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27 chapters
PREFACE.
PREFACE.
The following pages were prepared in the midst of the taxing labors of the Ministerial calling. The materials have been drawn from a multitude of sources, and, though the recollections of individuals have not been entirely harmonious in all cases, the facts and dates are believed to be mainly reliable. The general plan, it will be observed, contemplates a brief record of the Charges and Ministers of the Wisconsin Conference, rather than furnish a sketch of my own services. To place the data, how
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CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER I.
Providential Intervention.--Nature and Providence alike Mysterious.--An Unseen Hand shaping Human Events.--The Author urged to enter the Ministry.--Shrinks from the Responsibility.--Flies to Modern Tarshish.--Heads for Iowa.--Gets Stuck in the Mud.--Smitten by a Northern Gale.--Turns Aside to see the Eldorado.--Finds Himself Face to Face with the Itinerancy. The ways of Providence are mysterious. And how, to men, could they be otherwise? With their limited faculties it could not be expected that
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CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER II.
The Young Itinerant.--In a Lumber Mill at Waupun.--The Surprise.--An Interval of Reflection.--A Graceful Surrender.--The Outfit minus the Horse and Saddlebags.--Receives Instruction.--The Final Struggle.--Arrives at Brothertown.--Reminiscences of the Red Man.--The Searching Scrutiny.--The Brothertown People.--The Mission.--Rev. Jesse Halstead.--Rev. H.W. Frink. In March, A.D. 1845, a letter from Rev. Wm. H. Sampson, then Presiding Elder of Green Bay District, Rock River Conference, found me at W
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CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER III.
Exhorter in Charge.--The First Sabbath.--The Superb Singing.--Class and Prayer Meetings.--A Revival.--Stockbridge Counted In.--A Remonstrance.--Another Exhorter Found.--Decide to Hold a Great Meeting.--The Loaves and Fishes in the Lad's Basket too Few.--Chief Chicks.--Conversion of a Noted Character.--Quarterly Meeting at Fond du Lac.--Licensed to Preach.--Camp Meeting at Clason's Prairie.--Camp Meeting at Brothertown.--Church Enterprise.--Missionary Merchant.--Logging Bee.--Successive Labors. M
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CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER IV.
Fond du Lac.--First Sermon.--Early Presiding Elders.--Rev. H.W. Reed.--Rev. James R. Goodrich.--Rev. Jesse Halstead the first Pastor.--Rev. Harvy S. Bronson.--First Class.--Quarterly Meeting.--Delegation from Waupun.--Rev. Wm. H. Sampson.--Extended District.--A Disastrous Fire.--Outside Appointments.--Stowe's Chapel.--Preacher's Home--Ethiel Humiston.--Byron.--Rev. Joseph T. Lewis.--Rev. M.L. Noble.--Rev. H.R. Colman. The first sermon preached in Fond du Lac was delivered at the residence of Hon
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CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V.
Green Lake Mission.--Waupun.--First Class.--Meetings held at Dr. Bowmans.--Revival.--Two Local Preachers.--Short Cut to Cereseo.--Boxing the Compass.--Wisconsin Phalanx.--First Society.--Dining Hall Chapel. Discussions.--Antiquated Views.--Green Lake.--Shadrach Burdicks.--Visit to Dartford.--Little Green Lake.--The New Chorister.--Markasan. Lake Maria.--Revival. The Rock River Conference, for the year 1845, held its session at Peoria on the 20th day of August. At this Conference I was received o
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CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VI.
Green Lake Mission Continued.--Quarterly Meeting at Oshkosh.--Rev. G. N. Hanson.--Lake Apuckaway.--Lost and Found.--Salt and Potatoes.--Mill Creek.--Rock River.--Rev. J.M.S. Maxson.--Oakfield.--Cold Bath.--Fox Lake.--Gospel vs. Whiskey.--On Time.--Badger Hill.--S.A.L. Davis.--Miller's Mill.--G. W. Sexmith.--Burnett.--William Willard.--Grand River.--David Wood. It had been arranged at the Conference that Green Lake and Winnebago Lake Missions should hold their Quarterly Meetings together. The fir
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CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VII.
