Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I, Part 49

Author: Fisher, Ernest B., editor
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, R.O. Law Company
Number of Pages: 581


USA > Michigan > Kent County > Grand Rapids > Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan: History and Account of Their Progress from First. Vol. I > Part 49


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73


The above in brief is the early history of Methodism in Grand Rapids. Following the fortunes of this church it is learned that in 1854 a parsonage was erected on a lot which previously had been purchased by the ladies of the church, on the northwest corner of Fountain and Division streets. In 1868 a new edifice was erected on the same site and the same was dedicated on June 20, 1870.


To avoid the encroachments of the business district the members of Division Avenue Church, now known as the First Methodist Epis- copal Church, determined to go further out and property was pur- chased at the corner of Fulton street and Barclay avenue. Upon this property was erected the fine new edifice which the church is now occupying. The present pastor of the congregation, which is the largest in point of membership of the Methodist churches in the city, is Rev. John A. Willits.


Hosted by Google


.


375


CHURCH HISTORY


The need of a new church on the West Side was felt by the Methodists of Grand Rapids as early as 1853, but nothing was done toward carrying the movement until in June, 1855. A number of Methodists residing on the West Side purchased from the Presbyteri- ans a building which they had occupied at the west end of the Bridge street bridge, where later the Weirich Block was erected. This build- ing was used for Methodist services for a number of years and was then sold to the Grand Rapids Stave Company and moved to the west side of Front street, near Butterworth avenue, where it was destroyed by fire about 1880. The membership of the congregation had in- creased to such an extent, in 1871, that it was thought advisable to build a larger church. Property at the northeast corner of Turner avenue and Second street was purchased and the building of a par- sonage and church was begun. For want of funds, only the basement of the church could be completed for occupancy at that time. But in 1887 the debt was paid and the auditorium was completed and dedi- cated. Rev. Frederick M. Thurston is the present pastor of the con- gregation. Trinity Church, at 116 Eastern avenue, had its inception in the winter of 1874, as the result of prayer meetings which had been held at the residence of Peter Yokom, on Cherry street. The first service under the direction of a Methodist pastor was held in the following autumn, and on Dec. 13, an edifice erected upon lots previ- ously purchased of Aruna Bradford, was dedicated. The present church building was erected in 1884, and Rev. Clarence E. Hoag is the incumbent of the pastorate. The present Plainfield Avenue Church, large in point of membership, is the continuance of mission work performed by the Rev. A. D. Newton, beginning in October, 1878. In the early autumn of 1879 a separate church organization was effected and it adopted the name of Plainfield Avenue Church. Its present pastor is Rev. George F. Francombe.


St. Paul's Church is the outgrowth of a society organized as a class in the autumn of 1876 for the purpose of conducting weekly prayer meetings to accommodate a goodly number of the members of the Division Street M. E. Church, who were deprived of such privi- leges on account of their distance from the church. In June, 1880, the presiding elder recognized the class as a mission and Rev. Mr. Archer was appointed to take charge of it. Mr. Archer preached his first sermon in the "upper room" over the Fair Ground gateway, and his second under the shade trees in the yard of Mrs. C. H. Fox, on Fourth avenue, where he continued all summer, to a large congregation. The Rev. Mr. Valentine, appointed by the conference, took up the work, Oct. 7, 1880, and found thirty-eight members. In 1883 the organiza- tion was legally incorporated and took the name of the Ames M. E. Church. In the late 90's the church building was moved from the corner of Ninth avenue and Division street, to Tenth avenue, and the name was changed to Tenth Avenue M. E. Church. In 1905 the church had outgrown its quarters and lots were secured at the north- east corner of Jefferson avenue and Highland street and the edifice which now houses the congregation was shortly afterward erected. The name of the congregation was again changed to St. Paul's M. E. Church and the present pastor is Rev. H. E. Walker.


