Butte County CA Archives History - Books .....History Of The Churches Of Butte County 1882
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Book Title: History Of Butte County

HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES OF BUTTE COUNTY.
BY REV. JESSE WOOD.

    Prior to the year 1857, there were ministers of the gospel who occasionally
preached in the mining-camps of Butte county. There are traditions or legends of
their peculiarities yet lingering, but no trace of any permanent results of
their labors. The Methodist Church was represented by a circuit preacher, in and
around Oroville, in 1855 and '56, who occupied a house in old Lynchburg.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT OROVILLE.

   On Sunday, February 22. 1857. a meeting was held in the court-house in
Oroville for the purpose, of organizing a Congregational church. The meeting was
called by Rev. B. N. Seymour. Rev. J. J. Powell, who organized the Welch church
at Cherokee, was present, and assisted in the organization. The membership, as
given in on that day, were Dr. T. C. Coxhead and wife, D. L. Emerson, Mrs. B. N.
Seymour, and Messrs. Harrison, Johnson, Cleveland and Gilbert; and these persons
then organized what is now called the First Congregational Church of Oroville.
Steps were soon after taken to erect a church edifice. Mr. Seymour was pastor.
After two years, he was succeeded by Rev. H. Cumming, The brick church, which
stood on a lot two blocks in the rear of the present church building, was not
yet completed. By the energetic efforts of the new pastor, the house was soon
finished and furnished. The pastorate of Mr. Cumming continued only about a
year. In the course of the next year, Rev. J. M. Woodman, a Free-Will Baptist,
came out from the East, and was invited to occupy the pulpit. This continued a
little more than a year, when Mr. Woodman removed to Chico, and came to Oroville
to preach twice a month for some time. Next came Rev. P. G. Buchanan, and after
him, Rev C. M. Bates, who served two years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. W.
Brier, Jr. Under these pastors, who occupied about two-thirds of the time
between 1860 and 1873, the church had seasons of seeming prosperity, and other
seasons of slumber, nigh unto death. At one time, for the space of about two
years, Mrs. Dr. James Green was the only member remaining. Her membership began
almost with the beginning of the church and has continued to the present day. In
1873, the Congregational church being without a pastor, and the Methodist
Conference having sent Rev. Mr. Jones to the circuit, he occupied the church for
one year. Then came Rev. H. C. Walsh, an Irish Wesleyan minister, who had, in
California, connected himself with the Congregationalists. Under his
administration, the old brick church was taken down, and the materials used in
part for the construction of a large, new, brick church, on a lot more favorably
located. The new building cost double what Mr. Walsh had estimated; and ere it
was finished, he found himself and the church seriously embarrassed with debt.
Mr. Walsh resigned, and left the last of May, 1876. The church was next supplied
by Rev. C. T. Tracy, a young graduate of the theological school in Oakland. Mr.
Tracy took the church under the most embarrassing circumstances, but attended
faithfully to his pulpit duties, and grew in favor with his church. In the mean
time, the church was sold by the sheriff, and purchased by M. T. Sparks & Co.,
the judgment creditors. Rev. Mr. Tracy resigned the pastorate, and Rev. Jesse
Wood was invited to supply the pulpit temporarily. His pastorate began on the
first Sunday in March, 1877, and continued three years and seven months. At the
beginning of his ministry the church debt was finally paid off, and the property
recovered by the original organization. During the next year the building was
completed, and the church entered upon a course of prosperity, which has been
steadily maintained to the present day. After the resignation of Rev. Jesse
Wood, the services of Rev. A. Orton were secured. He began his pastorate on the
first Sunday in November, 1880, and continues to the present time.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT CHEROKEE.

