| 745 that Elder Gurley raised up the Yellowstone branch, the members of which helped to form the nucleus of the Reorganization. An account of this we give in the words of one of the participants, Elder Eli M. Wildermuth, now of Plano, Illinois:-
"In the latter part of the year 1850, Zenos H. Gurley, Sr., . . .stopped to rest a few days with an old friend near Yellowstone, Wisconsin. He was called upon to preach the funeral sermon of a little child of David and Anna Wildermuth. This was the first sermon ever preached in that vicinity by a Latter Day Saint. Mr. and Mrs. Wildermuth were so well pleased with the doctrine advocated at the funeral by Elder Gurley that they earnestly invited him to remain awhile and preach in the neighborhood. The Elder consented and began to hold services in private houses. After hearing a few sermons David Wildermuth, and his wife, two sons, E. C. and E. M., and one daughter, and two old ladies gave their names for baptism. Sometime, either in the latter part of August or first part of September, they were immersed in the Yellowstone Creek. These seven formed the nucleus of what afterwards became a large and flourishing branch, the members of which later on made the first move towards the reorganization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."
Later Elder H. P. Brown came to the assistance of Elder Gurley, and in about one year from the time of Elder Gurley's first visit there was a large branch of the church organized, called the Yellowstone branch. Zenos H. Gurley was chosen to preside over the branch.
In 1851 it became known to this branch that J. J. Strang and others were preaching polygamy and other things which they could not indorse [endorse]. A protest was therefore drawn up, which Elder E. M. Wildermuth gives in substance as follows: "To Whom it may Concern: This is to certify that we the undersigned who are members of the Yellowstone branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, do hereby protest against the practice of polygamy and other abominations that are practiced by James J. Strang and his followers; and withdraw our fellowship
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