History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 35

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold
Number of Pages: 738

USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens > Part 35

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).

285

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

ber 12, 1896, after 28 years of faithful service in the Master's vineyard. His successor was Rev. C. F. Graebner, who served the church until 1903, when he was called to the presi- dency of the Lutheran University of Australia. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Paul Budach. Like other churches of this faith, Emanuel Church supports a parochial school, which is a model educational institu- tion, with 225 pupils. John M. Helmreich is the principal, with two assistants.

ST. JOHN'S GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH (West Side) .- This church was organized De- cember 28, 1862, by the late Rev. Christopher L. Eberhardt, of Saginaw. There were 20 charter members. For several months they held services in the house of George Kiesel, where the church had been organized; meet- ings were also held for a time in the school house in Bangor, and later in Wenona. The church was built in 1872, and dedicated on September 15th of the same year. At that time it was 30 by 40 feet in dimensions. In 1873 the congregation joined the Synod of Michigan and other States. Up to that time the pulpit had been supplied by various preach- ers of the same faith. Rev. William Reuther was the first pastor. He was followed by Rev. O. Wuest, who served the congregation until 1884. On January Ist of the following year Rev. A. P. Mueller was called, and served until his death in December, 1888. During his pas- torate a bell was placed in the steeple at a cost of $200. The parsonage at the corner of Jane and Kiesel streets was built in 1887 at a cost of $1,100; the school house was also built in that year. Previous to that time, school had been kept in the church. Rev. J. F. Mayer commenced his labors with this congregation January 8, 1888, and remained with them un- til 1892. During his last year the congregation

called for a teacher, and H. Waterstratt was appointed. He served only one year.

The present pastor, Rev. J. F. Henning, commenced his labors July 12, 1892, and for the first three years of his pastorate also taught school, as the congregation was small at that time and could not well afford the expense of a teacher. In 1894 E. Dobbratz was secured to teach the school and remained until 1896. At that time the pastor again took up the work of teaching. In about a year Samuel Linsenmann came to teach the school, but he only remained a short time. In 1894 a stone foundation was placed under the church, and this together with other extensive repairs, including painting and decorating, cost $680. In the same year the pastor founded a library in the church, which now has several hundred volumes on its shelves.

In 1901 the church was rebuilt at a cost of $3,000. It now has seating capacity for about 500 persons. There are 90 voting members, 850 souls, 250 communicants and 142 families. There are 89 pupils in the Sunday-school and 50 in the parochial school. The teacher of the latter school, Philip Kircher, took up the work in 1901.

TRINITY GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH (Monitor ) .- This congregation was founded in the spring of 1880 by the late Rev. Ferdin- and Sievers, Sr., of Frankenlust. The organi- zation was effected on July 18th of that year, at which time the constitution was adopted and the first officers were elected. These were Rev. Ferdinand Sievers, Jr., president ; and J. L. Enser, secretary. There were 17 charter members. A few months later their first house of worship was built. It was 36 by 22 by 14 feet, and cost $660. The church was dedi- cated November 7, 1880, and three days later, Rev. Mr. Sievers, who was the first pastor, began to teach the parochial school of 10 pupils.

286

HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

In 1887 it became necessary to build an addi- tion to the church 26 by 22 feet, which cost about $200. In 1889 A. H. Gehrs was ap- pointed as the first teacher for the parochial school. In 1896 the first pastor accepted a call to South Chicago, and the present pastor, Rev. L. A. Wissmueller was chosen by the congregation. In the same year the first steps toward building a new church edifice were taken. The corner-stone was laid on July 18, 1897, and the church was dedicated on Febru- ary 6, 1898. It is one of the largest and pret- tiest country churches in the county, measur- ing 106 by 42 feet, giving ample seating room for 600 people. The tower reaches a height of 130 feet, and holds two bells which weigh about 2,800 pounds. The total cost amounted to about $11, 117.

The present building for the western parochial school was erected in 1903, together with a residence for the teacher. The follow- ing year, the old church building, which had served for a school house for the eastern parochial school, was taken down and the pres- ent building erected. The old parsonage which, after a new one had been constructed in 1893, had served as a residence for the teacher, was rebuilt and enlarged. During the past 12 years, the congregation has expended for building purposes about $17,000 which sum was raised by voluntary contributions. The annual expenses of the church, which amount to about $2,000 are raised in like manner. The congregation numbers 670 souls, 390 com- municants, 112 voting members. About 120 pupils attend the two parochial schools, where they are instructed in the common branches of learning and in the German language and in religion.