    About the same time the Congregational church, was organized in Oroville, a
Welch Congregational church was organized in Cherokee, under the pastorate of
Rev. J. J. Powell. A neat little chapel was built, which still stands.
Succeeding Mr. Powell, the church had for pastor Rev. Mr. Morgan, Rev. Aaron
Williams and Rev. H. C. Walsh. There were intervals when it had no pastor, and
after Mr. Walsh, from 1875 until 1880, no regular service, until Rev. E. Hoskins
was invited to come. Mr. Hoskins served during 1880 and a part of 1881. Since
his resignation there has been no regular service maintained. During the
life-time of Deacon Wm. Morgan and Mrs. Jones, a faithful and intelligent lady,
the church had hope and life. The death of these two members left a void which
the church has not been able to fill.

METHODIST CHURCH IN OROVILLE.

     After the visitation of circuit preachers in 1855 and '56 already referred
to, again in 1858 there was a regular Methodist service maintained in the
court-house, and a fine brick parsonage built at a cost of about $2,300. This
house was built through the zeal, in large measure, of Mr. Gridley, the man who
started the sack of flour which went so far and became so famous during the war.
As in too many other cases, however, a debt was left on the building, which
finally caused it to be sold, and it is now the residence of D. F. Fryer. After
this disaster, the Methodists made no further attempts to occupy Oroville
permanently, except the year of service by Rev. Mr. Jones already referred to,
until 1878, when Rev. Mr. Sheehan being invited to come, made the beginning
which has since resulted in a permanent organization. After several weeks'
service in Oroville, Mr. Sheehan was drowned in Butte creek, during a time of
high water. The presiding elder sent another pastor to their assistance, who
filled out the year, when Rev. J. W. Kuykendall was sent. By the zeal and labor
of Mr. Kuykendall, the church now standing on the corner opposite the
court-house was begun and nearly completed. But he became discouraged, and, for
lack of support, left before the year was out. The next year, Rev. Mr. Gregory
was sent, and held on to the work of the church through the entire year. In
September, 1880, Rev. J. Appleton was sent from the conference, and was
re-appointed in 1881. Under the ministry of Mr. Apple-ton, the church has
greatly flourished. The building has been well-nigh completed, and a new and
elegant parsonage erected. Both church and parsonage are nearly free from debt.
The church has increased in membership, and a flourishing Sunday-school is
maintained.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

    The one in Cherokee is probably the oldest one in the county. There is a
large building, with a good bell, and a large population served by a priest from
Marysville or Chico, as occasion requires. The church in Oroville was a frame
building, at the upper end of Pine street, until the year 1875, when a very neat
and solid-looking brick house was erected on Bird street, opposite the public
school. Services are held on occasions, and sometimes monthly, by a priest who
comes from. Marysville or Chico. The Catholic church in Chico occupies a large
lot, and is a commodious building. The Catholic population there is not large,
but regular services are maintained under the charge of Rev. Father Hines, who
occupies a handsome little dwelling adjoining the church. At Gridley the
Catholics have a nice church, which was completed in October, 1880, and cost
$2,000. Services are held monthly by Rev. Thomas Grace.

CHURCHES OF CHICO.

    Prior to the year 1866, there was no church building in Chico separately
used for church purposes. In 1865, Rev. J. M. Woodman had erected a building
used for Mrs. Woodman's private school, in which, also, he preached on Sunday.
The two Methodist churches were using Wood's hall, a large room over the store
on the corner of Main and Second streets, now partitioned into rooms. As early
as 1851, and from then until 1860, traveling and local preachers of the
Methodist churches had visited and preached in the vicinity of where Chico now
stands. Rev. E. Merchant, of the M. E. church, came in 1851, and was probably
the pioneer of all. Wilson Pitner, a local preacher noted for eccentricity, came
next.

