The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 84

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

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The Methodists .- The Rev. W. G. Miller, a Methodist Episcopal minister, in his "Thirty Years in the Itinerancy," gives some vivid sketches of early religious history in Wisconsin, and we quote liberally from this very excellent work. He says :

"The first sermon preached in Janesville was delivered by Rev. Jesse Halstead in September, 1837. Brother Halstead, then on Aztalan circuit, on coming to this place, found a small log house which enjoyed the appellation of a tavern. He accepted entertainment in common with other travelers, but, it being soon known that he was a minister, he was invited to preach. He consented, and the services were held in the bar-room. The liquors were put out of sight, and. the minister made the bar his pulpit. The audience consisted of a dozen persons.

"The next religious services of which I can obtain information were held in the summer of 1838, in an oak grove on one of the bluffs east of the village. I am not able to find any one who can furnish me the name of the preacher, but am assured that he was a Methodist, and that

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he did not neglect that special feature of a Methodist service, the collection. This last part of the exercises, I am assured, made a vivid impression on the mind of the party to whom I am indebted for this item of history. And it came in this wise : When the hat was passed he threw in a bill-an act so generous that it could not fail to call attention to the contributor. The next day he received a call from the minister, who desired him to replace the 'wildcat' bill by one of more respectable currency, as those kind of bills were beginning to be refused throughout the Territory.

" In 1839. Rev. James F. Flanders made an occasional visit to Janesville and preached to the people. His first sermon was delivered in the bar-room of the public house which stood on the present site of the Myers House. Subsequently, he preached in an unoccupied log house opposite where Lappin's Block now stands. The services were next held in schoolhouses, some log, and others frame, until the erection of the Court House in 1842. Thereafter the court room was occupied and used alternately by the different religious denominations.

"The Rev. James McKean was the first minister who preached regularly in Janesville The place was taken into the Troy circuit in 1840, and Brother Mckean visited it once in four weeks. This year the Rev. Julius Field held the first quarterly meeting in Janesville. In the spring of 1841, he formed a class and appointed J. P. Wheeler leader, but during the following winter the members all left the place."

The First Methodist Episcopal Church .- Janesville appears first in the minutes as the head of a charge in 1841, with Rev. Alpha Warren as Pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. Boyd Phelps, who organized a class of nine members in 1843, with John Wynn as leader. Wynn subsequently went over to the Congregationalists. The Rev. Lyman Catlin was the first resident Pastor. Then followed the Rev. T. W. Perkins, S. Adams, J. Lucock and Wesley Lattin. The latter was very popular, and, during his pastorate, the society erected a small frame church. 35x25 feet in size, on the east side of Center street, nearly opposite the present edifice. It was opened in the fall of 1848.

Mr. Lattin was followed successively by J. M. Snow, O. F. Comfort, Daniel Stansbury, a Mr. Mason, Joshua W. Wood and Henry Requa, who afterward went to South America for his health. It was during the incumbency of these last-mentioned divines that the present place of worship, on the corner of Center and Jackson streets, was designed and built. It is of brick, 75x45 in size, and was dedicated in July, 1853, by the Rev. John Clark The Rev. Alpheus Hamilton followed Mr. Requa, and was himself succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Miller, author of "Thirty Years in the Itinerancy," and now of Milwaukee, who, during his pastorate, " preached nearly every night, and sometimes in the afternoons." Among the laymen who assisted Mr. Miller was J. L. Kimball, who, with his daughter Emily, had been for years the principal reli- ance in the choir. The reverend gentleman relates a pleasing incident in reference to Mr. Kimball :

" Brother K. had long been recognized as the financial man and the singer of the Church, but could never take a part in the social services with any comfort to himself. In one of these meetings, I suggested that, in these matters, as in others, practice would relieve the case. He concluded to try it, and for two weeks spoke a few words, as opportunity offered. But he finally told the congregation that my recipe would not work. Others might be able to talk their way to heaven, but he was satisfied that, as for himself, he would have to pay his way if he ever got there."

Mr. Kimball was ever a generous contributor to the cause of Christianity. Succeeding Mr. Miller were the Revs. H. C. Tilton (who died in this city last winter), J. H. Jenne, R. B. Curtis, A. C. Manwell, W. H. Sampson, D. W. Compt, E. W. Kirkham, C. N. Stowers, Steven Smith, Samuel Lugg, Thomas Clithro and Henry Sewell, the present Pastor.

