USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth County, Wisconsin > Part 146
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The first " tailors' clothes" of home manufacture, worn in Spring Prairie, were made by Jackson Kohler, who commenced working at that business in 1843. Otis Preston, from Michigan, opened a shop in 1846, and continued in the business two years, when he was elected sheriff and moved to Elkhorn.
In 1836, when Spring Prairie was first settled, the nearest postoffice was at Racine, -the nearest saw-mill at the rapids of Root River, three miles beyond Racine, and the nearest grist-mill at Ottawa, III.
Mr. Daniel Salisbury, in relating some of the experiences of the pioneers, during the long first Winter, says: "The winters, to one who had been accustomed to society and social life, were dull and dreary beyond description. The most that could be done to advantage was to cut logs and draw them to their place of destination, for building a fence or a house." He says it was impossible to realize the severity of the cold until one had braved it for some little time, and that often one would venture ont, deceived by the clearness of the atmosphere, and before the load of logs was ready, find that the frost had already bitten his feet or nose. He relates a little incident of the winter thus : " In the latter part of Dec., 1836. I was cutting house logs near the outlet of Delavan Lake, and I thought I heard a voice in the distance. I stopped awhile-listened-and hearing nothing, went to chopping again, that the sound of my ax might draw the attention of any one who might be lost. After a while I heard the hallooing again, and, at the top of his voice, the stranger cried: 'It is worth five dollars to see a live man. Whercabonts in the world are we?' If you have ever been lost in a large wilderness, you may appreciate his joy in approaching me." In regard to the expense and difficulty of obtaining wholesome and nutritious food during the first year of pioneer life at Spring Prairie, he says that " when there was any provision for sale at Racine or Milwaukee, flour was $14.00 or $15.00 per barrel, and pork $20.00 or $25.00 per barrel, and it seemed that if dealers at the East had any provision that was not merchantable, they would send it here. I well remember that in the spring of 1837, Mr. Isaiah Hamb-
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
lin, living on Spring Prairie, a man of small means, and with a large family of children, purchased a barrel of flonr in Racine for $18.00, and on using it, found that it had been previously opened. The top six inches deep, was good, but the rest very hard and musty, and when they succeeded in cutting it up, and pounding, sifting, and cooking it, it made them sick.
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
From January 2, 1838, to March 21, 1843, as already stated, Spring Prairie em- braced within its boundaries the present town of LaFayette, and the first town meeting of which record there is any record, was held April 5, 1842, at the house of Dr. A. A. Hemenway, of Spring Prairie. This was also the last town meeting of the united town, the separation taking place the following spring. There were ninety-two votes polled. and the following officers elected : Supervisors-Jesse C. Mills, Chairman, Stephen G. West, Reuben Clark : Town Clerk-Daniel Salisbury ; Assessors-Nathaniel Bell, Solo- mon Harvey, John E. Hopkins; Treasurer-Austin L. Merrick ; Collector-Richard Chenery ; Constables-Daniel D. Whitmore, Elias Hicks; School Commissioners-Orra Martin, Theodore B. Northrop, Ansel A. Hemenway ; Fence Viewers-R. Merrick, Daniel Hartwell, Elias Hicks, Isaiah Dike, Daniel Whitmore ; Highway Commissioners- N. Bell, R. Chenery, H. H. Sterling.
The following is a complete roster of the town officers of Spring Prairie, from the time of its organization as a separate town :
1843 : Supervisors-Benjamin L. Perce, Chairman, William B. Wade (at a special meeting held in September, Ansel Salisbury was elected in place of Mr. Wade ), Roderick Merrick ; Town Clerk-Kimball Easterbrook (resigned and J. O. Puffer appointed in his place ) ; Assessor-Sol. Harvey ; Treasurer-Rufus Billings ; Collector-L. R. Smith ; Constables-D. D. Whitmore, S. A. Daniels ; Justices of the Peace-Wm. Tallcot, D. Salisbury, Roderick Merrick ; School Commissioners-M. C. Whitman, Rufus Billings, John Bacon ; Fence Viewers-Reuben Clark, Moses Arms, Isaac Raymond ; Highway Commissioners-Abel Neff, David Pratt, M. C. Whitman.
