USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan, With Illustrations descriptive of its scenery > Part 23
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THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
of Marshall was organized with thirteen members, on the 2d day of March, 1850, in Mechanics' hall, now the upper story of the present Fowler House; but as the Baptist society were then holding their Sabbath meetings in the hall, it was not available to the Christian society except on week-days. Consequently, for a few Sundays services were held in the dining-hall of the old depot building, which was then in charge of Z. M. Lester. At the formation of this church Elder James S. White was elected pastor, Z. M. Lester deacon, and Samuel Ladd clerk. The revival which preceded and led to the formation of this church began in a log school-house in the northern part of the township, then known as the Miner school-house. The original members of this church were Z. M. Lester and Hannah K. his wife, Samuel Ladd and Clarissa his wife, Alvin G. Miner, Jacob Root, Nelson White, Harriet Root, Eleanor Patterson, Betsey Miner, and Char- lotte Laberteaux. But four of these survive at the present time. Not long after the organization of the church the third story of Butler's brick block was rented, where the infant church worshiped for one and a half years. In the summer of 1851 the present church edifice, on the southwest corner of the court-house square, was erected, being opened for worship in November of that year and dedi- cated ; Mr. and Mrs. Lester contributing largely to its erection. Elder White served the church five years, and was succeeded by Elder A. M. Sowle, who served but a short time, as did also Rev. Francis H. Adams, who followed him. In the fall D. E. Millard accepted the pastorate, and remained over the church until the last Sunday in March, 1865, when he removed to Washington, D. C. Elder J. G. Noble was over the church one year, and between that time (March, 1866) and October of the same year the church had no pastor, the desk being supplied by J. E. Church. On January 1, 1867, Rev. D. W. Moore entered upon the pastorate of the church, which he continued in four years, until January 1, 1871. From that time till April, Mr. Church supplied the desk, at which latter date Rev. B. F. Summerbell was inducted into the vacant pastorate, but was soon prostrated by disease and forced to resign the charge; and on April 1, 1872, Mr. Millard again assumed the pastorate, wherein he remained until the summer of 1874, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, J. Warren Weeks. In 1859 the church was refitted and repaired, and again, in 1873, general repairs were made, and the auditorium now presents a pleasant and attractive appearance. It will seat three liundred persons. From the organization of the church to the close of Mr. Millard's pastorate it had received four hundred and twenty-one members : ninety-four under Elder White's pastorate, eleven under Adams and Sowle, one
hundred and eighty under Millard's first pastorate and twenty-one under his second, thirty-eight under Noble's, seventy-three under Moore's, and four under Mr. Summerbell's. Its present membership numbers one hundred. The Sunday- school, under the superintendence of James Chisholm, numbers from fifty to sixty scholars.
THE EVANGELICAL (GERMAN) CHURCH
of Marshall was first organized as a class in 1860, by Rev. Michael Kruger. The first meetings of the class were held in Henry Rorman's store, now burned down, and afterwards over Schuyler's drug-store, for about two years. In 1863 the class was organized as a church, with fifty-two members. The building now used as a church was formerly a frame school-house, twenty by thirty-six feet, and cost about seven hundred and sixty dollars, affording about one hundred and fifty sit- tings. The ministers of the church have been G. M. Gruner, C. Ude, M. Speck, Ruha Riegle, Thomas and William Riemke, M. Houke, Michael Miller, William Loose, Peter Berk, and the present pastor, L. Kemerling. The church has twenty- eight members. A Sunday-school is connected with the church, numbering twenty scholars. The first superintendent was Henry Lorman, present one John Harkman ; secretary and librarian, John Rohr; treasurer, John Harkman. The library contains one hundred and forty books.
