USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42
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The Niles Exchange was built in the summer of 1837, and occupied in the following December by Graves & Davis. It was destroyed by fire in 1842, and succeeded by the bank- ing-house of R. C. Paine.
FERRY.
The earliest settlers at Niles had no means of crossing the St. Joseph River with teams except by fording. The fording-place was at the foot of Main Street, from Isaac Gray's house to where the large cottonwood-tree now stands on the west bank of the river, above the Broadway bridge. Foot passengers crossed in canoes. On the 2d day of March, 1831, an act was passed by the Legislative Council to estab- lish a ferry across the St. Joseph River, and empowering the justices of the court to grant a license to Benoni Finch and Moses Finch to keep a ferry at the village of Niles not less than five nor more than ten years. The justices were to determine the hours of crossing and to alter and fix rates. No other ferry was allowed to be established within one mile.
In accordance with this act a ferry-boat was built and
launched in the summer of 1831. There was great hilarity upon this occasion, and whisky circulated freely. It was sufficiently large for two teams, and was " poled" across the stream. The crossing was made from the flat above where the Broadway bridge now is.
The ferry was run by the Finch's as a toll ferry for three years, when a subscription was raised by the people from far and near to make it a free ferry. A sufficient amount was raised to accomplish this result, and Thomas Huston was employed to run it, which he did until the completion of the Broadway bridge, in December, 1836. In the last trip the boat made she was stove by the ice and ruined.
THE BROADWAY BRIDGE.
On the 26th of March, 1835, a charter was granted to Obed P. Lacey, Jacob Beeson, Erasmus Winslow, Elijah Lacey, S. White, Cogswell K. Green, Jasper Mason, and Job Brookfield, as a company, on whom was conferred the power to build and support a toll-bridge across the St. Jo- seph River at Niles ; the bridge to be not less than 16 feet wide, with stout railings on either side, and to be completed on or before July 1, 1837, under penalty of forfeiture of charter.
During the summer and fall of that year (1835) there were warm discussions among the people as to the propriety of building a toll bridge, and the opinion was generally ex- pressed that none other than a free bridge should be built. Upon this a subscription paper was circulated to raise funds for the purpose, and this resulted in the raising of a sum sufficient to construct a bridge which should remain free. A committee, composed of Elijah Lacey, Erasmus Winslow, Austin Stocking, Zebulon Mason, and Obed P. Lacey, was appointed to take charge of the funds raised ($2500), to procure a change of charter, so as to allow the building of a free bridge, and contract for the construction of the bridge. On the 21st of March, 1836, a free-bridge charter was obtained, and under supervision of the gentlemen above named the bridge was built during the succeeding summer and autumn. It was completed and opened for travel in December, 1836, and the first team was driven across it by Moses Davis. The wooden bridge at this point is still in use, and accommodates a large amount of travel.
BRIDGE AT MAIN STREET.
On the 8th of December, 1835 (only three days after a similar meeting had been held, and a committee appointed to secure the erection of a free bridge across the river at Broadway), a public meeting was held at Col. Olds' public-house,-the " Pavilion," at Niles,-by which meeting it was "Resolved, That the business, growth, and general prosperity of the town requires the immediate construction of a free bridge over the St. Joseph River at the foot of Main Street." Henry B. Hoffman, Jacob Beeson, J. K. Finley, Daniel Olds, Vincent L. Bradford, J. C. Larimore, and Nathaniel Bacon were appointed a committee to collect subscriptions, advertise for proposals, and let the contract. Ten years, however, elapsed before the object in view was accomplished ; but on the 24th of May, 1845, the contract for building it was let to Henry J. Holmes, and the bridge was built and completed in December of that year, at an
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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
expense of about $2000. This bridge was partially carried away by a flood in the year 1850, and was repaired by the Messrs. Comley, on contract, the work being completed July 12, 1851.
The second bridge at this place was built in 1854. In the Niles Republican of August 12th, in that year, is found the following mention of the work : "The Central Com- pany have commenced the erection of a new bridge across the river at this place, a few feet above the old one." The bridge was completed soon after, at a cost of about $3000.
