USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 99
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142
After the Lodge had worked one year under the name given above, it was deemed advisable to reconstruct it, and the consent of the Grand Lodge having been applied for and obtained, the name was changed to Pacific Lodge, after the Pacific Railroad, which was constructed about that time.
In the past ten years, the Lodge has granted degrees of membership to over one hundred persons, and since its removal to Clinton has had the sorrow of seeing but one brother go to his "long home." That one was Mr. George Stoller, who was buried under the auspices of the Order.
It has a Camp, a higher branch of the Order; also a Lodge of the Degree of Rebecca for ladies whose husbands have attained to the honor of the scarlet degree.
-
655
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Within the past few years, the Lodge has run down, until now it numbers but fifty-two mem- bers, who, however, possess property valued at over $300.
The following is a list of its present officers : N. G., C. Low; V. G., A. J. Roberts ; Sec- retary, M. G. Weaver ; Permanent Secretary, G. R. Millice ; Treasurer, H. Pierce. Trustees : Dr. J. W. Jones, A. W. Shattuck, S. J. Simmons.
Clinton Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 38, was organized in November, 1872, with eleven charter members, Milton S. Warren being the first Worthy Master.
Up to the winter of 1875-76, the meetings of the society were held in the hall of Mr. James Vanderlyne, at Clinton Corners, but in that year they removed to Clinton Junction, occupy- ing the hall in conjunction with the Odd Fellows. The present membership is about one hundred, and comprises a great many, if not all of the most intelligent farmers and their fam- ilies in the vicinity.
Clinton Lodge, No. 114, I. O. G. T .- In the fall of 1845, Deacon Pliny Allen, of Allen's Grove, appointed a temperance meeting at a schoolhouse in Summerville, and engaged a lect- urer for the occasion who, from some unforeseen cause not now remembered, failed to appear. Nonplused for the nonce was the worthy Deacon at such an inexplicable want of faith, but being determined not to disappoint the assembled multitude, he called for volunteers. His appeal for aid in the dilemma was answered by Deacon H. S. Wooster, who mounted the plat- form and gave utterance to the first temperance lecture heard in the town of Clinton. The discourse, however, did not bear immediate fruit, as it was not until December, 1863, that the above Lodge was organized, but from that date to the day its charter was surrendered, it did valuable work in disseminating and inculcating in the minds of young and old, the principles of temperance.
The present Lodge of Good Templars, known as Gem of the Prairie Lodge, No. 208, I. O. G. T., was organized on May 15, 1874, the occasion being a meeting held at the Congregational Church, which was addressed by Theodore D. Kanouse, G. W. C. T., of Wisconsin, and Bro. B. F. Parker, G. W. S. About seventy persons were initiated and proceeded to the election of officers for the ensuing term, which resulted as follows : W. G. T., R. M. Benson ; W. V. T., Sister P. A. Treat ; W. S., J. F. Cleghorn ; A. S., Ella Irish ; W. F. S., S. W. Serl; W. T. Ruth E. La Monte; W. C., Rev. W. R. Jones; W. M., C. L. Crandall; D. M., Nellie Cobb; Guard, Ida Gates; Sentinel, R. W. Cheever ; R. S., Nellie Jones; L. S., Alma E. Dow. The present officers are : W. C., P. H. Swift; P. W. C., R. W. Cheever ; W. V. T., Mar- cella Sturgis ; M., George Williams; A. M., Ada Williams; S., Millie Titus; F. S., J. C. Church ; T., Allie Tuttle; S., Mrs. Ellen Benson ; R. S., Mrs. Pratt ; L. S., Mrs. Armstrong ; Chaplain, Arthur Angrove ; I. G., Emma Babcock.
Since its organization, 250 persons have been connected with the Lodge, which now numbers about one hundred members. They are the lessees of a very comfortable hall on Main street.
