The Western Convention made the first appointment of preachers within the State of Wisconsin. Among the appointments of its first session is "Sugar Creek circuit, Wisconsin, D. F. Shepardson, a. E. Harroun." The work appears to have prospered, the number of members reported in 1864 being eighty. The next year G. H. Fox was appointed to Winnebago and Wisconsin.

In 1866 T. S. LaDue was appointed to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and B. F. Doughty to the Sugar Creek charge. A few souls at Beaver Dam had petitioned for a preacher to be sent them, and were waiting to be organized into a class. During the year Mr. LaDue, assisted by George H. Fox, conducted a revival meeting at a place called Berlin. In this meeting Mrs. Jane S. Ray, a lady of talent and refinement, who was said to have moved to some extent in society circles at Washington, D. a., was clearly converted and united with the Free Methodist Church. She is said later to have become a preacher. Her friends were horrorstricken at the thought of her joining the Free Methodist Church, but she was resolved to take the narrow way, and did it with determination. Another protracted meeting was held at Beaver Dam, where Mr. LaDue lived, and a fair measure of success must have attended both meetings, since one hundred and eleven members and probationers were reported at the close of the year from Beaver Dam and Sugar Creek charges.

In the autumn of 1867 the Illinois Conference appointed T. S. LaDue to a circuit which embraced Hudson, Wisconsin, and Cannon Falls, Minnesota. He had visited Hudson the previous year, held a few services there, and seen some fruit of his labors. The Gospel did not make headway there, however, without encountering some opposition, as the following, from the "Life of LaDue," makes evident.

A meeting for holiness had for some time been held at a certain sister's house every week, and, as usual, one had been appointed on this occasion, and it was expected that he [Mr. LaDue] would lead it. The husband of the sister had taken offense at something, and resolved that he should not lead it. So, planting himself at the yard gate, as Mr. LaDue came up and inquired if that was the house where the meeting was to be held, he answered gruffly, "Yes, sir; but you can not hold it. I forbid you to enter my yard." Mr. LaDue replied, "Very well, just as you say; but as the meeting was given out, I think we will hold it ;" and looking up for special help, he knelt, and began to pray in the street. The Spirit was given in an unusual manner, and as his clear voice rang out over the hills quite a congregation soon gathered around the gate, and the man became the laughing-stock of the people for causing such a scene and advertising the meeting.

The Lord helped Mr. LaDue that afternoon, as he set up the Gospel standard; and the following Sabbath he was blessed in preaching to a full house, among them several of the "noble women" of the place. The man who had closed his gate against him made a public confession, and stepping forward to the desk meekly asked if he might join the class. From that time the work continued to move on with success, in the ordinary means of grace." [1]

The Wisconsin work continued to be supplied from the Illinois Conference, and to grow under its oversight, until it attained to such proportions that it was deemed expedient to organize it into a separate Conference. Accordingly, in keeping with the action of the General Conference of 1874, the Wisconsin Conference was organized at Pierceville, Wisconsin, on the 7th of October, 1875. General Superintendent Hart presided. The following were the preachers in full connection: D. M. Sinclair, L. Whitney, E. Z. Thwing, J. W. Cain, W. A. Noble, S. A. Gilley, J. P. Shattuck, the latter being received by transfer from the Minnesota Conference. There were also three preachers on trial, namely, F. A. McDonald, F. W. Arndt, and J. A. Murray. The total lay membership within the Conference was two hundred and seventy-four.

Under aggressive leadership the Wisconsin Conference continued to grow in membership and to enlarge its bounds for many years. It raised up, developed, and gave to the Church some strong and efficient men for its ministry, a few of whom are still filling prominent positions in its various Conferences. At present this Conference has thirty-one preachers, including probationers, and a lay membership within its bounds of nearly seven hundred. These figures fail to give the full measure of prosperity that has attended the work in this part of the Church's territory, however, inasmuch as many of those brought into the Church within the bounds of the Conference migrated to other parts of the country, where they assisted materially in extending and building up the cause of Free Methodism.

In the early eighties Evansville Seminary, now Evansville Junior College, w as founded within the bounds of this Conference, at Evansville, Wisconsin. This brought into the Conference a number of men of strength and talent, who aided materially in the strengthening of the work Among these were Professor J. E. Coleman, the first principal, who remained at the head of the institution fourteen years, and then resigned only because of impaired health; Professor A. L. Whitcomb, who succeeded Professor Coleman, and conducted the school the next four years with marked success; and Professor D. W. Hart, a teacher for several years in the seminary. These were all college men, preachers of marked ability, and members of the Conference. They remained in the Conference for some years after their labors in the school had terminated, taking appointments within its bounds, and laboring efficiently to build up its interests. Professors Coleman and Whitcomb each served in the relation of District Elder for a number of years with great acceptability. Both were men of lofty character and of sterling worth, able instructors, wise administrators, efficient preachers, judicious counselors, and inspiring leaders. Professor Coleman was cut off in his prime, but died in peace and holy triumph.