The present iron structure was erected in 1868. City bonds were issued for $32,000,-the cost of the bridge. It was completed and accepted by the Board of Aldermen Jan. 4, 1869.
POST-OFFICE AND POSTMASTERS.
In 1828 the mail was carried from Chicago to Fort Wayne by Lieut. David Hunter (a major-general in the war of the Rebellion), on horseback, guarded by two soldiers with muskets, on foot.
The first white settlement from Chicago on the road to Fort Wayne was the Carey Mission ; the next was Rous- seau's trading-post, about four miles southeast from Elkhart.
In the fall of 1828 several families had settled at what is now Niles, and Obed P. Lacey was appointed as acting postmaster ; the office was kept in Mr. Walling's house, where Mr. Hunstable's boot- and shoe-store now stands. The settlement was then called Pog-wa-tigue (running water). The mail was carried to Chicago that fall and winter by two soldiers, on foot.
Isaac Gray was appointed postmaster at Niles in the spring of 1830, receiving the first regular commission. The office was kept in his house, situated on the east bank of the St. Joseph River. The ground is now occupied by the lumber-yard of Mr. Tuttle. The ford started from near his house and ran diagonally across the river to the cottonwood-tree, as before mentioned. Mr. Gray died during the year and Mrs. Gray kept the office until the ap- pointment of Obed P. Lacey, in 1831, who kept the office at the store. This year Harmon Griswold carried the mail from Niles to Chicago, on horseback, once a week. There was at that time but one house. The only house on the route at that time was near Calumet River, and owned by a Frenchman.
In 1832, during the summer, Thomas Huston carried the mail from Niles to St. Joseph (being hired by Mr. Britain, of St. Joseph, who had the mail contract), some- times on foot and sometimes on horseback. It was carried in hat, pocket, or mail-bag, according to circumstances. The route from Niles to Berrien was through a road that was not passable for a wagon ; from Berrien to St. Joseph the route was simply an Indian trail.
Mr. Lacey held the office of postmaster for two years, and was succeeded by Titus B. Willard in 1833. Mr. Willard lived in a double log house where Fowler's store now stands. The office was kept part of the time in the "Council House," of which he was proprietor. This tavern was situated on the north side of Main Street between Front and Second, on the spot now occupied by Platt's stores.
In 1835, Cogswell K. Green was appointed postmaster. Under his administration the office was kept where is now the American block.
In 1836, Zebulon P. Mason succeeded Mr. Green, and removed the office to his store, which is known as Beeson's Corner. He was succeeded by Gen. Edwin N. Bridges, and the office was kept in a building that stood east of the express-office. Mr. Bridges was a retired merchant from Philadelphia. Rufus W. Landon was a deputy, and suc- ceeded him in October, 1838. The office was continued in the same place for a time, and then removed to a build- ing below Peak Hall. He continued in office four years, and was succeeded as follows : 1841, J. C. Larimore; 1845, S. W. B. Chester ; 1849, Noah Brookfield; 1851, George Goodman ; 1853, William H. McOmber; 1861, Francis Quinn; 1863, Harvey Palmer; 1866, William J. Edwards; 1867, Harvey Palmer; 1869, Edward S. Jewett; 1873, Evan J. Bonine, who is the present postmaster.
VILLAGE PLAT AND ADDITIONS.
Before this territory became the township of Niles, a plat was laid out where a part of the city now stands and recorded as the plat of the village of Niles. The southwest fractional quarter of section 26, township 7 south, of range 17 west, on the northeast bank of St. Joseph River, was laid off into lots, streets, and alleys by William Justus, S. B. Walling, Ephraim and Elijah Lacey. The lots owned by William Justus were on the north side of Main Street. All on the south side were owned by Samuel B. Walling, Ephraim Lacey, and Elijah Lacey, trading under the name of Walling & Lacey.
The plat and description was signed by William Justus and by Samuel B. Walling, on behalf of Walling & Lacey, on the first day of August, 1829, before Ezra Beardsley, justice of the peace, and was registered in liber A, folios 134 and 135, records of Lenawee County, Saturday, Aug. 29, 1829.
An addition was made by William Justus, Aug. 6, 1831, of land adjoining that already platted by him on the south side of the street.
