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OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
1101 Main St.
City of Oconto
|
First Church Built 1863  Sketch from the Centenial Events and Services Booklet -1958  Photo taken 1880 Second Church Built in 1876 Destroyed by fire in 1890 
Photo: Jay Merline Collection
Third Church
Building 1891 |
| Oconto Enterprise June 27, 1919
OCONTO'S FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian church of
Oconto was organized at the home of Mrs. S. A. Turner in the evening of
Nov. 15, 1858. Organization was perfected under the direction of the
Rev. J. A. Donaldson, at that time a member of the American Home Mission
society. Four members joined by letter, Mrs. E. J. Bowen. R. L. Hall,
Mrs. Susan Turner and Mrs. Diantha Farnsworth; on Nov. 25 four others
joined on profession of faith, E. Hart, Mrs. E. J. Hart, Miss Lizzie
Hart and Amos Lawrence, and on the same day R. L. Hall was ordained as
elder.In June, 1859, the church was admitted into the Winnebago district of Presbyterian and Congregation, churches. This joint body of Presbyterian and Congregational churches was dissolved in 1867 and each church formed its own governing body. The Oconto church came under the care of the Lake Superior Presbytery, synod of Wisconsin. In 1888, Lake Superior Presbytery was transferred to Michigan synod and the Oconto church was placed in Winnebago Presbytery. The present membership of the church is 385. The organization. First Presbyterian church of Oconto was perfected under the general laws of Wisconsin on Nov. 28, 1859, and six trustees were chosen to have oversight of the temporal affairs of the church and congregation. On Sept. 22, 1909, at a meeting of the church and congregation, steps were taken looking toward the incorporation of the society under the laws of Wisconsin. J. A. Ramsay, Alfred Klass and A. B. Burdick were instructed to have executed the proper certificate for organization and a committee, consisting of A. B. Burdick, H. W. Landreth and A. G. Fulton appointed to draw up bylaws for the organization. On Oct. 11, 1909, the incorporation was completed and governing bylaws adopted. The temporal affairs of the church are now conducted by a body of seven trustees. The annual meeting of the congregation is held in April at which time all congregational officers are elected and provision made for the current expenses of the church. The annual meeting of the church membership is held in September and at this meeting the elders, of whom there are nine and whose duties are to supervise the spiritual affairs of the church, are elected.
History of Church Buildings
The first meeting place for
public worship was Hart's hall, near the Park avenue bridge, and later
the old courthouse on the south side. Both of these places have been
destroyed by fire.In 1863, the first church building, a frame structure, was erected on the corner of Main and State (now Ellis avenue), streets. It was dedicated during the summer of 1865 by the Rev. H. A. Miner of Menasha. Early in the morning of Jan. 15, 1874, this building was destroyed by fire. The same year, on the same lot, a brick veneered building was erected. This building was dedicated on Nov. 19, 1876. the Rev. George A. Little, under whose pastorate it had been built, preaching the dedicatory sermon. Records show that his text was the last clause of the fifth verse of the seventh chapter of Second Chronicles. During the night of Dec. 22, 1890, this second building was destroyed by fire. A building commiitee was immediately appointed and the present church edifice built of solid brick and stone was rushed to completion and dedicated on the first anniversary of the Fire, on Dec. 22, 1891. The Rev. J. H. Kerr a former pastor of the church, preached the dedicatory sermon. In 1884, a manse was built on the corner of Washington street and Ellis avenue. During the summer of 1912 the Ellis property located at the corner of Congress street and Ellis avenue, was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Holt and given to the church as a site on which to build a church house and gymnasium. Under the able leadership of the Rev. R. J. McLandress, pastor, the building known as the church house was built and equipped at an expense of approximately $12,000. This building was dedicated March 27, 1913. The Rev. James G. K. McClure. president of McCormick Theological seminary, made the dedicatory address.
