USA > Wisconsin > Winnebago County > History, Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Its Cities, Towns, Resources, People > Part 46
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In the August of 1848 the Rev. H. M. Robertson, a missionary of the Presbyterian Board of Domestic Missions, visited the place and the first attempt was made to collect a Presbyterian congre- gation. In the month of September following he began to preach statedly at the house of Loyal H. Jones. This was near the west end of Wisconsin avenue, not far from the old mill, now super- seded by the Winnebago paper mill. He then lived in a log house. In this house, since destroyed, the service was held, ac- cording to the record, until November. During that month the service was held in what was called the log school house, the same building above named in which the Congregationalists wor- shiped. In December a large room was fitted up over the store of Yale & Jones and occupied until a church building was erected. This room still remains in what is now the Jensen House, just where the railroad track crosses Wisconsin avenue. Here the church was formally organized, December 15, 1848. by a committee of the Presbytery of Wisconsin. The committee consisted of two ministers, the Rev. Elias S. Peck, now residing at Waupun, and a member of the Presbytery of Winnebago, with which we are now connected, and the Rev. Thomas Frazier, now in California. It is styled the First Presbyterian Church of Winnebago Rapids. The original members were Rev. Milton Huxley, Osial Wilcox, Loyal H. Jones, Mrs. Matilda Jones, Asa
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Jones, Mrs. Rhoda W. Jones, Robert Owens, Mrs. Mary Owen, R. M. Davis, Perrene Yale, Mrs. Sarah Yale, Miss Clarissa B. Yale, Mrs. Emiline Danforth, Mrs. Mary Ann Scott, Mrs. Lemisa J. Robertson, Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Weed and Miss Emily Gomar. On the following day, December 16, Miss Sarah E. Yale was re- ceived by examination, thus making the whole number eighteen.
The officers elected were: Ruling elders, Rev. Milton Huxley and Loyal H. Jones; deacon, Osial Wilcox. The church was first reported in Presbytery at its meeting in Milwaukee, April 25, 1849, when the Rev. A. L. Lindsay was moderator. Of the original members of this organization only one remains to us. Mrs. Mary A. Scott. In October, 1849, the session was enlarged by the election of William M. Lindsey to the office of ruling elder.
Steps were taken early in 1851 toward the building of a house of worship. In the month of May the site was selected and the trustees instructed to purchase. The spot selected and now oc- cupied by this house of worship was once an Indian burying ground. Application was made to the board of church exten- sion for aid to the amount of $300. The old church, now in the possession and use of the Methodist brethren, was thus begun and was finished and dedicated in the month of January, 1852, the father of the pastor, the Rev. Mr. Robertson, of Winne- conne, assisting in the service. An insurance was then pro- cured on the house of $2,000 and arrangements made for the appraisement and sale of slips. In March a meeting of the trus- tees, of which G. P. Vining was the chairman, was held in the vestibule of the church, and at this meeting Peter McLeod was employed as sexton at a salary of $45 per year-and this is a fair measure of all church salaries at that time. The ministers of both the churches seem to have received from $400 to $450 each per annum. It was the place of worship for that congre- gation for a period of eighteen years. and is hallowed by many dear and precious associations. It is a matter of satisfaction to all who toiled there and still love the place that it is in the hands of those who love the gospel and sing the songs of re- deeming love. (This church was torn down in the summer of 1907.)
The Rev. Mr. Robertson closed his connection with the church in December. 1853, after a service of five years. He preached his farewell sermon on December 4 from 1 Sam., 7:12: "Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Shem, and
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called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.'"
It was a day of much interest. Mr. Robertson, then young in years as in the ministry, was of an ardent and strong nature. He has since risen to considerable distinction as a preacher and is now the pastor of a strong church in central Ohio.
During his ministry here the following persons, now members of this church, were received into membership: In 1849, Mrs. Harriet Huxley, Mrs. Lindsley, Deacon Cooke and wife and Mrs. Aurelia Kimberly, who, though dead, is represented in the church by her children. Mr. Hiram Shoemaker, who still lives among us, though a member of another church, was received in this year. In 1850 Peter MeLeod and wife were received. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson and Mrs. Edward Smith, and in 1852 Mrs. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. DeMerritt and Mr. Edward Smith. In 1853 Mrs. McGregor.