An addition was made by Elijah Lacey on the 19th day of April, 1832, in which the square marked " Grave- Yard" was given by the proprietor to the public for that special purpose. Also lots Nos. 53, 54, and 72 were ap- propriated " to the exclusive use of any denomination of Christians that may first erect meeting-houses thereon." The grave-yard here mentioned is on the rear of the Pres- byterian church, and Mr. Lacey was buried there. The lots spoken of are now occupied by the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches.
Later additions to the village have been made as fol- lows : By H. B. & G. W. Hoffman, March 19, 1834; C. K. Green, H. B. & G. W. Hoffman, April 28, 1834; Obed P. Lacey, Nov. 28, 1834 ; H. B. Hoffman, March 16, 1836; G. W. Hoffman (subdivision of Justus' addi- tion), April 13, 1836; G. W. & Charles Bond, May 30, 1836; A. J. Dunbar, May 19, 1836; Obed P. Lacey*
* In this addition a public square 16 rods square was laid out, that was afterwards given to the railroad company (in 1848), and now oc- cupied by the passenger depot.
PROPERTY OF MAJ. L.A. DUNCAN , NILES , MICHIGAN .
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CITY OF NILES.
(Wilson's farm), June 18, 1836; - Brown (" addition including Dunbar"), June 28, 1836; Jacob Beeson, Aug. 1, 1838; J. B. Reddick (subdivision, Justus' addition), June 13, 1840 ; Jacob Beeson (second addition), Aug. 24, 1841 ; Obed P. Lacey (West Niles), Nov. 28, 1842; J. Brook- field and Nathaniel Bacon (West Niles), Dec. 1, 1846; R. P. Barker (subdivision of Hoffman), Feb. 22, 1849 ; R. P. Barker, April 28, 1849; G. W. Bond (addition to burying-ground), Aug. 20, 1850 ; S. M. Beeson (subdivi- sion of O. P. Lacey's, West Niles), Aug. 18, 1857; Moore & Reddick, Feb. 8, 1858; S. Moore, Feb. 8, 1858; S. Moore (second), Dec. 24, 1858 ; J. Beeson (subdivision of Justus' addition ), May 2, 1859 ; E. McIlvaine (subdivision of Green & Hoffman), March 15, 1859; D. O. Woodruff (West Niles), Aug. 18, 1864; William Bort (West Niles), Sept. 8, 1864; Moses Davis (West Niles), Aug. 17, 1865.
VILLAGE INCORPORATION.
The act incorporating the village of Niles was approved Feb. 12, 1835 ;* the territory included in the corporation to be as represented in a plat recorded in the register's of- fice, which plat bears date Aug. 1, 1829, and to be desig- nated as a town corporate, by the name of the " village of Niles ;" the first election to be held on the first Monday in March, 1835, and annually thereafter on the first Mon- day in March in each year; the officers of the village to be a president, recorder, and six trustees, who were to be designated by the name and style of " The Town Council of the Town of Niles."
The records of the village from 1835 to 1838 are not in the recorder's office, but in the Niles Gazette and Adver- tiser, bearing date Feb. 27, 1836, occurs this official notice :
" A meeting of the electors of the village of Niles will be held at the Pavilion on the first Monday in March next, for the purpose of electing corporation officers for the year ensuing.
"JASPER MASON, Recorder."
No notice of the election or corporation proceedings are in the papers of the day from that date until March 29, 1838, when there is given the result of an election held March 28th, of the same year, as follows :
FOR PRESIDENT.
Democrat.
Whig.
James Lewis. 84 Parmenos Collins. 71
FOR RECORDER.
Chauncey C. Britt. 85 William B. Beeson. 73
TRUSTEES.
Simeon Berry
91 Timothy Symmes 70
88 Theo. H. Nevin 54 Obed P. Lacey.
Alfred W. Johnson.
103 Uriel Enos 75
Zebulon P. Mason
83
William Dougan. 66
85 Thomas Denniston 72 Royal T. Trombly.
78 Jacob Messenger. 65 Parker Howlett.
From some oversight this election was illegal, and in an amendment to the charter, adopted April 5th of that year, the action of this meeting was legalized, and the acts of the officers then elected declared legal.
