I also opened an appointment at the residence of Mr. Torbit, at Randolph Centre, which place has since become the head of a circuit.

In May following, I formed a class on the north end of Rolling Prairie, with Bro.  Greenleaf, a Local Preacher, as Leader.

Wm. A. Cheney and family settled on Wedge’s Prairie in the early part of this year.  His house was immediately opened for religious meetings.  But before I could arrange my plans to visit the neighborhood, my father, who was always on the alert to carry the Gospel Message to the destitute, established an appointment.  On his invitation I held a meeting there, on the third day of June, 1846, and organized a class.  The following were the first members:  Wm. A. Cheney, Leader, Sophronia Cheney, Abigail Cheney, D.S.  Cowles, Ann Cowles, Henry Moore, and wife.

At this time Brandon had not taken form or name, but, on its appearance, the honors and emoluments of this society passed over to its keeping.

Rosendale and Reed’s Corners were next visited.  At the first I held services in the house of Mr. Sanborn, after whom the prairie at that time was called, and at the latter, the meeting was held in the residence of a Brother Lee, a brother of the celebrated Dr. Luther Lee.

Rosendale has since become a very pleasant station, with its convenient Church and Parsonage, and Reed’s Corners is a prominent appointment in the Brandon charge, and has also a fine Church.

Having heard frequent reference made to Strong’s Landing, on the Fox River, I resolved to visit the place.  On approaching the bank of the stream, I looked sharply in all directions to discover the town, but there were no evidences of human skill within the range of my vision.  Concluding that I had struck the river at the wrong place, I first passed down the stream for a mile, but failing to find any settlement I turned back.  I now went up the stream for a considerable distance, and found a trail that seemed to lead down to the margin of the river.  Following it to the water, I found a small canoe tied to a tree.  The light now dawned upon my understanding.  This was Strong’s Landing.  Not having prophetic vision, I was unable to see the city of the future, sitting so gracefully on the banks of the Fox.  Again the Itinerancy was ahead of the pioneer.  Leaving the site of the future city of Berlin, I hastened to return to Waupun, but a starless night overtaking me on the way, I spent its weary hours where the village of Brandon now stands, under the branches of a friendly tree.

The labors of the year were now drawing to a close.  The regular appointments had multiplied until they numbered twenty-four.  The membership had gone up from a small figure to two hundred, and the spiritual interests were in a highly satisfactory condition.

My labors had been very arduous during the entire year, but had been well sustained until the latter part of the winter, when my health failed, resulting doubtless rather from exposure than labor.  I was now laid aside for several weeks, but through the blessing of God and the skill of Dr. Bowman, my physician at Waupun, my health so far rallied that it was believed to be safe to proceed with my work.