The Rev. C. A. Adams, a devoted and useful man, succeeded Mr. Clinton as pastor of the Congregational Church early in the year 1851. He left the field near the close of the year 1852 and died ten days afterward at his father's house in another part of the state. During the two years of his labor the brick church, now occupied by a branch of the German Lutherans, was undertaken. It was not, in the first place, the particular enterprise of this church, but of a joint stock company. It was finally assumed in an incomplete condition by the church and so far finished as to serve the purpose of worship. It began to be used for school purposes in the fall of 1852. It seems to have been completed in the month of February, 1854, but there is no record of its dedication. It was reported to the convention in 1859 as costing $2,000, $208 of which was received from the church erection fund. The congregation worshipped here until the summer of 1864, a period of about twelve years. when the building passed into the hands of the Methodist brethren and was used by them until they sold it to a branch of the German Lutherans, its present occupants. (It is now the oldest church building in town.)
Mr. and Mrs. Squires are the only present members of this church, so far as appears, who were received under the pastor- ate of Mr. Adams. In January, 1853, the Rev. J. M. Wolcott was engaged to preach for one year to the churches of Neenah and Menasha. It was at this time that Mrs. Fred Wheeler, then Miss Caroline Ranney, became a professing Christian. The
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statistical report of this period shows a total membership of twenty-five; average congregation, seventy-five; Sunday-school membership, forty-five. September of this year the Rev. A. Lathrop appears as the supply of the church and continued until the fall of 1854, and just as this pastorate closed in the Congregational Church that of the Rev. H. H. Rosseel began in the Presbyterian.
He entered upon his labors September 24, 1854, and was in- stalled in 1857. The committee of Presbytery officiating on the occasion consisted of the Rev. R. Frame, the Rev. R. Smith and the Rev. L. C. Spafford. In the second year of this pastorate, viz., in 1855, Elder Lindsley died, an efficient member of the session, the superintendent of the Sunday-school and the leader of the choir-a loss which seems to have been deeply felt by the little church.
In the meantime the Rev. Hiram Marsh had become the stated supply of the Congregational Church. He began his labors in April, 1855. The statistical report for that year showed an in- crease of but three (3) members and a falling off in the con- gregation and Sunday-school. These at once revived both in numbers and interest. In December, 1856, the Rev. O. Parker, an earnest and able evangelist, came by invitation of Brother Marsh and began daily meetings, which continued four weeks. The meetings steadily increased in number and power, Chris- tians of different denominations joining in them, until the house became too small. Then the Presbyterian brethren opened their house, which, though twice as large, was immediately crowded. As the result of this effort twenty-three were added to the Congrega- tional Church, twenty-two to the Presbyterian and several to other churches. Of the number added at this time and the year previous to the Congregational Church there remain now to us Mr. Alden, Edward Marsh, Mrs. Fenton, Mr. Dunn, Mrs. Patten (since dead), Mrs. Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Mr. Stiles, Miss Jane Ranney, Mr. Webb, and a little later Mr. Marsh. Of those added in the same period to the Presbyterian Church there remain to us now John Loyd and Mrs. Loyd, David Blakely, Mrs. Jenkins. Mrs. John Brown, Mr. McGregor, Mr. and Mrs. Clement, Mr. Babcock, Mr. Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Merri- man. Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton, Mr. Kimberly, Miss Emma Kim- berly. l'. R. Williams and wife, Mrs. S. R. Moore and J. Proctor. in all thirty-four persons out of about fifty-five, after twenty years. Mr. Parker, whose labors were so blessed to this com-
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munity twenty years ago, died last winter from a fall on a door- step while in the midst of a precious revival somewhere in New York. Mr. Marsh closed his labors with the church early in 1858, but continued to reside here, often assisting in the work of the gospel until his death, in 1874, at the age of 79. He was a good and wise man and his memory is blessed. In the latter year of his pastorate Father Millard, John Millard and wife and Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were added to the church. Ile left the church with a membership of 72, a congregation of 130 and a Sunday-school attendance of 75. They also reported contribu- tions that year to the amount of $43.
While Brother Rosseel was still pastor of the Presbyterian Church the Rev. J. Evans Pond was called to succeed Father Marsh. He was the son of the distinguished theologian, Dr. Pond, of Bangor, Maine. He took charge in the early spring of 1858 and was installed pastor January 20, 1859, being the first installed pastor of that church. The service was held in the Presbyterian Church before a crowded house. The installation sermon was preached by Rev. C. W. Camp, of Sheboygan; the prayer was offered by Rev. Hiram Marsh; charge to the pastor by Rev. W. H. Marble, of Oshkosh; right hand of fellowship was given by Rev. H. A. Miner, of Menasha, and the address to the people by the Rev. W. L. Mather, of Fond du Lac. It was a deeply interesting and solemn service.
