The following document was posted at the
back of the Portland Prairie Church. Sources cited for this information
were: The HISTORY OF HOUSTON COUNTY - 1882 and OLD TIMES ON PORTLAND
PRAIRIE - 1851-1880 By Uncle H. V. Arnold. |
The Portland Prairie
Methodist Episcopal Church
Our Past
A Minnesota Conference of the Methodist
Church was formed in 1855, its annual meeting being held in the spring
for several years. Thereafter, circuits and charges or stations began
to increase as the settlements extended. A small village had been
growing up at Caledonia, the county seat, which gave a name to the
circuit. At first the Caledonia Circuit included as outlying stations,
Hokah and Brownsville, to which was added Popes Prairie, Portland
Prairie and Winnebago Valley. Hokah and Brownsville having later been
dropped from the circuit.
Mr. Cramer met a Methodist minister on a Mississippi steamer,
and
requested him to see Mr. Hobart, the Presiding Elder, and have him send
a minister down to this region; and the Elder learning, in this way,
that there were some Methodists near the state line south of Caledonia,
sent down an appointment Bro. Ransom Scott, an exhorter who had already
held a meeting there, and so on the 1st of December, 1855, Rev. Mr.
Hooper arrived here and preached at the house of widow Coll, which was
below the state line and burned in 1863.
At the second appointment a class was formed, composed of the
following
persons: Mrs. and Mrs. Peter Paige, Mr. and Mrs. J. McNelly, Mr. and
Mrs. A Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Green, Sarah Albee and Mr. Cramer.
J. McNelly was designated leader.
These pioneer meetings were described as most remarkable,
producing a
profound effect upon the audience, which was manifested in various
ways.
Soon after this, a sad affair occurred, the full horrors of
which were
not realized for months afterwards. It was on the 9th of December that
Ransom Scott, the exhorter above mentioned, went to Portland Prairie to
have a meeting, and notwithstanding the snow that was on the ground,
and was still falling in a boisterous storm, he persisted in attempting
to return, contrary to the urgent advice of his friends. He lived with
Mr. Young, near North Ridge, an uncle of his about eight miles away.
That he did not return for several days caused no apprehension, on
account of the character of the traveling. Soon, however, the facts
became known, and a careful search was instituted, but not a single
trace discovered. The next May his remains were found scattered about
in a ravine, two miles beyond his home. The wolves had devoured him,
excepting a part of his feet, which, encased in his boots the ravenous
beasts could not penetrate; only a few shreds of clothing remained. His
skull was some distance away. His Bible, hymn book, pocket book, watch,
and pocket knife were also found. Possibly he was attacked by the
wolves, but the probability is that he perished in the snow, and his
body being found, they proceeded to appease their appetites. He was a
promising young man, twenty-six years of age, and was from New York
State.
The first church services were held in homes. In 1858 the
McNelly
school house was built. The first service of any kind to be held in the
building was the public funeral service of Wesley Albee, son of Leonard
Albee, who died July 5, 1868, Rev. J. W. Klepper preaching the sermon.
The conference year 1875-6 no
minister was returned to the Circuit. The people of the prairie took
this opportunity to build a church. On the 30th of January, 1876, the
board of trustees, previously chosen, met at the residence of George
Cass, to consider the subject of building. The sum of $875.00 was
reported as being pledged to the project. George and Ellen Cass gave to
the society a deed conveying a lot. A building committee was appointed,
consisting of F. Healey, Henry Robinson, George Cass, and E. I. Arnold,
with Mr. Cass as treasurer. The subscription afterwards got up to
$1540.00; Mr. J. McNelly procured a plan from St. Paul. The contract
was let to Mr. Tuttle, of New Albin, and such commendable expedition
followed that the building was completed the following June. "The
church has a spire, and the windows have blinds. The building is in
every way neat and tasty, and is a credit to the little Methodist
community."
At the bottom of the document is the following invitation:
Please join us for our annual church service and potluck meal,
at 11
a.m. on the last Sunday in July.
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