TRINITY GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH. -This is the youngest Lutheran congregation on the East Side. It was organized March 26,

1886, by members of Bethel German Lutheran Church. The church edifice is located at the corner of Broadway and 32nd street. It was built in the latter part of 1886 and was dedi- cated on the second Sunday in January, 1887. The church is a frame structure 40 by 80 feet in dimensions, valued at $5,000; the parochial school, which has two class rooms, is valued at $2,000 and the parsonage at $1,000. The congregation has 70 voting members. The following is a list of the pastors, beginning with the founder of the church: Revs. J. G. Oehlert, March, 1886 to July, 1887; G. E. Bergemann, 1887-92; T. A. Sauer, 1892-95; H. H. Hoffmann, 1895-96; and A. C. Haase, the present pastor, who took charge in 1897. There are 81 children enrolled in the parochial school. The following teachers have had charge of the school: C. A. Berling, Miss Helen C. Haase, Gustav Schulz, Miss Emily von Walthausen. The pastor always has charge of one division.

ZION GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH (West Side) .- This church is the outgrowth of a mission established in Salzburg by Rev. C. F. Graebner about the year 1900. Under his leadership and with the support of Emanuel German Lutheran Church, of which he was pastor, the mission developed into an independ- ent congregation, which for upwards of two years has been self-supporting. The church was organized with II charter members on April 23, 1901. For a meeting place the Salzburg German Band Hall was purchased and re- modeled. It was dedicated August 17, 1902, and they now have a comfortable house of worship seating about 250 persons. The church numbers about 350 souls, 200 communi- cants and 50 voting members. Rev. Mr. Graebner filled the pulpit until January, 1903. On February 5th of that year the present pas- tor, Rev. E. W. Bohn, was installed. Their

287

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

parochial school was established in November, 1903, at which time the present school was pur- chased from St. Paul's German Lutheran Church at Frankenlust. They have about 70 pupils. J. W. Putz has been the teacher since the school was established. Their present par- sonage, which is one of the best owned by the denomination in the Saginaw Valley, was built in 1903.

ST. BARTHOLOMEUS GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH (Kawkawlin) .- This church be- longs to the Michigan Synod. It has 39 vot- ing members, 154 communicants and 277 souls in its parish. They own a nice church, school house and parsonage. Thirty children are en- rolled in their parochial school. On May 7, 1905, the present pastor, Rev. H. Kionka, took charge.

SCANDINAVIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH (West Side) .- This society, which belongs to the Illinois Conference, was organized in 1880 with about 13 voting members by Rev. A. Schalman, who remained with them as pastor for some time. He was followed by Rev. S. C. Rydberg, who served the church five years. The next pastor was Rev. A. J. Ander, whose pastorate also extended over a period of five years. Then came Rev. C. A. Lindevall, who remained about two years. His successor was Rev. A. B. Lilja, who remained until 1901. In June of that year the present pastor, Rev. J. E. Holtz, took up his duties.

The present church edifice was built in 1881, and has seating capacity of about 400 people. The church, school and parsonage to- gether are valued at about $8,000. The par- sonage was built in 1882, and the school build- ing, called Luther Hall, was erected in 1885. The children attend the public schools during the school year, and during the summer va- cation half-day sessions are held in the paro- chial school by the pastor. The church num-

bers 125 voting members, 225 communicants and about 400 souls. About 125 pupils are enrolled in the Sunday-school. In 1904 a pipe organ was installed at an expense of about $1,200.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

TRINITY PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. -This church owes its establishment first to the Fitzhugh family, W. D. Fitzhugh having been the earliest leader in the society, and his wife the first communicant. The first male communicant was Israel Catlin. In the fall of 1850 the first ministrations of an Episcopal clergyman were received in this section. Rev. Joseph Adderly made a few missionary visits and held services three times. Again from December 21, 1851 to July 4, 1852, another missionary, Rev. Daniel B. Lyon, made occa- sional appointments, conducting worship in all about a half dozen times. On the 22nd of January, 1853, Rev. Voltaire Spaulding en- tered upon his duties, giving this field the bene- fit of stated services, which were held upon each third Sunday. To defray this expense a small sum was raised by the congregation, and the balance was paid by the missionary society. On the 4th of March, 1854, the parish organi- zation was formed under the title of "Trinity Church, Lower Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan." Rev. Mr. Spaulding resigned on June 1, 1858. At this time there were only five communicants, and the church remained without a pastor until May, 1860. During this time the work was going steadily forward. An excellent site was secured on what is now Washington avenue, and plans were put in operation for the erection of a church. Through the liberality of friends at home and abroad sufficient means were obtained to build a neat though small edifice, which was conse-

