History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 187-207
The First Church in the Upper Baraboo Valley
To the Methodist Church of Reedsburg belongs the distinction of having been the first religious organization in the vicinity of Reedsburg. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by the Rev. Nelson BUTLER, of Adams circuit, Madison district, Wisconsin conference, in November 1850. It was organized at the house of John CLARK, and had, as its first members, twelve persons, as follows: Zebina BISHOP, John RORK, Dinna RORK, Garrett RATHBURN, John CLARK, Sarah CLARK, Mary A. BOWEN, Amanda BARRENGER, Jane SPINK, Mary REED and Phillip B. SMITH, but the membership rapidly increased, and in 1852 it numbered thirty-two.
The following paper, giving the history of the institution down through the years, was prepared by Mrs. Luther (Angie) CRAKER, and read at the sixty-fifth anniversary of the church, celebrated in 1915, by its author.
"In the fall of 1855 they erected a tabernacle of boards 20 by 30 feet in size, at the northwest corner of Fourth and Locust Streets, a little south of where the Catholic church now stands. This building had accommodations for about one hundred and served as a place of worship for eight years. At the time of the building of the tabernacle a Mr. Frank HENRY who lived nearby felt very much annoyed that a church edifice should be built so near his property, and at a "raising" where many were present, expressed his annoyance in no mild language, said he was ready to sell his property for one hundred dollars less than before. Whereupon Mr. RORK, one of the members of the church, spoke up and said, "Judging from your remarks, Mr. HENRY, you ought to be fenced in with churches.' These words were seed sown in good ground, for later on Mr. HENRY apologized and although a man of small means he gave five dollars toward the building.
"In 1872 a church edifice was erected on the northeast corner of Pine and Second Streets, known to most of us as the A. L. HARRIS property; it was 35 by 40 feet, seating 235 persons. It was dedicated Feb. 15, 1873, the Rev. S. FALLOWS of Madison officiating, the text of his sermon being, "He must needs go through Samaria". At this meeting a subscription of $630 was raised towards liquidating the indebtedness of the society. In 1883 the lot on which the church stood was sold and the church moved, first, to the lot immediately east and then to Main Street, to the present site of our parsonage. June 1, 1901, during the pastorate of L. B. COLEMAN the society bought the property on the east and north of the church of the BUCK brothers, then of Elroy, for $2,500, the amount, except $270, having been arranged to be paid in three annual installments. That fall preparations were begun for the building of the present stone edifice.
"Words seem almost inadequate to describe the planning, the toiling and the sacrifices made during the eight years preparatory to the building of the new church. Many here will recall the Official Board meetings held in the basement of the old church, when it seemed that "Faith" was all there was to build on. The Ladies' Aid Society, under the leadership of Mrs. W. D. JOHNSON, was the first to pledge a sum of $1,000. Only those who worked in the society during those years know the prayers and tears and earnest efforts put forth. We would not forget to acknowledge the many works of love and labor put into the building unsolicited and unrewarded.
"And then, at last, we met on the 24th of January, 1909, for the dedicatory services. It was a day of great rejoicing and yet a strenuous day for those most interested, for the raising of funds was again necessary.
"The following year, 1910, the West Wisconsin Conference was held here, it being its sixty-fifth session, with Bishop Joseph F. BERRY presiding. The occasion was a season of blessing for the people of Reedsburg."