In the spring of 1860, the sixth year of Mr. Rosseel's pastorate and the second of Mr. Pond's, the question of a New School Presbyterian church began to be agitated between the Congre- gationalists and a portion of the Presbyterians. The result was the withdrawal by letter in June of twenty-four members from the Presbyterian Church to the Congregational and a change in July of that church to a New School Presbyterian basis. The resolution to change was carried at the appointed meeting by thirty-three votes, three declining to vote. The pastor and the old officers resigned. New officers were then elected, as follows: Oziel Wilcox and Samuel Mitchell. deacons; Rev. Hiram Marsh, Thomas Cooke. J. (. Enos, J. L. Millard and S. Roberts, elders, the latter declining to serve. It was then unanimously voted to request Mr. Pond to withdraw his resig- nation as pastor, to which he consented. The covenant was then reported by a committee composed of the session and deacons, with John Proctor and Samuel Roberts added, and unanimously adopted.
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Thus formed the Second Presbyterian Church of Neenah. The church, however, continued in union with the convention until 1863, when it was received by the Fox River Presbytery, but does not appear in the minutes of the New School General As- sembly until the year 1865. The Congregational Church has a history of thirteen years. When it was formed there was only one church on this side the Fox river. It had seen six changes in ministers and received about 125 members, about twice the number in connection with it at the close. It had received aid from the boards of home missions and church erection to the amount of $2,290.54. How vividly these facts bring out the early struggles and shifting fortunes of the pioneer churches.
The pastoral relations of the Rev. J. A. Rosseel with the First Presbyterian Church closed in May, 1861. Since the year 1858 there were added of those who are now in this church Mrs. Van Ostrand, Mrs. Proctor, Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Coleman. The whole number admitted to the church up to this time was 140, more than half of whom had been dismissed or had died (all but fifty-five). Mr. Rosseel is still pleasantly remembered as a gen- tleman of culture, a good preacher, a firm adherent to con- scientious conviction. He supplied this pulpit several weeks in the spring of 1872, and now lives at Portage City, employed to some extent in home missionary work. It is quite remarkable for a pioneer church to have but two pastors in the first twelve years of its history. The Rev. H. B. Thayer was called in the summer of 1861 to supply the pulpit for one year. He continued to labor here until the spring of 1864. Mrs. Meigs, Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz, Mrs. Gilbert Jones, Miss Isabella Brown, Mrs. Wheeler Babcock and Mr. and Mrs. Shiells are of those who became connected with the church at this time. Mr. Thayer ap- pears to have been quite a disciplinarian, judging from the records, and is remembered as somewhat eccentric as well as an able preacher. He is now the pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Vincennes, Indiana, and has received the title of "D. D." from one of our Western colleges. It was during this pastorate that Elder Iluxley, an estimable member of the ses- sion. died in 1862.
Turning now to the second church, we find that the Rev. Mr. Pond resigned the pastorate in November, 1861. Mr. Stiles and Mrs. Dr. Robinson were of the number at that time received. Mr. Pond was a man of sensitive nature, true piety and of thorough culture, and is now a pastor somewhere in the state
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of Maine. Steps were soon taken to secure the services of the Rev. H. G. McArthur. He came in January, 1862, and was in- stalled February 18. There were indications of revival at this time. It was during this year that Mr. Elbridge Williams, Mrs. Gleason, Miss Helen Cummings and Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Murray were received. Mr. McArthur resigned at the close of the year and the pulpit was again vacant. After leaving here he became the pastor of the Congregational Church at Oshkosh, then retired from the ministry awhile, engaging in business, but has since returned to the work. He was a bold and active man. He insisted on being free from home missionary aid, and this was the first year the attempt was made by this church. It was a hard struggle, though the salary was but $600. In March, 1863, the Rev. James Bassett was called at a salary of $600. In September of this year the church was received by the Fox River Presbytery (N. S.) at its meeting at Omro. In the spring and summer of 1864 a beautiful house of worship was built on this spot, a part of that in which we now worship. The cost was in round numbers $5,000. It was a great venture for the church at that time, but a remarkable unity of purpose and skill in management, together with some donations from abroad, one of special liberality by Mr. Phelps, of Lewistown, Illinois, of $500, and a loan of $500 from the board of church erection, the work was brought to completion without a debt. The dedica- tion took place August 12, 1864. The scriptures were read by the Rev. Mr. Phelps; invocation by Rev. Mr. Brooks; sermon by the pastor; dedication