The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 99

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 99

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A fellowship meeting, in which neighboring churches and Pastors united, was held on the next day, and a little printed "Memorial," containing an account of the celebration, with the Confession of Faith, the Covenant, Rules of the Church, Constitution of the Society, etc., etc., was widely circulated.

In September of the same year-1878 -- a very interesting meeting of the general conven- tion of the State was held with this church. Pastors and delegates from all parts of the State were present, and from abroad, Rev. Dr. Alden, Secretary of the American Board of Foreign Missions ; Rev. Dr. H. M. Storrs, Secretary of the American Home Missionary Society, and missionaries from Turkey and China. The representation of the churches was unusually large, as many came expecting to attend the meeting of the American Board of Foreign Missions, which was held that year in Milwaukee, immediately after the convention here.

The officers of the church and of the ecclesiastical society for the present year, 1880, are as follows :

Pastor-Rev. Charles W. Camp. Deacons-Newton S. Kendrick, Edwin Wood, Orson Z. Olin, Orson Tichenor. Clerk-O. Z. Olin. Trustees-Leonard Coleman, Orson P. Clin- ton, Prof. A. A. Miller. Clerk and Treasurer of the society-M. S. Griswold.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Miss Nora L. Olin is the organist, and M. S. Griswold, the Sunday-school Superinten- dent.

The church has now 138 members, of whom fifteen may be classed as absent. The whole number upon the roll from the first is 669. A few of these names occur twice, members having removed and subsequently returned. Many have been gathered home in the course of these years, but a multitude still living in wide dispersion over the country, cherish pleasant memories of their former connection here.

· Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist Episcopal Church of Waukesha was organ- ized in 1839, under the pastoral charge of Rev. H. W. Frink. Rev. Hooper Crews was Pre- siding Elder. The first class organized, consisted of Mr. Owen, Leader ; Mrs. Owen, Richard Smart, Truman Wheeler, Mrs. Truman Wheeler, Hiram Wheeler, Mrs. Hiram Wheeler, The- ophilus Haylett and Horace Edsall. The first quarterly meeting held was in a tamarack school- house on the Pewaukee side of the Fox River. In a very short time, a revival of religion added to the membership of the class, from which, with the tide of immigration setting in from 1840 to 1842, the class received the names of Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Bromwell, Alexander Henry, who soon became leader, Mr. and Mrs. Winter, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hafield, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Clark, Sarah Packham, Mr. Blodgett, John White and Rev. Jonas Clark.

Rev. Hooper Crews was the first Presiding Elder who visited Waukesha and in connection with the Pastor held a revival meeting, from which a deep religious interest prevailed all through the county.

Alexander Henry was a man mighty in prayer, and, in cont ection with some members of the Congregational Church, Deacon Mendall, Daniel Chandler, Allen Clinton and John M. Wells, went around to the neighboring schoolhouses and villages to hold prayer meetings. They were all regarded as men of deep piety, and their services were highly valued. The old settlers named them, by way of eminence, " The Prairieville Breaking Team." On one occasion, the team made a visit to Oconomowoc to aid in a revival meeting in the Congregational Church, of which Rev. Mr. Montague was Pastor. The praying team got started before the good Pastor came. and they were having a lively time on his arrival. It was a little more of a noise than seemed right to the Pastor, and he made the remark, " We must stop these Methodists or they . will take the roof off the church." He was quietly reminded that these were Congregational- ists, as the Methodist part of the team had not yet taken hold. One feature of Prairieville Methodism was a deep, earnest piety. There are people yet alive who, in the early days of the place, in religious meetings have been known to fall helpless to the floor. Such scenes are now quite rare. Rev. John G. Whitcomb was appointed pastor of Prairieville Circuit in 1841, and Rev. L. F. Moulthrop in 1843. In 1841 and 1842, a commodious church edifice had been erected, and the general interest was largely on the increase. In 1845, Revs. G. W. Cottrell and Miles L. Reed were appointed to the circuit. In 1846, Revs. Washington Wilcox and J. M. Walker were appointed to the charge. Large accessions were made to the membership during this year both in the village and the outposts of the circuit.

