USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 77
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Morse, Asa .- Born in Oneida county, New York, October 5, 1803 ; came to Allegan June 15, 1837, and there died February 1I, 1883.
McMartin, M. T .- Born in Henrietta, New York, June 5, 1829 ; came to Gun Plains September 15, 1833 ; deceased.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Marsh, Spencer .- Born in Lansing, New York, March 25, 1805; came to Allegan July 5, 1836, and there died March 18, 1877.
Murray, E. A .- Born in Charlton, New York, February 28, 1814; came to Allegan in November, 1835; died April 12, 1882.
Muma, Ann .- Born in Dumfries, Canada, November 16, 1830; came to Allegan February 6, 1837 ; deceased.
Parsons, John .- Born in Lyme, Connecticut, December 15, 1805; came to Watson in September. 1840; died April 23. 1882.
Peabody, Johnathan .- Born in Ellisburg, New York, September 17, 1812: came to Allegan September 10, 1836; deceased.
Plummer, Benjamin.
Rossman, Alby .- Born in Harding, New York, January 14, 1812; came to Allegan July 20, 1836; deceased.
His wife, Electa Rossman, born in Conquest, New York, May 6, 1819; came to Allegan October 21, 1837 ; deceased.
Rumery, S. R .- Born in Lockport, New York, February 17, 1820; came to Allegan October 15, 1839; died in Monterey August 24, 1884.
Streeter, J. B .- Born in Rochester, New York, July 4, 1829 ; came to Allegan in September, 1835; deceased.
Stone. Jesse D .- Born in Canajohari, New York, February 13, 1812; came to Allegan in October, 1836; deceased.
Smith, Cynthia .- Born in Conquest, New York, October 8, 1834; came to Allegan in 1837; deceased.
Spear, Charles .- Born in Charlotte, Vermont, August 25, 1828; came to Gun Plains in December, 1835 ; deceased.
Sherwood. M. C .- Born in Otsego, Michigan, January 11, 1833.
Weeks, Alanson S .- Born in Wheelock, Vermont, January 12, 1812; came to Allegan in June, 1835, where he died October 18, 1880.
White, Calvin C .- Born in Grafton, Massachusetts, February 10, 1803 ; came to Gun Plain in 1832 and there died November 7, 1880.
Watkins, Lyman W .- Born in Chester, Vermont, March 10, 1817; came to Allegan in May, 1836; deceased.
His wife, Sylvia Watkins, born in Lansing, New York, March 14, 1823 : came to Allegan in October, 1843 ; deceased.
Weare, Richard .- Born in Bolton, Canada, December 21, 1806; came to Allegan April, 1834; deceased.
Wilson, Charles S .- Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, May 16, 1819; came to Allegan in September, 1838: deceased.
Wetmore. Jos. H .- Born in Westford, New York, March 27, 1826; came to Gun Plains in November, 1835 ; deceased.
His wife, Caroline F. Wetmore, born in Seneca Falls, New York, February 3, 1832 ; came to Allegan in 1836; deceased.
Wetmore, Albert D .- Born in Middlefield, New York, April 17, 1833; came to Gun Plains in November, 1835; deceased.
CHAPTER XVIII. THE CHURCHES.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Shortly after the organization of Allegan county, and before it had been divided into the four original townships, a meeting was held in the house of Silas Dunham near what is now the village of Plainwell. Decem- ber 26, 1835, at which was formed the first Baptist church in Allegan county, as well as the first permanent religious body in the same territory. The names of those taking part in that meeting represent some of the earliest pioneer families of the southeast part of the county. They were : Silas Dunham, Curtis Brigham, S. Calkins, Elisha B. Seely. James Calkins, Alfred S. Dunham, Lydia Brigham, Edwin S. Dunham, Tirza Dunham, Joanna Calkins, Sarah Seely and Matilda Calkins. The council held for the recognition of this church February 4, 1836, was presided over by Elder Jeremiah Hall as moderator, who also became the first pastor of the body. Previous to this meetings had been held, generally at the house of Mr. Dunham, since 1833, and in March, 1835, Deacon Curtis Brigham had commenced stated meetings at the log schoolhouse on the Plains.
