also, he preached on Sunday. The two Methodist churches were using Wood's hall, a large room over the store on the corner of Main and Second streets, now partitioned into rooms. As early as 1851, and from then until 1860, traveling and local preachers of the Methodist churches had visited and preached in the vicinity of where Chico now stands. Rev. E. Merchant, of the M. E. church, came in 1851, and was probably the pioneer of all. Wilson Pitner, a local preacher noted for eccentricity, came next. M. E. CHURCH SOUTH, CHICO.-In 1859, Rev. James Gray organized a church in the vicinity of Chico. Four acres of ground were donated and a parsonage erected on the road four miles north of Chico. After two years of service, he was succeeded by Rev. B. H. Russell, who served one year. Next came Rev. H. C. Neal, who served one year. During Mr. Neal's term, in 1862, the four acres were exchanged for a half block of ground in the town, the same on which the church and two parsonages now stand; and the old shanty of a parsonage was removed to the lot in town. Rev. W. F. Compton served as preacher-in-charge during 1863, Rev. Mr. Hargis in 1864, Rev. Huff in 1865, and Rev. J. M. Lovell in 1866. In the autumn of 1866, Rev. R. A. Latimer became pastor, and the enterprise of building a church-house which had been already begun, was pushed forward to a successful end. The pastors since have been: In 1867, Rev. B. C. Howard; in 1868, Rev. W. R. Gobu, by whom the debt was paid off and the premises improved; in 1870, Rev. B. F. Burris; in 1871, Rev. Joel Hedgepeth, during whose term the district parsonage was built; in 1872 and 1873, Rev. Jesse Wood, during whose term the station parsonage was built, the front of the church renewed, the town erected and the bell purchased ; in 1874 and '75, Rev. James Kelsay; in 1876, Rev. C. P. Jones; in 1877, '78, '79 and '80, Rev. L. C. Renfro, during whose term all debt remaining against the property of the church was paid off, and the interior of the church much improved; in 1881 and '82, Rev. J. W. Atchinson, the present pastor. During all these years, with probably two exceptions, the church has been uniformly prosperous. FIRST M. E. CHURCH, CHICO.- A communication from Rev. C. A. Leaman, says: "It was not until 1859 that there was any regular organization of the church. In that year a circuit was formed in connection with the Marysville District of the California Conference, under the charge of the Rev. R. Hobart, consisting of Chico (then a very small village), Cherokee Flat and Rock Creek; and on the ninth of December, 1859, the first quarterly meeting was held in Chico. At this meeting a permanent organization was effected, a few scattered members having been gathered together. Year after year they struggled on, holding their services in the school-house and hall, but still gaining strength. In 1867, a fine lot of land, 132 feet square, was very kindly donated to the church by General John Bidwell. Α building was soon after commenced for a parsonage; but as the hall in which religious service was held changed hands and could no longer be secured for such purposes, the parsonage in course of erection was converted into a temporary church. The building was 24 by 32 feet in size, but accommodated the congregation. The year following they succeeded in building a small house for a parsonage on the same lot. In 1870, the circuit was divided, and Chico was made a separate charge, under the name of the First M. E. Church, of Chico. Since then it has been under the pastorate of several different members of the California conference. In 1870, a sabbath-school was organized by Rev. M. P. Farnham, pastor at the time, which has continued to the present, and now numbers 135 scholars. During the pastorate of Rev. W. B. Priddy, in April, 1874, the foundation of the new church-building was laid, and finished in August and dedicated. The membership of the church at the present time numbers 85. The church is entirely free from debt, and has an excellent building well located. The present pastor, Rev. A. Holbrook, is serving for the third year with acceptability. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICO. Rev. J. S. McDonald preached on the twenty-sixth of July, 1868, in Wood's hall. At the close of the service a meeting was held to ascertain what persons desired to unite as members to organize a Presbyterian church. The names given in were as follows: Dr. J. F. Wayland, wife and daughter, John R. Kennedy, John Bidwell, Geo. P. Farr, Newell Hall, Wm. Waterland, Watson Chalmers, Mrs. Dr. S. M. Sproul. August 9, Rev. J. G. Fackler preached, and thought to organize the church the following Sunday, but the extreme heat of the season prostrated him and he left. On the thirtieth of August, 1868, Rev. S. Y. Wells preached and organized a church, composed of the members already named. At intervals after that the church had service from Revs. P. V. Veder, J. N. Hurd, Alex. Fairbanks, and Thos. Frazer. Rev. A. Fairbanks was called as pastor in October, 1868. Mr. Fairbanks began