In 1846, the name of Prairieville was dropped out of the list of appointments, and that of Waukesha substituted, to correspond with the change of the name of the village, and Rev. Wash- ington Wilcox was appointed to the church as pastor. Mr. Wilcox was a man of strong mind and fine preaching ability. He still lives in the memory of many of the older members of the church, who regarded him as an earnest and true man, and a most uncompromising Christian. He has long since gone to his reward. In 1848, Rev. W. G. Miller was appointed to Waukesha station, and also in 1849. This earnest and devoted man was very successful on the station, and won the respect of those outside of his own church as well as those within. He has since been a man of great success, and has filled all the more important places in the gift of his conference. Having conquered all the territory in this conference, he last year was transferred to the Ne- braska Conference, where he has new fields for victory, in which he is making grand successes. His pastorate in Waukesha will always be respected.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

In 1851, the Wisconsin Annual Conference was held at this church, Rev. Bishop Waugh, D. D., presiding. The session was one of great harmony, and left a good impression on the entire community. The visit of so many ministers is still regarded with pleasure by the older portion of the citizens. There is to be found no more matter of record of interest until 1860 and 1861, when Rev. J. M. Walker was again returned to the church. Mr. Walker was a man of rare preaching ability and a good administrator of church discipline. His sermons were logical, and rendered with clearness and much fervor. He studied law and was admitted to the bar before he became a minister.

In 1861, the church, which had stood for twenty years, was consumed by fire under very suspicious circumstances. Many believed it to have been the work of an incendiary.

The Congregational Church now offered their church to the Society for use until they could rebuild, which kind offer was accepted.

In 1861, Rev. G. C. Haddock was appointed to the charge, and served the church for two years. During his pastorate, the substantial stone building now standing was built. Mr. Had- dock is a man of great energy, and was considered a brilliant preacher. He was succeeded in 1863 and 1864 by Rev. J. C. Robbins. Mr. Robbins is still held in loved remembrance by the church for his earnestness and devotion to his work.

The Wisconsin Annual Conference was again held in Waukesha in 1863, when one hun- dred and thirty ministers convened. Rev. Bishop Scott presided. The number of members for Waukesha for that year was one hundred and thirty, and the value of church property, $6,500. In 1865, Rev. Isaac Searles was appointed Pastor. Mr. Searles was a man of mild temperament and was modest in manner. He has gone to his rest. Rev. G. Fellows was appointed to the church in 1867, Rev. J. T. Woodhead in 1868, Rev. W. Lattin in 1869, and Rev. R. Blackburn in 1870 and 1871. Rev. Henry Colman was appointed to the charge in 1872 and 1873. During his ministry, the church was greatly improved in numbers and inter- est. Mr. Colman is a man of marked ability in his calling, dignified and earnest in his pulpit work, and is still very popular in Waukesha. Rev. S. Halsey was appointed Pastor in 1874, and served the church for three years. Mr. Halsey was a good pastor and was well received by the people generally. The membership was greatly increased during his pastorate. His name is still held in high esteem. Rev. Mr. Hewitt was appointed in 1877, and served as pas- tor two years with general acceptability. His preaching was scholarly and instructive, and he is still highly respected by many friends. The church members reported at the last confer- ence for 1879 numbered 203. Value of church property, $12,000.

The present Pastor, Rev. Lugg, was appointed to the charge in 1879. He is a hard worker.

The church edifice is a very large one, built wholly of Waukesha limestone. The audi- ence room is about eight feet above the streets, which pass on three sides, and below are the prayer and lecture rooms. This church always takes a leading part in temperance work. The Sunday school, which has been organized about forty years, is large, and maintained with interest.

