Memories of old Angelica

87 Pages·1976·12.509 MB·English

by  Jennie McGillivray, Matie Martin

MEMORiESOf
Olb ANGELiCA -
MRS. RICHARD McGILLIVRAY
MRS. EMIL (Matie) BERNDT

FORWARD
1871
to
1976
A bried history of the Angelica United Methodist Church
by
"Aunt Jennie" McGillivray, the late Mrs. Richard McGillivray.
and the
History of Angelica "Memories of Old Angelica"
by
Matie Martin Berndt
Which I dedi~te to my parents, Julius and Anna Martin, who lived in Angelica
all their married life. This history was made possible only with the help of my
many friends, and I wish to express my thanks to all who in any way helped me,
expecially to all who shared their priceless old photographs and their memories
or gave information in any way to make this story interesting and to all our patron
sponsors for their generous contributions.
I wish to thank the late Elmer Zernicke, Harry Hoeffs and Henry Dirks for
their history on the town of Zachow, and to the Rev. Constantine Klukowski
O.P.M. of Pulaski for the history on Krakow.
Also the late Rev. Edson Allen because of my limited education encouraged
me to keep a memo on events and to read everything and to learn to seperate the
chaff from the wheat, this advise I well remembered.
All proceeds from this book will be given to the treasurer of the Angelica
United Methodi'st Women's Society and the Hillside Cemetery Association.
HISTORY OF THE ANGELICA METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
"Time, like an ever-rolling stream bears all its sons away," but they live again
in the lives of those who follow them and the records they leave. The records of
the early history of the church have been lost or destroyed by fire and much of
this material has been gathered from those who have heard or remember of the
early days.
Altho it was some 86 years ago since the first Methodist services were held in
the Angelica Methodist Church, there had been a strong congregation built up
years before that. It was first known by the name, "The First Congregational
Church of Angelica".
Before the year 1875 when the first church was built the Menominee Indians
and pioneer families around Angelica who wished to worship God met in a log ca
bin school house about a hundred rods north of the old Angelica school building.
In 1871 the Peshtigo fire detsroyed the log school forcing the settlers to flee for
their lives. Very shortly after word the lumber mills moved into Angelica to manu
facture the burnt over timber into lumber. A frame school house was built on the
site of the old one and it also served as a church.
The first known minister to preach to the mill hands and owners was Rev.
Dulap "A Howling Weslyan Methodist". He rode on horseback from Waupaca to
reach the service. He was one of a group of circuit riders who travelled miles in
the early days to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people. In 1872 the first
wedding ceremony was performed by him. Some of the other circuit riders were
Rev. Kimbal, Rev. Lavien, Rev Walker. Rev. Crosby, Rev. Eanta and Rev. Rowbo
tharr. who was the grandfather of Earl Allen who is now a very gifted and pro
minent pastor in the Milwaukee area.
In 1875 a group of women Mrs. Kellog, Mrs. McClaren and Mrs. Button led by
Mrs. William Upham organized the First Congregational Church of Angelica.
Mrs. Upham held a degree of M.D. and helped the minister to the physical as well
as sojritual need of the congergation. Expecially after the sawmil I explosion which
killed and injured several. Later when she moved to Marshfield, her husband, who
had· returned to Racine from Civil war after his funeral service had been performed
when he was thought killed. was elected governor of Wisconsin (1M5) and she
was for years 1st lady of the State. The organizers set the men to work with the
lumber furnished by Mr. Upham, who mill was located in the region of John L.
Johnson's farm, building the first church which stood on the spot of the present
one until it was destroyed by fire in 1921. It was 26X40 and almost 20 feet high.
A small parsonage was also built on the spot of the old 4-room shanty.