The rise of Free Methodism in the State of Iowa resulted from the extension of the work westward from the Illinois Conference. At its session held in Elgin, September 18-21, 1867, this Conference appointed W. B. Tracy to "Northern Iowa." He had just been ordained Deacon. He was in rather feeble health, but went to his pioneer field full of faith and courage. He began his work with bright prospects of success, but during a protracted meeting his health utterly failed, and within two weeks God called him home. His end was triumphant. From the memoir adopted by his Annual Conference we extract the following: "Wherever Brother Tracy labored, he commanded the respect and esteem of men, for his meekness and fidelity. Cut down in middle life, with a history hardly begun, he has gone up on high, to finish his record among the redeemed at the right hand of God."

A foot-note to the statistical table of the Illinois Conference for 1868 contains the following: "The figures for Galva, Winnebago and Freeport circuits include missionary appointments in Iowa." The list of appointments for this year contains the following appointments to charges within the State of Iowa: Fairfield, W. F. Manley; DeWitt, B. F. Doughty; Cedar Rapids Mission, Isaac Bliss. The statistics for these three circuits at the next Conference showed an aggregate membership of 145. The next year 220 members and probationers were reported from DeWitt and Fairfield, Cedar Rapids Mission not being reported. The work on these circuits appears to have been considerably sifted during the next few years, but it also appears that new circuits were raised up in the mean time, so that at the Illinois Conference of 1874 it was deemed advisable to take steps toward the organization of a new Conference from its Iowa work. The minutes for that year say, "Resolutions respecting an Iowa Conference, to be organized out of that portion of the Illinois Conference lying in the State of Iowa, and a Wisconsin Conference, to be organized out of that portion of the Illinois Conference lying in the State of Wisconsin, were passed." The General Conference held at Albion, New York, in October, 1874, ordered the formation of these Conferences. Accordingly in 1875, on the twenty-third of September, the Iowa Annual Conference of the Free Methodist Church w as organized at Birmingham, Iowa, to embrace "all that part of the State of Iowa not included in the Minnesota Conference." General Superintendent E. P. Hart, who was elected to office at the General Conference of 1874, presided. The preachers in full connection were Joseph Travis, C. E., Sr., Julius Buss, J. W. Dake, C. E. Harroun, Jr., O. P. Crawford, and An son Steadwell. Those remaining on trial were J. N. Bovee and A. P. Goode; and those received on trial were L. C. Gould, Thomas Vipond and S. S. Stewart. C. E. Harroun, Jr., was elected secretary. The session lasted four days. Robert S. Ellis, a traveling evangelist of the Illinois Conference, was received into the Conference in the capacity of an evangelist, and was granted a certificate to that effect. The Conference was divided into two districts, known respectively as the Waterloo and Fairfield districts, the former comprising four and the latter seven circuits, and a. E. Harroun, Sr., was elected Chairman of both districts. All the preachers received appointments but Joseph Travis, who was left to be appointed by the General Superintendent.

The first year of the Conference work was prosperous, as appears from the report of the Committee on State of the Work and from the statistical showing. The latter shows an aggregate membership of five hundred and seventy, a net gain of about twenty-five per cent.

Under the leadership of wisely aggressive men, the Conference continued to enlarge its bounds and increase its membership to an extent that was highly gratifying, and at the same time to realize proportionate growth in spirituality. "During the first four years of the Conference, the number of appointments was doubled and the membership increased to more than twice its original number, as shown by the minutes of 1879. The appointments were at this time twenty-four, with a membership of nine hundred ten, and probationers numbering one hundred ninety-eight." [2]

In 1879 two men were received into the Conference who figured prominently for years thereafter in its development. They were E. E. Hall and L. Mendenhall. Both w ere excellent preachers, wise administrators, and judicious counselors. Mr. Hall was esteemed by all who knew him as a choice spirit. He did much to put a stamp of spirituality on the Conference. He served some years as pastor with much acceptance. He filled the position of District Elder twelve consecutive years. He was five times elected delegate to General Conference-once as Layman, and four times as Minister. He was highly esteemed by those who knew him for the consistency of his life, the soundness of his judgment, his unswerving integrity, and for his geniality of disposition. He finally fell a victim of typhoid fever, August 20, 1910, aged seventy-four. years. Mr. Mendenhall has several times been delegate to General Conference. He is still living, and in the fall of 1914 was elected delegate to the General Conference of 1915.