First Baptist Church .- This was organized January 23, 1839, over forty-one years ago. A council, consisting of ministers and brethren from the Baptist Church in Milwaukee, met in a log house owned by N. Walton, upon invitation of the "members of the Baptist Churches residing in and about Prairieville."" Rev. Richard Griffin was elected Moderator, and Rev. E. Mathews, Clerk.

Fifteen brethren and sisters presented letters from sister Baptist Churches; the usual exercises were had, and a Baptist Church duly and formally organized.

Rev. R. Griffin was called to the pastorate, and R. M. Hollister was elected Clerk. Two sisters came forward and united with the church by baptism. Soon after deacons were apointed, and a Sabbath-school with a large class was organized.

The church continued to grow and flourish, not only by other members coming in from the East, and uniting by letter, but from time to time sinners were converted and baptized. In

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

1842, Rev. A. Minor was called to the pastorate, and commenced his labor in June. He at once took a prominent place as a superior preacher and excellent pastor.

In 1844, the church society built a church edifice on the corner of West Division and Wisconsin streets, which was then the largest and best in the place, costing $2,500. In that early day, this was thought to be a large sum to invest for that purpose.

Without going into detalls from year to year, down to the present time, suffice it to say that the congregation continued to occupy the first church edifice until 1871, enjoying, in the mean time, the labors of a number of the most able ministers of the denomination. In 1871, the church and society, having outgrown their old house, determined to build a new church edifice which would serve them well into the future. The old house was removed from the lot where it was built twenty-seven years before, on to lots farther east, on Wisconsin street, and occupied by the church while the new edifice was being erected. Afterward it was sold to the Town of Waukesha, and is now being used as a town hall.

The new church edifice was built of the celebrated Waukesha limestone, the front being rock-faced. It is two stories high; the first story is divided into a vestibule, lecture and Sabbath- school room, parlors, cloak rooms and kitchen. The auditorium is in the second story, is finely frescoed, has splendid stained glass windows, and is richly carpeted throughout. The choir is supplied with a fine pipe organ of large dimensions.

There are few finer church edifices anywhere than the one now occupied by this denom- ination on the corner of Grand and Wisconsin avenues. It was finished and dedicated in the summer of 1872, at a cost of about $25,000, though it is doubtful if it could be built for that sum now. It is excellent in its proportions throughont. The spire is a marvel of beauty, simple as it is. The interior is what one of the speakers described it, at the recent installation services of its pastor-" more than comfortable, it is sumptuous."

The Baptists formed one of the earliest denominations of Protestants, and under different names they rapidly spread into Holland, Germany, and into the North and South of Europe. They differ from the other Protestant denominations in their understanding of the rite of bap- tism, adhering to the primitive mode of baptism by immersion. They have attracted vast num- bers to this form of worship, and are in no danger, particularly in Waukesha, of being absorbed by other denominations. During the first ages of the Baptist Church, its members were made the special objects of persecution. Some of their number were burnt at Smithfield; and in Massachusetts, long after the persecuting feeling against them had died out in Europe, they were, equally with the Quakers, cruelly treated. In a popular history of the Baptists, a sufferer for his faith records his tortures while exposed to the lash in sublime language. Besides adhering to immersion, there appears to be still another difference between the Baptists and the other Protestants, and indeed all other denominations and churches.

As appears from their literature on this subject, they hold that it is only to those who have exercised faith in the Son of God, and have " been born again," that the rite of baptism is to be administered. Those only who are converted and repent of sin are proper subjects. These are their distinguishing doctrines. -

The Baptists are the first as to numbers in full fellowship in this vicinity, and the Baptist Church in Waukesha has been wonderfully prospered. It has been aggressive from the first, and has constantly been a power for good, with the other churches in the community, since its organization. About 900 persons have been members, a goodly number of whom have been converted, and baptized into the fellowship of the church. A large number have also united by letter at different times. Numbers have died and gone to "the better land," while a good many have taken letters and have gone to various parts of the Great West, and are now active members of Baptist churches in the towns, villages and cities where they are located. The church now numbers about 250 members. The valuable property now owned by them is entirely free from any incumbrances, and the finances of the organization are in a healthy condition.

