The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 94

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

The total cost was abont $15,000, of which $5,000 was unpaid at the dedication, and existed in the form of claims for labor and material by various parties. Some of these parties sued the church, and, in June, 1869, the building was mortgaged to the Northwestern Insurance Company and these claims were paid. The mortgage was for $4,000, at 8 per cent interest. It was paid July 1, 1874, by popular subscription, and the organization is clear of all debt. As soon as the debt was paid, the building was frescoed and beantified, and the lot well fenced, money to pay for all being left from the subscription.

In 1868, Rev. John Hill was appointed Pastor, remaining one year. He was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Windom, in 1869, two years; Rev. George Feilows, in 1871, one year; Rev. C. R. Pattee, in 1872, one year ; Rev. J. T. Woodhead, in 1873, two years ; Rev. W. R Jones, in 1875, one year ; Rev. John Faville, in 1876, one year ; Rev. J. S. Davis, in 1877, one year : Rev. C. D. Pillsbury, in 1878, one year, and Rev. W. D. Ames, in October, 1879, present Pastor.

The records of the church do not show who were the first Trustees. The present Board of Trustees consists of John C. Bishop, W. C. Ogden, O. E. Pritchard, Austin II. Richardson, Thomas Peep, William May, B. S. Gillet, F. F. Parsons and George S. Bryant. There has always been a Sunday school connected with the church, which now, under John C. Bishop as Superintendent, is a prosperous and profitable auxiliary in the work of the society.

German Methodist Episcopal Church .- On the 28th of October, 1854, the Quarterly Conference of the German Fond du Lac Mission passed a resolution authorizing the erection of a house of worship in Fond du Lac, and appointing Rev. H. Wiethorn and two others as a com- mittee to secure a proper site. The matter was allowed to drop here, and nothing further was done until 1857. when Rev. F. Kluckhohn purchased two lots on the corner of Wingate and Merrill streets for the sum of $350. A wooden building was immediately thereafter erected at a cost of $543. A debt of $75 which remained unpaid at that time grew afterward into a larger sum, and the society became embarrassed. This financial difficulty was threatening the church organization with disaster, when, in 1862, Robert A. Baker and Henry Hamilton came to the rescue, and its affairs are now on a safe foundation. The society numbers fifty-eight members, and their church property is valued at $5,800. During the pastorate of the Rev. B. Becker, the old church building was raised, bricked up, and a pleasant basement placed under it. The parsonage, which is in the yard with the church edifice, and a pleasant house, was built while Rev. If. Wegner was Pastor. The church has had the following Pastors, and in the order here writ- ten : H. Wiethorn, F. Kluckhohn, F. W. Conrad, C. Wenz, Hf. Wegner, F. Gottschalk, C. Eberhardt, C. Thalheim, Charles G. Becker, John Schnell, 1869-70; R. Schafer, 1870-71; B. Becker, 1871-74; E. Fitzner, 1874-77; Charles {wert, 1877-79; P. Rich, 1879-80. An interesting Sunday school has always been maintained in connection with the church society.

African Methodist Episcopal Church .- The brick edifice belonging to the colored Meth- odist Episcopal Church, situated on the corner of River and Eleventh streets, was erected in 1867. The first Pastor was the Rev. S. Hutchinson : second, Rev. W. A. Douglas ; third, Rev. Moses Gale ; fourth, Rev. James T. Nease ; fifth, Rev. J. W. White ; sixth and present Pastor, Rev. Gardner Benson. The officers are, Van Spence, Samuel Anderson, Daniel Brown and Robert Biggers. During any pastoral interregnum Daniel Brown fills the pulpit. The church maintains a Sunday school, has regular services, sends delegates to the colored conventions, and occasionally has religious revivals which are remarkable for the peculiar religious manifestations. the earnestness of the members and the excellent singing. Several times during each year the members give festivals for public patronage, the proceeds being devoted to the expenses of the church.

