River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-12-04

God about the first Of September, 1865.
Revs. I. NJ. Fullerton, Hamilton, Egg
bert and Smith took part in the exar
|cises of the dedication. DR.. T.. E.
Tubbs was instrumental in procuring
the bell and part Of the pulpit fur
niture.
In 1866 Rev. Joel Brown was ap-
pointed to this Circuit and Rev. T. M.
Fullerton Presiding Elder. When
Rev. Mr.. Brown came he found no par
sonage and no house that he could
rent. He called a trustees meeting
and said he could build house if the
members could provide the lumber anu
material. The next day Mrs. H. E.
Stephens started out with a subscrip-
ton paper but got very little en-
couragement. The next day she went
again and secured a subscription of
some over forty dollars in money and
material
First Parsonage Built
Mr.. Brown had been a carpenter in
his younger days, so he put up build
ing Is by "a, which answered until
more could be built.
In 1867 this territory became part
of the West Wisconsin Conference, and
the name of the District changed to
the Prescott District, and the Rev.
Obediah Burnett made preacher ii
charge, with Rev. T. NJ. Fullerton
Presiding Elder. About this time
Clifton was taken from River Falls
and placed with the Prescott Circuit.
Kinnickinnic Church Built
In 1868 Rev. N. S. Austin was ap-
pointed to the River Falls Circuit and
J. E. Irish Presiding Elder. At this
time Rev. James Haven was appoint
ed to the Hammond Circuit. He and
the citizens Of Kinnickinnic built a
nice church near c.. D. Smiths farm,
at an expense Of about $4,000, and the
Methodists and Congregationalists oc-
cupied it on alternate Sundays. G. D..
Smith was janitor, choirster and gen
eral help for both societies.
In 1869 Rev. Austin was reappoint-
ed and j. E. Irish Presiding Elder. In
1870 Rev. S. E. Ravens was appointed
and ]. D. Searles was Presiding Elder.
In 1871 E. S. Ravens was reappointsd
and J. E. Irish Presiding Elder.
The st. Croix District
At this time main part was built
onto the Parsonage at an expense Of
$3.50. In 1872 the name Of the Dis
trict~ changed to st. Croix Dis
trict with Rev. Chas. Irish, preacher
in charge, and Rev. j. D Searles, pre-
siding Elder. In 1873 the church was
heavily in debt and at this time Mart
in E. Cady, then Principal of the Riv-
Ell Falls Institute, came forward and
proposed that if the church would
pay it's debts in full he would preach
during the conference year for moth
ing. His offer was accepted and che
Bishop appointed him in charge dur
ing the year, to the great satisfaction
| of the large congregation which at
tended. And the debt was all paid.
Rev. j. D. Searles was the Presiding
Elder. Mr. Cady is now one Of The
leading diyines Of Chicago.
In 1874 Rev. S. w. Horner was ap-
pointed and Rev. j. D. Searles, Presld-
ing Elder. Rev. Horner is now one Of
the leading divines of Detroit, Mich.
and one of the leading ministers Of the
Detroit Conference. In 1875 Rev. S.
w. Homer was reappointed, and Rev
VIM. Haw was presiding Elder.
Appointments
1876-Rev. Horner, with Rev. Haw
presiding Elder.
+ 1877-8-Rev. w. D. Atwater, with
Rev. Haw, Presiding Elder.
1890 A. S. Collins, with
Rev. Atwater Presiding Elder. In 1880
the church was newly painted and pap
cred and new furniture put in at large
expense.
1881-Rev. A. S. Collins, with Rev.
Michael Benson Presiding Elder.
1882-Rev. VIM. Haw was appointed
but change was made with Rev. Mr..
Hamilton, who filled the appointment
during the Conference year, with Rev.
Mr.. Benson as Presiding Elder.
1883-Rev. C. R. Kellerman, with
Rev. M. Benson Presiding Elder. The
name was changed to the Hudson Dis
trict An addition was built to the
church at an expense of about 5000
1884 Rev. Henry Dockham, with
Rev. M. Benson Presiding Elder.
1885-Rev. James Evans, with Rev.
H. W. Bushnell as Presiding Elder.
No change was made until in 1899,
when Mr.. Evans was reappointed, and
Rev Elbridge Bradford, Presiding
Elder.
189O-Rev. j. w. Avery, with Rev.
E. Bradford Presiding Elder. At this
time the M. E. church sold their inter-