The present pastor is Rev. Robert Leslie. The Deacons are A. H. Griffin, Josiah Wheeler, W. H. Kendrick, Richard Street, Alvin Blackwell, Dr. A. Kendrick, J. A. Waite. The

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NEW BERLIN.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Trustees are Isaac Lain, Silas Richardson, Dr. J. E. Bacon, William Street and C. G. Williams; and the Clerk is Charles E. Sawyer.

First Presbyterian Church .- The First Presbyterian Church of Waukesha, Wis., was or- ganized in the Methodist Church edifice, September 8, 1846, by Revs. Silas Pratt and Aaron L. Lindsley, Committee of the Presbytery of Milwaukee, known as the " Old School. "

Rev. A. L. Lindsley acted as stated supply until 1852, preferring not to be installed as Pastor. The first session was composed of three Ruling Elders, namely, William L. Lindsley, Edward Potter, William P. Sloan.

After worshiping for several months with the Baptist brethren, who had no Pastor, the infant church repaired to the Academy building, on Wisconsin avenue, where they celebrated their first Communion Service, February 14, 1847 ; and organized a Sunday school with Prof. Eleazor Root as Superintendent ; and where they continued to worship most of the time, till the basement of their church edifice was ready.

To raise funds for building, Rev. A. L. Lindsley went East in 1847, and again in 1849; Revs. L. I. Root and Thomas Frazer supplying the pulpit during his absence. By zealous effort he raised from various sources the sum of $2,530, and the work began.

The first Board of Trustees was chosen April 13, 1850, composed of Lemuel White, A. C. Nickell, A. G. Hanford, Samuel Hoffman, A. W. Randall and Lucius I. Root. Alexander W. Randall (afterward Governor of the State and Postmaster General of the United States) was the first Clerk of the Board. Upon the departure of Rev. A. L. Lindsley, in 1852, Rev. J. A. Savage, D. D., President of Carroll College, and Rev. Prof. L. I. Root supplied the pulpit until August, 1853, when Rev. John Huntington was called to the pastorate. Much was hoped for through his labors, but in the spring of 1854, while visiting Albany, New York, he was seized with cholera, and died. Dr. Savage again took charge till November, when Rev. Prof. Louman Hawes was associated with him. George Mcwhorter, Moses S. Hartwell, R. W. Wright, Henry Davis, Edward Chester and A. McLachlin, acted as Trustees during these years.

In 1855, the church building was at last dedicated, Dr. Savage and Prof. Hawes conduct- ing the services with a crowded house. During this year, Malcolm Sellers and William R. Williams first began service as Trustees.

In 1856, Rev. Oscar Park, of Janesville, was called to the pastorate, and installed July 19, Revs. Daniel Smith, J. A. Savage and J. M. Buchanan officiating. Dr. Savage and Sidney A. Bean were chosen Trustees the same year. With 1857 appears Rev. Prof. John Monteith, often assisting in the pulpit, and chosen a Trustee; while George Mcwhorter and Henry Davis were elected elders. In 1859, the names of Louis A. Proctor and Henry Potter and R. B. Hammond appear as Trustees ; in 1860, Joseph Williams ; in 1861, Henry Kellogg ; in 1863, A. J. Cole and John Forbes.

In 1863, Rev. Oscar Park resigned, after a faithful service of seven years.

During the seventeen years of its existence, the church had gradually grown in numbers and in financial strength. From the beginning, Dr. Savage seems to have been a true and zealous friend, and at one time, was chosen a ruling elder, with Henry Davis.