This was the mother church in the county, and from it have been formed several of the Baptist churches now active in the county. It con- tained adherents from all over southeastern Allegan county, and for sev- eral years had no fixed abode, services being held in schoolhouses or resi- dences over the area now ineluded in Gun Plains, Otsego and Allegan town- ships, and also in Cooper township of Kalamazoo county. The first separa- tion to form a church with smaller limits was that of December, 1840, when the Baptists of Cooper organized a church of their own. The mem- bers living in and about Allegan formed a church of their own in January. 184I, and in the following year the remainder of the congregation fixed upon Otsego as a central and permanent church abode. Two other branches have come from the parent church, one portion forming a church in Trow- bridge and another a church in Plainwell, the latter in the year 1864, and the former about 1869.
Otsego.
During the first thirty years the Otsego church was served by the fol- · lowing ministers: Elder Jeremiah Hall. Deacon Curtis Brigham, Elder William A. Bronson (in 1844) ; Rev. Harvey Munger, 1840-44 ; Rev. A. M.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Buck, 1851-57 ; H. Stanwood, 1858; A. M. Buck, 1859-63; O. S. Wolfe, 1864; H. B. Taft, 1864-65; A. M. Buck, 1872. A house of worship was erected in 1855 at a cost of about $1,000.
Plainwell.
The origin of the Baptist church at this village has been described. Meetings were held both on the Plains and at Otsego for some years, and after the building of the plank road and the beginning of the Junction, the schoolhouse at this point served for the house of worship. When the Junc- tion began growing rapidly as a village, to which the name Plainwell was given, an independent Baptist church was organized, on May II, 1864, 22 persons entering with letters of dismission from the Otsego congrega- tion. Rev. O. S. Wolfe was the first pastor, and was followed by Rev. J. Fletcher October 1, 1865, who has served this church continuously forty- one years. This record makes him the dean of Allegan county ministers. He is really the only pastor this, as a separate church, has had. Many of the Otsego members lived in this vicinity, and for their accommodation meetings were held in the schoolhouse here, the people here doing their part in the support of the Otsego pastor. When the 22 persons called for letters of dismission to form the church here, one condition was that the existing arrangement about paying pastor should continue until the end of that finan- cial year, he continuing to preach here for some period, but was the Otsego pastor.
The church at Plainwell was built in 1865-66, being enlarged in 1870. Its location is at the corner of Bridge and Church streets. A chapel was built in 1871 two and a half miles east of the village for the convenience of the people residing in that neighborhood. The oldest members are: H. J. Cushman and wife, J. W. Brigham and wife, Josiah Woodhams and wife, Henry Keeler and wife, Abel S. Dunham and wife.
Allegan.
As related, the Baptists of Allegan were first connected with the Plainfield society. In the old church record, now yellow with age, the first regular entry, dated December 26, 1840, reads as follows: "According to previous appointment, the Baptist church of Plainfield held their covenant meeting in Allegan, when it was resolved that some of the brethren and sisters in Allegan present a request to the Plainfield church to be considered a branch of that church. Appointed Jasper Fisk to make the request." Then follows another minute, dated January 15, 1841: "This day by a vote of the Plainfield church, the following brethren were constituted into a branch": Jasper Fisk, H. Munger, minister, O. Ross, Oramel Fisk, A. Ross, H. Ross, John Colburn, Noah Briggs, Rhoda Munger, J. Ross, H. . Fisk, Hannah Davis, Mary Ann Stone, E. Colburn, S. Briggs, M. Finn. Some who united with the church in the same year were: Aurelia Fuller, Betsey Fisk, Chester Wetmore, Daniel Leggett, John Griffith, Joseph Fisk, Jonathan Peabody, Frederick Day, Amanda Griffith, Mary Jane Kenyon, . Lemuel Wilcox, Leonard Ross, Samuel Wilcox, Fanny Day, Phebe Ross, Levi Wilcox.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
As early as March, 1838, the proprietors of the Allegan village plat (Samuel Hubbard and wife, and C. C. Trowbridge acting for A. L. Ely) had deeded to the trustees of the First Baptist church of Allegan a portion of five lots in the square west of the public square. But no church edifice was erected for some years after the organization. A minute, July 5, 1845, records the acceptance of the report of a committee "to procure a house for to worship in." for which the church would be charged twenty-five cents a day. A brick building was finally begun on the west side of Wal- nut street, but there were difficulties in completing it, Rev. Munger being deputized as agent to solicit funds among other communities during 1852. As is known, this building was purchased by the county in 1854 and con- verted into a court house, which was used until condemned in 1887. The handsome brick edifice now used was dedicated May 21, 1892, being one of the best church buildings in the county, and in keeping with the artistic and modern appearance of the blocks surrounding the public square. The build- ing was made possible by a legacy from Mrs. Hannah Davis, amounting to $10,000, and was begun in April. 1891. The total cost was $22.000. The building committee were A. B. Eaton, E. P. Arnold, B. E. Peabody. J. B. Wood, C. W. Calkins.