1844: Supervisors-A. L. Merrick, Chairman, John E. Hopkins (no others elected ); Town Clerk-J. O. Puffer ; Assessors-J. Dike, J. P. Langmaid ; Treasurer- Perez Merrick ; Collector-Curtis H. Moor ; Constables-Simeon Hoyt, Ebenezer Mar- tin ; Justices of' the Peace-D. Salisbury, Wm. Berry, L. D. Lewis ; School Commission- ers-O. Martin, L. D. Lewis, Benj. L. Reed ; Fence Viewers-S. C. Vaughn, N. C. Dyer, John M. Cole ; Highway Commissioners-Gilman Hoyt, Charles Dyer. John Bacon.
1845: Supervisors-Lansing D. Lewis, Chairman, A. Salisbury, Israel Williams ; Town Clerk-E. D. Smith ; Assessors-T. M. Hobbs, A. A. Hemenway ; Treasurer- Orrin Elmer; Collector-S. A. Martin ; Constables-Thos. Clark, S. A. Martin ; School Commissioners-E. D. Smith, A. A. Hemenway, Thos. Clark ; Fence Viewers-D. Pat- ten, John Bacon, W. J. Bently; Highway Commissioners-P. Gardner, S. Harvey, John E. Hopkins.
1846: Supervisors-Roderick Merrick, Chairman, J. P. Langmaid, Wm. D. Crain ; Town Clerk-E. D. Smith ; Assessors-S. Pratt, S. Harvey ; Treasurer-O. Elmer ; Col- lector-S. A. Martin ; Constables-C. J. F. White, Wm. Utter, James Dame ; Justices of the Peace-D. Salisbury, Wm. Berry, D. L. Strickland ; School Commissioners-R. D. Turner, O. Martin, L. Eastman ; Fence Viewers-D. Patten, J. Bacon, jr., Wm. J. Bentley ; Highway Commissioners-P. Gardner, G. H. Palmer, Jonathan Leach.
1847: Supervisors-Austin L. Merrick, Chairman, D. P. Carpenter, L. R. Smith ; Town Clerk-Palmer Gardner ; Assessors-James McNay, Jonathan Leach ; Treasurer- Charles Martin ; Collector-O. Elmer ; Constables-Charles Martin, Wm. Utter, Alonzo Merrick, C. J. F. White ; Justice of the Peace-James Baker; School Commissioners-A. A. Hemenway, W. D. Crane, James Baker; Fence Viewers-John Bacon, W. J. Bent- ley, John Dame ; Highway Commissioners-P. Gardner, Edwin Baker, Abel Neff.
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
1848: Supervisors-Ephraim Foote, Chairman, Jonathan Leach, J. P. Langmaid ; Town Clerk-E. D. Smith ; Assessors-John E. Hopkins, S. C. Vaughn ; Treasurer- Perez Merrick ; Collector-S. A. Martin ; Constables-T. M. Hobbs, Edwin Baker, Jona- than Leach ; Justices of the Peace-James Baker, L. O. Whitman ; School Commissioners -D. P. Wilcox, Edson Merrill, E. D. Smith ; Highway Commissioners-M. Berry, L. D. Lewis, Stephen Jones.
1849: Supervisors-Roderick Merrick, Chairman, L. R. Smith, R. J. Roys ; Town Clerk-E. D. Smith ; Assessor-Wm. Child ; Treasurer-W. P. Storms; Constables-T. M. H bbs, Wm. Utler, E. W. Dwight ; Justices of the Peace-J. H. Cooper, D. P. Wil- cox, J. O. Puffer. James Baker ; School Superintendent-Roswell Cheney.
