Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-02-07
11ttEl tllf ]antnat Htnt1Ffra
(By Judge Wilmottl

pride in identifying the historical old
home, the only home he has ever
known from babyhood up.
On the lot above the last mentioned
house another historical building
yet stands. 1t is a one-story brick,
and was known as the first Congrega-
tional church of Potosi This society
was organized as the first Presbyter-
ian church in Potosi in 1910, under
the direction of Rev. S. Chatter. The
building was erected in 1841. Rev.
Dr. Gallagher preached occasionally
in 1840-41. He wrote to his friends
in the east that he was preaching III
a theater in a place called Snake Hol-
low He was boarding with Univer-
salist, and his horse was stabbed IN
ten-pin alley. The first resident min
ister was Rev. w. E. Boardman, VINO
came in 1912 and left in 1874. Rev.
Calvin Walker came in 1914 and stay
ed two years Rev. H. Freeman fol-
lowed him, remaining two years. Rev.
Edward Morris, came in 1850 and he
STAYED six years. Other ministers
who preached the Gospel in the little
brick church were E. NJ. Lewis, Mich
oIas Mayne, J. F. Mitchell D. w. Gill
more. John william, Aaron Breeze, E.
NJ. Corey, J. Bali, and many others
whose names I am unable to obtain.
The church was formally changed
from Presbyterian to Congregational
in 1876. A handsome new frame
church was built on North street in
1901 that stands as a credit to the
congregation. | am unable to name
the minister who preached the Gospel
in the new church, though Rev. r. c.
Bennett, W. A. Griffith and Rev. Phil
lips were an ,ong them. Rev. S. B.
Welles was the last occupant of the
pulpit The old brick church was sold
and later was converted to resider-
tial purposes Since then it passed
into ownership of different persons.
1t is now occupied by Edward Wied-
man.
Going a short distance across the
street, | came to the historical CID
Masonic hall that was erected by the
independent Order of Odd Fellows in
1910. Warren Lodge No. 4, F. and A
NJ. The records of the lodge show
that the first meeting Of the order
held in Potosi was on the goth Of o.
JODGT. lS44. W Ldh0 IuIO COnolOS1 ICIoA1
the propriety of organizing a subord-
mate lodge. Enos G. Wood was chos-
en- chairman and J. D. Spaulding sec
rotary. The first regular commemor-
atom of Warren lodge was held in a
room over Coons, Wooley's store in
LAFAYETTE on May 2, 1914. 1t was held
under a dispensation of the grand
lodge of the territory of Wisconsin.
r1I.o ofc onnninfnH EfnnS
P. Woods, w. M; Marcus Wainwright,
S. W; Simon E. Lewis, j. W. The
bylaws of Melody lodge No. were
adopted for their guidance and the fol-
lowing subordinate officers appointed:
Thomas Taylor, treas; Geo. Mader1e,
Sec; S. B. Keene, S. D.; D. w. Hall,
J. D.; Samuel Alexander and Myron
Patterson, stewards, and John r. Sea-
ton, tiler The lodge continued work
ing under this dispensation until Jan.
10, 1845, when it was organized under
a charter from the grand lodge OF the
territory, and on the oath of the same
month the first officers were installed
by CIR snd Master B. J. Cavanaugh, and
Asa E.Hough, acting deputy grand
marshall, as follows: H. R. Coulter,
S. w; George Maderie, J. w; Thos.
Palliser treas; VIM. H. Wood, sec.;
Simon E. Lewis, S. D.; D. w. Hall, J.
D.; J. H Barnett, tiler. In June,
1S45. contract was entered into with
the |. o. o. F. for an undivided half
interest of their hall and thereafter
Warren lodge held it's meetings in the
old building until 1916 when the his
torical old relic was torn down and a
handsome new Masonic temple put up
on the lot. The new temple was ded-
icated with much pomp and ceremony
Oct 20, 1916.
(TO be continued.)