On Feb. 17, 1889, the German M. E. Church building, at 528-530


1


Hosted by


Google


376


HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN


Scribner avenue, was dedicated. Its present pastor is Rev. Emil G. Boch. Arnett Chapel (African), at 341 Commerce avenue, whose present pastor is Rev. Lewis Pettiford, was removed to its present location in 1897, its former location having been on Spring street, where it was organized in 1872. St. Luke's African M. E. Zion Church was organized Feb. 1, 1878, and was the first colored organization in Grand Rapids. The church edifice was erected and dedicated in 1881. It is located at 123 Franklin street, and the pastor in charge of it is Rev. John E. Transue. Burton Heights Church can trace its origin to the formation of the Feakins Memorial Church. When the latter congregation, organized in 1895, and which had for its first pastor Rev. O. E. Wightman, moved into its fine new structure at the south- east corner of Burton street and Horton avenue, it changed its name to Burton Heights Church. Its present pastor is Rev. Guy B. Flem- ing. Epworth Church, which for the past twenty-two years has been situated at 600 Lafayette avenue, has for its pastor, Rev. Edgar R. Cochrun. Joy Memorial Church is situated on the west side of Na- tional avenue, between West Fulton and Watson, and its pastor is the Rev. Delphos L. Berry. This includes all of the established churches, having regular pastors, in the city. However, there is the Clark Me- morial Church, at 1530 Sherman street; the Colored Mission Church, at 732 Cornwall avenue, and the Swedish Assembly of Christ, at 645 Front avenue, none of which have resident pastors.


The church in Grand Rapids has in the course of its history been under the direction of two different conferences. From its earliest recognition until 1836, the year of the formation of the Michigan Conference, it was part of the Ohio conference, but continuously since that date it has been a part of the Michigan conference. In connec- tion with the church is maintained a deaconess' home. The building it now occupies was completed in 1894, and it was obtained through the efforts of Mrs. Laura C. Aldrich, widow of Rev. William J. Al- drich, who was presiding elder from 1887 to 1881.


Besides the churches in the city the Methodist Episcopal Church has places of worship at Caledonia, Lisbon, Kent City, Edgerton, the Grove Church in Oakfield township, Rockford, Alto, McCords, Low- ell, and a few other places, all in Kent County.


There is also one Free Methodist Church in the city, at 1320 Ash- land avenue, of which Rev. Herbert D. F. Gaffin is pastor.


THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.


The earliest Congregational service held in Grand Rapids was in 1836, and a society was started in that year which has been in con- tinued existence up to the present time. In 1839 it reorganized itself into the First Congregational Church of Grand Rapids, the original organization having had twenty-two charter members. In 1841 the Roman Catholic Church, situated where the Porter Block now stands, was sold by Louis Campau to the Congregationalists, and this was their first permanent home. At the time of the reorganization of the church, the Rev. James Ballard was engaged as the first pastor, and the first deacons elected were Samuel F. Butler and Ebenezer Davis. Prior to the purchase of the Catholic Church the meetings of the so- ciety were held at the residences of Myron Hinsdill, W. G. Henry,


Hosted by


Google


377


CHURCH HISTORY


A. H. Smith, and Amos Roberts, in the Prospect Hill school house and at the court house. But after the purchase of the Catholic edi- fice the society took possession of it and it was dedicated to their service on Jan. 2, 1842. In 1842 the Ecclesiastical Society was formed to hold and care for the church property. The Rev. James Ballard served the church until Dec. 29, 1847, having never, during his nine years of service, received a stated salary, owing largely to the fact that the church was far from self-sustaining, receiving annually about $200 from the Home Missionary Society. Upon his resignation a call was extended to Rev. Thomas Jones, of Grass Lake. The call was accepted and on June 15, 1848, Mr. Jones was installed.


