Chapter 4
Worshipping God
Part # 2: The Wesleyan Methodist Church


The Wesleyan Methodist church was organized in Valton in 1873. A record book giving the chapter members was in my possession when I was secretary of the church about 1921. But this valuable book has since disappeared. The oldest of perhaps the first members at Valton may have been Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, Mr. and Mrs. Chammess, and Mr. and Mrs. Hans Thompson and Rueban Bunker.

It might be of interest to Wesleyans and other to know about the early history in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin conference of the Wesleyan Church was started in 1844 when it was a part of the Iowa conference. The conference met at Village Point, Iowa in 1845. No Delegates came from Wisconsin although it was larger than the Iowa group. Because of the difficulty in getting together, the Wisconsin delegates decided to meet at Paririeville, Wisconsin in October of 1945. It was this year the Wisconsin conference became separate from Iowa.

In 1848 the Wisconsin conference had 8 ministers and 10 licentiates. There were 268 members. The conference was divided for eight years after 1860,. All the territory west of Wisconsin rapids was then known as the West Wisconsin conference. The two conferences united again in 1868. Their conference was held at Lindina, 4 miles South of Mauston. Those who know about the founding of Wesleyan Methodism in the U. S., tells us that the connectional Church was formed from the Methodist Episcopal Church in the South when slavery was a hot issue. The church was formed by people who could not agree that slavery was right or necessary. This issue held the Church together till after the Civil War. When slavery ceased to be an issue any longer many lost interest in the Church and left to join other Churches. This movement caused the Wesleyan Church much damage in WI. It was many years before the conference again reached the same membership that it had before the Civil War.(The following was taken from a history of Wesleyan Methodism around 1902.)

In 1902, Rev. O. S. Warner was president of the WI. conference. There were 6 preachers, 5 licentiates and 10 Churches with a total membership of 262.

The Wesleyan Church was organized at Valton about 1878. One Wesleyan from Indiana, Josephus Good, came in the 1860's, but not finding there. He joined the United Brethren Church and became the District Superintendent or Presiding Elder as they called it. The first members and their families had no meeting house to worship in for many years, so they used the U. B. Church that was built in 1880. They also supported the Union Sunday School in which they shared everything with the U. B.'s.

The author has the records made by the Sunday School secretary of this Union Sunday School. The book was started in Jan. 1904 and competed July 8, 1906. Some interesting things will be brought out that were observed in this record. The first Sunday there were four teachers present and 39 at Sunday School. They had $ .71 in the offering. But two weeks later the record showed two teachers and 15 scholars present. The offering was only $ .08.

Some unusual facts were revealed as I studied this book. On two Sundays only one teacher was present, one time no teachers came. The most or maximum number of teachers present were five. The total attendance ranged from 13 to 66 scholars. The lowest offering ever reported was $ .05 and the highest $ .85. Only 13 were present on the Sunday that the offering was $ .05. One Sunday when 66 were present there was only $ .33 in the offering.

A record of verses given in each class started Jan. 31, 1904. This custom of giving verses was still in vogue when I was a boy. The Superintendent of the Sunday School would go from class to class asking them to stand and give a verse of the Bible. "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine" was once given. When I was in primary class and was asked to give a verse, I was caught with my mouth full of graham crackers that mother had given me to keep me satisfied. When the teacher asked me to give the verse and the whole school was looking my way I had to say, " I guess I got my mouth full", anyway that was one way of getting out of the verse that I can remember.

According to the notes in the record book referred to above, the Superintendent appointed the following delegates to attend a convention at Hillsboro: Enos Hutchens, Bessie Huffman, H. W. Brown, Nettie Stuck and Ida Murdock.

The election of officers, March 27,1904, Supernatant Anna Hutchens, Assistant Anna Lyons, Sec. H. W. Brown, Treas. Anna Lyons, Teachers: Class 1 Nettie Stuck, Class 2 Winnie Mortimer, Class 3 Anna Lyons, Class 4 Thomas Stuck, Class 5 Bessie Huffman.

The fifth class was started on April 7, 1904. Another election of officers was held June 19, 1904. Anna Lyons started giving chalk talks and this became a usual thing or feature on the program every Sunday.