Harvey Munger was the first regular minister of the church, though his time was not devoted entirely to this charge. He was succeeded in the fall of 1846 by T. Z. R. Jones, and the latter by Daniel Platt in 1848. Rev. Munger was recalled in May, 1850, and while he was engaged in soliciting funds to complete the church building A. M. Buck served a time as min- ister. The list of ministers as given on the memorial windows of the new church is as follows: Rev. H. Munger, 1841-54; T. Z. R. Jones, 1854-55 ; David Platt, 1855-56: A. J. Bingham, 1856-59 ; Henry Stanwood, 1860-61 ; Wm. McCarthy, 1862-66; A. Snyder, 1866-69: R. Reynolds, 1870-72 ; L. L. Gage, 1873-76: O. O. Fletcher. 1877-79: C. J. Fish, 1880-82 ; J. M. Titter- ington, 1882-84; E. A. Gay, 1884-91; C. R. Baker, 1892-September, 1893 ; E. Haines, December, 1893-September. 1895; A. H. Bailey, September, 1895-1898; J. E. Littell, December, 1898-May, 1906; Rev. Cooper, October. 1906.
The Second Baptist church of Allegan was organized in October, 1877. by Elder Fletcher of Allegan and Elder Brown of Cheshire. The charter members now living are Rev. Joseph Cross and Samuel Chandler. The list of pastors who have served this congregation are: Elder Rolands, Joseph Green, Elders Andrew, Bazy, Nancy, Thomas, William Thompson, William Brown. Cassam Thompson. Joseph Cross.
The First Baptist church of Ganges was organized as a branch of the Allegan church by Elder Harvey Munger, on July 16, 1853. The nine members who composed it were: Levi Loomis, Sarah Ann Loomis, Joseph Collins, Marcus Sutherland, Almira Hudson, Charlotte Collins, Mrs. Suth- erland, Eunice Crawford, Bathsheba Rockwell. Meetings were at first held in schoolhouses. The early pastors were: Austin Harmann, C. P. Grosvenor, Silas Bowker, Abner Webb, E. O'Brien, William Munger, J. E. Platt.
September 22, 1868, seventeen persons, including some of the mem- bers of the first church, organized the Second Baptist church of Ganges.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
The first pastor was Silas Bowker, and the first officers were William P. Sherman, J. H. Barden and Levi Loomis.
Trowbridge.
The church at Otsego established a branch in Trowbridge and held meetings in the Ross schoolhouse. A church was organized with a mem- bership of 46 persons in 1868. May 21, 1873, a church building costing $3,000 was dedicated, its location being on section 24.
ST. MARGARET'S CATHOLIC PARISH, OTSEGO, AND SACRED HEART MISSION,
Watson.
