FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MANITOWOC

Among the churches in Manitowoc the First Presbyterian has always been prominent. The history of the organization dates hack to June 26, 1851 on which day the church was founded at the home of Frederick Borcherdt in the village of Manitowoc Rapids. The instigating spirit in the movement was Rev. William Herritt, who was sent to the county as a home missionary in August 1850. Rev. Herritt was a graduate of Lane Seminary and had been licensed to preach a year before entering on his duties at Manitowoc. His first efforts were at Two Rivers, where he established a Congregational Church the following January but later he broadened his work so that the Rapids organization assumed life. The charter members were F. Borcherdt, Mrs. Wilhelmina Borcherdt, James and Isabella Patterson, Mrs. S.D. Herritt, M.E. Hall, Margaret Allen, Abigail Sherman, J.S. Reed, E.A. Sherman, D.M. Thomas, Moses Tufts and Misses Eliza and H.A. Tufts.

For a little over two years Rev. Herritt had charge, making a circuit of over twenty miles each Sabbath on foot at first, although later he purchased a horse. Mrs. Herritt, who was an educated woman, later wrote a book containing the family’s experience in Wisconsin entitled “A Keepsake,” which contained many interesting facts concerning their life in the county.

The Herrits removed in 1853, the husband dying at Quincy, Ill., January 19, 1867, being survived for many years by his wife, who made her home in Kansas City. In 1852 the church was removed to Manitowoc and in the same year the Milwaukee Presbytery met in the latter village. The church was connected with that body from the beginning.

After meeting in the schoolhouse for some time it was decided that a church should be built. It was on the 30th of March 1854, at a meeting presided over by Frederick Borcherdt, that the matter was definitely settled. Five trustees, since the organization perfected by Rev. Herritt had fallen into desuetude, were then chosen as follows:—Louis Sherman, James Patterson, Frederick Borcherdt, Hanson Rand and George Reed. In July 16, 1855 a contract was entered into by which arrangements were made for the construction of a building at the corner of North Ninth and Chicago streets. and it was not long before it was completed at a cost of $490, being known as “The Tabernacle.” The efforts of the Enterprise Ladies Society of the church provided furnishings for the new house of worship at a cost of $100 and the structure was duly dedicated in November. In May Rev. Mead Holmes had been engaged at a salary of $600 a year and he entered upon his duties soon after. An energetic worker he soon had the little congregation in a flourishing condition. He paid particular attention to the Sunday school, later in life being a leader in this line and this important feature of church life was added in the same year.

After four years of ministry at Manitowoc, Rev. Holmes resigned and was succeeded by Rev. M.C. Stanley, who had been in Wisconsin since 1856 and who had been for some time pastor of the Congregational church at Two Rivers. Rev. Holmes continued to reside at Manitowoc a number of years as a religious worker and writer, among his works being a volume entitled “A Soldier of the Cumberland,” descriptive of his son’s experiences in the war. Later the family moved to Rockford, Ill. where the venerable clergyman still resides. Rev. Stanley was a man of great integrity and strong principle, a sturdy advocate of liberty before the war, attracting much attention in the village by his sermons against slavery.

Early in 1860 he removed to Milwaukee and was succeeded by Rev. John H. Dillingham, formerly of New York. Three years later he was, in turn, followed by Rev. A.G. Beebe, who served the congregation ably until 1865 when Rev. W.J. Stoutenberg assumed charge. In 1868 upon his removal to Michigan a new era was inaugarated by the calling of Rev. C.B. Stevens of Hancock, Mich. An energetic and yet practical leader he decided that the church should immediately seek better and more commodious quarters, giving largely of his own means to see that end consummated.