288

HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

crated to the worship of God on May 10, 1860. The services of a minister were again secured, Rev. Edward Magee, of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, Saginaw City, agreeing to devote one-half of his time to Trinity parish. He preached here on each alternate Sunday until May 25, 1861, when he resigned his charge in Saginaw City and confined himself to the church work here. Ill health compelled him to resign on November 28th of the same year. The pulpit remained vacant for nearly a year, and then Rev. Gilbert B. Hayden was called to the rectorship. The term of his min- istry, which commenced November 24, 1862, lasted only five months. He performed a good work for the parish in writing a history of the church, on which the article from which we get our information was based. The next rector was Rev. A. M. Lewis, who entered upon his duties Oct. 1, 1863. His earnestness and ac- tivity did not go unrewarded, for in August, 1864, it was found necessary to enlarge the church building. This was accomplished in two and a half months at a cost of $1,200. Rev. Mr. Lewis resigned on the 15th Sunday after Trinity, 1865.

On January 19, 1866, Rev. Fayette Royce, of Nunda, New York, was called, and assumed the responsibilities of his new position on the third Sunday of Lent, 1866. During his rec- torship the building was again found inade- quate for the increasing congregation, and a second addition was made. He resigned No- vember 15, 1868, and in the following Feb- ruary, Rev. John Wright, D. D., was called to the rectorship. He preached his first sermon as rector April 11, 1869. On reaching the scene of his labors, he found that the church building had recently undergone a third ex- tension at an expense of $2,387.81. On Janu- ary 18, 1874, the new organ, which had cost $3,150 was used for the first time. Dr.

Wright resigned January 25, 1874, and was succeeded by Rev. George P. Schetky, D. D., who became pastor June 2Ist of the same year. He remained until April 4, 1877, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Alfred A. Alford, D. D., who assumed the duties of the rectorship the same year, and remained here seven years. During his incumbency the new stone chapel on Grant street was erected at a cost of $15,000. It has a seating capacity for 300 people. It was completed in 1883, and was occupied as a church until the present beautiful edifice was finished in 1887. Including furnishings this house of worship cost $70,000. It will seat 500 people. The first service was held on Wednesday in Easter week, April 14, 1887. After the chapel was completed, the old church property on Washington avenue was sold to B. E. Warren and Capt. C. M. Averell.

Rev. A. A. Butler succeeded Dr. Alford as. rector, and he was followed by Rev. Edwin R. Bishop, who resigned in the fall of 1887 after five years of earnest labor. The next rector was Rev. Thomas W. McLean, who remained with the church until 1901, when he was suc- ceeded by the present rector, Rev. Amos Wat- kins. The present membership of the church is about 500.

Trinity Church has always been active in missionary work. In 1872 a mission was started at Wenona under the charge of George A. Cooke as lay leader. On October 20th of the same year the rector organized Trinity chapel in the Seventh Ward of Bay City. Three other missions were organized: at Banks, McEwanville (now part of Essexville) and Essexville. On October 12, 1873, Rev. Lewis L. Rogers entered upon his duties as missionary at these missions, and continued in this work nearly a year. The mission in Es- sexville was continued until 1905, when the property was sold.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, Bay City, E. S.

ST. STANISLAUS' CATHOLIC CHURCH, Bay City, E. S.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Bay City, E. S.

MERCY HOSPITAL, Bay City, E. S.