The pastors who have served the church since its humble beginning in 1850 are thirty-eight, namely:
Rev. N. BUTLER, 1850-1852
John BEAN, 1853-1855
E. S. BUNCE, 1855-1857
A. V. HOUSE, 1857-1858
E. A. SACKETT, 1858-1859
John BEAN, Summer of 1859
R. ROBOTHAM, 1859-1860
John M. SPRINGER, 1860-1861
C. D. WHITCOMB, 1861-1863
E. S. BUNCE, 1863-1864
Rev. KILBOURN, 1864-1866
B. L. JACKSON, 1866-1867
R. PINGILLEY, 1867-1869
I. SWEATLAND, Summer of 1869
John HARRIS, 1869-1871
Robert LANGLEY, 1871 -
N. LEACH (no date given)
N. B. BACHMAN (no date given)
J. W. BELL (no date given)
J. H. WHITNEY (no date given)
D. CLINGMAN (no date given)
E. C. BOOTH (no date given)
H. P. BLAKE (no date given)
I. B. BICKFORD (no date given)
S. S. BENEDICT (no date given)
A. B SCOVILLE (no date given)
G. N. FOSTER, 1900-1901
Louis COLEMAN, 1902-1903
W. Walter BLAIR, 1902-1903
John E. KUNDERT, 1904-1908
Cecil L. CLIFFORD, 1909-1913
Jesse B. BUTTER, Year of 1914
Eugene COOK, 1915-1920
Thomas S. BEAVIN, 1921-1927
T. Harry KELLY - 1927 to date
It was during Rev. J. Eugene COOK's pastorate that the church celebrated its sixty-fifth anniversary, in the Autumn of 1915. The former pastors, Pastors SCOVILLE, FOSTER, CLIFFORD and BUTTER came from distant towns, and Rev. SCOVILLE, who was retired and residing at Fairchild, was dean of all the pastors present.
This church, which was the third one organized in Reedsburg was started in the fall of the year 1851, but did not come into actual being until Jan. 24, 1852. Through the kindly assistance of Miss May McINTOSH and with data from an historical paper by her father, the late Lachlan McINTOSH of Winfield pioneer note, we are able to give a fair history of the institution.
On the 29th day of November, 1851, Elder Joseph Conrad of Baraboo came to the then despairing little village of Reedsburg (the saw log war with Baraboo had severely crippled the place) to preach to the good citizens of the village. There were some Baptists living here at that time, and they were indeed glad to have him come. Then he came again. And then, on the 23rd day of January, 1852, he came a third time, with the purpose of organizing a congregation. This was done, and eleven brothers and sisters affixed their names on the first membership roll of the First Baptist Church of Reedsburg.
The names: William J. BENTLY, his wife Lydia; Zechariah CRAKER, his wife Sarah; Ammon VERNOY, his wife Lucy; Amanda SKIDMORE CARVER, wife of Daniel CARVER; Harriet SKIDMORE BENEDICT, wife of Eber BENEDICT; Sarah BOVEE; Charlotte SPERRY and Roxey A. CARVER. To this list were added on March 26, same year, the following names: Lachlan McINTOSH, his wife Ann; Mary HEMINGWAY; Thomas K. BISHOP and Catharine BISHOP.
Then on April 17 Susan SPRAGUE affiliated; July 10, Mary J. PERRY. This made the membership, for six months, eighteen. Elder CONRAD served the congregation until the fall of 1852.
Elder CONRAD was followed that fall by Elder BARBOUR who was indeed a very energetic preacher, for he went to all the neighboring villages, preaching in schoolhouses and swellings, and in addition to this conducted his select schools for girls. He remained with the church until 1858 and among the additions he made to his congregation may be mentioned Deacon ROOT, brother Cora RANSOM (who hailed from Winfield) and Sister NOYES.
Elder B. D. SPRAGUE took up the duties of pastor in August, 1858 and served the congregation until 1860. Then Elder Wm. J. CHAPIN came to the pastorate, retaining it until 1863. CHAPIN conducted a school in the home of Mary HEMMINGWAY, in Winfield.
J. H. ROSCOE was the succeeding minister and he served until April 1866. He had a son, Boardman, who enlisted in the Union Army and died in the service, while he was still pastor. Near the close of his pastorate a committee was appointed to select a suitable site for the building of a new church.
Elder MEAD came next, serving from 1866 until Oct. 1867. During his term a site was selected and bought for the sum of seventy-five dollars. But it was not until the pastorate of Elder J. SEAMANS, who followed, that any step was taken toward erecting a church.
On March 24, 1871, a meeting was held and a committee appointed to draw up plans for the new edifice. That same spring, May 2, a meeting was held at which it was decided to recall one of the former ministers and so it came about that Elder BARBOUR again came into the pastorate.
Under the date of Aug. 28, 1872, Elder BARBOUR wrote: "The church is now erecting a new edifice 32 by 46 feet, in the village of Reedsburg, at a cost of something over $2,000.00." The building was first opened to public worship on June 4, 1873, but the dedicatory services did not take place until Oct. 12, same year. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Lewis RAYMOND of Chicago.