The Rev. James Ballard was born at Claremont, Mass., April 20, 1805, and was of Welsh descent. He was graduated at Williams Col- lege, in 1827, and began preaching in Pennington, Vt. There, April 26, 1831, he married Miss Emeline Hinsdill. He studied Theology with Dr. Benan, of Troy, N. Y., and for a few months attended the Theological Seminary at that place. He moved to Grand Rapids in 1837, and became the first pastor of Park Congregational Church, March 29, 1839. He was president of the Kent County Bible Society, in 1846. He left the pastorate in 1848 and taught in the high schools on both sides of the river. In 1854 he was president of the Kent County Teachers' Institute. He was missionary in Grand River Val- ley for nine years, and was then sent South by the American Sunday School Union to teach the freedmen. There he remained five years. He died in Grand Rapids, Jan. 7, 1881.


Mr. Jones served as pastor of Park Church for two and one-half years, until 1850, and was succeeded by Rev. H. L. Hammond, who was installed in June, 1851, and remained as pastor for nearly five years. His successor was Rev. S. S. N. Greeley, who was installed in May, 1857. In December, 1862, he joined the army as a chaplain, retaining his relations to the church until July, 1863, the Rev. Wil- liam L. Page supplying the pulpit during the half year's absence of the pastor. Rev. J. Morgan Smith was installed as pastor of Park Church to succeed Mr. Greeley, on Sept. 13, 1863, and resigned after twenty years of faithful service to the church. In September, 1884, Rev. A. R. Merriam became pastor of Park and served in the position until 1891. Rev. Dr. Dan. F. Bradley became pastor in 1892, suc- ceeded by Rev. Robert W. McLaughlin, in 1902, and he by Rev. Ed- win W. Bishop, on Oct. 15, 1909. Rev. Bishop continued in the pas- torate until 1916, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles W. Merri- am, who is still the incumbent of that position. A review of the career of Mr. Merriam, who has become one of the leading figures in the Congregational Church, is included in the biographical section of this work. During the pastorate of Rev. J. Morgan Smith the present spacious and sightly edifice, at the southeast corner of East Park avenue and Library street, was erected, in 1868.


What is known as the Second Congregational Church was organ- ized in July, 1870, with six members. In the spring of 1869 the First Church had established a Sunday School mission in the northern part of the city, and in the fall erected a small frame meeting house for this purpose, on old Canal street, just north of East Leonard street. This was the first edifice for the newly organized church society, and


Hosted by Google


.


.


378 HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN


it was occupied from the time of its organization until 1874, when it was moved to the present location of the church building. This was the church home until 1900, when the present edifice at 1331 Plain- field avenue was completed, the dedication exercises occurring on Dec. 9. Rev. John Holloway was the first pastor of the church.


An article on "The Churches," written for a publication issued in 1906, contains the following concerning the South Congregational Church :


"South Congregational Church was organized Dec. 12, 1878. It was received into the Grand Rapids Association April 10, 1879, and the church and society were consolidated Nov. 5, 1884. A church at the present location was dedicated Dec. 12, 1886 and was destroyed by fire Nov. 29, 1897. The rebuilt church was dedicated Feb. 26, 1898, and is located at the corner of Central and Eighth avenues. The original officers were as follows. Trustees-M. W. Bates, Freeman Lathrop, Jared L. Post, Charles T. Patterson, A. F. North. Deacons -Joshua Henshaw, M. W. Bates, Freeman Lathrop, E. W. Heth. Deaconesses-Mrs. G. A. Pollard, Mrs H. Smith. Clerk and treas- urer-Creyton J. Post. The pastors of the church have been: Rev. E. C. Olney, 1877-1881 ; Rev. B. F. Sargeant, April, 1881, to August, 1889; Rev. F. Noble, September, 1889, to July, 1891; Rev. J. E. Smith, October, 1891, to September, 1894; G. P. Moore, November, 1894, to October, 1896; Rev. F. E. York, December, 1896, to February, 1904; Rev. John Gordon, the present pastor, February, 1904."


Bringing the history of this church organization down to the present time it may be stated that Rev. Gordon continued to serve as pastor until 1908. The present pastor, Rev. C. O. Grieshaber, came to the church in 1909.