Regular preaching services were held by outside Congregational and Metho
dist ministers until, in 1887, J. P. Davis was the last of the Congregational de
nomination to preach .. In the winter of 1876 the first known wedding was per
formed in the newly erected church between Merrill Whieler and Cora Kelly of
Racine. Robert Upham of Shawano, nephew of the church founder attended that
ceremony. The pulpit bible still being used in the regular service was presented to
the Congregational church in that year by Mrs. A. C. Sanford, in 1881 the first
known baptism held was for Frank Stronach, performed by Rev. Walker of Sua
mico.
When the burned timber·was used up, the mills moved to Marshfield taking with
them many church workers including the Uphams.
Farmers started to move into the vicinity. A great many otthem from Canada,
among them the Blacks, McMillans, Thompsons, Wilsons, Ainsworths and Magees.
The Lutseys came from Pennsylvania. The Louis Johnson family were early set
tlers here also.
The McGillivray family came to Laney in 1876 from Canada. They were iden·
tified with the Rose Lawn Methodist Church for many years. They came to the
Angelica Church about 1909.
Pulaski was the only swamp land at this timE:. The mail was distributed from
small post office at Laney and Angelica and the mail was carried from Green Bay
by stage coach. There was no railway service so passengers travelled by stage coarch.
These trips were often exciting because of occasional hold ups and snow blocked
roads.
In 1887 the Methodist Conference received the Angelica Church into the
Conference-Appleton District. At that time there were five districts, Appleton,
Fon Du Lac, Janesville, Milwaukee and Oshkosh. The number of districts made
it easier for the Presiding Elder to reach the outlying churches. They travelled by
horse back or top buggy. Often over roads that were fairly impassable-corduroy
roads were common. These were made by placing logs side by side. Thes..: roads
were very rough and bumpy.
In October 1887 Bishop Charles M. Fowler sent the first permanent minister to
Angelica. He was O.C. Christian, a supply pastor. The presidin9, elder was T. D.
Cole. Today we would call him a District Superintendent. Mill Center Church
was put on the circuit with Angelica to be served by a succession of pastors.
Rose Lawn and Suamico were also added to the Charge.
Some of the early families prominent in the Angelica Church in the late 1800's
were the James Magees, James McKennas, John Blacks, Thompsons, Alexander
Stronach, Jacob Erb, Louis Johnson, William Ainsworth, William Stanton, Thomas
Lutsey, Hans Peterson and Julius Martin.
There were no church funerals in those days. The funerals were held in the
homes and often people were buried on thier own farms.
Vehicles were scarce, so large wagons or sleds would pick up the people along
the way and take them to church or to an ice cream social or a sugaring off party.
Ice Cream was a great treat and was made by handturning. This turning was done
usually by the men folk, but often a teenager would work for hours just for the
promise of a large dish of this delicacy free of charge. The sugaring party too was
the climax of the maple syrup season. These events gave the settlers a chance for
fellowship. The Christmas program and tree at the church was something sepcial.
Here the people brought all their gifts and shared them around the tree. Thus,
the wonderful spirit of sharing and good will were born which still exists in this
church.
In a report to Conference in 1888, Rev. 0. C. Christian reported that in the
two charges, Angelica and Rose Lawn he received a salary of $581. Five hundred
was all he was due to receive so he paid the extra money to church extension and
Sunday School Union, which was called missions at the time.
In 1890 a Canadian, by the name of Rev. Thomas Austin was sent to Angelica.
He preached one year and Rev. Samuel Olson took his place in 1891.
At that time there was only one saloon in Angelica and that was directly across
from the church. That year the town went dry. Under the influence of the Meth·
odist women, led by Mrs. Upham a temperance league was formed. A hall was
built where no alcoholic beverages could be sold.
In 1891 the trustees received a deed for two acres of land, where the church
and the parsonage now stand. The parking lot between the church and the par:
sonage was presented to us by Mrs. Julius Martin in about 1934. This lot had
been an eye sore. It was graded and graveled and developed into an adequate
parking lot and has added greatly to the appearance of the church property.
