Griffith, David Johnson, John Sale and their families.  The heads of all these families being members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, they applied to Rev. Samuel Pillsbury, in charge of the Monroe circuit, for recognition.  He visited them, established an appointment and formed them into a class in August, 1840.  The class was organized at the residence of Hiram Griffith, located about one mile northwest of the present site of Evansville.  At the first organization the members were:  Jacob West, Leader, Margaret West, Boyd Phelps, Local Preacher, Clarissa Phelps, Stephen Jones, Local Preacher, Isabel Jones, John Griffith, Local Preacher, Belinda Griffith, John T. Baker, Jemima Baker, Ira Jones, Sarah J. Jones, John Rhineheart, Deborah Rhineheart, Alma Jones, Samuel Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Charles McMillan, Miriam McMillan, Jane Brown, Erastus Quivey, Sally Quivey, Hiram Griffith, Sally Griffith, David Johnson and Kizziah Johnson.  Soon after John Sale and Jane Sale also became members.

Of this number, at least two became Itinerant Preachers.  The first, Rev. Boyd Phelps, filled several appointments in the Conference, and was Presiding Elder of Beaver Dam District.  He then removed to Minnesota, where he has also rendered effective service.  The second, Rev. Stephen Jones, was my predecessor at Watertown, but only continued a few years, when he entered secular pursuits.  At one time he was a member of the State Legislature.

Rev. James Ash was sent to the Monroe Circuit in 1840, and his work embraced Union.  He remained two years, and was very successful in his work.  The first Quarterly Meeting was held in the house of Brother Jacob West, by Rev. H.W.  Reed, in the fall of 1840.  In 1842 Union was attached to the Madison circuit, and the Pastor was Rev. S.P.  Keyes.  During this year a log school house was erected on the present site of Evansville, for the double purpose of school and religious meetings.  This building was used for public worship until the summer of 1847.  From 1843 to 1845 Union was connected with the Janesville circuit.  In 1845 the Union circuit was formed, with Rev. Asa Wood as Pastor.  It was assigned to the Platteville District, with Rev. Henry Summers as Presiding Elder.

Brother Summers was a veteran representative of the Methodist Preacher of the olden time.  He entered the work when Illinois was yet in her maidenhood, and from the first was a recognized power in the land.  Genial in spirit, full of anecdote, abundant in labors, an able Preacher, a faithful administrator, and a devoted servant of the Master, he enjoyed the esteem of all.  But I need not enlarge, as doubtless a record will be made of his labors in Illinois, where his fields of labor were principally located.

Under the labors of Brother Wood, a frame church, 45 by 30 feet in size, was erected, the location being in the block now occupied by J. R. Finch as a store in the village of Evansville.  The building was dedicated by Brother Summers in June, 1847.  But it will be necessary to omit further details of these early years.