Traveling preachers,....-.--+----+-+-- 15
Local preachers,. .-.. +--+ eee eee 13
Lay members,....- ---+-+-e--+- ee 1,136
Sunday-schools,. ...--. eee ee eee 25
Scholars, 5 3 es. os ea Se ae Ae 1,002*

* This sketch does not give a complete view of the general
work among the Norwegians and Danes, developed from the
small beginning in 1850. In previous pages the reader will
see some account of missionaries sent to those people in their
Fatherland. There we have an Annual Conference within
which are 6,536 communicants, one theological school, and sev-
eral of lower grade. This account is entirely independent of
the Swedish work.
FREE METHODIST CHURCH. 463

"FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

HIS branch of the Methodist family was organized in
Western New York, August 23, 1860.

For several years there had been in that region a
growing interest in the subject of Christian holiness. Per-
haps there were some extravagances of expression and
methods in efforts to promote its experience. Opposition
to these was construed by some as opposition to the doc-
trine itself of Christian perfection as it came down from
Mr. Wesley. Whatever was true or false in regard to
that matter, there was a considerable secession of minis-
ters and members from the Methodist Episcopal Church,
who formed what has since been known as the Free Meth-
odist Church.

There were some in Wisconsin that sympathized with
the movement from its inception’; and in 1863 or 1864 a
Free Methodist class was formed at Sugar Creek, Wal-
worth County. The first church edifice was erected in
Whitewater about 1868.

Geo. H. Fox, who had been a member of the Wiscon-
sin Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, joined
this new organization, and was one of its active supporters
till his death, which occurred a few years after.

They have an Annual Conference in this State called
‘“‘The Wisconsin Conference of the Free Methodist
Church.” This contains twenty-six preachers in full con-
nection and six on trial. They have 17 church edifices
valued at $16,150, and one parsonage valued at $1,000.
Their last report (1889) also shows 27 pastoral charges,
722 communicants, and 23 Sunday-schools with 756 scholars.
464 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN.

They have also a seminary at Evansville, commenced
in 1885, which has been a success, so far, and still
promises well. It has had an average annual attend-
ance of about ninety students, and has graduated forty-
eight. ‘‘A neat building was erected two years ago at a
cost of about six or seven thousand dollars.”
AMERICAN WESLEYAN CHURCH. 465

AMERICAN WESLEYAN CHURCH.

BOUT the year 1828 the great anti-slavery agitation
began in this country. Soon the eyes of many in the
North were opened to the prevalence, enormity, and cor-
rupting influence of slavery, both in the Nation and in the
Christian Church; for alas! the latter was feeling its
deadly influence. Many of our ministers and members
were thoroughly aroused, and earnestly sought its extirpa-
tion from the Church of their choice. At length, weary
of the slow progress in this direction, a considerable num-
ber seceded in 1848, and called a convention in the city of
Utica, New York, at which an organization was effected
bearing the name at the head of this sketch.

The writer has not been able to learn when, where, or
by whom this form of Methodism was introduced into Wis-
copsin,

They report in the State 20 ministers, 11 church edi-
fices, valued at $10,650; 2 parsonages, valued at $1,100;
500 communicants, 9 Sabbath-schools, and 400 scholars.

There are, or have been, two other branches of the
Methodist family represented to a limited extent in Wis-
consin, but a diligent search has failed to find an existing
organization of either.

It is a remarkable fact that not one of the various
secessions from either the Wesleyans of England, or from
the Methodist Episcopal Church, has been based on a
divergence of doctrine. In this they are all agreed; and
they rejoice together to see the Protestant world steadily
approaching their distinctive views.

39
466 METHODISM IN WISCONSIN,

RECAPITULATION.

HE total number of communicants in the various
branches of Methodism in Wisconsin, so far as ascer-
tained, is 53,780, of which 446 are ministers.

Total Sunday-school scholars, . .  .. 57,497
Total church edifices, . . . . . 808
Total parsonages, . . 2. 7 we 349
Total valuation of these,. . . .. $2,473,330

Now, while these thousands are devoutly singing,
‘‘ Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,” may they
labor on, with increasing success, till called to the ‘‘ rest
that remains to the people of God!”
APPENDICES
TO

PARTS | AND II OF THIS VOLUME.

 

APPENDIN A.

TT'HIS table shows the number of members, probationers, and

local preachers connected with the Church at the close
of each year, as reported to the Conference. Also the number
of preachers connected with the Conference, and their relations
thereto, together with the number of pastoral charges and the
places “to be supplied,” thus giving a bird’s-eye view of the
field and the entire force, lay and ministerial, with which each
Conference year begins.

Technical Terms Explained.

Ejfective—One who is considered able to perform full work,
and receives an appointment thereto.

Supernumerary—One partially disabled.

Superannnated—One supposed to be, for the present, en-
tirely disabled.

Local Preachers—Persons licensed to preach, but not mem-
bers of any Annual Conference. They usually pursue secular
affairs, and give themselves wholly to the ministry only when
employed by presiding elders to fill vacancies.

Places to be supplied—Vacancies that can not be filled by
members of the Conference.

N. B.—Previous to 1847, only totals were reported. Then,
and thereafter, members in full connection, probationers, and
local preachers were reported separately.

MEMBERS, PROBATIONERS, AND LOCAL PREACHERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘ The ae = 5 | ae Sloe) os
2 2 7S |B" 13k See jie lia:
Pe ee Pee || =
1835, 80 4) 84] 2)
1836, 5 281 I 5 293} ..7|.
1837, 473). .|. | 1] .|- 493} 11] 1
1838, : 564 ; i ee ee 576} 11 2
1839, 2 722 Pe V2) ede 734| 12 3
468 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

me = = y i

Yuan, z ay fe s & 5) S%
1840, 965]. . 17|. 17 5
1841, 1,561) . 4 ‘i 28) . 22 5
1842, BiS2ll se « é 35 27 1
1848, 3,605} . ‘ 38| . 2 30 5
1844, . 4,205}. aie 396 Ss 42441 33) 1
1845, ‘ 4,153 a ila 45 : 4 4,198] 36 2
1846, 4,920). ..)..1 BO) .]. . 4,970} 48) 4
1847, . 5,506) . |. .| 63! 1) 3) 5,573] 57] 9
1848, 5 5,329] 1,466] 147} 70 ] 4 7,018} 457 7
1849, ss 5,774} 1,291; 152) 75). . 5 7,295} 67 7
1850, . . 6,370| 1,796| 187| 76) . 5| 8,434) 80) 13
1851, é 7,767| 2,285) 207] 100) . 5} =10,864; 88) 11
1852, 8,487] 1,978} 192; 98). . 6) 10,756) 98) 22
1853, 4 9,202] 2,044) 227) 114 ] 5} 11,593] 112} 27
1854,  .| 10,693] 2,216] 242) 147 | 13,309] 132] 27
1855, . . 11,999] 2,371) 297) 175). - 13] 14,855; 176) 36
1856, : 6,690) 1,366} 158! 105}. . 11 8,330} 109) 15
1857, .. 7,636] 1,649} 162} 109 6 9,562); 118; 18
1858, 7,823) 3,022} 161} 128 E 2; 11.138} 122) 15
1859," . - 9,089) 3,008} 160) 131 3 6} 12,397) 130} 13
1859,T. . 9,242] 1,962} 158} 130 3} 10; 11,505) 120 4
1860, . 9,784] 1,733] 161} 130). . 15} 11,823} 126 8
1861, «4 9,641] 1,337] 175] 126). . 9) 11,288) 124 a
1862, .. 9,769} 1,328) 172) 119} . 13} =11,381) 118 6
1863, 10,203) 1,593) 173) 125). . 17) 12,111) 121) 10
1864, .. 9,525) 1,274) 171; 120 7) 17) 11,124} 113) 11
1865, . . 10,180} 1,496) 156} 112} 10) 17) 11,668) 115) 16
1866, . 10,203} 1,624) 153) 118} 11) 21 12,130) 115) 11
1867, 10,712! 1,621} 150} 124; 12) 16) 12,635) 121} 17
1868, . 11,201! 1,507) 144; 129}. .}| 29) 13,010) 127) 15
1869, 11,952) 1,424] 148) 138 7| 31) 18,700} 135) 10
1870, . 12,248} 1.640} 144) 150 7| 30} 14,219} 188 7
1871, 18,124] 1,912) 157) 150 5} 33) 15,381) 141] 10
1872, ‘i 13 525} 1,824; 168) 137; 11) 26) 15,681] 142) 17
1873, . 13,552} 1,756} 148} 148 3} 29} 15,638) 140) 17
1874, . 18,642} 1,560} 125) 155 5) 28) 15,415] 145) 16
1875, - 13,961] 1,371] 134} 157/77} 32} 15,662] 148} 15
1876, . 13,949) 1,203) 122} 162) 11) 380) 15,497) 146) 10
1877, . 14,106] 1,718) 123) 147 9) 32) 16.136) 147} 14
1878, . . 13,974! 1,403! 122! 161) 15! 30! 15,705! 151! 12

*1859-This year two sessious of the Conference were held. FIRST
Session, April 20th.
+ SECOND SESSION, October 13th.
NUMBER OF MEMBERS, FETC. 469

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

F | ef |eE) 9B) 72|ys| a2 | 22) 22

EAR, = i 8 on) 9 a3 a ae |

| Fy? |g |e¢le5|se| G28 17-1 es

! eee bee

1879, | 14,109) 1,075} 108) 158) 17} 29} 15,896) 154 9
1880, / 12,456 938) 92! 124, 16) 29) 13,655) 132 9
1881, — :12,240| 964] 84] 134) 14] 32) 13,468) 140] 10
1882, 12,329] 1,044} 92] 124] 23] 33) 13,645] 134) 22
1883, » 12,015) 1,038} 92) 134) 24! 33) 13,328) 140) 19
1884, ‘ 12,755} 1,118) 87| 149) 22) 35) 14,166) 137 9
1885, .| 13,032! 1,109) 88} 157) 22) 38[ 14,446) 132) 20
1886, | 13,365) 1,824] 79] 137| 25] 41) 14,971) 135) 14
1887, 13,904; 1,561) 86) 140) 22) 38) 15,766! 144) 19
1888, 14,316] 1,432} 85) 140| 19) 36! 16,028) 147) 21
1889, .. 14,974] 1,885} 84) 134) 19, 35 17,111. 149| 17

 

 

 

 

N. B.—Deaths from the laity were not reported till after
1856. After that date, as follows:

1857, 68 | 1868, 119 } 1879, 188
1858, . . 58 | 1869, 142 | 1880, 182
1859, . 77 | 1870, 155 | 1881, 185
1860, . . . 110 | 1871, . 147 | 1882, 198
1801, . . 100 | 1872, . 209 | 1883, 194
1862, oy eT BT. se 154 | 1884, _ 223
1863, . . «177 | 1874, 152 | 1885, . 201
1864, 168 | 1875, 150 | 1886, 71
1863, ..- 113 ) 1876, _ 152 | 1887, _ 230
1866, . . 110 | 1877, _ 180 | 1888, 231

1867, 141 | 1878, 168 | 1889, 256
 

 

 

 

 

470 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.
APPENDIX B.
BENEVOLENT COLLECTIONS.
REPORTED AT EACH CONFERENCE SESSION.
1848, $517 $92 $l1l9yy. 2}.
1849, 527 89 887] ao cle
1850, 935 91 328 . | $43} .
1851, . 1119 139 220|. .| 58] .
1852, 1,201 180 194]. .| 78).
1853, 1,841 368 225) . 84) .
1854, 2,413 359 59] . 158
1855, 2,775 492 .. |. | 157).
1856, + 1,454 295 sy Cel oe ae be ls
1857, 1,575 334 358| $6) 546| .
1858, 1,228 256 169; 20; 80
1859, 1,260 191 364] 13) 40;.
1860, 1,497 a32 172) 12} 118} .
1861, 4,130 241 555) 59) 106
1862, 3,712 311 374] 92) 91
1863, 6.267 430 532) 132) 172
1864, 6,247 477 1,113} 231) 260
1865, 7,069 509 1,179] 218) 273
1866, 7,465 619] 1,795] 197) 334
1867, 7,800 939] 2,324] 231] 343}. .
1868, 7.542 Wal 2,312) 210] 282/$548)/$262) > .
1869, 8,213 1,005 2,004} 241} 312) 642] 182/$316 .
1870, 6,779 907 1,766} 180) 299) 599} . @%
187k, « « 6,858 1,019 1,805] 235) 316) 564). .
1872, 6,734 1,251]. . . . | 198] 284} 582} 197] 358

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

«This year the falling off in collections is due to the division of

the Conference.

+ About this time other collections for benevolent purposes were
added, as noted in appropriate columns.
471

VOLENT COLLECTIONS.

BENE

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OM PUB JWAIBY O11} LOJ SUOTJDIT[OD BY} OF Pappy ace STANS
‘og ‘SSL UL SOFTS ‘GseT UL SCZI$ “PSST UL payat[oo pur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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696'8 OL8"S B6S'T I6E-L (sig lore joor {sz6‘t  |s99‘OL BLg'% —- |9ZB'L “688 L
II's Tze Lear | 488 LIZ |a6l jag jgiz‘t ‘[92g°6 ere's = |EGo'L ‘S88
cet = |66a'T «OSS 6S6 FOc JOSE jLIg jSFS‘t |{26S°6 TIUs = j9PS‘L ‘ISS
o0s's = feat =: Jes0cE = aes Z6L |FLT = ojaes = JG LZ‘L—«/968'8 LPOG (68269 ‘OSS
JEUSL 926° £06 F6L SLL |F9T FOS |TIOG [F688 983s —«|SOF'9 ‘ess
00s: =| T8Z‘9 ~—s|6F9 9¢8 got jert |z6g jteZ't = {Si FOr 98st —ggg'e
FEl's =—« 16GO'E—s« GHD 6FS‘T IS |8eT 60F'T | F06‘9 96F‘T sor’
029s =|. 96'T oro 1L0°% = |8LT IFS GIg‘l  |Fa0'L g69'T = |9ae'e
Sel‘t 119 199 16L 106 —-|0SL FOS’T = |eea'g 266 1OL‘F : ‘TSS
SOFT 689'F SBE 189 IZt— |6T Gast |S TS‘s F86 Peer g ‘O88
so STOLE eEg 669 691 GFL los‘ #859 636 gge¢ . 3 ‘BLST
: O8e ucr hot GAL ee oss e08'¢ #66 616'F ‘SLST
8 Be UF PGF 28t |S “66 SIT‘? GOST GSE ‘128T
* Sts OIF GIF Z6l TAL 116 LEO aes LEO'e ‘9181
668'F = |Gcs gee ECF 9FZ —-|003 FELT = 9802 164 GPa'9 ee “G28
09e Plt G9 Go 8tZ QT 6IOL = |eea'9 09 298'¢ ce ‘FIST
BZ 3S [Lats Sscs 119$ 9828 [Fess loss'is — |696'8$ Sal'ss | 1F89$ “g18T
ee peepee | ce Ree | eee — —— —_—_—— (—S—= ——— ceeennp hb aeenaning | Sse St,
= z = = : eos : a 3 7
= : 4 8: Ss 2: : as ao g
& 2 a = 2: SB | B: va 33 gn% au
3 g = 22 33 = Bo os x = i
2 = g 2h gS 3 a8 BS) oils cas ete heey 4
S a z ee an a aa a” “AMY NOISNELT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘SNOILOATI1I0O9 LNA TOAANAA
472 APPENDICES TO PARTS IT AND II.

APPENDIX C.

This table shows the number of Church edifices and par-
sonages each year, and their valuation, as reported to the en-
suing Conference. Also, the number of Sabbath-schools, offi-
cers, and scholars. The earliest accessible reports of these were
made in 1850, and no report of the valuation of Church prop-
erty is found until 1859.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JO < wv < iz ° wn

Year /@6/ 5 |e | & (|38| Ba] 2 | §

: 2 1/8) € |?é] S| #% | &

: B z = a 5

; i : Pe a
1850, ...| 36) . «| 383i}... «| 144) 1,182) 4,826) 183
1851, ...] 48)... 34 . | 205) 1,638} 8,409) 270
1952, ...] 60 42 . | 241) 1,903] 9,273) 221
1858, . «| 70 43 ‘ 243) 2,009} 9,396] 273
1854, Ts 41}... | 259} 1,989] 10,180) 276
1855, won| “92 .| 54 . | 280) 2,252} 9,791) 172
1856, ew] Be ef 363) 4 . | 167} 1,358] 6,403) 81
1857, . . «| Noj report. oad Oe (4 225} 2,090) 10,040) 167
1858, .. | Nolreport. |. .{|. . - -| 150} 1,303} 6,407} 294
1859, . 87] $186,500] 58] $30,200) 196) 1,827] 8,774) 187

1860, . «| 96} 185,600) 65} 33,100) 239] 2,353} 11,468) .