prayer by the Rev. A. Bassett, now a professor in Wabash College, Indiana; benediction by the Rev. H. Miner. In December of this year (1864) Mr. Bassett resigned his charge of the church. He was especially efficient in pushing forward the church building and was regarded as a good preacher. He married Miss Abby Jones, of the First Presby- terian Church, and they are now engaged in the foreign mission- ary work at Teheran, Persia. Mr. and Mrs. John Ford were among those added under this pastorate. The brick church was sold to the Methodist brethren in the spring for $700, and pos- session being given before the new church was ready, the con- gregation worshipped for a time in Leaven's Hall. The Rev. A. A. Dinsmore appeared in the summer of 1864. The Rev. Dr. Paxton, of New York City, preached his ordination sermon as well as several others during his stay in the place, and left a deep impression upon the minds of the people. The church seems
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to have made marked advance at this time, being thoroughly united in its pastor and receiving a considerable number of addi- tions. They were, enabled to become independent of the board and to pay a larger salary than ever before. Of those now with us there were received at that time Mrs. Jula Ladd (now living elsewhere), Mrs. Sophia Klinke, Miss Henrietta Fullerton, Mrs. Cordelia Palmer, Mr. John Brown, Mrs. Vining, Miss Fanny Oberlee, Mrs. Azel, Mrs. Webber, Father Philips, Mr. Albert Huxley, Mrs. G. Scott and Mrs. Alfred Kimberly. Mr. Dinsmore left the field, to the great regret of his people, at the close of the year 1866. He went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he labored until his health failed in 1872. He is now pastor of a church in one of the suburbs of Philadelphia. For more than six months there was a vacancy in the pulpit of the Second Church to September, 1865. In January, 1865, the Rev. John D. Potter visited the church. The Rev. J. H. Walker became the pastor of the church in September, 1865. He resigned in December, 1869, after a pas- torate of a little more than four years, to take charge of a mis- sion in Chicago, which has since become the Reunion Presby- terian Church and with which he is still connected. He was re- garded by all as an interesting preacher and an open-hearted, earnest man.
Turning now to the other church, we find that the Rev. J. C. Kelly was called in the summer of 1867 to the pastorate. He was installed December 10, the Rev. Mr. Campbell, of De Pere. preaching the sermon; the Rev. Mr. Milligan, of Horicon, deliv- ered the charge to the pastor, and the Rev. T. G. Smith, of Fond du Lac, the charge to the people. The relation thus formed was severed in December, 1869. The reason which led to it was the tendency at large both in the old and new school churches toward reunion and a desire to prepare the way for the union of the two churches in Neenah. Mr. Kelly devoted himself with all his soul to the accomplishment of the result. He labored not only to bring his own people to that mind, but voluntarily put himself aside that both parties might be free to act. Mrs. Deid- rick Bergstrom was among those received during this pastorate.
We have now come to the end of these separate histories, for henceforth they are to flow as one stream. Let us linger a moment to gather up such facts and to express such observations as may be of value and interest. Up to 1870, when the union took place, one of these churches had existed in its two forms of Congregational and New School Presbyterian twenty-two
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marked advares at this time being there ". .
stor .and receiving a considerable number of ... nabled to become independent of the i .... slang than ever before. Of these nos a. .. d at that time Mes. Jhda Ladd Chats :. ..... ea Klinke, Viss Henrietta Fullerton Mir. John Brown. Mrs. Vining. Miss Fre Mes Webber Father Philips, Mr. Aller: it and Mrs. Alfred Kimberly. Mr. Dinisne ;. Great regret of his people, at the close of the Des Moines, Iowa, where he labored ale ! Wie is now pastor of a church in one of Laphia. For more than six months their .. paget of the Second Church to Septentor was the Rev. John D. Potter visited in: Il Walker because the pastor of the church Il: resigned in December. 1869. after a pas. than four years. to take charge of a mi- ": has since become the Reunion Presby- vii. which he is still connected. He was re : niteresting preacher and an open-hearted
. the ather church, we find that the Rev. . ]. ! ' e. the summer of 1867 to the pastorate. He was de Rev. Mr. Campbell, of De Pop .. when the Box. Mr Mulligan. of Horicon, dela : in the pastor, and the Rev. T. G Smith, of Fond arge to the people The relation thus formed " ;. ihr. It's The reason which led to It was 'a toth ise the old and new school chips a drie to prepare the way for the utter; . .Ho pi .
in Normal. Mr Kelly devoted himself with :
.. sent of the result. He labored 1 . s own page to that mind. but voluntari !; both parties might be free to act. Mrs. i. Was attung those reversed during this paster . come to the end of these separate Historie; tat to flow as of Streams. Let 'peach facts and to express she's alors .... .11. ! interest Tip top lotu. when the · of these churches bad existed in its i. f ... Bil : New School Presbyterian med ....