The growth of the Conference continued until both its territory and membership were cut down by the formation of other Conferences for which portions of the territory it had acquired in its expansion were set off into the newly formed Conferences. Since then the Conference has shown but slow development with regard to membership, its total in full connection and on probation at the present time (1915) being but 954.

One reason for the apparently small increase in membership in recent years is the fact that a sort of mania for migrating to the warmer climates, and to various newly opened regions of country, struck the citizens of the State of Iowa some years ago, and affected the Free Methodist people the same as it did others. As a result large numbers removed from the State, the emigrations in some cases being so numerous as to cause whole societies to become defunct. To a large extent the class of persons who moved in to take their places were foreigners, who worshiped in their native tongue, if at all, and among whom the Free Methodist people w ere not able to labor.

As already intimated the West Iowa Conference was chiefly formed out of a portion of territory originally belonging to the Iowa Conference. The Executive Committee at its meeting, October, 1884, authorized the organization of a new Conference, to comprise the western part of the State, and certain portions of Eastern Nebraska, and to be known as the West Iowa Conference; and, at Red Oak, Iowa, October 7, 1885, General Superintendent B. T. Roberts organized this body. The minutes show that, at its organization, it had six preachers in full connection, two remaining on trial, and five received on trial. The names of those in full connection w ere as follows: J. W. Dake, J. N. Bovee, J. M. Reilly, T. H. Allen, J. Lutz, and J. B. Newville. Those on probation were W. H. Holmes,

B. W. Nixon, J. H. Wilson, George Booton, M. D. Myers, John Medd, and G. B. Whittington. The minutes also state that "J. B. Newville and T. J. Gates were received into the Conference, and the Missouri Conference was asked to transfer them."

The Conference was made to comprise three districts -known respectively as Bear Grove, Red Oak, and Missouri Valley districts. J. W. Dake was made Chairman of the Bear Grove and Red Oak districts, and J. N. Bovee Chairman of the Missouri Valley district. These districts comprised fourteen circuits, all but one of which received a preacher, three of those appointed being supplies. One circuit was left to be supplied. The lay membership within the Conference numbered 444 in full connection, and 87 on probation a total of 531.

The work which finally developed into the West Iowa Conference had its beginning at Bear Grove, Guthrie county. A society was organized there by Joseph Travis as early as September 7,1872, while that region of country was still embraced within the Illinois Conference. One W. W. Stanard, of Woodstock, Illinois, had moved into the region about two years previous, where he did manual labor to provide a livelihood for himself and his family, while devoting his mind and heart to the work of reviving interest in religion of the primitive type. He preached at various places as opportunity opened, and as a result some souls were truly saved. A number of the more spiritual members of other Churches sought and obtained heart purity, and thus were brought into harmony and sympathy with the type of religion Mr. Stanard sought to promote, and were put out of sympathy with worldly religion and those who were engaged in its promotion. When at last it seemed that the time was ripe for organizing those who had been converted and sanctified under his labors into a Free Methodist Society, Mr. Stanard sent for Joseph Travis, District Chairman over portions of Illinois and Iowa, to come and hold a Quarterly Meeting. Notice of this meeting was sent in all directions for many miles, and large numbers gathered, some of them coming a distance of thirty-five miles. Nor were they disappointed, for few men could preach like Joseph Travis, and the preaching on this occasion was characteristic of the man. Before the close of the meeting he had organized a society of twenty-two members. Julius Buss was the first preacher sent them by the Annual Conference. He was succeeded by a. E. Harroun, Sr. The Bear Grove circuit now consisted of four appointments, so scattered that each was one day's drive from the other.

In the spring of 1876 a Quarterly Meeting was held by Mr. Harroun near Monmouth, Iowa, in which a man was powerfully awakened and converted who was destined to put the mark of his influence on Free Methodism in West Iowa, and also in other sections of the country where he labored. "T. J. Gates, familiarly known as Tom Gates, was a sinner indeed. He was addicted to drink, gambling, fighting; a professional horse trader, and withal of a skeptical mind. But the old-fashioned Gospel brought him under thorough awakening. While plowing in his field he began to reason thus: 'Everything has a head, my cattle have heads, my horses have heads, and I have a head; then this world has a head, and that head is God.' He surrendered to God, and was converted on the spot. A remarkable change took place in the man, and he was called to preach. Without any training of the schools, this rugged son of nature nevertheless possessed a vigorous personality, and became a strong character among men; and if success in life is to be judged by the standard of results produced, then does Tom Gates occupy no ordinary place among men.