A new election was ordered, and was held May 28, 1838, at the house of D. Gephart, where the following officers were elected :
President, E. Winslow ; Recorder, Theodore H. Nevin ; Treasurer, R. K. Gibson ; Trustees, Uriel Enos, Theodore
N. Warren, Jacob K. Brown, David Kirk, Alfred W. Johnson, and Charles Jewett.
The presidents and recorders of the village from that date until the charter of the city was obtained have been as follows :
PRESIDENTS.
1839, Erasmus Winslow; 1840, Jacob Beeson; 1841, William B. Beeson ; 1842, George Goodman; 1843, John K. Finley ; 1844, Cogswell K. Green ; 1845, William Graves ; 1846, Jasper Mason ; 1847, Andrew J. Clark ; 1848-54, Rodney C. Paine; 1855, John K. Finley ; 1856-58, Elijah Lacey.
RECORDERS.
1839-42, George W. Hoffman; 1843-44, James Brown; 1845, Theo- dore Fowler; 1846, David Aitken; 1847, George S. Babcock ; 1848, George W. Hoffman; 1849, Levi B. Taft; 1850, William H. Jones; 1851, George W. Hoffman; 1852-53, Thomas Fitz- gerald ; 1854, Theodore Fowler; 1855, Thomas T. Glenn; 1856 -58, Rufus W. Landon.
CITY ORGANIZATION.
The city charter of Niles was granted Feb. 12, 1859. The city at that time was divided into four wards as fol- lows :
First Ward, from Sycamore Street north to the corpora- tion line.
Second Ward, from Sycamore Street to Broadway.
Third Ward, from Broadway south to the corporation line.
Fourth Ward, " all that portion of land belonging to the corporation lying west of the river, and known as West Niles."
Following is a list of the mayors, recorders, and treas- urers of Niles, from the organization to the present time, viz. :
MAYORS.
1859, Elijah Lacey ; 1860-62, Rufus W. Landon; 1863, Henry M. Dean; 1864, A. S. Howard; 1865, Rufus W. Landon; 1866, Evan J. Bonine; 1867, Jacob Geltmacher; 1868, Evan J. Bonine ; 1869-72, Franklin Muzzy ; 1873, Rodney C. Paine ; 1874, Solomon G. Krick ; 1875-76, William Graves; 1877, Royal T. Trombly ; 1878, George W. Platt; 1879, Solomon G. Krick.
RECORDERS.
1859, William B. Gray ; 1860-62, William C. Fish; 1863, Theodore Fowler; 1864, Theodore G. Beaver; 1865-68, Jerome B. Fitz- gerald ; 1869-70, James H. Fairchild; 1871-72, John H. Rich- ardson ; 1873-74, Edward G. Hoagland; 1875-76, William J .- Gilbert; 1877-79, John H. Richardson.
CITY TREASURERS.
1859-61, David Aitken; 1862, William B. Gray; 1863, James E. Cummings; 1864-65, Terrence Dolan; 1866, Sylvester Keyser; 1867, William J. Edwards; 1868-69, Terrence Dolan; 1870, Warren E. Corey ; 1871-72, Thomas A. Bunbury ; 1873-74, George N. Bond; 1875-76, William J. Edwards; 1877-79, William Graves.
NILES UNION SCHOOL.
The proposition to erect a union school building in Niles began to be discussed in 1853. In the following year a union had been made of two districts, and a meeting was held June 6, 1854, at which it was resolved to build a house sufficiently large to accommodate the children of the district, and that Hoffman's Square (being lot 64, Justus' plat) be the site. The sum of $10,000 was voted for the purpose. June 10th of that year the square was purchased for $1350. May 5, 1855, work on the building was com- menced, and in July the corner-stone was laid. At a
* Territorial Laws of Michigan, vol. iii. p. 1363.
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HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
special meeting held in March, 1855, the board was au- thorized to borrow $10,000, to aid in completing the build- ing. Again, in March, 1856, $8000 more was voted. These votes, passed at special meetings, were confirmed at the annual meetings following.
