Here lies the tombstones of Bosmon Clifton and his wife, Sarah.  Bosmon is credited with establishing the church and cemetery in the 1800's.  Pictured standing next to the graves are Roger Knutson (left), Livingston historian and LaVerne Clifton, Great-Great-Great Grandson of Bosmon Clifton pictured in 2023.

                                                                    And the Story Begins....

     The land for the cemetery and the Rock Church was donated by Bosmon and Sarah (Zumwalt) Clifton upon the death of their daughter, whose name was Mary.  They came to the area in the Spring of 1834 because of the slavery in Missouri and used his home as a Christian meeting place before the church was built in 1851.  The township of Clifton was named for him.  Bosmon borrowed the money needed to build the church at an interest rate of 30%.  Stone for the church was quarried near Martinville and was hauled to the site by oxen.  The wood for the floor and windows was cut from the large timbers also taken locally. The church is the result of early settlers who were determined to have a place of worship and to have a meeting place.  An old pot-bellied stove was used for heat, the windows were of clear glass and the old fashioned pump organ is still in use.  An antique. wood-burning parlour stove was installed in 2019 to replace the original coal burning stove.  No electricity or running water has ever been installed in the church.

     Weekly services have not been held since 1944, except in mid-October to observe the anniversary of the church's founding.   The Livingston United Methodist Church moves their regular morning service to the old Rock Church each second Sunday in October.

     The Rock Church still stands as a preserved memory of another age.  It is the oldest church building in Grant County.  In the earliest days the Rock Church Ladies Aid helped maintain the church and served dinners to raise money for this purpose until 1944.  The Rock Church Memorial Society was then formed.  They had an annual dinner on Washington's birrthday, February 22 for the purpose of raising money.

     The Rock Church Memorial Society then met for years having potluck dinners at noon on the second Wednesday of March, May, September, and November.  A free will offering was taken at these meetings and along with other donations and memorials, the church was maintained.

     The 50th anniversary was celebrated in 1901 and the hundredth anniversary on October 14, 1951.  At that time of the centennial, plaques were purchased from Mrs. Marcia Grindell and placed over the two outside doors.  The south door plaque reads "1851-1951" and the north door plaque reads "Rock Church Methodist".

     In 1985-86, the church was completely refurbished.  The outside was tuck-pointed, new doors installed and wooden trim was painted.  Inside the church, the ceiling and walls were plastered and painted, the floor was sanded and sealed, and new pews were added.  On June 29, 1986, a service of dedication was held.  John Wells was the pastor at the time.

     Although the church is used only occasionally, the cemetery has grown in size.  The Rock Church Cemetery Association, which is a separate organization, is in charge of maintaining the cemetery, selling plots and keeping the burial records.

     In 2018 the Rock Church Memorial Society formed a non-profit corporation and received a 501(c)(3) tax status for tax deductibility of donations received.  The original 1 1/2 acres were resurveyed and clarified with the Rock Church Cemetery Assoc. with a quit claim deed.  The Southen Conference United Methodist Church also graciously sold the Rock Church to the Rock Church Memorial Society, Inc. which holds the title today.

     On June 25th, 2018 the Southern Conference United Methodist Church transferred the ownership of the Rock Church, near Livingston, WI to the newly formed Rock Church Memorial Society, Inc. (RCMS).  This organization was purposely created to accept ownership of the Rock Church and provide deductibility of donations with 501(c)(3) tax status.  Officers, President -- Roger Knutson, Vice Pres. -- Carol Thomas, Secretary -- Brad Biddick and Treasurer -- Donna McLimans attended the closing along with Director, Keith Yelinek, who notarized the signature of Pastor Lee Bushweiler, the Chairman of  the Board of Trustees of the Southern Conference United Methodist Church.

Left: Pastor Lee Bushweiler & Keith Yelinek (signing).  Right: Roger Knutson, Brad Biddick, Carol Thomas, Lee Bushweiler, Donna McLimmans, Keith Yelinek.

*It should be noted that Keith Yelinek grew up a mile from this church and attended it regularly with his family as a child.

    The original deed from Bosman and Sarah Clifton to the Methodist Episcopal Church was dated January 29, 1852.  The transaction was made for one dollar ($1.00).  The Rock Church Memorial Society is humbly, grateful to the Southern Conference United Methodist Church for their willingness to transfer the ownership of the Rock Church to the RCMS for one dollar ($1.00).  The Rock Church Memorial Society presented a 2018 Silver Dollar as payment at the closing plus an 1852 Large Cent signifying the original date. 

    Below is a photo of the plaque that is on display in the church commemorating this special occasion .

    Recently, the old wood burning stove, that sat between the two doors in the back of the Rock Church, has been replaced.  Over the years, the interior cast iron grate had cracked and broke.  It became unsafe to use, yet the stove added a touch of the "old days" to the historic church. It was a Cole's - Hot Blast No. 247 stove.

    A replacement stove was located in Blanchardville, WI.  It is pictured below (left) at the time of purchase.  On the right is the "newly restored" Radiant Stewart No. 72 parlor stove built by Fuller-Warren in Milwaukee, WI, after it was cleaned, sand blasted, painted and reassembled.  The stove was installed prior to Memorial Day 2019.