The next pastor was G. W. LINCOLN, who came in 1874, and remained until 1877. Then for a short time Rev. STANLEY served the church, but sometime in the Autumn of 1877 Elder HILL was installed. He remained until 1879. In February of that year a Rev. SPOOR conducted services, and then Elder SEAMANS accepted a recall and stayed several months. The next pastor was Elder KERMOTT and during his pastorate of six months the last of the church debt was paid. On March 25, 1881 was held a jubilee meeting in honor of the debt that was thenceforth to be numbered among the things that were no longer.
Elder GOODWIN served the next year. Then Rev. J. H. AMBROSE, for two years; and he was followed by G. W. LINCOLN who responded to a recall and remained two years. He was, in turn, followed by Rev. S. E SWEET who remained four years and conducted during the winter of 1889 a revival, assisted by Evangelist S. C. ENOS. C. I. MATHEW came next and served the spiritual needs of the church one year. The next pastor was Brother H. J. FRENCH whose pastorate lasted four years.
Rev. H. B HAMMERLY followed FRENCH and was followed in turn by Rev. J. J. ENGE. ENGE was pastor in 1902 when the fiftieth anniversary was observed.
The following list gives the pastors down to the present day:
W. A. LEE, July 6, 1902-Aug. 30, 1903
F. F. PARSON, Sept. 1, 1903-Nov. 1, 1905
J. T. SHARMAN, Dec. 31, 1905-Oct. 15, 1911
John JOHNSON, Dec. 3, 1911-Oct. 15, 1915
J. FARRELL, Nov. 28, 1915-Oct. 3, 1918
Victor H. SWORD, Dec. 22, 1918-May 15, 1920
Re. F. E. FISHER, June 10, 1920-July, 1920
W. W. HARRIS, Sept. 1, 1926-Nov., 1927
Rev. E. G. HAMLEY, Dec. 1, 1927
Mr. HAMLEY, who is well liked as a pastor and as a citizen, is a natural student and has done considerable work along the line of Indian History, including an interesting pamphlet on the Indian lore of Rice Lake.
The Baptist Parsonage was erected in 1916.
The trustees of this church are: Ed THOM, A. L. KLEEBER, Joseph GREENWOOD.
The deacons: Frank HOUGHTON, George WEBLEY, Elmer JOHNSON, Edward SNYDER.
One of the older religious institutions in the city of Reedsburg is the First Presbyterian Church, located at the southeast corner of Second and North Park Streets opposite the City Park. It was organized as a society on Nov. 22, 1857, with D. BUCK, Thomas TAIT, Mary TAIT, Lurney BUCK, Lewis GIFFORD, Rosena GIFFORD, Mary M. GIFFORD, Denton DALSON, Irene DALSON, Sarah LANE, Pamelia TATOR, Nelson BOWEN, Elizabeth T. NORTHRUP, Moses YOUNG, Ann J. MACKEY, John A. CONGER, Rev. William LUSK, who accepted the charge Jan. 4, 1858, was the first pastor and continued in the pastorate until July 8, 1860. The first elders of the church were Chester BUCK and Lewis GIFFORD.
The Session Records of the church, dated Dec. 31, 1858, record that "In the month of December we took possession of a new House of Worship, of the size of 60 by 38. To erect this church and gain a position has cost this church a great struggle, being weak in members and personal resources. But God gave the people generally a mind for the work, to His name be the Praise." Later, upon his return to the charge, under date of Nov. 1, 1869, Rev. William LUSK wrote, "With this month commenced the labors of William LUSK in this church, as a stated supply, having assumed charge of it the second time in accordance with a previous vote to complete the church edifice. Work was commenced thereon, April 25, 1870.
