USA > Michigan > Bay County > History of Bay County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
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 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
The conclusion of Judge Miller's reminiscence relates particu- larly to the organization of the Presbyterian Society, and appears in that connection.
After the first schoolhouse was built, just south of where the Detroit & Bay City passenger depot now stands, religious services were held there, conducted by Hon. James G. Birney, who was an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
Methodism in Bay City held its first organized class in 1837, consisting of Mrs. Belinda Barney, Mr. and Mrs. Raby, and J. Crutchfield. Of these the first named yet retains an honored place in the church. Occasional preaching services were held here before that date, and for some years after by ministers from Flint and the Saginaw mission.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BAY CITY .- In 1852, at the annual conference held in Niles, Bishop Levi Scott presiding, George Bradley was assigned to Lower Saginaw. He was the first Methodist minister appointed.to this charge. During his ministry in 1852-'53 the society was fully organized, and the present church building erected on Washington Street. This has been enlarged and modified from time to time, and with such improvements as were imperatively called for, has faithfully served its purpose as a place of worship for thirty years.
The economy of the church in its methods of pastoral over- sight has required several changes, but has not allowed the suc- cession of yearly appointments to be broken. Since the pastorate of George Bradley above named, there have been the following :- In 1853-'54, Isaac Cogshall; 1855-'56, T. J. Joslin; 1857-'58, Wil- liam Benson; 1859, E. Klumph; 1860-'61, J. C. Wortley; 1862, E. E. Caster; 1863, H. O. Parker; 1864-'65, William Fox; 1866-'67, R. S. Pardington; 1868, George I. Betts; 1869-'70, J. H. Burnham; 1871-'72-'73, John Kelly; 1874, T. G. Potter; 1875-'76-'77, J. Ven- ning; 1878-'79-'80, J. Atkinson; 1881-'82, J. McEldowney.
On the 5th of September, 1859, William Benson recorded in the county clerk's office the appointment of Calvin C. C. Chilson, Henry M. Bradley, Henry M. Stillman, John J. Nichols, and A. G. Sinclair trustees in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church. This is the first board of trustees of which there is official record.
Difficulties, many of them peculiar to the early settlements of the Saginaw Valley, others common to all localities, have been encountered and overcome in the years past. The church has steadily gained in strength and numbers. Within the territory formerly occupied by this charge there are now four Methodist churches, each working in its own sphere. Ten years ago this charge reported. 145 members. If none had died or removed or backslidden there would to-day be 506, but deaths, removals, with and without letters, and other causes have reduced this to 230.
The present officers of the church are as follows :- Presiding elder, Rev. J. S. Smart; pastor, Rev. John McEldowney; trustees, Frederick E. Bradley, James Seed, R. W. Erwin, William Foale, Louis Goeschel, S. N. Henion, Henry Holmes, J. Mansfield, J. W. Shorey; stewards, C. W. Parish, E. J. Hargrave, H. M. Bradley, L. R. Russell, Frederick Hargrave, S. C. Wilson, E. C. Hargrave, D. A. Ross, Walter P. Moore, Jr .; leaders, H. M. Bradley, B. Moore, E. J. Hargrave; E. C. Hargrave, recording steward; L. R. Russell, church treasurer.
The church pays its pastor a salary of $1,800, and the last year its total disbursements amounted to $2,793.95.
Whole number of teachers and pupils in the Sunday-school, 290; receipts and expenditures for last year, $416.95.
THE GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Bay City dates back to 1857, when Rev. Jacob Krehbil visited Bay City, or Lower
86
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
Saginaw as it then was, and held religious service. In 1858 he was succeeded by Rev. John Horst, and his colleague, Rev. Jacob Braun, who continued their labors until the close of 1859. Rev. H. Manz had charge of the field in 1860-'61, and then Rev. A. Mayer of- ficiated from 1862 to 1864. Various other pastors followed, and the society grew in numbers and strength, and about 1867 a church edifice was erected on Adams Street, between Eighth and Ninth Streets. This society has shared the general growth and prosperity of the city in which it is located, and has a large membership. The present pastor is Rev. John Schneider.