The Smith Memorial Congregational Church was organized in September, 1887, and its original members were formerly associated with the old Park Church. The object of the establishment of this society was to supply the demand for church work in that portion of the city and also to name it in loving memory of the late pastor, the Rev. J. Morgan Smith, who died Oct. 1, 1883. Its present pastor is Rev. Herbert McConnell. Plymouth Congregational Church was or- ganized in December, 1892, and in the following year a fine church edifice was erected at 879 Franklin street. Other Congregational Churches in Grand Rapids and vicinity today, besides those already mentioned, are East at 342 Norwood avenue, of which Rev. Spencer C. Haskin is pastor ; Wallin Memorial at 1053 First street, Rev. Wil- liam E. Hill, pastor ; the Swedish Mission at 507 Broadway avenue, Rev. Andrew Anderson, pastor; and Comstock Park, Rev. Fred W. Sass, pastor.


THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


The Rt. Rev. Samuel A. McCoskry, the first Bishop of the Dio- cese of Michigan, who was consecrated July 7, 1836, sent David J. Burger to Grand Rapids as a lay reader in August of that year. Mr. Burger prosecuted his work in the village and vicinity for several weeks, and on Thursday, Oct. 6, 1836, pursuant to a call previously circulated, St. Mark's Church of the Village and County of Kent was duly organized. 'The call referred to bore the signatures of seventeen


Hosted by Google


1


379


CHURCH HISTORY


villagers. Mr. Burger was chosen to represent the newly formed parish in the convention then to be held in Detroit, where he was or- dained a Deacon, and did not return here; consequently the parish languished. Yet the records state that the Bishop visited the parish and conferred the rite of confirmation upon a class of two persons, Sunday, June 17, 1838. This was the first service here of the kind. In November, 1839, the organization of the society was effected at a meeting in the office of George Martin. George Coggeshall and Charles I. Walker were elected wardens and John Almy, H. R. Os- borne, Charles Shepard, F. J. Higginson, J. M. Smith, James M. Nelson, and Henry P. Bridge were chosen vestrymen. The Rev. M. Hoyt was installed as rector and served as such until April, 1841.


The Grand Rapids parish, which had been named St. Mark's, was without a pastor for the two years succeeding the resignation of Rev. Mr. Hoyt. Under the latter's administration the congregation had acquired a piece of ground on the northwest corner of Division and Crescent streets, and a small frame edifice, valued at $800, was un- der construction. On May 24, 1843, Rev. Francis H. Cuming was tendered the rectorship of St. Mark's and on Oct. 1 of the same year he entered upon this field of labor. The church membership grew rapidly, and the rapid development of the lower town induced the par- ish officers to secure a site for church purposes farther south, and two lots on "Prospect Hill" were purchased, which were soon after- ward exchanged for the present site. The present church building was first occupied, in October, 1848, and the formal consecration of the edifice took place Sept. 9, 1849. The towers were erected in 1851, and four years thereafter the building was enlarged by the addition of the choir and transepts, bringing it substantially to its present cruciform plan.


No history of the Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids would be complete without a review of the life of Rev. Dr. Cuming, whose part in the early development of the church was the leading one. Francis H. Cuming was born at New Haven, Conn., Oct. 28, 1799. When a youth he was adopted into the family of the Rev. I. C. Rudd, D. D., at Elizabethtown, N. J., and educated for the ministry. He was or- dained as Deacon at 19 years of age, and in 1820 advanced to the priesthood at Rochester, N. Y. Afterward he was pastor successive- ly at Binghamton, N. Y., Reading, Pa., and LeRoy, N. Y., and in 1833, and for several years, in New York City, where he was the first Rector of Calvary Church. In 1839 he removed to Ann Arbor, Mich., and in 1843 came to Grand Rapids. Here he at once won rec- ognition as a devoted and energetic church leader, and also as a sa- gacious business man ; and here he maintained a prominent and influ- ential position, in both religious and secular society while he lived. In 1855 he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by an Eastern college. He was an earnest and impressive preacher, an energetic business man, a steadfast friend, and in his family and among neighbors affectionate, warm-hearted and generous; positive and unbending but courteous in manner, yet familiar, frank and so- cial upon acquaintance and intimacy. When the Civil War broke out he went with the Third Michigan infantry as chaplain; but shortly was compelled by failing health to retire and come home, where he