1861, . | 100} 191,926} 70} 35,575) 232) 2,142] 10,853) .
1862, .| 98] 187,150) 69} 383,675) 246] 2,274) 12,407). .
1863, . | 114] 220,000) 75] 37,250) 230] 2,169] 12,158) 496
1864, . .| 102) 228450) 75} 52,300) 217} 2,141) 12,378} 246

1865, 107| 254,950} 77} 50,500] 227; 2,280} 12,921] .
1866, . | 117} 328,600} 84} 64,525} 217] 2,323/12.814)  .
1867, 132] 420,050} 89} 80,300} 169) 1,926) 12,244) 421
1868, 141] 484,550) 87} 91,515} 211) 2,291) 13,979) 381
1869, . .| 149] 520,695} 92) 96,425] 224) 2,419) 14,838] 276
1870, 163} 717,400} 95| 105,250} 278) 1,951) 16,250) 87
1871, .  .| 172) 734,850) 97) 108,780) 200) 2,704] 17,233) 238
1872, . | 182] 747,785] 103] 115,930] 239) 2,513] 16,919} 731

1873, . . -| 191] 782,600) 106) 162,252) 210| 2,643) 16,564] .
1874, 194} 807,950} 99] 119,677| 228] 2,476} 16,350) . .
1875, . . .| 199] 845,650} 99) 122,600} 244/ 2,469] 16,818} 446
1876, . . .| 204} 826,700) 105) 123,870) 223) 2,257) 15,781) . .
1877, . . -| 201) 792,500) 105) 121,450} 232) 2,332) 15,966) . .
1878, . . | 204} 769,650] 106} 113,900} 234] 2,464] 16,029). .
1879, . . .| 212) 738,250) 110) 114,795) 248) 2,427) 16,252). .
1880, . «| 199} 708,850) 106) 110,870) 221) 2,204) 14,252) .
1881, . | 190] 692,400] 109} 113,800] 216) 2,193] 14,705) . .
CHURCHES 1ND PARSONAGES—PREACHERS. 4738

 

 

 

 

 

ee E Z z |5E] £8 Babs
YEAR. BS Ee 5 S 83) SF 2 3

3 2 8 2 jfe| $8 a he
1882, : 195] $708,650) 111) $122,750) 219, 2,262) 15,293
1883, 197| 726,555} 111| 124,450} 224| 2,292) 15 209
1884, 216] 780,000) 118) 129,050) 231 2) 419] 16,736
1885, « « | 214) 793,700) 118) 133,125) 230 2) 401 16, 517
1886, 213) 784,825) 114) 140,975) 222 2) 456 16, 138
1887, 214! 798,800) 118} 148,975} 239 2’ 689 18, 550}. .
1888, 215} 831,900) 117) 149,300) 235 2) 617 18, 821].
1889, . . . | 218} 856,050} 122| 178,750} 239 2 711] 19, 639 E

 

APPENDIX D.

NAMES OF PREACHERS FIRST AND LAST APPEARING
IN OUR CONFERENCE MINUTES.

The left-hand column shows when the relation commenced ;
the right-hand column when it ceased. If no dato appears
at the right of the name, the one designated is still connected
with the Conference. The letter 7, opposite the name of any
one, indicates that he located that year; d, that he died;
t, that he was transferred to some other Conference; e, that
he was expelled; w, that he withdrew from the Conference
and the Church; and 7, that he was removed from our
territory, either by appointment elsewhere, while we were
connected with another Conference, or by Conference division.
A date on the right of a name, not preceded by a letter, indi-
cates that the person was then discontinued as a probationer.

N. B.—The reader will note that John Clark and Geo.
White were sent to our territory as missionaries; the former
by the New York Conference in 1832, the latter by the Oneida
Conference in 1834, without any change in their Conference
relations. In 1836 they were transferred to the Illinois Con-
ference at which date their names first appear in its records.
No account is made of the temporary absence of a member
from Conference by transfer or location.

1828, John Dew, r, ‘ 1828 | 1835, A. Bronson, r,. —. 1855

1833, J. T. Mitchell, rv, . 1841 “ M. Robinson.

1834, L. Bevins, 7,.  . 1834) 1836, R. Haney,r,. .  . 1836
“ H. Orews,r,. . . . 1842) “ John Clark, r,. . . 1836

1835, J. Hadley, r, . . 1885; “ J. Crummer, r,. .1846
474 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND JT.

1836, S. Pillsbury, os . . 1838
(reo. White, J, - 1836
“ W.S. Crissey, fs - 1836
De Wi Nicholas,.t » 1838
#8 Ds POG th es: ev as 1838
“ Colon D. James, r, 1836
“J. W. Haney, 7, 1836
“David King,1,. —. 1848
1837, H. W. Reed,r,. . . 1841
O. F. Curtiss, 1 y+» + 1839
‘ §. Stebbins, 7, . 1844
“ JR. Goodrich, r,. +» 1843
“H. W. Frink.
“J. Halstead, d, . 1888
“  T. W. Pope.
“ B. Weed, ¢, . 1839
‘““  D. Hotchkiss.
‘* W.Simpson,r,.. . 1841
“  J.W. McMurtry, r, . 1837
‘A. H. Bonney, r, 1837
1838, T. C. Lopas, r,. —- 1838
I. J. Stewart, 7, 1838
oe OW. Weigley, e, 1842
“J. F. Flanders.
“8. P. Keyes, 7, 1842
“J. Hodges, 7, . . 1841
“Rollin Brown.

1839, J. Field, ¢, . 1845
‘A. Chenoeth, 7, 1842
“J. McKean, r, 1842
“ J.G. Whitford.

1840, Jas. Ash,d, . . . 1848
“ L. F. Moulthrop, d, . 1876
‘“ H. Whitehead, 7, . . 1844
‘« D. Worthington, r, . 1841
“ Sidney Wood, r, 1841

1841, E. P. Wood, 7, . 1841
“J. Hurlburt, /, . 1847
“CO, N. Wager, r, 1845
“ T. M. Fullerton,r, . 1848
“A. Warren, J, 1847
‘ B.T. Kavanaugh, r,. 1844
“Geo. Copway,!, . 1843
“ W. Hewson, 4, . 1841
“ §.P. Richardson. 1841
‘“ Silas Bowles, r, . 1844
“  F, T. Mitchell, vr, . . 1848

1842, M. Bourne, r, . 1844
“Jas. Mitchell, r, . . 1844
“ JI.G. Whitcomb, 1, . 1846
“ N. Jewett, r,. . . . 1842

 

1842, M. Decker,

“
oe
“

ck

- §. H. Stocking, 7,

. : Or gs

J.P. “Gallup, l, 3
W. 4H. Sampson.

1843, N. Swift, 7.

6“

ot

“

J. M. Snow, d, .
Asa Wood, l,. .
Stephen, Jones, w,
R. Delap, J,

J. Lewis,d, ...
J. L. Bennett,. .
David Lewis.

1844, S. W. Martin, w, .

“cc

Wm. Allen, J,. .
J. Penman, /, . .
G. N. Hanson, d, .
R. Beaty, 7, a tk
C. D. Cahoon, r, .
C. McClure, w, . -
F. A. Savage, r,

1845, H. Summers, t,

«

N. P. Heath, 7,
M. Dinsdale, r ae

S. W. Ford.

J. W. Burton, e,
E. Springer, d,

T. P. Bingham,
M. 8S. Noble,
W.G. Miller, t,

8. B. Whipple, 7, .
W. Oliver, l,. .
J. M. Walker, d, .
J. Willson,... .
C. G. Adams,

T. W. Perkins, . .
G. W. Cotrell, J,
M. L. Reed,

1846, A. Wooliscrott, r,

“
“
rcs
«c

D. Dickinson,
B. Close, t, .

R. P. Lawton.
J. S. Prescott, ¢,

- 1842
- 1849

1874

. 1843

1842

- 1853

1855

. 1842

1843
1844
1847

1864
1862
1854

. 1850

1844

- 1848

1843

- 1860
. 1844

1850

. 1857
. 1844
. 1844
. 1850
. 1844
. 1852
- 1845
. 1846
H. J. Humphries, , .

1845

. 1848
. 1850

1845

. 1846
- 1880
. 1846
. 1849
. 1885

1845

. 1845
« 1845
. 1847
. 1846

1846
1846
1852

1850
1846, A. B. Randall, w,

c
“c
ce

“

oc

“

NAMES OF PREACHERS.

A. P. Allen, /,
N.S. Green, #, .
W. M. D. Ryan, t,
J. Chandler, r, .
J.C. Parks, 7,

J. Leekenby, 7,
Geo. Lovesee, t,
J. Bean, 7,
F.Smith,t, ..
J. W. Putnam, ¢, .

1847, D. Brooks, r, .

a“
“

ce

I. Searls, d 23
Ww. Tasker, J, .
R. E. Thomas, ¢,
R. R. Wood, 7,

H. Requa, d, .

S. R. Thorp, J,

8. M. Stone, J,

J. W. Burton, e, .
F, M. Mills,t, . .
J. W. Wood, e,.
H. V. Train, J,

C. Hobart, t,

W. Willard.

A. Hanson, /,

J. Luckock, ¢,

W. M. Osborn, r,
W. Lattin.

G. Whitman, d,
M. Bennett, t,

1848,-B. L. Thomas, .

“
“cc
“

a

1849, C. A. Newcomb, 1,

“
«

“

E. Holmes, I, .
J.E. Willson, t,
A. C. Pennock, J, ..
R.Shane,.....
Jos. Williams, . .
L. Dickens, . .
H. Hersey, d, . .
Cornelius Smith, J,

Dan’ Stanbury, d.
S. P. Waldron, r, .
N. Butler, 7,
Chas. Hill, . .

‘\R, 8S. Hayward.

E.S. Bunce, rv. .
J. Harrington, d, .
Wr. Owens, t,

J. N. Ward, . :

. 1869
- 1873
. 1860
. 1846
. 1846
. 1846
- 1846

1848

. 1855

1850

- 1856

1855
1871
1850
1851

- 1855

1864
1852

. 1852

1848
1849

. 1859.

1853
1855

1852
1850

. 1855
. 1848

1856
1848
1863
1850
1855
1848

. 1848

1850

- 1884
» 1852
. 1853

1860

- 1855
- 1855
. 1849

. 1855
- 1850

1856

. 1849

 

1849, Chas. Hollis, .
“A. McIntosh, ;
“ 0. F. Comfort, J, .
‘‘ Enos Stevens, ?
“ P. S. Bennett.
“John Tibbals, /,

1850, FE. Yocum, ¢,

S. Watts, 1, ...

“ §. L. Leonard, d, .
‘* Win. Britton, J,
‘TI. Roberts, J,

Jas. Barnes, . .

“ W.H Thompson, e,

“J. M.S. Maxson, d,

“ J.B. Mills,i.

 R. Blackburn.

“J.C. Dana, w,

J. Lawson, r,.

C. Lawson, I, .
“ C. P. Sanford,
“Wm. Shroff,d,. .
“ Q. E. Hall,l,.. .
“ ©. G. Connable, d, .
‘J. Marshall,
“  L. M. Cochran, »,. .

1851, J. L. Dyer, r,.. .

J. M. Wells.

“« W. Robotham, Ist,
‘ Thos. C. Golden, t,
“ D. O. Jones, d,. .
“G. W. Richardson, r,
“John Nolan, ¢,
“ R. Cobban, ¢, .
“Thos. Orbison, d, .

R. Dudgecn, 7,. .

“N.S. Green,. .

** W. Robotham, 2d.

“ “H. Wood, 7,

“EE. Tucker, /,. . .

“ R. Moffitt, ,. . .

se ML Sy oediey: « bes

“ N. Mayne, 7,

“ R. Price,r,. . .

“Geo. Chester, d,

“CLP. Beis 54

“J. Pearsall,

“OR. Everdell,,

“eM, Emebeluhs

“A. H. Walter, t, .

“Boyd Phelps, ¢,. .

475

. 1850
. 1851
. 1856
- 1851

1857

. . 1857
. 1861
. 1879

1851
1852
1851]

. 1855

1859
1856

- 1861

1855
1851

. 1851

1877

. 1857

1852

- 1852

1855
1855

- 1851
- 1858

1886
1855

. 1858

1860

- 1872
- 1855
. 1852

1855

» 1853
- 1871

1853
1855
1855
1865
1858

. 1852

1852

. 1872

1854:
476 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND IL.

1851, = Calender, d
8. L. Brown,*
ee C. Willerup, 4,
1852, E. B. Russell, ,
“Levi Fuller,
“ Wm. F. Delap, r r,
“Wm. Spell, w, . .
‘Jabez Brooks, *,
“Jas. W. Lyman, 1,
‘© R. Roberts,
“ P. B. Pease, d,. .
“Geo. Fellows, d,
“Wm. Averill, /, .
“J. Anderson.
“J. H. Hazeltine, J,
“J.C. Hudson, t
‘‘ R. Delap, 7,
“8. C. Thomas.
“ Silas Searls,t t,
1853, J. Padgeham, .
ie e Curtiss, t,. .
“ON. J. Aplin.
“Wm. Sturges, ¢,
oD Oy Hollister, d, .
“ J.D. Houghawout, a
“A. M. Hulse,.
« “A.C. Squire, J,
«R. R. Hamilton,
“Benj. Crist, 7,
“ C. Vessey,
“  H. J. Vanschoick, d,
“ E. Page, r,. .
“J. Hooper, 7, .
“J. M. Shultz, .
“J. H. White, .
“John Ferry, .
“ D. B. Tracy, .
“ C.C. Mason,.  .
“ A. Griswold, l,. .
«  L. W. McSchooler,
“ E. Cook, t,. .
1854, D. Hale, d, .
«J. Howd, ¢,
“Peter Lang,
‘““ D. Kidder,.. .

°

* Suspended.

- 1871
- 1863

1876
1855
1852

- 1855
- 1866
- 1855
. 1864
- 1852

1881

- 1887
- 1876

1860

. 1854
- 1855

1853

. 1855
. 1866

1868
1869
1855
1853
1864

. 1855

1855
1855
1853

1855
1855
1854
1855

. 1855
- 1853
. 1855

1860

. 1853

1860

. . 1888
- 1872

1855

. 1855

 

1854, N. E. Cobleigh, t, . 1859

“

“ch

Henry Scott, . . 1854
A.G. Cooley, 7 r, . . 1855
W. R. Jones, t, . 1878
H. Garden, . - 1856

O. B. Knudson, ¢, . 1861
Steen Steenson, t,. . 1858

Neils Oleson,.. . . 1855
D. B. Anderson, . 1855
L. Hallock, J,.. . . 1861

G. F. Hilton, r, . . 1855
H. B. Crandall, l, . 1870

L. Bell, 7, . . . 1855
D. O. Vanslyke, r, . 1855
S. Anderson, ¢, . 1858
C. M. Webster, . . 1855
Jas. Sims, r,. . . . 1855
H. Palmer, r,. . 1855
R. Langley, r, . . 1855
8. Dodge, 7, . . 1855

J. W. Waterbury, t, 1855
W.H. Bunce, vr, . . 1855
C. C. Kidder, 7, . . 1855

Ezra Tucker, J, . 1856
Geo. H. Fox, l,.. . 1862
A. H. Annis,t . . 1860

J. W. Donalson, ve 1858
J. B. Armitage, t , + 1856

J. D. Requa, t,. . . 1868
E. W. Stevens, l,. . 1868
Edwin Buck,. . — . 1855
R. Gould, 7, . 1855
Samuel Still,. . . . 1854

1855, W. McDonald, 7, . . 1857

ce
6c
we
““

C. A. Weirich, 7, . . 1855
A. Foster,w,. . . . 1872
R. Robotham, . . . 1855
8. V. R. Shepherd, d, 1881
Richard Mates, e, . 1855
Calvin Kellogg, r, . 1855

R. Fancher, 7,. —. 1855
N. Wheeler, ry. + . 1850
S. Salisbury, ¢, . 1868
Jas. Cady, . . 1855

Wm. Harvey, 7,  . 1855

{Silas Searls was transferred to our Conference in 1852, and served
the Church at Kenosha, and transferred to Rock River Conference in
1853; but his name never appeared in the list of appointments except

as transferred.
t Deposed.
NAMES OF PREACHERS.

1855, G. W. Delamater, ¢, 1870
T. T. Cutchen, . . . 1856
L. Peterson, t,. . . 1858
Wm. Stevens, e,. . 1858
John Whitworth, 7, 1855
Jas. Peet, 7, .  . . 1855
C. P. Hackney, r r, 1855
Peter Locy, 7, 1855
A. McWright, r,. . 1855
N. 8. Philips, 1855
H. Hard, . 1855
Alonzo Angel, 7,  - 1855
A.J. Nilson, r,. 1855
Z. &. Hurd, r, 1855
Chas. Baldock.

