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.

              246 MEMOIRS  OF WAUKESHA  COUNTY
by a beautiful park was opened as a summer hotel in 1870. It was the home of Judge Small, and at first was open only to friends of the family, and was a favorite rendezvous for fishing parties in the sum¬ mer and sleighing parties from the neighboring towns in the winter. Yielding to the demand for fuller accommodations. Judge Small erected the present building in which about sixty guests can be accommodated and was the host for twenty-five years. Since his death the hotel has been run by his son-in-law, Mr. James G. Weart, and it is now in its thirty-seventh year, and the guests being largely from St. Louis, Mem¬ phis, New Orleans, and other points south. It is not open in winter as a hotel, although occasionally house parties from Milwaukee and Chi¬ cago are entertained.
There are several hotels that are open for the accommodation of guests the entire year, among which may be mentioned the Casper House, Schlitz House, Jones House, and others. The last named was built by William M. Jones about twenty years ago. After running it for a number of years, he leased it for a period of seven years, but has recently returned to his old duties as host. It is a favorite stopping- place for commercial travelers, and although no special eflfort is made to cater to the summer guests, yet they are frequently found at this hostelry.
Very few, if any of the original settlers of Oconomowoc or the im¬ mediate vicinity remain. In some cases their descendants have also disappeared from the vicinity. Miss Julia Parks, daughter of Judge Warham Parks, and granddaughter of Rufus Parks, one of the earli¬ est settlers, was the last of the family in the city, and removed to the east in the spring of 1907. Edwin Hurlbut, the veteran journalist, connected with the Free Press as editor, since September, 1876, and a resident of the village and city since 1850, died in November, 1905. The paper files covering the past decade have recorded the passing away of the remnant of the hardy souls who conquered the wilder¬ ness. Those of the old families that remain and are filling the ranks of the business arid professional life of today are of the third and even the fourth generation.
The first religious services held in Oconomowoc were under the au¬ spices of the Protestant Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal churches, both in 1841. The Episcopal services were held by Rev. Lemuel B. Hall, rector of St. Paul's church, Milwaukee, in a log schoolhouse, the reverend gentleman making the necessary journey of thirty miles on foot, once in four weeks. Services were also held occasionally bv the founders of Nashotah Mission, and in 1844 Rev. Dr. Adams began hold¬ ing regular services. In 1846 Zion parish was organized. Dr. Adams being the rector from 1847 ^ 1849, ^^^ R^v. Dr. Cole from 1850 to 1853. During Dr. Cole's rectorship the church building was erected at a cost of $5,000. The lot and a large proportion of the money for build¬ ing were donated by J. S. Rockwell. The first service held in the new church was on Christmas Eve, 1853. Bishop Kemper officiating. The bell of the church formerly hung in the Episcopal church of Watertown, Conn., the former home of the Rockwells, and when that church was rebuilt the bell was purchased by J. S. Rockwell and presented to the