THE AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH
of Marshall was organized in the spring of 1847, by Rev. Edward Hart. The officers were Calvin Hackett, Charles Parker, and Moses Lawson, trustees ; stew- ards, William Booth and Planter Moss. There were fourteen members at the organization of the society. The church building was erected in 1848, and was a frame house and cost five hundred dollars, and is still in use by the society. It will seat about one hundred persons. A Sunday-school was organized about the same time as the church. It has twenty-four scholars at the present time, and the superintendent is Abner Baker. The leading member of the congregation is Mr. Coleman, an intelligent colored man and a very worthy citizen. The church has had among its pastors the following-named gentlemen : Revs. Hart, Samuel Walls, Edward Epps, Hezekiah Harper, Hercules Andrews, John Ridgeway, Daniel Cooper, Young, Beverly Carey, Turner Roberts, James Curtis, H. B. Gordon, Daniel Burden, Jeffries, and J. M. Smith.
ASSOCIATIONS.
THE MARSHALL VILLAGE COMPANY
was organized in 1836, to improve the upper village property, so called, and em- braced lands on both sides. The original company were Sidney Ketchum, Oshea Wilder, James C. Smith, George S. Wright, John H. Montgomery, and Mont- gomery Schuyler. The company bought of Sidney Ketchum his interest in the water-power, and lands embracing the present cemetery and railroad grounds, the same being conveyed to George S. Wright as trustee for the company, and who was the business manager of the same. The company built a bridge over Rice creek to improve the property on the present site of Perrinville, worked the streets, and built the Marshall Young Ladies' Seminary in 1837, which was in operation for some years, and built the Marshall House. The company was an important factor in the early prosperity of Marshall.
MINING COMPANIES
sprang up all over the State on the announcement of the mineral deposits of the upper peninsula, and Marshall was represented in 1846 by three companies on the ground, all of whom expended more or less money in mining for copper. The Portage Company of Marshall were officered by Asa B. Cook, president, and J. M. Parsons, secretary ; the Marshall and Boston Lake Superior Company by Henry W. Taylor, president, George S. Wright, secretary ; and the Mineral Creek Company by Isaac E. Crary, president, and George C. Gibbs, secretary. The companies did more or less " prospecting" in 1846, but did not continue.
LITERARY.
THE MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION
was organized by the mechanics of Marshall, some forty or more, January 13, 1838, at which time a constitution and by-laws were adopted, the preamble to which declared that " knowledge confers true dignity on human nature by exalt- ing the mind to a true sense of its powers, and leading it to a due perception of its importance in the scale of beings." With this broad and ringing declaration they founded their association " for the diffusion of useful knowledge," and pro- ceeded to elect a list of officers for the same. Ira Nash was chosen president ;
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"OAK HILL, RESIDENCE OF C. M. BREWER, MARSHALL, MICHIGAN.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Isaac Loomis, first vice-president; Edmund R. Way, second vice-president; Jeremiah O. Balch, recording secretary ; Charles Dickey, corresponding secretary ; R. E. Hall, treasurer, and William R. McCall, librarian. Directors, S. S. Burpee, B. Chamberlain, Benjamin Drake, Edwin G. Squires, James Cuykendall. The first discussion was directed to be held at the weekly meeting January 27, which was upon the question " Would canals be more beneficial than railroads ?" and McCall, Loomis, and Jewett appointed to assert the affirmative, and Cuykendall, Balch, and Squires to uphold the negative. At the discussion the judges decided the weight of the argument to be with the negative, but the association reversed that decision, and gave the honors to the affirmative. The second subject discussed was not so practical as the first, the question being whether Washington was a greater general than Bonaparte, or not ? The judges and association decided in favor of the Virginian. The next question was a serious one, " Ought the usury laws to be abolished ?" The association decided the question in the negative. These weekly discussions were kept up for several years, and were an interesting feature in Marshall society. Lectures were delivered under its auspices, and much benefit ensued to the community from its work. In the fall of 1843 the associa- tion made arrangements with Messrs. Dusenbury, Brewer & Co., to build a Mechanics' . hall over the store of the latter firm, on the corner of Eagle and State streets (now the Fowler House), which was completed and occupied in the fall of 1845, and continued in the ownership of the association until 1850, when it passed into the possession of Dusenbury & Butler, and the association soon after ceased to exist. July 4, 1845, the association held a fair, and, in conjunction with the citizens generally, celebrated the day in an elaborate manner.
