USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Beloit > Past made present : the first fifty years of the First Presbyterian Church and congregation of Beloit, Wisconsin together with a history of Presbyterianism in our state up to the year 1900 > Part 24
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Secretary Stanton once told Lincoln that in order to defend the western part of our country we needed gun boats that would run up the smallest creeks. "Yes," remarked the president, "we want some that will run on a light dew."
Financially speaking, our Home and Sabbath School missionaries are just that kind and, according to this record, some of them go well even in thick mud.
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history of the Church in Wisconsin by Presbyteries.
*THE PRESBYTERY OF MILWAUKEE.
That Presbytery of Milwaukee which was merged in the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of 1840 has been already described. ( Pages 147, 166, 167.)
The second body bearing this name was another New School Presbytery formed early in 1851. (See page 148.)
The third body of the same name was the Old School Presbytery of Mil- waukee, which was organized Oct. 1st, 1851, after the O. S. Presbytery of Wis- consin had been made the Synod of Wisconsin. ( Described on pages 153 and 154. )
The fourth body bearing the name of the Presbytery of Milwaukee was that of the Re-united Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin, and was formed July 15, 1870, by the Synod which then met in Milwaukee. It consisted of the churches of Beloit, Brodhead, Barton, Cato, Cambridge, Delafield, Graf- ton, Janesville, Jefferson, the First, North, Calvary, and First and Second Holland of Milwaukee, Manitowoc, Ottowa, Oostburg, Port Washington, Richfield, Waukesha, West Granville and Stone Bank.
By an Enabling Act of Synod the boundaries of this Presbytery were modified in 1884 ; the Janesville church, a church at Lima, Beloit First and German, were transferred to Madison Presbytery ; Juneau, Horicon, Alto Holland, Beaver Dam First and Beaver Dam Assembly, were received, and also Wheatland. Meanwhile Port Washington and Jefferson ceased to exist, and other changes and additions have made the roll of churches in the Pres- bytery of Milwaukee as it appears in the records of the General Assembly, 1899.
The history of the Presbytery of Milwaukee thus far presented has been a matter of dates covering several periods of its existence, but something more should be said of the men who laid the foundations of this goodly structure, and to whom, those of us who enjoy the manifold blessings of a sound Presbyterian polity and faith, are so much indebted. In these peace- ful days of material prosperity, these times of rapid communication, we cannot fully appreciate the obstacles they encountered and overcame, the hardships they endured, and the sacrifices they willingly made to establish the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ during the early days of our church in Wisconsin. Could the roll of honor be called, we would hear many a name, forgotten indeed of men, but kept in everlasting remembrance in the kingdom above. Nor is Milwaukee Presbytery without its christian heroes who fought against the greatest odds, against the indifference, the poverty, the opposition of those whose welfare they sought to promote ; they searched out the stranger, they gathered the scattered families into churches, the children into Sabbath-schools ; they spent days in the saddle and nights in solitary dwellings; they "endured hardness" in the service of the Lord, and we rejoice in the fruits of their labors.
Very early they saw the importance of a higher christian education, and could the inner history of Carroll College be spread open, we would award
*From a sketch prepared in 1888 by Elder Robert Menzies, Rev. Jacob Post, D.D., and Rev. Samuel W. Chidester, a committee of Presbytery ; sketch amended and brought down to date.
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its founders a memorial of our profoundest gratitude for the part they took and the sacrifices they made-that it might exist. The history of our Pres- bytery would not be complete did it not contain some reference to the Rev. Dr. John A. Savage, who to establish this school, in spite of coldness and indifference, in spite of jealousy and open opposition, fought on ; sometimes single-handed and alone, always cheerful, always hopeful, always the chris- tian gentleman, until the Master he loved so well, and whom he delighted to serve, called him to come up higher. Time would fail to tell of many others deserving honorable mention who labored not only in "word and doctrine," in preaching and teaching, both in Sabbath and week day schools, but with their hands ; they labored in helping to build churches, they cut timber, they hauled stone, they burned lime, whatever their hands found to do they did it with their might. Some of them were called to give up the fight and enter upon their rest; some were called to other fields, some were driven away by failing health, and one who went through just such experi- ences in 1846, writes in 1858: "I was driven out by malaria ; the disease summered and wintered with me. For about two years it shot at me like an Indian in ambush. I preached with the chill on, I preached with the fever on, so I imitated one of the Hudebras heroes.