When Mr. Sewell took charge, he found a membership of about one hundred and fifty. It now numbers 260, including probationers. The Church is almost out of debt, and has a Sun- day-school class of 200. Economy is the motto. Congregational singing has superseded an expensive choir, and the results are highly satisfactory.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

The Court Street Methodist Episcopal Church .- The history of this institution is brie= Its members had their Christian fortitude tried beneath other roofs. It is simply an offshoot the First Church, and was organized in 1867. The place of worship, corner Main and Coum streets, bears date of 1868. The First Church had a membership of about four hundred, whic fully tested the seating capacity of their building. There was material for two congregations. an one-half of the flock, with the sanction of the other half, quietly took its leave. Several those who left the original Church have returned, and been admitted by letter. TH Rev. G. M. Steele was the first Pastor of the Court Street Church. He was followed succes ively by O. B. Thayer, H. C. Tilton, E. D. Huntley. H. Stone Richardson, N. Wheeler ar .... Henry Faville, the latter being the present Pastor. The Church has a membership of 150, wiel & Sunday-school class of 100. It is almost free from debt. The Rev. Dr. Huntley will remembered as having materially aided in relieving the property of most of its incumbrance.

The Congregationalists .- The history of this denomination dates back to 1843, when a fe sparsely attended meetings were held in the Court House, the schoolhouse, or at the residence of some member when the temple of Justice or seat of learning were otherwise occupied. The Rev. C. H. A. Buckley commenced stated preaching early in 1844, and on the 11th of February, 1845, assisted by the Rev. Samuel Peet. he organized the First Congregational Church of Janes- ville. The number of communicants entering into covenant on that occasion was fifteen, viz. : Joseph Spaulding, Erastus Dean, Benjamin Morrill, Chester Dean, Mrs. Elmira H. Dewey, Mrs. Lamira Culver, Miss Susan French, Mrs. Lydia Spaulding, Mrs. Judith Dean, Mrs. B. Morrill. Mrs. Hannah T. French, Mrs. Lydia Sears, Mrs. Eleanor Strunk, Miss Elmira A. Styles and Luke Cheesebrough. Rev. Mr. Buckley continued to supply the pulpit until July. 1846, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Hiram Foote. Subsequent successions to the charge were the Revs. William C. Scofield, M. P. Kinney, G. W. Mackie, F. B. Norton, Lyman Whiting, George Williams and T. P. Sawin, Jr., the present incumbent. In 1856, there were one hun- dred and ninety members in the congregation.

In 1849, a brick church was erected, and, in the summer of 1851, an addition was made to its length, the cost of the building, exclusive of the lot, being $4,500 .- In 1865-66, this structure was torn away and a magnificent temple erected on the site, at a cost of $57,000, including an organ worth $6,500. The congregation grew rapidly, and was in a prosperous condition until May, 1875, when the church took fire and was wholly consumed. The great organ was entirely destroyed. Insurance to the amount of $10,000 was collected on the smoldering ruins, and a movement at once set on foot by the members for rebuilding their beloved house of worship. The result of their efforts is the tallest church spire on the West Side, and, perhaps, the most commodious church in Rock County. The cost of reconstruction was $25.000. Mr. Sawin places his congregation at 500. The aggregate of the Sabbath school is 250 members. The institution is entirely out of debt. The officers of the Church are: Rev. T. P. Sawin, Pastor ; Senior Deacons, Josiah Wright, James Sutherland, J. A. Cunning- ham, T. L. Hollister, J. V. Hugunin ; Junior Deacons, W. G. Wheelock. A. A. Jackson. J. C. Echlin, Lewis Jerome: Trustees of the Society-J. B. Cassodav. President : J. H. Wingate. Secretary : J. W. Nash. Treasurer ; James Dennison, J. C. Echlin. J. A. Blount. Two each. Senior and Junior Deacons, and two Trustees, are elected annually. The membership of the church at present is something over 300.

The Catholics .- Among the first settlers in Janesville was a fair proportion of the disciples of the Roman Catholic faith. and, as early as 1846, Catholic missionaries prosecuted their labors here, braving the dangers of frontier life and spreading the Gospel. Father Morrisy, one of three missionaries then in Wisconsin Territory, with headquarters in Milwaukee, was the first Catholic priest to visit Janesville. He came on horseback, carrying the conventional saddle-bags, and made a circuit of this and other towns along Rock River. He held services and performed marriage ceremonies and baptisms at the private residence of James Torny, the genial uphol- sterer now located on River street. In 1847. the Rev. Patrick Kernan succeeded Father Mor- risy, calling at Janesville once a month. He continued his visits for a year, and, during the

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early part of his term, assembled a small flock of the faithful in the old brick schoolhouse not far south of the site of St. Patrick's Church, on Center street. A few months later, a small brick building was constructed on the above site for the accommodation of his congregation, which, be it said to the credit of the reverend gentleman, before the year was out, grew so large that many were compelled to stand outside the church during services for lack of room within. The Rev. Michael McFaul was the next priest who came to minister to the spiritual wants of the Janesville Catholics. He held forth in the little brick church, but soon enlarged it. Rev. Michael Smith followed McFaul, but, at the end of one year, Father Kernan returned, remain- ing until some time in 1854, when the Rev. John Conroy superseded him in the charge.

