Dane County WI Archives History - Books .....Chapter VI Churches And Pastors 1877
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Book Title: Madison, Dane County And Surrounding Towns...

CHAPTER VII. [SIC]
CHURCHES AND PASTORS.

THE supposed first attempt at church organization was named in our pioneer
sketches. Many similar works followed. Any preacher was welcomed in Mr. Ream's,
Madison House. Bishop Kemper was a visitor there, and Father Quaw, from Canada.
Col. Slaughter and Mr. Ream were vestrymen. The last named gentleman was in
request as a singer, when services were held by any denomination. Rev. W. Philo
was the minister of the "Apostolic Church" for twelve months. "Dominie Philo"
was sentimental in his references to the other sex, and that fact provoked
laughter, but, on the whole, he was much respected. When Mr. Toots in "Dombey
and Son," was crossed in love, he told Miss Dombey," It's not of the slightest
consequence." It was otherwise with Mr. Philo. There was no Susan Nipper to give
him consolation. He took to it kindly, and became sentimental. Probably some
eastern belle had declined to share his missionary privations, and he knew that
"the course of true love never did run smooth." There was a donation party for
the good man on Christmas Eve, 1840, and he was made rich in creature comforts;
but he was suspected of shedding tears, as he reflected on the happiness that
Dulcinea had lost. Heady to take part in any ameliorating effort, we find him
conducting the religious exercises of the celebration, July 4th, 1841, when Mr.
Slingerland of the Dutch Reformed Church was the orator. He, however, ultimately
found him a helpmate, and lived to be the father of a family.

  Rev. Richard E. Cadle, his successor, had lived fourteen years in the
territory. He came to Green Bay as a missionary to the Indians. One hundred and
twenty-nine children, Indian and mixed, at one time were taught by him and his
assistants, industrial habits and the elements of a good English Christian
training; but the effort died out after sixteen years. Mr. Cadle was chaplain of
the fort at Green Bay and taught school. Many of the early teachers were men and
women of good standing. He removed to Port Crawford, Prairie du Chien, in 1836,
being chaplain and teacher there for five years, until he came as pastor of the
Apostolic Church, to this village.

  Rev. Albert Slingerland's Dutch Reformed Church was a heterogeneous
combination. There was an understanding among the nine members, that name and
creed should remain subject to the will of the majority. The congregation was
organized in 1840. The preacher officiated twelve months from the preceding
June. He was indefatigable, lecturing on temperance as well as preaching, from
Sun Prairie to Prairie du Sac. Col. Brigham was the ruling elder. Eventually his
followers came under the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Clarke, having joined the
Presbyterian and Congregational convention. Rev. S. E. Miner, now a prosperous
business man in Kansas, next preached under the auspices of the Home Missionary
Society. Eben Peck's log house was their temporary church until a commodious
barn had been erected. A better edifice was raised in 1846 on Webster street,
block 108, lot 10, that seated 250. Rev. Chas. Lord came in 1846, and continued
until 1854, when, his eyesight failing, he resigned. Rev. H. N. Eggleston, his
successor, was very popular. When he left, there came near being a permanent
split in the congregation.

  There is a general impression that whisky drinking was very common among the
pioneers. Mr. Slingerland, in 1840, said that intemperance was not so prevalent
as in New York, but Sabbath breaking and profanity impressed him strongly. Some
preachers have preserved, the best chronicles of the time. Rev. Dr. Branson
gives a lively picture of the various uses of the capitol for "courts, plays,
shows, and worship," as well as legislation. Faro banks and the "Tiger" were
excluded, but there were signs of the credit mobilier. The murder of C. C. P.
Arndt on the eleventh of February, 1842, gave a terrible completeness to the
catalogue of deeds possible in the capitol. J. P. Vineyard, from Grant county,
terminated a dispute of his own beginning by shooting his fellow member through
the heart, in the council chamber. The council refused Vineyard's resignation
and expelled him from the legislature, but the courts acquitted him of
manslaughter. The funeral services in the chamber were very impressive, and
Arndt was interred at Green Bay. Vineyard went to California. Considering the
excitment, it is a wonder that he was not lynched. C. C. P. Arndt's father was
in the assembly when his son was shot, having been invited from Green Bay to a
social gathering which had been enjoyed the night before. The Arndts, father and
son, were beloved, and the murder was unprovoked.