' He that fights and runs away, Lives to fight another day.' "'
He is still fighting "another day" for the cause of christian education on the Pacific Slope. In the Presbytery of Milwaukee, during all its history, there has not been wanting a host of earnest, faithful, intelligent ruling Elders, who have held up the hands and encouraged the hearts of the teach- ing elder, who by wise council, by hearty co-operation in church and school work, by generous gifts, by hospitable welcome to their hearths and homes, liave done their share in planting and sustaining the Presbyterian church in our bounds. And this brief history must not close without mention of "honorable women not a few," whose help and encouragement has been essential, and who, not once or twice, when feeble churches have been deserted by both Pastor and Elder, have refused to give up the service of God's house, have kept alive an interest in the Sunday school and the prayer meeting, who have been frequently by far the largest proportion of the attendants at the Sabbath services, and by whose faithful devotion the church itself has been saved from utter extinction.
In order that still more in detail the story of this Presbytery may be told, there is presented a succinct history of the individual churches now upon its roll, and they are named in the order of their organization without reference to the time of their becoming part of this body.
The history of the First Presbyterian Church we have already consid- ered (pp. 239-261).
THE NORTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The North Presbyterian Church, also previously mentioned, was organ- ized with sixteen members on January 5, 1849, by a committee of the Pres- bytery of Wisconsin (O. S.), consisting of Revs. D. C. Lyon, A. L. Linds- ley and J. M. Buchanan. William Gillespie and Silas Chapman were chosen and ordained as elders.
The first and only pastor of this church was Rev. J. M. Buchanan. The
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exact date of his call and installment is not on record, but it was doubtless soon after the organization of the church. Not only were his ability and fidelity recognized by his church and in the community, but his influence also was widely felt throughout the whole young and growing state.
For more than twenty-one years he served the North church with con- spicuous success, and diligently promoted various causes of christian benev- olence, especially that of christian education.
*Dr. Buchanan's chief strength was in the pulpit. His sermons were intellectual masterpieces, which brought into and held in his audience law- yers, doctors, leading business men, many of the strong minds of the city. Such a pastorate, for its length, harmony and fruitfulness, would be notable in any region, but was much more remarkable in the Northwest. The cat- aloguet of that church for 1857, which contains 175 names of members, locates the pastor at 462 Marshall Street, and gives as his Session, Elders Wm. L. Candee, 544 Cass Street, Silas Chapman, 652 Milwaukee Street, Phi- letus C. Hale, 454 Jefferson Street, Wm. P. Lynde, Vliet Street, and John Ogden, 230 Spring Street, with one Deacon, Charles Jarratt, 200 Galena St.
In August, 1870, Dr. Buchanan resigned on account of his health, which required a change of climate. My first Synod, as a young licentiate, was that first Reunion Synod of July 12th, 1870, held in Milwaukee, at which Dr. Buchanan was elected Moderator. His venerable appearance on that occasion is vividly remembered, and also the dignity and urbanity with which he presided.
(NOTE .- His latest years of life was spent with a son, Rev. Walter D. Buchanan, D.D., who is now pastor of the Thirteenth Street Presbyterian Church, New York. In that city Dr. J. M. Buchanan passed away, January 13th, 1894, in his seventy-sixth year. )
In the fall of 1870, the North Presbyterian Church and the old First Church decided to unite in a new organization, called Immanuel, (to be described later), and with that union in December 1870, the North Presby- terian church record ends.
1843. THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BEAVER DAM. C9.1
(This spot was so designated on the United States township survey because of the many beaver dams found there and from a noticeably large one at the outlet of the lake.)