Reform Club .- Another temperance society, bearing this name, was organized on June 18, 1.77, with forty-five members. The name, however, from some unexplained cause, did not meet with especial favor from the members, and was accordingly changed on November 16, 1878, to that of the Blue Ribbon Club. The first officers were : President, J. J. Johnson ; Secretary. A. C. Rice : Treasurer, Henry Morgan ; Chaplain, H. W. Stearns; Executive Committee, E. B. Cummings, S. A. Kennedy and Calvin Pratt. Grievance Committee, W. Calkins, A. H. Morgan and W. J. West. The club now numbers 112 members in good standing, and their offi- cers are : President, A. H. Morgan ; Secretary, George Wilcox ; Treasurer, Joseph Snell ; Chap- lain, George Livingstone. Executive Committee, John Connelly, S. M. Case and Jay Johnson. Grievance Committee, C. B. Hinman, C. Hamilton and George Wilcox. They are also the lessees of a club-room and possess property, consisting of furniture, regalia, etc., valued at $150.
W. C. T. W. was organized in June, 1877, with thirty-five members. The present mem- bership is now about fifty. and the officers are : President, Mrs. P. H. Swift ; First Vice Presi- dent, Mrs. L. K. De Wolf; Second Vice President, Mrs. J. R. Helmer : Secretary, Miss Allie Tuttle ; Treasurer, Mrs. C. T. Isham.
656
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Clinton Knights of Honor, No. 329 .- A charter was granted to this branch of the mutual insurance order of that name on October 4, 1877, the charter members being S. A. Kennedy. S. W. Serl, A. C. Rice, J. M. Slosson, William Edwards, F. P. Wallace, R. R. Childs, G. R. Millice, G. L. Smith, P. D. Dickerman, D. G. Cheever, J. T. Hamilton, George Seegar, C. L. Hanson, E. B. Cummings, George Covert, James Irish and A. P. Preble. The first officers were: D., R. R. Childs; P. D., S. A. Kennedy; V. D., James Irish; A. D., S. W. Serle; C.E., B. Cummings ; Guide, George Seegar ; J. R., W. Edwards ; F. R., C. L. Hanson; F., P. Wal- lace; G., J. M. Slosson ; S., G. L. Smith ; Medical Examiner, George Covert, M. D. During the term ending June 30, the Society paid out $479.34. The present officers are : D., William Edwards ; V. D., George Seegar; A. D., James Irish ; R., R. W. Cheever; F., R. E. Preble; T., F. P. Wallace: Guide, C. L. Hanson ; G., H. Foltz; S., W. Calkins; C., E. B. Cum- mings ; Trustees, James Irish, P. D. Dickerman and A. C. Rice ; Medical Examiner, George Covert, M. D. The present membership is twenty-nine.
Clinton Cornet Band was organized in 1874, with fourteen pieces, but has since dwindled down to ten. The present members are W. H. Turneaure (leader), George Turnesure, Jacob Turneaure, Frank Turneaure, M. E. Case, Charles Salisbury, Herman Park, Clarence Murray, N. Shrive and Charles Curtis. The instruments are of the best make, and cost when new, $150.
THE CLINTON CEMETERY.
What now constitutes the last resting-place of many of the pioneers of Clinton, was first intended by the father of Mr. B. B. Olds, upon a portion of whose farm it is located, as a family burial-ground, and there were deposited the remains of a little son, eighteen months old. But the natural beauty of the ground and its adaptability to the purpose for which it was intended, made the residents of the village anxious to secure it as a public mausoleum. Mr. B. B. Olds was accordingly approached upon the subject, and acceded to the request so urgently made, by sell- ing four acres of ground, which were, in 1860, laid out into lots, the terms of the sale being that the purchase money should be paid out of the moneys collected by the sale of lots. The first officers of the association were : Messrs. B. B. Olds, President; G. N. Willis, Dr. T. Hun- ter and Hon. D. G. Cheever, Trustees ; Mr. L. D. Salisbury, Treasurer, and Hon. D. G. Cheever, Secretary. In 1874, the number of deaths and consequent interments which had occurred, pre- cluded the possibility of any more burials taking place there, and so four more acres were pur- chased upon the same terms as before, only two of which, however, were at once utilized. The ground, therefore, contains eight acres, and, in addition to the beauties lavished upon it by the bounteous hand of nature, the residents of Clinton have been unsparing in their efforts to render it as beautiful as possible, by all the arts which can be controlled, being made to contribute to that end. Messrs. Cheever, Olds, Salisbury, Barker and Treat constitute the present Board.
POST OFFICE.