his labors December 13, 1868. The meetings were held in Wood's hall, which was given by the owner at a nominal rent. The principal work of building a church was done in 1871, and in the late autumn of that year the building was ready for dedication. On this occasion the venerable Dr. W. A. Scott, of San Francisco, officiated. The building is the finest of its kind in the county, costing about $14,000, nearly all of which was paid by General Bidwell. September 11, 1873, Rev. A. Fairbanks tendered his resignation. Rev. O. C. McCullough, of Wisconsin, was called, but consented to serve the church for a time only. Rev. A. M. Stewart, of Gilroy, was called, and began service June 1, 1874. Dr. Stewart's pastorate lasted only nine months, when he was attacked with brain fever, and after a short illness died. He was 62 years of age, and a ripe scholar. Rev. John Woods was called to the pastorate, and was formally installed June 8, 1875. Mr. Woods tendered his resignation in November, 1876. April 15, 1877, the church called Rev. J. W. Ellis, of Nebraska, who accepted, and began service at once. Mr. Ellis served two years and a half, and resigned to take charge of the church in Los Angeles. Rev. J. B. Warren was next called, and began work on the first of December, 1879, and was installed in 1881. The church is quite prosperous, and has a membership of between 70 and 80 members. THE BROWN CHAPEL, CHICO. Rev. J. M. Woodman moved to Chico from Oroville in June, 1863, and preached nearly two years in the Bidwell hall, which then occupied a space in the second story of the post office building, now partitioned into rooms. In 1865, he built his academy, which he used as a church on Sunday. It was called the Brown chapel, on account of the color of its paint. Here, in July, 1867, he organized a Congregational church with sixteen members, and by additions afterward had on the list as many as twenty-eight names. The church was recognized in the Congregational Association as a church, though Mr. Woodman himself was never a member of the association. Regular services were continued in the chapel until, on the twelfth of November, 1874, the building was consumed by fire, after which, with free consultation and good feeling, the church resolved to disband. THE CHRISTIAN UNION, CHICO. In April, 1874, Rev. Jesse Wood, having withdrawn from the Pacific Annual Conference of the M. E. Church, South, organized a religious society, composed of the fragments of such religious sects as were not represented by an organization in Chico. The society chose the name Christian Union, and built a fine large church on Fifth street, between Broadway and Salem. The building and furniture cost about $7,000. The society had a regular organization, and among its members were many influential citizens. The church was "inaugurated," not "dedicated." Rev. Dr. L. Hamilton, of Oakland, pastor of the Independent Presbyterian church, officiated. All things went prosperously for a season. Con gregations were large, and the spirit of the membership exultant; but in the course of time the steady pressure of the orthodox churches against the institution, together with the deadly influence of a heavy debt on the building, proved to be too much for a society so loosely joined together. In October, 1875, the society disbanded in perfect peace and harmony. Within a few months their building was rented to a society, who soon formed a regular Congregational church, and subsequently purchased the property. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CHICO. After the disbanding of the Christian Union, many who had been interested in it, with others who had been members of Mr. Woodman's Congregational church, in consultation with Rev. J. H. Warren and Rev. L. Dickerman, resolved to organize a Congregational church. A society was formed, and Rev. L. Dickerman was called as pastor. The building erected by the Christian Union was engaged, and Mr. Dickerman preached to large audiences. In the spring of 1876, a regular Congregational church was organized, which was recognized and received the fellowship of the Valley Association. Mr. Dickerman's pastorate continued until the summer of 1879, when he resigned. In the course of a few months Rev. T. H. Mead was called to the church, and served it one year. At the close of Mr. Mead's term the church disbanded. The building which they had purchased was subsequently rented to, and is now occupied by, THE CHICO BAPTIST CHURCH. This church was organized in July, 1880, at a meeting which assembled in the old school-house, upon a call issued by Rev. Elias Findley. There were nine members registered. Rev. E. Findley presided, assisted by Rev. Mr. Brooks. The church held regular services at the school-house until February, 1881, when they engaged and have since occupied the Congregational church. October 1, 1881, Rev. J. N. Burroughs became pastor, and the church now numbers twenty-nine members. THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH, CHICO. This church has a comfortable little building