1850: Supervisors-Ephraim Foote, Chairman, George Walworth, Lonis Schmid- ter : Town Clerk-Stephen Bull ; Assessors-Jonathan Leach, A. A. Hoyt : Treasurer- Stephen Jones : Constables-D. E. Chase, P. C. Seeley, Miner Wilcox ; Justices of the Peace -- D. P. Wilcox, James Baker, William Child, J. O. Puffer ; School Superintend- ent-J. H. Cooper.
1851 : Supervisors-Thomas Gage, Chairman, Perez Merrick, Sims Edgerton : Town Clerk-E. D. Smith ; Assessors-Thomas Miller, Jesse Gage (resigned); Treasurer -James Utler : Constables-D. E. Chase, Carter Fuller, James McNay ; Justices of the Peace-Wm. Aldrich, Mellen Berry ; School Superintendents-J. H. Cooper, Roswell Cheney, E. D. Smith.
1852 : Supervisors-A. L. Merrick, Chairman, E. W. Dwight, S. C. Vaughn ; Town Clerk-T. M. Hobbs ; Assessor-K. S. Owen ; Treasurer-W. D. Crain ; Constables-J. E. Bartholf, Judson Neff, Corbin Clark ; Justices of the Peace-Daniel Salisbury, Purlee Baker ; School Superintendent-S. H. Montgomery.
1853: Supervisors-Thomas Gage, Chairman, Charles N. Kingman, Mellen Berry ; Town Clerk-Wellington Hendrix ; Assessor-James McNay ; Treasurer-Geo. Healy ; Constables-J. E. Bartholf, German More, Wm. R. Brewer ; Justices of the Peace-Wm. Aldrich. Mellen Berry ; School Superintendent-Wm. C. Bartlett,
1854: Supervisors-Thomas Gage, Chairman (continued), Nathaniel Bell (elected), William Aldrich, James McNay ; Town Clerk-Wm. Hendrix (G. C. Sawyer elected, but did not qualify); Assessors-W. D. Crain (declined), L. O. Whitman, appointed ; Treasurer-Nathan Smith, jr. ; Constables-Judson Neff, E. M. Utler, N. B. Hendrix ; Justices of the Peace-Thomas Gage, L. O. Whitman, G. C. Sawyer (vacancy ); School Superintendent-James Child.
1855 : Supervisors-Thomas Gage, Chairman, J. C. Gaylord, A. L. Merrick (did not qualify), W. Aldrich (continued); Town Clerk-S. Bull ; Treasurer-James McNay; Assessor-James McNay ; Constables-J. H. Stanley. C. S. French, N. H. Neff ; Justices of the Peace-Wm. Aldrich, J. E. Bartholf ; School Superintendent-James Child.
1856: Supervisors-James McNay, Chairman, Jonathan Leach, Alfred Hubbard ; Town Clerk-S. Bull; Assessors-John Raleigh (declined), Chas. Martin (appointed); Treasurer-Chas. Martin ; Constables-Judson Neff, Henry Hubbard, J. E. Bartholf ; Justices of the Peace-L. O. Whitman, Thomas Gage ; School Superintendent-James Baker.
1857: Supervisors-Jonathan Leach, Chairman, Alfred Hubbard, Henry Vander- pool ; Town Clerk-S. Bull (removed to Racine), J. O. Puffer (appointed August 15); Assessor-Chas. Martin : Treasurer-W. P. Storms; Constables-J. E. Bartholf, S. Jones, M. R. Brittain ; Justices of the Peace-Wm. Aldrich, J. O. Puffer, B. Hoyt, jr. (to fill vacancy.)
1858 : Supervisors-Daniel Salisbury, Chairman, W. P. Storms, S. Jones ; Town Clerk-J. O. Puffer ; Assessor-Ephraim Perkins ; Treasurer-H. W. Boyce ; School Superintendent-James Baker ; Justices of the Peace-J. O. Puffer, B. Hoyt, jr .; Con- stables-Judson Neff, A. C. Norton, J. E. Bartholf.