THE MECHANICS' PROTECTION,
a secret order, grew out of the Mechanics' Association, being established some- where about 1856. It was similar in its objects and ritual to the order of Odd- Fellows, and flourished for a time in connection with the order elsewhere in the Union. William R. McCall was one of its prominent members, and was a dele- gate in 1847 to the National Protection, which assembled at Buffalo in July of that year.
THE YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION
was organized in 1838, the Rev. J. P. Cleveland being the first president, and the first annual meeting being held December 2, 1739. John Starkweather was secretary. A course of lectures was inaugurated, Rev. Mr. Wilder being one of the speakers, and a series of chemical lectures being delivered by Dr. Bement. The association lapsed after a few years.
THE MARSHALL LYCEUM
was organized November 19, 1838, Rev. Samuel Buel being the first president and delivering the first lecture. A course followed. It closed its career the latter part of 1844.
THE AMPHICTYON SOCIETY
was an attachment to the Marshall College, which was to have been, but got no farther than a preparatory school.
THE YOUNG MEN'S DEBATING CLUB
was organized about 1863, James A. Minor being the secretary thereof. It flourished for nearly ten years, having weekly discussions, which were well attended and which were ably conducted.
YOUNG MEN'S LECTURE ASSOCIATION.
This society was organized in the fall of 1867, and for some three or four years was in successful operation, securing courses of lectures for every winter season. Its officers in 1868 were T. J. O'Brien, president ; Frank Dickey, vice- president ; Norris J. Frink, secretary ; John L. Evans, treasurer; W. H. Por- ter, J. C. Fitzgerald, John C. Patterson, George White, Howard Burgess, board of directors.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
was organized in the spring of 1868, with about one hundred members, drawn from the various churches of the city. The society established a reading-room over the First National bank, corner of Madison and State streets, and while the organization was kept in operation, which was for some four years or there- abouts, the reading-rooms were open every day and evening (Sundays not excepted), in which were to be found copies of the leading journals and periodicals of the day. The officers for 1868 were-President, E. L. Seargent ; Vice-President, Dr. Matthew Gill; Corresponding Secretary, W. R. Lewis ; Recording Secretary, Otto L. Johnson; Treasurer, S. W. Lester. F. H. Burgess, H. E. Phelps, James M. Parsons, and D. W. Moon were also active in the interests of the asso- ciation and in furthering its objects.
THE LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
of Marshall was organized January 18, 1869, at a meeting called for that pur- pose and held in the hall of the common council. For years the idea of a public library, to aid in the mental culture of his fellow-citizens, had been entertained by Hon. B. Darwin Hughes, a well-known lawyer, then a resident of Marshall, but now of Grand Rapids. To his earnest, persevering efforts the association owes its existence, and it is proud and happy to still consider him a warm and faithful friend. The idea, once entertained, was never abandoned, and, meeting with nothing but discouragement in every other direction, he at length deter- mined to lay the matter before the ladies of Marshall, hoping they might become sufficiently interested to organize an association. The event justified his hopes, and the long-coveted library became a fixed fact. . An organization was effected and the following officers were elected :
President, Mrs. Charles Dickey ; Vice-President, Miss Maggie Bear ; Secre- tary, Mrs. Charles T. Gorham ; Treasurer, Mrs. C. P. Dibble; Librarian, Mrs. M. A. Stace.