  The erection of a Catholic church was resolved on in 1845, and commenced in
the following spring. The church on Morris street was built in 1850, and three
years later the foundation stone of the Catholic cathedral on Main street was
laid by Bishop Henni. The consecration of St. Raphaels, in 1866, was a grand
ceremonial, as was also the dedication of "The Church of the Holy Redeemer" in
1869. The storm of 1874 injured the steeple of the cathedral, so that it was
taken down, but the structure will be improved greatly in consequence.

  The first sermon was preached in Madison by the Rev. Salmon Stebbins, M. E.,
as presiding elder of the Milwaukee district, in the Illinois conference. He
came on the 28th of November, 1837, and upon the invitaton of Col. Bird,
converted the bar room of his brother's house into a tabernacle. The elder, a
vigorous preacher at Kenosha, says: "I preached to an interested and interesting
congregation." There was no collection, but the men made up a purse of $11.
There were few inhabitants between Madison and Jefferson. He came through
Kenosha — then Southport — and by way of Milwaukee, through the counties of
Washington, Manitowoc and Sheboygan, to Green Bay and Fond du Lac — a formidable
journey over such roads. Milwaukee was the first location made in this
territory. Solomon Juneau was in his prime, a prosperous Indian trader, founding
a city. Root River Mission was formed with Rev. Samuel Pillsbury in charge. He
was our second preacher, and is now editing a paper. Col. Bird thought that
Elder Stebbins' sermon was preached in September, but the money entry in the
diary of the Elder fixes the date of the service. The foundation of the capitol
was completed in November, and the men waited for Eben Peck to return from Green
Bay. Mr. Woolcox of Jefferson says: "Peck had to swim the rivers and the money
was wet, so we waited until it was dry to get our pay. About the end of November
we started." Mrs. Marion Starkweather, Col, Bird's daughter, says that Mr.
Pillsbury came in March, 1838, and held services afterwards once every month.
Col. Bird provided a barn for him, where Kentzler's stables are now standing.
There were few white settlers; Col. Bird, with four children, Chas. and Wm.
Bird, and Dr. Almon Lull were present when he first preached, but the outside
attendance was large. About four hundred Indians surrounded the building, but
would not enter. Mr. Pillsbury was a frequent visitor. He assisted in opening
the capitol when the first session was held in the unfinished building. Mr. Hyer
mentions the habits of the Indians in his notice of "Covalle the trapper." His
Indian wife and her children would gather to observe the Sunday meetings, and
the proceedings of settlers in their homes, but would rarely enter. Dr. Joseph
Hobbins says, that an Indian and his squaw dined with him and his family,
behaving with exemplary decorum during the repast; but after leaving the table
they asked for every article that caught their fancy; considering that fact,
their backwardness was a blessing.

  The Methodists did not recruit rapidly. In September, 1838, Rev. John Hodges
was appointed here and to Fort Winnebago, now Portage. The first three members
in Madison were Ruth Starks, Benjamin Holt and his wife. Dr. Brunson was a
member of the legislature in 1840, and he rallied the Methodists, assisting the
chaplain, Jas. Mitchell, in occasional services. He thinks that Mr. Fullerton
was here in 1841. S. P. Keyes was here next year; then Jesse L. Bennet in 1843,
and Mr. Stebbins afterwards. The several preachers cannot be mentioned, but
Jonathan Snow is a piece of our history. He became eccentric and nearly killed
the church by harsh discipline in 1851. He was summarily removed and is
remembered as "The Snow Storm." Gen. Samuel Fallows was the junior preacher in
1858-9, and in 1864 the chaplain of the 3d Wisconsin supplied the pulpit. Rev.
E. D. Huntly is now the pastor and is working strenously to complete the edifice
almost ready for dedication. The little church was once a great improvement on
former experiences, but the new building will be an ornament to the city. When
the "Little Brick" school house, on Washington avenue, became too small, Damon
Y. Kilgore removed his pupils to the basement of the Methodist church. Even
there 250 pupils in one room must have required good stowage and little fuel in
winter.

