THE FIRST 100 YEARS
OF
SACRAMENTO LODGE No.40
OSGOOD CHURCH WHEELER
Osgood Church Wheeler, an original
petitioner of Sacramento Lodge, was born in the township of Wolcott (now
Butler) Wayne County, New York, March 13, 1816. Working his way through an
eight year course at Madison University he graduated with honor from both the
college and the Theological Seminary. Soon after graduating he married Miss H.
E. Hamilton who presented him with a son and a daughter. Before reaching the
age of thirty he was ordained a Minister of Gospel at East Greenwich, Rhode
Island and became the first pastor of Baptist Church at that place. After two
years he was called to Jersey City , New Jersey, and, after organizing a strong
church there was asked by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society on Nov.
1, 1848, to go to California as its Pioneer Missionary. After several refusals
he finally accepted and on Dec. 1, 1848, he and his wife boarded the steamer Falcon
enroute to Chargres. In ninety days Chargres was reached and a dugout trip
carried them to Cruces, followed by a mule-back trip to Panama. At Panama, on
February 1, 1849, the steamer California was boarded bringing them to
San Francisco on Feb. 28, 1849. The California was the first of the U.
S. Pacific Mail Steamships and the first steamer to enter the Golden Gate. Mrs.
Wheeler had the distinction of being the first lady missionary to reside in
California. On March 18, 1849, Rev. Wheeler commenced preaching in the private
dwelling of C. L. Ross and on May 27, 1849 organized a Sabbath School. It is
claimed that Rev. Wheeler was the first Protestant Clergyman to preach a sermon
in California. On July 6, 1849 the First Baptist Church of San Francisco was
organized by Rev. Wheeler with six Charter Members. During this month he
purchased a lot on the north side of Washington Street between Dupont and
Stockton Streets and with his assistance, the first Protestant Church edifice
in California was erected. It was completed August 2, 1849 and dedicated three
days later. This building was used during the week as the first free public
school on the Pacific Coast. On October 21, 1849, Rev. Wheeler baptized Col.
Thomas N. Kellum by immersion in the waters of San Francisco Bay; the first
known baptism by immersion in California. On Feb. 27, 1850 Rev. Wheeler was
elected President of the Public Tract Society which office he retained until
his move to Sacramento. The First Baptist Church of Sacramento was organized by
this pastor on Sept. 9, 1850 at the residence of Judge E. J. Willis on H Street
between 6th and 7th Streets. There were 15 charter members and the first
service was held on Sept. 15, 1850 at the Court House, corner of 5th and I
Streets. In the Spring of the next year the building for the First Baptist
Church of Sacramento was erected at the corner of 7th and L Streets at a cost
of about $4,000. On Nov. 2, 1851, Rev. Wheeler resigned the pastorate of the
First Baptist Church of San Francisco and the following February accepted a
call to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Sacramento. In the next
fall the church edifice was enlarged at a cost of some $3,000 but was destroyed
by the great fire of Nov. 2, 1852 shortly after its completion. The
congregation then held its meetings at the Court House corner of 7th Street through
the cooperation of Rev. B. F. Crouch, Jr. (also an original petitioner of
Sacramento Lodge). Rev. Wheeler, with the assistance of Judge E. J. Willis
published and edited a weekly paper The Baptist Banner, the first
issue bearing the date of Aug. 19, 1852, and the first religious paper of this
denomination published west of the Rockies. A throat infection, acquired during
his career as a minister of the Gospel and a public speaker, caused his
resignation from the ministry in April 1854. A trip to the Eastern States
seeking relief from the infection was unfruitful, and after sixteen days he
again embarked for California. His throat became worse and in 1869 he abandoned
all hope of continuing in his profession. In 1855 he was recording secretary
for the State Agricultural Society which had been organized the previous year
but declined reelection unless the Society would establish itself and offer
some degree of permanence as the result of his labor. This assurance was not
granted immediately and during the year 1856 he was only an un-official aid to
the Society. The following year, however, the required stability was assured
and he resumed his duties as Corresponding Secretary serving until 1863 when he
resigned to become Chief Clerk of the Legislative Assembly. At the close of the
session which lasted approximately 120 days, he was placed in charge of the
Fourth Collection District of Internal Revenue in California under President
Lincoln and was one of the most energetic workers in the United States Sanitary
Commission, which was instrumental in raising so much money for the relief of
the wounded soldiers and prisoners of the Union Army during the war. Rev.
Wheeler's wife died in 1869 and for a while he was so prostrated that for a
period he was not expected to live, but recovered and in 1871 was engaged by
the Central Pacific Railroad to organize its Baggage Department and was so
successful as chief of that department that in the spring of 1873, the Company
sent him through the 26 States and Territories of the United States and into
the Dominion of Canada to inspect the operation of every prominent railroad.
This assessment was completed in just 58 days. In April, 1872, Rev. Wheeler
married Miss Ellen R. Frisbie of Quincy, Illinois. In May, 1879, the California
College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity and in July of that
year the University of Jackson, Tennessee, conferred upon him the Degree of
Doctor of Laws. Rev. Wheeler passed away on April 16, 1891, at his home in
Oakland where he had resided for the last nineteen years. Brother Wheeler was
initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason on April 7, 1852, passed to the degree of
Fellowcraft on May 3, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on May
31, 1852 in Tehama Lodge No. 3 of Sacramento. In July 1853, he became a member
of Sacramento Lodge as one of its original petitioners but, after the Lodge was
duly organized, returned to Tehama Lodge No. 3 serving that Lodge as its
Chaplain in 1856. During this year he also served the Grand Lodge of California
as Chaplain. He became Worshipful Master of Tehama Lodge No. 3 in 1862. On May
5, 1877 at the age of 61 Bro. Wheeler affiliated with Oakland Lodge No. 188 F.
& A. M., Oakland, California, dimitting from Tehama No. 3 and remaining a
member of that Lodge until death.
Transcribed by Sally
Kaleta.
Proofread by Betty
Vickroy.
© 2007 Sally Kaleta.