In 1840 the first settler at this site, Thomas Mackie, built a log cabin near the famous spring which still bears his name. In the winter of 1840-41 Wisconsin's pioneer Presbyterian minister, Rev. Moses Ordway (see p. 161 ) passed over the ground, noticed the unused water-power and decided to locate there. In 1841 came Joseph Goetschius, Thomas Mackie, Morris Firman and Jacob Brower, with their families, and in 1842 were added the families of Abram Ackerman and Henry Stultz. During a visit to the new settlement that summer, Ordway preached in the cabin of Mr. Mackie, the first sermon spoken in the place. The same fall, 1842, Mr. Ordway pur- chased of David Drake the water-power and a saw mill, which Mr. D. had
*According to John Johnston, Esq.
¡The only one found by the writer. The records of the North Church seem to have been lost.
İThe letter and number, given with each church name, locate it on the map.
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built at the outlet of this nine mile lake, the preceding summer. During that winter of 1842-43 he also held religious meetings in the settlement and prepared the way for an organization. To Mr. Ordway therefore, as Dr. Miter once publicly remarked,* the city is mainly indebted for the improve- ment of its water-power as well as for the founding of its first christian church.
June 1st, 1843, in the cabin of Mr. Mackie, the First Presbyterian Church of Beaver Dam was organized with these eight members. Thos. Mackie and Ann his wife. with Hannah Maria Goetschius, his married daughter, Rufus Lounsbury and Mary Ann his wife, Julia A. Arms, Lucy Ordway and Lucy Finch. They adopted a sound Calvinistic creed and a solemn covenant.
In April, 1844, was built their first house of worship. Father Mackie went to the woods, cut the logs and hauled them to the spot selected. On a certain Monday or Tuesday the assembled settlers began their work, the timber was hewed, the frame raised and covered, a floor laid, windows put in, temporary seats made, and the building was ready for use and was used the next Sunday. Mr. Ordway furnished all the materials except the tim- ber for the frame and four pounds of nails, which last were presented by a pioneer Catholic neighbor, John Mannahan.
That first building stood on the east side of Spring Street, t directly on the town line and nearly in front of the Loomis brick building. Here Mr. Ordway preached for two years without pay excepting as follows : he had offered Mr. Stultz, the village Vulcan, eighteen cents for the setting of a horse shoe. That gentleman, however, refused to receive the money, say- ing, "I'll throw it in for preaching." At the end of that two years the church had only twenty members, but the tree was well rooted and growing.
In the fall of 1845 Mr. Ordway was succeeded by Rev. Alexander Mont- gomery, who received during his five years of service here, ninety-four new members, sixty-three by letter and thirty-one on profession of faith.
Within that first small building, in November, 1846, the Madison Con- vention, which had just been set off from Beloit (Sept. 17), completed its organization and held its first meeting. During the next year this society erected its second house of worship at a cost of eight hundred dollars. It was dedicated in 1847 and honored in the autumn of 1849 by the presence of the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin. It stood on the lot next adjoining and west from the larger building which was after- wards erected and in the cut given both houses are shown.
Mr. Montgomery was an earnest and impresive preacher. He retired from the church in June 1850, and died in 1857, at his residence about a mile south of Beloit, Wisconsin. His successor, Rev. William A Niles, a young man of winning manners and eloquent speech, received during his three years ministry (ending in June 1853), seventeen new members on profes- sion and eighteen by letter. He also brought about the erection of the third building, which was dedicated January 7, 1852, and was then the lar- gest and most costly sanctuary in the interior of the State. (In the accom-
*In a historical discourse, preached June 7, 1868, which supplies most of the facts here presented in regard to the early days of this church. The writer also quotes from a his- torical discourse of his own given from the same pulpit in 1876.
+In 1847 it was bought by Christopher Bogert and moved to the north-west corner of . Spring and Third streets. Thence after a few years it was moved again, this time across the river and placed on the north side of Madison Street, the third house east of the upper bridge. It was still there in 1876, and the writer does not know of any further change.
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panying cut of it the low building at the left is the second church building.) In November 1853 Rev. Reuben Smith took charge and was installed by a Council in December, the first regularly installed pastor. For more than twenty-five years he had been an honored minister in Saratoga county, New York, was an able defender of church doctrines, and was also a man of revi- val and missionary spirit. His pastorate of not quite three years (ending in
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BEAVER DAM, WIS., 1852-1888.