1859 : Supervisors-Daniel Salisbury, Chairman, Fred Perkins, William D. Crain ;
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
Town Clerk-W. P. Storms ; Assessor-Charles Martin ; Treasurer-Benjamin Hoyt, jr .; School Superintendent-James Baker ; Justices of the Peace-Wm. Aldrich, Azael Barry (vacancy), L. Allen ; Constables-J. E. Bartholf, J. Neff, Stephen Jones.
1860 : Supervisors-Wm. R. Berry, Chairman, A. A. Hoyt, Fred Perkins; Town Clerk-W. P. Storms ; Assessor -- Charles Martin ; Treasurer-W. Potter ; School Superintendent-F. T. Hall ; Justices of the Peace-Azeal Barry, J. O. Puffer, A. Cham- berlin (vacancy); Constables-J. E. Bartholf, Judson Neff, S. Jones.
1861 : Supervisors-W. P. Storms, Chairman, Fred. Perkins, Lucius Allen ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Assessor-Chas. Martin ; Treasurer-Chas. Martin ; School Superintendent-G. W. Heath ; Justices of the Peace-L. Allen, A. Chamberlain ; Con- stables-J. E. Bartholf, J. Neff (declined), Nick Howell, Alexander Collins.
1862: Supervisors -- W. P. Storms, Chairman, Lucius Allen, Daniel Salisbury ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Assessors-Thos. Gage (declined), E. Perkins (appointed July 17) ; Treasurer-W. Potter ; Justices of the Peace-Azael Barry, J. O. Puffer ; Constables -J. E. Bartholf, A. Collins, Gordon Merrick (deceased), N. B. Howell (appointed).
1863: Supervisors-Lucius Allen, Chairman, Woodruff Potter, Abner Chamberlain ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Assessors-R. Billings (declined), W. P. Storms (appointed May 2), John Bacon, Jr .; Justices of the Peace-A. Chamberlin, L. Allen ; Constables- A. Collins, N. B. Howell, J. E. Bartholf.
1864: Supervisors-Abner Chamberlin, Chairman, Purlee Baker, M. H. Foote (declined), O. T. Hubbard (appointed) ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn : Assessor -- R. Billings ; Treasurer-B. Hovt, Jr .; Justices of the Peace-J. O. Puffer, A. Barry, P. Baker : Constables-N. B. Howell, J. E. Bartholf, David Haight.
1865 : Supervisors-A. Chamberlin, Chairman, A. A. Hoyt, O. T. Hubbard ; Town Blerk-Guy C. Weed (declined), B. F. Vaughn (appointed) ; Assessor-R. Billings ; Treasurer-M. V. Pratt : Justices of the Peace-J. E. Bartholf, W. P. Storms ; Constables Cyril Bowker, Simeon Avery, Daniel Haight.
1866 : Supervisors-A. Chamberlain, Chairman, A. A. Hoyt, Purlee Baker ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Assessor-R. Billings ; ! Treasurer-M. V. Pratt ; Justices of the Peace-W. Potter, B. F. Vaughn, J. O. Puffer ; Constables-C. Bowker, S. Avery, Lyman Cook.
1867 : Supervisors-A. Chamberlin, Chairman, Purlee Baker, Orris Pratt ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-Ephraim Perkins ; Assessor-Charles Martin ; Justices of the Peace-B. F. Vaughn, A. A. Hoyt; Constables-P. Noblet, David Dike (declined), C. Bowker (appointed), J. Avery.
1868: Supervisors-Lucius Allen, Chairman, Orris Pratt, Lonis Schmidter; Toun Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-M. V. Pratt ; Assessor-C. R. Aldrich ; Justice of the Peace-P. O. Puffer ; Constables-C. Bowker, N. B. Howell, Edward Zahn (declined).
1869: Supervisors-M. H. Foote, Chairman, Wm. Aldrich, Louis Schmidter ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-O. B. Houghton ; Assessor-Charles Martin ; Justices of the Peace-J. E. Bartholf, B. F. Vaughn, A. A. Hoyt (vacancy) ; Constables-Alonzo Bartholf, Cyril Bowker, Peter Noblet.