The first school in the new building was held Monday, Sept. 29, 1856, when 456 scholars were present. Prof. E. W. Spaulding was the first principal, and was assisted by 7 teachers in the different departments. He was succeeded in 1857 by Silas Betts, who remained till September, 1860. Albert Markham was principal from September, 1860, to September, 1864; William H. Paine, to Sept. 5, 1865 ; C. L. Wells, to September, 1867; C. B. Thomas, to 1869; George F. Edwards, to 1871 ; Charles D. Gregory, to 1872 ; Cyrus B. Thomas, to 1878; B. R. Gass, from 1878 to the present time. The number of scholars in attendance in 1861-62 was 736; in 1862-63, 844; in 1863-64, 901; in 1864-65, 995 ; in 1865-66, 1038; in 1866-67, 1052; in 1867-68, 1075; in 1868-69, 1064; in 1869-70, 1120; in 1870-71, 1057 ; in 1871-72, 987; in 1872-73, 1080; in 1873-74, 1038; in 1874-75, 1050 ; in 1875-76, 1045; in 1876-77, 1020; in 1877-78, 1021.
July 2, 1863, a loan of $10,000 was authorized for the purpose of building two primary school-houses, one in the First Ward and one in the Fourth. At the annual meeting in September the vote was reconsidered, and the board was authorized to build three school-houses in the First and Fourth Wards, and in Davis' addition. These houses were erected in 1864. In the summer of 1867 the union school- house was enlarged. At the annual meeting in September, 1867, the board was authorized to sell the old brick school- house, and to build one for colored children on the corner of Cass and Fifth Streets. This was completed in January, 1868.
The trustees of the union school district from 1854 to 1878 have been as follows :
1854 .- R. C. Paine, H. Chapin, G. W. Hoffman, William Hurd, Samuel Niles, and N. Bacon.
1855 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, J. Bacon, G. W. Hoffman, William Hurd, Samuel Niles.
1856 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, H. A. Chapin, William Hurd, N. Bacon, G. W. Hoffman.
1857 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, H. A. Chapin, William Hurd, and S. M. Beeson.
1858 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, J. B. Reddick, William Hurd, R. W. Landon, William G. Ferson.
1859 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, William G. Ferson, William Bort, Charles F. Bentley, Royal T. Trombly.
1860 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, Charles F. Bentley, William G. Ferson, R. T. Trombly, William Bort.
1861-63 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, R. T. Trombly, C. F. Bent- ley, William Bort, M. Pettingill.
1864-65 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, R. T. Trombly, G. A. Colby, M. Pettingill, A. S. Howard.
1865-66 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, M. Pettingill, G. A. Colby, A. S. Howard, John K. Finley, M.D.
1866-68 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, M. Pettingill, H. M. Dean, J. B. Fitzgerald, John K. Finley.
1868-70 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, J. B. Fitzgerald, H. M. Dean, J. K. Finley, M.D., Thomas Douglas.
1870-71 .- D. O. Woodruff, R. C. Paine, J. B. Fitzgerald, J. K. Finley, H. M. Dean, J. S. Tuttle.
1871-72 .- H. M. Dean, J. S. Tuttle, J. B. Fitzgerald, R. C. Paine, D. Bacon, N. B. Reed.
1872-74 .- Henry M. Dean, Jos. S. Tuttle, R. C. Paine, David Bacon, Norman B. Reed, William T. Dougan.
1874-75 .- Henry M. Dean, George F. Edwards, David Bacon, Wm. T. Dougan, Joseph S. Tuttle, S. G. Krick.
1875-77 .- David Bacon, George F. Edwards, J. S. Tuttle, H. M. Dean, Alexander A. Jacks, S. G. Krick.
The number of children between the ages of five and twenty years in the year 1879 is 1483; enrollment, 1021 ; cash value of school building, including grounds, furniture, library, and fixtures, $75,000.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
First Presbyterian Church of Niles .- On Saturday, the 29th day of March, 1834, at the house of Orrin Derby, on the corner of Oak and Fifth Streets, in the village of Niles, there were gathered together ten persons, who had met there for the purpose of church organization. These persons were the Rev. Luther Humphrey, stated supply of the Presbyterian Church on Beardsley's Prairie, Orrin Derby, and Roxanna, his wife, Bacon Wheeler, and Esther L., his wife, Nathaniel Bacon, Eleazer F. Crocker, William B. Copeland, and Miss Lydia A. Widner,-all members of Presbyterian Churches in other places. After consultation it was " Resolved that a Presbyterian Church be organized on the next Lord's day, by the name of the First Presby- terian Church of Niles."
