USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockton > The history of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, 1820 to 1898 > Part 11
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peaceful than healthy. The first physicians, Hooker, Van- Brunt, Waite and Smith, have already been spoken of. Then come those of a later date: Drs. Prentice, Hulett, Drake, Kel- logg, Knight, Bryning, Veness, Taylor, Kimball, Wood, Hunt, Lovesee, Sutherland and Cole .. Dr. Knight was here in 1857 and '58 and lived in the house which in now the Baptist par- sonage. Dr. Bryning lived in the Talcott homestead soon after the close of the war. Dr. Veness practiced here until his death in 1893. Dr. Taylor came from Janesville in 1875, and after a residence of a couple of years, he went to Chicago to run a drug store. Dr. Kimball came up from Rockford to take Dr. Taylor's practice. He stayed here about a year and then re- turned to Rockford, where he now resides. Dr. Wood came here from Capron, and stayed about two years, when he went to Dakota. Dr. Hunt came here from Beloit, but only made a short stay. Dr. Lovesee came from a practice in Harrison, and after a stay of two years or so, went to Elkhorn, Wis. He now resides in Roscoe. Dr. C. L. Sutherland came here from Janes- ville, in 1885. He graduated from Chicago Medical college in 1883. Beside his extensive practice, he has served the public as president of the village board and as one of the directors of public school. Dr. E. J. Cole came to Rockton in 1896, from Plattsville, Wis., where he had practiced for several years. He is a graduate from "Hohnamann" medical college. He was born in Gratiot, Wis., in 1851.
1856
This year was made prominent by the advent of the rail- road, and communication by rail was established with the out- side world. The first train of passenger cars arrived in Rock- ton, Oct. 28, 1856, and it was a general time of rejoicing. The first car load of lumber was recevied Oct. 27, and E. L. Stiles and Ira Cummings unloaded it. It was consigned to James L. Gray. The first load of wheat shipped from here by rail was by Mr. Stewart, of Owen. It was shipped in his own grain bags, which were returned. This was the first way of ship- ping grain, but it was soon changed by putting the grain in the car without sacking.
C. F. Chamberlain kept a drug store here in the Lyman block about 1856 or '57. He bought the Montanye house of Mr. Nelson, and greatly improved it. He married Mary Greeley.
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
After living in Rockton a few years, he moved to Aurora, and finally to Memphis, Tenn. where they both died.
Dean M. Pettibone, a cousin of Dea. Luman Pettibone, was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1812, married Lula Skinner, in Stockholm, N. Y., Nov. 20, 1839. They came to Rockton in 1856, and after living here a few years, removed to Elk Grove. He died in Elgin, in 1875. She died in Polo a few years ago. While living here Mr. Pettibone built the house which is now the residence of James S. Cowen.
David Hudson was born in Scotland, March 13, 1823. He married Amelia E. Bryning, Feb. 10, 1849. She was born March 9, 1832. They came here from Canada in 1856. He bought the stone house where Miss Susan Griffith lives, of Thomas Far- mer, and lived there for twenty years, and worked at his trade as a blacksmith until 1877, when he moved onto the farm he had previously bought, and lived there until the fall of 1883, when he sold to Charles Hyatt, and built his present residence in town. He is now at work at his old trade again in connction with his son, J. W. Hudson.
Selvey K. Blodgett is one of the substantial farmers of Rock- ton township. He was born in Beloit, June 10, 1838, and was the first white male child born there. For a mumber of years he has owned and conducted the "Blodgett farm," which was located by his father in an early day. He has devoted his time to dairy farming and stock raising, and in this line he has been very successful. His residence is pleasantly situated on the bank of Pecatonica river.
Samuel Widdowson was born in England, Feb. 26, 1831. He marrried Elizabeth Marson, Sept.6, 1854. She was born July 2, 1832. He came here in 1856, and worked at his trade as a moulder for the reaper company. He built a foundry in 1861, and for a time was in company with Mr. Fountain. In 1866 he went in company with W. R. Axe, and built a machine shop and foundry. This establishment run very successfully for a few years, doing custom work and manufacturing paint mills. The building was destroyed by fire, Sept. 13, 1888. Mr. Wid- dowson still lives in Rockton, but at present is doing business in Delavan, Wis.
