History of the New Auburn Seventh Day Baptist Church

The New Auburn Seventh Day Baptist Church was established in 1879 by D.W. Cartwright, who also founded the village of Cartwright, now known as New Auburn.

Picture of the 1st Seventh Day Baptist Church, New Auburn, WI.



A picture of the church built in 1956-57 and still being used today.



The following information was taken from the Centennial of Service Program -1979, compiled by Grace Loofboro.

In 1875, into an almost unbroken wilderness, in northern Chippewa County, Wisconsin, came a man with a pioneering spirit and a definite idea of what he wished to do. This man, David W. Cartwright, had been in the area previously leading hunting parties. Now he set about the task of setting up a saw mill.

Uncle David, as he was commonly called, was a Seventh Day Baptist from Milton, so it naturally followed that those of like faith, desiring employment, would drift into the area. In November of 1878, Mr. Perry Sweet and his family arrived here from Milton.

They had not been here long when Mrs. Sweet gathered half a dozen children about her on Sabbath morning and held a Sabbath school. Meetings were held and people were added to the church.

On June 9th Elder Bailey organized the Church and Society of Auburn at Cartwright Mills, Chippewa County. Charter membes were: D.J. Cartwright and his wife, P.C. Stapleton and his wife, C.H. West and his wife, Perry Sweet and his wife, O.B. Hoard and Mrs. Merinda Hull.

In the evening after the Sabbath, the group met to consider the feasibility of building a house of worship. They voted to build a building 20 ft by 30ft. Perry Sweet and wife donated the land. Lumber and labor were pledged by the membership and money for the nails, windows, doors, paint and a stove were pledged by Elder Bailey.

In Febuary 1880, the church issued a call to Elder Bailey to be pastor. He agreed to be with us as circumstances permitted.

In 1882, the church voted to drop the name "Cartwright Mills" from it's name. A system of church trustees was set up and has continued to the present time.

In September, they dismissed Elder Bailey as pastor but requested him to continue preaching as long as he was among them.

In May 1883, they invited Elder Eugene Socwell to come and labor among them, agreeing to pay his travel expenses to and from Milton and to furnish him with manual labor while here.

In March 1884, the society extended a call to E. H. Socwell to become resident pastor and accepted his terms - $200 per year plus $25 traveling expenses and a dwelling place. Perry Sweet donated land for a parsonage and the first request for aid from the Missionary Board for $100 to help in the support of Elder Socwell was sent.

In 1884, the society voted to build an extrance and belfry on the church, so as to house the bell the Milton had given them in 1883.

In 1885, Elder Socwell requested to be released from his duties that he might pursue further education that he might be more effectual in his service.

In 1887, Elder A.W. Coon served the church. In 1888, Elder R. Trewartha offered to come and preach for one year. By 1895, The Auburn Seventh Day Baptist Church of Cartwright reported itself extinct to Conference. There, were, at that time, only five resident members left at Cartwright.

Evangelistic meetings were held and by 1897, the membership was again growing. In September 1901, the church sent a call to A.G. Crowfoot to become their pastor. In 1904, he resigned. In November Rev. Perie Burdick was called from New Auburn, Minnesota to pastor our church. She passed away in 1906.

Elder C.S. Sayre came here to hold meetings in November 1906. In January 1907, the church voted to seek membership in the Semi-Annual Meetings of the Dodge Center and the New Auburn, Minnesota churches. Elder J.H. Hurley came among them in 1908, resigning in 1914. On November 28, 1914 John Babcock was called as pastor, resigning in 1916. In 1916 cottage prayer meetings were again held during the winter.


Elder Cottrell was welcomed on May 4, 1918 by Rev. Ernest Barber. He resigned in October of 1919 to to to Garwin, Iowa.

In the spring of 1920, C. B. Loofbourrow was called as pastor and arrived in October.

In 1922, a good deal of discussion took place, such as plans for a basement under the church, creation of a Cemetry Association, deed to the parsonage property and incorportation of the church into a legal body. A new Constitution was adopted. They voted to pay the pastor $1000 per year and become a standard church.