In January a lot at the corner of North Eighth and State streets was purchased from Hiram McAllister for a consideration of $1500 and two years later the construction of the building began. In the meantime the church had increased in membership and the Sunday school under the charge of 0.R. Bacon reached a high standard. The cornerstone of the First Church as it was called was laid on June 21, 1870 with solemn ceremonies. A parade, in which the Odd Fellows, Masons, Sons of Hermann and musical societies participated, was formed and when the site was reached President Louis Sherman opened the service. Songs, prayers and the reading of a text by Rev. Wilson of Two Rivers followed; then B.B. Treat of the building committee read the figures giving the cost and dimensions of the structure and a brief response was made by J.D. Markham, representing the trustees. The stone was then duly laid, taps of the trowel being administered by Mayor Peter Johnston, Rev. Stevens, Rev. Knox of the M.B. Church, Rev. Windemuth of the German Reformed and H.A. Raine of the Masons.

In 1872 the structure, completed at the cost of $20,000 was ready for occupancy and for five years Rev. Stevens had the pleasure of preaching in the edifice, which his efforts had made possible. Then, in 1877 he resigned, being succeeded for three years by Rev. W.F. Cellars. In 1880 a call was extended to Rev. J.M. Craig, a very able and eloquent clergyman of Scotch descent, liberal in opinions and learned in the classics. During the next six years the church enjoyed great prosperity and it was with genuine regret that his flock received his resignation in July 1886, in order that he might accept a call to Holyoke, Mass.

After a few months interim the congregation called Rev. Guido Bossard, then a young man fresh from theological studies, whose scholarly attainments soon gained him general respect. He was ordained February 7, 1887 and remained until September 1890 when he left for Oconto, later establishing himself at La Crosse. In 1889 the Milwaukee Presbytery again met at Manitowoc. At this time the elders of the church were E.K. Rand, H.F. Hubbard and W. Thombs, L.M. Sherman succeeding the last named later and C.F. Smalley being added in 1892. Rev. 0.H. Chapin of Delevan was called in 1890 and was a most popular pastor during his four years of service. In November 1895 he resigned to accept a call to a Milwaukee church, his successor being Rev. Emmet Rankin, who served from February 1896 to July 1899. Rev. Rankin was born in Paoli, Kansas in 1869 and graduated at the age of twenty from Parks College, Kansas City, later doing most graduate work at Princeton, besides pursuing theological studies at the McCormick Seminary in Chicago. Three years after leaving Manitowoc he resigned from the ministry to assume the editorial chair of a leading agricultural paper.

The next pastor was Rev. Walter Johnston, who came from Ironwood, Mich., a man of great eloquence and power. His ministry, however, was short as he accepted a call from Logansport, Indiana. His successor, the present pastor, Rev. D.C. Jones assumed his duties in April 1901. The church is largely attended and maintains a Sunday school. A society of Christian Endeavor was organized in 1887 and for many years it has led a successful existence, the convention of the Winnebago district being held in the city in March 1898. A Junior Endeavor is also an adjunct to the church as are also a ladies society and a young womans’ guild. Extensive improvements to the church edifice were made during the winter of 1902, and the Presbytery met there in the spring of 1903.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF EATON

On November 26, 1858 the First Presbyterian church of Eaton was organized, trustees being elected as follows:—J.M. Curtiss, J. Mott, G. Monroe, E.A. Brown and J. Tyler. This continued in existence for some time but during the war interest lagged and the services became infrequent.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CATO

In 1869 a Presbyterian church was established at Cato, the elders being S.D. Robinson, later succeeded by R. McNutt, N. Darling, D. Robinson and 0. Davis. No regular pastor served the church until 1893 when Rev. A. Rederus was called from Sioux City, Iowa. On May 19th two years later he revived the Eaton church at Niles, M. Johnson and W. Tyler being chosen elders. He continued to minister at both places until 1898 when he resigned, since which time the pulpits have been vacant.

HOPE BOHEMAIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF MELNIK

The Hope Bohemian Presbyterian Church was started at Melnik in 1892 by Rev. Joseph Balcar, who was ordained at Manitowoc, but he left after two years service for Ely, Iowa, being succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. F.T. Bastel. Occasional Presbyterian services in that language are held in Manitowoc also.