USA > Michigan > Allegan County > A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan > Part 79
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
both are earnest workers in church, Sunday-school and young people's societies. Mrs. J. M. Travis has long been one of our best workers in all departments and is now teacher of the oldest class in the Sunday-school. W. H. Crosby is a devout and faithful worker. He has been treasurer of the church for many years and the first flaw in his work is yet to be found. For several years he filled the position of janitor with equal fidelity. Dr. B. A. Shepard and wife are active and earnest in church, Sunday-school and Endeavor Society work, as is also his brother, A. I. Shepard, and his wife. Elder N. Pell and family have long been prominent in the church and are especially interested in the musical department. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Abbey are among the staunch supporters from the country and to them the church is deeply indebted for many favors, both social and financial. Elder Frank Bolender, recently from the country, and his family are likewise able and active supporters. D. B. McMartin and family are all actively engaged in the various departments of church work. In addition to his work as an elder Mr. McMartin is also a trustee and for several years has acted as clerk of the session.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.
This church was formed by the union in 1858 of the Associate Reformed Presbyterians and the Associate Presbyterians. A minister of the former body preached in eastern Allegan county in 1838. After Thomas Monteith came to Martin township in 1841 the church became active and the first meetings were held in his house or barn. The church was organ- ized at his house February 5, 1842, the charter members being: Thomas Monteith, Jane A. Monteith, Isaac and Jane Maston, William and Elizabeth Walker, William Russell. Margery Monteith, Lovinus Monteith, Jennett Monteith, William Hay, Mary Hay, William T. Monteith, Walter Monteith, Elizabeth Monteith and Daniel D. McMartin. The society built a house of worship one mile south of Martin's Corners in 1846, the building afterward being turned into a schoolhouse.
On March 8, 1852, a society of the Associate Presbyterian church was organized in Martin township, the original members being: Robert and Jennett Patterson, Orrin A. and Jennett Porter. John, James, N. Davidson and Marie Redpath, Lovinus and Jennett Monteith and Charles and Robert Davidson. A church was constructed in 1855 and afterward used as a carriage shop.
In 1858 the two churches were united as the United Presbyterian church, the united membership being seventy-nine. The church at Martin was erected in 1871 at a cost of six thousand dollars. The first regular pastor was T. J. Wilson, installed in 1864.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The diocese of Michigan was organized in the fall of 1832 and in 1835 there were but six presbyteries in the territory. Samuel A. McCoskry was consecrated the first bishop in July. 1836. He made a wagon journey of over five hundred miles through the southwestern part of his diocese, hold- ing meetings in schoolhouses and otherwise strengthening his church in the state. On this journey he is said to have visited Allegan, and no doubt if
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he preached here it was the first Episcopal service held in the county. The Diocese of Western Michigan was formed in 1874.
Allegan.
In 1842 Rev. W. N. Leyster held Episcopal services at Allegan, but no more were held for ten years. A series of services on week-day evenings were held in 1858 by L. N. Freeman, and in October, 1859, J. Rice Taylor was located in the village as the first regular rector, services being held for a time at the court house. The Church of the Good Shepherd was organ- ized and admitted into union with the diocese in 1860. A church building was begun in 1867 and finished March 21, 1869, being located on the block west of the public square.
Rev. Henderson Judd was rector from 1868 for six years, being suc- ceeded by Rev. Walter Scott. May 8, 1875. Succeeding pastors have been : Rev. D. D. Chapin, who came in September, 1881; Rev. W. P. Law took charge November 6, 1887, and Rev. William Lucas, the present rector, took charge May. 1895. The first vestry consisted of Messrs. A. P. Bush, Alan- son Lilly, E. B. Bassett. George Pennock, W. B. Williams, F. B. Stock- bridge and a Mr. Walter.
The first members of the church were as follows: Miss Cornelia Stock- bridge, Mrs. Anna Bassett. Charlotte Wilkes, Mariette Williams, Mrs. Pen- nock and others besides those mentioned in the above list.