Congregational Church .- The Congregational Church of Fond du Lac is one of the larg- est and most flourishing Protestant religions organizations in the city. Its foundation was made by Jerry Homiston, a farmer living three miles west of Fond du Lac, who gathered for relig- ious worship whomsoever were inclined in that direction. The first meeting to found a church was held July 19, 1846, in a schoolhouse located where May's Block now stands, on Main

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

street, and nine persons joined the new organization. These were: Jerry Homiston and Mary, his wife; James Wright and Martha, his wife; William Carey and Polly Ann, his wife ; Mrs. S. S. N. Fuller, Mrs. Margaret Perry and Amanda Bannister. The Rev. Stephen Peet was pres- ent to perfect the organization. William and Polly Ann Carey were the parents of Mr. E. A. Carcy, of Laughlin & Carey, and Mrs. Margaret Perry was mother to James B. and J. C. Perry, of the First National Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Wright, who live about three miles south of the city, are the only survivors of the original members of the church.

Mr. Homiston was chosen Deacon, and Mr. Wright, Clerk. They had no building and no Pastor. Meetings and such services as they coukl themselves provide were held in the school- house mentioned until autumn, when the Home Missionary Society sent Rev. L. C. Spafford to take charge of the infant church. He continued services in the schoolhouse, although it was moved to Fifth street, his little band having been, in December, 1846, increased by Deacon K. Gillet and Hon. James M. Gillet and families-nine new members. In February, 1847, a move was made for the erection of a church edifice. Dr. Mason C. Darling deeded to the church, with- out cost, a lot on the corner of Marr and Second streets, on which a small, cheap building was erected. This was soon after enlarged, but great scarcity of means made it impossible to ren- der the building fit for occupancy until March, 1850, and, during several months thereafter, benches, blocks and chairs took the place of permanent seats. The work of building this mod- est edifice was done mostly by Rev. Spafford and the members, and the material. in the rough, was donated by those who were able. After the Court House was finished, and the old school- house burned, services and meetings were held therein until the completion of the church edi- fice, in 1850.

In July, 1853, Rev. Silas Hawley was called to take charge of the church, and continued its Pastor four years, many new members joining during that time. In the early part of his pastorate, IIon. J. M. Gillet, E. W. Drury and others withdrew to form the Presbyterian Church, and later, in 1856, thirty-seven members withdrew and formed a separate organization, called Plymouth Church. At this separation, Rev. Hawley resigned, and Rev. E. Brown filled his place for six months, until Rev. W. A. Baldwin was secured. Mr. Ballwin preached two years. In the meantime, a building committee, composed of Dr. T. S. Wright, Dr. M. C. Darling and others, began the stone building now occupied as a grist-mill, on Forest street, for a church edifice. The walls reached a height of fifteen feet when the division occurred, and the building committee sold the half-finished church as best they could, to re-imburse themselves for means advanced.

The Plymouth organization built a chapel on the corner of First and Macy streets, and, under the pastorate of Rev. W. L. Mather, occupied it during four years, after which the two organizations re-united, occupying the Plymouth Chapel. The old cdifice was sold to the Free Baptists, and is now occupied by them, on its first site, corner of Marr and Second streets. When the two organizations re-united, Rev. R. H. Williamson was chosen Pastor, and con- tinued in the pulpit four years. He was followed by Rev. C. W. Camp in July, 1863. The chapel was becoming too small for the constantly increasing congregation, and, in 1865, a move- ment was made to secure more commodious quarters. The result was the crection of the pres- ent edifice, a handsome brick structure, located on the corner of Wingate and Sheboygan streets. It was finished and dedicated in October, 1869. Its cost was $43,000, and its seating capacity in the auditorium is about seven hundred.

In November, 1868, Rev. Arthur Little took charge of the organization, which finished the church edifice and greatly thrived under his ministration. On occupying the new building. Plymouth Chapel was sold to the Turners, and is now used by them, on Portland street. On the 19th of July, 1870, the church celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of its organization with extended services, thanksgiving and historical papers and addresses. March 25. 1877, 100 persons, mostly young people, joined the church, as the result of a protracted meeting managed by the Methodist and Congregational Churches.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

Early in 1878, Mr. Little was called to the New England Church, Chicago, and his resig- nation was accepted, his place being soon after filled by E. M. Betts, the present Pastor. The church now consists of about four hundred members. Since Mr. Betts became its Pastor, the church has liquidated the last of its mortgaged debt, and the splendid edifice is now unencumbered. It is richly decorated, has fine stained-glass windows and is an ornament to the city.

