History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 72

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821

USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 72
USA > Michigan > Berrien County > History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 72

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).

In 1839, young Summers, being then aged twenty-one, bought his grandfather's farm, and leaving it in charge of William- F. St. John, returned to Pennsylvania on foot, in company with Abram Freed,-the former going for the purpose of learning the trade of a tanner and the latter to look for a wife. Before he departed Abram gave his father a life-lease of his (Abram's) farm, and the elder Freed thereupon moved upon it, after having sold his own. About 1844, Abram returned and took possession of his farm, his father having died. Shortly after returning, Abram wounded himself with an axe while at work upon the place, and from the injury death resulted soon after- wards. Summers came back with a wife, in 1845, reoccu- pied his farm, and has continued to live there to this day.

Abel Garr, a young man, came from Indiana to Berrien in 1834, having entered land in Oronoko, upon section 21, where he now lives. He worked in the village at the car- penter's trade for a brief time after his arrival. Then moving out upon his farm, he began to clear it, while he kept bachelor's hall, and there he has continued to reside ever since.

Joshua Feather, of Snyder Co., Pa., set out from there in the fall of 1835, with his wife and three children, in a one-horse wagon, for Michigan. They spent the winter in Stark Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 1836 pushed on for Berrien, where they arrived in May. After sojourning up- wards of a year with a Mr. Brown, near Berrien Springs, Mr. Feather moved upon section 7 in 1837, where he had entered 80 acres, and to that subsequently added 120 acres. Mr. Feather was the pioneer in what is now known as the Feather settlement, and lived an honored and useful life, dying in December, 1878, at the age of seventy-two. His sons, John A., Daniel T., and Joshua, all live on section 7.

285

TOWNSHIP OF ORONOKO.

A daughter, Mrs. William H. Harner, also lives in Oro- noko.

William Lemon, one of the earliest settlers in what is now Berrien township, built a saw-mill in 1832 upon Lemon Creek, one mile east of Berrien Springs. In 1835 he bought George Kimmel's saw-mill, in what is now Oro- noko township, and, removing his family thither, continued to reside there until his death, in 1851. He was a citizen of prominence, filled numerous public positions, and was generally esteemed. Of his family of eleven children there are now living Mrs. John Tate, of Berrien ; Mrs. Comfort Pennell, Mrs. George Ewalt, and Andrew Lemon, of Oro- noko; and William Lemon, of Cass County.

In the spring of 1832, Joseph Feather, of Union Co., Pa., set out alone and on foot for Michigan, intending to locate at Berrien. When he reached Alexandria, on the Juniata, he overtook Henry Freed, of Union County, traveling, with his family, towards the same destination, and so they all came on together. Reaching Berrien village, Feather, who was a carpenter, concluded to go to St. Joseph, and there he worked for Fowler Preston and James Lord at cabinet- making. He returned after a while to Berrien and finished the inside of a house for George Kimmel. Having located 80 acres of land west of where he lives now,-on section 23, -he returned to Pennsylvania in the fall of 1832, and in the spring of 1833 set out once more for Berrien, in com- pany with his sister. He put up a house in the village, and there kept house with his sister for the next three years, during which he worked at his trade. Meanwhile his brother-in-law, Samuel Schemaly, came from Indiana and went upon Feather's place, where he remained about eighteen months, and then moved upon a place (of his own) south of Jesse Helmick's, where he lived until his death, in 1878. In 1836, Feather took possession of his place, and since that time has continued to reside there.

In 1835 there came to Oronoko a small band of settlers, who journeyed in company, from Bedford Co., Pa. There were in the party Jacob Statler and his family, Tobias and Josiah Whetstone, Abram Small, John G. Schultze, Eliza Whetstone, and George Schell. Statler's family consisted of himself, wife, and one child. They traveled, with a two- horse wagon, via Pittsburgh, crossed the Maumee River, and reaching Berrien Springs at night, stopped at Pitt Brown's tavern.

Statler and Josiah Whetstone each subsequently pur- chased 80 acres on section 14. Whetstone still lives on his old place ; Statler removed to Niles about 1860, and now lives there.

Tobias Whetstone bought a farm on section 10, but fol- lowed boating on the river for some time. In 1852 he went to California, whence he returned in 1859, and since then he has resided on his farm.

