USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 38
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In September, 1856, Rev. L. D. Palmer became pastor of the church at a salary of $500.
In August, 1862, Rev. Palmer resigned to accept a call to the Jackson church.
The church enjoyed a season of prosperity under the administration of Mr. Palmer, and additions to the membership were frequent.
The last of the church debt was paid in December, 1864, while the church had no pastor. After the resignation of Mr. Palmer the church was without a regular pastor most of the time, until June, 1869, when Rev. S. R. Gilbert became pastor of the church and remained until June, 1871. This was followed by the pastorates of Brethren Ferris, Srashall, Pattergill, Taher, Dunn, Whitcomb, Burnstead; Tate, Smith and Bailey.
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Rev. H. D. Allen became pastor of the church January 1, 1902, and remained until May 30, 1904. Rev. I. N. DePuy was called as pastor of the church December 1, 1904, and resigned November 6, 1910, to accept the pastorate of a Chicago church.
The present pastor of the church, Rev. A. W. Brown, was called to act in that capacity January 1, 1911. Rev. Brown, who was formerly assistant pastor of the Fountain street church of Grand Rapids, is doing an excellent work here, the church being united and prosperous, and enjoying a slow hut steady growth.
The present officers of the church are as follows: Pastor, Rev. A. W. Brown; church clerk, Charles O. Miller ; church treasurer, W. A. Powell. Deacons : George S. Woolsey, Daniel A. Osborn, Chas. O. Miller, Loyal Williams, Mrs. C. H. Vasy and Maria Leusell. Trustees : E. E. Simmons, Henry Kratzer, Clarence McMillan, W. A. Powell, E. B. Stuart and E. L. Perrin. Sunday-school superintendent: Henry Kratzer. Presi- dent of the Aid Society : Mrs. C. E. Easterly. President of the Women's Mission Society : Inez L. Miller. President of the Dorcas Society : Mrs. Clara Treadwell. President of the B. Y. P. U .: Miss Nettie Thunder.
The present membership of the church is 220.
FIRST EVANGELICAL-LUTHERAN ZION CHURCH
The Evangelical Lutheran Zion congregation at Marshall was or- ganized in 1856 by the Rev. Spring, with about 40. Lutheran families. In 1860 the congregation purchased the Episcopalian church and prop- erty, and after making several changes in the church edifice, it was dedicated as a Lutheran church to the service of the Divine God.
In 1901 the congregation erected the present magnificent church building, for the sum of about $12,000.00-corner Eagle and Green streets.
The parsonage was built in 1867 and remodeled in 1910 with all modern facilities.
In 1906 the church celebrated her fiftieth anniversary with appro- priate services.
The congregation supports the missions of the German Evangelical- Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states.
It now has a membership of about 90 families, making nearly four hundred baptized and confirmed members. Sunday-school, 85 pupils; teachers, 10; Ladies' Aid Society, 110 members.
The services are being held in both the German and English lan- guages.
The church accepts all canonical books of the Holy Scripture as the revealed word of God, making it her rule of faith and life.
Since 1897 the present Pastor, Rev. Chr. Hidenreich, has had charge of the church.
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CHAPTER XIX
BATTLE CREEK
SANDS MCCAMLEY AND EZRA CONVIS-THE FIRST SCHOOL IN BATTLE CREEK-CHURCHES-MANUFACTURING INTERESTS-BATTLE CREEK SANITARIUM-RAILROADS-FIRE DEPARTMENT-BATTLE CREEK AND ITS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT-BATTLE CREEK A CITY-POSTOFFICE (1877-1912)-THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF BATTLE CREEK (BY EVA WARRINER)-THE BATTLE CREEK PRESS (BY GEORGE B. WILLARD)- EARLY BAR (BY CHARLES E. THOMAS)-THE CHARLES WILLARD LIBRARY (BY MRS. FANNIE BREWER)-BATTLE CREEK IN THE CIVIL WAR (BY A. B. SIMPSON )-FARRAGUT POST, G. A. R .- FARRAGUT RELIEF CORPS NO. 4 (BY MRS. JENNIE JONES)
Battle Creek, which at this time, (1912,) contains within her mu- nicipal boundaries fully one-half of all the people living in Calhoun county, owes its location to the confluence of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo river at this point. It was the water power and its possibili- ties together with the generally attractive appearance of the vicinity that determined Sands MeCamley, conceded to be the foremost as well as one of the first pioneers in this city, to locate here.