The school district on the south side of the river was organ- ized in 1856, mostly from district number one, and what com- prised the Macktown school. At a school meeting April 20.
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
1856, Alpha Bligh, T. M. Coons and G. H. Hollister were elect- ed the first board of directors for the new district. The school house was built in 1857, and the first teacher of the school for the winter of 1857-'58, was Lewis Bigby. The present directors of the district are Hiram W. Young, Fred Gleasman and B. C. Truman.
Valentine Gleasman was born March 3 1838. He came to the vicinity of Rockton in 1856, and after laboring by the month at farm work till the fall of 1857, he went back east to bring out his father's family. He married Maryetta L. Gridley, Dec. 21, 1859. She was born Dec. 29, 1841. He bought his first farm near Canada school house in 1862, and by hard work and pru- dence was enabled to buy farm after farm, until at the time of his death, Sept. 29, 1893, he owned over fifteen hundred acres of good farm land. He was a remarkably successfully man of business, to start out when a young man with empty hands, and in thirty-five years accumulate a fortune by farming of nearly one hundred thousand dollars.
Rev. John Perham was one of the Congregational ministers here in the fifties for a year or two. He soon engaged in the lumber and warehouse business in connection with Rev. Silas Jessup. He lived in the David Carpenter house. He finally moved to Beloit and died there.
1857.
ROCKTON CEMETERY.
At the town meeting in the spring of 1857, a committee was appointed to select a site and purchase grounds for a cemetery not to exceed ten acres. Said committee consisted of William Halley, Samuel Talcott, C. C. Smith, Henry Shibley and Joseph G. Veness. The present site was selected and purchased of Wait Talcott at a cost of $870. The cost of surveying the same by Thos. J. L. Remington, was $45.91.
George W. Springer was born in Franklin, Maine, March 4, 1816. He married Rosanda Guptil, May 26, 1839. She was born in Gouldsborough, Maine, Jan. 2, 1818. They came to Rockton in the fall of 1857. He carried on the business of shoemaking. He built a shop on Main street next to C. Bentley's law office. He also built the house where Dr. Sutherland lives, which was his home as long as he lived. He served the village until his death as police magistrate. He was a member of the Metho -
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
dist church. He died Oct. 25, 1876. His wife died in Beloit, Sept. 13, 1895.
The Rockton Gazette was established this year by Funk & Phelps. The first number was issued in May, from the cham- ber of the west end of the stone block. After a short time Mr. Funk sold out to his partner, Henry W. Phelp, who continued the paper until some time in 1858, when he moved the estab- lishment to Burlington, Wis. While living here he married Alta Mason, Jan. 20, 1858. He enlisted in the war of the rebell- ion and died in service.
Rev. Silas Jessup was born May 23, 1813. married Mary Cal- ender, Ang. 25, 1843. She was born April 25, 1814, and died April 13, 1883. He came here as early as 1857. He had a farm west of the river for a few years. He was in company with Rev. John Perham in the lumber and grain trade for a time. He died July 9, 1886.
Erastus H. Stanton established a bank in Rockton, in Webb's building, in 1857, which was conducted for a year or so. He lived on the Beloit road just north of where George Gayton now resides. He built the house there. He was supervisor of Rockton for three years in war times, from 1861 to 1864. He moved to Michigan and died there.
H. D. Jameson kept a store a short time in the Webb build- ing. He built the large stone house up the river, recently own- ed by George Sheard, about 1857. He went to McHenry coun- ty and farmed it there awhile, and finally to Iowa, where he died.
The Fountain Reaper company was started in the spring of 1857, to manufacture the Founting reaper. The stock holders of the company were, William Halley, Henry W. Talcot, H. D. Jameson and J. B. Peterson. The business was carried on a couple of years, when the company closed up their affairs. Mr Jameson was the business manager.
The Methodist church was put up and enclosed this year, but was not fully finished for a year or two after.