1870 : Supervisors-Wm. Albrich, Chairman, A. A. Hoyt, Absalom Williams ; Town Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-G. H. Kinne ; Assessor-Charles Martin ; Jus- tice of the Peace-O. Sheffield, A. A. Hoyt ; Constables-C. Hopkins, A. Bartholf, L. G. Dame.
1871 : Supervisors-M. V. Pratt, chairman, Louis Schmidter, A. M. Aldrich ; Clerk -B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-G. G. Reeves ; Assessor-O. Stetson; Constables-Cyril Bowker, A. Bartholf, L. G. Dame.
1872 : Supervisors-A. M. Aldrich, H. D. Barnes, A. A. Hoyt; Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-G. G. Reeve ; Assessor-O. Stetson ; Justices-A. A. Hoyt, O. Sheffield ; Constables-C. Bowker, A. Bartholf, Lewis Dame, Cassius Hopkins.
1873 : Supervisors-A. M. Aldrich, H. D. Barnes, A. A. Hoyt; Clerk-B. F.
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Vaughn ; Treasurer-C. A. Pratt; Assessor-J. E. Bartholf ; Constables-C. Bowker, L. G. Dame, Cassius Hopkins, Alonzo Bartholf.
1874: Supervisors -- A. M. Aldrich, Chairman, H. D. Barnes, Absalom Williams ; Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-C. A. Pratt ; Assessor-J. E. Bartholf ; Justices -- J. O. Puffer, A. A. Hoyt; Constables-Cyril Bowker, L. G. Dame, Alonzo Bartholf.
1875: Supervisors-A. M. Aldrich, Chairman, Charles P. Green, Woodruff Potter; Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-C. A. Pratt ; Justices-B. F. Vaughn, J. E. Bart- holf ; Constables-C. Bowker, L. G. Dame, A. Bartholf, J, C. Hopkins.
1876 : Supervisors-A. M. Aldrich, Chairman, Woodruff Potter, Charles P. Green; Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Treasurer-W. P. Storms; Assessor-J. E. Bartholf ; Justices- J. O. Puffer, A. A. Hoyt ; Constables-C. Bowker, A. Bartholf, L. G. Dame.
1877 : Supervisors-A. M. Aldrich, Chairman, A. Williams, Louis Schmidter ; Clerk-B. F. Vaughn ; Assessor-J. E. Bartholf ; Treasurer -- George Puffer ; Justices- J. E. Bartholf, B. F. Vaughn ; Constables-C. Bowker, Alonzo Bartholf, L. G. Dame.
1878: Supervisors-E. D. Page, Chairman, Wm. Hubbard, D. F. Thompson ; Clerk-James Nipe ; Treasurer-Leroy W. Merrick ; Assessor-H. D. Barnes; Justices -J. O. Puffer, A. A. Hoyt ; Constables-C. Bowker, A. Bartholf, Charles Blake.
1879: Supervisors-E. D. Page, Chairman, Wm. Hubbard, D. F. Thompson ; Clerk- James Nipe ; Treasurer-Leroy W. Merrick ; Assessor-H. D. Barnes ; Justices-J. E. Bartholf, Absalom Williams; Constables-C. Bowker, A. Bartholf.
1880 : Supervisors-E. D. Page, Chairman, Wm. Hubbard, Geo. Boyer; Clerk- James Nipe ; Treasurer-James McIntosh ; Assessor-H. D. Barnes ; Justices-A. A. Hoyt, J. O. Puffer ; Constables-A. Bartholf, S. Vaughn, Cyril Bowker.
1881: Supervisors-O. Pratt, Chairman, Charles Hubbard, S. G. Dame ; Clerk- L. W. Merrick ; Treasurer-Vernon Raleigh ; Assessor-C. R. Aldrich ; Justices-Ellis Bartholf, Ezra Miller ; Constables-Cyril Bowker, Sumner Vaughn, Alonzo Bartholf.
