It was during this year that I was called to experience a severe trial in the death of my dear father, which occurred on the 30th day of May, 1855.  After remaining at Waupun six years, he removed, in 1850, to Waupaca, where he purchased the lands comprising the site of the present village, laid out the town and erected a lumber mill.  Soon after his arrival he opened religious services, preaching the first sermon and organizing the first class.  In due time, others came to his assistance, and a small Church was built.  Waupaca having been taken into the regular work, my father now visited the adjacent neighborhoods and established religious meetings, preaching usually two or three times on the Sabbath.  Not a few of these early appointments ultimately became the nucleus of independent charges.

My father’s illness was brief.  In the latter part of the winter he met me at my Quarterly Meeting at Oshkosh, but, to the regret of the people, he was unable to preach.  He felt that his work was nearly done, and in referring to the matter, said:  “I have no occasion to feel anxious about it, since, through Divine help, I have been permitted to preach, on an average, about two sermons a week for thirty years.”  I visited him two weeks before his death, and found his mind tranquil and his Faith unwavering.  When I enquired as to his state of mind, he said, “It is like a sunbeam of glory.”  He continued in the same satisfactory frame, until he passed over the river to join the white-robed throng in the Heavenly realm.  The multitudes who gathered with tearful eyes around his grave, gave but a fitting expression of their high appreciation of a noble life.

The labors of my first term as Presiding Elder were now drawing to a close.  Though my labors had been arduous, yet such had been the kindness and co-operation of both Preachers and people, I felt an interest in them.  During the four years the District had nearly doubled its strength, and was now ready for a division.

Feeling that it was due to myself, being so young a man, and due to the Church also, that I should now go back to station work, I favored at the Conference a resolution asking the Bishop to appoint no man to a District for a second term until there had been an intervening service of two years on circuits or stations.  The action of the Conference doubtless, sent me to a station instead of a District.

CHAPTER XVI.

Conference of 1855.—­The New Departure.—­Mission Committee.—­The Slavery Controversy.—­Triumph of Freedom.—­Wisconsin Conference Rule.  Conference Report.—­Election of Delegates.—­Appointed to Racine.—­Detention.—­The Removal to the New Charge.—­Stage, Dray, and Steamboat.—­New Bus Line.

The Conference for 1855 was held at Racine on the 29th day of August, and was presided over by Bishop Janes.  During the session I was quartered with Rev. Moses Adams, a superannuated member of the Black River Conference.