USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Rock County, Wisconsin; a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens and varied interests, from the earliest times, up to date, Vol. I > Part 26
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village school house; for the next seven years in a brick building erected for school purposes, by Leonard Humphrey. Rev. Har- vin Humphrey was the first pastor and labored here until Novem- ber, 1845, when, on account of his advanced years, he was com- pelled to resign. He died October 12, 1858, age ninety years. Rev. Stephen Millett succeeded him, and during his rectorship a church edifice was erected. The corner stone was laid in the spring of 1848. The first services were held in the building in December, 1851. Mr. Millett served until February, 1853, and was succeeded in July, 1854, by Rev. John E. C. Smedes, who remained pastor until July 1, 1858. Rev. J. H. Egar succeeding him and remained until February 4, 1861. Seven months later Rev. L. W. Davies became rector and served until October 1, 1868. During his services a rectory was purchased on the corner of Bridge and Bluff streets. Rev. Fayett Royce came on Novem- ber 1, 1868, and remained in charge of the church for twenty-nine years, and died in 1898. He was succeeded by Rev. Frank Mal- lett, who remained three years, when Rev. II. J. Purdue became rector, resigning in 1905. In January, 1906, Rev. Joseph Carden was called from the diocese of Massachusetts. and is at present in charge of the church. Under the present rectorship many im- provements have been made and the mortgage debt nearly wiped out. The communicant list numbers 350.
St. Thomas' Roman Catholic Church. The first Catholic serv- ices recorded in Rock county were held in Beloit, in 1846, by Rev. Father McKernan, who celebrated mass in the house of Captain Powers. There were then in Beloit five Catholic families. In May, 1853, Rev. Father McFaul cared for the Beloit Catholics until June, 1854; Father Kundig the next three months; Father Norris until January 1, 1856; then Father Kundig two months, and Father Norris again until 1859. His successors were Fathers Riordan Smith until 1862, Herman until 1866, and Sullivan until his death in 1883, when Rev. M. J. Ward was appointed to this field.
The first Catholic church at Beloit was built by Father Norris in 1854. This stone building was destroyed by fire December 23, 1884. The next day one of Father Ward's Presbyterian friends, meeting him, said : "I am sorry for your loss-I'm sorry twenty dollars' worth," and gave him a twenty dollar gold piece. In addition to this first contribution toward a new building Father
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Ward soon secured enough to erect a new church edifice of brick (on School street, now East Grand avenue, 830), and it was dedicated June 6, 1886.
During his quarter century of service here, completed July 5, 1908, Father Ward has done a great work for temperance and, more than any other man in Beloit, has helped in that reform both within this county and also outside of its bounds.
In 1902 Father Rivers became first assistant in this parish, and was followed in that service by Father Cuyler, and in the latter part of 1903 Father Joseph E. Hanz began that service. Father Ward has the respect and good will of all Beloit citizens, and the personal esteem and love of all his own congregation, who now number 1,560.
Saint Jude's Church, Roman Catholic. This new society was organized in the Knights of Columbia hall, Beloit, Wis., June 24, 1908, and the certificate of incorporation was issued by the secre- tary of state, September 2, 1908. The trustees are: President, Most Rev. S. G. Messmer, D. D .; Very Rev. Joseph Rainer, V. G .; vice president. Joseph E. Hanz (the pastor) ; secretary, Charles Ramsden. The site chosen is at the corner of Hackett and Roose- velt streets, west side. The treasurer is John Meehan.
First Baptist Church. In the fall of 1837 Rev. S. S. Whitman, a Baptist minister of Belvidere, Ill., preached in the "Beloit House" the first sermon ever heard in Beloit. In the winter of 1838-39 Elder Topping, of Delavan, preached in Beloit. For a few years Baptist headquarters were established at the private school of Miss Jane Moore. Rev. Albert Burgess preached in this school house in 1840, and on April 24, 1841, he organized the Baptist Church with fourteen members. At the close of the first year the church numbered forty-three.