In tracing the history of St. Margaret's Parish, Otsego, we will have to begin with the Sacred Heart Mission in Watson township. As early as the fifties, Catholics began to settle in and around Watson township, and, at the close of that decade, there were twelve or fifteen families who wor- shipped God according to Catholic rite. Father La Bell, whose memory is held in benediction by the old settlers, was the first priest to minister to the wants of Catholics in what may be called the wilds of Watson. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered for the first time in the house of Daniel Bracelin in 1856. As time went on, new settlers came, and in 1862 those sturdy settlers erected a church, where the beautiful ceremonial of Cath- olic service could be carried out. The church is still standing and used as an assembly hall. It has a seating capacity for 250 and is, perhaps, one of the most substantial of the old church buildings in the county. It is regarded by many of the present congregation as intimately connected with their lives. In it they were baptized, received first holy communion and finally made those solemn promises, binding upon husband and wife.
A cemetery was provided about the time the church was built, and almost all the deceased members of the congregation were buried in this plot of ground. It being opposite the church, the living find it convenient to visit the graves of their deceased friends when they attend divine service.
The following priests were pastors of the Watson congregation : Father Herwig, from 1865 to 1870: Father Seyboldt, from 1870 to 1874; Father Broeger, from 1874 to 1877: Father Lovett, from 1877 to 1880 ; Father Dempsey, now vicar-general of the diocese of Detroit, for two and one-half years : Father Wernert, for ten months; Father Van Antwerp, for two and one-half years. During these years the congregation increased in number to such a degree that a larger house of worship became necessary. Father O'Brien, of Kalamazoo, now became pastor and under his direction, and that of his able assistant, Father Ryan, now of Pontiac, a new church was erected. The structure is of red brick and has a seating capacity of 350. The stained glass memorial windows and up to date furniture make it one of the prettiest churches in Allegan county. The style of architec- ture is that of the English chapel. The corner stone was laid in 1888 and the church was dedicated the following year. The following priests labored in this mission since the new church was built: Fathers De Gryse, Ken- nedy, Maner, Lochbiler, Connolly, Rivard, Cullinane and O'Shea.
All this time Catholics were settling in and around Plainwell. In
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1
ORIGINAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
2
GRENZEN
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
577,
HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
1873 they resolved to have a church of their own, and bought the old Pres- byterian church. Here they worshipped till December, 1903, when they amalgamated with the Otsego congregation.
The erection of the Bardeen Paper mills in Otsego in 1887 meant prog- ress for Otsego in every sense. Many Catholics who were employed in the mills found it inconvenient to go to Plainwell for worship, and con- cluded that a Catholic church would have to be built in the thriving village. Accordingly, in 1890, the corner stone of St. Margaret's church was laid and before winter the building was complete. It was a pleasure to all progressive citizens, and the non-Catholic contribution was a very hand- some sum.
For ten years Otsego was attended from Kalamazoo, but at the end of this period Otsego was erected into a parish, with Watson and Plainwell as missions. Father John Desmond O'Shea was the first pastor of the new parish. He and his faithful people worked strenuously to build the hand- some rectory and at the close of the first year had it ready for occupancy.
In July of 1903 the present pastor. Father O'Neill, was assigned to St. Margaret's parish, Otsego, and the missions of Watson and Plainwell. In December the Plainwell congregation was united with Otsego.
The parish was always flourishing and the future would seem to have still greater prosperity in store. Recently a beautiful site was purchased in the village of Allegan and soon a new church will raise its spire heaven- ward, pointing out to men their end and destiny.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Otsego.
Under the "plan of union" by which the early Presbyterians and Con- gregationalists worshipped, it happens that the Congregational church of Otsego and the Presbyterian church of Plainwell trace their origin to the same meeting, which has been described in the sketch of the Plainwell Presbyterian church. The first religious services of the society were held at Otsego February 26, 1837. After the Plainfield church was attached to the Kalamazoo presbytery in 1842, the Otsego church was continued inde- pendently. Its first house of worship in Otsego was built in 1846. Fire destroyed this in March, 1865, and two years later a new edifice was com- pleted at the corner of Franklin and Farmer streets.
In 1891 a comfortable parsonage was built, which has been kept in excellent repair to date. The congregation still worships in the edifice built in 1865, which has been repaired and changed, but is not meeting the needs of the church, and a new one is the desire of the church.