The Flintville, Rose Lawn, Mill Center, Abrams-Chase and Advance Churches
have through the years been part of the Angelica circuit. The pastor travelled
from church to church often with horse and buggy no matter how muddy the
roads or how cold the weather. Ministers followed Samule Olson in rapid suc
cession from 1891 to 1896.
In 1895 the church sent Anna Frazier to Milwaukee to become a Deaconess.
She later founded a school for orpahn girls at Howard City, Michigan. Miss Frazier
still has relatives in our church.
In 1895 Rev. E. D. Upson became pastor of the church. On his bicycle he
covered the charge, which consisted of Angelica and Rose Lawn.
On the departure of Rev. Upson, Rev. 0. W. Smith became pastor and stayed
until 1903. He was an author of some note, especially in the line of outdoor life,
and conservation. The prese·nt parsonage was planned and built by him in 1900.
Rev. Chas H. Jacquith followed. He served the charge until 1905 and was re
placed by Wm. Moyle who stayed until 1910. When Rev. Geo. Tennant took over
the work. He as those before him travelled to Rose Lawn, Advance and Mill Cen
ter by horse and rig besides doing the work at Angelica. It is no wonder then, that
some of the ministers were found tc be very sharp in a horse trade. Those were the
days when oats, hay and straw were a substantial part of the minister's salary, and
somP. of the families ciid most of theri paying that way.
Rev. Geo. Goodrick came in 1912 but was transferred to the Minnesota Con-
ference in 1914. In the fall of 1914, Rev. I. W. Spitzer, was called to be pastor of
the church. He had spent many years as a slum worker in Chicago. His health was
poor and shortly after he ahd his wife passed away and are buried in the Angelica
Hillside Cemetery. After his death the Suamico Church was removed from the
charge.
In 1917 Rev. Edson Allen came to.us from Abrams. Their possessions were
moved by horses and wagons. Mr. Tom Lutsey and Mr. Richard McGillivray made
the trip. The Allen's stayed until 1923. Earl Allen was a boy in our midst. The
Allen's were exceptional people. Their Christian influence was felt throughout
the community.
On Uct. 21, 1921 a high wind blew sparks from a burning cheese factory across
the road, ingiting the church. it burned to the ground. Rev. and Mrs. Allen saved
many articles of value from the church including the large pulpit Bible, the organ
and some chairs. Plans for a new church were started immediately. Meanwhile
church and Sunday School were held in Woodman Hall across the street. The new
church costing $3,000.00 was erected and dedicated on Aug. 29, 1922. We are in
debted to FonduLac's Division Street Church for the gift of pews, pulpit and
organ. They having built or remodelled thier church no longer needed them. We
still use our pulpit and pews. The organ is used for Bible School. It is now an
antique, but still has a beautiful tone which we all love to hear occasionally.
Dr. Bellin, Green Bay and Mrs. Albert Fischer of Appleton attended the dedi
cation and were very generous in their gifts of money to help reduce the debt on
the new church.
The Allens' used a horse and buggy when they were with us. They served An
gelica, Advance and Rose Lawns charges. It became a very pleasant sight indeed,
when we saw the "Allens" coming to call. There was much entertaining at the
parsonage too, during these years. Earl completed high school while they were
serving Angelica. The family moved to Wittenberg and Earl went on to Indiana
to school. The era of cars was here. The Allen's bought a new car. Angelica raised
the minister's salary to the munificent sum of 8550.00 per year.
Rev. J. R. Shaw, who was a former slumworker in Chicago, came in 1923.
He served the longest pastorate here of any pastor to date. He was with us nine
years, and while he was here Mrs. Shaw died. Many of us still remember his pray
ers, his sermons, and his favorite songs. one being number four in our Hymnal. His
health gradually failed and he served only one church after leavfng Angelica. After
he retired he went to live with his daughter and her family in Hortonville. He
passed away after an accident near New London. He and Mrs. Shaw are buried
in the Hortonville Cemetry.