Rev. Spafford, the first Pastor, never received over $400 per year salary, and generally not so much, which was paid in everything, now and then a little cash included. A portion of even this meager stipend was cheerfully expended for the feeble little church over whose affairs he presided. Now the church pays a salary of $1,500 per year, and the Pastor is granted annu- ally a vacation of six weeks. The first Deacon was Jerry Homiston. The present Deacons are Dr. E. L. Griffin, James Bass, Henry Hastings and James Sylvester. The Prudential Com- mittee consists of these four Deacons, and E. Delany, W. Wilkie, Mrs. Susan II. Lockwood and Mrs. James Bass, including, also, the Sunday-school Superintendent. O. C. Steinberg is Superintendent of the Sunday school, a feature of the church services for old and young, which has been maintained with great success from the carliest organization of the society, though the first Sunday school was held jointly with the Methodists, in the old schoolhouse in which the first religious services were held. The school now has about two hundred pupils, and is prosperous, harmonious and pleasant. The first Pastor was Rev. L. C. Spafford. After him came Silas Hawley, four years; E. Brown, six months; W. A. Baldwin, two years ; W. L. Mather (of the Plymouth organization), four years ; R. II. Williamson, four years ; C. W. Camp, four years ; Arthur Little, nine and one-half years ; E. M. Betts, present Pastor.

First Presbyterian Church .- Among the early settlers who located in the vicinity of what is now the city of Fond du Lac, were some Congregationalists, and a few Presbyterians, the former being the greater in number. These two parties united, and a Congregational church was organized. They remained together until about the year 1854, when the Presbyterian section of the united congregation decided to enter into an organization of their own more in accordance with their ideas of a scriptural form of church government-which organization was perfected at the house of D. R. Van Duyne, on February 26, A. D. 1855. Those who entered into this organization were James Monroe Gillet and his wife, Emeline E. Gillet ; E. W. Drury and his wife, Deborah Drury ; D. R. Van Duyne and Phoebe Van Duyne, his wife ; William Jones and wife, Joseph S. Trigg and wife, Miss Brodie and Mrs. Smith. After the organiza- tion was effected, a house of worship was to be provided, and a minister secured and supported. Prayer-meetings were at once commenced, and held at the residences of the members, and preaching on Sabbath when a minister could be secured, these services being held at Darling's Hall, and in the schoolhouse. These enterprising people were not contented to continue their worship in this manner, and soon commenced the arduous task of providing a house of worship. But, in this case, when the subscription paper was circulated, there were only four men who were in a position to subscribe. Mr. William Jones subscribed $100. regretting that this amount was all he could give. The balance was assumed by the other three, viz., Messrs. Drury, Gillet and Van Duyne. The latter of these gentlemen was engaged in the manufacture of lumber in the Wolf River pineries, and at once set about getting out the lumber. A building site was pur- chased from John B. Maey, on Main street.

The lumber was brought from the north to the ground; but, on its arrival, it was found to be too light for the purpose. Another bill of lumber was then furnished, and, upon investiga- tion, it was found that one of the timbers for the tower was defective. Mr. Van Duyne, there- fore, took an ox team, went to the woods, and, with the permission of the owner, cut and pre- pared a large tree, and hauled it to its place. Mr. McGinnis, the carpenter, and Messrs. Gillet and Van Duyne were the principal ones in raising the building. The entire cost of ground and building was $7,000, which amount was all paid by Messrs. Drury, Gillet and Van Duyne,

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

excepting the $100 paid by Mr. Jones. Previous to the crection of the building, the organiza- tion of the church was effected, as taken from the church records as follows, viz .:

Be it remembered, that on the twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, pursuant to previous requests made, and notices given, in accordance with the rules, regula- tions and usages of the l'resbyterian Church, the following persons, having received letters of dismission in the usual formu unanimously granted to them by the First Congregational Church of the city of Fond du Lac, were duly organ- ized into a Church of Christ by the Rev. Henry M. Robertson, Chairman of the Committee of the Winnebago Pres- bytery, duly appointed for that purpose. Said church, by vote, adopted the name of the First Presbyterian Church of the city of Fond du Lac, and also Adopted the Westminster Confession of Faith as the articles of faith of said church.

After the organization of the church, three ruling Elders were elected by ballot, D. R. Van Duyne, Joseph S. Trigg and Erastus W. Drury.

Rev. Reuben Frame, who had preached in the city for two Sabbaths, was invited to become the first Pastor, at a salary of $700 per annmin.

