THIRTY YEARS

IN THE

ITINERANCY,

BY

REV. W.G. MILLER, D.D.

1875

DEDICATION.

PREFACE.

The following pages were prepared in the midst of the taxing labors of the Ministerial calling. The materials have been drawn from a multitude of sources, and, though the recollections of individuals have not been entirely harmonious in all cases, the facts and dates are believed to be mainly reliable. The general plan, it will be observed, contemplates a brief record of the Charges and Ministers of the Wisconsin Conference, rather than furnish a sketch of my own services. To place the data, however, in suitable relations, and render it acceptable to the general reader, it has been deemed advisable to let the record follow the line of my labors during the thirty years of my Itinerant life. The publication of the book at the present time, is the result of my severe illness during the past year, and the generous, appreciative action taken by the District Conferences. A record of many other Charges and Ministers had been prepared, but, to my regret, the limits of the volume would not permit its insertion. Hoping that these pages may revive many pleasant recollections, furnish interesting and profitable reading for the fireside, and preserve material for the future historian, they are committed to the generous consideration of the public.

THE AUTHOR.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Providential Intervention.--Nature and Providence alike Mysterious.--An Unseen Hand shaping Human Events.--The Author urged to enter the Ministry.--Shrinks from the Responsibility.--Flies to Modern Tarshish.--Heads for Iowa.--Gets Stuck in the Mud.--Smitten by a Northern Gale.--Turns Aside to see the Eldorado.--Finds Himself Face to Face with the Itinerancy.

CHAPTER II.

The Young Itinerant.--In a Lumber Mill at Waupun.--The Surprise.--An Interval of Reflection.--A Graceful Surrender.--The Outfit minus the Horse and Saddlebags.--.Receives Instruction.--The Final Struggle.--Arrives at Brothertown.--Reminiscences of the Red Man.--The Searching Scrutiny.--The Brothertown People.--The Mission.--Rev. Jesse Halstead--Rev. H.W. Frink.

CHAPTER III.

Exhorter in Charge.--The First Sabbath.--The Superb Singing.--Class and Prayer Meetings.--A Revival.--Stockbridge Counted In.--A Remonstrance.--Another Exhorter Found.--Decide to Hold a Great Meeting.--The Loaves and Fishes in the Lad's Basket too Few.--Chief Chicks.--Conversion of a Noted Character.--Quarterly Meeting at Fond du Lac.--Licensed to Preach.--Camp Meeting at Clason's Prairie.--Camp Meeting at Brothertown.--Church Enterprise.--Missionary Merchant.--Logging Bee.--Successive Labors.

CHAPTER IV.

Fond du Lac.--First Sermon.--Early Presiding Elders.--Rev. H.W. Reed.--Rev. James R. Goodrich.--Rev. Jesse Halstead the First Pastor.--Rev. Harvey S. Bronson.--First Class.--Quarterly Meeting.--Delegation from Waupun.--Rev. Wm. H. Sampson.--Extended District.--A Disastrous Fire.--Outside Appointments.--Stowe's Chapel.--Preacher's Home.--Ethiel Humiston.--Byron.--Rev. Joseph T. Lewis.--Rev. M.L. Noble--Rev. H. B. Colman.

CHAPTER V.

Green Lake Mission.--Waupun.--First Class.--Meetings held at Dr. Bowman's.--Revival.--Two Local Preachers.--Short Cut to Ceresco.--Boxing the Compass.--Wisconsin Phalanx.--First Society.--Dining Hall Chapel.--Discussions.--Antiquated Views.--Green Lake.--Shadrach Burdick.--Visit to Dartford.--Little Green Lake.--The New Chorister.--Markesan.--Lake Maria.--Revival.

CHAPTER VI.

Green Lake Mission Continued.--Quarterly Meeting at Oshkosh.--Rev. G.N. Hanson.--Lake Apuckaway.--Lost and Found.--Salt and Potatoes.--Mill Creek.--Rock River.--Rev. J.M.S. Maxson.--Oakfield.--Cold Bath.--Fox Lake.--Gospel vs. Whiskey.--On Time.--Badger Hill.--S.A.L. Davis.--Miller's Mill.--G.W. Sexmith.--Burnett.--William Willard.--Grand River.--David Wood.

CHAPTER VII.

Green Lake Mission Continued.--An Assistant Employed.--Quarterly Meeting at Waupun.--Love Feast.--Forty Miles Ride, and Four Sermons.--A Sermon and its Fruit.--Portage Prairie.--Randolph.--Randolph Centre.--Rolling Prairie,--Cheney's Class.--Brandon.--Rosendale.--Reed's Corners.--Strong's Landing,--A Night in the Openings.--Rev. Uriel Farmin.--Going to Conference.--Madison.--Visit at Platteville.--Bishop Hamline.--Humorous to Grave.--Galena Conference.

CHAPTER VIII.

Appointed to Watertown.--Aztalan the Mother of Circuits.--Divisions and Subdivisions.--Rev. S.H. Stocking.--Watertown.--Church Enterprise.--Sickly Season.--Quarterly Meeting at Burnett.--Rev. A.P. Allen.--Elder Sampson Ties a Knot.--Conference of 1847.--Returned to Watertown.--Financial Pressure.--Opens a School.--The Coat Sermon.

CHAPTER IX.

Waukesha--Old Prairieville Circuit--Changes--Rev. L.F. Moultrie--Rev. Hooper Crews--Rev. J.M. Walker--Rev. Washington Wilcox--Upper and Nether Millstones--Our New Field--Revival--Four Sermons--Platform Missionary Meetings--The Orator--Donning the Eldership--The Collection.

CHAPTER X.

Milwaukee--Early History--First Sermon--Rev. Mark Robinson--First Class--Rev. John Clark--Trustees--Rev. James Ash--Rev. David Worthington--Rev. Julius Field--Rev. John Crummer--First Church--Rev. John T. Mitchell--Rev. Sias Bolles--Lantern Convert--Second Church--Rev. A. Hanson--Rev. Dr. Ryan--John H. Van Dyke--Rev. F.M. Mills--Rev. James E. Wilson--Walker's Point--First Class--Rev. Wm. Willard.

CHAPTER XI.

Spring Street, Milwaukee--First Sabbath--Promising Outlook--The Deep Shadow--Rev. Elihu Springer--Rev. I.M. Leihy--Revival--Missionary Meetings--Dedication at Sheboygan--Ravages of the Cholera--Death-bed Scenes--The Riot--Bishop