Green Lake Mission Continued.--An Assistant Employed.--Quarterly Meeting at Waupun.--Love Feast.--Forty Miles Ride, and Four Sermons.--A Sermon and its Fruit.--Portage Prairie.--Randolph.--Randolph Centre.--Rolling Prairie.--Cheney's Class.--Brandon.--Rosendale.--Reed's Corners.--Strong's Landing.--A Night in the Openings.--Rev. Uriel Farmin.--Going to Conference.--Madison.--Visit at Platteville.--Bishop Hamline.--Humorous to Grave.--Galena Conference. The work of the Mission was now well in han
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CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER VIII.
Appointed to Watertown.--Aztalan the Mother of Circuits.--Divisions and Subdivisions.--Rev. S.H. Stocking.--Watertown.--Church Enterprise.--Sickly Season.--Quarterly Meeting at Burnett--Rev. A.P. Allen.--Elder Sampson Ties a Knot.--Conference of 1847.--Returned to Watertown.--Financial Pressure.--Opens a School.--The Coat Sermon. At the Galena Conference, Green Lake Mission was divided into two four weeks' circuits, requiring the labor of four men. In view of my impaired health, I was sent to Wa
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CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER IX.
Waukesha--Old Prairieville Circuit--Changes--Rev. L.F. Moulthrop--Rev. Hooper Crews--Rev. J.M. Walker--Rev. Washington Wilcox--Upper and Nether Millstones--Our New Field--Revival--Four Sermons--Platform Missionary Meetings--The Orator--Donning the Eldership--The Collection. The General Conference of 1848 divided the Rock River Conference and formed the Wisconsin. The first session of the new Conference was held at Kenosha July 12th, and I was stationed at Waukesha. It will be remembered that Pra
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CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER X.
Milwaukee--Early History--First Sermon--Rev. Mark Robinson--First Class--Rev. John Clark--Trustees--Rev. James Ash--Rev. David Worthington--Rev. Julius Field--Rev. John Crummer--First Church--Rev. John T. Mitchell--Rev. Sias Bolles--Lantern Convert--Second Church--Rev. A. Hanson--Rev. Dr. Ryan--John H. Van Dyke--Rev. F.M. Mills--Rev. James E. Wilson--Walker's Point--First Class--Rev. Wm. Willard. The Conference of 1850 was held June 26th at Beloit, Bishop Hamline presiding. Brother Springer was
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CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XI.
Spring Street, Milwaukee--First Sabbath--Promising Outlook--The Deep Shadow--Rev. Elihu Springer--Rev. I.M. Leihy--Revival--Missionary Meetings--Dedication at Sheboygan--Ravages of the Cholera--Death-bed Scenes--The Riot--Bishop Waugh--Camp Meeting--Scandinavian Work--Rev. C. Willerup. The Spring Street Station had now attained the reputation of being the first charge in the Conference. The Church edifice, as we have seen, was decidedly respectable, both in size and character. The membership was
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CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XII.
Conference of 1851.--Presiding Elder.--Presentation.--Give and Take.--Fond du Lac District--Quarterly Meeting--Rev. J.S. Prescott.--Footman vs. Buggies--Fond du Lac.--Two Churches.--Greenbush Quarterly Meeting--Rev. David Lewis--Pioneer Self-Sacrifice.--Finds a Help-Meet.--Sheboygan Falls.--Rev. Matthias Himebaugh.--Oshkosh--First Class.--Church Enterprises. The Conference for 1851 was held June 25th, at Waukesha. The Sessions were deeply spiritual, and were characterized by general harmony amon
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CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIII.