THE MORMON CHURCH IN SPRING PRAIRIE.
In 1844, about a year before the shooting of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hiram, by the mob at Carthage, Ill., a man of somewhat unprepossessing, not to say sinister, look and manner, made his appearance in the quiet and order-loving town of Spring Prairie. His name was James J. Strang, and he professed to be a lawyer. His brother- in-law, Benjamin C. Perce, resided on Section 36, near White River, and Mr. Strang remained for a time an inmate of his house, without any apparent occupation or business. Upon the death of the "Prophet of Nauvoo," Strang claimed to have received an appointment from him as his successor, and as a prophet of God, to lead the Mormon Church. Quite a company of followers from Nauvoo, who were scattered by the death of Joseph Smith, soon gathered around him, and were joined by others of the same faith from various parts of the country. Some of the latter were soon aware that they had been deceived, and leaving the company, returned to their homes, " wiser if not sadder men," to slightly paraphrase the sentence. Others, too ignorant and too credulous to be convinced of their own folly, or see the shallowness of Strang's pretensions, remained his faithful disciples ; and still another class, consisting of those who, while repudiating the pretensions, still honestly retained their faith in the tenets of the Mormon Church, remained in Spring Prairie, universally respected, holding various public offices of trust, and ranking among its most honest and worthy citizens. The quasi Prophet bought 200 acres of land, platted his village and named it Voree, and appointed his High Council, Patriarchs, High Priests, Twelve Apostles, and likewise the Seventy. The village, in the height of its prosperity, contained only three or four hundred inhabitants, but Strang affirmed that his audiences sometimes numbered fifteen hundred.
On the 13th of Sept., 1845, the paraphernalia being all prepared, and its machinery in prime working order, Mr. Strang directed Aaron Smith, the High Priest, and Disciples Jirah B. Wheeler, J. M. Van Ostrand and Edward Whitcomb to an oak tree, a foot in
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
diameter, standing on the east line of the town of Spring Prairie, and south of White River bridge, where they would find three golden plates buried in three feet of earth. These precious plates would be enclosed in a case of slightly baked clay, and covered with a flat stone. Upon them would be found written a full account of an ancient peo- ple called Mormons. These men testified that they found the plates as directed by Strang, and imbedded in earth which had the appearance of having lain undisturbed for ages. The mysterious inscription was translated by Prophet Strang, and its most impor- tant clause seemed to be that Joseph Smith had appointed him to be his true and worthy successor. He also asserted that he had a letter from the same great head of their church, containing words of like import. After a time, finding that it was necessary to supple- ment the power of the church with the power of the press, he published a weekly paper called the Voree Herald, changed to Zion's Reveille, and finally to The Gospel Herald. Neither the inspiring notes of his Reveille, nor the proclamations of his Herald, seemed to arouse the people to any such feeling of enthusiasm in his favor as he desired ; in fact his conduct and conversation had grown so overbearing and insolent, and his practices so grossly deceptive and iniquitous, as to cause Mr. Scott, a determined unbeliever in the great apostle of the Mormons, to start an opposition paper, chiefly devoted to the exposure of his various frauds and impostures, one of which was his famous "illu- mination."
Strang had affirmed that he had received a revelation of a great illumination which was soon to take place, and which would cause the heads of such of the faithful as he should anoint, to shine with a wonderful light; indeed, the whole room would be filled with the glory of it. The miracle, however, must be performed in the evening, and in a dark room. The time was twice fixed for the great event that was to confound and convince the unbelieving Gentiles, but the leader finally decided that it would be useless to attempt to so glorify the " saints," unless they first performed their plain and obvious duty by completing the dwelling which they had in process of erection for him. The weather was getting cold and Mr. Strang thought they were altogether too slow. Finally the house was finished, the time appointed, and a great company gathered to see the illumination. The room was darkened, and the heads of the chosen were duly anointed. Strang commenced rubbing in the wonderful ointment, with perhaps, too much power and vehemence, and the illumination came accompanied by a phosphorescent odor, that was not suggestive of its connection with any good spirits. It is related, by scoffers, that one aged disciple had even thinner locks after the miracle was performed than before, in fact that the anointing and friction together, caused not only a glow, but an actual bona fide fire to surround his head.