In December, 1845, the "Church and Society" was organized, and steps taken to build a meeting house. On January 18, 1846, the trustees resolved to purchase the present site, and $100 was paid for the same. The church edifice of stone (40x60 feet) was finished late in 1847 and dedicated early in 1848.
In the year 1874, under the leadership of Rev. E. P. Savage, the church was rebuilt and the towers added to the front of the structure, making an imposing building. This stood for ten years.
On the night of April 12, 1884, the church was burned down.
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A loss of $15,000 was sustained, covered by $5,000 insurance. Heroic efforts were made by Pastor F. A. Marsh and his people and the church was rebuilt and dedicated in April, 1885.
During the pastorate of Rev. A. W. Runyan the present chapel and parlors were built and a gallery placed in the audience room. These were dedicated in May, 1896.
From fourteen constituent members in 1841 the church has increased in the sixty-five years of its history to nearly 450 members.
The church has had nineteen pastors, as follows: Rev. A. B. Winchell, May 22, 1841 to October 4, 1842; Rev. Mr. Murphy, January 1, 1843 to March 1, 1844; Rev. John Trowbridge, June 1, 1844 to January 1, 1845; Rev. Niles Kinne, January 22, 1845 to April 2, 1850; Rev. E. L. Harris, December 3, 1850 to February 4, 1854; Rev. Daniel Eldredge, January 10, 1855 to October 21, 1855; Rev. Thomas Holeman, December 22, 1855 to September 10, 1859 ; Rev. R. R. Prentice, March 12, 1860 to October 31, 1861; Rev. Levi Parmely, May 4, 1862 to May 1, 1867; Rev. L. F. Ray- mond, August 1, 1867 to December 1, 1868; Rev. H. W. Woods, June 1, 1869 to October 2, 1870; Rev. Austin Gibb, January 1, 1871 to May 1, 1872; Rev. E. P. Savage, July 7, 1872, to October 1, 1877; Rev. F. A. Marsh, May 16, 1880 to May 10, 1888; Rev. O. P. Bestor, January 1, 1889 to May 1, 1893 ; Rev. A. W. Runyan, September 3, 1893 to November 30, 1896; Rev. W. A. Spinney, December 27, 1896 to December 4, 1898; Rev. Howland Hanson, February 12, 1899 to June 11, 1905 ; Rev. F. W. Hatch, October 1, 1905 to the present time.
First Methodist Episcopal Church. This society was formed October 15, 1842, and like other organizations held their services in the village school houses, until their building was erected in 1846. During the pastorate of Rev. C. R. Pattie, from 1870 to 1872, a discussion arose in the society which resulted in the form- ation of the M. P. Church.
The pastors have been Rev. Mr. Hodge, Rev. Mr. Warren, Rev. Mr. Allen, Rev. Mr. Lewis, Rev. Mr. Beech, Rev. Mr. Ford, Rev. Mr. Thomas, Rev. Mr. Wood, Rev. Wesley Lattin, Rev. P. B. Pease, Rev. C. D. Pillsbury, Rev. William P. Stowe, Rev. W. W. Case, Rev. C. R. Pattie, Rev. A. C. Higginson, Rev. T. E. Webb, Rev. Mr. Bain, Rev. G. S. Hubbs, Rev. Wesley Lattin, Rev. E. L. Eaton, and the Reverends A. J. Benjamin, W. F.
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Warren, G. F. Reynolds, Geo. H. Trevor, D. D., George W. White, Henry Colman, D. D., J. D. Cole, T. De Witte Peake, R. W. Bos- worth, D. D., and William A. Newing, the present incumbent, who has served the church for one year previous.
During the pastorate of Rev. George F. Reynolds the old church was remodeled and repaired at a cost of $3,200. During the pastorate of J. D. Cole the church was again remodeled.
