Thirty Years in the Itinerancy

by W. G. Miller

At this session, the Conference adopted a very able Report, written by Rev. J.H. Jenne, on the state of the country, showing a deep interest in the issue before the Nation, and pledging her unwavering support to the Government.

Brother Jenne entered the traveling connection in Maine, and came to the Wisconsin Conference by transfer in 1856. His first appointment was Agent of the Lawrence University. His next appointment was Presiding Elder of Appleton District, where he remained four years. His subsequent appointments have been Janesville, Janesville District, Lake Mills, Hart Prairie, Allen's Grove, Union Grove, Lyons, and Waupun. At the present writing he is on his second year at the last named place.

Brother Jenne is an able Minister of the New Testament. He is a man of large brain and profound research. Well versed in all the questions of the day, as well as in the writings of the Fathers, he is able to furnish a high standard of pulpit labor. He is a, true man, has a genial spirit, and to persons who can strike his plane of thought he is companionable.

At this Conference I was returned to the District for a fourth year, and Rev. S.C. Thomas was appointed to the Summerfield Church.

Brother Thomas entered the Erie Conference in 1842, and, before coming to Wisconsin by transfer in 1851, had been stationed at Conneautville, Geneva, Ravenna, Willoughby, and Fredonia, besides serving two years as Agent of the Alleghany College. After coming to Wisconsin, he had served Spring Street, Platteville, Jackson Street, and had been Agent of the Lawrence University for five years. He now remained two years at Summerfield, when he returned again to the Agency of the University. In 1864 he was made Presiding Elder of the Milwaukee District, where he remained four years. He next served four years as Presiding Elder of the Janesville District, when he was appointed to Fort Atkinson. At the present writing he is at Lyons. This outline completes a record of nearly a quarter of a century of labor in Wisconsin.

Brother Thomas is a man of good business habits, a careful administrator, and a good Preacher. He loves the theology and economy of the Church for which he has so long expended his energies. He is wise in counsel, closely attentive to all the trusts committed to his keeping, and has a host of friends.

Rev. George C. Haddock, Pastor at Waukesha, was received into the Conference the previous year, had been at Port Washington one year, where he had been a supply a part of the previous year, and was now appointed to Waukesha. He remained two years, and did a good work. During the first year, the new stone Church was built in the place of the old frame building that had been burned during the former year. And during the winter following, the charge was blessed with a good revival, and among the fruits gathered into the Church, was our second daughter, then ten years of age.

After leaving Waukesha, Brother Haddock's appointments have been Clinton, Oshkosh, Ripon, Appleton, Division Street, Fond du Lac; Fond du Lac District, and Racine, where he is laboring at this writing.

Brother Haddock is a man of mark. Early in life he acquired the printer's trade, and subsequently devoted several years to the business of editing and publishing secular papers. Soon after his conversion he entered the Ministry, and in less than two years he was received into the Conference. During the fifteen years of his connection with the Conference, he has been an earnest and successful laborer, making full proof of his Ministry. Brother Haddock has a large intellectual development, a warm heart, an eloquent tongue, and an intense spiritual activity. What he does must be done at once, and done thoroughly. He has an ardent hatred of shams, and despises all clap-trap. Both in sermons and debate, he strikes home, and woe be to the luckless pate that has the temerity to dash under his well-aimed strokes. And yet under all this seeming severity, there dwells a spirit as kind and manly as ever throbbed in a human bosom.

During this, the closing year of my term on the District, my labors were very extended. Besides the regular duties of a large District, I added that of aiding in raising regiments for the war. At all suitable times and places, I held war meetings, as they were called, and addressed the people, often finding immense crowds congregated in groves and other convenient localities.