An Episcopal society was organized at Plainwell in 1871, and in 1874 a house of worship was erected. this being a mission to the Allegan church.
Saugatuck.
All Saints' church was organized in September, 1868. J. R. Taylor was rector until 1878, being succeeded by E. W. Flower.
The schoolhouse was used as a place of worship until 1873, when the building on Grand and Hoffman streets was erected. Services are held only during the summer while a number of summer visitors are in the village.
The first members of the society were: O. R. Johnson and wife. F. B. Stockbridge and wife, R. B. Newnham and wife, H. H. Stimpson and wife, J. F. Geer. A. B. Taylor, William Dunning and wife, Mrs. Breuckman, Mrs. Merrill. Thomas Donald and wife, Moses Nash and wife, Pierce Abbey, S. G. Moreland and wife, David White and wife and Isaac Wilson and wife.
GERMAN M. E. CHURCH.
A mission of this church was established in Allegan county in 1856, the first societies organized being in Salem and Monterey townships. Rev. V. Jahrens and A. Kremling were made pastors of the newly organized church at Allegan in 1864, the charter members of the society being: Daniel Ellinger and wife, Frederick Ruute and wife and Maria Ellinger. Their church building, located on Trowbridge street, in the block west of the square, was dedicated December 1, 1865. The resident minister also had charge of the societies of Salem, Monterey and Hopkins. Successors of the first minister have been: H. Krill, 1865: C. G. Hertz; A. Maier, 1875; C.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Militzer, 1877 ; John C. Gommel, 1880 : W. Muller, 1882 ; H. Krill and Rev. Henke, 1884; George Mitter, 1892 ; J. J. Link, 1896; H. Bank, 1902, and H. Ruekheimer, 1904. Daniel Ellinger, the only charter member still living, was the first local preacher, and has often supplied the pulpit in absence of regular ministers. The membership is now very small. The minister's resi- dence is at Hopkins.
Monterey.
The missionary owrk of this church began in Monterey in 1858 and later a class was organized. In 1869 a church building was erected.
ST. JOHN'S LUTHERAN CHURCH (GERMAN). Alle gan .*
In the early part of the nineteenth century a flood-tide of immigration brought many Lutherans to this country. Some were lured from their native country by the hopes of gaining wealth and honor in the new world : others left the fatherland because they disapproved of the plan of King Frederick III to merge the Lutheran and the Reformed into a "united church." Most of these Lutheran immigrants settled in the eastern states, but many made their way into Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, etc. While most of those coming to Michigan settled in the "Thumb" country and the southeastern part of the state, a few sought new abodes in Allegan county, thus becoming some of the earliest settlers of this county. But none of these remained Lutheran. No Lutheran pastor was in the vicinity who could supply them with services and ministrations of their church. For some time they had no services whatever. They were strangers in a strange land, their speech alien. Hence, when German Methodist missionaries pene- trated this country and preached it is perfectly natural that these devout people were gład to go and hear a sermon in their native tongue and were easily persuaded to join the Methodist denomination.
Somewhat later, in the year 1854, a few more Lutheran immigrants from the fatherland settled in Allegan village. Their names were Maske, Knorr, Harnofski and Kunter. These were not persuaded to leave their church as their fellow-countrymen had been. This was probably due to the fact that they were not compelled to wait so long before they could enjoy a Lutheran service in their new home. A few years later Lutheran mis- sionaries, the Revs. Schmidt and Eberhardt, often called the patriarchs of the Lutheran church in Michigan, came into this part of the state and preached wherever they found a Lutheran family. These people entreated them to come again, which they promised to do. From this time on Alle- gan Lutherans were supplied with word and sacraments. The services, of course, were not very frequent, as the missionaries had a large field, viz., the whole state in which to work, and most of their journeys were made afoot. During the intervals a layman would hold services occasionally.