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The Oconto Herald April 21, 1899
EVERY DOLLAR PAID OFF
The gathering at the First
Presbyterian church on Tuesday night formed an epoch in the history of
that religious body that will long be retained in pleasant memory by the
members of the congregation. The rally, as it is termed, had been
planned to fittingly celebrate the fact that the last dollar of
indebtedness on the beautiful church had been paid. The occasion was one
for mutual congratulation on the part of pastor and people, and a
general air of satisfaction and good feeling was manifested by all
present, who realized that under God's blessing their unremitting
efforts for the erection of a suitable edifice for His worship had been
crowned with success.FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NOW FREE FROM DEBT The Event Celebrated by a Grand Jubilee Rally Interesting Program of Exercises Financial Statement of Buidling Commitee The old church burned down in December, 1890, and at once the congregation set about the erection of another building, having first determined that the new should surpass the old in point of capacity, beauty and convenience, and the result has prove that the object they sought has been abundantly attained. A fortunate circumstance for the congregation was the fact that their pastor, the Rev. Guido Bossard, now of La Crosse, had unbounded confidence in God and the people, and his cheerful words of encouragement when financial affairs looked somewhat dark was a powerful incentive to work, and inspired a confidence in their ability to accomplish great things that subsequent events fully justified. The building committee — W. H. Young, George Beyer, Cyrus S. Hart, O. A. Ellis, W. K. Smith and W. A. Holt — proved to be a discreet selection, and under their wise and harmonious work the finances of the church have been admirably managed, and, by the hearty and earnest co-operation of the Ladies' society, the V. P. S. C. E., and other societies within the church, their efforts have achieved a most gratifying result. On December 22. 1891, the building was completed and appropriately dedicated, though a debt of about $8000 rested on the building. To pay this off the building committee and every member of the congregation has worked indefatigably and intelligently, and now enjoy the fruits of their labor of love. Among those present from outside were the Itev. and Mrs. Anderson of Marinette, and the Rev. and Mrs. Guido Bossard of La Grosse. The program of exercises for the evening-• was as follows: Organ Voluntary..............Mrs. W. K. Wilcox Invocation.........................Rev. Mr. Anderson Anthem—"Wake the song of Jubilee.....Choir Recitation- "Alaska"............Mr. A. T. Frlsby Address.......... Rev. J. Robertson Macartney Address.........................Rev. Guido Bossard Bass solo........................Mr. Ralph Flanders Reading Financial Statement..Mr. W. A. Holt Address............................Rev. Mr. Anderson Doxology..................Choir ami Congregation During the singing of the doxology the lights in the auditorium were turned off and the five thousand dollar note was burned in red fire on a table in the doorway of the east entrance to the church. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Macartney, then announced that refreshments were ready and would be served in the parlor adjoining, whereupon the sliding doors were thrown open and the audience repaired to the refreshment tables. During this part of the program several fine musical numbers were rendered as folows: Organ voluntary by Mrs. W. E. Wilcox, vocal duct by Miss Carrie Thiele and Mr. W. E. Wilcox, instrumental quartet — organ, cello and violins — Mrs. Wilcox, Dr. Stoelting and Rowland and Hugo Stoelting, organ voluntaries by Rev. Mr. Guido Bossard, after which the exercises closed with a benediction by the pastor, Rev. J. Robertson Macartney.
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Green Bay Press-GazetteNovember 14, 1931
MISSION SOCIETY
(Special to Press-Gazette)
OCONTO, Wis.—The golden jubilee of the Women's Missionary society of the
Oconto Presbyterian church was celebrated here last evening in the
Presbyterian church house with an Interesting program.IS 50 YEARS OLD Oconto Missioners Complete Half Century The society was founded here In 1881 and has since been an active department of the congregation. Of the orlglnal charter members fourteen are still living, two of whom still reside in Oconto. These are Mrs. W. K. Smith and Mrs. George Beyer. Others are Mrs. Doctor Allen, Mrs. Ed. Breckenridge, Dunkirk, N. Y.; Mrs.. Lizzie Colman Stanley, Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. C. S. Hart, Venice, Calif.. Mrs. Annie Hume Delano. San Diego. Calif;, Mrs. Flora Page Murphy, Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. Carrie Waters Wilcox, Oak Park, Ill.; Mrs. John Sheridan, Everett, Wash.; Mrs. Fred Jones, Wauwatosa, Wis.; Mrs. Nat Gilkey, Wisconsin Rapids. Wis.; Mrs. Kate Dafter Smith, Rockford, Ill.; Mrs. Emma Matthews Hume, Madison, Nebr. Responses from these were read during the program. Others who have since died were remembered "In Memorium" by Mrs. J. K. MacFarland. Former pastors of the church were also remembered with Mrs. G. H. Armstrong responding for Rev. A. Burdlck, and responses were read from Rev. George Luther, Detour, Mich.; Rev. John H. Kerr, Berkeley, Calif.; Dr. Guido Bossard, Dubuque. Iowa; Dr. J. R. McCartney. Bellingham. Wash.; Rev. R, A. McLandress, Indianapolis. Ind.; Rev. E. W. Wright, Waukesha; Rev. R. A. Garrison. Appleton, with Rev. S. H. Lloyd, present, pastor responding for himself. The program included a song by Miss Ruth Wilcox, a granddaughter of the society's first president: also songs by the Westminster guild quartette, Mrs. Elizabeth Sucharda. Hulda Johnson, Leona Rosenfeldt and Thelma Jarvey. and the Christian Endeavor Juniors. An historical sketch of the society was given by Mrs. W. K. Smith. Mrs. W. A. Holt made the introductory address, the Rev. S. H. Lloyd read the scriptures and gave benediction; the Rev. E. W. Wright offered prayer. Letters were read from absent member, including Mrs. Lillian Reinhart Hansen, Mrs. Frank Messenger, Miss Stella Higglns. Miss Bernice Griffith, Mrs. R. L. Cooley, Miss Elizabeth Hasse, Mrs. F. D. Switzer, Mrs. Nettle Elliott. Among others who assisted in the program were Mrs. Ella Bitters, Mrs. Elizabeth Daily, Mrs. T. V. Revnolds, Mrs. Ina Gallagher, Mrs. Edward Milledfre. Miss Ellen McDonald. Mrs. T. Mathewson. |