  "Chief Justice" Seymour, was reflected upon in a public meeting during the
pastorate of Mr. Philo, because, he being a justice of the peace, did not "kill
the tiger" that was being "fought" by many citizens. The respected "dominie,"
never suspecting a joke, drew up a resolution exculpating the squire as a "good
and sufficient justice," and the audience, which had assembled in indignation,
broke up in laughter. There were hard cases in the settlement, compared with
whom Covalle was a marvel of civilization. Pinneo, a "shingle weaver," attended
church one day when Mr. Philo was preaching, and he astounded the congregation
by saying very seriously, "That's so, Mr. Philo, that's so, Butterfield's got to
be saved; just hold on 'till I bring him in." Pinneo did not return. His absence
was, in an olfactory sense, a pleasure. He claimed to be a down east Yankee, but
that was the only sign of good lineage. He was indispensable as a maker of
shingles, and when sober, had a laugh and a joke for everybody, but people kept
to windward of the unwashed man. He was summoned to serve on a jury in Judge
Irvin's court, and the judge was scrupulously clean, while Pinneo was dirty as
was possible to a life divorced from soap and water. The court was adjourned to
enable Pinneo to wash and procure clean clothes, after listening to a diatribe
against filth; but he survived the affliction, and was burned to death at last
in a drunken orgie.

  Covalle conformed to the usages of civilization, attended church, was orderly,
took physic with praiseworthy resolution, gave it to his half-breed children,
made them wear the garments of white folks, and attend the ceremony of his
marriage to their mother, before a justice. He had been married according to the
usages of the country. He traced his line to the trappers on Hudson's Bay, and
when Col. Bird came here, Covalle was the only white man on the site. He led a
blameless life, being cleanly, sober and obliging. Better conditions supervened.
Rev. Stephen McHugh was called by the Episcopal church in 1845, having become
known during attendance to deliver a Masonic oration on the anniversary of St.
John. He organized Grace Church parish, and the ladies raised funds to purchase
the land occupied by the church. A brick parsonage, commenced in 1850, was
occupied on Christmas day when the Rev. W. H. Woodward was pastor. The next
rector was the Rev. Hugh M. Thompson, followed by Mr. Powers. The sound of the
church-going bell in the village was due to Squire Seymour. Meetings, social,
political and religious, were repeatedly delayed because no two clocks or
watches agreed, and the variations extended over two hours. Somebody suggested a
bell; Seymour drew up a subscription paper, ordered the instrument, and on its
arrival procured the first peal from its clapper, utilizing the astonishment of
the audience by carrying round the hat. The bell was the common property of all
the churches and every organization.

  Rev. J. B. Brittan came in 1855, and funds were raised to build a church,
which was not finished when Mr. Brittan became chaplain of a regiment. There had
been an outlay of $22,000, but the tower was incomplete and the basement was not
ready for occupancy. Rev. Jas. L. Maxwell came next, remaining until 1867.
Before he resigned, a very handsome organ had been built at a cost of $2,500.
Under the rectorship of the Rev. H. W. Spaulding, the building was completed in
1872. When the Rev. Dr. Spaulding removed to Pittsburg, the Rev. John Wilkinson,
of Chicago, the present incumbent, succeeded, him, winning the good opinion of
all classes. A chime of nine bells was placed in the tower in April, 1874. The
bishop's bell, in memory of Bishops Kemper and Armitage, the largest in the
chime, was purchased by general contributions, as also was the seventh, the rest
being donated in memoriam of the departed, whose names they bear.

  The Congregational Church eventuated from Mr. Slingerland's labors, and we
have followed the organization to Mr. Eggleston's ministry. The people were
attracted by Mr. Eggleston, and Bacon's Commercial College was used while a
brick chapel was building on Washington avenue. Mr. Eggleston was succeeded by
Key. James Caldwell in 1858, and in the following January a church was specially
organized to receive Mr. Eggleston as pastor, to be known as "The Union
Congregational Church and Society of Madison." Eventually all reunited. Revs. L.
Taylor and Lewis E. Matson bring us to the present incumbent, Rev. Chas. H.
Richards, whose talents and good qualities have made him a gain to the
community. Arriving in March, 1867, he has assisted in the later developments of
the church, among which must be noted the elegant edifice, capable of seating
one thousand persons. The bell in the tower was given by Mrs. L. A. Richards,
and was at that time the heaviest in the city; but the "Bishops' Bell," in Grace
Church chime is five hundred pounds heavier.

