Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-04-26

1877, at Bloomington.
Abstracts of Papers Read on the Occasion by
| Deacon Williams, Mrs. II &. Newcomb
and Rev. II. l.. cheney.
| The proposition to commemorate
the organization of the Blake's Prairie
Congregational Church has caused us
to draw back the curtain which Time
has been weaving to hide the events
of the last thirty years, and CLEAN
some facts from recorded history
which though known, to many may
have passed out of sight, yet to our
memory are still dear.
The genesis of anything becomes
interesting inasmuch as it has within
it the elements of blessing to mankind
or reflects the mind of its author.
These two ideas give special import
ance to all the works of our great
King and law-giver, sometimes strik-
ing us by their very minuteness as the
evidence of animal and vegetable life
seen in the works beneath our feet,
then rising to gigantic proportions,
then sinking or disappearing alto
| gether, in the rise and fall of powerful
nations, but most forcibly in the king
| dom of grace. "The stone cut out of
the mountain without hands that is to
break in pieces and consume all king
| doms and shall stand forever" 1t is
the relation which the church bears
to this kingdom which gives to it its
| chief interest, because none like it is
so fraught with blessingor so reflects
Gods image. Thirty years ago to-
day was this church organized IN
Patch Grove, at the house of Hugh
Garside, with its little band of four
teen individuals, by Rev's o. Little
field and j. D. Stevens; Mr. Littlefeld
becoming its first pastor, preaching
half the time in Beetown, and re-
manning till February, 1849. In No
| vember following the church invited
Rev. G. w. Monroe, young man
from Boston, Massachusetts. to be
come their pastor, promising S75 as
salary and to take measures to build a
parsonage. and Dec. 25th Mr.. Monroe
was ordained to the work of the Cos
pei ministry, but So slowly did the
building Of the parsonage progress
Mr.. Monroe took it into his own
hands and held the same as his own
property. Mr.. NJ. left in 1850, and
for nearly year the church was with
out pastor. Rev. S. W. Eaton, of
Lancaster kindly cared for its welfare
and aided it as he had opportunity.
In Oct, 1851, Rev. Ira Tracy be-
came its pastor with salary of $500.
Mr.. r. first preached at Patch Grove
and the s'Red School-house" alter
| nately, but afterward changed to 9TH
err points, as circumstances seemed to
require, distributing books and tracts,
thus sowing in many ways and places
the seeds of gospel truth which in
later years sprung up and brought
forth fruit to the honor and glory of
God.
In 1855 the work of building a
church edfice was taken up in earn
est, site was decided upon, being a
mile and half southeast Of what is
now the village of Bloomington,
at that time Just commenced and of
uncertain growth. With aid from
the Congregational Building Fund
and individual contributions church
was built costing 81 400. In April,
$50 Mr.. Tracy left, and till his health
failed, labored in Spring Valley, Min
nesota.
In August, 1856, commenced the
pastorate of Rev. A. NJ. Dixon. AT
that time the church membership was
only fifty, but during the nine years
of his ministry there was an especial
outpouripg of Gods Spirit, and fifty
more were received into the church
militant. Some of them have joined
the church triumphant, and four Of
them, Rev's Geo. Smith, VIM. A. Ly-
man, Julian Dixon and A. E. Tracy,
became standard bearers in "the army
of the Lord"
During these years occurred the
Great Rebellion, and nine of the menu
bers entered the army-seven return
ed, but the bodies of Charles Blng
ham and Ira Tracy, Jr., were left in
Southern soil
Mr.. Dixon was greatly aided by
earnest, faithful workers in the vim
yard of the Lord who organiZed and
sustained Mission Sabbath-schools in
Beetown. Patch Grove and Glen Ha-
ven, where not only children but
adults learned the story of Jesus and
His love.
During the winter of 1866 the
church engaged the labors of Rev. q.
7. Melvin and was very materially
strengthened by the addition of sever
al previously connected with the
Scotch Presbyterian church, of Can
ada. In June, SO, Rev. A. A. Young
became the pastor. During five years
Mr. Young faithfully preached the
gospel of our Lord and of bis Christ,
and was aided during the last of his
ministry by Rev. VII. Marble whose
powerful welding of the sword of the
Spirit pierced many hearts crowds
gathered to listen and were thus
brought to the knowledge of Christ
During the pastorate of MIR. Young
the name of The church was changed
from Blake's Prairie Congregational
Church to the First Congregational
Church of Tafton. 1t was at its first
organization called the First Presby-
terrain, but was soon changed as
| above.
Rev. Mr.. Young closed his labors
May %, 1871, and for more than a
wear the flock was without shepherd,
and there is no record of any addi-
tons to the church, though it was not
without the stated means of grace.
In June. 1872. Rev. David Writ re-
ceived and accepted unanimous call
to the pastorate of the church. Mr..
w. remained only one year but that
was an eyentful one for tive live IN
deeds not years-iD thoughts not