THE FREMONT AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was or- ganized in 1864, although religious services were held at Ports- mouth several years before. As early as 1855, Rev. Isaac Cogshall used to preach in Lower Saginaw and Portsmouth. In 1865 the present church edifice was dedicated. . The church was built under the superintendence of Rev. William Fox. The present pastor is Rev. O. J. Perrin, and the membership is 115. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 200. John Simons is superintendent. During the last three years about $1,500 have been expended in repairs on the building. The present official board consists of Albert Miller, George Lewis, Nelson Merritt, J. Mckinney, Hiram Marbol, M. A. Rose, C. D. Fisher, John Simons, and J. S. Smart, Jr.
THE WOODSIDE AVENUE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Was or- ganized in 1873, and Rev. A. B. Clough was the first pastor. This society was organized to accommodate members of this denomin- - ation living in the north part of the city. The church edifice was erected in 1876, but was not dedicated until the present year. The membership is twenty-eight. Present pastor, Rev. H. G. Persons. Trustees, James E. Like, Oscar Carter, Henry Lockwood, William Sharp, and W. Teall.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church owes its establishment first to the Fitzhugh fam- ily, Mr. W. D. Fitzhugh having been the earliest leader in the society, and his wife the first communicant. The first male com- municant was Israel Catlin. The first services were conducted in 1850, by Rev. (deacon) Joseph Adderly, missionary at Saginaw City. Next came Rev. Daniel B. Lyon, from the same place, and held services about half a dozen times up to 1852. The first regu- lar services were by Rev. Voltaire Spaulding, who became a mis- sionary to this whole region, with headquarters at Saginaw City.
The first corporation was made March 4, 1854, under the title of Trinity Church, Lower Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Mich. The cor- porators were :- Henry Raymond, Israel Catlin, Daniel Burns, John Drake, George E. Smith, E. S. Catlin, J. S. Barclay, B. B. Hart, Henry Young, C. Munger, H. H. Alvord, H. H. Chapman, James Hays, and Richard Padley.
Rev. Mr. Spaulding presided at the organization, and Col. Henry Raymond was secretary; Israel Catlin was elected senior warden, and Richard Padley junior warden; Curtis Munger, George F. Smith, B. B. Hart, Daniel Burns, J. S. Barclay, Henry Raymond, Thomas Carney, and Hiram F. Ferris, vestrymen.
Mr. Spaulding departed in June, 1858, and from that time until May, 1860, the parish was without a pastor. At the time Mr. Spaulding resigned his charge there were five communicants belonging to the church.
During this inter regnum the few churchmen were not idle. One of the best plats allotted by the original patentees to the church was selected, and through the efforts of Messrs. Israel Catlin, Charles Fitzhugh, and Henry Raymond, a church edifice was erected, and dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Samuel A. McCoskey, May 10, 1860. During the same month, Rev. Edward Magee took
charge of the parish, giving it every other Sunday, and receiving $300 per year as salary. Next year Mr. Magee devoted his entire time to this parish. His ministry of a year and a half shows a record of fourteen baptisms, six confirmations, one marriage and two burials. The number of communicants at this time was twenty. For a year after this date, or until November 24, 1862, the parish was again vacant, and then Rev. Gilbert B. Haven came to its charge. During his ministry seven were confirmed, and ten were received from abroad, making the number of communicants August 1, 1863, about thirty-seven. Rev. A. M. Lewis was called to the rec- torship October 1, 1863. He remained two years, during which the church building was enlarged, at a cost of $1,200, and fifty-four were baptized, twenty-six were confirmed, seven were married, and there were thirteen burials. From abroad, twenty-four were received into the church, making the number of communicants sixty-five. On the 19th of January, 1866, the Rev. Fayette Royce was called to the rectorship, entered upon the duties at the latter end of the March following, and resigned November 1, 1868.
Rev. John Wright became rector April 11, 1869. The church had previously undergone a third extension at an expense of $2,100. Gas had been introduced, the chancel enlarged, a library room added, and the interior of the building thoroughly renovated. The expense was paid mainly by the Ladies' Aid Society, which raised in one year $1,200. Mr. Wright resigned January 25, 1874, and removed to Boston, Mass.