CHILDREN'S HOME, Bay City, E. S

291

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

GRACE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH (West Side) .- In 1872 a parish in West Bay City under the name of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church was organized by Trinity Church of Bay City. This was placed under the charge of George A. Cooke as lay reader. There were two missions, one at Wenona and the other at Banks. Rev. Lewis L. Rogers was the first rector. In 1874 a neat house of wor- ship was built at Wenona upon lots of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Sage. In October, 1874, Rev. J. E. Jackson received an appointment as missionary. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Mr. Wilson. After the latter went away, no regular services were held, al- though a Sunday-school was kept up for some time. The members finally drifted apart and the society became disbanded. Matters con- tinued in this shape until February, 1893, when Rev. J. E. Ramsdell came to this field and found a few women who were interested. This was the beginning of the present Grace Church. He began to hold services in the basement of the Birchard Block. The following June, the old Presbyterian Church, which for some time had been in use as a school, was rented and used as a house of worship. Rev. Mr. Rams- dell went away in November, 1894, and was succeeded on the Ist of the following January by Rev. Mr. Barr. The Board of Education about this time wanted the building, and the society secured meeting rooms in the Moots Block. Rev. Mr. Barr gave up the work in May, 1895. leaving in charge Rev. George W'ye, whose pastorate covered a year, and then regular services were given up. The Ladies' Aid Society, however, still kept together and at work, and in September, 1898, Rev. G. F. A. McKelcan came and took hold of the work. Services were held in the Adventist Church until December, when arrangements were made to purchase the old Presbyterian Church, and

as soon as it was put in repair the society moved in. In the spring of 1899 Rev. Mr. McKelcan was called to Midland, and the services were kept up by supplies until January, 1900, when Rev. W. R. Blachford took charge of the grow- ing mission. He stayed until May, 1902, and was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Ed- ward Jermin. Christmas, 1903, found the debt on the church building all cleared and many improvements paid for. The society is grow- ing rapidly, and has secured three lots on Mid- land street, where a modern church edifice will be erected in the near future.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- In 1855 the population of Lower Saginaw had increased so much that it was thought advisable to make a move towards hiring a Presbyterian min- ister. A subscription paper was circulated and $300 was subscribed towards supporting a minister for one year, expecting the Home Missionary Society would pay the balance of a necessary salary. The late William Jennison, father of Charles E. Jennison, was the prime mover in starting the subscription. The first pastor was Rev. L. I. Root, who commenced his labors about the first of May, 1856. On the 5th of the following September the church was formally organized as the First Presby- terian Church of Lower Saginaw, with eight charter members. Rev. Mr. Root was in- stalled by the Presbytery of Saginaw in No- vember, 1858, and continued to serve the church until February, 1860. Rev. E. J. Stew- art acted as stated supply from June, 1861, to December, 1863.

During its first years, the church worshipped in the school house which' stood at the north end of Washington avenue, where for many years all public meetings were held. After-

292

HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY

ward its meetings were in a public hall, and for a time in the Court House. In 1861 a church edifice was erected; soon after its dedi- cation, while the congregation was in the midst of a communion service, it took fire and was consumed. The building of a new house of worship was immediately commenced, the dedi- cation of which occurred December 25, 1863. The church was constructed of wood and was originally 40 by 70 feet in size upon the ground, with sittings for 400 persons.

Rev. Mr. Stewart closed his labors with the church in September, 1864. In April, 1865, Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., was called as pastor and commenced his labors on the first Sabbath of the following May. He was installed by the Presbytery of Saginaw on November 23rd of the same year. The bell was placed in the church tower in August, 1866. The lecture room was built in the au- tumn of 1868, and the main building was en- larged with a tier of pews on each side in the fall of 1872. Dr. Wight's activity as pastor continued until 1888, when he was made pas- tor emeritus. To Dr. Wight more than to any other man is due the strength and char- acter and prominence of the church, in all its civil and ecclesiastical relations.

In 1886, Rev. Burt Estes Howard was called as an assistant to Dr. Wight, and was installed as pastor of the church June 28, 1888. He remained with the church until October 26, 1890. On the 3rd of the following June, Rev. William H. Clark, D. D., became the pastor, and labored most faithfully and successfully until May 1, 1896.

During the latter part of the pastorate of Dr. Wight, and during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Howard, preparations were made for a new house of worship. This effort resulted in the construction of the present stone edifice, which was erected at a cost, including the site

and furnishings, of $105,000. It is said to be one of the largest and handsomest buildings in the Northwest. The corner-stone was laid June 25, 1891, and the dedication took place June 6, 1893.