In 1928 the first confirmation class was held by Rev. Shavv under the influence
of Mrs. Paul Bernetzke who was Supt. of the Sunday School. There were ten mem
bers, Margaret and Luella Ainsworth, Anna, Wilfred & Winnefred McGiHivray,
Marvin and Margaret Johnson, PaLil and Theodore and Hazel Bernetzke.
Following Rev. Shaw we enjoyed a year of leadership by Robert Homiston,a
student at Lawrence College, Appleton. He later became a Chaplain in the U. S.
Army. He has travelled extensively and worked his way up but when he came back
to us later for a lenten service at the invitation of Rev. Fred Logan; he was the same
humble, friendly and wholesome "fellow", we knew in 1933.
In 1933 John Ellis and his family came to serve our church. They stayed until
. 1936. It was during their stay with us that the Eliza Phillips bell was obtained
from the Stockbridge Methodist Church. This bell was molded in an unusual
manner. To obtain a tone of singular quality, various bits of Jewelry were donated
by members of the Stockbridge Church to be used in the casting of the bell. How
ever the Stockbridge Church was later torn down. Through the efforts of our
District Superintendent, Dr. Chas Tippet the bell was donated to the Angelica
Church. Our church as it stood then was found to be unasfe to support the bell,
so it was stored at the Richard McGilllvray farm until the structure could be
provided with a cupale to house the bell.
Rev. Ellis a;id family left us in 1936. He retired and moved to Frankville near
Racine.
In 1936 Wesley Perschbacher of West Bend, a student at Lawrence College
came to us full of enthusiasm and ambition and sensing our great need of leader
ship leterally "Pitched in", to bring about some results. We had 57 members and
the first time we were a charge by ourselves. The Advance Church was pleased with
the Shawano charge.
Our building was inconvient in many ways. The basement was little more than
a hole in the ground in which a furnace was placed. Often, the janiter, Mr.
Adolph Martin had to wear boots and wade to the furnace to build the fire.
The heat came into the church through a large register in the middle aisle. The
furnace often smoked and it was very unpleasant.
At this time we had about 55-60 pupils in the Sunday School. All the classes
were in one room and a little store room in front of the church.
Ways and means of .remodelling were discussed and after several meetings they
decided to raise the church and put a foundation under it. The entry was changed
from the front of the church to the side and instead of the steep cement outside
steps, which were often icy and dangerous in the winter time, we were new pro
vided with entry into the basement as well.
A roomy basement was built with a snug dry furnace room, a fellowship hall and
a kitchen. This provided additional room for Sunday School Classes and a dining
room and kitchen for serving meals.
The Eliza Phillips bell was hung in the new belfry.
The men of the church provided much of the work of the remodeling, this
included Rev. Perschbacker who wheeled many barrow loads of cement for the
basement walls and floor. He wa~ slight of stature and his fellow workers marvelled
at his energy and strength. The cost of remodelling was about $3,000.00 and our
church was rededicated Nov. 7, 1937.
Now we had a church more suited to our needs in addition to the convenient
basement we had a roomy, nicely decorated sanctuary of which we were very
proud. Our debt was soon paid off. Rev. Ira Schaugenhauf was our District
Superintendent.
During Rev. Perschbacher's stay with us he conducted funerals for four of
our very active members. Mrs. Julius Martin died in 1937. She was a long time
worker in the church. She did so many kind and gracious things for other people
that they could not all be accounted for. She was the President of the Ladies Aid
for 27 years. As stated before in our history she gave us our present parking lot. Her
children and grandchildren still work in our church.
In 1939 three men of our church passed away. Wilbur Stronach in May, Ri
chard McGillivray in July and Roy Lutsey in August.
