Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-01-30
is FIFTY YEARS OLD.
Columbus Church Arrives at Half
Century Mark.
CELEBRATE OCCASION.
Pastors Representing All Denomina-
tions Attend the Exercises
MIR. Titsworth's Address.

Columbus, Wis. Jan. 20 Special. =
Today occurred the fftieth anniversary
of the organization of q church society in
what is now the city of Columbus. This
original organization was under the Con
Sregational form OF government, although
it would appear that the members liz
cluded Congregationalists and presbyte-
rians.
Or January %, 1850. this council was
called ut which Rev. y. Montgomery was
chairman and John q. Adams clerk.
Those who joined III the organization by
letter We're James Campbell, Richard
Stratton, Mrs. Polly Stratton, Emily
Stratton, Mrs. Asenath Stratton, Mrs.
Helen S. Rosenkrans. Ellen Hagerman,
Maria Hagerman and Mrs. Hayden.
The church was made Il member of the
Madison district convention. Lewis Lud-
ington having donated TO the organization
the lot On the corner of Broadway and
Mill street, a church edifice was erected
which still stands at the same spot as
portion of the buildings known as tee
Thomson property,
Adopts Presbyterian Government.
In November Of 1852 the Presbyterian
form of church government was adopted.
the relations of the church having been
changed from the Madison convention to
the Fox River presbytcry In 1864 an
addition was made to the church edi
fee, extensive improvements being made
at that time.
In 1866 there was a division of the
church, Il majority Of the members with
drawing, and forming a new Preshy teri
an society, which built for itself the
building on Broadway now owned by st.
Johns Lutheran society.
The members left with the Old church
returned to the Congregational form OF
old church until the year 1874, when a
union of the Presbyterian and Congre
gatlonal churches was by mutual effort
effected. and it was agreed that the two
churches should become united and con
solidated into one church, TO be thence
forward known and designated as the
Oliyet Church of Columbus. and shall be
enthusiastically connected with the Pres
byteriGn and Congregational general con-
ventiOn OF Wisconsin," This Organiza-
ton was perfected on September II,
1874. Up to this time the following pas
sanitation in 1880: Rev. c. E. Rosen
krans. ten years; T. c. Melvin, four
years: L. NJ. Gates one year; A. r.. L.
Loomis, one year; e. z. Salmon. eighteen
months; NJ. W. Reed, eighteen months;
J. G. Schaeffer nine months; III. A.
Miner, two years and four months; Rev.
w. a. Hendrickson, who had been the
pastor of the Presbyterian church since
1869, remained with the reunited church.
Con2regatiouaIsts Locked Out.
~ union did not last long, however.
>ETfne T'resbyterians as such locked their
church doors against the Congregational
lists iii July of 1876. This led to imrle
date action on the part of the latter 1t
was decided to build church edifice at
once, the site was secured and work on
the present handsome Olivet church was
pushed, the congregation occupying the
Sunday school room for worship on De
cember "A of that year. The
building was completed and dedicated
early in the year 1877. The cost was
about $4,000. Rev. NJ. Z. Eversz, who
had come to Columbus in July Of 1876.
about the time of the division. remained
in charge until 1884, when he resigned
to take charge Of German church work,
and Rev. w. Ell. Chamberlain became
the pastor, to remain until 1886, when, on
account Of ill-health, he gave place to
Rev. FL. J. Ferris, the present pastor.
The only person now living in Column
bus who was present at the time of the
organization Of the Congregational soce-
ty i'll 1850, is Mrs j. S. Manning. who
was not then a member. Mrs. W. E.
Ledyard of Wauwatosa is the only living
member of the old organization.
Many Attended Exercises.
AS a fitting prelude to the exercises, a
dinner was served by the ladies OF Ollyet
society. to which were invited the pas
tors of all denominations in the city.
Also all the former members Of the con
gregation now removed from the city,
and whose wherea bouts could be found;
with delegations attending from the Con-
gregational churches Of the vicinity. and
from Beloit, Ripon and milwaukee,
Downer colleges. The afternoon was de
voted to devotional exercises, to the read
ing of the church history. collated by
Harvey Ioomis, who has had charge Of
the church records for many years, re-
counting of "reminiscences Of olden times,
and a general Fellowship meeting. The
evening programme is as follows:
Organ Voluntary.
Hymn.
Scripture-Rev. II. A Miner.
Song-Miss Claudia McPheeters.
Prayer-Rev. Fl. W. Carter
Song-Mrs Luther Davies,
Greeting-Miss f. c. Sabn.
Song-Miss Claudia McPheeters
Address-Rev. Judson Ellsworth.
! Hymn.