Following Dr. Clark, the next pastor was Rev. Otis A. Smith, D. D., who was called on June 15, 1896 and who entered upon his work the following July. He was installed by the Presbytery of Saginaw on the 2nd of October, 1896, and continued with the church until Feb- ruary, 1902. There was then a long interval, during which the church was without a settled pastor. In the summer of 1902, Rev. James Gale Inglis supplied the pulpit, and then re- ceived a call to become pastor. This call he did not accept until the following year. He was installed as pastor in March, 1903, and con- tinued until March 19, 1905, when he resigned on account of ill health. He was a man be- loved by the entire community. The church is at present without a pastor.

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (West Side) .- About the first of November, 1863, Rev. D. B. Campbell was sent as a mis- sionary by the Presbytery of Saginaw to the lower part of the Saginaw Valley. His field of labor comprised Bangor, Kawkawlin and Portsmouth townships. Services were held in the school houses at Banks and Wenona for the convenience of people living in the town- ship of Bangor. In January, 1864, after Sage & McGraw had purchased the site of what was to become the village of Wenona, Rev. Mr. Campbell called upon Henry W. Sage, and asked a donation of two lots on which to build a church. The request was promptly granted, and two lots on Catherine street were given, and on behalf of the firm Mr. Sage generously agreed to double any subscriptions that could be secured for the purpose of building a church. Early in 1865 a meeting was held at Rev. Mr.

293

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

Campbell's house, at which a church society was organized. At this time the church was called the First Presbyterian Church of Ban- gor. The first elders of the church were Ste- phen Buchanan and J. H. Plum ; the first trus- tees. J. S. Taylor, J. B. Ostrander and John G. Sweeney.

The efforts to raise money for a church edifice were successful and the work of build- ing was vigorously pushed forward. The cor- ner-stone was laid on August 23, 1865, and the house of worship was dedicated on the 3rd of the following December. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., of Bay City. The cost of the structure was $3,500, and the furnishings cost $500 more. Of this amount Sage & McGraw contributed about $2,000. Rev. Mr. Camp- bell continued with the society until some time in 1868, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. T. Sanford, of Schenectady, New York. His pastorate came to a close in January, 1870, and for about a year the church remained with- out a pastor. In April, 1871, a call was ex- tended to Rev. L. W. Chapman, who began his labors with the society soon afterward, and con- tinued until May 1, 1880. The next pastor was Rev. Donald L. Monroe, who was suc- ceeded by Rev. Charles Noble Frost. The last named remained only about a year, and was followed by Rev. W. P. Miller, who closed his pastorate in 1892 after three years of faithful service. The next pastor was Rev. W. F. Ir- win, who remained with the church about three years. From the summer of 1896 until Octo- ber 6th of that year the pulpit was supplied by various preachers, but on the last named date Rev. E. K. Strong began a pastorate which extended over a period of six years. He re- signed August 3, 1902, and on November 9th of the same year the present pastor, Rev. An- drew S. Zimmerman, began his labors.

MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .- This church is the outgrowth of a mission estab- lished by the First Presbyterian Church in 1870. It was located at that time on Broadway near 23rd street. The chapel which was erected cost $1,500, and was later enlarged and fur- nished at an expense of $500 more. In 1875 an organ was purchased and other improve- ments made. The work in this locality con- tinued to prosper, and in 1891 the church was organized. Its first pastor was Rev. Robert C. H. Sinclair, who remained with them two years. In 1893, Rev. Peter E. Nichols was called, and served the church until 1896. Dur- ing his pastorate the church edifice was re- moved from the original location to where it now stands, and was rebuilt in order to accom- modate larger congregations. Altogether, the present property is worth about $3.000. This includes a parsonage which was on the present site when it was purchased, but which has since been remodeled. The church will now easily seat about 350 persons. Following Rev. Mr. Nichols, came Rev. Perry V. Jennes, who re- mained with the church about three years, his pastorate coming to a close in 1898. Rev. David B. Greigg next ministered to the church, the term of his service running from the fall of 1898 until the spring of 1900. The pulpit was then supplied by various preachers, Rev. Mr. Winter coming to them in July, 1900, and remaining until February, 1901. The present pastor, Rev. William Bryant, took up his work with this church in March, 1901, and the church is prospering under his care. The pres- ent membership of the church is 185, while there are 200 students enrolled in the Sunday- school.

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.

History of Bay County, Michigan, and representative citizens, Part 35

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold Number of Pages: 738

Author: Gansser, Augustus H., 1872-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond & Arnold
Number of Pages: 738