Hosted by


Google


380


HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN


rapidly sank to his death, which occurred Aug. 26, 1862. Mr. Cuming married Jan. 31, 1822, at Auburn, N. Y., Caroline A. Hulbert. She died at Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 26, 1827, leaving one son. Thomas B. Cuming, who died at Omaha in March, 1858, being at the time Sec- retary and acting Governor of Nebraska Territory. Rev. Cuming again married, April 6, 1831, Charlotte Hart, who survived him, and died in this city in 1883, leaving five daughters, of whom one, Anna, resides at 308 Barclay avenue.


Rev. Dr. Josiah P. Tustin accepted a call to St. Mark's in July, 1863, and remained until 1870, when he resigned to enjoy the benefit of foreign travel. During his pastorate the membership continued to grow and it was determined that the parochial bounds of St. Mark's Church should be restricted and that another parish, on the West Side, should be established. St. Paul's Memorial Chapel on Turner avenue was established as a mission, for which St. Mark's Church erected the present church building, in 1869. It was conse- crated by the Bishop in 1870, and in 1871 its congregation became an independent parish, with the Rev. Sidney Beckwith placed in charge. On Feb. 15, 1875, Grace Church was organized in the south- ern part of the city and Rev. Seth S. Chapin was made its first rector.


Pursuant to a call by the Bishop, a special convention was held in St. Mark's Church, Dec. 2, 1874, composed of the clergy and lay deputies from all the parishes in the western part of the State, for the purpose of organizing a diocese. Western Michigan was emerging from its missionary character and it began to be felt that the seat of a see should be in Grand Rapids. The diocese of Western Michigan was organized, Rev. George D. Gillespie, D. D., was elected bishop, and he was consecrated in St. Mark's Church on St. Matthias' Day, Feb. 24, 1875. At a special convention, in 1905, Rev. Dr. John Newton McCormick was elected coadjutor and in February of the succeeding year was consecrated. In that year the church edifice of St. Mark's parish became a pro-cathedral. Bishop Gillespie passed away, on March 19, 1909, and Bishop McCormick succeeded to the position.


George De Normandie Gillespie was born in Goshen, Orange County, New York, June 14, 1819. Following his early schooling he was graduated at the General Theological Seminary in 1840. On June 28 of the same year he was made a deacon in St. Peter's Church, New York, by Bishop B. T. Onderdonk. He was advanced to the priest- hood in St. Mark's, LeRoy, N. Y., June 30, 1843, by Bishop De Lan- cey. His pastorates were St. Mark's, LeRoy; St. Paul's, Cincinnati ; Zion, Palmyra, N. Y., and St. Andrew's, Ann Arbor. For many years he was secretary of the diocese of Michigan. Hobart College gave him the doctorate in divinity in 1875, the year he was consecrated bishop.


THE REFORMED CHURCH.


The Domestic Missionary Board commissioned the Rev. Hart E. Waring, of New York, as a western missionary, and about May 20, 1840, he came to this field of labor and was warmly welcomed by Deacon George Young and a few others. On Sunday, May 26, 1840, he preached in a private house and gave notice of the intention to or- ganize a "Reformed Protestant Dutch Church," as it was then legally