Since 1842 the following pastors have served : J. Bliss, Rev. McMath, S. Stevens, F. L. Fuller. David S. Morse, Charles Temple, John Jackson, A. B. Allen, Thomas Towler, A. M. Buck, D. W. Comstock, J. W. Horner, F. Bissell, J. R. Chaplain, A. B. Cochran, E. A. Fredenhogen, L. K. Long, J. W. Arney, E. J. Burgess. F. M. Coddington, S. W. Seibert, O. B. Van Horn, C. M. Taylor.
The following families have been best and longest known for support and active membership in the church: Matthew J. Coffin, W. C. Edseel,
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
J. M. Ballou, H. C. Stoughton, Chas. Temple, Mrs. W. J. Cushman, Mrs. N. W. Mills.
Allegan.
The Congregational church at Allegan was organized June 10, 1858, at the home of H. H. Booth. Forty years later an anniversary celebration of this occasion was held, at which time the history of the church was thor- oughly recalled. The late N. B. West was chosen moderator of the organ- ization meeting, and Andrew Oliver, now the only living charter member, was scribe. The other charter members were: Melissa G. West, Edwin A. Murray, Roxana Murray, Ruth Elizabeth Booth, Desire M. Booth, Jacob B. Bailey, Mary L. Bailey. These, with Mr. West and Mr. Booth, had up to that time been members of the Presbyterian church at Allegan. Mr. Oliver's church connection had been with a Free-will Baptist church, and two united with the church on profession of faith-E. Dewey Follett and Sarah B. Follett.
The church united with the Kalamazoo Association October 13, 1858. The Sunday services were held in the Pine Grove Seminary building until the erection of the first church edifice. Legal incorporation was effected July 25, 1862, the first trustees being N. B. West, J. H. Mayhew and Leon- ard Bailey. A very plain church edifice was erected in 1864 on Cutler street, at a cost of $2,700, being dedicated January 1, 1865. This was rebuilt in 1882, at a cost of $4,100, and rededicated November 16th. In 1897 the chapel was made more commodious and convenient at a cost of $1,300. In March, 1898, a fine pipe organ was put into the church, a gift from Deacon and Mrs. N. B. West. A parsonage was completed in the spring of 1875, being built on a lot nearly opposite the church, costing about $2,000. Deacon West, a short time before his death in 1905, gave the church an endowment fund of $5,000, and at the same time made a gift of $4,000 to Olivet College.
The Ladies' Mite Society was organized May 16, 1860; a Woman's Missionary Society was organized May 16, 1875; the Y. P. S. C. E. was organized January 3, 1886, and the junior society in July, 1892.
The pastors who have served the church since the first regular minister was installed have been: David Wirt, November 6, 1858, to 1860; Lucien H. Jones, 1860-61 ; Levi F. Waldo, 1861-65; Elizur Andrus, 1865-70 ; Rufus Apthorp, 1870-71 : Levi F. Bickford, 1871-73; Daniel E. Hathaway, 1874- 75 ; John Sailor, 1875-80; George R. Milton, 1880-81 ; Isaac W. Mckeever, 1881-86; Henry F. Tyler, 1886-90; Moses M. Martin, 1890-96; Frank W. Hullinger, 1896-99; Wilfred Lindsay, 1899-1906.
Saugatuck.
A church was organized at the Saugatuck schoolhouse January II, 1860, with the following members: Rev. C. H. Eaton, F. B. Wallin, Moses Philbrook, Alanson Gardner, Mrs. M. F. Eaton, Mrs. Orcetia Wallin, Mary Philbrook, Marila Gardner, Elnathan Judson and wife, John Harris, Han- nah Cook, Andrew Alexander, Sarah Jane Cowles. The following summer the society built the first house of worship in the village.
The pastors have been: C. H. Eaton, J. C. Myers, 1862 ; J. F. Taylor,
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
1868; W. C. Allen and W. B. Sutherland, Rev. John Sailor, 1880; Rev. W. D. Attack, 1883 ; Rev. E. D. Curtis, 1885 ; Rev. E. S. Smith, 1886; Rev. Humphrey, 1889 ; Rev. C. C. Wood, 1890; Rev. W. R. Seaver, pastor Sauga- tuck and Douglas Congregational churches, 1891 ; Rev. W. R. Seaver, 1894; Rev. W. Lindsay, 1899; Rev. E. S. Ireland, 1902; Rev. W. Millar, 1905; Rev. J. E. Tedford, 1906; Rev. Francis D. White, 1906.