In 1862, Duncan Anderson and R. B. Hammond were added to the eldership; and in 1864, Moses S. Hartwell and W. H. Beach.

In October, 1863. Rev. Prof. William Alexander was engaged as stated supply. Although Prof. Alexander remained less than two years, the church was much blessed through a marked revival of religion, and the accession of a large number to the membership.

Upon his departure, Rev. P. D. Young acted as stated supply, from about January to Sep- tember, 1866. In the mean time James Davis had been chosen a Trustee, and A. T. Wiest- an, Elder.

With October, 1866, comes the advent of Rev. J. H. Barnard, who was duly installed as Pastor, and served the church faithfully and acceptably for four years. The church was increased

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

in numbers and in strength every way ; and the building was enlarged by the erection of the tower, and otherwise improved at a cost of over $2,000. Sheds were also built for teams.

During his pastorate, John Anderson, Clarke S. Hartwell, A. V. B. Dey and Walter L. Rankin began service as Trustees ; and soon after, Henry Linn.

During the winter of 1870-71, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. William C. Turner. During 1870 and 1871, several families removed from the place, by which the church was much weakened financially, and the membership reduced from 114 to 95.

In October, 1871, Rev. Thomas G. Watson, of New Brighton, Staten Island, having received a call from the church, began service as Pastor, though he was allowed to retain the call till the following spring before laying it before the Presbytery. He was installed, June 17, 1873, having waited to see whether his health, which had been impaired by overwork, would allow him to undertake full pastoral labors. At this date, July, 1880, he is still the Pastor.

During these eight and one-half years, the church has been blessed with many tokens of the divine favor. The membership has grown to about 140. It has passed through the financial crises of five years, without losing heart or getting in debt. The building has been improved for increased usefulness and comfort, a room fitted up, below, for the primary department of the Sunday school, and the main room repaired; the walls of the main audience room repapered and calcimined ; the pews entirely remodeled, and cushioned.

During these years, Prof. W. L. Rankin, Jacob Beebe and W. M. Farr have been added to the eldership ; and the rotary system of choosing elders adopted.

N. S. Stickles, William A. Nickell, William McWhorter and George Barber have been called to service as Trustees.

In 1879 Prof. W. L. Rankin, having been called to labor elsewhere, resigned the office of Superintendent of the Sunday school, where he had done noble work for thirteen years. The same year also, Mr. Clarke S. Hartwell laid by the duties of chorister, to which he had been called by the officers of the church more than twenty years before, and which he had per- formed faithfully and efficiently. Through the zeal of the Ladies' Society, and of the members, the church is growing in the knowledge of and interest in the great mission fields of the world.

The church edifice is a large and substantial structure of stone, situated on an eligible site, and is very pleasantly as well as tastefully arranged in its interior.

St. Matthew's Episcopal Church .- Sometime in the year 1840, there being several Episcopal Church families in the town of Prairieville, the Rev. J. L. Breck, one of the founders of Nashotah Theological Seminary, was occasionally called upon ' to hold church services with them up to April 8, 1844, when a parish was formed. Mr. Breck and his companions-for a portion of the time he was accompanied and aided by two class- mates who came also from the East-had no church edifice or organization at Waukesha up to this time, and, after 1841, were obliged to come down from Nashotah whenever services were held in the village. At the time mentioned, April 8, 1844, the formal organization was accom- plished by the appointment of the following officers : Caleb Nanscawen, Senior Warden ; Wm. M. Chamberlain, Junior Warden ; Chas. R. Dakin, Samuel H. Barstow, Robert Stewart, Peter Chesley, John Nanscawen, Vestrymen ; Robert Murry, Clerk ; Wm. M. Chamberlain, Treasurer, and the parish was given the name of St. Matthew's. Previous to 1844, a small church had been erected on a lot donated by Wm. A. Barstow. The Rev. Messrs. Breck and Adams continued holding services and kept the church open up to April, 1847, when the Rev. S. K. Miller was elected Rector, who remained in charge of the parish until July, 1848. In October, 1848, the Rev. James Abercrombie took charge of the parish, and continued as Rector until June 14, 1852. During the time Mr. Abercrombie was. in charge of it, a great effort was made to build a new church, which was greatly needed. A plan for the new building was obtained, the estimated cost of which was $5,000. Subscriptions were raised in the parish to the amount of $1,000 and the Rector was sent East to raise the balance of the necessary fund, of which he succeeded in raising in New York City and Milwaukee about $4,000. Mr. Abercrombie made a visit to New York in 1850 and also in 1851. A lot was purchased and the present church building commenced in