'August, 1856), added to the church fifty-three members, eight on profession and forty-nine by letter. This was the memorable era of rapid increase in population and of land speculation and of magnificent cities and fortunes on paper. Rev. Mr. Smith continued his residence in Beaver Dam, died at a ripe old age, and his remains were placed in the cemetery beside those of his devoted wife, who had been loved by all.
*Rev. J. J. Miter of Milwaukee, began to serve this church as Stated Supply in October, 1856, and was installed as pastor by the Madison Con- vention, July 20, 1864. "A long probation," he called it. His noted pas- torate however continued through nearly nineteen years, and ended only with his death while in active service, May 5, 1875.
During the latter half of his term this church, which had been connect- ed with the Convention, came into regular relations with Milwaukee Pres- bytery, of which its pastor also became a member.
Dr. Miter's rugged features were habitually lit up with a genial smile, which was the true index of that charitable, kindly nature that won for him the love of all he met. And among his many friends perhaps no one was more practically devoted to the church and to him than his parishioner
*Buck's Milwaukee, Vol. II, p. 298.
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(though not a church officer) Moses Stevens-a kind friend also to his suc- cessor.
Rev. J. J. Miter was a preacher of acknowledged pulpit power at his regular services, and in particular request for special occasions, at other cities as well as in his own. He had an elevated spiritu- ality also that harmonized with revivals. During the first twelve years of his minis- try, among the 188 additions 85 came on profession, and of 69 persons baptized 32 were adults. He was a man of versatile gifts. The neatness and good taste with which he fitted up the grounds about his own house emphasized his public advo- cacy of such improvement, and soon led to that general public neatness of appear- ance for which the city has ever since 26 - been distinguished. . He started move- REV. J. J. MITER, D.D. ments for a public library and park, and almost every good interest of the city bears the impress of his influence. After he had died, universally lament- ed, a prominent member of his large congregation remarked, "I pity the man that comes here to take Dr. Miter's place." And the man who did come publicly replied, " No one should try to take it. Let that place in your hearts be kept for the man who with nineteen years of faithful labor has made it ; and let the new man make a place of his own."
The writer's service as Stated Sup- ply of this pulpit (called from May- wood, Ill. ) began July 1st, 1875. The church membership, lessened by many removals and deaths, was then only 103 resident and 13 non-resident ; but the regular Sunday morning congrega- tion, gathered by Dr. Miter, was noted both for its size and also for the high average quality, mental and moral, of its members. Among them, besides many others, were States Attorney *A. Scott Sloan, *Judge Edward Elwell, *Judge Lander, *Banker J. J. Williams, Hon. E. C. McFetridge, *Charles W. MOSES STEVENS, Died May 6, 1882. Whinfield, *S. P. K. Lewis, Calvin E. Lewis, *Mr. Chandler, Hon. C. M. Hambright (now of Racine), George Congdon, Editor Thomas Hughes, George E. Redfield, with their families, and *Dr. Asahel Clark, formerly of Beloit First. Also *Mrs. Miter, Mrs. M.
*Deceased.
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A. Helm, and of " other honorable women not a few," and a noble band of young people.
The choir service, too, was of superior quality, and among the most efficient members the names of Mrs. Geo. Congdon, Mrs. Silas Hawley, Miss Charra Daniels (now Mrs. McClure), soprano, and organist E. C. Pratt, Esq., who is still in service, will long be remembered.
June 2, 1876, eleven new members having been added, the writer received a regular call to the pastorate signed by 224 names. While appreciating this honor, their generous presents and other kindnesses, he thought it best however to remain only as pastor elect, by permission of Presbytery, and after three years left this field in excellent condition for his successor, Rev. George F. Hunting, formerly of Kilbourn. Dr. Hunting, a talented speak- er, served them acceptably for the three years from October, 1878, until No- vember, 1881, when he accepted a call to the large Presbyterian church at Kalamazoo, Michigan. After various temporary supplies, Rev. Daniel E .. Bierce came to this pastorate in March, 1883, but resigned in October, 1884.