The members of long standing are Mrs. George Hames, Mrs. R. D. Ames, Mr. and Mrs. John Koning, Mr. L. W. Grant, Mrs. John Loomis, Mr. and Mrs. John Schaberg, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Aliber, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bird, Mr. Joseph Bedford, Miss Mary Skinner. All these joined in the early seventies and are now active members.
The church building has been enlarged in recent years, and the church owns the finest residence and business location in the village, on which there is a fine parsonage surrounded by beautiful grounds.
Douglas.
The Congregational church at Douglas was organized December 12, 1882, with the following charter members: Mr. Ephraim Welch, Mrs. Ephraim Welch, Miss Dora Welch, Mrs. H. Langdon, Mrs. H. Graham, Mrs. Daniel Gerber, Mr. Daniel Gerber, Mr. William Weed, Mrs. William Weed, Mr. Henry Bird, Mrs. Henry Bird, Mr. George Thomas, Mrs. George Thomas, Miss E. M. Ensign, Rev. J. F. Taylor, Mrs. J. F. Taylor, Mrs. McClure, Mr. McClure, Miss J. Warnock, Miss Hattie Spencer, Mrs. D. C. Putnam, Miss Anna Henges, Mrs. Elile, Miss Carrie Durham, Mrs. J. Thorne, Mr. J. Thorne, Dr. J. F. Young.
The following have served the church as ministers: R. J. Sailor, J. F. Taylor, B. J. Baxter, E. Andrus, J. J. Bunnell, Rev. Haun, E. W. Miller, H. Willis, W. F. Bush, the present pastor.
The church society has a neat church building valued at $2,500 and a parsonage valued at $1,200, the Congregation Church Building Associa- tion having furnished part of the means for building the church, this being in the nature of a loan, which is repaid by annual collections. The church has a membership of about 80.
Dorr.
The Congregational society whose building stands on section 2 of this township was organized August 27, 1857, in the schoolhouse across the road. Its eleven charter members were: Bradley Gilbert, Martha J. Gil- bert, Nahum Snow, Sarah Snow, Lauren C. Gilbert, Judith Gilbert, Edward Averill, Mary B. Averill, William A. Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Sarah Smith.
Meetings were held in the schoolhouse for a number of years. In 1872 it was proposed to consolidated this congregation with that of the newly established Dorr Center, where a church building would be erected, and for a time services were held at the Center. But in 1875 the congregation returned to the old schoolhouse, and in the following year the church was built on section 2. In 1895 the church was removed to the village of Moline and its name changed to the First Congregational church of Moline.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
The pastors in charge have been: James A. McKay, 1858; N. K. Evarts, 1862; C. N. Coulter, N. K. Evarts, Moore, G. W. Sterling, N. K. Evarts, Albert C. Lee, George Candee, Norman Millard, C. B. Shear, George Wain, Harry Appleton, Henry Robinson, A. D. Whaley, Charles Riley, John Gordon, Frederick York, E. E. Harring, E. A. Cragg.
Dorr Center.
By the consolidation of the two congregations above mentioned, a church edifice was begun at this place in 1873, and was soon after com- pleted, although not accepted, owing to alleged failure on the part of the contractor to comply with the terms of the building committee. The sep- arate organization of the church society, after the withdrawal of the mem- bership from the northeast part of the township, took place November 1I, 1875, the original members being Adrian C. Clark and wife, William H. Ewing, H. T. Pomeroy and wife, Antoinette Kelley, Christina Patterson, Horace Barton and wife, N. K. Evarts (pastor) and wife, and Mary J. Byles.
Wayland.
The First Congregational church of Wayland was organized in 1859, and a church building was erected the following year. There were seven- teen original members and Rev. A. Mckay was the first pastor.
Many pastors have been with the church since its organization, each period having its share of prosperity and adversity, and today it takes a prominent part in the religious work of the village.
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