CHURCHES. The Presbyterian Church of Prairie du Sac.*-Two brief extracts from the earliest records of this church will best show the main facts concerning its organization. In the winter of 1841, Rev. S. Chaffee, by request of the few members of the Church of Christ who had emigrated to Prairie du Sac, and who were living without being organized into a church, visited the place, preached one sermon, and organized a Presbyterian Church." "Prairie du Sac, January 22, 1841. At a meeting for religious purposes, after the sermon, the following members of the different branches of the Church of Jesus Christ were in due form constituted the First Presbyterian Church of Prairie du Sac, by Rev. Solomon Chaffee." These original members, eight in number, were Calvin Frink, Mrs. Lydia L. Frink, Mary E. Frink. Charles F. Parks, Burke Fairchild, John C. Kellogg, Nathan Kellogg and Mrs. Jane Axtell, None of them are now here. Arba On November 29, 1844, the church was by unanimous vote, made Congregational. M. Seymour (who joined the church December 4, 1842) was a leading mover in this change. On April 4, 1864, the church was, by a large majority vote, made fully Presbyterian, and so remains. Martin S. Moore (who joined the church January 14, 1851) was. prominent in this change. Till 1864, the church was connected with the Presbyterian and Congregational Convention of Wisconsin. On October 8, 1864, it united with the Dane Presbytery. It now belongs to the Presbytery of Wisconsin River. The first minister of the church began to preach here in February, 1842. The list of ministers is as follows: Philip W. Nichols, E. G. Bradford, W. Cochran, E. G. Miner, J. G. Kanouse, D. T. Noyes (who, some time after ceasing his ministry, became Lieutenant of artillery in the late war, was killed in the service, and is buried at Prairie du Sac), Henry Hutchins, J. Silsby, Charles Thompson, Rufus P. Wells, John W. Densmore, Henry W. Woods, William H. Blair, Erwin C. Hull, George F. Le Clerc, Archibald S. Reid (now preaching here; September 1880). Elders (Presbyterian) prior to November, 1844, were Calvin Frink, Nathan Kellogg, Charles F. Parks, Burke Fairchild; since April, 1864, Martin S. Moore, Arba M. Seymour, David Congar, Luther T. Stowell, Isaac F. Smith, Daniel Wells, Lavalette V. Tabor, John Wotring, David S. Congar, Richard L. Hand, E. Conway Moore. Deacons (Congregational) from 1844 to 1864, were Calvin Frink, Nathan Kellogg, Arba M. Seymour, Elias B. Crane, Martin S. Moore, S. H. Bassinger. Luther Keysar. Deacons (Presbyterian) before 1844, were Calvin Frink, Nathan Kellogg, Quentin Smith, John S. Mann; since 1861, Isaac F. Smith, George T. Moore. It The first house of worship, quite a small one, of the value, probably, of $500, was built in 1851, and dedicated in October of that year, Rev. J. G. Kanouse preaching the sermon. was afterward considerably enlarged. On May 30, 1867, it was sold for $200, to the Free-Will Baptists, and by them soon removed to its present site. The second house of worship, that now used (1880), was built just after a marked revival, in 1867, during the ministry of Rev. J. W, Densmore, and dedicated on February 14, 1868, Rev. Edward G. Read, then of Madison, preaching the sermon. It is in size 37x57, cost near $5,000, and seits nearly 300. comfortable, commodious, and attractive, and will probably suffice for many years to come. It is The Sunday school has long been a very pleasant and flourishing one. The whole number of church members received, including the original ones, has been 229. The present membership is fifty-two. The church has passed through some trying and some very cheering phases of experience. It has exerted and still exerts a strong influence for good in the community. Like all persons and all institutions, it must be known by its fruits. Long may it produce those both good and abundant, showing itself faithful to God and to all His truth. The Union Unitarian and Universalist Parish of Prairie Du Sac-Was organized on the 25th of August, 1867, with E. W. Young, Joseph Keysar, John Dennett, John Werner, Miles H. Keysar and Joshua Perkins for Trustees. The names of the original members are as follows: * Prepared September, 1880, by the pastor of the church. Elisha P. Tabor, George Frost, E. H. Keysar, Charles Bunnell, Edward Oertel, Ophelia Frost, Hannah Tabor, Frances J. Coburn, Maria Werner, Betsy Wiswell, Elmeda Wiswell, Harriet E. Miller, E. W. Young, John Werner, Joseph Keysar, Joshua Perkins, J. P. Wiswell, Stephen Coburn, M. H. Keysar, John Dennett, L. A. Perkins, J. M. Perkins, E. T. Perkins, Mary A. Watson, Nathaniel Perkins, Mary C. Morrell, S. D. Perkins, A. A. Perkins, Isaac Tabor, D. Tabor. A church in connection with the parish was instituted April 30, 1871, with the following officers and membership: E. W. Young, Moderator; Edward Oertel, Treasurer; Elisha Tabor, Joshua Perkins, Deacons; Rev. M. G. Todd, temporary Pastor and Clerk; Isaac Tabor, S. M. Blake, John Werner, Elvin Wiswell, Mrs. M. A. Watson, H. W. Perkins, Hannah Tabor, Cynthia Cummings, Fanny Coburn, Mary D. Benton, J. Werner, Mrs. Young, Miss M. C. Morrell, Mina Perkins, Emma Miller, Elmeda Wiswell. Universalism was first preached in Prairie du Sac, by Revs. M. G. Todd and J. C. Crawford. The first settled minister was Rev. J. M. H. Smith, who, after a brief pastorate, was succeeded by Mr. Todd. In 1873, Rev. B. F. Rogers became the minister of the parish, but resigned his office after one year's service. During the succeeding years until 1877, it had no minister, and only an occasional supply of its pulpit by Rev. Mr. Hesselgrave, of West Point. In this year, Rev. A. Constantine Barry, D. D., was called to the vacant pastorate, and under his judicious labors the broken fortunes of the parish have been gradually repaired, and something of the old prosperity restored. It is free of debt, owns a neat and commodious house of worship costing $5,000; is turning attention again to abandoned or neglected enterprises, and equipping itself anew for the Master's work. SAUK CITY OR LOWER SAUK. One would scarcely think, upon a cursory glance when first visiting this thriving village, that here was the first site of any permanent habitation for a white man in the county, and still less would he realize that more than forty-one years have since come and gone, "like birds in the night," so quiet has been the passage of Time and so lightly has he touched each spot with his aged fingers. And yet the town and county are old-old in civilization as a part of the white man's domain, and old in the history