Jos. 8. Bolton, ,. 1882
H.H &mitb,. 1855
M. Crownover, r, . . 1855
L. D. Tracy, l,. . . 1867
J. Burlingame, 7. 1855
John Murrish, r, . . 1853
H. R. Jones, . 1855
I. M. Stagg, r, 1855
QO. P. Brown, t,.. . 1856
E. P. Beecher, d,. 1877
J. C. Robbins.
J.M. Soe r, 1855
R. Hoover,.. . . . 1855
R. Z. Mason, w, . 1867
, Jacob Miller, t, 1859
D. F. Holcomb, - 1858
D. T. Olcott, t,. 1887
G. N. Van Vleit,. 1856
J. E. Grant.
N. Jolinson, 1856
J. C. Aspenw all, , 1858
Lars Peterson, t, 1858
J. J. Willis, 1856
B. R. Harringtun, 1857
R. C. Hunt... . 1865
C. 8. Macr: ading, J, . 1858
R. M. Beach, t,. . . 1866
J. Reinhart, - 1857
C. J. Fairbanks.
W. McFarlane.
Jas. Cushing, /,.. . 1859
G. W. Slater, J, . 1864
8. Smith.
A. C. Eliot, ¢, 1867
J.C. Spellum, t, . . 1858
J. Tidland, ¢, - . 1858

 

1856,

“ce

1857,

“

“

1859,

“

“W. DLA

, Ole Helland,

ow.

~ KE. Peterson, d, ..

*

O. B. ee ty:
J. Cushing, J,

W. T. Colburn.

G. 8. Allen, e,

W. M. Anderson, d,
mes.

J. De La Mater, t,. .
D. W. Couch, t, .
T. White, d, .
J. K. Sheldon, d,
T. Ross,

A.C. Manwell, ¢,
R. C. Parsons, d,
J, E. Baker, ¢,
J.T. Suffron.

F. O. Blair, ¢,

C. Steenson, /,

A. Seiderholm, ¢, .
C. Scammon, w,
H. C. Tilton, d, .
C.D. Pillsbury.
E. Robinson, d, .
J. Whitney, d, .
N. Green, tf, . .
C. C. Syms, t,

A. Hagenson, 7,
J. Van Voris, J, . .
J. W. Olostead.
A. A. Horton, J, .
C. D. Cook.

L. N. Wheeler.
P. Stowe.

J. C. Crawford,
A. D. Hendrickson,
H. Sewell.

W. B. Holt,

J. Oleson,

T. Potter.

T. Peep.

E. Palmer, .

J. I. Fort.

C. W. Keller, .
H. Bannister, d,
W.Teal,t,.  .
E. K. Bushee, J,
A. Hitchcock, /,
A. A. Reed.

G. A. Smith, /,
John Jones, J,

477

1861
1859

- 1862

1888
1858

. 1868
. 1861

1863

1873
1887
1868

1859
1863

. 1858

1869
1879

1887
1883

. 1860

1867

. 1862

1879
1861

. 1864

1858
1858

- 1863
. . 1859
. 1859

. 1860

1858
1883

. 1887
. 1865

1859

- 1880

1879
478

APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

1859, 1. 8, Bldridge.

1861, A.

a D.
“2A.
. W. Brooks, ¢,
Fallows, t,. . -

“ce
“

“

“cc

te

8.
A.

S. Lang, J,
Cross, 1,

Chas. Smith.
W. G. Bancroft.

E.

Bassett, w,

I. Wiltse, d, .

W. B. Ferguson, c
A. 8. Thompkins, J,

E.

A. L. Cooper, . .

M. Chase, .

J. B. Graham, ¢,
Wx. Morse, d, .

L. E. Eldridge, /, .

R. A. Fairbairn,
W. J. Olmstead.
1860, I. L, Hauser, w,
W.B. Rowe, /,

Lavelle, ¢,
Rider, J, .

Thos. Walker.
Thos. Little, .

Geo. C. Haddock, ¢,
H. Hall, t,..

A.

M. D. Warner, ?

B.
J.

C. Parker, ?
G. Pingree.

W. Carver, t,

C.

Steinson, f,

W. R. Jones, ¢,

Q

8.

O.
‘CAR.

E.
2,R. O. Kellogg, d, . .
T

B. Bishop, ¢,
H. Muller, ¢,
J. Mead.

A. Willard, t,
W. Bosworth.
D. Farnham.

C. Willson.

T. F. Allen, ¢,

Ww. Woodruff, t, 2

W. Pierce.

. M. Beach, ¢,
. J. Cowles, t,
ra Reynolds.

M. Fullmer, ¢,

D. Cole.

A. England, t,

E. Lake, J, .

1872

- 1862

- 1867
. 1878

1862
1868
1859

- 1859
- 1860
. 1888

1863
1859

. 1885
. 1862
G. W. Anderson, /,
J.
E.

1863

. 1874
- 1862

1860
1882

- 1863

1867

. 1873

. 1865
. 1860
. 1878
. 1870
. 1866

. 1865
. 1874
. 1861

1865
1880

. 1880

- 1886
. 1880

1883
1873

. 1865

 

1863, Thos. Hpshe d,.

ce

R. Cooley, t,. . .

1864, H.L. Ohcabes lin:

J, C. Hazleton, ¢,
D. C. Adams, . .
W. W. Case, t,..
C. E. Lum, i, . .
A. M. Stephens, t,
Rk. Henry, /

1865, Geo. M. Steele, t,

“ « XG S. Hubbs, d,

C. E. Carpenter.
Geo. Pinney, .

M. B. Y. Bristol.

186Baninel Lugg.

oe
6
6
“a
“

T. L. Olmstead, ¢,
Moses Alley, 2,
F. I. Bell,. . .
J. L. Hewitt.

E. W. Kirkham, d,

1867\E. 8S. McCbesny.

4“
“
“
“c
7

+6

6c
te

W. J. Mitchell, t,..
A. A. Hoskins, w,

S. Reynolds, w,. .
H.H. Jones, l.. .
S.C. Lamb, J,

S. Vandersoll, /,
T. B. Brown,. . .
G. W.Wells, d, .
E. W. Stevens, /, .
C. N. Stowers, t,

1868, W. W. Painter.

6c

W. F. Yocum,. .
eo. Parsons.

‘ “Jas. Turner, . -

J. T. Boynton, d, .
G.H. Moulton, ¢, .
Jesse Cole, t,.. .
A. Moore, d,.. .-

W. W. Window, d,

C. W. Brewer, t, .
D. Deal, t, :
C. Skinner, ¢,

H. 8. White, /,
J.T. eel 1, .

J. T. Martell, L
Li. B, Bullock.
C. O. Treider, 7, .

. 1871

1880
1881

- 1864

1875
1869

- 1866
. 1878

1879

1867
1887

- 1867
. 1865
. 1866

- 1872

1871
1880

- 1885
- 1877
» 1874

1770

. 1867

.

1888
1868
1880

1869

. 1868
- 1884

1885

- 1882
- 1882

. 1886

- 1866
. 1870

1869

- 1874

1874

. L875

1880
1885
1872

. 1879
NAMES

1869, W.H. Thompson, f, .

“--§. Halsey.

‘A. Porter, l,. -

“ G. W. Burtch, 4, .

“ G. C. Wells, t, .

“J. H. Johnson, ¢,

‘ ©. P. Peterson, t,

“Pp. E. Brown, ¢,

“  P. Jensin, r,
1870, J. M. Craig, e,

“J. A. Colt, t,

“Dp. W. Smith, ¢,

“EF H. Brunson, /,

“J. Haw, t,

‘* Wm. Bennett.

‘ Wm. C. Cook, t,

“LP. W. Peter

. W. Peterson.

“CO. R. Pattee, ¢,

“ W. W. Warner, d,
E. B. Cummings.
_¥. V. Trenery.

“ 0. B, Thayer, 7,

“0. T. Teal, ¢,

1871, E. L. Eaton.

“os, A. Olin.

“J. B. Cole.

‘MM. Hansen,

“J. P. Roberts.

“JW. Fridd, d, .

1872, H. 8. Carhart,
“A.M. Bullock.
‘“ D. Brown, J, .
* $8. A. Stockman,
** Karl Schou, ?
B. Johansen, t,
L. Doblong, t,
“J. W. Whitney,
“ C. R. Chapin, 1,
“ §. E. Willing, w, .
“FE. A. Wanlass, ? ¢,
A.C. Higgins, /,
1873, L. F. Cole, i,. . -
“ R. J. Judd.
“  D. O. Sanborn.
“J. F. Decker.
“J. Christensen, .
‘* ©. Lorensen,. .
“ M.Nilson,. .

OF PREACHERS.

1879

1872
1883

. 1871
N. Christophensen, .

1869

« 1872

1874
1870
1879
1875
1878
1877

. 1873

1876

. 1882

1880
1875

1875
1870

1872

. 1888
“J. W. Carhart, i,. .

1881

. 1872

. 1883
- 1872
- 1879
. 1878

1876

. 1872
. 1876
. 1874
. 1886
- 1878
. 1881

1873

. 1873
- 1873

 

1873, C. P. Rudd, ¢, .
‘“ Peter Oleson, t, .
““ R, E. McBride, ¢, .
“eM. Evans.

« . E. Webb, t,

1874, Ole Oleson, t,

“
“ OC. L. Carlberg, ¢,

“ F. Ring, t,

‘« N. Jonasen, ¢,
“J. Bakke,

‘“ H. P. Berg, t,

“ 8B, Jorgensen, t,

‘* B.Larssen,t, . .
“  T.T. Howard, J, .
“ G. W. Pratt.

“  W. E. Walker,

“ O. B. Clark.

“ C. A. Stockwell, t,
*_-B. F. Sanford.
“1. 8. Alling,d,. .
“  W. F. Randolph, ¢,
‘* A. Hollington, ¢, .
“TT. H. Walker, t, .
“=, E. Goldthorp.

1875, B. T. White.
“OW. W. Willson.
“LH. F. Knight.

QO. Wierson, r,
“Pp. B. Smith, r, . .
“ W. C. Sawyer, /, -
“ S$. N. Griffith, J,

“  C¢, Omann,t,. .

“ W.B. Robinson.
“ T. Clithero.

* A, P. Mead,d,. .
“ I. 8. Leavitt.

‘“ H. 8. Richardson.
“ CC. L. Haskell, ¢,

1876, F. &. Stein, ¢.
“Jos. Cross, t,. . .
“  W. J. Fisher.

‘“ H. Curtiss, ¢,
‘HT. Favill, w,
“wd. Favill,w, oo. .
te. G. Updyke, t, .
“ "F.C. Haddock,
“ W.C. Waldron, /,
“J.T. Chenoetb, 7,
“J. H. Johnson, r,
1877, 8. P. Murch, J,. .

N. F. Carstensen, t, .
- 1876
. 1876

479

1876

- 1876

1880

. 1874
- 1876

1876

1876

. 1874
. 1876
. 1876
. 1876
. 1881

1876

- 1888
. 1878

1881

. 1879
- 1885

. 1879
. 1879

L874

- 1884
- 1876

- 1887

1878
1876

- 1883
. 1888
- 1886

1889

- 1877

1884
1880

. 1879
- 1881
480

1877, D. 8. Howes, iS
F. F. Teeter, t,
“J. 8. Davis.
Axel Gustafsen, r,
“ W. W. Ramsay, ¢,
1878, John Varty.
“=—A. J. Benjamin.
‘“ “H. G. Sedgewic, ¢,
“J. Richardson, d,
“ ©. L. Logan, ¢,
‘« E. B. L. Elder.
‘“  W.F. Dale,
“J. O. Saniker, r,

. O. Hazelton, t,
 D. Barrow.
. L. Hanson, 7,

onus:

““D. J. Holmes, t, .
‘Coots. Jolliffe.
es J. Garvin.

“" Geo. White.
ca Pease.
oe R. Hayward.

“ V. Charroin, t,. .
“ C. E. Smith, t,. .
“Eugene Yager, |, .
«J. Sanaker, r,
H. Danielson, r,
“* J.W.McCormic, wv,
1880, C. B. Wilcox.
“ 0. A. Curtiss, ¢,
“ D. J. Whiting, ¢,
“ M. F. Stright, ¢,
“ C. H. Betts.
. B. Lounsbury, /,
W. W. Stevens.
. R. Creighton.
J. E. Gilbert, t,
1881, J. E. Wright.
«  J.N. Nelson, d,
«J. H. Nelson, ¢,
“TD. H. Snowdon,
“ 7. P. Haylett.
‘© W.R. Mellot.
“ C. A. Wilson,t. .
‘J. Schneider.
“ G, E. Fellows, . .
“J. A. Brevier.
“Pp. Burk,

. D. Thomsen, Tis

a, ss Peterson, 19.608

- 1887
- 1883

- 1879
. 1877

1884
1884

. 1883

- 1878
. 1879
. 1879
- 1881

1879
1879

. 1885

. 1888
“ TT. J. McMurray, J, .
. 1887
. 1882
. 1879
. 1879
. 1881

1883

1880

. 1889
- 1881

- 1886

1883

- 1882

1887
1881

. 1881
. 1884
. 1881

 

APPENDICES TO PARTS J] AND II.

1881, G. W. Horton, ¢, .
“J. F. Tubbs, t, . .
“ F. L. Whorton, ‘ :
“ CM. Hurd, t,

1882, W. C. Longden, t,
“, E, Cadman.

m. Hooton.
“f- Perry Millar.

O. H. P. Smith, ¢,
“ OW. EF. Nelson, i,

. 1887

1887

- 1889

1885
. 1884

. 1887
- 1884

“ R.R.C. Granthun, t, 1885

“A. D. McHenry, t,
“Thos. Sharpe.
1883, W. H. Lacy, t,

“IE. E. Cheeseman, t, .
. 1885

“ T. S. Oadams,

‘OG. H. Trever.

s a H. Dry, ¢, .
L. King, t Ree

“Enoch Perry.
“Hes O. Cady.

“« L. RB. Clendenning.

““ M. T. Seeley, ¢,
“« F. B. Sherwin.
“ 'W. D. Cornell.
a Frank Millar.
«J. B. Beadle.
“ 8B. P. Raymond, ¢,
W. F. Warren, J, .
“H.C. Myres,l,. .
I. G. Pollard, J,
“« J. 1. Foot, t.
1884, E. Duckworth.
“John Wills.
as. Churm.
“J. H. Cooper,t,. .
“ OH. W. Brown.

W.H. Hollister, ¢, .

4. H. Lugg.
Albert. Smith,
“~ J. 8. Norris.
tT. W. North.
«J. S. Lean.
Wm. Medland.
ee “LWa Rollins, ¢,
“VR. Davidson.
Thos. James.
“Wom. Clark.
1885, W. D. Cox.
“Geo. Merrifield, t,
«A. L. Whitcomb.

1887

. 1887

1884

1888

- 1884

. 1889

1889

- 1885
. 1886
. 1883

- 1886

1888
1887

1887

. 1887
DISTRICTS AND PASTORAL CHARGES.

188"W. E. Morris.
‘© Ie. C. Potter.
“J. W. Huston, J

ee C. John.

C. Bristol,w,. . .

1886, Wm. Groves.
«J. R. Fretts.
“  W. H. Summers.
“WW. Millar.

‘Frank R. Nimits.
“« E. O. Bullock, ¢, .

“OW. A. Hall.
“Enoch Savage.
“ T. DeWitt Peak.
‘« J.C. Jackson, t,
“__-. Plantz, t,
“J. Howarth.
‘LJ. Reynolds.
188%; G. W. Verity.
“AW. Gh. Cooper.
om, H, Tippett.

‘© J. i. Henderson, . .

“W. C. Hickman.
“I. J. Patten.
«J. C. Maxham.
“ F.C. Brayton.

“— W. Woodside.
“SJ. E. Farmer.

. 1887
. 1888

. 1888

1889
1887

1888

 

1888, M.

““c

481.

8. Terry.
A. A. Wood.
\W. A. Peterson.
F, Roberson.
J. G. Gelling.
M. Wolverton.
S.A) Sheard.
A.M. DeFord.

. A. Drew.
‘J.J. Hartley.

“A m. Moil.

«“c

“c

Henry Ostrum.
W. W. Warner.
J. M. Woodward.

1889, T. D. Williams.

“cc
“ae
6“
“ce

“a

A 1.

J.D. Kenestrick.
C. P. Christian,
D. ©. Savage.

J. H. James.

C. W. Turner.
Evertz.
W. Botzer.

E. J. Symons.
Thos, Roberts.

J. N. Funston.

S, Light.
C. W. Gallagher.
Thos. Day.

 

APPENDIX E.

NAMES OF DISTRICTS AND PASTORAL CHARGES

First appearing in the Minutes of the Illinois and Rock

River Conferences in Wisconsin ;

and of those inthe Min-

utes of Wisconsin Conference in this State and in Min-
nesota, while the latter was under the supervision of the

former,
1834.
1835.
1836.

Towa Circuit, in Galena District.
Milwaukee, in Chicago District.
Root River, Oneida and Menomonee, Green Bay, Platte-

ville, Mineral Point, Prairie du Chien.

1837.

lan, Helena, Madison.
1838. Deansburg and Fond du Lac, Honey Creek.

1839.
1840,

40

Milwaukee District, Racine, Sheboygan, Madison, .\zta-

Fort Winnebago, Walworth, Watertown.
Lancaster, Southport, Burlington, Troy, Suinmit, Wyola,
Monroe, Platteville District.
482

1841.

1842.
1843.

1844.
1845.