The following names were often mentioned in the Secretary's Book in one way or another such as quoting verses, leading in prayer, being a teacher and etc. Father Lyons, Sister Lewis, Nettie Stuck, Thomas Stuck, Winnie Mortimer, Rev. Warner, Mr. Thompson, Jessie Frazier, Leo Frazier, Wilber Stuck, Amasa Shore, Ray Gibbons, Wallace Lee, Iva Shore, Albert Ginter, Roolie Mortimer, Percy Peterson, Marvin Peterson, Lester Stuck, Joe Mayo, Myrtle Shore, Rhoda Mortimer, Bro. Bunker, Mr. White, Albert Shore, Mr. Chamness, Sam Mortimer, Salina Mortimer, and Charley Lyons. Father Lyons was called on to lead in prayer most of the time. The favorite song was " Heavenly Sunshine."

While the above records were being made, the church was going through a change. The members of the U. B. group that had built a church, was now reduced to six members. In 1905, when Rev. O. S. Warner was pastor of the Wesleyans, the presiding Elder of the U. B. 's wrote bro. Warner that they would be willing to sell the church. The Wesleyans didn't wish to pay all that the church was worth because they had helped with their money and labor when the church was repaired and perhaps also when it was built. The Wesleyans did not take up the offer of the District Elder, so a day was set aside for a public auction. Rueban Bunker was there with authority to buy the Church for the Wesleyans, but few if any, in the crowed knew about it. The auctioneer stood on the steps with the crowd packed around him. Some of the Church peoples were fearful that the Church might go to someone who would use it for secular purposes. The bidding was over in less time than it would take to tell and Rueban Bunker got it for $ 300.00. He paid the money and put it in his name. Some years went by before the Church property was made a legal possession of the Weslyan Society.

Before the Weslyans bought the property my mother and another lady visited the people in the community and raised money to put on a new roof. When Rueban Bunker was approached he promised them $ 5.00 toward the cost of the new roof only on the condition that they would lay on the shingles with a twine cord as a guide rather than a board as a straight edge.

When the Weslyans bought the church five of the U. B. members joined the Weslyans Church. The sixth one, a man, would not join but he was friendly and helped redecorate the church.

When Rev. O. S. Warner was pastor he served not only Valton, but Bethel and perhaps Carr Valley. A parsonage for him was near the Bethel Church. This was the practice when Rev. Sidney Hotchkiss came to the Circuit. Bethel and Carr Valley were separated from the Valton charge. Valton then was alone and did not share her minister with other charges.

The circuit mention above went through three definite periods of organization. Before Valton was in the Oaks Circuit and in 1917 as was mentioned above, the Valton group felt that they could support a pastor and Bethel with Carr Valley would have their own preacher.

Oaks Circuit Pastors :


Valton Charge:

John DelapCharles Butcher 1917
Frank Decker 1892-1897Mae Makee 1922
Mrs. Auntie Rose 1898-1900Wesley & Mae Markee 1924
Jennie Reid Clausen 1926

Ironton Charge:

F. G. Walters 1900-1902Keith Peckham 1928
O. S. Warner 1903Drayton Elmer 1930
Albert Shore 1909Jennie Reid Clausen 1933
John Gillem 1910Marie & Guy Hahn 1935
Wesley & Mae Markee 1910Marie Hahn 1945
Sidney Hotchkiss 1913Carl Holder 1949
Lloyd Poe 1952

When Wesley and Mae Marlee were at Valton, the first time, they not only served the three Churches in the Circuit but also went to Fairfield and Stephan Valley. Sidney Hotchkiss came on the Circuit to finish out the last year the Markee's were there, 1913 because Mae Markee's voice broke. The Markee's were at Valton two different times, eight years in all. The second time they enjoyed a wonderful spiritual revival and more than doubled the membership. One night in the revival everyone was converted but one man. He said he might later if they could all live it. Some who were saved in the series of meetings have now passed away, but they died in the living faith.

The early Circuit Riders in our Church were surely not only filled with the sprit of god but had the spirit of the pioneer. They knew what real sacrifice meant. They knew it meant to drive or walk distances to serve their people in all kinds of weather. Perhaps they could tell of being out in the worst weather that would keep from the service all but a half dozen or less of the most faithful. Valton's first woman Preacher was Auntie Rose. One thing that is still remembered about her was the way she got to her Churches. She drove a team of ponies everywhere she went. She must have had to care for then and put the harness on and hitch them up every tome she went to an appointment. She had no assistant to help her with her chores. Auntie Rose was also a familiar figure around other Circuits before and after her stay at Valton.