John G. Schultze entered 200 acres on section 28, where he still lives. He is now the owner of 550 acres of land, and esteemed one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. Adam Small entered the service of Brown & Ward as their clerk, and served in other stores until 1851, when he be- came a merchant on his own account. He lives now on his farm on section 16.

George Schell worked about Berrien two years, and then

went to Iowa, where he now lives. Of the persons who landed here in the company above mentioned in 1835, all are still alive save the infant child of Jacob Statler. After the Whetstones settled here they sent for their father, Abram, who made the trip alone on horseback. He re- sided with them until his death.

Elisha Hall settled in 1833, upon section 27, and entered 220 acres. He remained about fifteen years, then re- moved to Missouri, and lastly to Indiana, where he died in 1879.

Samuel Singer, with his wife, his brother William, and his wife's sister, came from Pittsburgh in 1835, and located upon 240 acres in section 18. Singer's health was poor, and after a two years' stay he returned to Pittsburgh, and shortly after 1840 sold his place to James Walton, who has since then lived upon it. It is told of Singer that when upon his new settlement he undertook to put up a frame house he, in his ignorance of house-building, reversed the usual order in putting on the " siding," and didn't discover his error until the next rain-storm filled his domicile with water. Wm. Singer remained in Oronoko until 1836, and then moved to Niles.

William Webster, from Virginia, with a large family, and his son-in-law, William Barlow, were settlers in Ber- rien in 1833, upon the tract now occupied by Rose Hill Cemetery, near Berrien Springs. Barlow remained but a short time and Webster about ten years.

Stephen Purdy worked on Geo. Kimmel's farm at a very early date, and moved, in company with Henry Hoff- man, another of Kimmel's workmen, to Illinois, where he bought a farm. Purdy was a widower, and reputed, more- over, as a man of homely appearance. One day C. W. Brown, of Laporte, was traveling from Berrien towards Illinois, and Lyman Barnard said to him, " If you meet Purdy out there give him my regards." " But," returned Brown, "I never saw Purdy; how will I know him ?" Replied Barnard, " You can't miss him. Just drive on until you meet the homeliest man in Illinois, call him Purdy, and you can't be mistaken." Sure enough, while Brown was driving through the Sucker State he passed one day upon the highway a man of exceedingly ugly coun- tenance. "That," said Brown to himself, " is Purdy, and no mistake," and turning his head he called out, " How are you, Mr. Purdy ?" "Hello !" returned the man, " how did you learn that my name was Purdy ?" Thereupon Brown came up with him, and narrated Lyman Barnard's directions. Purdy was heartily amused at the circum- stance, and inviting Brown to his house, entertained him as a guest for the next three days. While Purdy lived in Berrien he fell seriously ill, and becoming convinced that he would die, exacted of Dr. Murray a promise that he might be buried under the hill, with his head sticking out, so he might see the steamers pass.

Joseph S. Barnard, the father of Lyman A. Barnard, should have had previous mention. He moved from Ohio to La Grange Prairie, Cass Co., in the fall of 1828, and re- maining there until 1833, came to Berrien. In 1832 he was appointed judge upon the circuit embracing Cass and Berrien Counties, and served on his appointment some time after his settlement in Berrien. He was a man of intelli-

286

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

gence, took a conspicuous part in the affairs of the time as a county official, and was otherwise a prominent citizen. After a useful existence he died in 1852, in Berrien Springs, at the home of his son Lyman, although he had been living on his farm six miles west of the village.

Jesse Helmick and Wm. Murphy came together from Warren Co., Ohio, on horseback, in 1835, and located land in Oronoko township,-Murphy on section 29 and Helmick within a mile of him. They returned to Ohio for their families, which they conveyed to their new homes in Michi- gan in two wagons, each drawn by four horses. Murphy survived the change, however, but a few years, dying in 1838. His widow removed to Missouri. Helmick and Murphy intended to buy the land intervening between them so they could be neighbors. Other parties knowing this, bought the tract, thinking Helmick would pay a large price for it, but he refused to buy a foot of it, and removed at once to the place he now owns.