1846.
1847.

1848.

1849.

1851.

1852.

1853.

APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

Potosi, Janesville, Hamilton Grove, Brothertown, Sioux,
St. Croix, Prairieville, Green Bay District, Indian Mis-
sion District.

Sylvania, Sugar Creek, Muscoda, Wisconsin Pinery, Win-
n¢ebago Lake.

Rock River District, Big Foot, Whitewater, Hazel Green,
Highland Prairie, Manitowoc.

Blue River, Pewaukee*, Washington Mission.

Dodgeville, Sauk Prairie, Union Green Lake, Lowell,
Elkborn Menomonee Mission. :

Waupun, Mequon, Beloit.

Franklin, Black River, Welsh Mission, Columbus, May-
ville, Grafton, Waukesha (formerly Prairieville), Pal-
myra, Oconomowoc, Prairie du Sac, Racine District,
Fond du Lac (in place of Green Bay) District.

Elk Grove, Albion, Walker’s Point, Wauwatosa, Reck
Prairie, Spring Vailey, Exeter.

Patch Grove, Wyoming Valley, Council Hill, Minnesota
District, St. Paul, St. Anthony’s Falls, Stillwater, Bad
Axe, Sheboygan, Oshkosh, Marcellon, Beaver Dam,
Grafton, West Bend, Lodi, Adams, Honey Creek,
Geneva, Eagleville, Delavan, South Grove.

. Arena, Point Douglass, Chippewa River, Round Prairie,

Byron, Plover, Kingston, Fall River, Metoman, Omro,
Appleton, Green Bush, Hartford, Bark River, Nor-
wegian Mission, Milton, Dartford.

Prairie La Crosse, Sun Prairie, Black Earth, Pine River,
Baraboo (formerly Adams), Reedsburg, Princeton,
Waupaca, Cascade, De Pere, Fox River District, Reed
Street, Milwaukee (same as Walker’s Point), Oak
Creek, Bristol.

Shullsburg, Fayette, Sandy Lake, St. Peters, Willow
River, Waukesha, Richland City, Delton, Fond du
Lac North Ward, Winneconne, Grove Street (Reed
Street), Fox Lake, Portage City.

Jackson Street (Milwaukee), South Bristol, Hebron,
Montfort, Beetown, Monticello, Montello, Berlin, Fen-
nimcre, Kickapoo, Sparta, Benton County Mission,
Travers de Sioux, Shakopee, Red Wing, Hudson,
Marine Mission, Chippewa, Prairie du Chien District.

*Diopped until 1869.
DISTRICTS AND PASTORAL CHARGES. 483

1854. Platte, Spring Grove, Lemonwier, Poinette, Waucousta,
Orion, Virequa, Mont: llo, Prescott, Reed’s Landing,
Kaposia, Mavketa, Minneapolis, Brownville, Monte
ville, Luis Valley, Scandinavian Mission (in Minnesota),
Racine Welsh Mission, Norwegian Mission (in Fond
du Lac District), Wautoma, Fort Atkingon, Lake Mills.

1855. Janesville District, Beaver Dam District, Portage City
District, Appleton District, La Crosse District, Red
Wing District, St. Paul District, Winona District,
Ripon, Evansville, East Janesville, Horicon, Burnett,
Algoma, Rosendale, Neenah, Hortonville, Oconto,
Charlestown, Saxeville, Welsh Mission (in Winnebago
County), Oxford, Roche-a- Cri, Point Bluff, Blue Mound,
Waterloo, Jamestown, Rastman, Onalaska, Mendora,
Caledonia, Chatfield, Cedar River, Elk Prairie, Ori-
noco, Monteville, Hastings, Meridota, Cannon River,
Minnetonka, Cottage Grove, Superior.

1856. Appleton Second Ward, Menasha, New London in con
nection with Hortonville, Weyauwega, Stevens Puiut,
Wausau, Menomonee, Brandon, Marcellon, Fall River,
Jefferson, Waterloo, Columbus, West Beloit, Utter’s
Corners, Footwille, Coldwell’s Prairie, Clinton (now
Clinton Junction), Keewaunee, Empire, Oshkosh Mis-
sion, Watertown District, Norwegian District. There
had been two Norwegian Missions, one in the vicinity
of Neenah, the other in the southern and northwest-
ern parts of the State. These teok the following
names: Cambridge, Racine, Heart Prairie, Winnebago,
Primrose, Viroqua, Richland, Upper Iowa, St. Paul,
Minnesota, Beaver.

1857, Newberg, Lynn and Blcomfield, Liberty Prairie, Porter,
Lamartine, Michicott, Emerald Grove, Wyccena, Ran-
dolph, Cambria Welsh Mission, Greenville, Manchester,
Massinee, Grand Rapids, Summerfield (Mil.), Almond,
Wautoma, Saxeville, Crystal Lake, Amberst, De Pere,
Stevens Point District.

1858. Concord, Waterford, Sharon, Shopiere, Juneau, Eureka,
Maple Grove, Buena Vista, Hemlock, Ogdensburg,
Chilton, Vinland, Barton, Neosho.

_ 1859. New Berlin, Hustisford, Racine Welsh Mission, Edger-
ton, Stoughton, Markesan, Seminary Grove, Door
Creek, Portland, Auburn, Eldorado Welsh Mission,
Brandt, Gipson, Pleasant Prairie.
484

1860.

1861.

1862

1863.
1864.
1865.
1866.
1867,

1868.

1869.
1870.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.

1876.
1877.

1878.
1879.

188}.
1882.

1883.
1884.

1885.
1886.

APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

Granville, Genesee, Allen’s Grove, Hebron, Orfordville,
Black Wolf, Two Rivers, Shawano.

Rome, Mukwanigo, Transit and Oakland Center.

Waukau, Gibraltar Mission, Union Grove.

Croghville, Iron Ridge, Sturgeon Bay, Washington Har-
bor. 4

Pine River.

Osborn, N. Osh and Vinland.

Cottage Grove.
East Granville, Marshall, Division Street and Cotton
Street (Fond du Lac), Peshtigo, Suamico, Embarrass.
Fox River, North Prairie, Avon and Newark, Hingham,
Alto, Pardeeville, South Omro, Fish Creek, Wrights-
town, Clintonville, Wilmot (Oshkosh), Second Church,
Bay View.

Mackfarlane, Avon and Newark, Zion, Pewaukee, Court
Street (Janesville), Fort Howard.

Clemensville, Marinette, Rio, Menomonee Falls (in place
of West Granville).

Eureka, Ashland.

Utica Center and Zion, SHpEROr City, Penoka.

Seymour, Colby, Jenne.

Third Church (Oshkosh), Gravesville, Northport, Auro-
raville.

Algoma Street (Oshkosh, changed from Third Church),
Eau Claire.

Union and -Dupont.

Union Church and New Berlin, Franks and Caledonia,
Oconto Circuit, Medford, Spencer.

Oshkosh City Mission.

Koshkonong, Campbellsport, Oconto Falls, Pittsfield, Par-
freyville and Crystal Lake.

Kaukauna,* West Pensaukee, Antigo, Dale and Fremont,
Tigerton and Nora, Merrill.

Union Church (Racine), Ahnape.

St. Nathan’s, Poisippi, Simco and Maniwa, West Merrill.

Franksville and Ives Grove, Washington Avenue (Mil-
waukee), Waterford and English Settlement, Burling-
ton and Paris.

Eagle River, Maple Valley, \ppleton Circuit.

Royalton and Iola, Sherman Street (Milwaukee).

*Disappeared till 1886.
SPECIAL WORK. 485

1887. Monico and State Line, Rhinelander, Vesper and Rudolph.
1888. Lena and Leighton, Simpson Church (Milwaukee), Trin-

ity (Bay View), Milwaukee Circuit, North Greenfield.
1889. Hickory and Oconto Falls, Lima.

 

 

Py

APPENDIX F.

APPOINTMENTS TO SPECIAL WORK.

Educational.
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY.

W. H. Sampson, principal and professor, 1849-1853.
Edward Cook, president, 1853-1859.

W. H. Sampson, professor, 1853-1857.

R. Z. Mason, professor, 1854-1861; president, 1861-1865.
N. E. Cobleigh, professor, 1854-1857.

F. O. Blair, professor, 1857-1858.

E. L. Knox, professor, 1858-1864.

W. F. Yocum, professor, 1869.

G. M. Steele, president, 1865-1879.

C. N. Stowers, professor, 1867-1868.

W. C. Sawyer, professor, 1875-1881.

B. P. Raymond, president, 1883-1889.

N. B.—E. D. Huntley, a member of the West Wisconsin
Conference, was president from 1879 to 18838. W. C. Gal-
lagher succeeded B. P. Ravmond as president in 1889.

Nore.—These were all ministers appointed from Conference,
after election by the trustees. In addition, the following
named persons served, or are serving, as professors for the
periods indicated hy the dates:

R. O. Kellogg, . 1849-1853; O. P. DeLand, 1872-1875
Jas. M. Phinney, 1849-1852 | Jas. H. Worman, . . 1872-1876
Jabez Brooks, . 1850-1851 | T. Martin Town, —. 1874-1876
H. A. Jones, v, 1854-1889; D. M. Hyde, .  . 1874-1878
Henry Pomeroy, . . 1858-1863] Herbert Perkins, . . 1877-1879
QO. W. Powers, 1858-1860} C. A. Perkins, . . . 1879-1881
Ernst Pletschke, 1858-1860) N. M. Wheeler,. —. 1879-1885
J. F. Kellogg, . - 1863-1867 | Henry Lummis, 7,. 1885-1889
J. E. Davies, . . 1865-1867) F. Cramer,i, —. 1886-1889

J.C. Foye, r,. 1867-1889 | W. Underwood, 1, 1886-1889)
A. Schindelmeiser, 1867-1870 |

 

7, Still in service.
486

ae

PRECEPTRESSES.,

Miss Emelive M. Crocker, ah
L. Amelia Dayton, .........

Miss Mary Hastings, .....

Mrs. R. C. Newman Knox, .. ...-

Miss Cordelia Sherman, . :
Mrs. L.R. Beach, ... ...
Mrs. H. O. Knox (Nichols),
Miss Emma L. Knowls,

Miss Margaret J. Evans, .

Miss Louisa M. Hodgkins,. ......

Miss Hattie A. Conant,
Miss Mary E. Harriman,
Mrs. Ophelia Forward, .
Miss Angie V. Warren, .
Miss Grace M. Huntingt:n,
Miss Kate A. Evi rts, r,
OTHER SPECIAL WORK
David Brooks, agent,
J.S. Prescott, agent, ..-...-.
A. B. Randall, agent, .....
H. Requa, agent, St Sey Bh Bi a
Asa Wood, agent,... -
J. H. Jenne, agent, .
8. C. Thomas, agent, .
P.S. Bennett, agent, . .
M. Himebaugh, agent,
J. P. Roe, agent, .
A. A. Reed, agent, .. -
T. C. Willson, agent,r, .

GARRETT BIBLICAL INSTITUTE.

. Bannister, professor, 1858-1883.
M.
. 8. Carhart, professor Northwestern University, 1872.

S. Terry, r, professor, 1887-1889.

EVANSVILLE SEMINARY.

. A. Smith, principal, 1859.
. Colman, principal, 1863-1867.
. W. De La Mater, agent, 1863.

r, Still in service. |

APPENDICES TO PARTS [AND II.

» » 1849-1851
» « 1852-1854
Mrs. Electa A. Blair, .. . 3, a as

1855-1857
1858-1859
1861-1863
1863-1864
1864-1865
1865-1868

. 1868-1870

1870-1874
1870-18743
1874-1875

. 1876-1877
. 1877-1880
- 1880-1882

1882-1885
1886-1889

. . 1851-1853
- 1853-1856

1853
1853
1853
1856

- 1857-1861

1861-1863

. 1864-1867

1871-1873

. 1873-1875

1888-1889
SPECIAL WORK. 487

I, H. Hammond, principal, 1867.
A. M. Stephens, principal of Waterloo Academy in 1867.
C. N. Stowers, of Whitewater Collegiate Institute in 1875.
American Bible Society.
G. H. Fox, agent, 1859.
L, Salisbury, agent, 1864.
E. P. Beecher, agent, 1866-1869.
Charles Smith, agent, 1866-1871.
David Lewis, agent, 1866.
H. W. Frink, agent, 1866-1877.
S. Reynolds, district superintendent, 1867-1876.
A. J. Mead, r, district superintendent, 1883-1889.
W. J. Olmstead, agent, 1870-1872.
George Fellows, agent, 1872-1873.
Bethel, or Seaman’s Friend Work.
D. W. Couch, 1864.
M. Himebaugb, superintendent in 1867, and from 1874 to 1879.
A. H. Walter, chaplain, 1868.
C. G. Lathrop, 1869-1872.
J. O. Hazleton, 1879.
Chaplainctes In the Army.
C. D. Pillsbury, 1862.
J. M. Walker, 1864.
D. O. Jones, 1864.
S. L. Brown, 1861.
H. C. Tilton, a part of the interim of the Conferences of 1861
and 1862.
Foreign Mission-work.
I. L. Hauser, India, 1860-1864.
L. N. Wheeler, China, 1865-1873; also, 1881-1883.
A. E. Wanlass, Bulgaria, 1868-1871.
C. Willerup, Norway, 1856-1875.

Between these two dates fourteen more were appointed,
namely: M. Hensen, A. Oleson, Peter Oleson, C. Rund, Ole
Oleson, N. F. Carstensen, C. L. Carlberg, F. Ring, J. Bakke,
N. Jonasen, Hans P. Bergh, B. Jorgensen, B. Larressen, Lars
Doblong. In 1876 they were all transferred to the newly-
formed Norway Confer: nce.

Karl Schon, M. Nilson, Jeno Peterson, and J. J, Christen-
sen, missionaries to Denmark in 1873.

r, Still in service.
488 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

In 1881, Justus H. Nelson and John R. Nelson were ap-
pointed missionaries to South America, J. E. Wright to Cen-
tral America, and J. J. Garvin to Montana.

In 1883, E. B. L. Elder was appointed to Montana, Victor
Charroin and E. B. Cummings to Black Hills, and T. H. Walker
to Dakota.

In 1886, H. O. Cady, missionary to Central China.

Miscellaneous.

J. M. Walker was temperance agent in 1869, and agent of
the Madison Cburch in 1870.

S. Fallows was State Superintendent of Public Instruction
from 1870 to 1874.

J. E. Gilbert, Superintendent of Sunday-school Institute,
in 1871.

R. Cooley, temperance agent, in 1875.

C. O. Treider, editor of Den Christliche Talemand (Christian
Advocate), from 1877 to 1879.

W. P. Stowe, r, agent of Western Book Concern, from 1880
to 1889.

Se

APPENDIX G.

SPECIAL SERMONS.

Missionary.

The General Conierence of 1852 ordered the bishops to
appoint, at each Annual Conference, one of its members to
preach a missionary sermon at its next session. This table
shows the appointees each year.

1852. C. Hobart. | 1862. R. Z. Mason.
1853. I. M. Leihy. | 1863. C. D. Pillsbury.
1854. | 1864. S. Fallows.
18565. 1865. G. M. Steele.
1856. Win. McDonald. 1866. H. C. Tilton.
1857. 1867. G. C. Haddock.
1858. I. Searls. 1868. S. Smith.
1859. P. S. Bennett (First Con- | 1869. W. P. Stowe.
ference). 1870. 0. J. Cowles.
1859. L. L. Knox (Second Con- | 1871.
ference). 1872. O. B. Thayer.
1860. 1873. J. W. Carhart.

1861. 1874. C. N. Stowers.

». Still in the same position.
1875.
1876.
1877.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.

DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCES. 489

L. N. Wheeler. 1883. S. Jolliffe.

G. A. Smith. 1884. C. M. Heard.

G. C. Haddock. 1885. A. E. Wanlass.
F. S. Stein. 1886. W. B. Robinson.
H. Colman. 1887. G. H. Trever.
Thos. Clithero. 1888. Perry Miller.

J. L. Hewitt. 1889. T. DeWitt Peake.
I. 8. Leavitt.

Other Special Sermons

Ordered from time to time as indicated below:
1850. W. H. Sampson, Conference sermon.
1852. E. Yocum, Christian Perfection.

1863. Geo. Fellows, Bible Cause.
1864. H. Bannister, Centenary of Methodism.
1867. P. B. Pease, Conference sermon.

The following, to 1875 inclusive, are on

1863.

1864.
1866.
1867.
1868.
1869.

1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.

1887.
1888.

C.

Py

Education.

8. Fallows. 1870. C. E. Carpenter.
1871.
G. M. Steele. 1872. G. C. Haddock.
H. Colman. 1873. W. W. Case.
C. N. Stowers. 1874. A. C. Higgins.
G. A. England. 1875. 8. N. Griffith.
Conference Sermons.
H. Bannister. 1883. Thos. Clithero.
T. C. Willson. 1884. John Faville.
P.S. Bennett. 1885. F. L. Whorton.
D. J. Holmes. 1886, J. V. Trenery.
H. 8S. Richardson.