November 30, 1903, was the sixty-first anniversary and grand rally day for the Beloit Methodists. Mr. J. W. Powell of Buffalo, N. Y., was present and conducted the campaign for a new church. August 27, 1904, the corner stone was laid. Bishop Warne of Calcutta, India, gave the principal address. The new church, a red brick modern structure, stands on the site of the old church. It was erected at a cost of $31,000, and dedicated May 29, 1905. Great credit is due to the pastor and his people in the hard work done to give to Beloit such a house of worship. The Ladies' Aid Society pledged $6,000 toward the church and over $4,000 has been paid. The membership is now upwards of 500.
Trinity Lutheran Church, organized in 1871 with nine voting members, is the oldest Lutheran church organization in Beloit. This congregation has been affiliated with the Synod of the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of America since its organization.
At first it was served chiefly by pastors from Orfordville, Wis., who spoke Norwegian, but has gradually adopted English in its Sunday school work and then in public services. The morning and evening services are conducted alternately in the Norwegian and English languages. The church building, situ- ated on Bluff street, near St. Lawrence avenue, was erected in 1876. The commodious parsonage, 928 Bluff street, was built in 1904. Including men, women and children, the church has at present (1908) a membership of 617 souls.
The succession of pastors has been: C. F. Magelson, 1871 to 1880; T. K. Thorvildsen, 1880 to 1890; L. Scherven, 1890 to 1894; G. A. Gullixon, 1894 to 1902. The present pastor, J. Edward Hegg, came in 1902.
Bethlehem Evangelistic Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. J. A. Bergh, in the year 1892, with a membership of twenty- eight families. The church, on the west side of Oak street, was built in 1893 and dedicated in 1895. The church services are held in the Norwegian and the English languages alternately. The present communicant membership is about 180.
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Pastors : Rev. J. A. Bergh, 1892 to 1894; Rev. J. S. Roseland, 1894 to 1899; Rev. E. O. Loe, 1899 to 1903; Rev. Nels Kleven, 1904 to 1906. In that year came the present pastor, Rev. Henry M. Mason.
The First Evangelical Lutheran, St. Paul's Church, held its first service in 1873. Reverends Detzer and Reinsch, who lived in other places, preached here on alternate Sundays.
In October, 1874, the church was duly organized with six or seven members by Rev. G. Sussner, its first resident minister, who served some six months. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Schneider. In January, 1877, came Rev. J. J. Meier, their minis- ter for two years. Rev. W. Buehring was the pastor from 1879 to 1886. Rev. G. Kaempflein served from January 29, 1886, to April, 1890, and Rev. D. Koshe, from May 13, 1890, to the spring of 1894. Rev. R. Einsiedell, beginning at that time, stayed until November, 1900, and was succeeded by Rev. J. Mettermeier for the next two years. In January, 1903, was called the present pastor, Rev. Paul Pichler.
The number of communicants is now about 300.
The church building, at the northeast corner of St. Lawrence avenue and Eighth street, dates from 1882. In 1905 it was lifted several feet toward heaven and a commodious basement was built under it, with some other improvement. The parsonage, 617 St. Lawrence avenue, was built in 1889.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Atonement. This church was organized in July, 1905, and shortly afterwards in- corporated.
This congregation originated in the need of a distinctively English Lutheran congregation in this city, where there were already four other Lutheran congregations-two German and two Norwegian. From the beginning, it has succeeded in ful- filling its purpose of gathering and saving to the church English speaking Lutherans.
For the first year without a settled pastor, worshiping in town in the old Presbyterian Church, Odd Fellows Hall and Had- den Hall, the work was difficult. Steady progress, however, has marked its career. In May, 1906, the present pastor, the Rev. Paul H. Roth, took charge, a 1906 graduate of the Chicago Lu- theran Theological Seminary. That same year, a fine building
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site on the east side of the corner of Clary street and Harrison avenue was purchased and paid for. In 1907, plans were drawn for a stone church, which, after many alterations and complete re-drawings, were adopted. At this writing (the summer of 1908), the foundations of the church are in and contracts let for the continuing of the building. The church has in the meantime grown from a membership of one-half a dozen to over 200 souls.
