Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-02-08
THE EARLY
History of Wauwatosa.

All InlS tlmc' Society, SOCIAL anu re-
ligious, had attention. The society
was distinctively American. Like their
New England forefathers, the first set
tiers endeayored to consecrate their
town to Christ. During the years OF
1867 there were few religious meet
ings. The first sermon preached in the
village was in 1888 by Rev. Mr.. Craw-
ford, the first Presbyterian minister of
the village of Milwaukee. His text
was from Matt. $40; And now also
the axe is laid unto the root of the
trees" etc. The services were, held. in
the shanty of Mr.. Jonathan Warren,
then situated on the present site Of Mr.
Gridley's small store.
The first Sabbath school in the town
was organized in 1910 at the unfinished
log house of Mr.. Mark johnson which
was located opposite Mr.. Robbins pres
ent residence. Rev. E. d. Underwood, 80
long pastor of the Baptist church, was
one of the teachers, though not then a
protesting christian. A Methodist
class also met here quite regularly.
1t was organized the second Sabbath
in October, 1910, by Rev. H. w. Frink,
the first Methodist circuit preacher
here. The text was atty chosen for
the occasion, from Acts 1929; 81 ask
therefore for what intent ye have sent
for me-"
The frst Sabbath school at Harris
Mills was opened in 1s41 at the home
of Mr.. Benjamin Hart, father of 7.
w. Hart, which was on the site Of Mr.
Fuller's residence. This cottage now
belongs TO Miss Wales, it stands on
West Main street two doors east of
Greenfield avenue. In 1898 or early in
1899 Bible class had been formed ut the
log house of Mr.. Longstreet, which
was where Mr.. Twinem's house stands.
In the village, meetings we're held
irregularly in log houses or in rude un-
finished frame buildings, from one
place to another; but in the Gilbert
neighborhood, they had an ordinary
log school house l6 #. 90 IT. The
seats were made of Eastwood trees,
split open in the center, with the bark
side down. The legs la milking
stool. In ls46 frame school house,
larger and more comfortable than the
log one was built.
Meetings were sometimes held in the
bar room of the tavern. the bottles and
decanters forming rathe- unusual
back ground for the ministe. conduct
ing the services. .,
Among the earliest preachers ,vere
aRev. Nj. Ordway, Rev. MI. Perkins,
Rev. Mr.. Quagh, of the Dutch Reformed
Church, Rev Peter Turk, (gandfather
of Mrs DR.. Cutler) and Res Mr.. Con.
rad, Baptist ministers. Mr. Turk came
the whols distance from New Ybrk State
on horse back. Rev. Mr. Whcelbck Of the
Methodist Church, came and settled on
the present Dousman placs in the
spring of 1899. He preached. several
times at the house of Mark johnson.
After the school house at Harris
Mills was built, it was the meeting
house for ali denominations; !. e.
Methodists, Baptists and Congrega-
tionalists. all uniting also in a Sabbath
school. They met on alternate Sun
days at the Gilbert school house.
The school house. in the village, once
the town hall. was at first only one
story high The seats were long,
rather straight backed, yet not very
uncomfortable. They were purchased
together with the desk, of Milwaukee
Plymouth Church. So
MIR. oliver P. Root, the moneyed man
OF that early day, deedadsa triangular
piece OF ground to the toNntoqhe used
for school common or park. At the
southern angle of the Common, n IL
berty pole, or flag staff was long the
goal for the players of palm, palm,
pull away" When the school house
was to be erected, Mr.. Root was in
'i'Su w NohatC piece OF ianO Odck OF
the common, on which the building
WAS placed. When il was in process
of erection. one SATURDAY. a minister
happened to come along. lie was asked
to preach the following day, the notice
being widely circulated. DIR. Joseph
Warren, the carpenter. laid some loose
boards on the women's side for floor,
and fixed comfortable plank for
seat. The legs of the work bench
were put down through the 1oists
for pulpit. The men sat on the other
side without much ceremony. All
went ON very well, until wagon
passed III the road, when dog in the
congregation sprang to the sill where
there would afterward he a door, and
barked just as he would at home.
Silas Brown fred broom at. the dog,
wi -.