In the Winter of 1874 the church was suppliedwith a new organ, at a cost of $3,150.
Rev. George P. Schetky, D. D., became rector in June, 1874.
The parish has supported various missions, and has been one of the most active church organizations in the city. Its present auxiliaries in the city are Trinity Chapel, on Grant Street, and St. Barnabas Mission, in the Seventh Ward.
The present membership is 175. The officers are as follows :-- Rector, Rev. A. A. Butler; wardens, Israel Catlin, Thomas Cran- age, Jr .; vestrymen, John Drake, G. K. Jackson, Charles Maloine, Orrin Bump, Frederick Browne, William Keith, B. E. Warren, F. L. Gilbert.
EMANUEL REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH, of South Bay City, was organized March 4, 1881. C. H. Freeman, William Ballance, Is- rael Harding, and Hiram Leaver were among the leaders in its or- ganization. This church was the outgrowth of a Sunday-school, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Freeman for several years. The school was very prosperous, and was first held at the house of Mr. Harding while a chapel was being built. Mrs. Freeman, who de- voted herself to the interests of this school with untiring zeal, was instrumental in securing funds for the building of a chapel which was completed in 1878, Mrs. Freeman digging with her own hands the first post-hole and setting the first post. Since that time ser- vices have been held in the chapel, and in 1881 the church organ- ized as above stated. The service is conducted each alternate Sun- day by Rev. James Ward, of Detroit, who comes here for that pur- pose, receiving for his labors but little more than the amount of his actual expenses. The society has a membership of about thirty and a large Sunday-school.
LUTHERAN SOCIETIES.
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN BETHEL CHURCH was organized October 31, 1852, under the title of the German Bethel Lutheran Society of Lower Saginaw, by Rev. J. Ehrhardt, who was the first pastor of the church. H. C. Hage, I. T. Westpeinter and H. Moller were chosen and ordained presiding elders.
The society consisted at first of only fifteen members, and worshipped in various public places. In the Winter of 1856, a
87
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
small church building was erected and dedicated by Rev. C. Volz in March, 1856. This building was soon afterwards enlarged. Mr. Volz resigned in 1859, and the society was without a pastor until 1861, when Rev. F. W. Spentler came and remained until 1863. Rev. John Haas was his successor, and he resigned in June, 1865. His successor was the Rev. W. Reuther, who took charge September 11, 1865. In the Spring of 1866, a new church was built and the first building was removed to the rear, behind the parsonage. The new church was dedicated June 16, 1867. The old building was used as a parochial school, attended to by Rev. W. Reuther. In June, 1871, the church was supplied with three bells. October 25, 1871, the church building and schoolhouse were destroyed by fire. This hard misfortune induced the congregation to sell the old church ground and to buy the present place, three lots on the corner of Madison and Eighth Streets. A beautiful brick church was erected on this place. The dimensions of the building are 95x42 feet, with a steeple 150 feet high, supplied with two fine- toned bells. In connection with the church a new parsonage was built as a dwelling for the pastor of the church. The new church was dedicated November 25, 1872, by Rev. W. Reuther, and officers of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Michigan and other states, of which body the congregation is a member. Rev. Mr. Reuther remained pastor of the church until about a year ago, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. O. W. Wiest. The society is in a very prosperous condition.