    M. E. CHURCH SOUTH, CHICO.—In 1859, Rev. James Gray organized a church in
the vicinity of Chico. Four acres of ground were donated and a parsonage erected
on the road four miles north of Chico. After two years of service, he was
succeeded by Rev. B. H. Russell, who served one year. Next came Rev. H. C. Neal,
who served one year. During Mr. Neal's term, in 1862, the four acres were
exchanged for a half block of ground in the town, the same on which the church
and two parsonages now stand; and the old shanty of a parsonage was removed to
the lot in town. Rev. W. F. Compton served as preacher-in-charge during 1863,
Rev. Mr. Hargis in 1864, Rev. Huff in 1865, and Rev. J. M. Lovell in 1866. In
the autumn of 1866, Rev. R. A. Latimer became pastor, and the enterprise of
building a church-house which had been already begun, was pushed forward to a
successful end. The pastors since have been: In 1867, Rev. B. C. Howard; in
1868, Rev. W. R. Gobu, by whom, the debt was paid off and the premises improved;
in 1870, Rev. B. F. Burris; in 1871, Rev. Joel Hedgepeth, during whose term the
district parsonage was built: in 1872 and 1873, Rev. Jesse Wood, during whose
term the station parsonage was built, the front of the church renewed, the town
erected and the bell purchased; in 1874 and '75, Rev. James Kelsay; in 1876,
Rev. C. P. Jones; in 1877, '78, '79 and '80, Rev. L. C. Renfro, during whose
term all debt remaining against the property of the church was paid off, and the
interior of the church much improved; in 1881 and '82, Rev. J. W. Atchinson, the
present pastor. During all these years, with probably two exceptions, the church
has been uniformly prosperous.

    FIRST M. E. CHURCH, CHICO.—A communication from Rev. C. A. Leaman, says: "It
was not until 1859 that there was any regular organization of the church. In
that year a circuit was formed in connection with the Marysville District of the
California Conference, under the charge of the Rev. R. Hobart, consisting of
Chico (then a very small village), Cherokee Flat and Rock Creek; and on the
ninth of December, 1859, the first quarterly meeting was held in Chico. At this
meeting a permanent organization was effected, a few scattered members having
been gathered together. Year after year they struggled on, holding their
services in the school-house and hall, but still gaining strength. In 1867, a
fine lot of land, 132 feet square, was very kindly donated to the church by
General John Bidwell. A building was soon after commenced for a parsonage; but
as the hall in which religious service was held changed hands and could no
longer be secured for such purposes, the parsonage in course of erection was
converted into a temporary church. The building was 24 by 32 feet in size, but
accommodated the congregation. The year following they succeeded in building a
small house for a parsonage on the same lot. In 1870, the circuit was  divided,
and Chico was made a separate charge, under the name of the First M. E. Church,
of Chico. Since then it has been under the pastorate of several different
members of the California conference. In 1870, a sabbath-school was organized by
Rev. M. P. Farnham, pastor at the time, which has continued to the present, and
now numbers 135 scholars. During the pastorate of Rev. W. B. Priddy, in April,
1874, the foundation of the new church-building was laid, and finished in August
and dedicated. The membership of the church at the present time numbers 85. The
church is entirely free from debt, and has an excellent building well located.
The present pastor, Rev. A. Holbrook, is serving for the third year with
acceptability.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICO.

    Rev. J. S. McDonald preached on the twenty-sixth of July, 1868, in Wood's
hall. At the close of the service a meeting was held to ascertain what persons
desired to unite as members to organize a Presbyterian church. The names given
in were as follows: Dr. J. F. Wayland, wife and daughter, John R. Kennedy, John
Bid well, Geo. P. Fair, Newell Hall, Wm. Water-land, Watson Chalmers, Mrs. Dr.
S. M. Sproul. August 9, Rev. J. G. Fackler preached, and thought to organize the
church the following Sunday, but the extreme heat of the season prostrated him
and he left.