Rev. Renben Frame commenced his labors on the 1st day of April, 1855, and preached his first sermon in Darling's Hall. On the 8th of April, 1855, Daniel R. Van Duyne, Joseph S. Trigg and Erastus W. Drury were ordained by Rev. Reuben Frame as Ruling Elders of the church. Mr. Frame continned his services from the 1st day of April, 1855, until February, 1858, when his connection was severed, and the church was closed from that time until the 1st day of April, 1860, when the services of H. M. Robertson were secured. The membership of the church at the time of Rev. Mr. Frame's leaving had reached forty-six communicants. On September 12, 1861, the members of the church convened for the purpose of electing additional Ruling Elders. William Dobie and Dr. A. L. Hoyt were unanimously elected. On September 27, 1861, these were duly ordained.

The church building remained on the corner of Main and Rees streets until 1865. The city having grown toward the south instead of to the north, as had been anticipated when the church was built. the society found they were laboring under a great disadvantage, and there- forc decided to move the building to the corner of Sheboygan and Wingate streets. Before moving, it was found that the title of the building was not held by the congregation, it having been built by individuals, as before stated. In view of business complications which had arisen. the interest held by one of the parties having passed out of his hands, the Trustees bought that one-third interest. They also bought the one-third interest of E. W. Drury, by exchanging the land on which the building then stood for it. The other one-third interest was owned by James M. Gillet, who, when asked by the Trustees what he would do, said, " the church was built with a view of donating it to the congregation. and he stood ready to do as he had originally intended," and then and there did it. Although what he deeded to the society had cost about $2,300, Mr. Gillet paid his full share of the expense of moving and re-fitting the church edifice upon its new location. Upon the first Sabbath of December, 1865, the congre- gation worshiped in the building situated on the location where it now stands. To aid in mov- ing the building, Mr. Robertson subscribed $100, which was afterward remitted to him.

September 26, 1866, owing to ill health, Mr. Robertson resigned. He commenced his labors at a salary of $700 per annum, $400 of which was paid by the Board of Home Missions. During the year 1864, it was decided by the Trustees, on motion of J. S. McDon- ald and C. J. Pettibone, that the congregation become self-sustaining. After this, the congre- gation prospered and increased in numbers to such an extent that the minister's salary was raised to the sum of $1,200, thereby raising the amount paid by the congregation to $900.

At a meeting of the members of the church at Empire, held at the house of A. S. Wilson July 1, 1867, it was resolved that the remaining members of that church take their original letters and unite with the Presbyterian Church in Fond du Lac. These members were received into this church October 5, 1867.

During the ministry of Mr. Robertson with this congregation, ninety-six persons were added to its roll of communicants, and the Sabbath school numbered 150 members.

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

During November, 1866, a legacy of $1,000 was left the church by William B. Brand, one of its honored and efficient members, whose death occurred a short time previously. At a meeting of the Trustees, November 13, 1866, held at the office of James M. Gillet, it was " Resolved, That the Board tenders hereby its grateful remembrances to Mrs. Brand, with our hearty acknowledgments for the generous gift of her late husband, William Bradley Brand. Esq., in whose death our society has lost one of its most ardent friends and liberal supporters, and we have lost a kind neighbor, a good citizen and a generous friend."

At a meeting of the congregation, on the 20th day of November, 1866, the Rev. T. G. Smith was unanimously elected, and was soon after installed as Pastor.

At a meeting held at the office of J. M. Gillet, May 21, 1867, it was decided to purchase, for a parsonage, the residence owned and occupied by Dr. T. J. Patchen, situated on First street, for the sum of $4,000; which purchase was effected. This property was kept and used as a parsonage until April, 1872, when it was sold, inasmuch as the Pastor. Rev. T. G. Smith, had built and was occupying a house of his own.

An election of Elders occurred on March 25, 1869, at which C. W. Pinkham, Hugh McDonald and P. C. Macomber were elected additional Elders. At the same time there were also elected Deacons, Alexander Stewart and Alexander Mason, all of whom were ordained April 11, 1869.

During the spring of 1869, it was decided to enlarge the church building in accordance withi plans presented by J. M. Gillet. During August, 1869, the contract for such enlargement was let to Mr. Phoenix, for the sum of $2,200, to include all expenses of labor and mate- rial. When the work was completed, and the contractor had been paid, the congregation learned that the mechanics had not been paid, and that a large portion of the material had not been paid for by the contractor. Therefore it was decided to pay all bills presented for material and labor, although the church was not legally bound to such payment.