THE GERMAN LUTHERAN EMANUEL CHURCH dates back to the year 1854, Rev. F. Sievers, of Frankenlust, the pioneer of Luth- eran ministers in this section, being the founder. By him the little flock was served in connection with St. Paul's Society at Frankenlust for a period of eleven years. In 1865 Rev. I. C. Himmler took charge of the society, then numbering about twenty voting members. In the Autumn of 1867, Rev. Himmler sev- ered his connection with the society by accepting a call to an- other field of labor. When he left there were about twenty- five voting members, and the property of the society consisted of the lot on the northwest corner of Sixth and Madison Streets, with a small church building of 18x30 feet and a schoolhouse upon it. In July, 1868, after a vacancy of nine months, the charge was filled by the present pastor, Rev. I. H. P. Partenfelder, a graduate of the Lutheran Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, Mo. The number of voting members at present is about one hundred. In 1878, the church building having become too small, an addition 22x30 feet was made. The building is now lighted by gas, con- tains two bells and a pipe organ. Besides this, the society has a property on the southeast corner of Sixth and Monroe Streets, two lots with a valuable parsonage and a schoolhouse upon them. It also supports its own school teacher. The form of church govern- ment is congregational, like that of the General Lutheran Mission Synod, whereof Emanuel Congregation is a member. Rev. I. H. P. Partenfelder is pastor.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
This church began its life of work and worship in May, 1856, under the following circumstances as related by Judge Albert Miller :
"In 1855 the population of Lower Saginaw and Portsmouth had increased so much that it was thought advisable to make a move towards hiring a Presbyterian minister to locate at Lower Saginaw. A subscription paper was circulated and $300 was subscribed towards supporting a minister for one year, expect- ing the Home Missionary Society would pay the balance of a necessary salary. The late Mr. William Jennison, father of Charles E. Jennison, was the prime mover in starting the subscription.
One or two parties had looked the ground over in 1855, but no one had accepted the proposition of the people. In the Spring of 1856, while at East Saginaw on business, I was introduced to the Rev. L. I. Root, who had been invited to visit that town with a view of organizing a church. In conversation with Mr. Root, I learned that he could not entertain the proposition of the people of East Saginaw for a moment, the people there desiring a Congrega- tional Church, and he could only work in Presbyterian harness. I invited him to Lower Saginaw to look over the ground there. In a day or two he came, accompanied by Mr. Cooper. After weigh- ing the matter carefully and prayerfully, he determined to come; and about the first of May, 1856, he arrived with his family, and commenced his labors.
September 5, 1856, the church was formally organized under the title of the "First Presbyterian Church of Lower Saginaw." The original members of this church numbered eight, as follows :-- Albert Miller, Mary Ann Miller, Abigail Smith, Frances T. Root, Jesse Calkins, Angeline Miller, Mary E. Trombley, and Nancy M. Hart.
Of these persons, Albert Miller, Mary A. Miller and Abigail Smith are still members of this church. Albert Miller was chosen and ordained deacon, and in December, 1857, Leon Trombley, Jr., was chosen to the same office. The church was without a session until June, 1858. At that time Albert Miller and Scott W. Sayles were elected and ordained as elders.
During its twenty-seven years the church has had two pas- tors, and one stated supply. Mr. Root was installed by the Pres- bytery of Saginaw in November, 1858, and resigned in February, 1860.
Rev. E. J. Stewart acted as stated supply from June, 1861, to December, 1863.
The church worshipped during its first years in the school- house, which stood at the north end of Washington Street, where all public meetings were for many years held. Afterwards its meet- ings were in a public hall, and for a time in the court room. In 1861 an edifice was erected, and in the midst of a communion service, soon after its dedication, it took fire and was consumed.
A new edifice was at once entered upon, and the present building was completed, and its dedication took place on the 25th of December, 1863. The church is of wood, and was originally 40x70 feet in size upon the ground and afforded sittings for 400 persons.
Mr. Stewart closed his labors with the church in September, 1864.
Rev. J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., was called as the pastor of the church in April, 1865, and commenced his labors on the first Sabbath of May following. He was installed by the Presbytery of Saginaw, on the 23d of November of the same year.
The bell was placed in the church tower in August, 1866.
The lecture room was built in the Autumn of 1868, and the main building was enlarged, with a tier of pews on each side, in the Autumn of 1872. The pews now number 116, and with the orchestra will seat 650 persons.
The church grew, while it had a minister, from the beginning. In the first nine years of its life it had enrolled ninety-four mem- bers, of whom fifty-six united upon profession of their faith. At the close of the nine years its members, as returned to the General Assembly, numbered eighty. Its resident membership was about forty.
In 1870 the chapel, at Twenty-Third Street, was built at a cost of $1,500, and has since been enlarged and furnished at an expense of $500 more. In 1875 the organ was purchased and other im- provements added.
88
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
The whole number of members is 516. Of these thirty-three have died and 157 been dismissed, leaving a present membership of 326.
