THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN POST

March 1, 1917

 

EARLY CHURCH HISTORY

 

FIRST WAUPACA CHURCH BUILT IN 1853 – SERVED AS SUCH FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS.

 

            Rev. S. A. Sheard has handed us data relative to the Methodist church in this city.

            The first building for church purposes in Waupaca was a Methodist church erected in 1853. It was displaced by the present building in 1874 and the frame structure was for many years used for a blacksmith shop and stood on the corner of Badger and Main Streets.

            The first resident pastor was Rev. R. S. Hayward, who was stationed herein 1852-53 and again in 1856, 1857, and 1858.  Rev. Watts was here in 1854.  In 1859 Rev. Lathrup served this charge and in 1860 Rev. C. Smith was pastor.  In 1861 and 1862 Rev. Orbison was located here.  For the two years 1863 and 1864 the pastor was Rev. W. G. Bancroft.  Other pastors have been Rev. J. W. Olmstead, two years; Rev. J. Lavelle, 1867; Rev. J. Anderson, 1868; Rev. W. J. Mitchell, 1870; Rev. G. W. Burtch was pastor in 1871 and 1872; Rev. Moses Alley 1873-1874; Rev. I. S. Leavitt 1875-1876; Rev. W. H. Thompson 1877-1878; Rev. J. W. McCormick 1879-1880; Rev. C. E. Carpenter three years; Rev. D. J. Holmes one year; Rev. Perry Miller five years; Rev. Enoch Perry 1890-1893; Rev. Matt Evans 1894; Rev. S. Jolliffe 1895-96; Rev. J. R. Reynolds four years; Rev. G. W. White three years; Rev. Webster Millar 1904-1910; Rev. L. E. Shanks 1911-1912; Rev. S. A. Sheard 1913-1916.

            The present church edifice was completed in 1874-75, and the dedication was held during the pastorate of Rev. Moses Alley.  The following year 1876, the annual conference was held in Waupaca with Bishop Bowman presiding.  The church was remodeled during 1913 and during the pastorate of Rev. Sheard all of the time of the pastor is devoted to this one church.  The membership is 309 resident and 50 non-resident members.  The church now contributes in benevolences each year half as much as was given to this cause during the first fifty years of its existence.  The Epworth League has 50 members, the Sunday School in all its departments 399 members.  The Ladies’ Aid numbers about 150.