In the year 1869 the first Lutheran church of Allegan county was organized in this village. Knorr, Harnofski, S. Ellinger, Schweigert, Maske,
*This sketch contributed by Rev. Frey.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Eckert and Schwichtenberg were some of its members. They called Rev. Bauman their first pastor, who also did mission work in Hopkins and Salem. The services were held in the houses of members. Later the privilege was granted them to worship in the court house. By 1874 the congregation had grown to such an extent as to warrant the erection of a church. A site was secured on the corner of Davis and Russell streets and a church built, which is still serving as a house of worship. The con- gregation has had nine ministers since it was organized: Revs. Bauman, Metzger, Frankenstein, Schoenberg, Tesmer, Wuerthner, Binhammer, Oezt- mann and Frey, who is its present pastor. Four of its charter members are still living: Messrs. Eckert, Schumann, Maske and Schwichtenberg. The growth of the congregation has not been very rapid but healthy, neverthe- less. At present it numbers about seventy communicants. Seventy of its former members have, as we hope, joined the church triumphant in heaven ; one hundred and thirty-four children have been baptized in the congrega- tion, and one hundred and twenty-three have been confirmed. The church is in a prosperous condition.
Rev. Frey has charge of a small society in Otsego, which is soon to be organized into a regular church.
Salem.
The German Lutherans of this township began holding services about 1860. They erected a church on section nine in 1872.
SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH. Watson, Section Thirty-one.
In 1877 Mr. C. Anderson, a native of Jonkoping, Sweden, crossed the Atlantic and came to Allegan county, where a year and a half later he bought land in section 32 of Watson township, later purchasing in section 31. He was the first Swedish settler here who bought land. Having many friends in Indiana and Illinois, he induced them to come to his timber-covered acres and assist in clearing off the woods. Some of these bought land and became permanent additions to the little Swedish colony. The process of influence through personal letters, acting like an endless chain, brought many more families to this locality.
By 1878 some eight families had found permanent homes here, and on August 27th of that year these people, bound by close ties to the religion of their native land, formed a church society, the first church of the denomi- nation in the country and the only one at the present time.
UNITED BRETHREN.
Cheshire.
A working membership of this denomination has been maintained in Casco township for a number of years, and they have built two churches in the township. A society with a membership of twenty-two was formed in
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
the boys' schoolhouse in 1865, among the prominent early members being : Austin Hamner, John Patterson, Elisha Fields, James Barden, Henry Ridley and Samuel Hadaway.
Another class was formed in the eastern part of the township in 1865, but ten years later was dissolved.
Dorr.
A society was organized in the eastern part of the township during the seventies.
Salem.
A society was organized in Salem in 1856. From the old log school- house on section 9 the church was able to transfer its meetings to its own house of worship in 1869, the building being erected on section 8. Some of the first members were: Robert Pettengal and wife, John Newell and wife, Ira Smith and wife and James Burnip and wife. Elder Buck was their preacher in 1860-61. The list of ministers is not complete. A few years later the church had a big increase of membership under Rev. Fergu- son while the house of worship was still under construction. During W. N. Breidenstein's ministry Salem, Dorr and Monterey were set apart from the Gaines circuit and obtained a resident pastor, a parsonage being built half a mile south of the church. S. Irwin and S. G. Lake followed, and about 1882 the church building was sold for a schoolhouse and the present building erected. The trustees at the time were: I. J. Bear, J. Newell, A. Twining, A. Heasley and William Fleetwood, the last named having kindly furnished this information. The successive ministers since then have been: C. B. Whitaker, H. S. Shafer, Rev. Mead, H. T. Barnaby and H. H. Halsey. At this time there was a division in the church, and the settlement of title to the property was made a test case and decided in the supreme court of the state, control of the property being finally vested with the old church. Since then the ministers have been: A. Batdorff, L. J. Batdorff, N. V. Miller, S. G. Hall, R. S. Bowman, H. H. Halsey, A. Bostwick and O. Leash.