The Baptist church was built in 1857, and fully completed by the close of the year.
CHURCHES OF ROCKTON.
CONGREGATIONAL.
The Congregational church was instituted on Friday, March
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23, 1838 with fourteen original members. The meeting for or- ganization was held at the house of Capt. William Talcott. Rev. William M. Adams presided at the meeting. The names of the first members were:
William Talcott,
Mrs. Dorothy Talcott,
Henry W. Talcott,
Miss Prudence Talcott,
Luman Pettibone,
Miss Harriet Talcott,
Eli Hayes,
Mrs. Almira Pettibone,
J. Ambrose Wight,
Miss Mary Pettibone,
Mrs. Sophia Adams,
Mrs. Maria P. Ormsby,
Mrs. Julia Carpenter,
Mrs. Sophrona Hayes.
Rev. William M. Adams was the first pastor, Luman Petti- bone was the first deacon, J. Ambrose Wight the first church clerk, and Philander Bird, David Carpenter and Thomas B. Talcott, the first board of trustees. Meetings were in private houses until about 1840, then in the school house in the park for about ten years, until the present stone church was com- pleted in 1850, at a cost of $5,000, which was considered at the time a great enterprise.
The church attained to a membership of one hundred and seven, Nov. 5, 1843, when eighteen members withdrew to help form a sister church in Roscoe. The names of those who withdrew were:
Alvin Leland, Solomon Leland,
John Bradley,
Mrs. Eunice Bradley,
Horace K. Leonard,
Mrs. Minerva J. Leonard,
Thomas R. Whipple,
Mrs. Delia Whipple,
Edmond Bradley,
George Kerr,
Charles Kerr,
Mrs. Ann Frances Kerr,
John Moir,
Mrs. Lydia Moir,
Korah Briggs, E. Moir,
Mrs. Thankful Briggs, Mrs. Hannah Cross.
On Feb. 28, 1846, another Congregational church was formed from the Rockton parent society, and located in Shirland. Four- teen members withdrew to form that church, as follows: · James L. Sharp, Mrs. Nancy Sharp, Lemuel Fisk,
Mrs. Martha Fisk,
Francis Steele
Mrs. Rosetta Steele,
Mrs. Almira Pettibone,
Luman Pettibone, Henry S. Austin, Mrs. Eliza Austin, Job Packard, Miss Hadassa Austin,
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
Julius Keeney,
Samuel F. Briggs.
In 1851, there was stillanother demand on the parent church for extension work, and nine members went out to help form the church of Newark, Wis. During the first twenty-five years of the church's history, there has been a total membership of three hundred and nineteen, and up to the present time, a total membership of five hundred.
In March of 1854, Capt. William Talcott made the church a present of a bell, at a cost of $1,400. At the following town meeting a resolution was adopted that a suitable inscription be engraved on the bell, but it was never done. About that time a town clock was put in the church tower, by Speer & Cos- per, of 77 Lake street, Chicago, but as it did not work well, it was finally taken out by the clock makers, without expense to the town.
In 1867, Henry McNiel, of the town of Owen, donated by will, thirty-three acres of land to this church, valued at $1,000. The land was subsequently sold, and from the proceeds with nec -. essary subscription, the church was able to build the present pasonage. At a church meeting, May 21, 1867, it was resolved that the munificent bequest of the late Henry McNiel, giving to this church thirty-three acres of land, "we do gratefully ac- knowledge the good hand of our God toward this church, and a worthy example of an aged father in Israel toward the church militant, and we shall cherish with profound respect the name and memory of the giver."
In 1885, Dr. John H. Carpentes willed to this church the house and lot near the railroad station, with the modest requir- ment, that $10 of each year's rent must be devoted to mission- ary work.
The semi-centennial of the organization of the church was held May 25, 1888, with appropriate exercises both afternoon and evening. The church clerk, E. I. Carr, read a well prepar- ed historical sketch of the church; followed by an able article on the church choir, by Mrs. Fanny Hollister. Remarks were made by Hon. Wait Talcott, Thomas B. Talcott. F. W. Packard and P. L. Ellis. Dr. McArthur preached an excellent evening discourse. Revs. Higby and Wright assisted in the exercises. Several visitors from abroad were present.