History of the Evangelical Lutheran, St. John's Church. The Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Congregation was organized October 18, 1896, with eight voting members. The first officers were : William Samp, F. Wegner and August Nohr. On January 15, 1897, a candidate was called. On this same date the congre- gation also resolved to build a new church. On February 7, 1897, the congregation was incorporated. With great joy and thanks to God, the new church was dedicated and the first pastor, Rev. H. Studtmann, was inaugurated on the 15th of August, 1897. The congregation now began to grow rapidly. Rev. H. Studt- mann left in the summer of 1900. As successor Rev. H. Walt- mann was called. He also worked faithfully until the 25th of October, 1903, when he accepted a call to another field. During Rev. Waltmann's pastorate, the parsonage was erected. Rev. H. Waltmann was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Paul Schaller. During his time, a teacher was called. The present teacher is Mr. Z. Rodenburg, who is doing his work successfully in the school, numbering fifty-two pupils.
The congregation at present numbers 460 souls, 270 communi- cants and 75 voting members.
Gridley Chapel, situated at the northeast corner of Strong and Partridge avenues, was built and furnished by William B. Strong as a memorial of his father, Elijah Gridley Strong. The building, which is of red brick and cost $3,500.00, was dedicated August 27, 1899, as a union church. At first Charles Kelsey, a missionary of the American Sunday School Union, took charge of the work. December 3d, 1899, was begun a series of revival meetings, con- ducted by Rev. Harold F. Sayles for two weeks. January 7th, 1900, Miss Jennie Anna Gale of St. Johnsbury, Vt., who had been the assistant pastor of a church in Brownington, Vt., during the previous year, began service as the minister of this congregation.
April 5th and 19th, 1900, at Gridley chapel, a constitution was adopted and signed by thirty members and the officers for a new
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church were elected. April 22d, 1900, Gridley Church was pub- licly organized as an evangelical but undenominational church.
July 27th, 1900, a Christian Endeavor Society was organized with thirty active members and one associate. October 18th, 1900, Rev. Charles Kelsey organized there the Gridley Chapel Sunday School, auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union.
Miss Gale (now Mrs. W. R. Irwin) served just four years and was followed by Rev. Lyman W. Winslow, who was their min- ister until his failing health obliged him to resign in the spring of 1906 and go to California. After two months of temporary supplies Mr. William Carpenter came and served for the rest of that year. In September, 1907, began the ministry here of the present incumbent, Rev. L. W. Chapman.
The membership of the church is now 105, of which number about sixty-five are resident members. There is a flourishing Sunday school of some two hundred members, besides fifty-eight in a home department. There is a Christian Endeavor Society, a well attended "Mothers' Meeting," and a missionary organiza- tion of men, women and children, called the Kingdom Extension Society.
First Church of Christ, Scientist. The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Beloit, Wisconsin, a religious corporation, was incor. porated under the laws of the state of Wisconsin in the year 1888. Later this corporation was dissolved and was re-incor. porated December 23rd, 1904. The organization consists of a board of five trustees and a board of five directors, the former having charge of the business of the church and the latter of its spiritual direction and welfare.
The public service consists of two readers, first and second reader, one reading from the scriptures and the other from the text-book of the sect, "Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures," by Mary Baker G. Eddy. These lessons are pre- pared under the direction of Mrs. Eddy and the publication com- mittee and every church under the organization uses this service each Sabbath. The regular meetings are Sunday morning at 10:30 and a testimonial meeting each Wednesday evening. The present membership of the Beloit church aggregates about one hundred.
Beloit has also a new organization, called the Disciples or "Christian" Church, formed in the summer of 1908. This soci-
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ety, having about thirty members, meets regularly for Sabbath services in a hall over Pollock's drug store, west side, and is growing.