Fond du Lac District Continued.--Green Bay.--First Settlement.--Rev. John Clark.--First Sermon.--First Class.--Col. Ryan.--First Methodist.--First Church Enterprise.--Good Society.--Heretical Bonnet.--Various Changes.--Rev. R.P. Lawton--Church Disaster--Purifying the Temple--Rev. S.W. Ford.--Oneida Indian Mission.--Oneidas.--Missionaries.--Quarterly Meeting.--Council.--"Chief Jake."--Interpreter.--Rev. Henry Requa.--His Dying Message. Green Bay, the next point visited, is the oldest town within
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CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
Fond du Lac District Continued.--Appleton.--Early History.--Rev. C.G. Lathrop--Lawrence University.--Incipient Stages.--Charter.--Trustees. Agent.--First Board of Instruction.--Buildings.--Faculty.--Rev. Dr. Cooke.--Rev. Dr. Cobleigh.--Rev. Dr. Mason.--Rev. Dr. Knox.--Rev. Dr. Steele. Leaving Oneida, I next visited Appleton, where I was kindly received by Rev. C.G. Lathrop, the Pastor, and his good wife. Though three years had scarcely passed since the echoes of the woodman's axe first rang thro
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CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XV.
Fond du Lac District Continued.--Baraboo Conference.--Lodi Camp Meeting.--Fall River.--Revival at Appleton.--Rev. Elmore Yocum.--Revival at Sheboygan Falls.--Revival at Fond du Lac.--Rev. E.S. Grumley.--Revival at Sheboygan.--Rev. N.J. Aplin.--Camp-Meeting at Greenbush.--Rev. A.M. Hulce.--Results of the Year.--Janesville Conference.--Omro. Rev. Dr. Golden.--The Cowhams.--Quarterly Meeting.--My Father's Death.--Close of the Term. The Conference of 1852 was held at Fond du Lac, Sept. 1st, and was
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CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVI.
Conference of 1855.--The New Departure.--Mission Committee.--The Slavery Controversy.--Triumph of Freedom.--Wisconsin Conference Rule. Conference Report.--Election of Delegates.--Appointed to Racine.--Detention.--The Removal to the New Charge.--Stage, Dray, and Steamboat.--New Bus Line. The Conference for 1855 was held at Racine on the 29th day of August, and was presided over by Bishop Janes. During the session I was quartered with Rev. Moses Adams, a superannuated member of the Black River Con
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CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII.
Racine.--Its Early History.--Subsequent Growth.--Racine District.--Rev. Dr. Hobart.--Kenosha.--Rev. Salmon Stebbins.--Sylvania.--The Kelloggs.--Walworth Circuit.--Burlington and Rochester.--Lyons. Troy Circuit.--First Class at Troy.--Eagle.--Round Prairie.--Hart Prairie.--Delavan.--Elkhorn.--Pastorate at Racine.--Revival.--Church Enlargement.--Second Year.--Precious Memories. The great centers from which the Church in Wisconsin has radiated were few in number and were fixed upon at an early peri
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CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Conference of 1857.--Janesville.--Early History.--First Sermon.--The Collection.--First Class.--First Church.--First Donation.--Rev. C.C. Mason.--Missionary Anniversary.--Rev. A. Hamilton.--Rev. D.O. Jones.--The Writer's Pastorate.--The Great Revival.--The Recipe.--Old Union Circuit.--First Class.--Evansville.--Rev. Henry Summers.--New Church. Conference of 1858.--Beloit.--Early Pastorates.--Church Enterprise.--Second Year at Janesville. The Conference for 1857 was held June 26th, at Spring Stre
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CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XIX.
Conference of 1859.--Presiding Elder.--Milwaukee District.--Residence.--District Parsonage.-Visits to Charges.--Spring Street.--Asbury.--Rev. A.C. Manwell.--Brookfield.--West Granville.--Wauwatosa.--Rev. J.P. Roe.--Waukesha.--Rev. Wesley Lattin,--Oconomowoc.--Rev. A.C. Pennock.--Rev. Job B. Mills.--Hart Prairie.--Rev. Delos Hale.--Watertown. Rev. David Brooks.--Rev. A.C. Huntley.--Brookfield Camp-Meeting. The next Conference session was held April 20th, 1859, at Sheboygan Falls. The excellent Bi
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CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XX.
Whitewater Conference.--Report on Slavery.--Election of Delegates.--Whitewater.--Early History.--Rev. Dr. Bannister.--General Conference.--Member of Mission Committee.--Conference 1860.--Rev. I.L. Hauser.--Mrs. I.L. Hauser.--Rev. J.C. Robbins.--The Rebellion.--Its Causes.--Fall of Sumter.--Extract of Sermon.--Conference 1861.--Rev. J.H. Jenne.--Rev. S.C. Thomas.--Rev. G.C. Haddock.--Colonelcy.--Close of Term. The thirteenth session of the Wisconsin Conference was held Oct. 13, 1859, in the villa
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CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXI.