A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and a committee appointed to solicit donations of money and books. The library was formally opened for distribution of books on Saturday afternoon, March 20, with two hundred and seven vol- umes, forty of which were donated. There were at this time one hundred and sixty-two members, and seventy-three volumes were drawn. The following Sep- tember Mrs. Gorham resigned her office as secretary, and Mrs. George Boughton was appointed to fill the vacancy. She says in her second annual report,-
" We find that nearly three-fourths of the books drawn are works of fiction. Acknowledging ourselves servants of the association, we felt that we had no right, while acting for it, to let our individual tastes govern in selecting the books to be purchased by the money intrusted to us. Therefore we have endeavored to meet the wants of that class of the reading public as fully as possible, without, of course, confining ourselves exclusively to it. But these books have been conscientiously chosen, and there has been no pandering to a vicious or depraved taste, and no weak yielding to the demand for mere sensational novels. We are not of those who condemn all fictitious writing merely because it is fictitious. Many of us confess to having been helped to more just views socially and morally, and to a fuller comprehension of important truth by some writers of so-called fiction more than by the essays and reasonings of some of our greatest philosophers and mor- alists. As our funds increase we shall please ourselves by purchasing more works of history, entertaining miscellany, and the more solid and instructive works of the best writers of our own times and of the past. We know it is not a light or trifling thing to assist in directing minds into new channels of thought, thus helping to mould their earthly and, through that, perhaps their eternal destiny. Therefore let us labor and plan, not for the recreation and amusement of an idle hour only, but for those loftier and nobler purposes, the progress and elevation of our race."
This library has been in successful operation for nearly nine years. It now has nineteen hundred volumes for circulation and about four hundred for reference. It has no endowment or other fund except three hundred dollars in bonds, and depends mainly for its support upon the annual subscriptions of its members and a few entertainments given from time to time for its benefit. The services of the ladies who compose its board of directors and act as officers are entirely gratuitous, only the librarian receiving any compensation, and the com- mon council have generously given the association the use of their hall. It looks, however, hopefully to the time when it shall have a home of its own, which it shall delight to beautify and adorn, gathering within its walls pictures, statuary, and music, where it may have lectures, historical lessons, and literary entertain- ments, to which it shall invite with pride its friends and acquaintances, and itself linger in loved communion with the learned and eloquent of all ages, whose better part remains, though they may have long since passed away. The following are the officers last elected :
President, Mrs. George Boughton ; Vice-President,; Mrs. G. S. Wright; Sec- retary, Miss Carrie Mitchell; Treasurer, Miss Eva Dibble; Librarian, Miss May Kingsbury.
Directors .- Mrs. George S. Wright, Mrs. Chas. Dickey, Jr., Miss Minnie But- ler, Miss Carrie Mitchell, Mrs: Edwin Mills, Mrs. Charles Jaggar, Mrs. Henry French, Miss Sallie Aldrich, Mrs. Mary Wheeler, Mrs. George Boughton, Mrs. Charles Dickey, Sr., Miss Eva Dibble.
MUSICAL.
Marshall is as noted for her musical talent as for any branch of her literary attainments. Amateur talent of a high order is plentifully found among her citi- zens and ever has been from her early history. The first society organized for musical culture was
The Harmonic Society, which gave a rehearsal February 17, 1841, under the
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
leadership of N. Collins, which was spoken of by the Statesman of that date as a very creditable performance.
The Beethoven Society, organized at Marshall, February 2, 1843, Rev. J. P. Cleveland, president. Delegates were in attendance from Homer, Albion, Jackson, Union City, and Jonesville. The society confined their attention to sacred music, oratorios being the principal pieces of its repertoire. The society was successfully conducted for some years, and created a musical taste that is visible to-day in the many excellent trained voices in the city.
