He swept over the District like a storm, “instant in season and out of season,” laying his strong hand on every part of the work, and pushing it forward.  And no doubt it was the work that he did on the District that laid the foundation of the disease which terminated his useful life.  An overtaxed brain fell a prey to mental disability, and our good brother went to his reward.

Fond du Lac was under the pastoral care of Rev. J.T.  Woodhead.  This excellent brother entered the Conference in 1858, and before coming to Fond du Lac, had been stationed at Greenbush, Berlin and Ripon.  He was now on his third year in his present field.

Brother Woodhead’s early opportunities were limited, but with great devotion to his calling, he had carefully improved his time after entering the Ministry.  He was accepted by his people as a man of rare excellences, happily blending in beautiful harmony both Faith and Works.  In the pulpit, his manner is not always graceful, but it is never disagreeable.  His discourses abound with Evangelical truth, set off usually in fine delineations of Scriptural scenes and characters.  He has extraordinary dramatic talent, and only needs the culture of the schools, in addition to his present gifts and graces, to place him in the front rank as a speaker.  Brother Woodhead is one of the best Pastors I have ever known.

The Fond du Lac District at this time numbered twenty charges.  To visit each quarterly on the Sabbath was impossible, unless I chose to hold two on adjacent charges, the same day.  And this plan I did not deem advisable, believing that it tends to break down Quarterly Meetings altogether, by dividing the interest.  I chose rather to visit each charge regularly semi-annually, and the feebler ones more frequently, if possible.  The intervening Quarterly Meetings were held by the Pastors, except they chose to procure supplies.

My first Quarterly Meeting, held at Fond du Lac, was an occasion of rare interest.  Having been granted license to preach, and sent into the Itinerancy by these brethren, they were disposed to assert a special interest in the Presiding Elder.  Besides, the Society, under the ministrations of Brother Woodhead, was in a happy spiritual condition, a satisfactory pledge of a good meeting.

As it is my purpose to write up more particularly, as far as space will permit, the charges and Ministers of the Conference, than my own labors, I shall not undertake to follow in order my visits to the several charges.  During the present year, as well as the three following, I shall simply refer to such items as will further this object, well knowing that the adoption of any other plan would involve the issue of several volumes instead of one.