History of Union Congregational Church, 1836-1955

182 Pages·1955·28.796 MB·English

by  Ethel Smith Cady

1836 - 1955
By
ETHEL S. CADY
Published by
UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Green Bay, Wisconsin
1955
1955
Independent Printing Company
West De Pere, Wisconsin

-FO R EWORD-
The erection of a beautiful church edifice is always a notable
event. The dedication of our Mayflower Addition is doubly gratifying
coming as it does after one hundred nineteen years of continuous exist
ence, which we have a right to believe is evidence of a permanence
through Divine Favor. The Union Congregational Church officers
have properly felt that a fitting part of the celebrating festivities
ought to be the publication of the story of how our spiritual ancestors
came to this place, organized a congregation, and in the long years
since have labored for its growth.
To the Publications Committee, responsible for selecting someone
to undertake the writing of this History, Ethel S. Cady seemed the
right choice. The Committee wanted one who had been nurtured in
our church, and who would be sensitive and aware of its traditions
and history.
Mrs. Cady was born in Green Bay and here she has lived all her
life. As an infant she was baptized in our church, and just as it has
always been a part of her life, so she has been a part of its life. At the
age of seven she received a Bible from the Church School in which
she was later to teach. She sang in the Choir, served as Church Treas
urer, was a charter member of the Ergonites, a member of the World
Study Guild, the Woman's Society, and is now a member of the Wo
men's Fellowship. She edited the booklet Our Church in which is
told the story of the symbolism in our sanctuary. She is the wife of
the long time moderator of our congregation, Charles R. Cady.
Our church records show that Washington Irving Crandall, the
grandfather of Mrs. Cady, was a trustee as early as the year 1869. Her
mother, Julia Crandall Smith, was a deaconess elected in 1890.
Such family ties to the life of our church help to explain the willingness
of Mrs. Cady to gather and write the historical material presented in
this volume. She has made us all debtors by reminding us of our rich
heritage at the time we celebrate the dedication of our new edifice for
the service and spiritual culture of the present and future generations.
"Our past is our prologue." I commend this interesting history to the
careful study of those who will use and enjoy what dedicated people
have wrought in this place.
MERLING. BusH, MonERATOR
v

-THE CONTENTS-
FOREWORD ------------------------------------------------- v
THE CONTENTS ----------------------------------- vii, viii, ix, x
ILLUSTRATIONS ----------~--------------------------------- xi
MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH ------------------------------ xii
CHAPTER I ------------------------------------------------- 1
The Beginnings - Early Green Bay
Rev. Cutting Marsh
Rev. Moses Ordway 1836 - 1837
Organization meetings 1 - Members 2 - Site of organization
2 - Rev. Cutting Marsh 2 - Original minute book lost 3 -
God's Provide1ice fo1· Forty Years 3 - Description of members
3 - William Mitchell 3 - Loan to Oberlin College 4 - Early
church on Mackinac Island 5 - Total abstinence 5 - First creed
& covenant 6 - Moses Ordway & creed 6 - Probable first creed
6-Probable first covenant 8-Church government 8-Church
& Society 8 - Elders & Trustees 8 - First service 9 - Rev.
Moses Ordway 10 - First building rented 11 - Prayer meet
ings 11 - "Old Yellow School House" 12 - Early Green Bay
12 - Land boom 12 - Astor & Navarino 13.
CHAPTER II - Rev. Stephen Peet 1837 -1839 -----------·------- 14
Mr. Peet called 14 - Founder Beloit College & Union Theolog
ical Seminary 14 - "Plan of Union" 14 - Wisconsin Conven
tion 15 - Trip from Buffalo 15 - Building first church 16
Dedication 17 - Other early churches 17 - Church site 18
Deed for Site 18 - Astor's bell 18 - American Fur Co. 19
Tribute to bell 19 - De Pere sleigh ride 20 - Peet's 575 mile
trip 20 - Reaction after land boom 20.
CHAPTER III Excerpts from a paper delivered before the Green
Bay Ministerial Association April 1, 1935 by W. L.
Evans ------------------------ ------------ _ 21
Character early church 21 - Early trials 21 - Legal procedure
21 - A duel 22 - Importance of church membership 23.
CHAPTER IV - Rev. Jeremiah Porter 1840 - 1858 -· ___________ 24
Daniel Butler reader 24 - Jeremiah Porter 24 - Trip to Green
Bay 25 - Porter home 26 - General Convention here 26 - In
stallation 26 - De Pere Pres. church formed 26 - De Pere
Cong'l church 27 - Home Missionary Society aid 27 - Sperm
candles 27 - First church supper 27 - Building of Astor House
28 - First pipe organ 29 - Women's activities 29 - Slaves in
belfry 29 - Slave girl & Mary Porter 31 - Stories of Mrs. Por
ter 31 - Tribute to Mrs. Porter 32 - Mr. Porter's resignation
33 - District convention here 33 - Porters after Green Bay 33
- Henry & Mary Porter 33 - The Otto Tanks 33 - Porters at
50th anniversary 34 - Bust of Jeremiah Porter 34.
CHAPTER V - Rev. E. B. Chamberlain 1858 - 1859 _ . ____ 35
Trip from Plattsburgh 35 - Red pew cushions 35 - Food
brought Pastor 36 - M. P. Lindsley reader 36.
vii