Public services were held at the school-house on the fol- lowing day, which was the Sabbath. A sermon was deliv- ered by the Rev. Mr. Humphrey, the church was regularly organized, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper admin- istered. At this meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Derby, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon, Thomas K. Green, and Miss Lydia A. Wid- ner were received into membership. Orrin K., son of Mr. and Mrs. Derby, and Mary Hannah, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bacon, were baptized at this meeting. About tlie same time a Sunday-school was organized.
On June, 1834, the Rev. Alexander B. Brown, of Pitts- burglı, was sent to the church as stated supply. August 3d of the same year, Nathaniel Bacon and Thomas K. Green were chosen ruling elders. Dr. John K. Finley, Uriel Enos, and Samuel Hunter were soon after admitted to the session.
In the next year (1835), a small, square, frame meeting- house was erected upon the site of the present church, with seating capacity for about 250 persons. In August of this year Mr. Brown was unanimously called to the pastorate, and installed at a meeting of the presbytery held in Niles, September 5th. He remained as pastor until February, 1839, when he resigned and removed to Cannonsburg, Pa.
The Rev. Mr. Whiting, afterwards a professor in the Michigan University, occasionally supplied the church until November, 1839, when the Rev. John W. Parsons began his labors as stated supply, continuing but for a few months, when he removed to Wisconsin, and the church was again served at intervals by the Rev. Mr. Whiting. In July, 1840, the Rev. Peter Boughton was secured as stated supply, and remained until July, 1843, when he re- moved to Port Huron. He was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Hickox, as stated supply, in October following, and re- signed in April of the next year. The church soon after extended a call to the pastorate to the Rev. Charles E. Lord, of South Berwick, Me. The call was accepted, and he was installed Nov. 17, 1844, and served the church ac-
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CITY OF NILES.
ceptably until Feb. 7, 1847, when he resigned. During his administration in March, 1845, James S. Alexander and twenty others were granted letters of dismission to form the First Congregational Church of Niles. In the winter of 1845-46, the pastor, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Avery, an evangelist, began a series of meetings, and 76 members were added to the church in the following May.
In March, 1847, a call was extended to the Rev. P. S. Pratt to occupy the pulpit for one year, at a salary of $500. He remained until October, 1848, and resigned. The Rev. Alfred Bryant, of Edwardsburg, who preached the sermon at the installation of Mr. Lord, in 1844, was next called, and he was installed as pastor Nov. 23, 1848. During his pastorate in 1849 the present church edifice was erected at a cost of about $16,000, and dedicated Jan. 13, 1850 .* June 5, 1847, Mr. and Mrs. Uriel Enos and seven others were dismissed to form the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan. An annual report, made April 1, 1848, gave a membership of 180.
In March, 1855, another revival brought an accession of 44 persons to the membership of the church. Again in April, 1863, large additions were made to the church, 57 persons joining it on profession of faith, and 3 by letter. Mr. Bryant resigned the pastorate in the summer of 1863, having served the church faithfully and acceptably for fifteen years. The pulpit was again filled by the engagement of the Rev. John Lailor as stated supply. He remained until the summer of 1865, when the Rev. T. Dwight Hunt, of Waterville, N. Y., was installed as pastor. He resigned the pastorate May 18, 1871. A call was extended, July 31st of the same year, to the Rev. Alfred Eddy, then the pastor of the Ninth Presbyterian Church of Chicago. The call was accepted, and his ministration began in the following De- cember. He was installed April 24, 1872, and is still the pastor of the church.
The church has a present membership of about 360. The total number of communicants during the forty-six years of its history is 1040. The Sunday-school has a membership of 280. The present officers are H. M. Dean, Superintendent; S. C. Thompson, Assistant Superintendent; W. W. East, Secretary and Treasurer; Miss Emma Ferson, Librarian. Number of books in library, 450 volumes.
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