Church services and Sunday school services are also held reg. ularly each Sunday in South Beloit. There is also an A. M. E. ch.
Luther Valley Church. There are no records of the first meetings of the Luther Valley Church, but the Reverend C. L Clausen, from Racine county, preached at the house of Hellik Brekke on the 8th day of February, 1844, and that some kind of an organization was effected we infer from the fact that a call was made to Norway for a minister, stipulating his salary, etc.
Meanwhile Rev. J. C. W. Dietricksen had sailed for America and Luther Valley Church was referred to him. But he located at Koshkonong and the congregation was but sparingly served by him and Clausen until July 31, 1846. when the last named arrived as resident minister, accepting a call that was tendered him on the 29th day of December, 1845. Since then the Luther Valley Church has had a settled pastor.
Rev. Clausen served until 1851, when he resigned and Rev. G. Dietricksen was called. He had charge of the congregation until 1859, when he returned to Norway and his place was occu- pied by Rev. C. F. Magelsen. Rev. Magelsen continued the work until 1869, when he resigned and the congregation was again temporarily served by its first pastor, the Rev. C. L. Clausen, then of St. Ansgar, Ia. On his recommendation, the church sent a call to Rev. I. M. Eggen, who accepted and had charge of the congregation until 1882, when he moved to Lyle, Minn., and the present pastor, Rev. J. A. Bergh, began his work.
Until about 1865 southern Wisconsin formed the center of the Norse population in America, and several important conven- tions were held in the Luther Valley church-among them may be mentioned that the organization of the Norwegian Synod was begun here in January, 1851, and completed at a meeting in October, 1853.
Of this ecclesiastical body the Luther Valley Church was a charter member, but believing that slavery was a sinful institu- tion, the congregation withdrew from the synod in 1868. This brought the resignation of Rev. Magelsen, and although he was very popular among the people, the resignation was adopted by a vote of 126 to 47. Those that sympathized with the synod,
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built a church of their own in Orfordsville, and were served by Rev. Magelsen.
At first the Luther Valley people of course had to worship in private houses, but a church was built in 1847. It was of lime stone and rather small, but served until 1871, when it was torn down and a new and larger one built on its site. At the same time another church was built in the western part of the congre- gation. (?)
On the first Sunday in Advent, 1846, the Luther Valley Church consisted of sixty-five families, 171 communicants and 250 members; in April, 1882, when Rev. Bergh took charge, it had 111 families, 330 communicants and 571 members, and on August 2nd, 1896, fifty years after the first settled pastor began his work, we find 179 families, 548 communicants and 1,090 mem- bers. At the present writing (1907), the church numbers 220 families, about 600 communicants and 1,200 members. Among members baptized, children of parents belonging to the church are counted.
The Luther Valley congregation has two churches, and a par- sonage consisting of house and thirty-five acres of land. The parsonage is located in Plymouth, the East church in Newark, and the West church in Spring Valley township, Rock county, Wisconsin.
XIV.
JANESVILLE CHURCHES.
The church organizations of Janesville began with the first settlements in the country. We learn from the first records, that many of the early settlers were people connected with various church denominations; that a few, meeting together, soon in- creased to a number sufficient to begin the construction of some kind of a house of worship, which was often a log cabin.
The Methodists seem to have been the pioneers in church or- ganization. The Rev. G. W. Miller, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister, in his work, "Thirty Years in the Itinerancy," gives the date of the first sermon preached in Janesville, as September, 1837, by the Rev. Jesse Halstead, who was then stationed on the Aztalan circuit; the services were held in a log house, which was at that time a leading tavern. He was invited to preach to the small audience of about a dozen people, and by removing the liquors from the bar room, they remodeled it into a church, very primitive to be sure, so with the bar as a pulpit, the minister de- livered the sermon; no doubt it was a good one, and was listened to with respect.