The first post office established in the town of Clinton was opened at Summerville, on August 12, 1843, William Stewart being at the head of affairs. He remained in office until January 11, 1850, when he was succeeded by Reuben P. Willard, he being swallowed up on March 6, 1857, by a Governmental decision to close up the office and blend its affairs with that of Clinton, which went into force on that day.
The office at Clinton was established simultaneously with that of Summerville, Stephen Perley being the first Postmaster. On March 6, 1857, the name was changed to Ogden, but changed back again January 16, 1864.
The following is a list of the Postmasters from 1843 to the present time : 1843, Stephen Perley ; 1844-49, Griswold Weaver ; 1849-56, Alonzo Richardson ; 1856-61, Thomas Hunter: 1861-64, William H. Snyder; 1864-69, Washington I. Hartshorn ; 1869-77, Henry S. Wooster ; 1877-79, James Irish, present incumbent.
657
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
Prior to the advent of the railroads, in 1856, mails were transported by Frink & Walker's line of stage-coaches ; but times are changed, and, instead of having to wait two or three days for letters, the "iron horse" and his precious freight deposit them almost at the door, and has vanished in as many hours.
THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTE
are represented by a cigar factory known as the Clinton Junction Cigar Works, which were established by F. A. Ames and O. E. Burrows, on February 1, 1872, with a capital of $685. During the first year, they manufactured 120,825 cigars, upon which they paid a tax of $604.12. In 1875, the firm was changed to that of Ames & Guild, the members being F. A. Ames and W. B. Guild. At the present time, they employ twenty-one men, and, with an invested capital of $10,000, manufacture 60,000 cigars per month, which represent a value of $40,000 per year. The present members of the firm. trading under the style and title of F. A. Ames & Co., are F. A. Ames, J. H. Reigart and T. A. Ames. Their principal trade is with Wisconsin, but they also ship to Illinois and Michigan.
Merchant Mills .- The steam flouring-inills bearing this name were built in the summer of 1875, at a first cost of $25,000. The purpose of the projectors was to manufacture a high grade of flour, on the theory of what is now called the new process system of milling. The system being then in its infancy, the venture, for the first few years, was not a success ; but eventually, after the expenditure of much time and money, especially the latter, in improvements, etc., their efforts were crowned with success, and now the firm of S. W. Serl & Co. stands forth as being the exponents of the best system of milling extant. At the present time, they employ from twelve to fifteen men, and have $50,000 invested. They buy their wheat principally in Min- nesota, using only the hardest varieties, known as fife wheat. That portion of the business is transacted entirely by Mr. S. W. Serl, the senior partner, while Mr. E. B. Cummings remains in Clinton as resident partner and manager. Mr. Willard Calkins is head miller, and Mr. W. M. Stillman chief engineer.
EVANSVILLE.
The town of Union, of which the village of Evansville is at the present time the principal market town, was first settled in the fall of 1839, by Charles McMillan, Samuel Lewis, Stephen Jones, Erastus Quivey, John Rhinehart and Rev. Boyd Phelps. In the following spring, there were a large number of persons immigrated to the State and to this town, among the latter the Rev. John Griffith, Hiram Griffith, John A. Griffith, Ira Jones, Jacob West, John T. Baker, J. W. Haseltine, Levi Leonard, David Johnson. Daniel Johnson, John Cook, John Adams, Wash- ington Higday and John Sale.
The first settler on what is now the village plat was Amos Kirkpatrick, who located in 1842, and was followed about the same time by Wilber Potter, who settled and built a chair factory, and who was followed by Henry and Lewis Spencer, who erected the first frame dwelling in the town.
THE FIRST STORE.
Up to 1848, the principal center of business for the whole country between Janesville and Madison was at the village of Union, three miles north of the present site of Evansville, but, in that year, William Winston and C. R. Bent built and filled the first store in the place, which, up to that date, had neither name nor post office.
THE FIRST POST OFFICE.
Prior to 1849, the residents of the district in which Evansville now lies were compelled to go to Union for their mail, but a beneficent government changed that by establishing a post office
658
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
there, in the year mentioned. Jacob West had the first contract for carrying the mail ; his son, James R. West, then a boy of twelve years old, carried the mail on horseback.
LAYING OUT THE VILLAGE.
