The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1911-05-18

family joined the class aC CnaI time.
Rev. Mr.. Lewis conducted preaching
services alternate Sunday afternoons
in the old school house which, stood
on the site of Prof, Clark's residence
on Fourth street. The school house
was afterwards used for the River
Falls Institute" at first under the
management of Martin E. Cady and
then Of Henry S. Baker.
During the summer of 1857 Rev.
SiIas Boles, presiding elder Of the
St. Paul district, came over and
held the quarterly meeting in Johil
Lewis's new barn at the place now
known as Brittons Corners, This
meeting was largely attended.
In 1857 Rev, M. Lewis was appoint
ed to supply this circuit, with Rev.
Chauncey Hobart presiding elder.
During the summer Mr.. Lewis and
Illinois settlers thinking a camp
meeting indispensable arranged for
one which was held in the woods
south of Brittons Corners, 1t was
largely attended and productive of
much benefit.
About this time Mr.. Lewis organ
lied class which held meetings in
the Tidd school house. Its members
were Mr.. and Mrs. George Fuller
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Perrin, Mr.. and
Mrs. James Perrin, Mr. and Mrs.
G. D. Smith, S. w. Smith, Franklin
Nye and Mrs. Clint Williams.
George Fuller was appointed class
leader. It was known as the
Kinnickinnic class and was taken
into the Hammond circuit.
In the spring Of 1859 Rev. William
Hamilton was appointed preacher in
charge for the River Falls circuit
and served until fall when this
territory became a part of the north
west Wisconsin conference and was
placed in the Prescott district.
The date ST haldin aszaeq
was changed from sprir j to fail and
Rev. Levi Shelley was appointed to
the circuit and lived in River Falls,
with Rev. Chauncey Hobart presid-
ing elder. In 1860 Rev. w. |. w.
Cunningham was appointed to the
circuit and Rev. William, Hamilton
became presiding elder.
THE FIRST BUILDING
Shortly after Mr.. Cummings
arrived he began to plan for the
erection of a house of worship.
With the assistance Of few mem
bers he secured a subscription of
about 100000, most of which was
to be paid in labor and material.
O. S. Powell gave one of the lots
where the church and parsonage
now stand buying it back from VIM.
H. Moore. The abstract of deeds
does not show that Mr.. Powell
figured in the second transaction at
ALL We than bought the other lot
of Mr.. Moore. We ayailed our
selves of Mr.. Powell's offer to get all
the stones we wanted in his quarry.
Among those contributing labor or
material We're Henry Walden,
Philip Saline, G. w. Chaplin, Vim.
Brown of Mann Valley, G. Parker
and Moses Gibbs. y. G. Davis of
Eau Gale furnished all the lumber
at $1,000 per thousand feet and the
best shaved shingles at $3.50 per
thousand.
The foundations were laid, the
framework up and partially enclos-
ed when the Civil war broke out and
a number, who had signed to fur
nish money, material or labor went
to the front, some of them never re-
turning. Among the latter were
Henry Walden and George Chaplin.
The doors and windows were then
boarded up and the unfinished edifice
stood that way for some time.
In the fall of 1862 N. C. Whitney
came as supply minister and VIM.
Hamilton was presiding elder.
Several attempts were made to
finish the building but little being
accomplished. And when Mr.. Whit
ney came the out look was discourag
ing. No church. No parsonage
and but few members left in the
village.
At last the minister moved
into the dwelling now occupied
by Arthur Chapman. We accept
ed the offer of our Baptist breth-
rem and used their building for
services alternate Sundays beginning
| in December of 1852 Afterwards