J. Ambrose Wight, D. D., the present pastor, is a man who has had, and still bears an important part in the religious and edu- cational work of his time. He was born at Floyd, Oneida County, N. Y., September 12, 1811. His parents were poor, and his strug- gle with the world began at the age of six years, when he first left home. He worked his way in the world, and at the age of eighteen years, began the study of law at Bennington, Vt. While there he became converted and determined to enter the ministry. In 1836 he graduated from Williams College, and in 1841 was admitted to the practice of law at Rockford, Ill. From that time until 1855 he was engaged in editorial work, a portion of the time on the Chicago Tribune. In April, 1855, he was licensed to preach, and entered upon ministerial labors. In 1865 he settled in Bay City, as already stated, and here he has built up a strong and harmonious church. In 1876, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Williams College. His contributions to the press have been fre- quent and able. As a writer and thinker he has come to occupy a prominent position.
BAPTIST SOCIETIES.
THE FREMONT AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH is the successor of the First Baptist Society in what is now Bay City. The society was organized at the house of Jesse N. Braddock, long since dead, in 1858, and was called the First Baptist Church of Portsmouth and Bay City. There were fourteen constituent members of whom seven were Braddocks. From the first the history of this society has been one of heroic struggle, and but for the Christian zeal of a few of its members, would not have survived. The first deacons were Jesse N. Braddock and W. H. Currey, and the former was the first su- perintendent of the Sabbath-school. The first clerk was E. B. Braddock, and the early records of the church were destroyed when his store was burned. For several years services were held alter- nately at Portsmouth and Bay City. In 1859 the present church edifice was built. The names of pastors who have served the socie- ty are Revs. Handy, Cornelius, Johnson, Hooker, Robinson, Whittemore, Holmes, Fraser and the present pastor, Rev. J. C. Rooney, who began his labors with the society in the Spring of 1880. Early in 1863 the population of Bay City had so far increased that the members of the society living there felt inclined to have a church of their own, and a division of the society was made which greatly weakened the original organization. The present membership is reported at 103, and the present deacons are Elias Stevens and E. H. Reynolds.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of Bay City was organized at Birney Hall, in July, 1863, by twenty-seven members who had withdrawn for that purpose from the society at Portsmouth. Services had been held in the court house and Birney Hall, and these were continued until the following August, when a neat church edifice was built on Washington Street, and almost entirely the gift of James Fraser, was finished and dedicated.
The first pastor was Rev. Franklin Johnson, who resigned in 1864, and was succeeded by Rev. S. L. Holman, whose brief pas- torate was succeeded by the ministry of the lamented Patterson, who labored very successfully until April, 1869, when failing health com- pelled him to leave the ministry. It was under his eloquent and genial ministration that the church entered upon the prosperous career it has since known. Rev. J. A. Frost succeeded Mr. Patter- son, and he by Rev. Z. Grenell, Jr.
The society outgrew the little church on Washington Street, and in April, 1867, a committee was appointed to consider the question of securing enlarged facilities for worship. They
recommended building a new church. The old church property was worth about $7,000, and John I. Fraser, who had recently died, bequeathed the society the sum of $8,000. It was final- ly decided to build a new house of worship, and the corner-stone was laid in the Summer of 1869, and dedicated February 9, 1873. A litigation in which the title to the site was involved, delayed its construction. The total cost of the structure was about $75,000.
The extreme length of the building is 140 feet, and its greatest width seventy-two feet. The audience room is 54x94 feet, finished in black walnut and ash, the seats made comfortable with hair cushions, covered with crimson rep, and the floor covered with a Kiddermin - ster carpet, made to order at that celebrated factory in England. The windows are of stained glass, arranged in highly ornamental designs. The ceiling is frescoed in soft tints. An organ of nearly 1,400 pipes, above and in the rear of the pulpit, adds greatly to the general good
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, BAY CITY.
effect, both upon the eye and ear of the worshipper. In the rear of audience room are church parlors, kitchen, robing rooms, lecture and Sunday-school rooms. Its two spires rising, one to a height of 130 feet, the other 180 feet, are visible, not only from all parts of the city, but attract the eye from a range of three or four miles beyond. The trustees who were charged with the responsibility of the work were Rev. D. B. Patterson and C. McDowell,-both of whom died before its completion-H. A. Gustin, E. B. Denison, C. M. Averell, William Westover, W. H. Currey, H. Griswold, D. Culver, Luther Westover, Samuel Drake. Capt. C. M. Averell had the su- pervision of the work.
