At Fond du Lac a charge of Pastors occurred, as the term of the former Pastor had expired.  His successor was Rev. O.J.  Cowles. a young man of excellent promise.  He was a graduate of Cornell College in 1860, and of the Garrett Biblical Institute in 1863.  He entered the Conference the same year, and had been stationed at Kenosha, Berlin, and Appleton.  After his two years of service in Fond du Lac, he was stationed three years each at Racine and Oshkosh.

Brother Cowles is a man of superior talent and excellent spirit.  He is one of the rising men of the Conference, and bids fair to take a front rank.  At this writing he is stationed at Whitewater, where he is in the midst of a gracious revival.

Beaver Dam Station was added this year to the District.  Beaver Dam was settled by members of the Presbyterian Church, and hence its earliest religious services were held by the Ministers of that denomination.  The first Methodist appointment was established by Rev. A.P.  Allen in 1846, being then Pastor of Waupun Circuit as my successor.  Rev. Henry Requa, as before stated, was employed by the Elder as his assistant.  During the year these earnest laborers held a protracted meeting, which resulted in several conversions.  The first class was formed by Brother Allen, and consisted of L.H.  Marvin, Leader, Mr. and Mrs. Peters, Bennett Gordon, and Mrs. Reuben Dexter.  Brother Marvin still resides at Beaver Dam.

The meetings were held in L.H.  Marvin’s cabinet shop, until other provision could be made.  The first Church, a frame building twenty-six by forty feet in size, was commenced by Brother Allen in the winter of 1846 and ’47, and completed the following year by Brother Requa.  The building was enlarged under the Pastorate of Rev. I.M.  Leihy in 1859.  Under the Pastorate of Rev. A.A.  Reed in 1870 and 1871, a large brick Church was erected, the writer being invited to lay the corner-stone the first year, and preach the dedicatory sermon the second.  During Brother Reed’s Pastorate a great revival also occurred, under the labors of Mrs. Maggie N. Van Cott, which added greatly to the strength of the Church.  At the present writing, the Pastor is Rev. Isaac Wiltse, of whom mention will be made in a subsequent chapter.

Fall River and Columbus were assigned to the District this year from the Janesville District.  At the organization of the work they constituted one Circuit, but had now grown to be independent charges.

Fall River Society was organized in the log house of Clark Smith, on Fountain Prairie, by Rev. Stephen Jones in 1844, the locality being at the time connected with the old Aztalan Circuit.  The members were Rev. E.J.  Smith, of whom mention is made elsewhere, his wife, Martha Smith, Clark Smith, Sarah Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron E. Houghton.  Brother E.J.  Smith was appointed Leader.

A log school house, the first built in the county, was erected soon after, and the meetings were transferred to it.  The population grew rapidly, being attracted by the beautiful location, and in due time there was a strong society.  Under the energetic and effective labors of the Leader and his talented lady, this society was instrumental in the conversion of many souls.