of its former tenants, the aborigines, who, it is said, had once a large village just at this point. Their history, though for them unpenned, is told in the legends of hunters and travelers, and their unique mound farms, and the relics of a rude architecture, and by the weapons and various utensils left, that mark, with unerring certainty, their condition before the white man came. Those who have virtually made a success of the growth of this place and given it its present stability are principally Germans, the community to-day being essentially Teutonic, and expressive, in all its operations, of the German life, feeling and intelligence, and embodying the various domestic and social institutions that are necessary to the happiness of this home-abiding, home-loving people. Of the inhabitants here, more than one-tenth are solid, jolly, fun-loving, joyous, generous, honest and industrious German people, and they are prosperous, too-a condition that need scarcely be mentioned. The Yankees are wont to say the Germans will thrive where any other class of people would starve, so well understood is their thrifty way of getting on in the world in spite of all obstacles. And this is essentially true, and is a remarkable feature among this people, for they will undoubtedly get on, and get on well and happily, where many other classes would be discouraged and fail. To attempt to account for this is useless; it is one of the peculiarities natural to the German constitution, and that is a good thing to inherit. The village site is such that, at any time in the future, should the tide of coming events bring a railroad, the town could be built up and extended almost ad libitum. The streets are broad and well kept, being lined with pretty cottages and fine dwellings, and are beautifully shaded by fine, wide-spreading old trees, the growth of thirty or forty years. Socially, relig iously and politically, there exist here the same differences that are found almost everywhere, and, in some things, more extreme differences than in many localities, especially in religious sentiment; yet the German character, fortunately, is such that the happy mean of mutual tolerance and forbearance prevails, and a general harmony of interests seems to obtain, which is doubtless in great part due to the high order of intelligence existing here, and to the liberalizing sentiment that prevails largely everywhere throughout this favored land. The management of public affairs, while being just and sufficiently generous, in maintaining the interests of all, is withal conducted in a very prudent and economical manner, the system evidently being founded upon the necessities of the whole, and having grown into perfection as the town has grown. The public schools are an honor to the community, everything obtainable by this method of education being provided to the utmost limit of the law, from the infant department to the high school. Commerce and general business in this village are thrifty and well up, and, considering the location, very large amounts of goods are sold annually. There are now eight general stores, three hardware stores and tin shops, two drug stores, three notion, grocery and confectionery shops, two furniture stores, three harness-shops, two tailors, two milliners, one jewelry store, five wagon-shops, five blacksmith-shops, five shoe-shops, three meat markets, one photographer, one barber-shop, one livery stable, one tobacconist, eleven saloons, two dealers in agricultural implements, and two lumber dealers, the last-named business being carried on here very extensively, especially by C. Obrecht, the largest dealer in the county; there is also a green-house here which has been in operation for some time. The manufacturing interests are represented by the above-mentioned mechanics' shops, and more especially by four breweries and two mills, which will be spoken of hereafter. EARLY SETTLEMENT AND GROWTH. Although the first-comers (mentioned elsewhere) in the county made claims here as early as 1838, immediately after the treaty with the Winnebagoes was ratified, and did something in the way of starting, as making the dug-out spoken of, getting some land broken, and building a house or two before 1840, yet it remained for Count Augoston Haraszthy and William Bryant to give the town the starting impetus in growth that has made it what it now is. The name of the Count and many of his exploits is yet familiar to most of the Germans here. Owing to political troubles, and a certain youthful ambition which stimulated him to come out and see the new world, he embarked in March, 1840, for America, accompanied by his cousin Charles Halasz. Their intention at starting was to go to Florida, but they were diverted from their purpose through seeing one of Capt. Maryatt's novels while on board the ship, which contained descriptions of a trip on the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and through hearing that the country adjacent abounded in rich mineral deposits, and was so healthy that one could hardly die. So on they came for Wisconsin, and, after employing an interpreter, and buying horses and camp equipage, they started on a prospecting expedition. Suffice it to say of this, they first went to Rock River, near Lake Koshkonong and located, but finding they had taken land already claimed, and after getting burned out, they picked up their traps, such as were left, and started for the Wisconsin River. After going safely through the various unpleasant as well as the pleasant features attending a tramp through the wilderness, they came, at last, in July, 1840, to the scenes portrayed to them by fiction. The desirable portions of the country being already taken, the Count, if he would stay, where, as he was wont to say, "everything was very splendid," must needs buy a claim. This he did, buying at first a claim made by Burk Fairchild. In the fall he went to Milwaukee and remained there during the following winter. During this time, he became acquainted with an Englishman by the name of Robert Bryant, who had just come to Milwaukee, and who was well supplied with the needful. The Count, by giving glowing descriptions of the country here, and showing how an immense fortune could be made by building up a town, induced Bryant to embark with him in the scheme. In the spring of 1841, they came out to Sauk, and immediately purchased a claim of Berry Haney, the first one made here, for $1,000. Very soon after, a force of laborers and mechanics were employed to come here, and the upbuilding of the place began in earnest. |