Upon the establishment of a post office, the name of Evansville was chosen, and, in 1855, the ground was surveyed and platted, and the name by which the post office was known selected as the future name of the village, which, in 1867, by virtue of an act passed by the State Legislature, became a chartered village, officered by a president and board of trustees, clerk and treasurer, of whom the following is a list :
1867-President, Daniel Johnson ; Trustees, Isaac M. Bennett, Lohep York, Elijah Rob- inson. Henry C. Millspaugh ; Treasurer, Nelson Winston ; Clerk, David L. Mills.
1868-President, I. M. Bennett ; Trustees, G. F. Spencer, Levi Leonard, J. W. Haseltine, Caleb Snashall; Treasurer, Nelson Winston ; Clerk, John T. Baker.
1869-President, Lloyd T. Pullen ; Trustees, Nelson Winston, Alonzo Richardson, George F. Spencer ; Treasurer, C. M. Smith ; Clerk, M. W. Sheafe.
1870-President, O. W. Gilman ; Trustees, L. J. Wilder, George F. Spencer, Almeron Eager, Allen S. Baker ; Treasurer, Nelson Winston ; Clerk, James H. Hoskins.
1871-President, W. T. Hall; Trustees, L. J. Wilder, Caleb Snashall, Samuel Hunt, David E. Stevens; Treasurer, J. M. Evans; Clerk, J. H. Hoskins ; Supervisor, W. T. Hall. 1872-President, W. T. Hall ; Trustees. Caleb Snashall, Samuel Hunt, K. F. Randolph, E. W. Stearns; Treasurer, J. M. Evans; Clerk, James H. Hoskins; Supervisor, W. T. Hall. 1873-President, O. W. Gillman ; Trustees, George F. Spencer, Caleb Snashall, C. H. Wilder, H. Brevier; Treasurer, R. Winston ; Clerk, D. C. Griswold; Supervisor, O. W. Gillman.
1874-President, O. W. Gillman ; Trustees, George F. Spencer, Henry Brevier, Caleb Snashall, C. H. Wilder; Treasurer, Reuben Winston ; Clerk, J. H. Hoskins; Supervisor, O. W. Gillman.
1875-President, D. L. Mills ; Trustees, C. Snashall, D. M. Rowley, D. B. Huckins, M. V. Pratt; Treasurer, Reuben Winston ; Clerk, James H. Hoskins ; Supervisor. D. L. Mills; Justice of the Peace, James H. Hoskins ; Constable, J. M. Ballard.
1876-President, C. M. Smith ; Trustees, D. B. Huckins, Frank Gibbs, R. F. Woodbury. D. C. Griswold; Treasurer, R. Winston ; Clerk, J. H. Hoskins ; Supervisor, C. M. Smith ; Constable, Ray Gillman.
1877-President, A. S. Baker; Trustees, Caleb Snashall, D. E. Stevens, E. W. Beebe, Lewis Spencer ; Treasurer, R. Winston ; Clerk, Homer Potter; Supervisor, A. S. Baker ; Jus- tice of the Peace, Jacob West ; Constable, H. W. Hubbard.
1878-President, M. V. Pratt; Trustees, D. B. Huckins, W. W. Garfield, Byron Camp- bell, Lewis Spencer; Treasurer, Reuben Winston ; Clerk, J. H. Hoskins ; Supervisor, M. V. Pratt; Justice of the Peace, D. M Rowley ; Constable, H. W. Smith. Mr. Huckins dying in May, the Board, at their meeting, held on the 13th of that month, elected David Stevens to the vacancy.
1879-President, Almeron Eager; Trustees, George F. Spencer, Nelson Winston, Byron Campbell, R. F. Woodbury ; Treasurer, R. Winston ; Clerk, J. H. Hoskins ; Supervisor, Alme- ron Eager ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob West ; Constable, H. W. Hubbard.
These gentlemen did not hold office very long, for, on April 15th, a special meeting was held, to consider the advisableness of re-incorporating the village under the general statutes. Upon that occasion, there were seventy-eight;votes cast, seventy-four of which were cast in favor of the issuance of a fresh charter, and, on May 13th, another election was held which resulted as follows :
President, W. T. Hall; Trustees, N. Winston, Byron Campbell, R F. Woodbury, George F. Spencer, James Powles, J. E. Doolittle; Treasurer, H. Potter ; Clerk, N. W. Adair; Super- visor, M. V. Pratt; Justice of the Peace and Police Justice, D. L. Mills; Marshal and Con- stable, W. F. Williams.