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCII.
This church has four active societies in the county, the Allegan, Monterey and Otsego churches numbering each from eighty to one hundred members until the last few years, when for various reasons the numerical strength of the churches has declined, principally through death of older members and the younger members taking up active missionary work in other fields. The same may be said to be true of the Douglas church, although that has never been as strong a congregation as the others. Elder E. Brackett, who furnished the data for the church, has been identified with the denomination in Allegan county for the past thirty-three years.
This denomination was organized at Allegan, December 7, 1861, and its house of worship on Cutler street was dedicated in 1864. Horatio S. Lav was chosen elder in 1861. Henry H. Pierce was next resident elder, and others who have held that office in this church have been: James M. Baker, W. H. Littlejohn and Ezra Brackett. Regular services are held the
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seventh day of the week at 10:30 a. m. Mr. James M. Baker and wife, Mrs. Adelaide Root and several others have been connected with the church for thirty-five years or more.
Monterey.
A society of Adventists was formed in Monterey before that at Allegan, the first meetings being held in 1855 and a church was organized in the fol- lowing year. A small church was erected in 1858, and in 1862 a new and larger one was put up, which is still in use. It is located on section 33, about five and one-half miles north of Allegan, on the Monterey road. Elder Joseph Bates was the elder of this church for many years. Charles Jones was next resident elder, which office he held for more than thirty years. Ezra Brackett was then chosen elder and remained in that capacity till his removal to Allegan. The present elder is Henry A. Oleson.
Otsego.
A society was organized December 28, 1861, and a brick church build- ing erected on Farmer street in the village in 1867. George Leighton was chosen elder and remained till his death. The present elder is E. A. Mer- riam. Freeman Leighton was elder for a number of years. M. S. Burnham was another elder, as well as Seymour Hilliard. Otsego is the headquarters of the West Michigan Adventist conference.
Douglas.
A church of sixteen members was organized at the house of David McCullom in 1874. In 1879 a building was purchased in the village and remodeled for church purposes and is still used. Elder of this church was Captain Robert Reed until shortly before his death in 1905, and at present his son, Roy Reed, is the elder.
DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHI.
The Hollanders of Fillmore township have established several churches of the Reformed faith. The church was the central and original institution of the village of Graafschap, the society buying the land and laying out the village. This was in 1848, the year of the organization of the church, and the meetings, which previous to this time were held in different homes, were transferred to a log church. Among the leading members at the organization may be mentioned Jans Rutgers, Stephen Lucas, Lambert Tin- holt, Henry Salmink, Johannes Van Anroy and Mathias Naaye. The first minister was H. G. Klyn, who was succeeded two years later by Martin Ypma, during whose term the parsonage was converted into a church, the log house being abandoned.
In 1856 the majority of the membership organized as the "True Reformed Church of America," retaining the church property. A new house of worship was built in 1861 and the society became very prosperous and large. This is now known as the Christian Reformed church, and there are several congregations in north Allegan county.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
That portion of the membership which maintained its allegiance to the regular Reformed church continued on the old basis and in 1859 constructed a new church building. Dominie Pieters ( 1861-65) was the first regular pastor chosen after the division. Some of his successors have been: Dirk Broek, 1865-70; E. C. Oggel, 1870-72; William Van Derkley, 1873-75; Adrian Zwemer, 1876-86; C. C. John, 1888-90; F. J. Zwemer, 1892-96; J. Van der Meulen, 1896-1900; C. Kuiper, 1901-06, and J. E. Kuizenga, 1906. In 1906 there were sixty families in membership, and one hundred and seventy non-communicants. A new parsonage has been built at a cost of seven hundred and fifty dollars, and a new church was completed in 1905.