in Chico, and has had pastors at intervals for years. Rev. John Reed was the last pastor. The membership is small but zealous, and are worthy of commendation for their fidelity. Mr. Peter Powers has been a leader among them for years past. THE BIGGS CHURCH. The town of Biggs has one large and handsome church. It was built in 1874, and is the property of the Baptist people, though used by the two Methodist societies half the time. Of the Baptist church Rev. Father Doon, Rev. Mr. Wells and Rev. J. S. Jesse have been pastors. Mr. Jesse resigned about a year ago and accepted a call to Wheatland. The ministers of the M. E. church, sent from the conference from year to year, occupy a parsonage in the town and preach alternately at Biggs and Gridley. These pastors have been Rev. Mr. Parks in 1877, Rev. J. B. Fish in 1878, Rev. Geo. Adams in 1879, Rev. Mr. Jones in 1880, and the present pastor, Rev. W. S. Corwin. The M. E. Church South has also kept a minister at these and adjacent places from year to year. At present the church property is seriously incumbered with debt. THE CHURCHES OF GRIDLEY. First of these is the United Brethren, which was organized in 1864, by Rev. J. H. Mayfield, with fifty members. This membership and organization was the result of a revival meeting held at the Live Oaks school-house in the fall of 1863. Rev. J. W. Harrow was the first pastor sent from conference. Then in succession came Bros. S. D. Ensley, R. B. Harris, G. W. Child, E. Harrow, J. L. Field, A. Musselman, John McBryde, C. W. Gillett, and G. W. Burtner. The membership is now forty-six. Under the same pastor there is also an organization of this denomination at Bangor. The first church edifice was erected in 1866, by Rev. Philip Boulware, who furnished a large portion of the material and did nearly all the work with his own hands. It stood where the Gridley cemetery now is. After the coming of the railroad made the town of Gridley, a new church was built in the town, mainly through the efforts of J. C. Fields. The old house was taken away. The church also owns a parsonage and fifteen acres of valuable land. The parsonage was built in 1871. The M. E. church in Gridley was organized by Rev. J. S. Fisher in 1876, with eight members. A neat and comfortable church-house was built in 1877. The church has had the same pastors as the M. E. church at Biggs, whom we have already named. CHURCHES AT FORBESTOWN, BANGOR AND PARADISE. In each of these little towns there is a nice church building owned by the Methodists, who have a society organized at each place, principally the work of the last two years. The pastor in both places is the preacher in charge of the Brownsville circuit, sent by the annual conference from year to year. At Bangor also the United Brethren have a nice church building and a membership served by the pastor, who resides in Gridley. The building was begun in 1880, completed and dedicated in March, 1881. At Paradise is a small Congregational church, under the pastorate of Rev. E. Hoskins. It was organized in 1879. D. C. Proctor is deacon. BIOGRAPHICAL. MATTHEW BADER is a Prussian by birth, and was born July 25, 1830. He tilled the soil till 1852, when he followed the tide of emigration westward, crossing the Atlantic and coming direct to Butte county. He mined a short time at Enterprise, and also at Centerville. In 1853, he settled at Dogtown, where he has since resided. He engaged in merchandising for a number of years, and has always done a great deal of mining. For the last six years he has farmed and mined in that locality. JOHN BARRETT was born in Lemoil county, Vt., September 19, 1825. When 19 years old he began work in a grist-mill at Worcester, Massachusetts, where he remained five years. Leaving Worcester, he followed farming in Vermont till 1854, when he came to California, and settled in Butte county. Mr. Barrett has mined almost continuously here ever since. He commenced work on the Birch and Barrett claim, now called the Magalia, in the fall of 1856. In that year he was one to start the first tunnel which was run under Table mountain. Mr. Barrett was married in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1848, to Miss Catherine Flanigan, who died in 1854, leaving one child. He was again united in marriage in 1858, at the city of San Francisco, to Miss Mary Shea, by whom he has had three children. FRANK FORD CARNDUFF was born in West Galway, Fulton county, New York, March 25, 1845. His father was born near Glasgow, and with his grandfather moved to the United States when only nine years of age, and arrived in California in the spring of '49, via Cape Horn, and has lived in or near Stockton ever since. The subject of this sketch, with his mother, sailed for California February 6, 1852, via Nicaragua, and was wrecked on the Coast of Central America February 27, 1852. After a long stay in the woods, the wrecked passengers procured transportation to Acapulco, where Frank was sick with the fever for a number of months, and did not reach San Francisco until late in May. He lived |