In 1839 Rev. James F. Flanders made visits to Janesville, and held services wherever a place was obtainable. His first sermon was delivered in the old tavern, which stood on the present site of the Meyers house. The services were held in different places, but mostly in school houses until 1842, when the first court house was built. This edifice was used alternately by the different re- ligious denominations. Janesville was admitted into the Troy circuit in 1840, and the Rev. James McKean was appointed the first pastor, and preached here once every four weeks; the Rev. Julius Field held the first quarterly meeting in Janesville in the spring of 1841, formed a class meeting and appointed J. P. Wheeler leader.
The First Methodist Episcopal Church, of Janesville, was or- ganized in 1841, with Rev. Alpha Warren as the pastor. He was
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succeeded by Rev. Boyd Phelps in 1843. The Rev. Lyman Catlin was the first minister to have his home in Janesville. Then fol- lowed the Rev. F. W. Perkins, S. Adams, J. Lucock and Wesley Lattin. During the latter's pastorate, the congregation built their first church; it was of frame, in dimensions 35x25 feet, and was located on the west side of the river, on the east side of Center street. It was opened for worship in 1848.
Mr. Lattin was followed in succession by the Revs. J. M. Snow, O. F. Comfort, Daniel Stansbury, Mr. Mason, Joshia W. Wood and Henry Requa. In July, 1853, they dedicated their brick church, which had just been completed; it was 75x45 in size, and stood on the corner of Center and Jackson streets (west side) ; the services were conducted by the Rev. John Clark. Mr. Requa was succeeded by the Rev. Alpheus Hamilton, and he was fol- lowed by the Rev. Dr. Miller, who has been succeeded in turn by the Revs. H. C. Tilton, J. H. Jenne, R. B. Curtis, A. C. Man- well, W. H. Sampson, D. W. Compt, E. W. Kirkham, C. N. Stowers, Steven Smith, Samuel Lugg, Thomas Clittro and Henry Sewell, 1879-1880; he was followed by Rev. G. W. Wells in 1881. On October 3, 1882, Rev. G. E. Goldthrop was appointed. He remained until October 13, 1885, when Rev. Thomas Walker was appointed. October 1, 1888, Rev. Matthew Evans became pastor. Rev. I. S. Leavitt was appointed September 26, 1892; Rev. J. D. Cole, September 25, 1893; Rev. Andrew Porter, October 1, 1894; Rev. H. W. Thompson, October 5, 1896, and Rev. W. W. Wood- side, October 3, 1898; Rev. James Churn, October 14, 1901, and Rev. W. W. Warner was appointed September 15, 1902, and re- mained pastor of this church until January 30, 1904, when the First Church and the Court Street Methodist Episcopal Church were consolidated, forming a new church, named the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, which occupied the Court Street Church building, with Rev. J. H. Tippett as pastor.
The Court Street Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1867. It was an offshoot of the First Church, whose building was not large enough for the number of members, so there was a division and one-half of the membership left and organized the Court Street Church; this church edifice was built in 1868 on the corner of Maine and Court streets, east side of the river. The Rev. G. M. Steel was their first pastor. He was followed by the
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Revs. O. B. Thayer, H. C. Tilton, E. D. Huntly, H. Stone, Richard- son N. Wheeler.
Rev. Henry Faville was appointed pastor of this church about September, 1880. About 1882, Rev. Olin A. Curtis was appointed. Rev. C. B. Wilcox was appointed October 8, 1883; Rev. T. De- Witt Peake, October 13, 1885; Rev. George H. Trevor, October 1, 1888; Rev. E. L. Eaton, September 30, 1889; Rev. W. F. Requea, September 26, 1892; Rev. Sabin Halsey, October 1, 1894; Rev. W. A. Hall, September 26, 1897, and Rev. J. H. Tippett, October 14, 1901. This church was consolidated with the First Church of Janesville (Methodist) January 30, 1904, forming the Central Methodist Episcopal Church. The building of the First Church was sold and the meetings of the new church were held in the Court Street Church, Rev. J. H. Tippett being retained as pastor of the new society.
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