Conference of 1862.--The War.--Position of the Conference.--Rev. J.M. Snow.--Appointed again to Spring Street.--Dr. Bowman.--Changes.--Rev. P.S. Bennett.--Rev. C.S. Macreading.--Official Board.-The New Church Enterprise.--Juvenile Missionary Society.--Conference of 1863.--Rev. P.B. Pease.--Rev. George Fellows.--Rev. Samuel Fallows.--Rev. R.B. Curtis.--Rev. D.H. Muller.--Third Year.--Pastoral Work.--Revival. Visit to the Army.--Illness.--Close of Term. The Conference of 1862 was held Oct. 1st at
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CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXII.
Conference of 1805.--The War Closed.--Lay Delegation the Next Question. Rev. George Chester.--Rev. Romulus O. Kellogg.--Missionary to China.--Rev. L.N. Wheeler.--Appointed to Fond du Lac District.--Marriage of our Eldest Daughter.--Removal to Fond du Lac.--Rev. T.O. Hollister.--State of the District.--Rev. J.T. Woodhead.--Waupun.--Rev. D.W. Couch.--Lamartine.--Rev. I.S. Eldridge.--Horicon.--Rev. Walter McFarlane. The Conference of 1865 was held Oct. 4th in Summerfield Church, Milwaukee, Bishop B
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CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Conference of 1866.--Centenary Year.--Lay Delegation.--Reconstruction.--Returned to Fond du Lac District.--Seven Sermons a Week--Rev. O.J. Cowles.--Beaver Dam.--A Good Record.--Fall River.--Early History.--Columbus.--Rev. Henry Sewell.--Conference of 1867.--Election of Delegates.--Cotton Street.--Rev. R.S. Hayward.--Rev. A.A. Reed.--General Conference.--Conference of 1868.--Rev. T.C. Wilson.--Rev. H.C. Tilton. Rev. John Hill.--Rev. Isaac Searles.--Rev. J.B. Cooper.--An Incident.--Close of the Te
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CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Conference of 1869.--Stationed at Ripon.--First Visit.--Rev. E.J. Smith.--Rev. Byron Kingsbury.--Sabbath School.--Early Record of the Station.--Church Enterprises.--Rev. William Morse.--Rev. Joseph Anderson.--Revival.--Church Enlargement.--Berlin.--Early History.--Rev. Isaac Wiltse.--Conference of 1870.--Returned to Ripon.--Marriage of our Second Daughter.--A Happy Year.--Close of our Labors. The Conference of 1869 was held September 23d at Appleton, Bishop Scott presiding. My term on the Distri
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXV.
Conference of 1871.--Election of Delegates.--Laymen's Electoral Convention.--Temperance.--The Sabbath.--Rev. Thomas Hughes.--Appointed to Spring Street.--Third Term.--Wide Field.--Rev. C.D. Pillsbury.--Rev. W.W. Case.--The Norwegian Work.--Rev. A. Haagenson.--The Silver Wedding.--Results of the Year. The Conference of 1871 was held in the Summerfield Church, Milwaukee, Oct. 11, and was presided over by Bishop Simpson. At this session the election of Delegates to the General Conference again occu
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CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVI.
Conference of 1872.--Rev. A.P. Mead.--Rev. A. Callender.--Rev. Win. P. Stowe.--Rev. O.B. Thayer.--Rev. S. Reynolds,--Revival under Mrs. Van Cott.--Conference of 1873.--Rev. Henry Colman.--Rev. A.A. Hoskin.--Rev. Stephen Smith.--Illness.--Conference of 1874.--Rev. Dr. Carhart.--Rev. Geo. A. Smith.--Rev. C.N. Stowers. The Conference of 1872 was held Oct. 9th, at Division Street Church, Fond du Lac, Bishop Haven presiding. The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, having been fully recognized by the
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