HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES OF BUTTE COUNTY.

BY REV. JESSE WOOD.

Prior to the year 1857, there were ministers of the gospel who occasionally preached in the miningcamps of Butte county. There are traditions or legends of their peculiarities yet lingering, but no trace of any permanent results of their labors. The Methodist Church was represented by a circuit preacher, in and around Oroville, in 1855 and '56, who occupied a house in old Lynchburg.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT OROVILLE.

On Sunday, February 22, 1857, a meeting was held in the court-house in Oroville for the purpose. of organizing a Congregational church. The meeting was called by Rev. B. N. Seymour. Rev. J. J. Powell, who organized the Welch church at Cherokee, was present, and assisted in the organization. The membership, as given in on that day, were Dr. T. C. Coxhead and wife, D. L. Emerson, Mrs. B. N. Seymour, and Messrs. Harrison, Johnson, Cleveland and Gilbert; and these persons then organized what is now called the First Congregational Church of Oroville. Steps were soon after taken to erect a church edifice. Mr. Seymour was pastor. After two years, he was succeeded by Rev. H. Cumming, The brick church, which stood on a lot two blocks in the rear of the present church building, was not yet completed. By the energetic efforts of the new pastor, the house was soon finished and furnished. The pastorate of Mr. Cumming continued only about a year. In the course of the next year, Rev. J. M. Woodman, a Free-Will Baptist, came out from the East, and was invited to occupy the pulpit. This continued a little more than a year, when Mr. Woodman removed to Chico, and came to Oroville to preach twice a month for some time. Next came Rev. P. G. Buchanan, and after him, Rev C. M. Bates, who served two years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Brier, Jr. Under these pastors, who occupied about two-thirds of the time between 1860 and 1873, the church had seasons of seeming prosperity, and other seasons of slumber, nigh unto death. At one time, for the space of about two years, Mrs. Dr. James Green was the only member remaining. Her membership began almost with the beginning of the church and has continued to the present day. In 1873, the Congregational church being without a pastor, and the Methodist Conference having sent Rev. Mr. Jones to the circuit, he occupied the church for one year. Then came Rev. H. C. Walsh, an Irish-Wesleyan minister, who had,

in California, connected himself with the Congregationalists. Under his administration, the old brick church was taken down, and the materials used in part for the construction of a large, new, brick church, on a lot more favorably located. The new building cost double what Mr. Walsh had estimated; and ere it was finished, he found himself and the church seriously embarrassed with debt. Mr. Walsh resigned, and left the last of May, 1876. The church was next supplied by Rev. C. T. Tracy, a young graduate of the theological school in Oakland. Mr. Tracy took the church under the most embarrassing circumstances, but attended faithfully to his pulpit duties, and grew in favor with his church. In the mean time, the church was sold by the sheriff, and purchased by M. T. Sparks & Co., the judgment creditors. Rev. Mr. Tracy resigned the pastorate, and Rev. Jesse Wood was invited to supply the pulpit temporarily. His pastorate began on the first Sunday in March, 1877, and continued three years and seven months. At the beginning of his ministry the church debt was finally paid off, and the property recovered by the original organization. During the next year the building was completed, and the church entered upon a course of prosperity, which has been steadily maintained to the present day. After the resignation of Rev. Jesse Wood, the services of Rev. A. Orton were secured. He began his pastorate on the first Sunday in November, 1880, and continues to the present time.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT CHEROKEE.

About the same time the Congregational church was organized in Oroville, a Welch Congregational church was organized in Cherokee, under the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Powell. A neat little chapel was built, which still stands. Succeeding Mr. Powell, the church had for pastor Rev. Mr. Morgan, Rev. Aaron Williams and Rev. H. C. Walsh. There were intervals when it had no pastor, and after Mr. Walsh, from 1875 until 1880, no regular service, until Rev. E. Hoskins was invited to come. Mr. Hoskins served during 1880 and a part of 1881. Since his resignation there has been no regular service maintained. During the life time of Deacon Wm. Morgan and Mrs. Jones, a faithful and intelligent lady, the church had hope and life. The death of these two members left a void which the church has not been able to fill.

METHODIST CHURCH IN OROVILLE.

After the visitation of circuit preachers in 1855 and '56 already referred to, again in 1858 there was a regular Methodist service maintained in the court-house, and a fine brick parsonage built at a cost of about $2,300. This house was built through the zeal, in large measure, of Mr. Gridley, the man who started the sack of flour which went so far and became so famous during the war. As in too many other cases, however, a debt was left on the building, which finally caused it to be sold, and it is now the residence of D. F. Fryer. After this disaster, the Methodists made no further attempts to occupy Oroville permanently, except the year of service by Rev. Mr. Jones already referred to, until 1878, when Rev. Mr. Sheehan being invited to come, made the beginning which has since resulted in a permanent organization. After several weeks' service in Oroville, Mr. Sheehan was drowned in Butte creek, during a time of high water. The presiding elder sent another pastor to their assistance, who filled out the year, when Rev. J. W. Kuykendall was sent. By the zeal and labor of Mr. Kuykendall, the church now standing on the corner opposite the court-house was begun and nearly completed. But he became discouraged, and, for lack of support, left before the year was out. The next year, Rev. Mr. Gregory was sent, and held on to the work of the church through the entire year. In September, 1880, Rev. J. Appleton was sent from the conference, and was re-appointed in 1881. Under the ministry of Mr. Appleton, the church has greatly flourished. The building has been well-nigh completed, and a new and elegant parsonage erected. Both church and parsonage are nearly free from debt. The church has increased in

membership, and a flourishing Sunday-school is maintained.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

The one in Cherokee is probably the oldest one in the county. There is a large building, with a good bell, and a large population served by a priest from Marysville or Chico, as occasion requires. The church in Oroville was a frame building, at the upper end of Pine street, until the year 1875, when a very neat and solid-looking brick house was erected on Bird street, opposite the public school. Services are held on occasions, and sometimes monthly, by a priest who comes from Marysville or Chico. The Catholic church in Chico occupies a large lot, and is a commodious building. The Catholic population there is not large, but regular services are maintained under the charge of Rev. Father Hines, who occupies a handsome little dwelling adjoining the church. At Gridley the Catholics have a nice church, which was completed in October, 1880, and cost $2,000. Services are held monthly by Rev. Thomas Grace.

CHURCHES OF CHICO.

Prior to the year 1866, there was no church building in Chico separately used for church purposes. In 1865, Rev. J. M. Woodman had erected a building used for Mrs. Woodman's private school, in which,