Hosted by


Google


381


CHURCH HISTORY


styled. This event came to pass on Monday, Aug. 12, 1840, at the residence of the new pastor, which stood on the northeast corner of Bronson (now Crescent) street and Ionia avenue. A Sunday School was organized and George Young was chosen superintendent. The church thus organized first held its services for from six months to a year in the village school house, a small frame building on "Pros- pect Hill," on the south end of the site now occupied by the Ledyard Block on Ottawa street; and next, for greater convenience, hired at fifty cents a week the upper part of Amos Roberts' building on the northeast corner of Fountain and Ottawa streets, the present site of the Grand Rapids Trust Company building. There they worshiped nearly a year, next occupying for two or three months the second floor of a frame store nearly opposite Market, on Monroe street. In the second year the church had won such favor, and the congrega- tions were so large, that, in the autumn of 1841, the necessity of se- curing a suitable and permanent home was felt. Accordingly, the Kent Company offered to give a large lot on the southwest corner of Michigan and Ottawa streets for a church site, and the Consistory, on Jan. 3, 1842, concluded to accept this offer and to build as soon as possible on the ground thus presented. Ground was broken for the basement, April 25, 1842, and on May 9 the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, in which the entire population was interested, for it was a great event in the little town, and the house was to be an imposing and magnificent one for those times. In the autumn of that year the basement was completed and occupied, and "Deacon" Young was commissioned to solicit aid in the East to finish the edifice. Dis- affection having arisen between the pastor and Elders Young and Butler, though sustained by the almost unanimous endorsement of the church and the community, in which this was then the leading church, Mr. Waring resigned, Aug. 1, 1843. The Rev. Andrew B.


Taylor soon afterward assumed the pastorate and labored faithfully, but in September, 1848, seeing no signs of promise for the future of the church, he resigned, and by authority of the Board Dr. Penney was asked to supply the church, but he declined. In July, 1860, the Rev. Philip Berry, just entering the ministry, became the pastor, and a reorganization of the church was completed and work resumed with twelve members. With the aid of churches abroad the auditorium was soon finished and the church was dedicated June 9, 1861. In this early history the following pastors succeeded Mr. Berry, who re- signed in July, 1861: Rev. John M. Ferris, June, 1862, to July 1, 1865; Rev. Henry E. Decker, July, 1865, to September, 1867; Rev. Christian Vander Veen, March, 1868, to May, 1871; Rev. Jacob Van- der Meulen, May, 1871, to April 28, 1872; Rev. Peter Moerdyke, Sept. 21, 1873, to July 27, 1891. About June, 1863, the location of the church was deemed so unfavorable that the congregation moved to the old meeting house, northeast corner of Division and Park streets, built in 1840 by St. Mark's Church, and remained there until the end of 1866. Then the building belonging to the church was reoccupied by the congregation, and in 1868 it had its first installed pastor, pre- vious ones being missionaries of the Board of Home Missions, which paid most of their salaries. In the night of May 3, 1872, a "black Friday" visited the church, and the morning of Saturday revealed


Hosted by Google


382


HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN


only the charred debris and begrimed stone walls of their sanctuary left. In February, 1873, the old property, containing the ruins of the church, was advantageously disposed of by sale and exchange, and in May following they were in possession of a parsonage at 151 Lyon street, and a house of worship, then bought of the Baptist Church, which was building its edifice on Fountain street. Rev. P. Moerdyke was called in August, 1873. He accepted and entered upon his labors, Sept. 21, and for one month occupied the pulpit with the Rev. S. Graves, D. D .- each preaching once per Sabbath-which union meet- ings continued until the Baptist society vacated the building. The congregation soon outgrew the seating capacity-420-of that house, and so strongly desired a more commodious and creditable sanctuary, and better facilities for the ever enlarging demands of the work, that in April, 1888, a site for a new church, at the southwest corner of Fountain street and Barclay avenue, was purchased of Dr. Charles Shepard, and upon which they soon built the present house of wor- ship, which is among the most attractive and commodious in the city. The following pastors have served the church since 1891: Rev. W. Hall Williamson, May 26, 1892, to Dec. 31, 1898; Rev. J. M. Vander Meulen, Sept. 1, 1899, to Aug. 5, 1901; Rev. G. Watermulder, Dec. 11, 1902, to Sept. 19, 1905; and in 1907 came Rev. J. Alexander Brown, who is the present pastor.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.