     On the thirtieth of August, 1868, Rev. S. Y. Wells preached and organized a
church, composed of the members already named. At intervals after that the
church had service from Revs. P. V. Veder, J. N. Hurd, Alex. Fairbanks, and
Thos. Frazer. Rev. A. Fairbanks was called as pastor in October, 1868. Mr.
Fairbanks began his labors December 13, 1868. The meetings were held in Wood's
hall, which was given by the owner at a nominal rent. The principal work of
building a church was done in 1871, and in the late autumn of that year the
building was ready for dedication. On this occasion the venerable Dr. W. A.
Scott, of San Francisco, officiated. The building is the finest of its kind in
the county, costing about $14,000, nearly all of which was paid by General
Bidwell. September 11, 1873, Rev. A. Fairbanks tendered his resignation. Rev. O.
C. McCullough, of Wisconsin, was called, but consented to serve the church for a
time only. Rev. A. M. Stewart, of Gilroy, was called, and began service June 1,
1874. Dr. Stewart's pastorate lasted only nine months, when he was attacked with
brain fever, and after a short illness died. He was 62 years of age, and a ripe
scholar. Rev. John Woods was called to the pastorate, and was formally installed
June 8, 1875. Mr. Woods tendered his resignation in November, 1876. April 15,
1877, the church called Rev. J. W. Ellis, of Nebraska, who accepted, and began
service at once. Mr. Ellis served two years and a half, and resigned to take
charge of the church in Los Angeles. Rev. J. B. Warren was next called, and
began work on the first of December, 1879, and was installed-in 1881. The church
is quite prosperous, and has a membership of between 70 and 80 members.

THE BROWN CHAPEL, CHICO.

    Rev. J. M. Woodman moved to Chico from Oroville in June, 1863, and preached
nearly two years in the Bidwell hall, which then occupied a space in the second
story of the postoffice building, now partitioned into rooms. In 1865, he built
his academy, which he used as a church on Sunday. It was called the Brown
chapel, on account of the color of its paint. Here, in July, 1867, he organized
a Congregational church with sixteen members, and by additions afterward had on
the list as many as twenty-eight names. The church was recognized in the
Congregational Association as a church, though Mr. Woodman himself was never a
member of the association. Regular services were continued in the chapel until,
on the twelfth of November, 1874, the building was consumed by fire, after
which, with free consultation and good feeling, the church resolved to disband.

THE CHRISTIAN UNION, CHICO.

     In April, 1874, Rev. Jesse Wood, having withdrawn from the Pacific Annual
Conference of the M. E. Church, South, organized a religious society, composed
of the fragments of such religious sects as were not represented by an
organization in Chico. The society chose the name Christian Union, and built a
fine large church on Fifth street, between Broadway and Salem. The building and
furniture cost about $7,000. The society had a regular organization, and among
its members were many influential citizens. The church was "inaugurated," not
"dedicated." Rev. Dr. L. Hamilton, of Oakland, pastor of the Independent
Presbyterian church, officiated. All things went prosperously for a season.
Congregations were large, and the spirit of the membership exultant; but in the
course of time the steady pressure of the orthodox churches against the
institution, together with the deadly influence of a heavy debt on the building,
proved to be too much for a society so loosely joined together. In. October,
1875, the society disbanded in perfect peace and harmony. Within a few months
their building was rented to a society, who soon formed a regular Congregational
church, and subsequently purchased the property.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CHICO.

    After the disbanding of the Christian Union, many who had been interested in
it, with others who had been members of Mr. Woodman's Congregational church, in
consultation with Rev. J. H. Warren and Rev. L. Dickerman, resolved to organize
a Congregational church. A society was formed, and Rev. L. Dickerman was called
as pastor. The building erected by the Christian Union was engaged, and Mr.
Dickerman preached to large audiences. In the spring of 1876, a regular
Congregational church was organized, which was recognized and received the
fellowship of the Valley Association. Mr. Dickerman's pastorate continued until
the summer of 1879, when he resigned. In the course of a few months Rev. T. H.
Mead was called to the church, and served it one year. At the close of Mr.
Mead's term the church disbanded. The building which they had purchased was
subsequently rented to, and is now occupied by,

THE CHICO BAPTIST CHURCH.

