Outagamie County WI Archives Biographies.....Smith, Eliza Kimball ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 9, 2008, 10:40 pm Author: J. F. Fuller Eliza Kimball Smith. FILLED with a high purpose, a strong desire to do good, Miss Eliza Pierce Kimball became the wife of Rev. Reeder Smith, and left the cultured surroundings of Cambridge and Boston for the New West. First at Albion seminary, Michigan, she aided him in placing that institution on a firm financial basis, and then, still in the interests of education, came to the Territory of Wisconsin, to locate and establish the Lawrence university. Crossing Lake Michigan on the ice, they reached, in 1848, the wooded slopes where Lawrence university now stands—Mrs. Smith exclaiming, "This is the place." Her choice was decisive, and, with Mr. Smith's four daughters, they began their home in this region. Soon, as settlers came in, she gathered the children on the Sabbath for instruction in righteousness. Her first Sabbath school she gave to the Methodists as the nucleus of their organization; then, she turned her efforts to those who, like herself, preferred the Puritan style of worship. It was largely through her, aided by her husband, who generously held out a helping hand to all churches, that the first Presbyterian, afterwards Congregational, church was organized. Extracts from her letters, written to her sister Ann in Boston, will show that her house was always open to entertain strangers, and will give a better idea of her early days than can be given otherwise. She writes: "May 28th, 1850. "Rev. Mr. Marsh came to see us, and interested himself in the project for a Presbyterian church by calling upon the Professors of Religion. Previously Mr. Robinson had visited us and made a thorough examination of the ground. I was exceedingly gratified with his visit. I have forgotten to tell you how fraternal the New School Presbyterians and Congregationalists are in Wisconsin and what brought about their union. At a Convention, when they met to organize, each contended for their peculiar form. After much debate, which tended nowise to harmonize, but promised a wider separation. Rev. Mr. Porter, of Green Bay, arose and begged of the meeting to have no action until after a season of prayer; the proposition was acceded to; before the close of the season most of the clergymen were in tears. Business followed, and no feeling but love and harmony controlled their deliberations. They at once organized, adopted neither peculiar form, but resolved in every way to help to promote the happiness and success of one another. Thus far, the union has been blessed of God, and mutual, reciprocal tenderness governs the acts of each. "Rev. Mr. Gillet, Presbyterian agent for the American and Foreign Union Society, has also visited us. He thinks there can be no difficulty in commencing a church without delay. He brought word that Rev. Mr. Porter, of Green Bay, and Rev. Mr. Montgomery, from Beaver Dam. had decided they would come very soon to Appleton and organize a Presbyterian church. "Sept 3rd, 1850. I ought to have written about the commencement of our Presbyterian meeting. We have been 'paving the way' for some time On Saturday last, Rev Mr. Robertson came and tarried until Monday for the purpose of doing what he could in the way of preaching and calling. I believe that I have already told you of Mr Lawrence's young lawyer that he sent to establish himself here He is a devoted Christian, son of Mr. Packard of Philadelphia, ?who is president of the S. S. Union. For his law office he hired a large hall, much larger than the Odd Fellows' that we hired at Cambridge for the commencement of our meeting, fitted it up at his own expense with regular seats, so as to hold about a hundred. Well, the Sabbath was ushered in by torrents of rain, pouring like floods, but the old gentleman went to his post and preached to seven individuals In the afternoon to fourteen. During the week a choir was organized, and Mr. Packard had singing seats erected. This last Saturday, by arrangement with husband that he should preach for young Mr. Robertson of Neenah, Mr. Robertson and and his wife came to spend the Sabbath. Mr. R to preach for us. How many do you think attended? Why, sixty-four in the morning, and as many in the afternoon, and such good meetings! it seemed as if I were inhaling the atmosphere of one of our Boston churches, so solemn, so impressive were the sermons Notices were given out for a meeting to-day at 10 o'clock for all who were in favor of a Presbyterian organization to meet for consultation. We met, and were encouraged by the presence of five gentlemen and two ladies; two more were reported as desiring such an organization. After solemn prayer at the opening and closing, a committee of three were appointed to furnish preaching until the organization of the church on the first Sabbath in October. It is probable our church will be of the Old School, but I regard it as immaterial, so long as it is Presbyterian, having a sound and educated ministry. Esq. Packard has received a box of books from his father in Philadelphia for our new school. So much for a commencement. "Sat. Eve Rev. Mr. Robertson is here to pass the Sabbath and preach for us. I attended morning meeting, the day rainy, thirty-six present, an excellent meeting. "Monday, 16th. I attended church again yesterday Rev Mr Clinton preached The hall was filled so that extra seats were brought in. I have also offered myself to the school and attended. There were twenty-seven scholars and quite a number of adults It was announced that on the next Sabbath there would be formed two classes of young persons, one to be taught by Esq. Packard, the other by Mrs. Smith. "Jan. 13th, 1851. The first Sabbath in this month we held our first communion My silver pitcher was borrowed to contain the wine, and I baked the bread; two glass tumblers were used for the distribution of the wine. I wish some of my friends would interest themselves to send us a communion service." This desired service was received and continued in use many years, until, during the pastorate of Mr. Doe, the deacons found it much too small to serve a largely attended sacrament. The writer remembers that, on the succeeding morning, Mrs. Smith said to her sister, then in her home, "Last night I decided I would like to go out and solicit subscriptions for a new communion set." "I had the same idea," replied Miss Kimball. Together the two sisters visited from house to house and speedily obtained enough to purchase the present set, more than double the size of the first. Mr. Doe, about to take "a trip East," was commissioned to make the selection. At the same time, Mrs. Smith gave him twenty dollars, asking him to procure a communion table. In an old Bible she had written, during her maidenhood, this motto: "Take care to do your duty, and leave the rest to God." It was the key note of her life everywhere. It was this that made her work, as district secretary of the Woman's Board of Missions, until the pen almost fell from her fingers. It was this that made her a power for good in the community and in the church she loved. It was this unswerving fidelity to Christ during a life of more than ordinary hardship and responsibility, which makes her memory so fragrant. In her last years her eyes and her heart were constantly brooding the new church in the new building on the site of her old homestead, and nothing interested her so much as its prosperity. When the call to hear the "Well Done" came, it was as in the twinkling of an eye, she passed to her reward - Jan. 21st, 1895 Josephine Smith Allen Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. APPLET0N, WIS. PREPARED FOR THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, DEC. 18, 1900. BY J. F. FULLER, A. M., Compiler of the "Fuller" Genealogy. 1850—1900. APPLETON PRINTING CO., APPLETON, WIS. 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