The plan pursued for raising funds for defraying the necessary expenses of the church had been by the system of pew rents.

On December 10, 1872, it was resolved that for one year after January 1, 1873, the collecting of pew rents be suspended.

At a meeting of the congregation on December 15, 1872, a statement was made of the financial condition of the church, and all delinquencies were paid, thereby leaving the church free from debt. This system of raising money has been in successful operation to the present time. Rev. T. G. Smith continued his services as Pastor until April, 1874. A few weeks pre- vious to this time, however, Mr. Smith handed in his resignation, having received a call from Kingston, Canada. The congregation reluctantly received the same and referred it to the Pres- bytery, who declined to grant his release. A few weeks later, this call from Kingston was renewed, and the Presbytery granted the request. The church had received into its member- ship, during Mr. Smith's ministry, 161 members.

The church being without a Pastor, a meeting of the church and congregation was held April 13, 1874, when it was voted to elect Rev. T. C. Kirkwood as Pastor, at a salary of $1,600 per year.

At a meeting of the congregation held in the church June 18, 1874, C. W. Pinkham, P. C. Macomber and Hugh McDonald were re-elected Elders. Alexander Mason and Alexander Stewart were re-elected Deacons, and Robert. Powrie and Robert Hoffman were elected as addi- tional Deacons.

At a congregational mecting beld June 7, 1876, John S. McDonald and C. Vallette Pet- tibone were elected additional Elders for a term of five years.

Mr. Kirkwood commenced his labors in June, and remained as Pastor until the fall of 1878, when his resignation was given to the congregation, and, at his own request, accepted.

During the fall and winter of 1876-77, it was decided to hold revival meetings in the Mission Chapel, which were continued ten weeks, then transferred to the church building, and continued four weeks. As a result, there were received into the church 100 persons. The

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HISTORY OF FOND DU LAC COUNTY.

whole number received into its membership during Mr. Kirkwood's ministry was 161. After the resignation of Mr. Kirkwood, the pulpit remained vacant one year. Regular services were held during this interval by temporary supplies. October 20, 1879, Rev. Donald Ross, by invi- tation of the Session, came to supply the pulpit, and is now residing with this people.

The music of the church was placed in the hands of Dr. A. L. Hoyt in September, 1860. From that time until January 21, 1870, it remained under his management, and at a meeting held by the Session July 9, 1869, the following resolution was passed:

Resolved, That we gladly embrace this opportunity to express our deep sense of obligation to Dr. Hoyt and all the members of the choir for their untiring devotion to the interests of the church, and for the able and faithful manner in which they have discharged these duties for a long period of years.

Many of those who have been so actively and intimately associated with the history of this church have been called to the Elysian Fields. In this connection could be mentioned scores of names ; but prominent among those who have served in an official capacity is John E. Pea- body. It was during his superintendency that the Hope Mission Sabbath School was organized, which enterprise has proved such a blessing to the community as well as church, to which it has long been attached. Hle removed to San Francisco, Cal., whence both himself and wife were called to the better land. Of those who were active and efficient in this connection was B. S. Patty. He was one of the Trustees for years, and none was more ready to render assistance, nor more hospitable toward its members. He was called away by death January 28, 1871. From the organization of this church to the time of his death, J. M. Gillet was one of the few men to give liberally of time, means and counsel. During the infancy of the church, he was ever ready to aid, and never swerved from his original purpose to do all in his power to complete the great work of establishing the church upon a firmn basis. In consequence of his energy, his health was undermined, and he was prematurely called away. "Though dead, he yet speaketh " in the works which follow him.

The Trustees have been as follows : E. W. Drury, J. E. Peabody, C. J. Pettibone, J. S. McDonald, O. W. Benney, J. M. Gillet, L. A. Griswold, B. S. Patty, C. S. Hamilton, Alex- ander McDonald, E. N. Foster, Alexander Wisnom, Alexander Stewart, Allan Carswell, Frank Taylor, John Mills.

The church has always maintained a Sabbath school. Its average attendance is 200. The Superintendents have been E. W. Drury (who was the first), A. L. Hoyt. C. J. Pettibone, John S. McDonald.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 94

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082