"In 1883 he visited his father near Elmo, Missouri, who quite naturally desiring to hear his son preach, had a service announced at the High Prairie schoolhouse. At the close of the service the old gentleman said, with tears in his eyes, 'Tommy, there is none of your kind of people in this country. You had better go back where you came from.' Tom's characteristic reply was, 'You don't understand it, father; we have got the old machine with us, and expect to thresh out some.' A most remarkable revival followed, and well did the 'old machine' do its work. A society of eighty-four members was organized and a Church soon built. From this work within a few years arose so many preachers that it was termed by the unsaved the Free Methodist Theological Seminary. Among those who went out from this society the author recalls the following: M. D. and J. C. Myers, W. S. and E. Ballenger, G. B. Whittington, J. F. Mudd, F. I. Waters, and W. W. Vinson." [3]

The fire already kindled in West Iowa continued to burn with intensity, and to spread in various directions. It caught particularly in Glasgow, Shambaugh, College Springs, Center Chapel, in the vicinity of Red Oak and Bingham, thus forming the nucleus of what finally became the Red Oak District of the West Iowa Conference, which was later subdivided into what are now the Shenandoah and Creston districts. Regardless of certain weaknesses, eccentricities and extravagances characteristic of "Tom Gates," he w as instrumental in building into Free Methodism some choice characters. "Some of the noblest and best of saints will through all eternity be grateful to God for this rugged, virile man, who has now passed beyond the reach of either the praise or censure of men."

Among others who w ere largely instrumental in giving character to the West Iowa work in the earlier days should be mentioned J. W. Dake, T. B. Arnold, J. M. Reilly, Joseph Lutz, T. H. Allen, and J. H. Wilson. Mr. Dake was a man of powerful physique, stentorian voice, vigorous intellect, forceful character, lion-like courage, prophetic inspiration, and humble love. He was uncompromising in his devotion to Jesus Christ, and in his preaching of the gospel ever showed the courage of his convictions. He served for years in the relation of District Chairman, traveling various districts, and exercising his gifts for the spreading of pure and undefiled religion, and for the upbuilding of the Conference in holiness. Later he lingered, greatly beloved of his brethren, as a superannuated preacher, until the Master summoned him on high.

J. M. Reilly was a man of gentle mold, and yet of unswerving devotion and integrity. He was faithful in pastoral work, and was much beloved of the people. He also served for a time as District Chairman, and helped to give strength and character to the work. He was rather delicate physically, and finally succumbed to disease while in middle life.

Joseph Lutz is reported to have been "a pastor indeed, and greatly beloved," who "died in the fullness of manhood's days." While conducting a revival meeting he was prostrated with typhoid fever, and soon went to join the silent majority. Throughout the delirium attendant upon his illness, he would preach and pray with great earnestness, and sang and shouted the praises of the Lord until his voice was hushed by the waters of death. The memory of those who knew him lingers fondly over his name, which is as ointment poured forth.

T. H. Allen and J. H. Wilson were somewhat younger men than those already mentioned, but not a whit behind them in self-sacrificing devotion to the interests of God's work. Loyalty to God and truth and duty was prominently written upon the character of each, and all Who knew them knew them as "living epistles" as living examples of fidelity to God. Both served for some years as District Chairmen, and that with great efficiency. It fell to them to guide the affairs of the Conference through a period of stress and strain occasioned by the rise and development of a type of schismatic fanaticism known as "The Firebrand Movement," and the Church owes them an everlasting debt of gratitude for the wisdom and firmness with which they exercised their office to restrain and control the wild and rabid elements until they were naturally, and without any harmful violence, sloughed off, as the foul and poisonous matter is sloughed off from a running sore when the healing process is consummated. Mr. Allen was especially involved in the conflict against this inveterate evil; it ever found in him a foeman worthy of his steel. Both of these gentlemen are still (1915) laboring devotedly as ministers of the Free Methodist Church-Mr. Allen [4] as District Elder in the Oklahoma Conference, and Mr. Wilson as District Elder in the South Dakota Conference.

[2] Rev. L. Mendenhall In "Semi-centennial Of Free Methodism," by Worth W Vinson.

[3] Semi-centennial of Free Methodism," by Worth W. Vinson, pages 21-23.

[4] Mr. Allen finished his course March, lP15, after the foregoing was in the pages and ready for the electrotyper. In his death the Church has lost one of her most devoted and loyal ministers. For many years he had stood "like an iron pillar strong" in defense and for the promotion of pure and undefiled religion, and much precious fruit of his faithful ministry remains.