Berlin, though now aspiring to be a charge of respectable standing, had its beginning, like all others, in “the day of small things.”  The first Methodist sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Bassinger in September, 1850.  The services were held in the office of a warehouse.  Berlin was now connected with Dartford, and became a regular appointment.  Brother Bassinger formed a class in connection with the first service in the warehouse.  The members were Reuben Tompkins, his wife, and two daughters, Mrs. Kellogg and Mrs. McElroy.

Until a Church was built the meetings were held, after leaving the warehouse, first over Mr. Bartlett’s store, and afterwards over Mr. Alexander’s clothing store.  The first Church was built under the Pastorate of Rev. J. Pearsall in 1851.  It did good service for several years, and was then sold.  It is now used as a blacksmith shop.  The second church, the present respectable edifice, was built in 1858 by Rev. D. Stansbury, and was dedicated by the late Dr. T.M.  Eddy.  The Parsonage was built by Rev. D.O.  Jones in 1862.

Rev. Isaac Wiltse, the Pastor at Berlin at this time entered the Wisconsin Conference at its April session in 1859.  His charges before coming to Berlin were Wautoma, Kingston, Door Creek, Lowell, Liberty Prairie, and Dartford.  Since leaving Berlin, his appointment has been Beaver Dam, where he is now doing a good work for the Master.

Brother Wiltse is one of those men who usually remain on a charge as long as the law of the Church will permit.  He is a young man of a clear understanding and genuine piety.  As a Preacher he holds an excellent position in the Conference, and he is not less esteemed as a Pastor.  Avoiding all effort to make a show in the world, he furnishes a large stock of Gospel truth in his sermons, and puts into his administration an equal share of common sense.

The next session of the Conference was held Oct. 12, in Janesville.  We were returned to Ripon, as expected by all.  But the year opened with another of those occasions which strangely unite both joy and sorrow.  On the third day of November, a happy group were met at the Parsonage, to celebrate the marriage of our second daughter, Laura Eunice, and Mr. Jesse Smith, of Fond du Lac.  This event took to Fond du Lac our second and only remaining daughter, leaving us alone with our son, now twelve years of age, as the only representative of young life in the household.  Those only who have thus felt the shadows one after another creeping around the home hearth, can realize the desolation of feeling that broods over the parental heart on such occasions.  But there is no time in this life to estimate its losses.  The duties of the day are ever upon us, and we must away at their call.