Passing down along the shore of Green Lake and thence up through the openings to the margin of the prairie, I found a half dozen families.  I found also that, without exception, they were desirous to have religious meetings established in the neighborhood.  Receiving unexpected encouragement, I decided to hold a meeting before I left.  Fixing on the most central residence as our first chapel, we held service on Wednesday evening.  After preaching, I proceeded to form a class, and received eleven names.  Brother Burdick was appointed the Leader.  He demurred, but I was not disposed to excuse him.  I then quietly stated to the class that I had known their Leader on the Crumhorn, in the State of New York, where he held the same position, and I was fully persuaded there had been no mistake in the selection.  The Leader was not a little surprised at this turn of things, and concluded that he had nothing further to say, yet doubtless thought, “How strange it is that lads in so short a time will grow to be men?”

At a subsequent visit I crossed the Lake in a small boat to explore the neighborhood where Dartford is now located, but found no settlement.  An appointment, however, was opened at this point the following year with Wm. C. Sherwood as the leading spirit.  At the present writing, Dartford has become a fine village, has a good Church, an energetic society, and has enjoyed the services of several of the strong men of the Conference.

At Green Lake the congregations and class grew rapidly, and before the expiration of the year the appointment had gained considerable prominence.  As soon as a school house was built, the meetings were removed to it and continued there until 1870, when a fine Church was erected.

Leaving Green Lake and resuming my journey of exploration, I came to Little Green Lake.  Here I found a four corners with a store on one side and a residence on the other.  The residence was occupied by a Mr. Jewell, whose wife was a relative of Rev. D. P. Kidder, then in charge of our Sunday School literature.  My acquaintance with him soon made me acquainted with this most excellent family.  On their kind invitation I established an appointment in their house, which was continued until their removal from the place.  It was then removed to the residence of Mr. Roby, who, with his wife, was a member of the church.  A small class was now formed.  Before the expiration of the year the appointment was moved a mile south to the school house in Mackford.  And after a time it was taken down to Markesan, a mile west of Mackford.

If was at this place that I assumed the role of Chorister, the occurrence transpiring in this wise.  I announced my opening hymn, supposing that some one present would be able to lead the singing, but to my surprise not one was disposed to serve us.  I had never attempted such a thing in my life as to “raise a tune” in public, and the only claim I had ever set up as a qualification was that I could put more tunes to