Semi-Centennial Sermons.

P. S. Bennett. 1889. C. D. Pillsbury.
M. Himebaugh.

 

°

 

APPENDIX H.

DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCES.
1852.

Hobart, W. H. Sampson, H. Summers.
1856.
8. Bennett, I. M. Leihy, Edward Cook, Elmore Yocum,

Chauncey Hobart.

41
490 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

1860.
W. G. Miller, I.M. Leihy, S. C. Thomas, Edward Cook,
Philo 8. Bennett.
1864.

H. Bannister, 8. C. Thomas, C. D. Pillsbury, Matthias Hime-

baugh. Reserves—J. H. Jenne, W. G. Miller.
1868.

G. M. Steele, W. G. Miller, S. Fallows, Henry Bannister,
C. D. Pillsbury. Reserves—S. C. Thomas, Jos. Anderson, E. 8.
Grumley.

1872.

This year marks the era when laymen were admitted to
our General Conference. Hereafter, therefore, delegates-elect
will be designated as Ctrrican and Lay.

CireRicat—G. M. Steele, P. B. Pease, Henry Bannister, C. D.
Pillsbury, W. G. Miller. Reserves—S. Fallows, W. H. Sampson,
W. P. Stowe.

Lay—R. P. Elmore, Wm. P. Lyon. Reserves—B. Kingsbury,
H. A. Jones.

1876.

CLEericaL—G. M. Steele, W. P. Stowe, Henry Colman, J. M.
Walker.

Lay—Daniel Mowe, Edwin Hyde. Reserves—Geo. Rogers,
M. D. Moore.

1880.

CuirericaAL—L. N. Wheeler, W. P. Stowe, O. J. Cowles, J. H.
Johnson, Reserves—A. J. Mead, H. Colman.

Lay—R. MeMillen, Z. P. Burdick. Reserves—E. L. Grant,
R. P. Elmore.

1884.

CiericaL—W. P. Stowe, 8. Halsey, Joseph Anderson, J. M.
Walker. Reserves—A. J. Mead, Thos. Clithero.

Lay—Geo. Foster, M. D. Moore. Reservee—H. 8. Alban,
8. C. Blake.

1888.

CiericaL—B. P. Raymond, W. P. Stowe, Sabin Halsey,
Thos. Clithero. Reserves—G. W. Wells, I. S. Leavitt.

Lay—Geo. Foster, E.{L. Paine.* Reserves—Mrs. L. 8. Col-
man, J. H. Whorton.

* The oldest member of the body—over ninety years old.
ERECTION OF CHURCH EDIFICES. 491

APPENDIX I.
DATES OF THE ERECTION OF CHURCH EDIFICES.

It has been exceedingly difficult to secure accuracy in this
table. In some instances churches are erected in places not
indicated by the name of the pastoral charge; then sometimes
the name of a charge is changed, and not unfrequently a place
containing a church is transferred to some other charge. It is
believed, however, that few mistakes have been made.

The reader may remember that in 1832 a log building
was erected near Kaukauna for school and Church purposes,
in connection with the Indian Mission. Also that a small log
structure at Platteville, formerly used as a court-room by
Judge Rountree, was converted into a place of worship late in
1833, and thus used till the next year, when it was succeeded
by a larger one designed for a school-house as well as Church
services. These are not indicated in the following table.

In 1850 we commenced to publish our Conference Minutes.
At that time 36 church edifices were reported by districts, as
follows: Platteville District, 16, Minnesota District, 1; Fond
du Lac District, 4; Milwaukee District,6; and Racine Dis-
trict, 9. These seem to have been in the following named
places. The dates at the left indicate the close of the Confer-
ence year during which they were erected. A star indicates
that the time of the erection of the church there is unknown,
though prior to 1850.

1837. Green Bay, Platteville.

1840. Oneida, Southport (now Kenosha), Kellogg’s Corners (in
Sylvania Circuit).

1841. Milwaukee (now Grand Avenue), Waukesha, Mineral
Point.

1844. Racine.

1846. Beaver Dam (?), Watertown (?).

1847. Evansville (in Union Circuit).

1848. Whitewater, Walker’s Point (now Asbury, Milwaukee),
Janesville.

1850. Madison, Fort Atkinson (in Aztalan Circuit), Beloit,
Dartford, St. Paul, Hazel Green, East Troy,* Potosi,*
Franklin,* Monroe,* Dodgeville,* Hamilton Grove,*
Council Hill, eight.*
492 APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

There is less doubt about the following as they were reported
at the Conferences held the years indicated by the dates:
1851. Elk Grove, Adams, Fall River, Oshkosh, Brothertown,

Sheboygan, Palmyra (?), Lodi, Oconomowoc, Spring
Valley, Milton, Little Prairie.

1852. Lynden, Peddler’s Creek, Lancaster, Baraboo, Waupaca,
Fond du Lac (two), Sheboygan Falls, Cambridge (Nor-
wegian Church, Grafton, Bristol.

1853. Shullsburg, Patch Grove, Prairie du Chien, Fayette, St.
Anthony’s Falls, Plover, Cascade, Omro.

1854. Jackson Street, Milwaukee; West Bend, South Grove,
Appleton, Waupun, Berlin, Manitowoc.

1855. Lake Mills, Hebron, Brookfield, Monticello, Sun Prairie,
Green Bush, Fox Lake, La Crosse.

1856. Port Washington, Geneva, Horicon, Ripon, Columbus,
Menasha, Two Rivers.

1857-1858. No reports in the Minutes. Hence, some of those
reported in 1859 may have been erected in these years.

1859. Delavan, Sharon, Allen’s Grove, Clinton, Heart Prairie,
Emerald Grove, Utter’s Corners, Stoughton, Shopiere,
Lowell, Burnett, Brandon, Princeton, Byron, Ros-
endale, Menomonee Falls, Winneconne, Wausau,
Weyauwega, Summerfield (Milwaukee), successor to
Jackson Street Church.

1860. West Granville, Neosho, Hartford, Waterloo, De Pere,
Stevens’ Point, Almond, Crystal Lake.

1861. New Berlin, Lyons, Orfordville, Door Creek, Portland,
Randolph, Vinland.

1862. Rome, Wyocena, Maple Grove, Union Grove.

1863. Chilton, North Vinland, Wautoma.

1864. Clinton, Edgerton, Iron Ridge, Neenah, Nekimi, Amherst,

1865. Geneva, Markesan.

1866. Cascade, Oconto.

1867. Cottage Grove, Jefferson, Kingston, Sturgeon Bay, Grand
Rapids, Waukau, Liberty Prairie, Zion, Ogdensburg,
Northport, Royalton.

1868. Johnston’s Creek, Empire, Shawano.

1869. Marshall, Avon, Pardeeville, Alto, Ogdensburg, Eureka,
Bay View, Oshkosh (Second Church), Northport.

1870. Wauwatosa, East Granville, McFarlane, Hingbam,
Croghville, Osborne, Marinette, Court Street (Janes-
ville).

1871. Pewaukee, Fort Howard, Royalton.
1872.
1873.
1874,
1875.

1876.
1878.
1879.
1880.
1881.
1882.

1883.
1884.

1887.
1888.
1889.

ERECTION OF CHURCH EDIFICES. 493

West Bend, Green Lake.

Waterford.

Ashland, Oakland, Rural.

Algoma Street (Oshkosh), Suamico, Oconto Falls, Graves-
ville, Auroraville, Hortonville.

Franksville, Medina.

Peshtigo.

Medtord, Spencer.

Campbellsport, Mackford, Jenne (now Merrill).

Wrightstown, Clintonville, New London.

Union Church (Racine), Black Creek, Pittsfield, Pen-
saukee.

London, or Oak Center.

Washington Avenue (Milwaukee), Antigo, Maniwa,
Hutchins.

Kaukauna, Sherman Street (Milwaukee).

Iola, Rhinelander.

Simeo, Trinity (Bay View.)
494

SESSIONS OF THE WISCONSIN CONFERENC

APPENDICES TO PARTS I AND II.

APPENDIX J.

 

 

 

E

2

a

5

E

TIME. PLACE. BIsHoP.| SECRETARY. &
1848—July 12.|Southport... P.M. Mills .......

1849—July 17.
1850—June 26
1851 -June 25

1852—Sept. 1..
1853— Aug. 31.
1854—Aug. 30.
1855—Aug. 29.
1856—Sept. 17
1857—Aug. 20.
1858— May 11

1859—Apr. 20.
1859—Oct. 13.
1860—Sept. 26

 

 

 

1861—Sept. 17/Fond du Lac.
1862—Oct. 6. . |Kenosha ....
1868—Oct. 6....] Waukesha.
1864— Oct. 6... |Oshkosh...
1865—Oct. 6,...| Milwaukee.
1866—Sept. 6..}Ripon .......
1867—Oct. 2....|Beaver Dam .
1868—Oct. 1. . |Racine.....
1869—Sept. 24 Appleton
1870—Oct. 12.. |Janesville..
1871—Oct. 11...| Milwaukee.
1872—Oct. 9..../Fond du Lac.
1873—(ct. 15.. | Whitewater.
1874—Oct. 7....]Oshkosh...
1875—Oct. 13.. |Racine..
1876—Oct. 4....| Waupaca.
1877—Oct. 14...) Waupun .
1878—Oct. 1... |Fort Atkinson
1879—Oct. 2....|Milwaukee.
1880—Oct. 13... Appleton...

1881—Sept. ot
1882—Sept. 28
1883—Oct. 3...

 

1888—Sept. 26
1889—Sept. 25

. | Waukesha .

Platteville.
Beloit... ...
Waukesha.
Fond du Lac.
Barabvo ....
Janesville
Racine..
Appleto
Milwaukee.
Beloit... ....
Sheboygan F
Whitewater
Janesville .

alte Ei

 
 
  
 
  
 
  
   
     
  

Whitewater.
Fond du La
Milwaukee.
Oshkosh .

Berlin ....

   
       
 
 
  

Wa mete

 

 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 

Simpson
Haven ...
Merrill
Foster.
Wiley...
Bowman
Foster...
Andrews
Harris ka?

Hurst....
Mallalieu
Bowman
Merrill...
Fowler...
Andrews

 

Beaver Dam ......

 

 

Newman

Hamline

. {5. W. Ford.

|S. Fallows...

. |S. Fallows...

.|H. Colman.
.|H. Colman.

-|H. Colman

J. H. Sampson
J. H. Wilson.....
W. H. Sampson
W.H.S

W. H. Sampson

W.H. Sampson
W.G. Miller.
W.G. Miller
5. W. Ford.
8S. W. Ford.
8. W. Ford.

8. Fallow:
S. Fallow:
3. Fallow!

..{S8. Fallows..

s. Fallows..
5. Fallows.

8. Fallows.
. Fallows...

H. Colman
H. Colman
H. Colman.

H. Colman
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Sabin Halsey
Sabin Halsey
Sabin Halsey...
R. W. Bosworth
A. P. Haylett..
J. Schneider

 

  

W. H. Sampson..
W. H. Sampson..

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»

 
APPENDICES
TO
WEST WISCONSIN AND NORTHWEST WIS-
CONSIN CONFERENCES.

+

 

 

NOTE.—All the references to Appendices in Part III re-
late to the above Conferences.

 

APPENDIX A.

NUMBER OF MEMBERS, PREACHERS, AND PASTORAL
CHARGES EACH YEAR.

WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR. z ee
3 Pie lagi |e | #2 | 3" ee

& 4 Z 2 2 abe : oa

: go fee Pac ee | Pee yi [ig

1856, . 4,926) 823) 129| 67 ] 4 4,998} 71) 10
1857, . 5,480} 1,378] 133} 84). 4 5,568] 82) 5
1858, . . 6,161] 3,343) 156} 87 1 4 6,263 86} 10
1859, . 7,489} 1,911) 165} 94) 1 4 7,583) 93) 12
1860,# 7'158| 1'399| 139| 69]. .| 5| 7/232) 79] 10
1861, . 7,107; 925) 141) 67 10 7,184, 77) 13
1862, - 6,958} 821] 131| 68). . 7 7,033} 70) 4
1863, 6,236| 1,267/ 138; 64|. .| 8| 6,308) 67) 4
1864,. .| 6,829| 669] 140] 64. .| 5] 6,898} 72/10
1865, « 6,199] 743/115) 70; 3| 9| 6,281| 73] 6
1866,. .|  6,337| 1,065] 135) 63] 4) 14/ 6,428, 71] 8
1867, . 6,932) 1,268) 148/ 68) 3) 13 7,016} 76) 8
1868,f 10,514} 1,653} 209) 100 2} 16) 10,632) 117) 21
1869, . 10,481} 1,785} 185; 108 5} 12) 10,556) 111); 10
1870,. .| 11,065] 1,658] 200] 108) 7} 10} 11,190) 117) 11
1871, . 10,594} 1,360) 186) 111 3; 8}: 10,716) 118 7
1872, 10,623) 1,583) 184) 113 4 9} 10,749} 124) 18
1878, . 10,638) 1,063] 169) 117 6} 10; 10,771) 122 9
1874,. . 11,178] 1,309! 183] 114 31 14) 11,309) 119! 11
1875,. .| 10,743] 13141] 192] 118] 5] 11| 10,877) 126) 7
1876, . 11,018} 1,803) 173) 123} 8} 12) 11,161} 121 3
1877,. .| 12,094] 1,411] 170/ 121) 7] 11] 12,233] 122) 7
13} 18! 12,040; 117] 12

1878,. .| 11,901! 1,168] 125] 113

* Northwest Wisconsin Conference organized.
+ Northwest Wisconsin Conference merged in West Wisconsin.
498

APPENDICES TO PART III.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

 

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1879,. .| 11,812] 1,163} 142) 115) 12) 14] 11,953} 120] 7

1880, .| 11,544) 906] 138} 114) 16] 14) 11,688} 124] 12

1881, .| 11,188} 716) 131] 105} 14} 15| 11,272} 121] 15

1882,. .| 10,965) 624) 120) 105! 12) 13) 11,092) 130] 20

1883, .| 10,240] 585) 118) 110} 8] 12/ 10,370; 125) 14

1884,. .] 10,702} 910] 123) 109} 10) 13) 10,844) 131) 25

1885,. .| 10,835} 929) 112} 109} 14] 16! 10,974] 129] 25

1886, .| 11,703] 1,024) 111) 102} 13) 18] 11,836} 130| 27

1887,. .| 12,037} 1,167] 108] 103} 14] 17] 12,171} 138] 33

1888,. .| 12,494] 1,668] 108] 114) 16] 18} 12,642} 145] 38

1889,. .| 18,513! 1,967] 107| 122] 12] 19] 13,666] 144| 32

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

1860,. . 1,771) 520) 20) 38). .) 2 1,811) 42) 6

1861,.. 2,027/ 385} 31) 33]. 3] 2,063) 37] «6

1862,.. 1,939} 300} 40) 36] . 3) 1,978) 35) 5

1863, 2,132) 369} 38) 34). .| 4) 2,170] 37] 4

1864,. . 2,227] 381] 32) Qs}. . 3; 2,258] 36) 9

1865,. . 2,260| 445} 41) 31/ 4] 2/ 2,298] 38] 8

1866,.. 2,573) 597/ 39) 33) 3) 4! 2,613] 43] 14

1867,. . 2,796] 555! 45 34/ 2] 4| 2,836] 46] 11

APPENDIX B.
BENEVOLENCES.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

ow 5 we! of} BI, =| 5 °

g Pele |: Si 2e/ee| 2) ee

g)f ji jee|s2) "| 3
1856,  |$1,115|$153] $48] $34/$113
1857, 999| 196) 84) 12) 142
1858,#- | 662) 79) 124) 1) 2
1859, - | 843} 80) 396) 12) 40
1860,t- | 1,270) 40) 132} 6] 57
1861, - | 2,094] 69} 86] 40! 62

* This Conference year was only six months. |
+The Northwest Wisconsin Conference organized this year.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BENEVOLENCES. 499
a wo 3 ~ =
B of = x =i = at
fee] © = aa se | =2
year | B [EE] 2 | ; g= |: 2 | ou
: |B8] & ey ese
ce ere ee eae
1862, + /$1,704! $71] $157] $32) $65
1863, - | 2727! 144] 105] 74] 132
1864, - | 2,812] 169] 370] 77| 92
1865, | 2,904] 191] 492] 65) 86 ;
1866, 3,849] 197] 770] 58] 112/8230
1867, - | 3,078] 468/1,330} 86] 167] 958] .
1868, - | 4,846] 737] 1,552] 135} 241! 390) $s9
1869, | 4,867] 534] 1,338! 95] 179] 293) 26
1870, 3,517} 4621 1,021) 89) 192] 332] 38). . ns
1871, | 3,461} 518] 1,139] 78 153] 309} 46] $64 $18
1872, 3,034) 514 77; 129] 306} 120] 54 32
1873, | 3.282} 599 74] 95| 279} 93| 78 37
174, 2,809] 461 64, 112) 239) 97] 151). 67
1875, - | 3,326] 518) . | 66] 103, 382/ 187) 102 40
1876, | 2,502] 4085] . .| 55} 75 310} 169) 142 58
1877, + | 2,876] 492/230) 68} 80! 437) 255) 160 2
1878, 2,327| 433) 97/ 61, 91; 310] 341) 193 51
1879, 2,704] 450) 75] 63) 75) 358, 240 196 124].
1880, 2,544, 528) 77) 70 124] 421] 268! 299 727| $789
1881, - | 3,172) 497] 93/76; 106) 406) 287] 268 189) 681
1882, | 3,239] 539} 132) 79) 93, 417, 292) 485 239] 251
1883, | 3,382) 518) 111) 70} 81: 387) 283] 479) | 284] 413
1884, 2,956) 540| 119| 75 75) 334] 304) 458| $7) 518] 141
1885, 3,354] 708] 95] 63, 82, 323) 846] 430/ 9) 509/1,742
1886, 3.579] 715) 104} 80 106: 379! 565] 624] 88) 516|1,018
1887, | 4,326) 772/ 151] 86 113! 438] 475! 499} 349) 504/1,424
1888, 4,444) 824, 177] 100, 122! 438] 532| 623) 823] 574] 611
1889, - | 5,565! 938) 157] 147) 172: 610) 692! 844] 605] 518] 863
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.
1860, 98) 1 ees
1861, 181} 6 30 9 25
1862, 176} Of 8} 2 1s 2
1863, 459) 121 18 14° 56, | |
1864, 419} 28) 36 36 56 |
1865, 850, 21] 35 16 57...)
1866, 953; 64) 531 45 96) 152].
1867. 7741 27| 597 29 45) 149] 18]. . ais

 

 

* The Northwest Wisconsin Conferenee merged this year in this Con-

ference.
500

NUMBER OF CHURCH EDIFICES, VALUATION ;

APPENDICES TO PART IT].