In the fall of 1939 Rev. Perschbacher was moved and another Lawrence College
student took his place in our church. Charles Koerble who had been preaching in
Suamico and Mill Center took over our church. Later the Mill Center Church was
discontinued. He was here until Conference 1941.
In 1941 Rev. John L. Nenzsner, a widower, was sent as our pastor. He was a
German Methodist and spoke with an accent.
In 1941-43 due to the shortage of ministers we were not assigned a regular
pastor after conference. We had Rev. Menzener, Dr. Thomas Kepler and student
Theodore Runyen to fill our pulpit.
In 1943 we were put on the Seymour, Black Creek circuit. We were served by
pastors Rev. Milton Feldt, and Rev. Joseph E. Cheek. This was not a happy ar
rangement. The ministers were overworked and there could not be a very satis
factory schedule of time worked out. Both these men were hard workers and did
good work of us and the conference.
While Rev. Milton Feldt was our paster our Ladies Aid became a Woman's
Society of Christian Service in 1945, and since that time has been very active in
work tor others, such as missions and church improvement. In olden days the
Ladies Aid would meet from house to house making quilts, sewing carpet rags, etc.
LunCh was served, the women paid 10 cents for their lunches and the men 5 cents.
Too large a menu called for a fine on the hostess.
In 1948 we were again assigned to our own minister. This time a young man and
his wife and small son, James C. Christianson, Louis and P.J. He was a student at
Lawrence College.
By this time the church building again needed attention. The plaster in the
sanctuary was starting to chip and the church in general started to look shabby.
Under the leadership of Rev. Christenson, the work of redecorating of the
sanctuary was begun. The walls and ceiling were covered with a plasterboard, the
woodwork was stained and the floors sanded and varnished. Shortly after this was
all completed, a bad storm, with heavy winds from the west, blew the large chim
ney down on the roof, causing it to cave in. When we came to church on Sunday
morning bricks and plaster covered the pews and floor. Church had to be held in
the basement until a new chimney was built. Rev. Christenson was here from
1946 to 1950. He graduated from Lawrence College in 1950.
In the fall of 1950 a young man and his wife from Illinois came to help in our
church. Kenneth Winters and his wife Jane. He had much preparation to make in
completing his formal education. He completed his high school training while
they were here. The Bi'shop moved them to Mayville from here and he was closer
to Oshkosh Normal and Garrett.
Rev. John Hoffmann, a retired minister and his wife were here during the year
1951-52.
Rev. Harold White, his wife Mary and son Haran came in 1952. Harold's
health failed during his first year so that he could not complete his course at
Garrett. He was forced to leave the ministry because of his health.
An unmarried student Fred G. Logan of Milwaukee was sent ro u~ in 1953.
We were privilaged to have him with us for five years. After his ordination in 1957
he went into the Chaplaincy of the U. S. Army Serving overseas and in the
states. During his pastorate here he was married. He did many things to help us
in our church and especially in our church school, which was usually out of funds.
Our card sales, former ice cream socials and annual fellowship dinners were
started. The fellowship dinner was first started as a Christmas Party for Church
families and later changed to a Family Thanksgiving Festival and reception for the
Pastor.
When Fred Logan Left us in 1957, a young man, James Collins from Wauwau
tosa, another student from Garrett took over the Pastorate of the Angelica and
Advance Churches. It was quite a change for him to come from the largest church
in the conference to two of the smallest ones. it was hard for him to adjust him·
self to our problems and many could not adjust to him. He stayed a year and four
months leaving us in October 1958.
After he was gone we were supplied by Lay Leaders such as Kelly Churchill,
Gerald Krueger, W. A. McGillivray, Russell O'Hara and Joe Tharie.
Rev. Carl E. Hagen took over the Christmas Sunday Service in 1958 a11d .in
March 1959 became our regular pastor. He served our charge in conjunction with
his work as field secretary at Bellin Memorial Hospital, Green Bay until May 1975.
At this time he received his retirement from the conference after serving a tenure
of forty years in the ministry.