Father Conroy at once saw the necessity for increased accommodations, and soon com- menced agitating the subject of constructing the edifice which now adorns Cherry street. A contract was made with Peters & Patterson for $12,000, and no time was lost in beginning the work. Services continued to be held in a hired hall, while the walls of the new structure were going up. The old place answered the purpose of a scaffolding for the workmen. The new church was completed and finished by 1864. Father Conroy resigned the flock to the Rev. James M. Doyle, who has since presided over their spiritual destinies. Father Doyle, upon taking charge, paid off a debt of $10,000 left by Father Conroy, and proceeded to fully carry out the original contract, finishing the church according to its terms, and some additions made by him cost $5,000. Laborers and mechanics were thereafter employed by the day, Father Doyle acting as the nominal superintendent of construction. The original debt of the church was about $20,000, one-half of which has been liquidated. Dr. Boggs holds a mortgage on the institution for $10,000. This church will seat about one thousand persons. It has a pipe organ which cost $1,200.

St. Mary's Church .- In the spring of 1876, several members of St. Patrick's Church left the fold and took measures for the organization of a new congregation. A lot was purchased on North First street, and a contract made with Shopbell & Norris for the erection of a building, at a cost of $2,400. The result is St. Mary's Church, Rev. John Munich, a German, Pastor, with a congregation of one thousand. An addition was recently made and a parsonage built at an aggregate cost of $2,300. Patrick Connors holds a mortgage on the property for $2,000, at 10 per cent interest, which is donated to the Church as fast as it falls due. In their application to Archbishop Henni, of Milwaukee, for authority to establish a church, the petitioners set forth that the increase in the number of Catholics in Janesville and the lack of accommodation in St. Patrick's Church, together with certain disagreements with its Pastor, justify their request. Among the signers were Thomas Leech, William A. Norton, Patrick Connors, Patrick Collins, and many others.

The Unitarians .- Universalism made its appearance in Janesville. as early as 1842, at which time clergymen of that denomination paid the people occasional visits. Among them were the Rev. S. Barnes, Rev. G. W. Lawrence, Rev. C. F. Le Fevre and Rev. Frank Whitaker. The latter preached alternately in Janesville and Beloit. In 1850, the " First Universalist Society " was organized, with Rev. J. Baker as Pastor. He continued his labors about two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. C. F. Dodge, of Palmyra, who filled the pulpit for one year. After this period there seems to have been a sort of suspension of Universalism in Janes- ville. Occasional meetings were held, however, until January, 1864, when the Rev. F. M. Holland, & Unitarian, came upon the scene, and on the 16th day of the following month & meeting was held at Lappin's Hall, which was attended by individuals of various denominations. The Unitarians seem to have predominated, however, and the Universalists present permitted themselves to be swallowed without a struggle. " The First Independent. Society of Liberal Christians of Janesville " is the corporate title of the organization formed at that meeting. The Trustees elected on the occasion are as follows : Orrin Guernsey, Samuel G. Bailey, Levi Alden, James M. Burgess, George W. Bemis and Jonathan Church. During Mr. Holland's pastorate, services were held in Hope Chapel, now the German Lutheran Church, on West Milwaukee street. The congregation, composed for the most part of the liberal Christian

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element of Janesville, soon became quite numerous, and more commodious quarters being :

evident necessity, measures were taken for the erection of a church building, resulting in th E construction of All Souls' Church, on West Court street, at a cost of about $10,000, including various improvements since made. The church was dedicated in 1866, by the Rev. Robe Collyer, during the pastorate of the Rev. Silas Farrington, who succeeded the Rev. Mr. H land. Mr. Farrington is now in Manchester, England. He was followed in the charge by t. L. Rev. Charles F. Balch, Rev. J. Fisher and Rev. Jenk. Ll. Jones, the latter being the present incumbent. Mr. Jones has been in charge since 1871. He has a congregation of about on ne hundred and fifty, and a prosperous Sunday school. The present Board of Trustees consists of F. C. Cook, I. C. Brownell, Clarence W. Baker, Charles Norris, C. W. Kibbee and A. . Baldwin.