In 1890 the Hon. Wait Talcott left the church by will the sum of $1,000, the interest of which to be used for the benefit of the
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
church. At the annual meeting, Jan. 12, 1891, it was resolved: "That we the church and society express of our deepest grati- tude for such unexpected remembrance; that we recognize in it very manifestly the character and quality of our departed brother, one not only while with us, but during the years of ab- sence, he has more than once given tangible proof of his a- biding affection."
In 1894, Thomas B. Talcott willed the church a house and lot, valued a $1,500. A good deal of repairs was put on this building, as a donation by W. A. Talcott, of Rockford, for which the church was duly thankful.
During the sixty years of the church's history, it has had eighteen ministers, whose names are as follows: William M. Adams, Dexter Clary, Lewis Benedict, John Perham, C. Sel- ded, L. H. Johnson, F. Lawson, S. P. Barker, J. G. Sabin, T. L. Brown, H. G. McArthur, R. C. Bedford, A. F. Loomis. O. G. May, E. F. Wright, F. A. Miller, Roger M. Sargent and Sam- uel L. Unger.
Of those who have been trustees of the church, we find the following names: Philander Bird, David Carpenter, Thomas B. Talcott, Jesse Blinn, Wait Taleott, Dr. Harley Hooker, Ira Cummings, Dr. J. H. Carpenter, L. D. Lyman, Henry O. Brown, Sylvester Talcott, C. C. Smith, Miles S. Prentice, Charles C. Wright, Charles F. Chamberlain, Edwin Martin, Dean Petti- bone, Samuel Hersey, A. N. Mellen, William Carlton, Henry W. Talcott, W. F. Packard, Silas Jessup, J. P. Farnsworth, J. B. Merritt, H. A. Webber, Chauncey Pettibone, William H. Farmer, J. A. Merrill, E. I. Carr, George Royden and Henry Knutson.
Of the church clerks there has been: J. Ambrose Wight, Wait Talcott, Coe Van Brunt, Seely Perry, Samuel Talcott, Henry O. Brown, John H. Carpenter, Dean Pettibone, C. A. Strickland, Sylvester Talcott, E. I. Carr aud A. N. Mellen.
The deacon have been, Luman Pettibone, William Bradley, Wait Talcott, Coe Van Brunt, David Carpenter, Chauncey Pet- tibone, A. N. Mellen, J. A. Merrell and Henry Knutson.
The present church officers are: Samuel L. Unger, pastor; E. I. Carr, church clerk; William Thompson, Henry Knutson and William H. Farmer, trustees; and A. N. Mellen, Henry Knutson and Mrs. A. J. McKay, deacons. The present men-
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
bership of the church, eighty-one. Sunday school superinten- dent, Elmer Kennedy.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The M. E. church began as a class in 1855, with the follow- ing members: A. W. Case, leader, Mrs. A. W. Case, Sylvester Bartholomew and wife, Dr. J. A. Knight and wife, J. C. Tru- man and wife, and had preaching services once in two weeks at two o'clock in the afternoon in the stone school house, by Rev. J. P. Vance, of the Roscoe Methodist church. This class with others were organized into a church in 1856, by Rev. Hol- land Richardson.
CHARTER MEMBERS.
Sylvester Bartholomew, Mrs. Calista Bartholomew,
Benjamin Phillips,
Mrs. Benjamin Phillips,
C. L. R. Manning,
Mrs. Jane Manning,
James L. Gray,
Mrs. Sarah Gray,
Dr. J. A. Knight,
Mrs. J. A. Knight,
J. C. Truman,
Mrs. Mary Truman,
William Harley,
Mrs. Elizabeth Harley,
J. W. Greattrax,
Mrs. J. W. Greattrax.
Mrs Martha Chase.