During Rev. and Mrs. (Mayme) Hagen's stay with us, the church observed its
seventy-fifth anniversary in November of 1962 with the district superintendent.
Rev. L. Clarence Kelley as guest speaker and a dinner served to two hundred
fifty guest by the Woman's Society of Christian Service. Rev. Edwin Phillips, re
tired Congregation minister of Green Bay, was a most welcomed guest pastor
when Rev. Hagen had other commitments.
Rev. Alfred Attwood, from the West Wisconsin Confernence was appointed to
our charge. He became illl a couple weeks before he moved into the parsonage and
after his arrival, his health failed and he passed away in August.
From June 1 to October 1, 1965 our charge was served by lay speakers of the
Green Bay District. After several meetings with Rev. Kelley, the district superin·
tendent, the decision was made to seperate the .churches and each join with a lar·
ger parish.
On October 1, 1965 our church became known as the Oneida, Angelica Charge
and Advance became associated with Oconto Falls and Lena. Rev. Fred Thomas,
a native of Beloit and an ordained minister, was serving the Oneida Church and
now became our new pastor.
Rev. Thomas had been a short term missionary to Uruguay following his college
graduation. Upon completion of his service there, he married Ilda Centeria a Ura·
guayan girl, who was doing church work in her country. In addition to servi)lg
their appointed churches and raising three children, they tell the mission story
whenever called upon throughout the conference.
Mrs. Richard McGillivray, affectionately known as "Aunt Jennie" has put
together the foregoing pages of our church history to which we are greatly in·
debted to her for her time and effort. She is one of the pillars in the church and
her retirement in September of 1965 as church school superintendent left our
church school with a record of her fine leadership for 27 y,ears. She is dearly loved
by all and will be remembered for her teachings and leadership. Many children
have been enrolled in church school and have been confirmed in the faith of God
under her teachings.
This is th!! story of our church. We like Paul of old are debter both to the
Greek and non Greek, Barbarians "both to the wise and the unwise". Romans
1: 14. Many devout Christians have been and are still working in this church. It
would be wonderful if we could compile a complete list of these to whom we owe
so much, but in so compoling we may not have the list complete and that would
make us sad.
It was Rev. & Mrs. Fred Thomas' desire to serve chtJrches in South America.
On June 1, 1967, they and their three children, Eddy, Andy and Sonya went to
Cocbabamba, Bolivia. They stayed five years in S. A. and then returned to Wis.
to continue their Ministry.
Rev. Eldon Riggs, his wife Kay and daughters Ruth Ann, & Beth moved into the
parsonage at Oneida June 1, 1967 from Evansville, Wis. to serve our churches until
June 1, 1973. Their oldest daughter Sharon remainec:I. in Evansville for a while
at her job as a beautician but later in the year moved to Green Bay.
In April, 1969, Mrs. Richard (Aunt Jennie) McGillivray passed away. Her
many years of faithful service in the church will be long remembered by all.
In the summer of 1969 an addition was built on the East end of the church
that included ladies and mens rest rooms and an extension of the kitchen. Besides
congregation contributions, other gift donations of $1,000 each was received from
Thomas Lutsey, Green Bay; the Conference Baord of Missions of the Methodist
Church; $1000 each from Glen Olson and Gordon Sorenson of Gillett Canning
Co.; and $1200 from Charles McGillivray of Menominee Falls, Wis.
The Rev. Reed Logan, who left our church in June 1957 to enter the armed
forces as a Chaplain serving until 1971 when he was killed in a car accident. A con·
temporary worship center was placed in his memory in the sanctuary of the
church.
In May 1971 Ruth Ann Riggs and Kenneth Voelz of our church were married
in the Oneida Methodist church with Rev. C. E. Hogen and Rev. E. Riggs pre·
forming the ceremony.
In 1972 a gift of $500.00 received from the estate of Mrs. King Weeman of