The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-09-12
Our Churches and Nainisters--.NO. A.

O"E ChuECHes anu NaHnaStefS--~NOs Il.
In the brif sketches we have attempted to give
ofour churches and ministers, In preceding num-
bers of this paper, we have not aimed to notice
them in the order Of their rank and Importance, but
simply to follow the order of convenience
BAPTIST
The Baptist church in this place was organized
in September, 1888 The society as originally
formed, was quite small although the Baptist ele.
ment, was as largely represented in the first in
habitants of the town, as that of any other de.
nomination. One of the earliest settlers in the
place, was Rev Jason Lothrop, Baptism mister,
who still resides here. Rev. Mr.. L4othrop during
the early period of the settlement Of the town, I'M
tied the business of teaching with that of preach
ing; he taught the first school ever opened in the
town. This was in the fall ofl835, when there
were but six families in the place; there were at
the same time few families located on the ada.
cent prairies, who awaited themselves of this school
by sending in their children. 1t was under the
supervision of Rev. Mr.. Lathrop, that the Bantist
Church was founded at the peIiod before mention
cd he held the relation Of pastor of the church for
some ten years after its organization, He is
man CT extensive reading is the author OF one or
two works which have been published in book
form, and lie has manuscript matter enough on
hsudaside rom sermons) in the shane Of scrintnrs,
NOES end commentaries, to make several volumes
! OF large size Since his REIMBURSEMENT of the pas
toiship Of the Baptist church in this place. he has
continued to preach occasionally in different local..
les in the neighboring country, also in this CITY
! The following ministers have been employed by
! HE Baptist church to preach sine the petiod OF
the labors Of Rev. Mr.. Lothrop, viz: Rev. Mr..
Goodcno Rev. Mr.. Hinton, Rev Mr. Westover.
Rev. Mr.. Br0ndo Rev. Mr.. Smith, Rev, Mr. Lull.
! For several months past, the Baptist church hes
not been supplied with regular preaching on the
Sabbath the church in common with many 9th.
ors, has experienced The pressure Of hard times
aud has not felt able to sustain an acceptablemin
i er The church viii doubtless resume its regu-
lar preaching services, as soon as more prosperous
times appear.
After the formation OF the Baptist church its
aervices were held Tor a few years in log school
house on Main street This log building served a
great variety Of purposes, and was one of the most
important public edifces in Tie early history of the
town. AS its recollection is fast fading from the
memory ofmany of the first settlers. it may not be
amis3 to drigess a little by describing it 1T
was constructed through logs, one story high
The roof was superior to most log buildings of it,
tune, for it was covered with shingles. The dool
was in one corner, and being hung ON woodel
hinges, made a frightul screeching upon opening
and shutting. Around each side of the interior O
The building were boards fixed horizontally agains
the walls called countorS; these wer used for wri
ing desks for school boys and girls ON week days
and furnished elevated sittings for young peopl
, on Sabbath days aud on public occasions. TIL
principal seats were solid slab benches; few O
tue smaller ones designed tor juvene stters, wer
made of boards. The floor below was rough bu
passable; the floor overhead was rather an apollo
gy; there crevices in it sufficiently large fo
, mischeivous boys to crawl through into the garre
\ boz stove stood in the centre, and near i'll wa
rough movable table. On evening occasion!
the table was garnished with two substantial iro
10 candesticks, into each of which was thrust ia
n low candle When extra light was needed, tt
,e cracks in the thinking ofthe walls furnished amp
y. accommodation for statoning more tallow cam
-, les.
a,.j Yet in this rude and humely building, WEI
preached many excellent and impress i've sermon
Oy ministers OF various denominations Indee
for few years, it was almost the only place ia Il
e town where public religious serv ices were held
'e Ii served as Hall or Lyeeums; for polite
IN caucuses and speeches-lectures on educatio
le abolition, spritualism, excolsiorisn, phrenolog
rs magnetism, sc. justices Courts too, which we
"a O, more than usual interest and calculated to
act a crowd of lockers on, were held here.
some seasons Of the year there were scarcely eve
ings enough in week. TO meet the demands upt
hi. log edifce
=. As the town grew and the demand for busine
lots increased, the old school house which b
" faithfully accommodated such multitude Of pr
poses was doomed to destruction. 1t was to
down 10 the year 1912 In he mean time ne
he framed schoo house had been built on the nor
side al the public square. on rhe lot now oecup
by the dwelling house, belonging to Alonzo Cam
re belt Esq On the completion of the new schC
ng house, the Baptists occupied it as place ofme
I'M ag, most OF the time until their meeting house
is, lie corner of Church and Wisconsin streets "
balt. The Baptists completed their church e
10. tice in the year lS4S This building is of respect
he bic size, and is surmounfed by handsome a
les well proporticped steeple; the lot on which I
5u- church stands, is enclosed with neat fence a
The Surroundings are pleasant.