Helmick was a blacksmith, and sturdily plied his calling for some time after settling upon his new location. He had a family of six children when he came hither, and has still living in the township three sons and one daughter. The old gentleman himself, now known as Judge Helmick, is still residing on his farm upon section 34. He has reached the ripe age of eighty-three, and although otherwise hale and hearty, he is incapacitated for active labor by reason of an accident, by which (in 1876) he became permanently crip- pled. When Mr. Helmick first came to the township he and all the members of his family were at one time pros- trated with the ague. Physicians were scarce, and so the sick ones lay for some days, unable to help themselves or each other, and unable to obtain help. A good angel came to them, however, in the person of Stephen Farley, of Ber- rien, who, in view of the great prevalence of ague about then, abandoned his little farm to itself, and for a while devoted himself, like a good Samaritan, to the care of the afflicted, and a wondrous deal of good he did, too, without money or reward of any kind.

Oliver Spaulding, with his wife and two children, left Merrimac Co., N. H., in May, 1836, for the West, and on the 27th of that month landed at Niles. The trip was made via Erie Canal, steamboat on Lake Erie, and stage from Detroit, in what was then considered the remarkably quick time of seventeen days. Mr. Spaulding bought of one Lowe 160 acres on section 26, in Oronoko, and moved upon it with his family without delay, save that necessary to the erection of a cabin, his wife and children being meanwhile domiciled at the house of Hezekiah Hall. Mr. Spaulding lived upon the place until 1860, when he removed to Royalton township, where he now resides.

In 1836, John and Lewis Storick, of Union Co., Pa., left it for Berrien Co., Mich., in company with their father, John's family, and the wife of John G. Schultz, who had migrated from Pennsylvania to Berrien the year before. John Storick had a wife and five children ; Lewis, his brother, was unmarried. The entire party trav- eled overland to Berrien, and upon their arrival the Storicks tarried a while with Abram Freed, one mile west of Berrien village, and shortly afterwards moved to Abel Garr's, on section 21, where the families remained until John and

Lewis put up a log cabin and cleared a portion of 160 acres of land which they had entered in partnership. After Lewis married, the brothers divided their land, and still live upon their original possessions, Lewis having increased his to 340 acres, and John his to 160. Lewis Storick, Sr., the father of Lewis and John, settled upon 40 acres north of Lewis, Jr. After his wife's death he sold his farm, and went to live with Abel Garr, at whose house he died.

May 13, 1835, Samuel Wilson and his wife, his son, Ezra D., and two daughters-one of whom was accompanied by her husband, Henry Tudor, and seven children-started (a company of thirteen) from Spencer, Worcester Co., Mass., for Michigan. They traveled from Spencer to Al- bany by stage and private conveyance; from Albany to Buffalo via the Erie Canal; from Buffalo to Detroit, via Lake Erie, on the steamer "Charles Townsend ;" and at Detroit they purchased three teams, with which they made the journey overland to Berrien, where they arrived June 13th ; the trip from Detroit having occupied ten days.

Tudor located upon the farmn now owned by his widow, where he died in 1836, and his son Samuel upon section 24. Samuel Wilson, with his family, lived upon Tudor's place until 1837, when he moved upon a farm in the south- eastern part of the township that he had bought of William St. John in 1836. Upon that place his son, Ezra D., now resides. Mr. Wilson died in 1865. Besides Ezra D., his living children are Eunice W. Wheeler, of Oronoko, and Louisa W. Curtis, of Cass County.

Henry Hess came with George Kimmel from Pennsyl- vania in 1833, and worked on the latter's farm a year. In 1834 he went to Europe and brought back a wife, with whom he continued to work for Mr. Kimmel. In due time he bought a farm of his own, and resided on it until his death. His widow still resides on the old place near Singer Lake.

Morris Upright came from New York as early as 1834, but he disliked the country, and after a stay of two years returned to New York.

Samuel Sale, a pioneer from Virginia, located in 1831, about a mile up the river from Berrien village. He died after a four years' residence, and has left no descendants in the township.

Jonathan Knight, now living upon section 11, came from Champaign Co., Ohio, in 1836, with John Gillespie and Nathan Fitch, both of the latter settling in Berrien town- ship. Knight was a chairmaker, and after working in the village at his trade some years located upon the place he now occupies.