  The Presbyterian Church was at first identified with other organizations. Rev.
H. B. Gardiner was retained by the congregation in 1851 at Lewis Hall, The
building since used as a bakery by Mr. Miner, at the corner of Mifflin and
Carroll streets, was next occupied, and in 1853, the church moved into the frame
building, corner of Wisconsin avenue and Johnson street. The several pastors
have been the Revs. Wm. L. Green, Edward G. Read and Richard V. Dodge, until we
reach the pastorate of the Rev. L. T. Hays, who has served since 1873,
maintaining unabated popularity and usefulness, and taking a praiseworthy part
in many movements outside the church.

  The First Baptist Church was organized in December, 1847, by the Rev. H. W.
Head, his successors being the Revs. John Williams, S. S. Whitman, M. D. Miller,
James Cooper and Wm. R. Brooks, whose pastorate ended in 1858. There were many
preachers for brief terms. In the summer of 1860, Rev. W. H. Brisbane became
pastor, but resigned to become chaplain of the first Wisconsin cavalry regiment.
Rev. J. E. Johnson assumed pastoral charge in 1863, and he was followed in
succession by Revs. J. C. C. Clarke, Mr. Paige and Thomas Bright, who came to
the city in 1873, and rendered acceptable service until his lamentable sudden
death in the pulpit, in September, 1876.

  The German Evangelical Association commenced operations in 1844, when the
missionary, Rev. J. G. Miller, having found German families in Madison, held
service in their houses. The whole of Wisconsin was his parish, and his salary
was $41 in 1845, increasing to $47 the second year. His successors were the
Revs. J. Eply and M. Howard, but Mr. Miller was still a frequent visitor. Revs.
C. Schnake and W. Strasberger commenced a church building between Broome and
Bassett streets, which was finished by Mr. Miller in 1856. The church on
Pinck-ney street, corner of Mifflin, was built in 1865, under the pastoral
charge of the Rev. W. F. Schneider, succeeded by the Revs. C. F. Finger and
Chas. Schneider.

  The German Lutheran Church has erected two buildings, the first on Main
street, in 1858, near the railroad depot, on block forty-four; the second, ten
years later, on Washington avenue and West Canal street. The organization dates
from 1856. Rev. H. Vogel, was pastor until 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev.
Christian Wilke.

  The German Methodist Church, Rev. Mr. Walker, pastor, was built in 1864, on
the corner of Mifflin and Webster streets.

  The Norwegian Lutheran Church, on the corner of Hamilton and Butler streets,
was erected in 1862. Rev. H. A. Preuss is pastor.

  The Hebrew Congregation Schaare Schoymayn, of which the Rev. J M. Thuringer is
Rabbi, hold services every Saturday at 10 A. M., in the Synagogue on Washington
avenue, between Henry and Fairchild streets.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Madison Section

MADISON, DANE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS;
BEING A HISTORY AND GUIDE
TO PLACES OF SCENIC BEAUTY AND HISTORICAL NOTE FOUND IN THE TOWNS OF DANE COUNTY
AND SURROUNDINGS, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNS, AND EARLY INTERCOURSE
OF THE SETTLERS WITH THE INDIANS, THEIR CAMPS, TRAILS, MOUNDS, ETC.

WITH A COMPLETE LIST OF
COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND OFFICERS,
AND
LEGISLATIVE MEMBEES, MADISON VILLAGE AND CITY COUNCIL.

ILLUSTRATED,
MADISON, WIS.:
PUBLISHED BY WM. J. PARK & CO.,

BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS AND BINDERS, 11 KING STREET.
1877.

COPYRIGHT.
WM. J. PARK & CO. 1877.

DAVID ATWOOD, STEREOTYPER AND PRINTER, MADISON, WIS.


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