Following is a list of ministers who have served the church:
William LUSK, Jan. 4, 1858-July 8, 1860
Timothy WILLISTON, Sept. 23, 1860-April 21, 1861
William B. HENDRYX, June 1, 1861-Sept. 1, 1866
A. S. WHITCOMB, term ending Oct. 1869
William LUSK, Nov. 1, 1869-1875
D. S. WHITE, Sept. 20, 1875-1876
Henry L. BROWN, Oct. 15, 1876-Oct. 1, 1879
O. H. WINCHESTER, Dec. 19, 1880-Sept. 19, 1886
B. E. P. PRUGH, May 15, 1887-June 1, 1888
A. V. C SCHENCK, D.D., June 17, 1888-June 17, 1890
J. C. LAUGHLIN, July 6, 1890-June 26, 1894
T. J. BROWN, June 21, 1895-April 26, 1896
E. S. SCOTT, D.D., Dec. 18, 1896-Oct. 23, 1903
T. R. WHITE, Jan. 31, 1904-July 9, 1907
S. N. WILSON, D.D., Sept. 10, 1908-Sept., 1916
Leslie A. BECHTEL, Dec. 17, 1916-May 11, 1919
John H. MOOREHEAD, D.D., Nov. 16, 1919-Sept. 27, 1924
Harry B. FOSTER, March 1, 1925-Present Pastor
The present church property which replaces the old frame building consists of a very comfortable and well built cement block edifice, erected during the pastorate of Rev. T. R. WHITE, at a cost exceeding $22,000 and dedicated Jan. 20, 1907; a pipe organ with additional chimes, costing approximately $5,500, the gift of Elder R. P. PERRY; and a commodious and beautiful Dutch Colonial Manse, erected during the pastorate of Rev. Harry B. FOSTER, the gift of Mrs. Freda Meyer NISHAN as a memorial her aunt Mrs. Mary M. RUDD, a former member of the church.
The following constitute the official body of the church: Elders, R. P. PERRY, C. E. PHILLIPS, W. H. RAMSEY, D. O. STINE, E. C. SEDGWICK, Adolph FEY, J. A. LUND, George HOEVERMAN, W. F. WINCHSTER; Deacons, Otto KRAUSE, Glen C. HOWLAND, James C. SEDGWICK, Max KRAUSE, James M. YOUNG, Charles A. CLARK, Walter S. CRAKER, N. T. GILL, John STARNER; Supt. of Sunday School, W. F. WINCHESTER; Pres. of Ladies Missionary Society, Mrs. R. P. PERRY; and President of the Ladies Aid, Mrs. C. E. PHILLIPS.
To the people of Reedsburg the St. Peter's Lutheran Church stands as the city's most conspicuous edifice, crowning a spot of great eminence at the northeast corner of the City Park, lifting its lofty spires high up into the sky, and giving to the townspeople the benefits derived from a great Town Clock. The site of the present structure is perhaps one of the more historical locations of the city, for it was here that L. Gay SPERRY had his dwelling, and it was here that, at midnight, one night long years ago, a group of hopeful men gathered to unearth a chest of hidden gold. See "A Letter Found by the Wayside or A Tale of Pirates," Part. 1
The first steps toward the organization of the church was made on November 16, 1967, when thirty-three men met and decided to establish a church. They were
D. SCHWEKE,
W. STOLE,
F. DARGEL,
F. MEYER,
F STRUCK,
J. DARGER,
J. GEFFERT,
H. HUEBING,
J. STOLTE,
H. GRANTIN,
J. BECKMAN,
F. BRAMMERT,
H. RAETZMAN,
J. SCHULZ,
L. DROEGEMUELLER,
N. ROSENTHAL,
C. ROSENTHAL,
H. SCHULTZ,
W. DIERKS,
A. HALBERSLEBEN,
CHRIST HALBERSLEBEN,
W. VON DER OHE,
W. STEHR,
C. VON DER OHE,
J. WOLLE,
Fred PETERS,
F. SCHROEDER,
C. SCHROEDER,
H. HAHN,
AUGUST POHLMANN,
H. KIPP,
W. GEFFERT,
Mr. MEIKUS.,
J. FUHLBOHN,
H. FROMMUND,
E. GRAEFKE,
F. RAETZMANN,
W. RAETZMANN,
J. BEHN,
H. SCHULENBURG,
W. DARGEL,
H. RIENCKE,
W. MEYER,
J. HAGANAH,
F. DARGEL,
J. BART,
W. BART,
A. GEFFERT,
H. MEYER,
W. GADE,
J. MUELLER,
H. R. SCHULENBURG.
Of these Mr. GRAEFKE is the only living charter member; William KRUG, who joined the following May, is another living early member.