The church building was commenced in 1857, Rev. C. F. Wright, pastor, with a building committee of James L. Gray, C. L. R. Manning, Dr. J. A. Knight, J. C. Truman and Benja- min Phillips. The building was erected and enclosed and re- mained in that condition until 1859, when it was completed, through the effort of Rev. James N. Martin, and dedicated by T. M. Eddy, D. D., editor of the North Western Christian Ad- vacate.
From the commencement of the church services up to the spring of 1858, meetings were held in the school house, when the directors concluded not to have it used for religious servi- ces or Sunday school. This made the little band of Methodist feel as though they had no friends outside of their own mem- bers, being turned out into the street, and without just cause.
What to do and where to go was a serious question, but the directors in district No. two, came to their relief, and opened their school house to them. After holding services there a short time it was thought best to return to the north side, if a
·
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON
place could be obtained, as most of the members belonged on that side of the river. After a thorough canvass it was decid- ed to secure the old red school house that had once been Rock- ton's pride in its earler history. It is the little old building on the corner of C. M. Crawford's.
Church services were held there until the church was dedi- cated, when the little society found itself badly in debt, but not discouraged. It was a time that tested the loyalty of its mem- bers, and they nobly stood the test by emptying their pocket books at every meeting and pledging more. This continued until 1862, when Rev. George Richardson got up a big railroad excursion to Chicago, which netted the church $856. The next year an excursion to Savanna was executed which added $136 more to the fund. The proceeds of these two excursions with help from friends, placed the church out of debt, and gave the trustees a clear title to the church property. The two years of Rev. Richardson's pastorial labor were prosperous ones, both spiritually and financially; and over sixty united with the church during that time. The average attendance of the Sun- day school was over one hundred.
During the year of 1881, the lecture room was built through the effort of Rev. J. M. Conlee. This added much to the con- venience of church work. After serving the church five years, Mr. Conlee was compelled on account of physical infirmities to ask conferene for a superanuated relation, and spent most of his remaining years in Rockton.
The years of 1883, '84 and '85 were prosperous ones under the pastorate of Rev. N. A. Sunderlain. During the winter of 1884, special services were held for eleven weeks, closing with a ju- bilee, in which Rev. G. H. Vanhorn, Elder Manderville and Rev. G. S. Hubbs took part. As a result of these meeting one hundred and two united with the church.
During the years of 1891 and '92, over $1,400 were raised through the efforts of Rev. E. J. Rose, to purchase a parsonage and pay a $200 debt. In 1896 quite extensive repairs were made on the church under the management of the ladies. They very plainly demonstrated the fact that they are a power in the church.
LIST OF PASTORS AND YEARS SERVED.
1856 H. W. Richardson, 1876 J. S. Norris,
1857 C. F. Wright, 1877 J. J. Christ,
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON,
1858 Aaron Cross,
1878 George Erving,
1859-60 J. N. Martin,
1779 B. F. Smith,
1861 W. D. Skelton,
1880-1-2 James M. Conlee,
1832-63 George Richardson,
1883-4-5 N. A. Sutherland,
1864 A. D. Field,
1886 J. C. Bigelow,
1865 D. W. Linn,
1887-88 James M. Conlee,
1866-67 James Bush,
1889 W. A. Adron,
1868 Edwin Brown,
1890 George Hopkins,
1869 E. M. Battis,
1891-92 E. J. Rose,
1871-72 H. W. Raynolds,
1893 W. B. Doble,
1873 J. F. Stout,
1894-95 H. E. Clark,
1874
Homer Scoville,
1896 Charles Virden,
1875 Peter Clare,
1897-98 Bobert Bell.
OFFICIAL BOARD.
Rev. Robert Bell, chairman. Mrs. Sarah Gleasman, Mrs. Rozella Trimmer, Mrs. Mary Hull, Mrs. Jessie Veness, Mrs. Nettie Phelps, Miss Kittie Crawford, George Wilford, William Harley, Roscoe Gammon, Philip Gleasman, William Liddle, S. R. Gridley, C. E. Phelps, H. S. Northrop, S. P. Jenison, C. C Coons, C. M. Crawford, B. C. Truman, O. B. Houston, H. W. Young, Ernest Gleasman and J. C. Truman.