Albert Shore and John Gillem were local Preachers who had a license to preach an the local Church, but did not have privileges accorded and ordained Minister. I'm not sure, but I think they were ordained in later years. John Gillem was a veteran of the Civil Was. He brought some of that experience into his sermons to make it interesting. Many can remember the testimony or experience meetings when Albert Shore and his wife, Alice, would sit up front in the middle of the Church as eager listeners. They would start several songs during the service and the rest of the congregation would join in. One of their favorites went like this: "O' lion of Juda shall break every chain and give us the victory again and again." Rev. Shore was admired by several communities where he served as pastor and often had to leave his farm work to preach a funeral service.

Sidney Hotchkiss will always be remembered as the "Tall Preacher". He was six feet ten inches in his stocking feet and had to look far and wide to get shoes and suits that would fit him. His wife Laurs became quite proficient in making his suits. When he went to stay all night, he must have longed for a place where he could stretch out. We boys and even some of the adults liked to watch him as he came through the door and would bow his head. Sidney was well informed about the Holy Scriptures. While he was at Valton the Friends and Wesley's joined a teachers bible class and chose him as their teacher. It was popular for a short time, the class consisted of young and old alike. Rev. Hochkiss was very strong and he could pick up the back end of a Model T Ford. On one occasion he was able to use his strength to save a life. He and the store keeper, Alfred Gage, came upon a car that had over turned. Nate and Mary Mortimer was beneath the car. He lifted the car from its occupant's and released them.

The Valton Wesleyan Church was Charles Butchers first charge. He came here, with his young and talented wife in 1917, just after Valton had become independent, to work. While the Butcher's were there the Church made wonderful strides foreword. A parsonage was purchased and electric lights installed. They suffered a tragedy while there that a lot of people long remember Their little boy Cleon was stricken with Diphtheria and died.

Jennie Reid Clausen served in Valton two different times. While she was serving her second time the church, under her direction expanded the church building so that it could accommodate larger crowds. A balcony and Sunday school room were added and a basement with furnace was also added. Rev. Joe Clausen contributed his strength and knowledge of carpentry to the project. For the sake of preserving the memory of how the Church looked before remodeling was done, a description of the old Church is in order: The pews faced the North and the pulpit was in the North end of the room. There was one section on long pews in the middle of the room. A long, low stove stood in a large open space behind the center section, and the stove pipe leading from the stove was held up above the peoples heads by wire fastened to the ceiling. The chimney was at the North end. The entrance to the original building was just west of the present entrance.

The WI conference added two capable ministers to its membership from the free Methodist Church. Keith Peckham and Drayton Elmer. Valton was lucky to get them both as Pastors. Rev. Peckham later returned to the free Methodist Church and became the presiding Elder.

The pastors who served longer than anyone else were Marie and Guy Hahn from the state of Kansas. Although the Northern climate must have been cold to them, they fell in love with the people and have made WI their home. The home they built at Valton is ample proof that the town was a warm place in their affections. Another Pastor was Carl Holder form Indiana. The present Pastor, Lloyd Poe, has also come from another state, but was in the conference sometime before coming to Valton.

The Valton W. M. Church has been a host to some of the greatest Preachers that were ever known. When I was a boy, I faintly recall a tent meeting that was held on the Church grounds then the evangelist H. H. William's was the speaker. He possessed a powerful voice that could be heard a long distance on a clear night. Some of the other evangelist were Dr. Armstrong, Rev. Shellhamer, Rev. Hill from Ohio. Rev. Hill was there during the time that the KKK was so strong. He spared no words in condemning the Klan. While he was holding a meeting at Debello, many of the Valton people attended and heard him denounce the Klan again and again. One night when he was preaching the Klan burned a large cross above the Church.

The Church also has been host for prohibition speakers and those interested in other special and worthy causes. A great authority on revelation, the last book of the Bible was Rev. Taylor, who gave a number of lectures about 1915.

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