The following year the organization was completed and on May 11, 1868, Rev. LUCAS was installed as pastor. Rev. LUCAS left that same fall, and Rev. Christoff KESSLER of the Westfield Church took over the pastoral duties, and retained them for one year, until 1869. Rev. ROHRLACK was then called and began his pastorate on Aug. 22, 1869, and served until May 1909. In 1870 the first church structure was erected and in 1874 the first school was opened.
The new church was erected in 1908, and dedicated March 14, 1909, and five years later, in 1914 the present parsonage was built. A brick schoolhouse was put up in 1898, and an addition to it in 1924.
Upon the departure of Re. ROHRLACK, Rev. P. SCHALLER accepted a call to the church, and filled the pulpit fro1909 until March 26, 1916. At that time Re. W. KANSIER came to the congregation and served until November 1924, going from Reedsburg to Milwaukee, where his death occurred. He was followed here by Re. C. A. HARDT, who served until Oct. 23, 1927, when the present incumbent, Rev. Carl SCHINNERER accepted the call of the St. Peter's Lutheran Church. Re. SHINNERER was installed Nov. 30, 1927.
This brief record of the Catholic Church of Reedsburg, Winfield and Dellona, is taken from the Golden and Silver Jubilee Booklet compiled by Father Eugene KERNIEN, which was published in August, 1928.
As early as 1846 Irish immigrants settled in the townships of Winfield and Dellona and it was the Catholic Faith of these good people which caused the starting of the Catholic religion in its sincerity in the Upper Baraboo Valley. In those pioneer days there were few Priests and the distance which separated them from the Winfield and Dellona settlements, with the difficulties of transportation always to be taken into consideration, made it hard for the settlers to receive the spiritual consolation that they desired.
"Accordingly," wrote Father Eugene KIERNAN, "under the direction of Father STEHLE of Lyndon Station, we see them commencing the erection of All Saints Church in Dellona in the year 1857, on land donated by Patrick HICKEY, the father of John and Martin HICKEY, and a few years later erected the St. Patrick's Church in Winfield, on land donated by Martin CONWAY, whose family later moved away. Previous to the erection of the first church in 1857 there had been missions in Winfield and Dellona which had been attended by the Lyndon Station Priests. The Lyndon Station Priests continued to attend it, because there was no rectory at either of these new 'cells' at that time and the Priests were Fathers GODFRY, STEHLE, O'NEIL, MONTAGUE and CONROY.
"In 1872 a new parish rectory was built in Dellona and the Rt. Rev. Bishop HEISS appointed Father DeGOEY, O.S.F.C., as first resident pastor, with St. Patrick's Church in Winfield as a mission. Previous to his coming to Dellona Father DeGOEY gained the great distinction of having been the first Catholic chaplain appointed to the English Navy since the time of the Reformation."
The history of the Sacred Heart Church of Reedsburg, dates from 1880, which was the year the first Catholic Church of Reedsburg was erected. For some time previous, however, there had been mass meetings, conducted by the Rev. Father WHITE of Baraboo, in several private homes. As early as 1876 Mrs. E. F. BUELOW, a resident of Reedsburg, began to circulate a subscription among those of her faith in the village, and in a few years the sum had amounted to enough so that in the fall of 1879 work was begun on the erection of a church. It was completed in 1880, dedicated that spring, and cost $1,200. The subscribers to the fund and members of the parish were the families of Paul BISHOP, Patrick TIERNEY, Peter BYRNE, Stephen TIMLIN, William HORKAN, E. F. BUELOW, Edward TIMLIN, Mrs. Frank INGALLS, William BOEHN, Frank MECKLER and Mrs. LASSALLETTE.
Although Father WHITE had attended mass in the community at an early date, he appears not to have been in any important way connected with the starting of the church here. Father VAN DROSTE, rector of the Dellona parish, superintended the building of the church, and attended it for many years, it being but a mission, along with the St Patrick's Church of Winfield, of the All Saints Church of Dellona. Father VAN DROSTE was pastor from 1878 to 1882 and was followed by Father CONROY, who retained the pastorate until 1884.