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

the spring of 1851, the corner stone of which was laid by Bishop Jackson Kemper, on the 15th day of June, 1851. The outside walls were completed during that season, when the farther prog- ress of the work ceased for want of funds. An application was made to Trinity Church, in New York City, for a loan, which was refused. At this time, the officers of the church were as follows : Charles R. Dakin, Albert Marsh, Wardens ; Geo. C. Pratt, Chas. Patterson, Robert Murry, Geo. Hatch, Samuel Eels, Wm. M. Chamberlain and Samuel H. Barstow, Vestrymen ; Geo. C. Pratt, Samuel H. Barstow. Chas. R. Dakin and Wm. M. Chamberlain, building committee. In June, 1852, the Rev. Abercrombie resigned. The church was temporarily fitted up so that services were held in it occasionally during the summer ; but it was by no means complete.

In October, 1853, the Rev. Chas. B. Stout was elected Rector, and continued as such until March, 1856. While in charge of the parish, the church building was finished at a cost of about $10,000, and was consecrated June 29, 1855. The building is of the best Waukesha limestone, situated on the corner of East Division and Main streets. It has an exceedingly substantial tower, the basement of which forms the vestibule for the church, is tastefully finished on the inside, and has a good pipe organ. Very near where the foundation of the tower was laid, was the head of the famous turtle mound, one of the largest and most interesting relics of the pre-historic nations found in the Fox River Valley. When the church edifice was begun, this mound, which before this had suffered more or less despoliation, was entirely destroyed. It is a pleasant theory with some that this " turtle " was built by a race now extinct, as an object of worship. If so, the present Episcopal Church, another structure for worship, is but a continuation in another form and farther into refinement and civilization, of the material evidences of religious tendencies, which have existed for unknown centuries. When Mr. Stout resigned, the parish was without a Rector until December of the same year, when he again took charge of it temporarily until July, 1857, at which time the Rev. John H. Egar was elected Rector, and continued as such until June, 1858. He resigned at the last-mentioned date, and the parish was again without a Rector until March, 1860, at which time the Rev. O. H. Staples was elected, and took charge of the parish until June, 1861, when the Rev. W. H. Story took it in charge, in connection with the parish at Delafield, and continued in that capacity until 1863, when he resigned. Rev. A. P. Crouch took supervision of the parish as rector in April, 1864, and remained about one year, when the Rev. W. C. Pope was elected to succeed him, and remained in charge of the present parish until Nov. 8, 1866. He then resigned, and the church was without a rector until June, 1867, when Rev. Wm. E. Walker was elected to that position, and continued to hold it until July 15, 1868. In October, 1869, the Rev. Jerome Davenport was elected Rector, and continued in charge of the parish for one year, when the Rev. Wm. E. Walker was again called to fill his former position. He remained for one year. In July, 1873, Rev. Allan S. Woodell was elected as Rector in diocesan order, and remained in charge until September, 1874. The Rev. Dr. Boyd was next elected Rector, and took charge of the parish June 24, 1875, remaining in charge until March, 1880, when Rev. E. P. Wright was elected to succeed him, and is in charge of the parish at the present time. The church and parish are free from debt, and are in a comfortable condition, therefore, financially and otherwise.

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The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 99

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050