Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-08-29
First Protestant Church in Wisconsin.


of having had the first protestant church
built in the state. This may be regard
ed by many as an event of no particular
significance in connection with the pres
ent; but, insignificant as it may seem,
it was nevertheless the first, and withal,
exhibits the fact, that although ma
jority of the early Corners We're rough
and desperate characters, yet there
were enough God-fearing and humanity
loving people here to make an early
start in the right direction.
Among the early churches of Wis
consin that have contributed SO much
to the progress, civilization and refine
ment of the citizens of the Badger
state, should be classed the Methodist
Episcopal church. As early as 1884, an
organization of this denomination was
effected in Mineral Point, and being
since cherished and fostered, is now rec
ognized as foremost among the leading
church societies of Southwestern Wis
| consin.
The following communication gives a
graphic description of the first church
and the work done there by the pioneer
preacher, Rev. A. Bronson
Dear Sir:
The first Methodist Epsco-
pal church, and the first protestant
church built in Wisconsin, was erected
at Mineral Point in 1884. 1t was of
| logs entirely | think there was not p
sawed board in it, except what was
worked into window sash and doors.
| The logs were notched together at the
corners, chinked inside, and daubed or
plastered outside with clay mortar. The
floor was of puncheons split out of logs
and smoothed with broad-aXe on the
fiat side, the round side being spotted to
| fit the sleepers. The roof was made of
clapboards, split out of large oak trees,
and the ceiling and pulpit were made
| from the same material. The seats
were made of split logs smoothed on the
| flat side, with wooden pegs driven into
auger holes for legs. | do not remem-
Der whether the door hinges were made
of wood or iron. | think 1t was about
| 24X30 feet in area. IL stood on the first
spur or point of land that comes in from
the northwest, some fifteen or twenty
rods from Abner Nichols old hotel, near
the foot of Commerce street. The first
quarterly meeting was held here in
1885 -
The first class of this organization
consisted of William Kendall and wife.
John Wallace and wife, William Phillips
and wife, Andrew Remfrey, William
Ball, Mr. Miller and wife, Mrs. S.
Thomas and James Nancarow. For
some time these few persons congre-
gated at their dwellings, and had regular
lprayer-meetings and instructions by the
laymen of the fold Early in Septem-
Der, Rev. Thomas Haney, a noted pio-
neer circuit rider, was sent here by
an Illinois conference and frequently
held religious meetings, which were at
tended by large numbers of the miners
of the vicinity at that time, though it is
surmised, more out of curiosity TO see
the man who dared TO venture in their
midst, and assail them fos their laxity
Of morals, than to partake Of the relig
ious blessings offered there. The So
ciety continued to increase until, in
1887, il aggregated thirty members.
During the fall of this year, a small
rock church was built on the corner OPP
posite the present elegant structure.
Early in the year 1893, this ediiice was
dedicated and services instituted. The
society having a church, now desired a
resident pastor, but as the conRrega-
ton was small and unable TO support a
minister alone. the idea for a time was
abandoned. Soon, however, an opening
| for a day-school was found and it was
resolved by the congregation TO procure
preacher who might administer 10
their spiritual wants on the Sabbath,
ard, during the week, teach school, and
thus receive sufficient additi>a al salary
TO support him at this point Forthwith
| the Illinois conference was petitionec
for a young man of the requisite quail
fications, and Rev. John Mitchell, ther
stationed at Galena, was sent here anC
took charge Of the combined duties Of
minister and pedagoRue. Rev Mitchell
remained two years, and proved himself
a most satisfactory selection. The con
gregation consisted principally Of Eng
lish and some Americans. For seYera
| years the Presbyterian clement in thu
community attended the services at th'
| Methodist Episcopal church.
The conyeniences Of this small churcl
were necessarily Of the most primitiv,
character and lacked to a remarkable
degree the church ornaments and lux
uries Of the present day The seat
were composed Of two short pole
crossed and placed at each end Of
rough plank for support Here in thi
rude structure petitions were offere
, up by deyout and sincere pioneers, VIII
J would frown upon the luxuriant uphoI
stery and seemingly extravaganza j
! the church fixtures today.
In 1910, the rude plank seats wer
s | rapIacpd with more comfortable and al