Some members of the Holland congregation living in northeastern Fillmore organized in 1867 a separate church and constructed a house of worship in section 2. Among the organizers were: G. Dalman, William Oonk, Garret Wildering, Jacob Fork, Pcter Knaber and Frank Lucas. The first pastor was R. C. Kuiper.
A branch of the Graafschap True, or Christian Refromed church was organized on the south side of Fillmore in 1868 by members living in that vicinity. A church was built on section 28 in the same year, but destroyed by forest fire in 1871, being rebuilt the following year. Some of the early leaders in this church were: Dirk Lenters, John Leiblink, John Lohrman, H. Bruhn and E. Bruhn. The first pastor was Rev. John Staat.
East Saugatuck.
The East Saugatuck, or Fynaart Reformed Church was organized by a council held in a log schoolhouse on the town line between Manlius and Fillmore, December 23, 1868. The church edifice was erected shortly afterward on the south line of section 33 in Fillmore. There were twenty-two charter members, among whom Edward Sprick, A. Boesel, H. S. Berksman and H. Dalman were the first officials. Pastors have been : J. F. Zwemer, 1873-80 (in 1880 congregation united with Saugatuck) ; Groeneveld, 1881-82; reorganized in 1885 with G. Dangremond pastor, 1885-89: Strabbling, 1889-93. Church disbanded in 1894.
Overisel.
The church's activity in Overisel is contemporaneous with the Dutch colonization of the township. Rev. S. Bolks was the first pastor, 1851-53. The house of worship, built of logs, was completed in 1849. A more com- modious building was erected later, the membership at the close of the seventies having reached nearly five hundred. Pastors have been : Nykerk, 1858-91 ; Lepeltak, 1877-91 ; A. Vanderberg, 1891-1906. The church now has four hundred and thirty-eight communicants and three hundred and eighty-four non-communicants.
The East Overisel church, formed in 1872, now has one hundred and one communicants and ninety-six non-communicants. The pastorate was vacant from 1872 to 1896. Wolvius was pastor 1896-98; Pofpen, 1898 to 1902, Klooster, 1903; the charge is now vacant.
The Allegan county Reformed churches mentioned in the last minutes of the synod are those at East Overisel, Graafschap, Hamilton, Overisel and Saugatuck.
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HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY
Hamilton.
A Dutch Reformed church was established in this township as a branch of the Overisel congregation and a building and parsonage were erected costing three thousand dollars. The Hamilton church, also known as Rab- bit River or Zabriskie Memorial, has now seventy-two families in member- ship and one hundred and eighty-six persons non-communicant. Rev. Strabbling has been pastor since 1904.
Saugatuck.
A church of this denomination was organized at Morrison's Hall, June 21, 1868. A church building was erected the same year, being enlarged in 1874. The first members were: A. C. Zwemer and wife. H. Van Spyker and wife, G. Jonkhoff and wife, M. De Boe and wife, I. Zwemer and wife, I. G. Neimeizer and wife, J. J. Koke, J. Neis, M. Van Leuwen, Arent Zwaavink, Mrs. Kallewoord and Mrs. Sluiter.
The pastors were : D. Brock, 1870-75; Nies, 1876-79; Groeneveld, 1881-82. The church is now disbanded.
CHURCH OF CHRIST. Wayland.
This society was organized April 2, 1877, with seventeen charter mem- bers. Soon after that time Elder E. Sias held a series of meetings and as a result of his labors over one hundred people were added by conversion or otherwise. Death has claimed some, while others have moved to different localities, consequently there are but seventy-five active members at present. The first pastor was Rev. D. N. Severance.
A fine church building, costing two thousand dollars, was dedicated March 7, 1879. It will seat about three hundred and twenty-five persons. During the summer of 1902, under the supervision of Rev. Camp, a beauti- ful parsonage, valued at eighteen hundred dollars, was erected, which is a great credit to the society.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHIRIST.