Only three of the charter members of the church are now living, William Harley and Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Truman.
Sunday school superintedent, C. M. Crawford.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH. .
The early history of the Rockton Baptist church is closely identified with that of the Roscoe church. We find that on March 23, 1850, the Baptist settlers of Roscoe township, met at the home of J. G, Veness, then living in Roscoe, and decided to organize a Baptist church. The following churches were represented at the Recognition Council which met April 2nd: Manchester, Beloit, Belvidere, Rockford and Hartford; and the following persons were recognized as constituting the mem- bership of the first Baptist church of Roscoe:
Patton Atwood and wife, J. G. Veness and wife, James Hatch and wife, James Smith and wife, Jane Hatch, Eliza Atwood, Elizabeth Churchell and Lydia Pickard.
The church was first supplied by Rev. Button, who was fol- lowed by Rev. Otis. Rev. James Veness succeeded Rev. Otis.
On June 12, 1851, the following Baptist people of of Rock-
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
ton, Rev. James Veness and wife, Chrlotte H. Veness, now Mrs. J. N. Douglass, Dones Parker, A. P. Newell and J. C. Potter, proposed to unite with the Roscoe church and hold alternate services, the church to be known as the Roscoe and Rockton United Baptist church. The proposition met with favor, and Rev. Veness supplied the united church.
In 1854, the services at Roscoe were discontinued for lack of suitable accommodations. The first place mentioned in the records in which the Rockton services were held, was in the Red School House, now used by C. M. Crawford as a paint shop. During the winter of 1856, they joined with the Congregational people in revival services, and there was a general awakening of religious interest. Twenty-one members were added to the church during the year.
June 28, 1856, the church voted to build a house of worship, and Jan. 13, 1858, the building was dedicated. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. D. B. Purinton, who had become the pastor of the church in Oct. 1857. There was another re- vival during the winter of 1858, and the report shows that there were thirty-four members added to the church during the associational year. During these years the church grew rapid- ly, the membership now numbering ninety-nine, a growth of nine-three in seven years.
The Sunday school was organized in 1858, and in 1862 the church was supporting three Sunday schools with a men- bership of three hundred and forty-one. Rev. C. T. Roe accept- ed the pastorate in 1860, and was followed by Rev. A. L. Wilkin- son, who became the pastor in Nov. 1868. He remained with the church about three years. Rev. W. Whitney succeeded him in 1871, but was compelled to resign on account of poor health, after about a year's work with the church. Rev. Jas. Buchanan, a student of the Chicago Seminary, supplied the church for awhile, and in August, 1873, was called to the pas- torate. The next one to take up the work, was Rev. W. M. Robinson, who began his labors in Jan. 1875, and continued with the church one year.
Rev. A. Whitman became pastor of the church in Feb. 1876, and continued until April, 1880. During June of the same year, Rev. W. G. Evans began his pastorate, and closed his la- bors with the church in 1883. For nearly one year the church was supplied by Rev. J. E. Hamilton. During his work, a prayer
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HISTORY OF ROCKTON.
room was built at the rear of the church. During the winter of 1884, occurred a great revival in the M. E. church. Twenty one members were added to the Baptist church during that association year.
In June, 1884, the church gave Rev. J. J. Phelps a call as pas- tor, which office he accepted and filled for about two years, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. L. Steele, whose pastorate continued until June, 1887. In Sept. of the same year, Rev. J. C. Hart became pastor of the church, and closed his labors at the end of the third year. The church was supplied until June, 1891, when Rev. Henry Topping accepted a call, but soon servered his relation with the church to prepare for mission- ary work in Japan.
Nov. 1891, Rev. Stephen Crockett began his pastorial labors, which lasted until Nov. 1893. He was closely followed by Rev. W. L. Jones who served the church until 1895, when Rev. C. W. Woodruff took the ministerial position in the church, and serv- ed till the early summer of 1898, when the present pastor, Rev. T. C. Pedersen, assumed charge of the church work.
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