The first move for an instrumental organization in Marshall was made in 1840, by the boys of the village, between twelve and fifteen years. The spirit was taken from the drum corps of four companies of United States troops stationed here for a time, to assist in gathering and removing the Indians to their reservations in the west. The drum corps was composed of boys of fifteen years and thereabouts, and when the troops left an organization was effected of five pieces, Charles V. Bond, afterwards a portrait-painter of considerable repute, and Charles Ketchum being the fifers, Claude G. Avery, afterwards burned to death in the Herndon, and Edwin Curtis, snare drummers, and Henry A. Tillotson, the present city marshal, bass drummer. Mr. Tillotson and Mr. Ketchum are the only survivors of this pioneer organization, which became a very creditable band, giving rise to the
Marshall Band, which organized in June, 1842, with thirteen performers, viz. : Charles Nash, E-flat clarionet (leader) ; Charles Ketchum, piccolo ; Erastus Ladd, 1st B-flat clarionet ; Edwin W. Curtis, 1st B-flat clarionet (treasurer) ; James A. Way, 2d B-flat clarionet (secretary) ; Elmon S. Camp, 2d B-flat clarionet ; W. R. McCall, cornet ; Moses Hodgman, trumpet ; Henry A. Tillotson, 1st French horn ; James D. Potts, 2d French horn ; Henry Donally, B-flat trombone ; Wm. Lumm, G trombone (president) ; Orrin S. Camp, bass drum. The first meeting of the band was the second Tuesday night in June, 1842, and their first public appearance was at a temperance celebration in Battle Creek, on the 4th of July following. Their first concert was given in the court-house at Marshall, August 6, 1842. This organization became noted all about the country, and went to Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, Coldwater, Jackson, and elsewhere, gaining many fine encomiums for their skill and excellent music. In 1844 the band changed its in- struments for brass sax-horns, and gradually, from 1857 to 1860, exchanged these latter for silver cornets. The organization remained intact, though with more or less change of individual members, until 1862, when the bulk of the old members having left the city, the organization was given up. Spasmodic efforts were made from time to time to maintain a band during the war, and some excellent organi- zations were briefly in practice, but after the war some of the leading musicians of the city removed or died, and for some years there was no attempt whatever to keep up an organization, and the instruments became scattered and lost.
In 1872, The Marshall City Cornet Band was organized by some of the music- loving Germans of the city, and by a steady and persistent effort a fine band has arisen, composed of thirteen members, as follows: Prof. Hoffman, 1st E-flat (leader) ; Joseph Mors, 2d E-flat (secretary) ; Watson Mead, 1st B-flat (president) ; Prof. Desire Ruese, solo E-flat tenor ; George Kueschlee, 1st E-flat tenor ; Wil- liam Blankenhorn, 2d E-flat tenor ; John Hoffman, 1st B-flat tenor ; Leyward Fox, 2d B-flat tenor ; Prof. E. Mast, baritone ; Martin Weimer, bass; Frank Tillotson, 1st snare drum ; Richard Martin, 2d snare drum ; Frederick Schneitman, bass drum and cymbals. This band is fast winning its way to a high rank in the musical world, and has already gained many laurels by its excellent execution. Prof. Hoffman is an accomplished artist and devoted musician.
The city has erected in the park (the old site of the court-house) an elegant stand for out-door concerts, the same being sixteen feet square, eighteen feet high, surmounted by an airy concave roof, at a cost of two hundred dollars.
There is also an amateur orchestra in the city, The Haydn Harmonic Society, which discourses some very excellent harmony at the public concerts of the home talent, which is of a high order in Marshall. The members of the orchestra are as follows : Fred. Colegrove, 1st violin ; Charles P. Aldrich, 2d violin; F. H. Mills, flute ; A. B. Moore, 'cello; W. C. Armour, pianist.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Marshall Lodge, No. 20, F. A. M., was instituted in the year 1847-48, Dr. Joseph Sibley being the first Worshipful Master, and F. Karstaedt, Zenas Tillot- son, Ira Tillotson, Thomas Cook, David Aldridge, Robert Smith, Dr. Hudson, George Ketchum, and Mr. Gillis the other charter members. Of these but two remain in the city, the greater portion being dead. Dr. Sibley held the position of W. M. for several years. Thomas Cook and James Crocker also filled the Oriental chair for several terms. About the close of the year 1853 the lodge surrendered its charter, and a new one was formed, called
St. Alban's Lodge, No. 20, which was chartered January 11, 1855, James M. Crocker being the first W. M., Joseph Sibley S. W., and Horace J. Phelps J. W. The lodge was instituted under dispensation in 1854. The office of Worshipful
Master has been filled as follows : James M. Crocker, 1854-55, and 1859 ; George C. Gibbs, 1856 ; Joseph Sibley, 1857 ; Horace Phelps, 1858; Isaac Beers, 1860- 61, and 1864-65 ; H. A. Tillotson, 1862, and 1866-67 ; R. H. Powell, 1863; Albert F. Bull, 1868-70 ; John E. Chisholm, 1871-72; William Powell, 1873- 74 ; Charles Boynton, 1875-76. The present officers are William Powell, W. M .; W. H. Edston, S. W .; Frank W. Boughton, J. W .; John Adams, Treasurer ; Charles A. Gardanier, Secretary ; W. H. Faulkner, S. D .; Robert F. Walters, J. D .; O. Bennett, Tyler. The craft now numbers one hundred and seventy-eight.