The Baptists .- Occasional meetings of the followers of St. John were held in Janesville as early as 1842, but it was not until October, 1844, that the First Baptist Church of Janes- ville was organized. Rev. Jeremiah Murphy preached to the congregation, which consisted of thirteen persons, until some time in 1846. The Rev. J. D. Eldredge also occupied the pulpit on stated periods. During the latter part of 1847, the Rev. Otis Hacket was called to the pas- torate, and he was followed successively by the Revs. O. J. Dearborn, William H. Douglass, Galusha Anderson (now President of the Northwestern University of Chicago), E. J. Good- speed, M. G. Hodge, F. W. Bakeman, J. P. Bates, W. S. Roberts and F. L. Chapell (the present incumbent). During the first few years of the society's existence, meetings were held in the Court House, but in 1851, a church was erected on the corner of Cherry and Pleasant streets, now occupied by Tallman's Laboratory works, costing, for the building alone, $4,728. In 1867, the society's present house of worship, on the West Side, was erected, at & cost. including an organ, of $38,000. The present membership is given at 325, with a Sabbath- school class of 250. Stanley J. Smith, Charles B. Conrad, W. Kelley, R. Wiggin, C. Sexton and A. J. Leland compose the present Board of Trustees.

The Presbyterians .- In March, 1855, the Rev. Moses W. Staples visited Janesville for the purpose of organizing a congregation. His efforts were attended with some success, and, on May 5, of the same year, the First Presbyterian Church of the city of Janesville was organ- ized. with the following members : Warren Norton, J. D. Rexford. Dr. J. L. Barrows, Austin E: Burpee, Joseph A. Graham, Samuel Lightbody, Mrs. Mary Miller, Mrs. Lydia B. Norton, Mrs. Cynthia M. Rexford, Mrs. Caroline J. Barrows, Mrs. Eliza Burpee and Mrs. Elizabeth Graham. Services were held in the old Stone Academy building until the latter part of 1855. when a new house of worship was dedicated, and thereafter occupied by the society. The cost of the building was about $1,500, but it has been considerably enlarged on two occasions since. The Pastors who have had charge are the Rev. Moses W. Staples, Rev. Oliver Bunson, Rev. George C. Hechman, Rev. Charles L. Thompson, Rev. D. G. Bradford, Rev. T. C. Kirkwood and Rev. J. W. Sanderson, the present incumbent. The present Board of Trustees is com- posed of the following gentlemen : Edward Ruger, Robert Hodge, Silas Hayner, James Shearer, L. J. Barrows and F. S. Lawrence.

The Episcopalians .- In August, 1844, the Rev. Thomas J. Ruger came to Janesville as a missionary, sent out by the Domestic Board of Missions, from the diocese of New York. On the 18th day of the following month, a meeting, composed of those who believed in " the suc- cession of bishops," was held for the purpose of organizing an Episcopal Church. After some discussion of the subject, the following Wardens and Vestrymen were elected : Wardens, Will- iam Lupton and J. Bodwell Doe ; Vestrymen-William B. Sheldon, A. Hyatt Smith, John J. R. Pease, Guy Stoughton, Joseph Croft, A. S. Wood, A. C. Bailey and Isaac Woodle. From the time of Mr. Ruger's arrival to January, 1846, services were conducted in a small brick schoolhouse. on the southeast corner of Milwaukee and Bluff streets. At the end of two years. a parish was fully organized, and Mr. Ruger became Rector, remaining as such until 1855. During 1845, the Vestry were instructed to select a lot on which to erect a church edifice. William B. Sheldon offered as a gift a lot on the east side of the river, while A. Hvatt Smith