The Jubilee Book reads: "In the year 1885, although the number of Catholics in Reedsburg was still very small, it was judged best by Bishop FLASH that the priest should live in Reedsburg instead of Dellona, and thus Dellona, which for thirteen years had rejoiced in the presence of a resident pastor, became a mission to be attended by the pastor of new parish of Reedsburg. The Dellona rectory, which, in those bygone days, must have been a mansion, has remained unoccupied for forty-three years, but still stands in good repair, giving silent testimony to the cherished consideration of that noble people.
"In the year of 1885 Father James CAMPBELL, the late lamented pastor of St. Patrick's parish at Elroy, was appointed pastor, and thus became the first resident pastor of the new parish of Reedsburg. Father CAMPBELL remained for four years (1889) and was succeeded by Father FITZPATRICK, who in turn was succeeded by the Very Rev. Dean NEVINS, in the spring of 1892. Father NEVINS' pastorate extended over two years (until 1894) and then followed Rev. Hugh DUFFY, who was the immediate predecessor of father CONDON, now of La Crosse.
Father CONDON came to the parish in 1898, a man with youth, energy and zeal, and found in Reedsburg a sufficient vent for his untiring energies.
"The first thing to claim his attention," continues the Jubilee Book, "was a new home in which to live. The old rectory was far from satisfactory. A new one was of urgent necessity. And so, not knowing where the money was coming from, but having full confidence that God would provide it, he built the present commodious and well-apponted parochial residence.
"But now a terrible calamity befell the poor little struggling congregation. Hardly had the debt on the new pastoral residence been paid off when the old church, humble though it was, completely burned to the ground. Catholics and non-Catholics, in town and country, came to the rescue in response to the supplicating appeals of Father CONDON, and in the fall of 1902 the cornerstone of the new edifice was laid. The following May (1903), the new church was dedicated under the title name of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus".
The final payment on the church debt was made in June, 1905. Shortly afterward father CONDON resigned and Father DONAVAN was appointed to the Sacred Heart Parish. Father DONAVAN remained for only a short time, to be followed, in December, same year (1905), by the good Father Delaney, who was, in turn, followed (in 1909) by the Rev. Father O'REILLY. Father O'REILLY's pastorate lasted until 1911, when the Rev Father KIERNAN, present Priest of the Parish, was apponted, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop SCHWEBACH.
For the past seventeen years Father KIERNAN has attended to the spiritual direction of the church and the Winfield and Dellona missions, and the parish had progressed and increased in membership until today it is looked upon as one of the most flourishing parishes in the Diocese of La Crosse
The mission in Dellona is no longer a place of worship, modern modes of travel having brought the people of that community within a few minutes of the Reedsburg Church; but the Winfield Church is still in use; services being held there every third Sabbath. There are three Catholic cemeteries within the parish, the Winfield Cemetery, the Dellona Cemetery, and the new Catholic Cemetery just north of the Greenwood Cemetery, in Reedsburg. These cemeteries are treated separately elsewhere in this work.
In response to a request the Rev. G. W. BECHTOLT, present pastor of the Reedsburg U. B. Church, jotted down the following sketch which gives the history of his church. It is one of the newer institutions of this city, organized by a God-fearing element of the local population, and has a great future before it.
"The Reedsburg United Brethren Church was organized in May, 1916, with twenty-five charter members. The Wisconsin Conference of the U. B. Church backed the enterprise under the leadership of C. J. ROBERTS, who was Conference Superintendent. At that conference G. W. BECHTOLT, then pastor of the Lime Ridge circuit, was appointed to select a church site. The Albert H. CLARK property, at the corner of West Avenue and West Main Street, was purchased under date (according to deed) of April 24, 1916. This is the site upon which the present new brick church stands.
"The CLARK house, which stood near the corner, was used for a parsonage, and a temporary chapel was erected by the Reedsburg Supply Co., size 24 by 44 feet, on the present parsonage site.