Marshall Lodge, No. 294, F. A. M., was instituted January 13, 1871, by charter, with the following officers and members : J. W. Fletcher, W. M .; E. S. Bronson, S. W .; T. E. Ferguson, J. W .; W. P. Sutton, Treasurer; W. H. Wells, Secretary ; C. D. Clarke, S. D .; A. J. Lusk, J. D .; and E. B. Lusk. The East has been occupied as follows : J. W. Fletcher, 1871-72; Charles D. Clarke, 1873-75 ; W. H. Porter, 1876. The present officers are W. H. Porter, W. M .; Byron Carver, S. W. ; J. Edmonds, J. W .; J. W. Fletcher, Treasurer ; W. H. Wells, Secretary (deceased, and buried by the order June 3, 1877). The old Marshall lodge was instituted the year following the lodge at Battle Creek, which was the first one in the county.
Lafayette Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons, was instituted under dispensa- tion June 17, 1848, and charter granted January 3, 1850, with. the following charter members : Thomas Cook, Joseph Sibley, Zenas Tillotson, Ira Tillotson, Daniel Hudson, Abner Pratt, Samuel Ladd, Robert H. Smith, Daniel Pratt, H. Cooley, George Ketchum, S. Allen, Enos Gillis, David Aldrich, and Ira Nash. Of these Gillis and Aldrich are the only survivors at the present time. Thomas Cook was the first High Priest, Joseph Sibley, King, and Daniel Hudson, Scribe. The office of the High Priest has been filled as follows : Thomas Cook, 1848-50 ; Joseph Sibley, December 18, 1850-54; James M. Crocker, 1855 ; George C. Gibbs, 1856; Joseph Sibley, 1857 ; Theron Hamilton, 1858; J. J. Bardwell, 1859; Henry A. Tillotson, 1860-68; John W. Fletcher, 1869-71 ; John E. Chisholm, 1872-73; H. A. Peterman, 1874-76. The present officers are-Wil- liam Powell, H. P .; Charles Bentley, K .; Otis B. Rowley, S .; J. H. Saunders, Treasurer ; H. A. Tillotson, Secretary ; J. R. Jiron, C. H .; H. A. Peterman, P. S .; J. J. Groff, R. A. C. The craft number ninety-eight.
Hiram Council, No. 14, was organized by dispensation November 19, 1861 ; was chartered June 20, 1863, with the following charter members: Zenas Tillot- son, Dr. Sibley, Henry A. Tillotson, Peter Sutton, Robert Scarrott, Isaac Beers, S. P. Wormley, P. S. Warren, J. B. Warner, and others. Henry A. Tillotson was T. I. M. from the time it was chartered until 1868, since which time H. A. Peterman, M.D., has presided in the chair. Present officers: H. A. Peterman, I. M .; C. S. Webster, C. G .; John Adams, D. I. M .; R. P. Wormley, G. S .; W. B. Mead, P. C. W .; R. Scarrott, Sentinel; J. R. Jiron, Recorder; John Saunders, Treasurer. Present number of members, sixty-five.
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