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

manifested his generosity by proffering a site on the west side. The latter was accepted, and subscription papers were at once circulated ; but the necessary amount to erect a building could not be obtained, and the project was abandoned for the time being. Accessions to the faith were frequent and numerous, however, and it was only a matter of time when the parish would be able to build a church. At a Vestry meeting held July 5, 1847, it was voted that a brick church, +5x72 feet, should be constructed without further delay. John Mitchell, Charles de Roe and J. B. Doe were appointed on the Building Committee. and at a social gathering held at the residence of John Kimball, a few evenings later. at which A. Hyatt Smith, Andrew Palmer and J. B. Doe, were present, preliminary steps toward raising the necessary funds were taken, which proved more successful than previous efforts in that direction. Lot 83 in Smith & Bailey's Addition was donated by A. Hyatt Smith, and the work of constructing Trinity Church begun. The edifice was consecrated in June, 1848, and still stands an ornament to the West Side, and a monument to pioneer Christian enterprise. From January, 1846, until the date of consecra- tion, services were held in a stone building known as the Janesville Academy, on Lot 135, in Smith, Bailey & Stone's Addition. The original cost of Trinity Church was $3.000, but many improvements have since been made. and a parsonage built, and the property is now valued at about 815,000. The Rectors called to the parish are as follows : Rev. Thomas Ruger. Rev. Samuel S. Ethridge, who recently died in San Jose, Cal. ; Rev. J. W. Coe, Rev. Hiram Beers, now in San Francisco ; Rev. Fayette Durlin, of Ripon ; Rev. George Wallace, Waterloo, N. Y. ; Rev. T. W. McLean, the present Rector, who has been in charge since July 17, 1878. There are 150 communicants, while the congregation is estimated at about four hundred and fifty. The Sunday-school class numbers ninety pupils. The present Vestry is as follows : J. B. Doe and S. A. Hudson, Wardens ; Vestrymen-Hiram Merrill, J. C. Metcalf, Hiram Bump, John C. Fox, E. G. Harlow, Horace McElroy, Edwin T. Foote and O. B. Ford. During the incumbency of the Rev. Mr. Durlin, the parish entered upon the experiment of a parish school, the Rector taking charge of it, being assisted by the Rev. William E. Wright. A lot was purchased, and a school building erected thereon. The experiment was in a fair way of being a lasting success, but after the resignation of Mr. Durlin the parishioners lost interest in it, and the school was discontinued.

Christ Church .- During the early part of 1859, owing to some slight personal feeling among certain members of Trinity (Episcopal) Church, a few individuals quit the old congrega- tion and took steps toward the formation of a new one. Meetings were held in Lappin's Hall, under the rectorship of the Rev. Thomas J. Ruger, formerly of Trinity Church, and on the 20th of September, 1859, an organization was effected and the following officers elected : George Cannon, Senior Warden ; Frank M. Smith, Junior Warden. Vestrymen-John J. R. Pease, L. F. Patten, Lewis E. Stone, Shubael W. Smith, Hiram Jackman, B. Wheeler, John E. Jenkins an.I George Barnes. The demand for Lappin's Hall being a source of some inconvenience to the society, it became necessary to procure other quarters. Col. Ezra Miller came to the rescue, however, and offered the use of the dining-hall of the Ogden House, which was accepted, and services were held therein until 1861. A permanent place of worship obtained. the next thing to do was to secure a Rector. Communications were addressed to various divines, among others, the Rev. M. Spencer, of Indiana, and the Rev. H. W. Spalding, of Milwaukee. The latter gentleman accepted the call in the following graceful letter :

To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, Janesville,

MILWAUKEE, Wis., November 29, 1859.

GENTLEMEN : Your favor, inviting me to take charge of your parish as its Rector, has been received, and as, canonically, I cannot at present act as Rector of a parish, I therefore accept your call to enter upon my duties from the time of my ordination to the priesthood in January next, and, previously to that time, will act as your minister as soon as I can make arrangements for the resignation of my position here as Pastor of the Church of the Atone- ment and member of the Board of Education in this city. Beyeeching the Almighty God to bless the relation into which we are about to enter, to the advancement of His Church, and commending you all, individually and as a parish, to His care and guidance, I am, gentlemen, Yours in the Church,

H. W. SPALDING.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

The salary paid Mr. Spalding was $700 a year. At a meeting of the Vestry, held Apri 4, 1861, Col. Ezra Miller, O. K. Bennett and Hiram Jackman were appointed a committee to raise money for the erection of a church edifice. A lot was purchased of Mr. Hamilton Rich- ardson on Court street, near the east end of the public square, and a contract made with N. G. Nettleton for the erection of a building not to exceed in cost more than $2,000. The church was consecrated October 31, 1861, by the Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Wisconsin. The following divines have been called to the charge : Rev. Thomas J. Ruger, Rev. Henry W. Spalding, D. D., Robert W. Woolsey, Rev. E. Tolson Baker, Rer. Joseph Wood, Rev. George W. Dunbar and Rev. A. L. Royce, the present Rector, who enjoys the patronage of a large congregation. One hundred communicants were reported the first of the present year. J. B. Whiting and William Ruger are the present Wardens. Vestrymen- M. C. Smith, C. L. Martin, John Slightam, B. B. Eldredge, Henry A. Doty, J. J. R. Pease, H. D. Mckinney and Hamilton Richardson. The church building has been improved and remodeled, and is now very commodious and comfortable.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 84

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899