659
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse in the settlement was built in 1841, about a mile and a half west of the present site of Evansville, and was under the control of Miss Mary Jane True. The second was built at or near the present village of Union, and the third was built on the present site of Evansville. and was in charge of Mr. Levi Leonard. The structure was of logs and served the purpose of a church and schoolhouse.
The subsequent structures erected for educational purposes, were of a very superior order and comprised a seminary, erected August 10, 1855, a select or high school and a graded school, built in 1868-69.
The teaching of a select school was first commenced in 1855, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose building was used for the purpose, the scholars being under the supervision of Mr. R. O. Kellogg, who, with other teachers, controlled it until 1859, when the seminary building was finished, and a school opened therein by Mr. D Y. Kilgore, who, in conjunction with other Principals, kept it until 1874, when it was closed. Following is a detailed account of the circumstances attending its erection and the causes which led to its abandonment :
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
In 1868-69, the residents of Evansville, in accordance with the State laws, organized and built a large graded school, which was opened under the supervision of a School Board, com- posed of the following gentlemen, viz .: D. M. Rowley, Director; S. W. Smith, Clerk ; J. M. Evans, Treasurer. It continued as a graded school until about 1877, when it was transformed into a High School, the composition of the Board remaining the same, with the exception of the following slight changes : 1872, C. M. Smith, elected Clerk, vice W. S. Smith ; 1878, R. F. Woodbury, elected Treasurer, vice J. M. Evans ; 1879, M. V. Pratt, elected Director, vice D. M. Rowley.
The building, of white Edgerton brick, stands in the center of a plat of ground containing three acres. It is a fine looking building, two stories above the basement, with accommodations for 400 scholars, and when built cost $20,000.
The first class graduated last spring, and consisted of the following students : Messrs. Frank Holt, Martin Conradson, Wayland Axtell, Leander Hoskins, John Clifford, Herbert Mills and Misses Fanny Porter and Cora Hunt.
The following is a list of the Principals : 1869-70, S. S. Gard; 1870-71, Mrs. Green ; 1871-72, H. B. Coe; 1872-77, A. S. Burnham ; 1877-79, A. R. Sprague.
CHURCHES.
The M. E. Church .- In August, 1840, there being then a number of members of this denomination resident in Evansville, a meeting was held at the house of Hiram Griffith. about one mile west of the present site of the village, and an organization formed by the Rev. Samuel Pillsbury, who had been applied to for that purpose. The members constituting it were: Rev. Boyd Phelps (who, prior to that date, had preached to the resident families), Clarissa Phelps, Rev. Stephen Jones, Isabel Jones, Rev. John Griffith, Belinda Griffith. Jacob West, Margaret West, John T. Baker, Jemima Baker, Ira Jones, Sarah J. Jones, Alma Jones, Samuel Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Charles McMillan, Miram McMillan, Jane Brown, Erastus Quivey, Sally Quivey, Hiram Griffith, Sally Griffith, David Johnson, Kezziah Johnson, John Rhinehart and Deborah Rhinehart.
Meetings were held in private houses until 1843, when, through the exertions of Rev. Stephen P. Keys, a log schoolhouse was erected, which also served the purposes of a church until 1847.
660
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
In 1845, at the Third Quarterly Conference, Messrs. Ira Jones, Hiram Griffith and Thomas Robinson were appointed a committee to estimate the cost of a church, and, during the year, a subscription list was circulated and a building commenced on the lot now owned and occupied by J. R. Finch as a shoe and grocery store, in the center of the village. It was a frame house, 30x45 feet, and was dedicated in June, 1847, by the Rev. Henry Summers. This church building remained in use until the fall of 1867, when it was sold to make room for a business block, and the present handsome edifice of white briek, erected at a cost of $6,000. It was opened in the fall of the same year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. Fallows.