Bethuel and Ebenezer Farley came to Oronoko about 1833, with their father. Bethuel and his father located upon the farm on section 23 now occupied by Bethuel Farley, and there Farley the elder resided until his death. Ebenezer Farley followed the river as a boatman, and after a while went to California, where he died.

Amos Gray located in Berrien village in 1837, and worked there at his trade as carpenter during the ensuing eight years, some of which time he spent in assisting at the erection of the court-house. In 1844 he moved upon the farm he now occupies (on section 35), and there has since resided. Mr. Gray appeared first in Michigan in 1829,

287

TOWNSHIP OF ORONOKO.

from which time until his settlement in Berrien he was busily engaged in Michigan and Indiana in his occupation as a mill-wright.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth in the new settlement was, as has been mentioned, a daughter to Francis B. Murdock, now Mrs. Clifton Gardner, of Berrien Springs. The first white male child born was Frank, a son of Joseph Feather, who first saw the light early in 1832.

There is some diversity of opinion touching the identity of the first couple married. Joseph Feather, still living near Berrien Springs, was married by Pitt Brown, in 1833, to a daughter of Henry Freed. Before that, A. M. Brownell, of St. Joseph, was married by Pitt Brown to Lucy Ann, a daughter of 'Squire Brown.

Joseph Feather, who was a carpenter and coffin-maker for the village at large in 1832, says the first person buried near the village was one Wilson, a captain on a keel- boat plying on the St. Joseph. Capt. Wilson was interred in what are now called the Indian Fields. The first death in the village was doubtless that of an infant son of Francis B. Murdock, born in Berrien Springs in 1832. He was buried on the place now called the Shaker farm, and his remains still lie in a grave covered by the farm barn.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

Oronoko township was originally a portion of Berrien township, from which it was set off in 1837, and named by Governor Mason, doubtless in honor of Oronoko, the Indian chief. William Lemon didn't like the name, and was heard to say, " Why didn't he name it Old Bill, and have done with it?" It then included the territory now occupied by Lake township, which was organized in 1846. Until 1847 portions of Berrien and Oronoko townships were on either side the St. Joseph River, and the larger portion of Berrien Springs was in Berrien township. This condition of things was unsatisfactory, and in the year last mentioned the river was made the dividing line between the townships. The first township-meeting in Oronoko was held in the house of Wm. F. St. John, April 3, 1837. Jesse Helmick was the moderator, Wm. Lemon, John L. Shell, and Jacob L. Kinsey were inspectors of election, and Hezekiel Hall, clerk of election.

The names of those who have served the township as supervisors, clerks, and treasurers from 1837 to 1879, in- clusive, will be found herewith appended :

1837 .- Supervisor, Edward Ballengee; Clerk, William F. St. John; Collector, Alexander Turner.

1838 .- Supervisor, William Lemon ; Clerk, William F. St. John; Col- lector, Daniel H. Farley.

1839 .- Supervisor, William Lemon; Clerk, William F. St. John; Treasurer, William Lemon.

1840 .- Supervisor, Joseph S. Barnard; Clerk, William F. St. John ; Treasurer, William Lemon.

1841 .- Supervisor, Joseph S. Barnard ; Clerk, Jacob Statler; Treas- urer, William Lemon.

1842 .- Supervisor, Joseph S. Barnard; Clerk, Jacob Statler; Treas- urer, William Lemon.

1843 .- Supervisor, Abel Garr; Clerk, Jacob Statler; Treasurer, Wil- liam Lemon.

1844-45 .- Supervisor, William Lemon ; Clerk, Jacob Statler ; Treas- urer, James M. Watson.

1846 .- Supervisor, Gilbert B. Avery ; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, John Armstrong.

1847 .- Supervisor, Jesse Helmick; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, Aaron Van Patten.

1848 .- Supervisor, Jesse Helmick ; Clerk, Adam Small.

1849 .- Supervisor, William Lemon; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, Aaron Van Patten.

1850 .- Supervisor, John Garrow; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, Lyman A. Barnard.

1851 .- Supervisor, Josiah Whetstone; Clerk, Adam Small; Treas- urer, James M. Watson.