APPENDIX C.

Parsonages, Valuation; Number of Sunday-schools, Officers

WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

and Teachers, Scholars and Conversions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“STOTSIOAUO;)

 

»
»

127
197

384
527
455
534
375
417
427
585
708
459

YEAR. dS 5 g 5 be BS =

a7 S 5 Bee | ee a

e 5 3 5 SZ) #8 :

: ; : ; Be | be
1856, 36}. 2. | 19)... © | 118) 981) 4,662
1857, 37| $41,970] 29) $12,890] 142/1,188] 6,054
1858, 42) 55,700} 32} 13,950) 151) 1,274) 5,713
1859, 47| 70,350] 34| 15,400} 226)1,731) 7,315
1860, 46} 62,925) 32) 18,400) 194/1,748) 8,274
1861, 59) 75,150| 31} 12,725) 186)1,849} 8,244
1862, 59| 71,475] 32) 13,175] 190/1,766] 8,819
1863, 68| 83,900] 35! 14,380] 177/1,670| 8,782
1864, 78} 107,100] 36) 14,975} 192/1,822) 10,008]. .
1865, 71) 101,670] 36] 16,725] 152/1,519] 8,026
1866, 83] 128,025] 43]/ 22,350} 168] 1,828] 10,291]. .
1867, . . .| 86] 161,650] 45) 28,675) 214}2,120; 11,399] .
1868,* 125] 270,250] 72] 52,575] 327)2,907| 16,194
1869, 126] 295,111] 70] 57,300) 291]2,766) 15,066
1870, 137| 336,325) 71] 57,710) 299|2,798| 15,86
1871, . | 137] 340,420) 70) 55,525} 272)/2,576) 15,760
1872, 1373] 383,560| 70| 52,800) 280/2,512| 14,782
1873, 139! 361,950] 70| 59,100) 275) 2,364) 14,776
1874, 170} 408,400] 76| 58,800} 312) 2,784) 16,720
1875, 177| 439,005] 79) 63,200) 284/ 2,493) 16,009
1876, 182) 457,876) 81] 63,577} 305) 2,520) 15,262
1877, 187| 461,445) 85] 70,995} 314] 2,696) 17,056
1878, 182| 468,650] 83/ 64,070} 293]2,582] 15,964
1879, 183] 445,200) 81} 62,603} 304) 2,629) 15,675) .
1880, 192} 426,725] 84| 64,790) 270) 2,355; 14,089) . .
1881, 200) 442,175} 84} 68,065) 276) 2,293] 14,082). .
1882, 200| 446,725} 81) 71,825) 253/2,210| 14,173
1883, 206} 464,145] 82] 80,725) 224) 2,023) 12,613]. .
1884, 216] 483,430) 87! 80,050} 256) 2,257} 14,259) .
1885, 220} 492,313) 89) 84,525) 255)2,309) 14,783).
1886, . . | 228] 501,835) 88} 84,750) 278) 2,361) 15,274! .
1887, . |2263| 533,025} 89) 91,465) 284) 2,478) 16,807| .
1888, 231| 541,730; 91) 94,700) 286/ 2,668 17,430]. .
1889, 243) 560,375) 97! 104,654! 2981 2,687! 19,2101. .

* Northwest Wisconsin merged in this.
CHURCH EDIFICES—NAMES OF PREACHERS. 501

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

 

 

 

° < y 4 z ° p °

: B 1G) 8 (|3e) ae] F | s

i : ‘ 3 ay | ia i f
1860, ... 7 $14,200 5} $1,700; 69} 433] 1,918) 26
1861, aod 10) 13,600) 15 4,375} 96) 600} 2,578) 30
1862, ... 1] 11,950) 11 3,300) 105} 710} 3,064) 36
1863, . 13} 16,575) 12) 4,050] 99] 645) 3,060) 40
1864, 5 14} 18,850) 15 5,370} 97) 628] 3,204; 55
1865, . 15} = 23,050) 15 6,700} 89} 647; 3,176] 60
1866, .. 16} 33,450) 17 6,800} 108) 789} 4,079). .
1867, ... 25) 54,700! 21 11,450! 94. 8481 38,8741 91

 

APPENDIX D.

NAMES OF PREACHERS FIRST AND LAST APPEARING
IN THE CONFERENCE MINUTES.

The left-hand date shows when the relation commenced,
the right-hand date when it ceased; also the number of years
effective as far as it could be ascertained prior to his coming
among us, with the number of years he has since been effect-
ive, supernumerary, superannuated, or presiding elder. When
no date appears on the right of the name, the person is still
connected with the Conference. The letter / opposite the
name and date indicates that he located that year, d that he
died, ¢ that he was transferred to some other Conference,
e that he was expelled, w that he withdrew from the Confer-
ence and connection, r that he was removed from our bounds
by Conference division. If a date appears on the right of a
name, but no letter, the person was then discontinued.

WEST WISCONSIN AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN

 

 

 

 

 

CONFERENCES.
it lai Leet
$22 |G22 |Fe8
YEAR. NAME. = S 25 2 gs” Year.

REE |EIE |e o

Pee ee es
1856 |Alfred Brunson, 14] 23] = 14} 1883, d.
“ |Joel Brown, 9 : 1868, /.
“ \John Bean,. . 14} 1880, d.
“« |W. H. Bunee, - is 2 1858, 1.
“ \Edwin Buck,.... . 11 1866, w.

 
502

APPENDICES TO PART III.

 

 

m ee ey bt] ico
oe 4 oe ae” agg AR,
; 3h YEAR. Name. 78 Ee el 35 YEAR
. . | 1856 |\John Blackhurst, 4 - | 1859, d.
10 «JR. W. Barnes, ] 9 1} 1865, 7.
7 “ !Nelson Butler, 5 12 38 - | 1870, e.
“J. Burlinghame,... . 2 - | 1858.
ss “ \J. C. Brainerd, 12 4 » | 1874, t.
7 “ \E.S. Bunce, ... . 22 J - | 1878, ¢
3 “|M. Bennett, . . 8 7 3] 1870, w.
NO GOOky sane oa ee 2 34 ‘ ee eset
“lA. Callender,. . . 1 1] 1857, ¢.
1 ““  \M. Crownover, ’ 2 | 1858.
2 “1A. G. Cooley, . 10 - | 1867, e.
4 “\L. M. Cochran, ... . Blemee G - | 1859, 2.
4 “|Robert Delap,..  . - 9) 10 - | 1871, 7.
4 “|W. F. Delap,... - 33). Al es
2 “|Samuel Dodge, iy. . - | 1866, d.
5 “ IR. Dudgeon, es 23) «11 Sloe ees
1 “\R, Fancher, .. . - 16 ] - | 1872, #.
ae “  |Seth W. Ford, : 1 »| 1857, t.
2 “ IR. Gould, grat 10) 22) . .| 1887, d.
12 “yw. B. Hazletine, 26 7 4) 1888, d.
he ‘1M. Himebaugh, 4 : 4) 1859, t.
1 “ |Z. S. Hurd, . : 12 1 - | 1869, 7.
e 4 “ |Jas. Hightshoe, . 8) 20 - | 1886, d,
1 “ !C. P. Hackney, .. . 23} = 10 Ay eg he
es “ |G. Hartshorn,... . 2 s - | 1858.
3 “|W. Harvey,..... 13 : - | 1869, 7.
os “ (Wm Haw,.... 33 : 10) 1888, d.
aes “JE. C.Jones,..  . 4 5] > 4] 1864, w.
#18 “ —|O. B. Knudson,... . 3 - | 1864, ¢.
ae “ |J. S. Lake, 16 . 1872, 1.
2 “ IR. Langley, . . 15 7 1874, d.
6 “ \Jas. Lawson, 34 : Bleed
rae “Wm. Mullen, . 7 8 - | 1866, ¢.
5 ““!D. McIndoe, ... . 5} 10 - | 1871, 1.
co “  \J. W. Miller,. . =. 6 3) 1861, 7.
8 “JA. MeWright,... . . 5 -| 1861, 7
#9 « \John Murrish, ‘ 8 - | 1862, 7.
ee “IN. Mayne, ....-- 5 : - | 1860, 7.
9 “© /W. M. Osborne,. . . 10 1 1} 1866, t.
re “Joseph Odgers, . . 6 - | 1862, t.
Ri Page, wae es 1 : . | 1856.
4 “ \J.T. Pryor,....+- 20 8 4) 1883, d.
2 “ |Harvéey Palmer,. . 7 : 1862, q
EG “ 1J.S. Prescott,. .-.. 1 1857, 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

NAMES OF PREACHERS. 503
ead | ap le ie == sy
: sh YEAR. NAME. Dx & BE on : 38 Yar.
ies ze| 2 3|i BS
i as 43| 89flige
8 | 1856 |Jesse Pardun,...  . 1 ] 1858, 7.
a ‘* lJohn Quigley,. .. . - 1 1 1858, 1.
4 “« \E. B. Russell,. . . . - 28 1 me ia SS
1 « IR Robotham,.... . 74 1867, 7.
2 “ . \Jas. Sims, ‘ : 34). aa ey
39 “« /W. Summersides, - 8 5 1868, d.
“ \I. M.Stagg,. 2... 1 d 1857, 7.
“« \E. H. Sackett, . 8 15 - | 1874, 7.
‘ “ 1A.G. Smith, ..... 1 . | 1856.
ar “« lJ.C.Spellum,.... . 4 - | 1860, t.
tL: “ JH. H. Smith, . . 6 -| 1861, 7.
5 “ JE. Tasker, . .. +: 26 4) 1880, d.
Rte “ \James Temby : 6 3 - | 1864, 1.
ae ‘“* \Isaac Trotter,....- - 3 : 1859, 7.
5 “|W. H. Thompson. . - 1} 32 - | 1888, d.
ae “ A. H. Walter, . 11 . 7| 1866, t.
5 “ \Henry Wood, . 2 6 - | 1863, 7.
14 “ 10, E. Wyrich, . 8 - | 1863, d.
5 «| M. Wells, . 19, 5]. | 1888, @.
1 ‘* |Nelson Wheeler, 4 - | 1859, e.
25 “ IW. Wilcox, - 9 11| 1864, d.
10 “ RR. Wood,. We 3] 1863, 7.
23 “ |7. L. Williams 7 20 + | 1881, d.
‘ 1857 |R. Burge,. . - Ti - | 1864, 7.
“J.B. Bachman, . 31 2 as
“ |@.T. Clifton,..... 1 : 1858.
“ “\F. Carver, ze 1 1858.
“ \A. Foster, . : 4 1860, ft.
“ |J RE. Fiteh,. . . . 2 1859.
“IR. M. Delap, . - - 6 1863, 7.
“ \John Holt, . . - 33 ideas
“ \C..C. Holcomb, 10 1866, 7.
“A. V. House, 1 1858.
“ \R. Z. Mason ihe 4 . 1860, ¢.
‘“ |\Thos. Mason,. ...- .- 5 : 1861, 7.
“« 1G. W. Nuzum, ee 19 9 Spears
“ lJohn Nolan... . . a). ie 1860, 7.
“|W. Owen,. : 8} 25 Me he
“ “I. E. Springer, 7 : 1873, ¢.
“ JA. L. Thurston, - 3 7 1859, e.
“ lH. C. Wood, - - 5 . 1861, 7.
4 “ lJ. J. Walker, de +k 17 9) . | 1883, 7.
20 “ Elmore Yocum,.. .- - 28 4) 4s
e 4 “(John Knibbs,. . .- - 27 1. 1884, d.

 

 

 

 

 

 
504

APPENDICES TO PART III.

 

 

~ aS | pcaia “
2" | year. Name. : oe ae” Sigg YEAR.
se “Bleae |i os
28 oa lB a |! BS
dg aa |seF li ah
5 | 1858 |S. Anderson, ..... 3 1860, d.
-_ «\8. D. Bassenger, . . 7 1864, d.
3 “A. C. Barnes, . 1 1859.
z “ |Henry Coleman, . 1 1859, ¢.
‘ “ /T. C. Clendening,. . . 4 1861, J.
: “  }A. Cedarholm, 10 ; 1867, d.
2 “«  \M. Dinsdale, 18} 18 sel aes cae
“Samuel Fallows, . AY Ge . | 1861, t.
; “IE. 8. Hougnayout 4 . - | 1861, 2.
6 “1A. Hall, 7 1 . | 1869, d.
7 * IPoS. Mather, ehh. 46 22 : 6) 1879, t
a “ IW. CG. McAllister, a. ] : - | 1859.
“ 1G. W. Peck,.. ... 1 5 1859.
es ‘““ |Peter Pearson, a4 9 1 1866, d.
peg “  \John M. Springer, .. - ih aM ee. 1864 d.
oe “« |J. D. Searles, 30 3 13} .
1 | “ JH. V. Train, oy 5 3 4 1862, 1.
ahs “ |D, Budlong,......- 3 2 : 1862; Le
27 | 1859 |J. C. Aspinwall,... . 19} 10 9} 1887, d.
i ‘|W. Barrett, Ae 7 - | 1866, 7.
os “  \w. A. Chambers,. . . 5 : 1863, ¢.
ee “|A. D. Chase, 4 7 1869, 1.
Bs “ TW. Carl, . . gq} ..) . .) 1862.
4 “ \T. C. Golden, 9 1 8) 1867, 1.
Bes ““ \A. Haagenson, 10). . - | 1869, &.
ae “J. E. Irish, 26 4 ily boas
ae * |Thos. Lawson, 24 6 :
se “ \John Medd, . 27 3 Bi ae ws as
a3 “ \Jacob Miller, 11 6 - | 1876, 7.
bs ‘“« |Lester Perkins, . 5}. . | 1864, 1.
aa “ |W. H. Palmer, . 10 1 - | 1874, d.
.. | © (JW. Scott, . 6. 4, .| . .| 1863, 2.
#3 “ |B. W. Smith, . . 4 ; . | 1862, 1.
£3 «1s. P. Waldron, 18 4 - | 1880, J.
ie “|Asa Wood, es dat SL Peg . | 1860, 2.
: “  )W. D. Attwater, . ; 25 4 2| 1888, t.
. . | 1860 |C. P. Argrelius,. .. . 3 3 1869, t.
e “ |John S. Anderson, 6 ; 1866, t.
aie ‘“ JH. H. Brakeman, 14). 1874) l.
fae “  !Wm. Cook,..... 22 4 ‘ ‘
é “ \A. W. Cummings, 17 4 ‘ ‘1881, t.
ah “ 1D. Clingman,.... .- 29 ‘ eis :
mors «|W. T. W. Cunningham, 6 2 5 1868, t.
9 “ |R.Cobban,.....-.- 5 4 3| 1870, d.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
NAMES OF PREACHERS. 505

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

as eh | tol we oF
i o| YE T i‘ a . s & 718 ve ris
58 YEAR. NAME, 8 BF s, : ge YEAR
zz ge |8 3): 6S
ae 83 | SSR iaa
2 | 1860 jJas. Cady, . 5 4 1868, d.
5 “  |J. L. Dyer, Les 1861,
“ \E. Doughty,. . s| 12 1880, d.
“1D. W. Downs, . it 1 : . | 1861.
“TI. M. Fullerton,. . . 929 9 7| 1889, d.
“|Nelson Green. . 1 : 1861, ¢.
“Jas. Gurley,.. 6... 2 g| . .| 1871, t
“  |Wm. Hamilton. ... 24 5 HB |e ee 3
“ |G. F. Hilton, re ting. 1 286
“ \E. S. Havens, . 14 1874, ¢.
“ /Thos. Harwood, . 6 1869, 4.
“ \0. C. Hickock, z 1 . . | 1861.
“ |Chauncey Hobart,.. . 4 2} 1864, t.
“|B. L. Jackson,.. .. . 13 3 . | 1876, e.
“A. T. Johnson, 2 1862.
“|W. McKinley, . rar 3 1863, ¢.
« | T Magill)... 3 || 1863, &
“J. B. Reynolds,. ... 13) « 4] 1874, ¢.
“« |Levi Shelly, . . 2 6). . | 1868, 4.
‘“‘ |Esdras Smith, . 6 . . | 1866, 6
« JAB. Smith... .. Gl at us | 166, &
“ |I. A. Sweatland, 9} 12) . . | 1880, d.
“ \M. Woodley, ... . 11] 12 |S ee «
“|S. M. Webster, ... . 3 1863, J.
1861 |Thos. Bintliff, ’ ; 1) <5 | Ge. | 1882.
“ |A. D. Cunningham, .| . . 2) . . | 1863, ¢.
‘“‘ \Harvey Fletcher, . . . 9 . | 1863.
“|John L. Farber, . 3 Sill ag 1864, 1.
“ |S. A. Hall, . 3 2 . | 1866, 2.
“|C. Steenson, 1 . .| 1862.
“ lJ. W. Stout,. .... 3 1864.
“|W. W. Wilde,.. . 3 1864, 7.
“|W. H. Brocksome,. . 6 1867, t.
“Stephen Adams,. . 1 1862, 1.
1862 |J.8. Akers,..  .. 5 1867, t.
“ |G. W. Carpenter,. —. 3 1865.
‘“( \H. Chadeayne, ... . 7 1870, ¢.
“|Jas. Evans, ..... 27 dig e dk
“  |E. E. Edwards,... . 1 ‘ . | 1863.
WP. Hill... : 7 2 e870,
‘“‘ \Samuel Harris, ... . 1 . |. . | 1863.
“  \J. T. Hofius, 4 1}. . | 1867, 2.
“ |A. B. Howe,. . 3 . . | 1865.
“|W. H. Kellogg, 16 4 .