The present pastor is Rev. James W. Ford. Membership 313. The officers are W. I. Brotherton, treasurer; O. W. Booth, clerk; J. M. Balentine, H. A. Gustin, W. I. Brotherton, E. B. Denison, F. B. Clark and A. Maltby, deacons; the trustees are William Westover, C. M. Averell, E. B. Denison, W. I. Brotherton and F. B. Clark. The society also supports a mission chapel on Barney Street.
With the bell in the tower of this church there is associated a bit of history, well deserving a place in the annals of the city. The late Mrs. James Fraser, now Mrs. William McMaster, of Toronto, a
Je Umbirse Wight
89
HISTORY OF BAY COUNTY.
lady already introduced to the readers of this work, is not only an enthusiastic but a liberal member of the Baptist Church, and was especially munificent in her gifts to the society in Bay City. Upon the completion of the present church edifice, she had already pre- sented the society with the church organ costing about $6,000, and paid for building the fence around the lot, besides paying $10,000 in money toward the building. But she conceived the idea of making the society a present of a church bell, and at the same time treat the community to a surprise. Capt. C. M. Averell had superintended the erection of the church edifice and was an intimate acquaintance of the Fraser family. In September, 1873, as Mrs. McMaster was about to return to Toronto, from a visit to Bay City, she had an in- terview with Capt. Averell and said she had some work for him to do, provided he would promise absolute secrecy, not even reserving the privilege of telling his wife. The Captain being a cautious man felt reluctant to take such a responsibility, but, upon being assured that the work required was within his ability to perform, and that if performed in perfect secrecy would be beneficial to the society and the community, he finally promised to comply with her request. She then acquainted him with her wishes, which were that she de- sired to make the society a surprise donation of a church bell, and would do so provided one could be procured of the same tone as one belonging to the city that had melted in a fire that destroyed the engine house, and provided further that this one be placed in the tower of the church without anyone knowing of the affair until the bell should ring for church service on a certain Sunday morning. It was an undertaking beset with seeming impossibilities, but Capt. Averell, having been a sailor for many years, was well qualified to perform the task. The bell was ordered from Troy and directions given to ship it to Saginaw, in a sealed car, and there remain until wanted. When the time arrived at which the Captain designed to hoist the bell, he had the car forwarded to Bay City. He first ar- ranged to put it up on Friday night, but a balky horse belonging to a drayman, "balked" proceedings, and he was obliged to adjourn until the next night. The following night he had timbers and everything necessary to the work in readiness, and a crew of men in his employ at the lime works, engaged. About 10 o'clock in the evening they transported the bell from the car to the church and the beil-raising was begun. The difficulties can hardly be imag- ined. The darkness of the night, unfinished condition of the tower, inexperienced men, and the strictness of secrecy all com- bined to prevent a successful termination of the undertaking. But by use of timbers, tackle, horses and a good deal of ingenuity, when 6 o'clock came the next morning, the bell was in its place and ready to peal forth its advent. No one liad discovered the secret. One peacefully inclined citizen, living near by, had heard disturb- ance of some kind, and bolted out in the middle of the night, armed with a revolver, to meet the enemy, but failing to discover anything, retired still perplexed but no wiser. Another man living in the vicinity remarked the next morning that "they made a good deal of noise about that church the night before," but he did not divine the cause. The Captain was the greatest sufferer from the secrecy which enveloped his actions. Being a gentleman of domestic habits, and uniformly at home evenings, his wife was greatly sur- prised at his being out so late the first night, but when he returned home Sunday morning after an all-night absence without a word of explanation, the domestic tranquility that had pervaded the house- hold for so long was seriously threatened. Before leaving the church in the morning the Captain had sent for the janitor of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Gordon, and engaged him to ring the bell at the proper time, leaving him locked in the tower until that dutý was performed. The astonishment produced when the ring- ing peals of a bell issued from the tower of that church cannot be
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.