Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-10-22
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH OF WAUSAU
History Of It's Early Struggles Six
tietL Anniversary to be Celebrated
Sunday, November IL, 1918

Oh ouHedy, November II, 1918, tn
members Of the First Presbyterian
church of this city, will celebrate tn
church's sixtieth anniversary. Follow
ing is a brief history of this church
telling of it's early struggles, faithful
workers, activities, etc., and takel
from the book gotten out to commem
crate the Golden Jubilee of the churcl
in 1908.
The First Presbyterian church O
Wausau, Wisconsin, was organize.
June 3, 1858, by Rev. Charles F. Hal
sey, who is reported in the New
School General Assembly Minutes, fol
1859, as Stated Supply at Warsaw
and was afterward pastor, serving il
all about five years. Five chartel
members were received at the frs
meeting, four by letter, and one OF
Profession of Faith, and four or
August 18th, three by letter and one
on Profession of Faith, and four OF
August 18th, three by letter and one
on Profession, two of the whole mum
Der being men and seven women, an(
their names being Richard H. Libbey
John Dobbie, Mrs. Eliza Gouldsberry
Mrs. Jane E. Hobart, Mrs. Clarissa
Calkins, Mrs. Mary Poor, Mrs. Ade.
line Green, Mrs. Eleanor M. Libbey
Mrs. Sylvia Anne Halsey.
Articles of Faith were adopted and
these persons also exp ressed a desire
to be connected with Fox River Pres
bytery.
At the meeting Friday, August 13
the organization was still further per-
fected by choosing as Elders, the two
male members, Richard H. Libbey and
John Dobbie, though they, "for the
present, declined ordination"
On the Sabbath following, August Is
the first Sacrament of the Lords
Supper was administered in the after
noon. On September 5, the church s
first delegat, 20 Fox River Presbytery
meeting at Grandville, was chosen, be-
ing Elder Libbey.
On July ), 1859, the tenth member
was received by letter from a church
near Berlin
The session minutes of August 1859,
refer to regular church services and
prayer meetings, and preparatory ser
vices on Saturday preceding Commun-
ion were also customary. In such or
derly and spiritual ways, the founda-
tions of the present church organiza-
tion were well laid and the concise,
though brief and not always com
plete records bear witness to faithful
service for the Master through all the
changes incident to beginnings in a
frontier village.
On March 10, 1861, May A, 1862 and
August l, 1862, three more women
were recorded as added to member
ship.
August 3, 1863, records the last
minutes for some time, a Communion
service and Rev. Halsey's pastorate
evidently closed about that date and
the church is reported in General AS
sembly minutes for 1854 to 1869 in
elusive as vacant" and no regular
preaching was had, apparently.
The first meetings of the church dur
ing Mr.. Halsey's pastorate, were usual
ly held in a dwelling house located
about 211 Forest street, though the
actual organization was begun and eff
fected in an upper room," over a
shingle mill, then in the Doolittle
building and then to a building near
the hotel seated with. rough benches.
The choir and singing was led for
a time by Mr.. Hiram Calkins, who
used tuning fork in pitching tunes.
Seven baptisms and two marriages
were recorded during Mr. Halsey's
pastorate.
On Saturday, January 25, 1868, a
meeting was held at the public school
house in the village of Wausau for
the purpose of resusticating and re-
viying the Presbyterian church in this
village. Mrs. Mary Poor, the only
resident member remaining, stated her
great grief in view of the near ex-
tinction of the church and her strong
desire and prayer that God would
revive it out of its ruins and make
1t name and praise in this place.
Mrs. Eliza Gouldsberry residing at
Mosinee, was not present, but had ex-
pressed desire to be considered a
member. Mp. and Mrs. Morrill, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Clapp presented letters
and were received, also Mrs. Mary
FEELING. Mrs. Mary Kimball, mother of
Mrs. FEELING, was received a little
later, with others. Thus the records
showed twenty-one members on the
roll. 1858 to 1869.
No report is shown from 1873 and
1S70-72-74. In 1874 Rev. Henry Far
well, who had supplied the church for
a few weeks, had been asked to re-
main with them as their pastor. Dur
ing Rev. Farwell's STAY meetings were
held usually in the court house, but
at times in the school house, and
Universalist church. A good live Sun
day school was organized at this time
New members were received into the
church. Rev. Farwell remained about
one year.
January 8, 1876, among those being
received were Mrs. Armstrong, Mr.
and Mrs. Mccullough, Mr.. and Mrs
u M. Smith. Mrs. Mercer and Mrs
McInnis. At the time of the golden
jubilee of the First Presbyterian
church in Wausau, Mr.. Smith, Mrs
Mercer and Mrs. McInnis were hon.
ored as the oldest living members OF
this church. On February 20, Mr.. and
Mrs. M. A. Hurley united with others
May 21, Mrs. Walker; June 8. Mrs
Loese Clark; July 2, Mrs. Maynard
and others became members.
Rev. j. w. Hageman was called as
pastor of the church, November 81
1872.
Il is believed that the Ladies' AiC
society of this church was organized
about February, 1876.
On March %, 1876, a committee witt
chairman for each of the four city
wards was appointed to increase the
efficiency of the church and its in
terests among the people. A brie
form for church service was adopted
and "the building committee instruct
ed to see about the church lot anC
to report On this committee was
NJ. Smith. its chief advisor and chair
man from the first and until the frs
building was completed. and was ais,
a member of the committee for tn,
present church building On May q
the committee was authorized. ito so
licit subscriptions and have unlim
tied power to go on and contract an,
build the church" This building wa
located on Mcclellan street, betweel
Second and Third streets. On Novem
ber 6. Sunday School Superintendent
4 n.