Jackson Tibbits

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The Congregational Church. In the fall of 1884 Jackson Tibbits of Antigo, better known as "Deacon" Tibbits, came to Eagle River, started a Sunday school, and preached in the little log schoolhouse which stood on or near the site of the present Lawler residence on the north side of the river. Soon afterwards a photographer put up a portable studio on the south side of the river, close to where the present bridge spans the stream. G. M. Nash, now a deacon in the church, cared for the studio and the Sunday school moved there and held its sessions during the next summer. In 1885 a Methodist named Rose started a Methodist Sunday school in the school building since bought and remodeled by M. Frankel as a residence, and both Congregationalists and Methodists had Sunday schools for about six months. In the meanwhile the Methodists erected a frame building for church work, and then sold it to the Congregational people for $200. This is the present building located at Division and First streets on the lots donated by John O'Connor. The organization of the church known as "The Congregational Church Society" was effected.with nine members in 1887, namely, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. S. Walters,- Mrs. R. A. Richmond, C. A. Thompson, Seymour DeWitt, Jacob Klumb and Mrs. Anna Wark. The only one of these now living in the village is Mrs. R. A. Richmond, better known as "Grandma" Richmond, and she has been for years a cripple and unable to attend services. Most of the pastors have been men of strong characteristics. Deacon Tibbits covered a wide area in making points as far apart as Wakefield, Tomahawk, Antigo, Eagle River and others. He is well remembered by the surviving pioneers as an uncompromising and self-sacrificing man of faith. Among those who served soon after him were Revs. L. A. Holp and A. S. Newcomb. In June, 1890, the Rev. H. C. Todd took charge and was pastor here for ten years. From June, 1900 to 1902, and again from 1907 to 1910, the pastor was Rev. C. W. Pinkney, a strong temperance and reform worker, who is credited with having caused the slot machine to be banished from the business houses. Rev. W. R. Dixon was pastor during four years from December, 1902 to 1906; Rev. Thos. J. Harris from 1906 to 1910, and Rev. Mr. Moss from 1910 to 1912. After him came Rev. G. P. Griffith, who remained three years, and Rev. Geo. H. Walters, (1915-1918) who helped to make Eagle River a dry town before national prohibition came. The present pastor, Rev. W. J. Davies, came to Eagle River as an associate to Mr. Walters, the field having grown to include Three Lakes, Phelps, Sayner, and many country points. The parsonage, located on Second Street, was bought and moved to its present location from the lot where the court house now stands. Plans are now under consideration for the erection of a new $25,000 church building, which will contain a pipe organ, the latter being the gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Stange of Merrill. The missions of the Congregational parish of Eagle River in the last few years have included some 23 points, with Eagle River as the center of the parish. The Sayner congregation numbers about 25, and holds services in the community Protestant church, which was erected about four years ago. At Boulder Junction there is a union congregation of some 35 members, or attendants, who meet in the schoolhouse, services in summer being held on alternate Sundays. At Lake Oswego and at Baaken Sunday schools are held at intervals. In the town of Washinton, -nine miles east of Eagle River, there is the Anvil Lake Point Sunday School, other- wise called the Sanborn Sunday school, where services are held on alternate Sundays, and in the southeast part of the town of Lincoln, on State Highway No. 32, there is the Evergreen Sunday school, where services are held occasionally. Four miles southwest of Eagle River is the Sundsten Sunday school, held during the summer; to the northwest of the latter point, four and a half miles from the county seat, is held a Bohemian summer Sunday school; 20 miles west is the Juve school -",here services are held at wide intervals; four miles northwest of Eagle River is the Fenn summer Sunday school, and five miles northeast is Mayo, where religious services are held at intervals.