The Synod of 1884 took this church from Wisconsin River and made it a part of Milwaukee Presbytery.
Rev. Edward K. Strong, an excellent young minister, began his pastor- ate here May 10, 1885, and closed it October 30, 1887. From November, 1887, until July 1, 1888, the pulpit was ably filled by Prof. E. H. Merrill of Ripon College, and during this time plans were matured for a new building. During the summer of 1888 the old building was taken down and a new edi- fice of modern plan erected in its place at a cost of about $14,000, which is all paid. It was dedicated Jan. 6, 1889. In the meantime, Oct. 1, 1888, a new pastor had come, Rev. Allan Bell, formerly of Manitoba, who rendered good service until Nov. 29, 1891, and then accepted a call to Winona, Minn. The next pastor, Robert K. Wharton of Lapier, exceeded the usual average of three years by serving from Feb. 5, 1892, until Oct. 1, 1896.
Various ministers filled the pulpit temporarily during the next winter, and Rev. Wm. J. Palm, of Nevada, became the regular Stated Supply for the year May 9, 1897-1898. Rev. Wm. B. Gantz, the present pastor, coming directly after graduation from McCormick Seminary, Chicago, began his pastorate May 15, 1898. The membership of the church was then 92, and that of the Sabbath School 130. In May, 1899, the church was 100 and the Sunday School 163.
(NOTE ON THE CHOIR SERVICE .- In the earlier years, before 1860, lead- ing singers were Thomas Mackie and Elders Warren and Coe, with Mr. Genung organist for a long time, Miss Celia Flanders, now Mrs. George B. Congdon, Mrs. Frank Botsford, now of Janesville, Wis., and Miss Fannie Dearborn, 1856-'58. Dr. J. M. Hitchcock and Elder L. Witherell and his daughter Maria Witherell served faithfully from 1860 until death. Myron Hawley, now of La Crosse, was organist for many years beginning in 1860. Names of later trained singers are Gerrit and Mary Hawley, Mrs. Silas Haw- ley, Mary Johnston, Jennie Mayne, Charra Daniels, Mrs. E. L. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Horton, Misses Clara C. Nicklaus and Gertrude Lewis. and the present choir ( March, 1900) Frank Stacy, the pastor and his wife, Mrs. W. D. Mckinstry and H. J. Hughes. Mrs. George B. Congon, who retired only about a year ago, has served with rare ability and fidelity for over thir- ty years. This choir has always sought to sing with the spirit and under- standing and has ever been a power for good. )
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Chicago Photo-Gravure Co.
VIEW UP ROCK RIVER FROM BIG HILL, FACING NORTH-EAST.
Appendix, Part I.
PREFACE.
Part I, excepting the Appendix and Indexes, was completed and printed last year, but was kept unbound, awaiting the completion of the Second Part. A thorough preparation of Part II (still unfinished), requires so much time, however, that it seems best to issue Part I without further delay in a volume by itself. The arrangement of forms obliges the binder to include also a portion of Part II, which, however, presents facts and illustrations that concern our own city as well as the state.
IV. F. B.
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NEW ENGLAND PURITANS GOING TO CHURCH.
Ç. H. BOUGHTON.
REV. ALFRED EDDY. Bloomington, I11. 1860.
iv.
Appendix, Part I.
Che Puritan Ancestry of our Pioneers.
One fact, which moulded the beginnings of our church in Beloit and stamped itself on the whole settlement was the Puritan training of our pioneers. The first settlers here were not, as in so many other new places, careless adventurers or dissatisfied wanderers from more civilized commu- nities. They were New England people, who brought with them and man- ifested at the very start that love of church, school and orderly life which was their inheritance from the Puritans and which has given to our city its distinctive character.
Almost all of the New England company and their associates, who founded Beloit, especially those who formed and remained the First Con- gregational church and society, were of Pilgrim or Puritan stock ; and the same may be said of those who founded the First Presbyterian church and society.
Of the many Beloit family histories, warranting this assertion, only four will be cited here as Presbyterian examples, the authorities for which are on record and the nearest at hand.
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