1852 .- Supervisor, Josiah Whetstone; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, Joseph W. Smith.

1853 .- Supervisor, Josiah Whetstone; Clerk, Adam Small; Treas- urer, Joseph W. Smith.

1854 .- Supervisor, Josiah Whetstone; Clerk, Adam Small; Treas- urer, Lyman A. Barnard.

1855 .- Supervisor, Lyman A. Barnard ; Clerk, Edward Lewis; Treas- urer, James Graham.

1856 .- Supervisor, Jonathan Knight; Clerk, David Platt; Treasurer, James Graham.

1857 .- Supervisor, R. L. Dudley ; Clerk, Preston Boon ; Treasurer, C. Gorham.

1858 .- Supervisor, R. L. Dudley ; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, Stephen Wood.

1859-60 .- Supervisor, Charles F. Howe; Clerk, Adam Small; Treas- urer, R. L. Dudley.

1861 .- Supervisor, Charles D. Nichols ; Clerk, Francis H. Bartholo- mew ; Treasurer, James M. Watson.

1862 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe; Clerk, John Boal; Treasurer, Jacob Ewalt.

1863 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe ; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, Henry Stemm.

1864 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe; Clerk, Adam Small; Treasurer, David Essick.

.1865 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe; Clerk, Henry Stemm ; Treasurer, David Essick.

1866 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe; Clerk, John Boal ; Treasurer, Henry Stemm.

1867 .- Supervisor, Adam Small ; Clerk, John Boal ; Treasurer, D. H. Reiter.

1868 .- Supervisor, John P. Vedder ; Clerk, Adam Small ; Treasurer, D. H. Reiter.

1869 .- Supervisor, John P. Vedder; Clerk, George S. Pardee; Treas- urer, D. H. Reiter.

1870 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe; Clerk, Charles D. Nichols ; Treasurer, D. H. Reiter.

1871 .- Supervisor, Aaron Van Patten; Clerk, L. B. Marquissee ; Treasurer, D. H. Reiter.

1872 .- Supervisor, Joseph W. Howe; Clerk, L. B. Marquissee; Treas- urer, George Claar.

1873 .- Supervisor, Charles F. Howe; Clerk, Isaac Rogers ; Treasurer, George Claar.

1874 .- Supervisor, Charles F. Howe; Clerk, L. B. Marquissee ; Treas- urer, George Claar.

1875 .- Supervisor, Zachariah Fisher; Clerk, L. B. Marquissee ; Treas- urer, Augustus Kephart.

1876 .- Supervisor, Zachariah Fisher ; Clerk, George Claar ; Treasurer, Augustus Kephart.

1877 .- Supervisor, Zachariah Fisher; Clerk, D. G. W. Gaugler ; Treasurer, Peter J. Filkins.

1878 .- Supervisor, Zachariah Fisher ; Clerk, Charles F. Howe; Treas- urer, Aaron Van Patten.

1879 .- Supervisor, Henry Stemm ; Clerk, D. G. W. Gaugler; Treas- urer, Aaron Van Patten.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

William Lemon, Jesse Helmick, Hezekiah Hall, and William F. St. John were chosen at the first township elec- tion, in 1837, for four, three, two, and one years, respec- tively. Each succeeding year one justice was chosen to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of one of the four in office, the number of justices serving being at all times four. Those so elected after 1837 were as fol- lows:

288

HISTORY OF BERRIEN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

1838, William F. St. John ; 1839, Jesse Helmick ; 1840, Peter Rug- gles ; 1841, Jacob Statler, Daniel McFarly ; 1842, Uziel Williams; 1843, F. D. Johnson ; 1844, Oliver Spalding ; 1845, Jacob Statler ; 1846, Amos Gray; 1847, John S. Foot; 1848, Morris Frost; 1849, Jesse Helmick, Ebenezer McIlvain ;# 1850, Oscar A. Dudley ; 1851, Ebenezer McIlvain ; 1852, John Garrow, William E. Lemon ; 1853, Jesse Helmick ; 1854, John W. Murphey ; 1855, William S. Merrill, Nathan Helmick ;# 1856, Samuel Sleigh, James Far- rell,* John Weaver;# 1857, Jesse Helmick, H. Hinchman ;* 1858, Hiram Hinchman ; 1859, Amos Gray ; 1860, Wm. Taber,* Charles D. Nichols ; 1861, Preston Boon ; 1862, Leonard S. Parce,# Preston Boon ; 1863, R. J. Tuttle, Daniel Terriere;# 1864, West- ley Stowe; 1865, Jas. M. Watson ; 1866, Robert Hastings ; 1867, Zachariah Fisher; 1868, Westley Stowe; 1869, Norman E. Lan- don ; 1870, Robert Hastings; 1871, Zachariah Fisher,# Darius Brown ; 1872, John Boon, Amos Gray ;# 1873, George H. Mur- dock,# Lewis Fisher; 1874, Robert Hastings,# Amos Gray ; 1875, Burns Helmick,* Jas. M. Watson; 1876, Jas. M. Watson ; 1877, George H. Murdock ; 1878, Robert Hastings; 1879, Charles D. Nichols.

The affairs of the township are under control of what is known as the Township Board, composed, according to law, of the supervisor, the justice of the peace longest in office, and the township clerk. The Township Board for 1879 included, therefore, Henry Stemm, James M. Watson, and D. G. W. Gaugler. The Township Board acts also as a board of health.

April 1, 1879, the township was clear of debt, and had $204.56 in the treasury. The total assessed valuation for 1879 was $404,675. The total tax was $6913, of which $4135.93 were for school purposes.

Beginning with 1838, Oronoko has furnished of its citi- zens for county offices the following : County Clerks, Geo. H. Murdock and Chas. E. Howe ; Registers, F. D. John- son, Chas. F. Howe ; Sheriffs, A. B. Munger, John Witten- myer, James Graham, Chas. D. Nichols ; Treasurers, Wm. Lemon, Chas. D. Nichols ; Surveyor, Amos Gray ; Judge of Probate, E. McIlvaine.

CHURCHES.

Although opinions conflict as to when and by whom the first sermon was preached in Berrien village, it seems to be agreed that the first sermon was delivered by a Methodist minister. Methodist missionaries to the Far West were somewhat plentiful in the days of 1833 or thereabouts, and it was about that year that Rev. Mr. Cobb preached in the house of George Brong what is supposed by some to have been the pioneer sermon. Cobb returned occasionally and preached at Berrien more or less for the space of a year. Others maintain that before Mr. Cobb's advent a young man professing to be a United Brethren preacher held re- ligious services occasionally in a log cabin near Pitt Brown's tavern. He rode a long circuit, and managed to reach Ber- rien about once a month.

This preacher was a young man without conspicuous talent, and evidently poorly paid, but he was an earnest and energetic worker nevertheless, and was doubtless always eagerly welcomed at a time when public religious teachings were rare though much desired. It is told that he was so poor that his clothing was in rags, and that one Sunday, after his sermon in Berrien, he was approached by Dr. Mur-

ray, who asked him if it were against his principles to re- ceive a donation on the Sabbath. "No, sir," promptly replied the preacher, whereupon Dr. Murray took him down to his store and decked him out from head to foot in a new suit of clothes.

Methodist Episcopal Church of Berrien Springs .- This church was organized some time in 1835, by Rev. Richard Meek, who was the first preacher regularly assigned to preach at Berrien. Previous to that the Elkhart Con- ference sent out numerous missionaries, who stopped occa- sionally at Berrien, but their coming was always irregular and uncertain. The early records of the church are not in existence, but from oral testimony it appears that the members of the first class formed by Mr. Meek were War- ren Wood and wife, George Brong and wife, Martin Friley and wife, and Lucy Farley. Directly after the organization of the class it was joined by Jesse Helmick and wife, Mor- ris Upright, and Mrs. Wm. Murphy, then new-comers into the settlement. Martin Friley was the first class-leader, but was soon succeeded by Morris Upright. The first steward was George Brong. After Meek's time, Revs. McCoole and Owens were on the circuit, each preaching every alternate fortnight. The congregation worshiped in the town school-house until 1845, when the church edifice now in use was built.

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History of Berrien and Van Buren counties, Michigan. With biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 72

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 821

Author: D.W. Ensign & Co. pub; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885; Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia, D. W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 821