42
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

506 APPENDICES TO PART III.
wd a
Ee ani gees
ga Oru loba lo a
sf YEAR. NAME. : 78 Ee rae YEAR.
Se BEETS |: BS
a4 4s |ee5li ae
1862 |Matthew Serin,. .. . 1 1) 1863.
1863 |G. L. Blessing, ..  . 1 . | 1864.
“10. Bushby,..  ... 13 1876, t.
“ JB. Collins, ..... 5} . . | . | | 1868.
“  \B.C. Hammond, . . . i) 3). «| 187], ¢.
“  |H. D. Jencks,. . : 2G | ap age aes aes Migrants uae
“« \J. W. Jobnson,.... Dh 8 1865.
“ |O. B. Kilbourn,. . . . 15} JO) « @ eee
© VG. Wi, Pike, 3 a 6 « % By esas 1868, 1
« /W.W. Smith,... . 6) . .| . . | 1869, 2
“Ww. W. Wheaton, . . . DG occ lft otarece-spunge ieee ae
“ 0. N. Whitney, . - 1 1]. .| 1865, 7.
. “ \A. Wheeler, .. ly]. .] . . | 1864, 4.
5 a TS; -Aldriehy oa qo a ae 3 7 1). .| 1871, 2.
1864 |S. S. Benedict,..... 25). erin e
“ |George Benham, . . 25) . . j
‘“ |Thos. Crouch,..  . . 19 Al cul a Ny Se
“  |E. McGinley, ... 20 2 . | 1886, d.
* 10. P. Peterson, 3 4). 4| 1868, t.
“ 1D. Staples, .. ... Bl -@ ¢| @ «1867, tc
1865 |Newell Austin, . 2 T| ace) @ oe] 1873. 2
“« \E. Arveson,. .... isan }S8 1865.
“10. Burnett,...  .. 11 1} . .| 1877, ¢.
“ 1G.W. Case... .  . 23 1 Blick
‘« N. Christopherson, . . 44. .] . .| 1869, t.
“ JAS. Davis,» 2... - D4 eels ae as
“ |F, W. Dighton, ‘ 6 4 . 1875, d.
* John H. Johnson,.. .- 4 1869, t.
“ |C. D. Pillsbury, aps 1 1865.
“«  |W.R. Sweat,..... 2) 3 al) i867.
“ |W.S. Taylor,.. .. 12 5] &| 1882,. t
«|W. J. Wilscn, . 4 .| . . | 1869, ¢.
“ /H.J.Walker,.. .. 9 1874, t.
“ |H. H. Gilliland,... . LUN ee ssc see BEG Ds
1866 |E. W. Allen, ..... 18 5 . | 1889, t.
“« |Darius Bresee, a's 2 F 1868.
«  )W.M. Brown, . 5 . | 1871, t.
« |/H. W. Bushnell, 23 3 Ale). a
«  |J. A. Gillespie, 6 1 1878, d.
‘« |Jas. Havens, "15 bs ae <
“PW. R. Irish, a 21 2 4s gs
« |Jas.T. Lewis,. ... 9 2) . .| 1877, ¢.
“ JR. Pengilly,...-.  . 23 él) oe ate oe ee
«“ |J. Thos. Pryor, Jr., . - 2 1868, 2.
NAMES OF PREACHERS. 507

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a Bey
3 mea
ei esas 2 Me .
(38 YEAR, NAME, Pad YEAR,
ies BS.
1866 |\J. D. Tull, ... .. 19} es . | 1885, t.
« \L. E. Wanner, ... . QI i 1368.
11 « W.S. Wright, ; 15} . .| 4) 1881, d.
. 1867 iC. A. Bucks, . . . 1 ‘ 1867,
We Boughton, 5 1 1873, 6
“Carl T. Eltzboltz, 2 1869, t.
“|W. E. Huntington, 3 1870, L.
IP. Jansen, oe 5 x @ a & 2 1869, ¢.
« |G. Liscomb, 2) 14 1883, d.
‘ |Thos. Manuel, 6 4 1877, d.
: « IP. C. Page, . Sie J | % 1867.
211, “IL. B. Richardson, . . . 17 5 4)...
“ \John Steele, ‘ 22 é Peet one
“|W. M. Sedmore,.. . . a oaerg 1867.
“ |H. M. Springer, 6 1 . | 1874, &.
“ IM. D. Trewilleger, . 2 gh x8 1869, t.
1868 |Lester Allen, ] 1868.
“1G. D. Browne, 21 :
“«  |J. T. Bryan, .. 21 “
«|W. E. Conway, . 10} 11 eres
“EF. M. Cooley, ls os 1868.
«|E. E. Clough, . 20 4; 1888, t.
“1D. L. Hubbard, et 1879, /.
“ |T. J. Lewis, . . 21
«IW. J. Terry, 3 ‘ 1871.
“|W. C. Ross, go 8 16 5 ellie ing
«J. H. Whitney,. .. . 9 1 . | 1882, 7.
‘© |Wm. Thomas, . 13 -| 1881, 0.
1869 |E. C. Arnold, . 2 1873.
“J. Baldwin, 2 1871, l.
“J. D. Brothers, .. . 19 So * Defies a
“ \N. C. Bradley,.. .- .- 15 5 fy eli
«|S. O. Brown, . 7 8 . | 1883, d.
“7D. W. Couch,. .  . . 9 3 3) 1881, ¢.
“ |J. W. Chariton,. ... 12 ‘ . | 1881, wv.
Dae “1M. F. Chester,.. . . . 2 3 a4) 1874,
16 “ 1H. K. Cobb, ... - 1 . «| 1869, d.
“ |/D. C. Franklin,.  . 2). 1871.
“ 10, Irish, : ; 18, 1). .| 1888, 2
“  |Wm. Massee, . O38 15 5 ye
«JA. J. Waite,.. . : ] : 1869.
‘“ \AH. McCurdy,. ... 2 : 1871.
“ \H.8. Richardson,. . .« 6 als 1875, t.
“IT, 8. Leavitt, -....- 41...) . .1 1878, 4.
a
o
co

APPENDICES TO PART JII.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ees 25 |ves| eee

o2a Ba |S23| 32

: o| YE bp 3 aig 7

: 28 YEAR. NAME. gS Bia : a6 YEAR,

ee. e8/5 2): SS

46 Ss | Seti aa

16 | 1869 |Wm. Sturgis,. . . 10} +10

ee «10. C. Swartz, ..... 20 .
1870 |M. B. Balch, Be G 19 6
“J. W. Bell... 2... ll 1 1882,
“J. J. Clifton, 9 1880
“|S. W. LaDue,. . . T]< si) ss) 1870, 4.
“IW. J. McKay, . oe 19). Bh see ey ae as
“ 1G. W. Nichols, . 2 ell 1872.
“« \E. L. Semans, . 15 .| . . | 1884, é
“J. Tresidder, . . 19 , AY sys as a
“1B. E. Wheeler, i 19 ‘ Bs ave
“ |C. Hendra, . Qe 4 1872, 1.
1871 |A. D. Dexter, . 13 5 1889, t.
“ — |John Harris, r 18 5 ance
“ |P. E. Knox,. oo & 12 6 ae
IN. Léaéhy a. 6 ks ew 5 1 1877,
“IR. W. Nichols, . : 17 1 a:
‘© |W. Semple,... . 6 5; . . | 1882,
“iC. 8. Vail, . . F F 2 -| . «| 1873.
“IE. S. West, « > MP or 1. » .{ 1871.
1872 |K. T. Briggs, . . ina V7]. Vallieseesks
“« |@. W. L. Brown,.. . - 14 os af 1886, t.
« jAlfred Charles, .  . - 10}. 8] 1882, J.
«|W. H. Chynoweth, . 13 2 é | ate we
«|S. W. Horner,..  . 15 2 di tae Gaya
“ (C. E. Hawkins, .  . 3 ‘ 1875, t.
« IW. H. McMillan, .. . DP sah Wi 8g ie! ye cee a
«Js. E. McLain, . . 5 I 4 1878, 1.
‘© \Warren Mooney, . .- Ol Sse PL 1874.
1873 |H. C. Carter, .. . - Ali coon | ek | 1877 E
«iJ. P.Greer,....  .- TG) aap Big
«Geo. Haigh, . fa GB} ee - | 1879, w.
“«  |D.S8. Howes, ...  . 3 1 1877, 1.
«  |Jas. Jefferson, . re 16 Bh sie
‘IM. Matthiason,. . . 9 .| . . | 1882, w.
“ |G. T. Newcomb,... . 7) ae 1876.
“ |/Robert Smith, . es 15 ‘ ise arte
«IN. 8. Sliter, . acd 2 re eee 1875.
«  |J. H. Twombly, ... . 1 , 1874, t.
“« 1A. F. Thompson... - 12 1) . .| 1886,
“ l@. N. Kellogg,.. . = - Ly. oe js 1874.
1874 |W. J. Bullivant,... .- AY = 5535 . | 1878, 7.
v ent Booth,.....- AB)! sé: bell ware elit are
“ 10.4 . Britton, Eh ciate, Se 7 8
NAMES OF PREACHERS. 509

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ag 5 a ngs es
tel] Yr é Fe | 8s ros E
: s& YEAR. NamME. 28 BS ; gs YEAR.
BE £2 /8 03: 2S
aa $8 | PSrli ae
1874 |W. T. Dudley, 4 5 1883, /.
“|. J. Harrington, 6 1880, w.
“  |Jas. McClane, . oe 3 1877, J.
“  |T. H. Phillips,.. . . . 1 1875, ¢.
“|\Edward Tench,. .. 9 1884, 1.
“J. E. Webster,.. . . . 15 bl
1875 |R. Burnip, eo 8 13 .| . «| 1889, ¢.
‘“ \A.8. Collins, ..  . . 13) . .| . . | 1888, t.
«J. W. Duncan, de 2 el] ae af ROE
“JH. Goodsell,.. . . =. Al ce Blge sary a os
“|W. Galloway,... - 13 I) se og
“ |E. D. Huntley, .  . . 8) os 1} 1883, 4.
« |J.G@ Haigh, ..: . ‘ 4 . | 1879,
“  \H. M. Hackney,... . 6 1881, /.
“|W. A. McLaughlin, . . 2 e $| 1827, 4
“ |C. R. Tuttle, . a8 1 | soa |) 1806;
A, De Bally ioceoe ws vos Tals cc! eoaefie eek
1876 |M. Benson,..  . 13 A sa: Acco 4g
«|W. K.Cook,..  . 1 . | 1877.
«|W. P. Hathaway,. . 6 1882, 1.
“ |John Haw, be 13 ill) Fresartal ER ES ae ts
«  |P. K. Jones, z 10 3}. . | 1889, d.
“« |G. W. Smith, 13 Pale _—
“ |J. 8S. Thompson,... . 7 alll 1883, ¢.
“  \J. F. Zeigler, .  .. WT seyret! Tao ae al ae
“ |T. M. Evans, 3 ess 6 -| . «| 1882, ¢.
“« /F. Howarth, , 10) . .] . .] 1886, 2.
1877 |C. Z. Crossett, . 4 .| . «| 1881, d.
“ JG. N. Foster, . a 12 3 ee
(ELLs Harte 2 ay ey 12
“|W. W. Hurd,... . 12) « « x oe @
“ |J. N. Phillips,.. . . 4 lj. .| 1881, w.
“  7W. OC. Sawyer,. . - 4, ..] ..] 1881, 4
I B. Nuzumy «3. 0 es V2) fh eS ar ata
1878 jCharles Barker, . 9 DNs aay osc Se
“ jHenry Dockham, 8] . | 1886, d.
“ |W. E. Doughty, . DU) a5. peach A ee
‘‘ |James Ford,. . 11
“*  !Thos. Snodgrass, . . 1 ie ee
“ George Tyake,..... 6) . «| . «| 1885, t.
1879 |E. J. Bickell, .. . - - 1 - «| 1879.
“ |I. B. Bickford,...  . TO) ace) erase eas 8
“  F.W.Hall,.  . 3 7 ee fea sense
“ WJ. D. Hurlbut, .. - Wk we | FS79
510

APPENDICES TO

PART III.

 

“yep

ysay oy rod
aatjoago Svea

YEAR.

NAME,

=5y0p
wayye
aaTWQyo SIvOX

qsry

  

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15

13
19

26

i i

 

 

Wm.Shepherd,... .
Jas. McManus, .

Jas. Trewartha,

L.N. Wooley, .. .

I. N. Adrian, . .

J. H. Avery,

T. W. Cole,

E. L. Eaton, ‘
W. A. Lawson,... .
J.C.Lawson,. ...
Thos. B.“Killiam,. . .
J. T. Morgans, nal Se
E. H. McKenzie, .. .
Warren Woodruff.
John Harrington,.. .
J. I. Bartolomew,

C. R. Kellerman, .

E. Bradford, sig
G. A. Joslin. . 1...
J. J. Austin, . eo
Benjamin Nott, .

T. W. North,. .

M. J. Robinson, .
Edward Trimm, .. .
8. W. Trousdale, .. .
James Barnett, .
Arthur Chalfant,

B. M. Fulmer,

W. E. Robinson,

John A. Willey, . ‘
John F. Cowling,. . .
G. A. Fulcher, ... .
John Claflin, .....
D. M. Sinclair,

F. M. Haight,

A.H. Yokom, ... .
A.M. Pilcher,.... .
F. J. Borgia,

Wm. Atkinson,

Thos. Foulkes,

H. P. Blake,.....
J. C. Gordon,

L. W. McKibben, . .
T. W.Stamp,. ...
W. J. Ingersoll,.. . .

eH

: be
DOP PRR BRR OTOTOTONLID WUTTRHWOARANNANNIWWDORWONWATOOH’ rOraARONOSO

 

 

 

 

1881.
‘1884,
1881.
1889,
1881.
1880,
1881,
1882,
1889,
1887,
1885,
1884,
1886,
1883,
1886,
1886.

1889,

1887,

Ww.

a) adc Ok
NAMES OF PREACHERS. 511

 

“ ayup

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DATPOYO SIVOK

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TOP

BUIpPIsalg se

YEAR. NAME, YEAR.

“ay ep Isa 19qje
dATpooya siv9
‘ayenuuesodng
do Arvsatana
-radng
paesojduma siva x

 

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| Rayson,.... .

“  )Wm. Rowe, .
“18. W. Hayes,. .
Benjamin Shipp, . .

“ \F, C. Wright, .

“IL, A. Willsey,.. . .

“J. F. Tubbs, coe iadl
1887 |Wm. F. Emory, . . 8 5

“ IN. R. Hinds,

“ 1H. J. Witherbee,

“ |Thos. Leak, . «

“iF. R. Lewis, ci

“Alfred Ramey, ... .

“|G. W. Pepper,

“ \H. C. Meyers, . .