"Mr. BECHTOLT served as pastor two years, until November, 1918; and then he was elected Superintendent of the Conference with which he remained until recalled to the pastorate in 1927. He was followed by Rev. O. A. CHEEK of Ohio, who served the congregation the year of 1919. Then came Rev. L. E. WARREN, for three years, 1920, 1921 and 1922; he, in turn, was followed by Rev. J. Hart TRUSDALE. He was succeeded by Rev. W. H. ADAMS, the immediate predecessor of the present pastor.
"The construction of the new brick church was begun in 1922. Mr. TRUESDALE had come into the pastorate before the work began. The little chapel was raised and the CLARK house which was brick veneer, was moved back and located on its present site. The brick as removed and the exterior lathed and stuccoed. The church was reared in the corner of the lot, and is a fine, modern church, well equipped with heating and lighting fixtures, and a kitchen. The church construction was under the direction of Eugene C. MILLER and Will TOWNSEND, involving an expenditure of less that $20,000.00. It was dedicated June 10, 1923 by Bishop H. H. FOUT of Indianapolis, Ind."
The windows of the new church were donated by members of the congregation and either bear the names of the donors or of relatives to whose memory they are dedicated. The names that appear on the nameplates are as follows:
Mrs. Thomas JOHNSON
Orra KIRKPATRICK
Rev. and Mrs. G. W. BECHTOLT
Bishop H. H. FOUT
Albert OUTCALF
Mr. and Mrs. E. C. MILLER
Mr. and Mrs. James R. TRUESDALE
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph SMITH
The George W. BIBLE family
Mr. and Mrs. C. M. KESTER
Joshua BIBLE and wife
W. M.A. and O. G.
Sunday School, Junior and Senior
KIRKPATRICK
HAINES
Wm. VIETTE and wife
Mr. and Mrs. Westley VIETTE
Brotherhood Aid Society
The PHILLIPS Family
J. L. MARKHAM and wife
V. O. BAILEY and wife
SWAFFORD
HEINKINS
Roy W. LANGDON
Will TOWNSEND, Builder
The big window on the north side, overlooking Main Street was put in by the congregation and dedicated In Memory of Our Country's Defenders (the soldiers of the World War). It is a vision of the Goddess of Liberty. In her right hand is a purple distaff; and in her left hand is a wreath or crown of Glory; behind the wreath is a clump of Easter lilies.
Other gifts to the church are:
The Pulpit. This is the gift of George FEIGHT.
The Bell. This is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Hattie KIRKPATRICK, and is the gift of her children, Ernest, Charles, Orra, Bruce, Bert and Rene (Mrs. Bert BEAUMONT).
An United States Flag. This is the patriotic generosity of the Woman's Relief Corps.
The trustees are: Orra KIRKPATRICK, J. M. HAINES, J. L. MARKHAM.
The United Brethren Church has a membership of about one hundred and twenty-eight members.
The congregation of the Church of God, Reedsburg, was organized May 1, 1910, in the Eagle Hall. At that meeting a set of by-laws were drawn by attorney GOTTFIED, and unanimously adopted. Those who had signed the Articles of Organization, some time previously were: Mrs. Cal SMITH, Mrs. Sarah LUHRTEN, Mrs. Mary MARTIN, Mrs. Nellie WATTS, Mrs. Jennie PIXLEY, August MEYER, his wife, Wilhelmine, Willis ROCKWELL, Edward W. MEYER, James B. BORDERS and Annie E. DAVIS. Besides these, there were present at the meeting of May 1st, Mr. F. W. LUHRSEN, Mrs. Sarah BISHIP and others whose names are not recorded. Mr. LUHRSEN acted as chairman of the meeting, and Mrs. BISHIP assumed the secretaryship.
Mrs. BISHOP, an ordained minister of the Gospel, served the congregation for ten years, the services being held in different halls in the city. In 1920 work on a new modern church edifice was begun, by E. E. BISHOP, construction contractor. The building was completed that winter and dedicated in May 1921. Continuing in the pastorate until January 1922, Mrs. BISHOP was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Charles H. WHITTNEY, who came here from Rockford, Ill. He assumed his duties April 1, 1922.
Submitted by Carol