    This church was organized in July, 1880, at a meeting which assembled in the
old school-house, upon a call issued by Rev. Elias Findley. There were nine
members registered. Rev. E. Findley presided, assisted by Rev. Mr. Brooks. The
church held regular services at the school-house until February, 1881, when they
engaged and have since occupied the Congregational church. October 1, 1881, Rev.
J. N. Burroughs became pastor, and the church now numbers twenty-nine members.

THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH, CHICO.

    This church has a comfortable little building in Chico, and has had pastors
at intervals for years. Rev. John Reed was the last pastor. The membership is
small but zealous, and are worthy of commendation for their fidelity. Mr. Peter
Powers has been a leader among them for years past.

THE BIGGS CHURCH.

    The town of Biggs has one large and handsome church. It was built in 1874,
and is the property of the Baptist people, though used by the two Methodist
societies half the time. Of the Baptist church, Rev. Father Doon, Rev. Mr. Wells
and Rev. J. S. Jesse have been pastors. Mr. Jesse resigned about a year ago and
accepted a call to Wheatland. The ministers of the M. E. church, sent from the
conference from year to year, occupy a parsonage in the town and preach
alternately at Biggs and Gridley. These pastors have been Rev. Mr. Parks in
1877, Rev. J. B. Fish in 1878, Rev. Geo. Adams in 1879, Rev. Mr. Jones in 1880,
and the present pastor, Rev. W. S. Corwin. The M. E. Church South has also kept
a minister at these and adjacent places from, year to year. At present the
church property is seriously incumbered with debt.

THE CHURCHES OF GRIDLEY.

    First of these is the United Brethren, which was organized in 1864, by Rev.
J. H. Mayfield, with fifty members. This membership and organization was the
result of a revival meeting held at the Live Oaks school-house in the fall of
1863. Rev. J. W. Harrow was the first pastor sent from conference. Then in
succession came Bros. S. D. Ensley, R. B. Harris, G. W. Child, E. Harrow, J. L.
Field, A. Musselman, John McBryde, C. W. Gillett, and G. W. Burtner. The
membership is now forty-six. Under the same pastor there is also an organization
of this denomination at Bangor. The first church edifice was erected in 1866, by
Rev. Philip Boulware, who furnished a large portion of the material and did
nearly all the work with his own hands. It stood where the Gridley cemetery now
is. After the coming of the railroad made the town of Gridley, a new church was
built in the town, mainly through the efforts of J. C. Fields. The old house was
taken away. The church also owns a parsonage and fifteen acres of valuable land.
The parsonage was built in 1871.

    The M. E. church in Gridley was organized by Rev. J. S. Fisher in 1876, with
eight members. A neat and comfortable church-house was built in 1877. The church
has had the same pastors as the M. E. church at Biggs, whom we have already named.

CHURCHES AT FORBESTOWN, BANGOR AND PARADISE.

    In each of these little towns there is a nice church building owned by the
Methodists, who have a society organized at each place, principally the work of
the last two years. The pastor in both places is the preacher in charge of the
Brownsville circuit, sent by the annual conference from year to year.

    At Bangor also the United Brethren have a nice church building and a
membership served by the pastor, who resides in Gridley. The building was begun
in 1880, completed and dedicated in March, 1881.

    At Paradise is a small Congregational church, under the pastorate of Rev. E.
Hoskins. It was organized in. 1879. D. C. Proctor is deacon.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF BUTTE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA,
IN TWO VOLUMES.

I.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA FROM 1513 TO 1850.
BY FRANK T. GILBERT.

The Great Fur Companies and their Trapping Expeditions to California.
Settlement of the Sacramento Valley. 
The Discovery of Gold in California.
BY HARRY L. WELLS.

II.
HISTORY OF BUTTE COUNTY,
From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. 
BY HARRY L. WELLS AND W. L. CHAMBERS.

BOTH VOLUMES ILLUSTRATED WITH VIEWS AND PORTRAITS.
HARRY L. WELLS,
517 CLAY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO
1882.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by HARRY L. WELLS, in
the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

FRANCIS, VALENTINE & Co., Engravers & Printers
517 Clay St., San Francisco

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