Memoirs of Waukesha County. From the earliest historical times to the present with chapters on various subjects, including each of the different towns, and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in the county, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information.

              INTRODUCTORY   SKETCH 39
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1839, and in¬ cluded almost if not quite all the settlers born in England, with sev¬ eral who were natives of Eastern states. Its first quarterly meeting was held at the little North street school house, and a revival soon followed, increasing the membership materially. Joined with some enthusiastic Congregationalists the Methodist class leader, Alexander Henry, and members of his class visited the neighboring towns pray¬ ing and exhorting with such effect that listeners would fall to the ground as if dead or shout as if in a delirium. A church building was completed in 1842, and by 1846 the standing of the society was in the first rank locally as to membership and wealth. In 1861 the edifice was burned and for the next two years the Congregational church furnished accommodations for meetings. The stone building at the corner of South street and Broadway, now known as "The Coli¬ seum," was then completed and occupied, serving the uses of the church until 1895 when the fine new edifice on Wisconsin avenue, opposite the Broadway corner, was made ready for use.
The Baptist church society was also organized in 1839 ^^ ^^- Wal¬ ton's log house by fifteen communicants presenting the requisite cre¬ dentials. Its growth was so rapid and substantial that in 1844 a church building was erected for $2,500 at the corner opposite the Congrega¬ tional church, where the congregation met for more than a quarter of a century. In 1872 the present stone structure at Grand and Wis¬ consin avenues was completed and will doubtless remain the place of worship of the society for many future years.
The Presbyterians of the locality, after affiliating with the Congre¬ gationalists for some years, decided in 1846 to form themselves into a separate communion which they did in September of that year. Ruling elders were chosen and a Sunday school established soon after. Various clergymen conducted the services until 1853 when the work of building a church was entered upon, contributions amounting to ^$250 having been made by eastern churches; in August of that year a regular pastor was installed. The church itself was not dedicated until 1855, though used in an incomplete condition before that date. It is still occupied by the congregation, and is a fine monument to the zeal and energy of the early membership. It is of Waukesha stone, and situated on South street, near East avenue.
St. Matthias (Protestant Episcopal) church is a beautiful, though modest, stone edifice opposite the county court house at the corner of East avenue and Main street. The early labors of the first mission¬ aries of the church here have been mentioned in another part of this sketch, and after the removal of these clergymen to Nashotah in 1842, one or another of them came to Prairieville and conducted their serv¬ ices from time to time until April, 1844, when a parish organization was effected. A chapel had already been built, which was used until the erection of the present building in 1851-2. The first rector took •charge in April, 1847, and the church was consecrated June 29, 1855.
St. Joseph's (Roman Catholic) church was first provided with a regular pastor in 1844, although occasional services had been cele- iDrated since 1840, and in 1843 the lots on which the first church build-