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J. N. KIEL ..
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years. Nine ministers had served it for various periods, the longest being that by Brother Walker. The other had an exist- ence of twenty-one years with five ministers, the longest period of service being that of Brother Rosseel. Thus fourteen ministers have labored at the foundations of this church in a course of twenty-two years.
The whole number of names gathered by the Congregational and New School Presbyterian churches in the twenty-two years of their existence was 236, of which there was reported as on the roll at the time of the union 160, a wastage of 76 names by the ordinary causes, removal, death and discipline. In the other church the whole number gathered in the twenty-one years of its existence was 199, of which there was reported in the year of the Union as on the roll 75, a loss of 124.
Aid was received in building the three houses of worship from the church erection boards and from the home missionary socie- ties in supporting the pastors. Every minister who had labored with these churches had received about half his salary from these boards. From $200 to $250 were asked per year during at least thirteen years of their existence, thus making a total of $5,850 received. Add to this about $900 received in aid of the church building and you have a total of $6,751 obtained from missionary funds in planting these churches. How much did they return to these boards during this time? It has been impossible to obtain the statistics as to this, but we have a statement for the first thirteen years of one of these churches, and that will help us to judge of the other. The total of its contribution to the boards during all this time was $68.31. In the subsequent nine years of this church's separate history it was independent of missionary help and is reported as giving to the boards about $800, and it paid $300 received from the church erection board. This would probably be a fair standard for the other church, taking the whole history through, and so we would have a total given by both the churches of something over $1.700, leaving us at the time of the union. deducting the $300 returned by the New School church to the board of church erection in debt to the boards, about $4,800.
At a congregational meeting of the First Church, held Decem- ber 28, 1869, it was resolved to appoint a committee to confer with a committee from the Second Church to fix. if possible, on a basis of union. The committee appointed consisted of the session, J. W. Whitenack, David Blakely. J. A. Kimberly, Robert Shiells
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and three members of the church, N. De Merritt, William T. Mer- riman and John Fullerton. On December 29 a similar step was taken at a meeting of the Second Church. It was resolved by a unanimous and rising vote that a union with the First Church was desirable and a committee, consisting of the session, William N. Moore, J. C. Enos, Samuel Mitchell and Thomas Cooke, together with three members of the church, John Proctor, Dr. S. Galentine and J. L. Clement, was appointed to meet the committee of the First Church. The joint committee of fourteen met January 1, 1870, and after prayer and consultation appointed a subcommit- tee, consisting of J. L. Clement and Robert Shiells, to draw up articles of union between the two churches. This committee re- ported at a meeting of the joint committee, held January 5. The report was adopted and the necessary steps taken to submit it to the action of the churches. The Second Church at a meeting of the congregation, held January 5, adopted the reported conditions of unión unanimously.
The First Church held their meeting January 17 and took the same action, with one dissenting vote. John Proctor and Robert Shiells were appointed a committee to secure the necessary legal measures to unite the two societies under the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Neenah. An act of the legislature of Wis- consin in 1870, legalizing the action of the churches and provid- ing for the transfer of property, is the result of this committee's work. The uniting of the Sunday-schools of the two churches was left to the management of the superintendents, Mr. Proctor and Mr. Kimberly. Mr. Proctor had been superintendent of the First Presbyterian Church Sunday-school almost from the time of his coming to the place, and of the Second Church Sunday- school from the time of its organization to the union, a period of about fourteen years. Mr. Kimberly had been the sperintendent of the First Church Sunday-school for about ten years. By their arrangement the classes of the two schools were consolidated and Mr. Kimberly became the superintendent of the united school. There was a meeting of both congregations on January 19, at which the articles of union were fully ratified, and all officers hay- ing resigned, new ones were elected, as follows: Elders, Thomas Cooke, J. L. ( lement, J. A. Kimberly, William N. Moore, Robert Shiells and David Blakely; deacons, Samuel Mitchell and Peter Johnson. It was then decided that the now united church should be put under the care of the Presbytery of Winnebago, which was carried into effect at the meeting of that Presbytery, held Feb-
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