Strang's followers being a good deal divided among themselves by internal dissen- tions, he received a " revelation " in 1847, that he must remove his church to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan. The revelation was obeyed and the colony departed, not without committing various crimes and misdemeanors, which caused much and expensive litigation.
A few years after his removal to Beaver Island, Strang was shot and mortally wounded by two men who had previously been his followers. One of these men he had publicly whipped, and the other he had repeatedly insulted by foul epithets. Strang was senseless when he was taken up after being shot, and never spoke again. He was brought to Voree, accompanied by two of his so-called " wives," and followed soon after by two more-all of whom remained with him until his death, which occurred about ten days after. The parents of James J. Strang resided for many years in the town of Spring Prairie, were most worthy and exemplary people, and accounted among its best citizens, and their misguided son, before becoming demoralized by the Mormon delusion or deception, was said to be a youth of great promise.
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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.
CHURCHES.
The Baptist Church of Spring Prairie adopted its " Articles of Faith, and Church Covenant " May 16, 1841, at a meeting held at the house of J. O. Puffer, in Spring Prairie, Rev. Orra Martin serving as Moderator, and Kimball Easterbrook as Clerk. These were presented on the twenty-seventh of the same month to a council composed of delegates from the various churches of like faith in the vicinity, Rev. Henry Topping serving as Moderator and N. Norris as Clerk, and, being approved, the church was orga- nized in full fellowship with other churches of the Baptist denomination, and was called at that time " The Baptist Church of Spring Prairie and Burlington." The following were the delegates to the Council : Ministerial-Revs. P. W. Lake, A. B. Winchell and H. Topping ; Lay-L. Ellis, N. Rouse, Wm. A. Bartlett and E. Norris. The following gentlemen, by request, participated in the proceedings of the Council :- Revs. R. Griffin, E. Matthews, B. Perce and William R. Manning ; Lay-S. Whitman and M. C. Whitman. A sermon was preached on the occasion by Rev. T. W. Lake, and the right hand of fellowship given by Rev. H. Topping. The following persons were admitted by letter, as constituent members : Rev. Orra Martin, Polly S. Martin, Deacon John Bacon, Sally Bacon, Deacon J. O. Puffer, Hannah M. Puffer, Kimball Easterbrook, Emily Easterbrook, Dr. Edward G. Dyer, Ann E. Dyer, D. D. Whitmore, Prudence K. Whitmore, Geo. G. Colton, Nancy Colton, Enoch Miner, David Salisbury, Harvey Bacon, Wm. Dyer, Mary Dyer, Clarissa Hamblin, Tamar Campbell, Elizabeth Acken, Ellen Hodge, Sarah Gleason, Lydia Bently, Lemuel Rugg.
Rev. Wm. R. Manning was the first pastor, commencing his pastorate July, 1841, and closing April 1844,
February 18, 1843, thirteen of the members left to form a new organization at Bur- lington, and the old church then assumed its present name-" The Baptist Church of Spring Prairie." In the spring of 1846, the church, having out-grown the school-house in which it had hitherto worshipped, erected a commodious church edifice at Spring Prairie Corners, which was dedicated to the worship of God the following December. The building is 36x48 feet, with a basement, and has been at various times improved and repaired. A bell has been hung-a good parsonage purchased, and the church property is now valued at $3,000.
A Sabbath-school was commenced in April, 1844, under the superintendence of Mr. Wm. Dyer, who retained the position until his death in 1848. Among his successors may be mentioned Mr. Charles Martin, who was superintendent nineteen years. The school has been in operation every summer since its organization, and winters since 1860. The whole number of members connected with the church since its organization, is about 330. Present number, sixty. The Sabbath-school has now about ninety scholars on its list.
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