A class was formed at the Pier Cove schoolhouse in 1861 with twenty- four members, Lorenzo Weed being first class leader. In 1875 a church building was erected. Among the leading members about that time were Arthur Howland, Elisha Weed, Robert Linn, Edwin and John Goodwin.
In the fall of 1867 the first Swedish settlers arrived at Abronia, namely, Charles Anderson and family. Five years later ( 1872) arrived Nels John- son and family, and in 1873 John Peterson, Swan Peterson, Alexander Johnson, John Johnson, Samuel Egg, Andrew Egg, etc. John Strand and family arrived 1875 and Gust Sandahl and family 1876. They all settled in the woods with big trees and had a great toil before the ground could be made to good farms. The Mission Friends had services in the beginning of the time when the settlement started, but in the fall of 1877 Rev. G. Lundahl, from La Porte, Indiana, held the first Lutheran service at the residence of Swan Peterson, when the first infant baptism, was administered to a daughter of Mr. S. Peterson and was named Matilda Catharine. (She is now married to Rev. J. A. Eckstrom, of Worcester, Mass.) At the same
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time the first marriage was solemnized to Mr. Samuel Egg and Miss Tilda Strand. On August 4th preliminary steps were taken for a church organiza- tion. Rev. N. A. Youngberg, from Sparta, Michigan, was called to assist in this undertaking, and a Lutheran congregation was organized August 28. 1878. Eight families became the first members, namely, John Strand and family, S. Peterson and family, Samuel Egg and family, Charles Anderson and family, Nels Johnson and family, Gust Sandahl and family, Alexander Johnson and family, August Strand and family, and the following unmar- ried : J. Peterson, A. Nelson, A. Egg. J. Johnson, M. Hanson, C. Holmes, C. Egg. E. Forsman and J. Hanson. Deacons: Samuel Egg, Andrew Strand and Charles Anderson. Trustees: John Peterson, Charles Holmes and John Johnson. . Those having charge of the congregation for a longer or shorter period are the following pastors: G. Lundahl, N. A. Youngberg, M. P. Oden, O. Chillien, P. A. Carlson, A P. Lindstrom. J. Forsberg. A. Hult, H. P. Quist. J. N. Alexis, J. A. Norlin, V. Tengvald. S. E. Rydberg, etc. Those that served the longest period are Rev. G. A. Ostergren, 1887-93. and Rev. C. A. Carlstad. 1894-1902. On March 3, 1879. Charles Anderson offered to donate to the church a piece of land for a cemetery. The offer was thankfully accepted. The fourteen-month-old Malvina Christine, daughter of Mr. Charles Anderson and his wife. Hilda, was the first one buried in the cemetery during the summer of the same year ( 1879). She was run over and killed by a train at the crossing near the residence. On January 15, 1881. it was resolved to start a subscription for building a church. On January 14. 1883, a building committee was appointed, namely, Charles Anderson. Gust Sandahl and John Peterson. The church was built the same year ( 1883), Oscar Prist acting as superintendent of the work. Rev. A. P. Lindstrom. John Peterson and D. Magnison made plans for the building as architects. The church lot was bought of John Strand for twenty-five dollars and the church cost about one thousand dollars, for which money was solicited from members and friends of the congregation. During this year a student, Mr. Nymanson, did faithful work both as a preacher and a parochial school teacher, which was highly appreciated by the congregation. The first service in the church after being finished was on January 1, 1884, and was conducted by the deacon. C. Anderson. On January 26, 1880, it was resolved to organize a Sunday-school. E. Forsman was elected superintendent and C. Anderson treasurer. The present teach- ers ( 1907) are Mr. Olof Larson, Mrs. Nels Nelson, Miss Jennie Peterson and Miss Matilda Svanty. In the year 1895 a reed organ was purchased for seventy-five dollars. Malvina Anderson was the first organist. The present organist is Mrs. Augusta Carlson. In 1899 the young people of the congregation solicited one hundred and sixty-three dollars and bought a bell.
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