Following is a list of the Pastors and Presiding Elders from the date of the organization to the present time: 1840, Rev. John Ash ; Presiding Elder, Rev. Henry Reed; 1842, Stephen P. Keep, S. H. Stocking; 1843, Ferree Boyd Phelps and Father Griffith, John Sin- clair ; 1844, Lyman Catlin, S. H. Stocking ; 1845, Asa Wood, Henry Summera; 1857, Charles McClure and Hiram Hersey, assistant, Chauncey Hobart ; 1849, James Walker, Henry Sum- mers : 1850, J. C. Dana, Henry Summers; 1851, A. P. Allen, Henry Summers ; 1852, Daniel Stansberry, A. P. Allen ; 1853, Daniel Stansberry, J. Searles ; 1854, James Butler, J. Searles; 1855, E. P. Beecher, J. W. Wood; 1856, Elijah Robinson, J. W. Wood ; 1858, D. O. Jones, Daniel Stansberry ; 1859, J. I. Foot; Daniel Stansberry ; 1860, J. B. Cooper, H. C. Tilton; 1861, N. P. Lawton. J. H. Jennie; 1862, G. Chester, J. H. Jennie; 1864, George W. De La Matyr (1865-68), C. D. Pillsbury ; 1867, W. H. Sampson, S. C. Thomas ; 1869, E. D. Farnum, S. C. Thomas ; 1871, James M. Craig (1872-74), P. B. Pease; 1874-76, J. H. Brooks, P. B. Pease ; 1876-79, Chas. E. Galtharfe, Wm. P. Stowe.
Free- Will Baptist Church .- On July 1, 1854, the members of the churches of this denom- ination resident at Magnolia and Union coalesced and formed a corporate body, with headquar- ters at Evansville, where they met and elected the following Trustees, viz. : Peter Aller, Jesse Aller and Argalus Ballard. In the same year, they erected their present church, a large frame building, with a seating capacity of 300, at a cost of $3,000. In 1870, the congregation further improved their property by the addition a parsonage and fine barn, which were erected at & cost of $1,000.
Following is a list of ministers from the date of the organization to the present time: 1854-55, Rev. Kinzman Davis; 1855-61, Rev. J. E. Davis ; 1861-63, Rev. F. P. Auger ; 1863-64, Rev. C. Coltrin ; 1864-65, Rev. S. Cummings; 1865-68, Rev. J. E. Davis; 1868-70, Rev. A. H. Huling; 1870-72, Rev. R. W. Bryant; 1872-73, Rev. C. H. Kimball; 1873-76, Rev. O. H. True : 1876-77, Rev. B. F. Mckinney ; 1878, vacant ; 1879, Rev. R. W. Bryant.
The present Trustees are Messrs. A. Ballard, Peter Aller, W. H. Hatfield, A. Munger and E. W. Stearns.
Congregational Church .- On May 1, 1851, agreeably to a petition forwarded to the Beloit District Convention asking that action be taken with regard to the organization of a church, a meeting was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in accordance with the permission obtained. The Rev. Francis Lawson presided, and, after prayer and the reading of the Articles of Covenant, the following persons signed the roll as members and entered into covenant one with another, viz. : Levi Taggart and Abigail Taggart, W. W. Paine and Hannah Paine, and Mrs. Laura Church. It was then resolved to build a church, but that the resolution was not immediately carried into effect, an item in the records bearing date June 28, 1855, and signed by Mr. W. W. Paine as Clerk, sufficiently shows. It reads : Crowded out of the Baptist house, by that society.
In 1856, the present brick church was built, with a seating capacity of 300, at a cost of $2,500.
Following is a list of the Pastors from the date of organization to the present time: 1851-53, Rev. Mr. Church ; 1853-55, Rev. James Lawson ; 1855-60, Rev. C. M. Morehouse; 1860-62, Rev. B. Durham ; 1862-68, Rev. James Watts ; 1868-77, Rev. James W. Harris: 1877-78, Rev. Milton Rowley ; 1878-79, Rev. James W. Harris.
661
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.
St. John's Episcopal Church .- On May 13, 1869, at a meeting held by the members of this denomination, J. M. Evans, M. D., W. C. Lovejoy. S. H. Boyer and Adam Griffin were elected Trustees, and on August 4, at a meeting held at the house of Dr. Evans, it was resolved to erect a house of prayer, and a building committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, was elected : Rev. Erastus W. Spalding, Samuel H. Boyer and William L. Porter. A lot of land was purchased from Mrs. S. Brown, and, on December 21, the committee reported the church completed, at a cost of $3,000.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.