Iowa County WI Archives History .....'Great Church' Controversy May 8, 1930
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com December 31, 2006, 2:10 am

In the May 8, 1930 issue of the Dodgeville Chronicle, there was written a 
lengthy article on the 'Great Church' controversy. Here are the concluding 
paragraphs:

	“The matter was in the courts for many years while the 
Congregationalists still retained possession of the church. They were 
represented by attorneys Aldro Jenks, and J. P. Smelker. The primitive 
Methodists employed attorneys Spensley, McIlhon, Priestly, Carter and Mason. 
Judge E. Ray Stevens hear the matter in circuit court in this city, and the 
court room was packed with eager listeners throughout the lengthy session. He 
decided for the Congregationalists and an appeal was taken to the Supreme 
Court. Final arguments were held November 12, 1906 and on December 4 of the 
same year, the court handed down a decision, which returned the church to its 
proper owners, the primitive Methodists. The latter occupied it for several 
years, but it was finally abandoned. In the year 1922, the conference sold the 
building and it was torn down.”

Additional Comments:
Accompanying this article is a photograph of the church, which was quite a 
lovely building.


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