The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-03-20

cthlO1ls JAC PSVP1Ss
During the year 1887 Pike River
which had developed into the more
euphonious name of Southport, and
which at that time boosted a popula-
tion of two hundred souls, was, ee-
Realistically speaking, a part Of RAJ
cine mission, and shared the labors of
the pastor, Rev. Otis T. Curtiss. Rev.
zalmon Stebbins, presiding elder Of
the district Nov. oath, officiated at
the first quarterly meeting ever held
in Southport; he preached as did
brother Curtiss, on South Main street,
near Market Square, in block build
ing which had been erected during
that summer, and was used as a school
house and place of worship.
Gospel seed, these two or three years,
had been 50 well and faithfully sown,
that the people lived in expectancy Of
a spiritual harvest, nor were they dis
appointed, favoring indications be-
came more and more marked, until at
last, in the winter Of 1888, under the
labors Of Rev. r. H. Deming and Rev.
Abner Barlow such a revival broke
out as witnessed the conversion of
nearly the entire community. 1t was
a tidal wave of salvation.
Impelled by the expanding power of
this new religious life certain parties
in the spring following erected the
structure now known as the Water
Cure, with the intention of dedicat-
ing it to education and religion, and
as place of worship for Christians
of all denominations. That revival
also produced the first Bible society,
and marshaled the spiritual forces of
the denominations that were repre-
sented in Southport at that time. And
when the Methodist society, in 1910,
built its first edifce the Congregations
alists and Baptists were devising plans,
that would secure to each the con-
veniences and delights of a church
home Still another result was the
separation of Southport from Racine
Mission and the establishment of the
church on its own basis, with Rev.
Zalmon Stebbins as pastor. The diff
ferent pastors, thirty-two in number,
who, under authority from the bishops
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
preached the gospel from the old pu-
PIT, in the old pulpit, in the old edifce,
were, most Of them devoted servants
Of God, a goodiy number were minis
tiers of the highest order, and a few
were great, and made a record that
will go down to posterity There was
lalmon Stebbins, who accomplished
the building of the first church; John
/. Mitchell, tall, dignifed, lofty
broWed, peerless orator; James
Mitchell, under whose administration
the first Spring street edifce was
built; Sampson, scholarly, genial, de-
voted; Crews "a choice and faithful
minister; Cahoon; Oliver; Chandler;
Hanson, whose reading was :. charm;
Lebigh, able, strong, Willful, dauntless,
overwhelming; Alden; Sampson, a
second time; Searles; Stebbins, once
again; Ford, who moved the old build
ing to its new site; D. Hall; Green,
Fellows; Pease, who was mild as the
breath of the zephyr yet subduing as
"a sunbeam; Scanlmon; "A. Hall;
Cowles; Knox; A. j. Mead, who cele-
brated the centennial Of Methodism by
taking up a collection Of $3.50 for the
centennial fund; England a minister
greatly beloved, who has recently
passed to his reward and rest; Hunt
ly, under whose ministry seventy were
added to the church, and whose wit
and work the world will never forget.
Tat present chaplin of the United
Estates senate; Smith, Thayer; Walker;
Curtiss, who snatched the oratorical
diadem from the brows of several
states; Sabin Halsey, energetic, sim
cere, by many beloved; Hewitt of whom
it can be said at least, that he loved
his people; and Bosworth, to whose
good works this beautiful edifce is a
/
most suggestive monument.
The old edifce which was an ex-
preston of religious love and zeal, was
built in 1910, on the angle of the
triangle between Main street and Park
avenue. 1t was substantial frame
structure, with a gallery and having
seating capacity Of three hundred
and fifty in the audience ROOM. st
was when built valued at $4,000 and
was the best Methodist Church edifce
In Wisconsin at the time. In 1915 it
! was moved to the corner of Park and
Prairie avenues, and made to confront
the west. In 1871 it was thoroughly
repaired and greatly improved, by the
completion Of the basement at an ex-
pense of $3.50. In 1880 it aged
rapidly as the best parsonage in the
conference began to loom up at it's
side. Finally, having served good
purpose, for term of forty-three
years, the old building on the after
noon Of Sunday, Feb. 4, 1888, passed
to realms ethereal in flames and fer