“ |H. W. Troy,

“« JF. W. Straw, .

“10. H. P. Smith,

1888 |C. W. Bennett,

“ \F. H. Harvey,.

“\John N, Mills, :

“ \E. F. Marcellus, .. .

“  )W. M. Martin, :
““ |George Merrifield, .
George Brown,

George Derby, :
“|G. R. Chambers,

“ 1G. 8. Perry, .

“ALB. Schoville, is
“A. C. Halsey,. 2...
“ )A.G. Harrison,. .. .
1889 |D. J. Whiting,

‘“« |Howard Robinson,
“|W. H. Morgan,
“IW. W. Hurlbut .
Henry Stewart,

“A. E. Smith,

“ IL. B. Coleman,
“|W. E. Pilcher,

«|W. P. Burrows, .
H. B. Brenaman,.. .

1887, «.
1889, d.
1886, 1.

1888, 1.
1889, d.

RSH HDD NNNHENND! WwWwWlwwecweo

 

 

 

 

 

 
512 APPENDICES TO PART III.

APPENDIX E.

NAMES OF DISTRICTS AND PASTORAL CHARGES IN
WISCONSIN.

As they first appeared in the Appointments of the West
Wisconsin, Northwest Wisconsin, or Minne-
sota Conferences.

WEST WISCONSIN AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFER-
ENCES.*

1856. Mineral Point District, Point Bluff District, Albany, Bara-
boo Mission, Cottage Inn, Darlington, Linden, Maus-
ton, Moscow, Necedah, Oregon, Primrose, Norwegian
Mission, Plainfield, Ridgeville, Viroqua, Norwegian
Mission, Richland, Norwegian Mission, Little Falls,
Marietta, Galesville, North Pepin, Kinnickinnick,
Willow River.

1857. Washburn, Ellenbro, Providence, Boscobel, Liberty, Ar-
gyle, Highland, Welsh Circuit, Brodhead, Cadiz, Ada-
rio, Ironton, Kilbourn City, Burns, Cataract, Alma,
Leon, Salem, Woodstock, Sextonville, Kickapoo, Lone
Rock.

1858. Otter Creek Norwegian Mission, Paoli Dane, New Lisbon,
Glendale, Richford, Strong’s Prairie, Jacksonville,
Honey Creek, North La Crosse and Onalaska, Prairie
du Chien, Southward, Viola, Springville, Mount
Sterling, Prescott District, Pleasant Valley, Trimbelle,
River Falls.

1859. Mazomanie, Vienna, Bristol, Quincy, Russell’s Corners,
Angelo, Port Andrew, New Brookville, Portland,
Tomah, Newton, Westfield, Trempealeau, Mondovia,
Chippewa City, Menomonee, Rock Falls, Arcadia,
Pepin, Eau Claire.

1860. Mineral Point Circuit, Mount Zion, Pleasant Prairie,
Judah, Spring Green, Towerville and Albion, State

*For changes in districts and charges in this territory prior to
1856, see Appendix E of the Wisconsin Conference.
1861.

1862.

1863.
1864.

1865.
1866.

1867.

1868.

1869.

1870.
1871.
1872.
1873.
1874.
1875.
1876.
1877.
1878.

1879.
1880,

DISTRICTS AND PASTORAL CHARGES. 513

Line, Viroqua Circuit, De Soto, Melrose, Leroy, Well-
ington, Hixton, Galesville District, Garden Valley,
Augusta, Neillsville, Eau Claire East, Eau Claire
West, Maxville, Durand, Eau Galla.

Avoca, Loyd, Chippewa District, Cedar Valley, Rich-
mond, Centerville.

Batavia, Sylvan, Wonewoc, Gratiot, Bear Creek, Fair
Valley, Downsville, Hudson (Second Charge), New
Richmond, Diamond Bluff.

Wilsonville.

(Racine and Milwaukee, Hart Prairie, Cambridge and
Coon Prairie) Norwegian Missions ; Hancock, Wauzeka,
Rush River, New Richmond District, Hillsborough,
Luna, Bloomer Prairie.

Middleton, West Branch, Whitehall, Cook’s Valley.

Kilbourn District, Big Spring, Clear Creek, Vanville,
Hammond, Rock Elm.

(Merrimac, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Asheppen) Nor-
wegian Missions; Lincoln, Ontario, Wauneka, Bayfield,
Oneota.

(Chicago, Primrose, Highland, and Richland) Norwegian
Missions; Monroe Circuit, Seneca and Brookvile, Mount
Hope, Pigeon Creek.

Belmont, Bluff, Friendship, Blue River, Black River
Circuit, Tomah Circuit, Tunnel City, Wilton, Bloomer,
Peru, Louisville, Apple River, West Salem.

Belle Center, Knight’s Creek, St. Croix.

Mauston Circuit, Osseo, Loyal, Hay River, Springfield.

St. Croix District, Ellsworth, Esdale, Alabama.

Blooms Station, Elroy, Cedar Falls, Modena, Chippewa
Circuit, Greenwood and Colby.

Merrillan and Humbird, Clifton and Kinnickinnick,
Lucas, Georgetown.

Barron, Edson, Union Valley, North Freedom, Sparta
Circuit, Breerton.

West Point, Clear Lake, Knapp, Humbird and Fairchild,
Liberty Pole, Maiden Rock.

Bloomington, Boscobel Circuit, Kendall, Mormon Cooley
and Chaseburg, Pleasant Grove, Wheaton.

Benton, Eau Claire City Mission, Eau Claire Circuit,
Prairie Farm, Sumner.

La Grange, Cadott Falls, Unity, Arkansaw.

Excelsior, Spencer, ele Medford.
514 APPENDICES TO PART III.

1881. Sechlerville, Marshfield, Rice Lake.

1882. Hamlin, Thorp and Longwood, Prairie Farm, Cumber-
land, Woodville, Black Hills and Central City Missions,
Dakota.

1883. Mill Creek, Ashland, Phillips.

1884, Beef Slough, Shell Lake, Newton, Mount Horeb, Verona,
Rewey, Chaseburg and Newton, Coloma.

1885. Baraboo, South Side, Homer, Syene.

1886. Boaz.

1887. Ashland District, Chetek, Balsam Jake, Turtle Lake,
West Superior, Washburn, Bloom City, Bloomingdale,
La Crosse (Caledonia Chapel), La Crosse (Coleman
Chapel), Brooklyn, Fairchild.

1888. Abbotsford, Chelsea, Prentice, Glidden, Hurley.

1889. Drummond, Loraine, Marshfield, Cassville, Lancaster
Circuit, Sandusky and Lime Ridge, Union Center,
Glennwood.

Sa ee

APPENDIX F.

AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE METHODIST EPISCO-
PAL CHURCH.

The People of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and
Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. That all Trustees who have been, or may here-
after be, chosen or appointed inany society of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in this State, according to the rules and Dis-
cipline of said Church, and their successors in office, appointed
as aforesaid, shall be a person in law, capable of contracting
and being contracted with, suing and being sued, and defend-
ing and being defended, in all suits and actions whatsoever,
both in law and in equity, and shall have power to acquire,
hold, possess, and enjoy in trust for the Methodist Episcopal
Church, any lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and to use
or to sell and convey the same, for the proper benefit of said
Church.

Src. 2. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any such Board
of Trustees, by death, resignation, removal from the society,
or otherwise, such vacancy shall be filled according to the
rules and Discipline of said Church.

Sec. 3. All lands, tenements, and hereditaments that now
SPECIAL SERMONS. 515
are, or may hereafter be, held by any trustee or trustees, in
trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church in this State, for the
purposes of religious worship, a residence for their pastor or
pastors, a burying ground, or educational purposes, shall, with
the improvements and appurtenances, descend to and be held,
by such trustee or trustees as may from time to time be chosen
or appointed according to the rules and Discipline of said
Church.

Sec. 4. The Act entitled ‘‘An Act to Incorporate the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church,” approved March 15, 1849, is hereby
repealed.

Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect and be in force from and
after the first day of April next, and may be amended or re-
pealed by any future Act of the Legislature.

Approved March 5, 1868.

 

 

APPENDIX G.

SPECIAL SERMONS BEFORE THE CONFERENCE.

WEST WISCONSIN AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CON-

 

 

FERENCES.

YEAR. (NaME. SUBJECT OF SERMON. PLACE.
1857|W. Wilcox, . \Missionary, . . . {Mineral Point.
1858 R. Z. Mason, : ee : . |La Crosse.

#1859) W. B. Hecleeing 2 ‘ h - |Monroe.

71859|J. C. Aspm wall, a Platteville.
1860)C. E. Weirich, fs . |Baraboo.

1861)M. Bennett, ee . . |Madison.
1861|W. McKinley, ee - |Galesville.
1862/A. Brunson,. . . sf . . |Dodgeville.
1862|W. Haw, ee . |Hudson.
1863|James Lawson, fe . . |Lodi.

1863/H. T. Magill, . |West Eau Claire.
1864/P. 8S. Mather, se . |Mauston.

1864/0. N. Whitney . “s . . |Black River Falls.
1865|A. Brunson , es . |Brodhead.

1865) W. H. Brocksome, ee . . . .|Menomonee.
1865}A. Brunson, . (Semi-Centennial, . |Brodhead.
1866|J. Gurley . .  . |Missionary, . |Prescott.

 

 

* Spring Conference. + Fall Conference.

 
516

APPENDICES TO PART III.

 

 

YEAR. Name. SUBJECT OF SERMON. PLACE.
1866|W. F. Delap, .. .|Missionary,.. . . |Hazel Green.
1866/T. C. Golden, .. ./Centenary, . . . . |Prescott.
1866/P.8. Mather, .. ./Church Extension,|/Hazel Green.
1866]A. Brunson, . . . |Centenary, Hazel Green.
1867|James Evans, . .|Missionary, .. . . /Prairie du Chien.
1867/S. Aldrich,... . a .. . . |Sparta.
1867|James Lawson, ..|Church Extension,/Prairie du Chien.
1868/E. Yocum,. .  ./|Missionary,.. . . |Mazomanie.
1868/E. B. Ruesell, . ./Church Extension, Mazomanie.
1869|I. B. Richardson, |Missionary, .. . . |Portage City.
1870/C. Bushby, ee La Crosse.

1871
1872
1873
1873
1874
1875
1875
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884

1884

1885
1886
1887
1888] E
1889
1890

A. Brunson, J. L. Williams, T. C. Golden.

W.E. He sineeon:
H. Gilliland,

W. 4H. Palmer, ‘
J. B. Bachman,
C. Cook, . .

H. D. Jencks,

E. E. Clough,

J. E. Irish, .

J. Knibbs, .

J. Evans, . .

I. B. Richardson,
C. Irish,
E. L. Semans, a
H. Goodsell,. . .
C. R. Kellerman .
E. L. Eaton,.. .
8S. W. Horner, . .

James Lawson, . .

W. 4H. Chynoweth,

H. P. Blake,. . .
J.M. Thoburn, ..
E. Trimm,. .«

Arthur Edwards, z

 

W. M. Martin,

“i

 

 

+.

 

APPENDIX H.

. [Mineral Point.

. |Educational, West Eau Claire.
. Missionary, . - |Baraboo.
. |Educational, . |Baraboo.
. |Missionary, . Brodhead.
. |Temperance, . Hudson.
.|Missionary, .. . . |Hudson.
. |Centennial, .. . . |Hudson.
- |Missionary, . . Madison.
fe . |Eau Claire.
ee Monroe.
. |La Crosse.
ne Platteville.
fe . . |Sparta.
as . |Portage.
ce Baraboo.
ut .. + ./Eau Claire.
Centennial of 3
M. E. Church, Eau Claire.
Missionary, . . |Dodgeville.

Black River Falls.
Mineral Point,
Mauston.

Sparta.

. |Monroe.

 

DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCE.
WEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

Wilcox, E. Yocum.

1860.

Reserves—W.
DELEGATES TO GENERAL CONFERENCES. 517

1864.
Matthew Bennett, Jas. Lawson. Reserves—A. H. Walters,
J.C. Aspinwall.
1868.

A. Brunson, R. Dudgeon. Reserves—P. 8. Mather, E. Yocum.

1872.

Ciericat—J. B. Bachman, J. B. Reynolds, A. Brunson, T.
M. Fullerton. Reserves—R. Dudgeon, P. 8. Mather.

Lay—John H. Rountree, John E. Stillman. Reserves—Thos.
D. Steele, Daniel T, Abell.

1876.

CLERICAL—Wm. Hamilton, Wm. Haw, P.S. Mather. Re-
serves—J. E. Irish, R. Dudgeon.
Lay—M. Herrick, D. W. Ball. Reserves—E. E. Bentley, E.
C. French.
1880.

CiertcAL—Wm. Hamilton, Wm. Haw, Jas. Lawson. Re-
serves—E. D. Huntley, J. E. Irish.
Lay—D. J. Spaulding, Wm. Curry. Reserve—E. C. French,

 

1884.

CriericAL—W. J. McKay, M. Benson, J. E. Irish. Reserves—
G. W. Case, H. Goodsell.
Lay—Henry Harnden, Ira Bradford. Reserves—E. E. Bentley,
F, L. Sanborn.
1888.

CuirricaL—E. L. Eaton, B. E. Wheeler, W. J. McKay. Re-
serves—John Tresidder, M. B. Balch.

Lay—E. E. Bentley, J. B. Jones. Reserves—P. J. Layne,
Jas. Spensley.

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN CONFERENCE.

1864.

Chauncey Hobart, T. C. Golden. Reservese—Wm. Hamilton,
W. M. Osborne.

1868.
T. M. Fullerton. Reserve—C. P. Hackney.
 

 

 

 

  

 

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520

APPENDIX J.

Hecrvology.

APPENDICES TO PART IU,

Deceased Wives of Ministers in West Wisconsin and Northwest
Wisconsin Conferences, 1856-1889.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born. = 3 DECEASED.
Name. = 4 3 z z
g g |e" & g
° ae is ° :
Elizabeth Lawson,. . |England,. . .;Wiota,.. . — . |1859
Elizabeth L. Mather, |England,. 14|Hazel Green, . . |1863
Mrs. J.C. Aspinwall,|.....-. . .|. .|Platteville,. . . |1864
Emma Brunson,. . . |Connecticut,|1791} 26|Prairie du Chien,|1846
Ellen McGinley,...|.....-. a4 9|Hazel Green, . . |1873
Jane C. Yocum,...-/| ..... 1807; 37|Point Bluff, . . |1873
Lucy E. Irish, Canada, . {1834 14)/Hudson,.. . . 1873
Mary Cook,.... . Michigan, . |1835} 23/Dodgeville,.. . |1879
Lucetta McGinley, . . |New York, .|. . 6|Orion, .. . . {1879
Caroline S. Brunson, . |Connecticut,|1815) 12/Prairie du Chien,]1860
Elizabeth Booth, . |New York, .|1852} 9/Prairie du Chien,|1881
Martha M. Irish, . . |Lllinois, . . 1840} 15)Hammond,.. . /1881
Mary A. Lawson,. .- Connecticut,|1842} 20|State Line,. . . |1883
Caroline Wilcox, Vermont, . |1805) 30)Baraboo,.. . . /1883
Annie L. Haw, . . -|Vermont, .|1854) 8/New Richmond, |1883
Margaret Yocum, . -/-- -- ++]: 8\Sparta,.. . . . {1883
Alice Nichols, . . . » |Wisconsin,./1851) 12/North Freedom, |1884
Maggie F. Thompson, /Guernsey, - 1853) _8|Madison, Dak.,. |1885
Amelia B. Knibbs, .|.- +--+ > -.| 26lowa,..... 1887
Mary Pryor, ..- - England,. . |1813) 32)Dodgeville,. . |L888
Julia M. Haw, . [New York, . |1834| 30)/Minneapolis, . . {1889

 

 

 
521

 

  

-CONFERENCE SESSIONS.

 
 

 

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‘SAONADAAINOD NISNOOSIM ISAMHLHON UNV NISNOOSIA LSHAL
‘SNOISSHS HONHUYAANOD

‘SM XIGNHddYy

44
APPENDICES TO PART III.

522

 
 
 
 

 

 

 
 

 
  

 

 

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Als|alelals |S [2 je l2sle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘GHNNILNOO—SNOISSHS FJINAAFANOD
i

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“Cy | ERRATA.
Sy

On page 24 for Menosha read Menasha.

On page 89 for Appendix A read Appendix D.
On page 434 for S. P. Blake read H. P. Blake.
In the illustration following page 340 for ‘I’. M. Ful-

-leron read T. M. Fullerton. .

On page 352 the reference to J. D. Searls is not to
be understood that he was vut.of our ministry or church
at any time since he joined the-conference in 1858.

On page 475 and 476 opposite the. names W. JJ.
Thompson and R. Mapes read r instead of e.

On page 474 under date 1840 add H, R. Colman, and
under date 1858 on page 477 add Henry Colman and L-
L. Knox.

On page 487 under. Chaplaincies in the Army add
W. P. Stowe and W. D. Ames,

On middle of page 485 read L. L. Knox for E. L.
Konox, :