It was in June. 1831, in company with George Redfield, that MeCam- ley went to the Land Office, which had been opened that month at White Pigeon, to make an entry that should cover at least a part of the site where this city now stands. On arriving there he found that others besides himself had been favorably impressed with the location of the future city and that J. J. Garnsey, together with Lucins Lyon and Robert Clark, the last two government surveyors had marked it for entry. Lyon and Clark would sell their claim for one hundred dollars. As between Garnsey and MeCamley it was agreed that the former should enter eight hundred and thirty-seven and forty and one hundredth acres, all lying within what now constitute the township and city of Battle Creek. The purchase price was at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. It was further understood and agreed that Sands MeCamley and Daniel G. Garnsey, the latter a former member of congress from the state of New York and who later became a prominent citizen of Rock Island, Illinois, were to share it equally with him on payment of their proportion of the cost. They, with their families, were to meet in Detroit the following October when J. J. Garnsey was to quit-claim to the other two and give to each a title to an undivided
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third of the whole. It was further agreed that all should come on and begin operations, each placing two thousand dollars in the bank with which to commence the work of developing the property. McCamley reached Detroit at the time agreed upon as did J. J. Garnsey and his brother-in-law, Sackett, and their wives, but they said they had been to look at the place and could not live there. The result was that the entire undertaking as planned failed. The year 1831 did not close promisingly for the future Battle Creek. In 1832, Samuel Convis, who owned an interest in the Garnsey purchase, came and erected the first log house in what is now the city of Battle Creek. In the spring of the same year Moses Hall journeyed from Vermont to Battle Creek and purchased land for himself and for his brother Talman W. Moses Hall was one of the pioneers who left a permanent impress upon the community. He is said to have been a man of "commanding figure and noble appearance and a self poise that was admirable." He was a man of profound religions convictions. Was one of the founders of the Presby- terian church and a staunch member and liberal supporter to the day of his death. He served one term in the state legislature and for many years was a justice of the peace and an acting magistrate at the time of his death, May 12, 1860. Among others who came into Battle Creek in 1832 were Polydore Hudson, the first postmaster, Roswell Crane, Jolin Conway and the Langley brothers. It was in March, 1833, that Na- thaniel Barney came from Chautauqua county, New York. He is listed as one of the original proprietors of Battle Creek. The wife of General Ezra Convis was his daughter. He was one whom men long delighted to remember for his genial nature and kindliness of heart. He was ap- pointed postmaster in 1834. For many years he dispensed hospitality to the traveling public and "Barney's Tavern" though kept in a log house was quite as well known then as the "Post Tavern" is now.
SANDS MCCAMLEY AND EZRA CONVIS
Judge Sands McCamley, who had lived for a time on the Nottawa prairie from which he soon removed to Marshall, living there at the time of the cholera scourge, by which dread disease his wife was attacked but happily recovered, returned to Battle Creek in 1835, and became a 'per- manent resident. It is perhaps strictly within the truth to say that McCamley was the most conspicuous and the most useful of the early day comers to this city. The late Hon. George Willard says of him and his time, "The year 1835 displays to our view, as we look back upon the past, a much busier scene than the incipient city had ever presented before. Judge McCamley having bought an equal and undivided half of the original Garnsey purchase in February, 1834, and having re- moved here the following winter, was now ready to commence opera- tions. General Convis having control of the other half, the understand- ing was that Judge McCamley should have control of the whole water power, upon the condition that he would improve it. Of the proposed village they were to be the proprietors. The day was approaching when the people were actually to have a town. A body of twenty or thirty men including many sons of Erin, were engaged in building the long
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race which in its day, and under the circumstances under which all such works were then of necessity completed, was a monument of noble en- terprise. While that work was advancing, the first saw mill was in pro- cess of erection. In November of that year the water was let into the race and the victory was won. The saw mill made the frosty woods to echo with its incessant movement and our worthy friend, Judge MeCam- ley, began to witness in reality what he had seen in imagination in June, 1831, as he stood here with Mr. Redfield and longed to make the waters of the Kalamazoo provide the forces for establishing at this point one of Michigan's great centers of manufacture and trade. Ilis efforts were increasing for the advancement of Battle Creek and his name will long live in its history as one of the city's greatest benefactors. Judge McCamley was the first state senator from the district of which Battle Creek was a part. It has been said of him that "he was possessed of a strong, clear intelleet, a sound judgment, a resolute purpose and had the sagacity to see the right thing to be done to bring about a successful enterprise whether of a public or of an individual enterprise."
General Ezra Convis may be regarded as Judge MeCamley's closest competitor for first place among prominent men who lived in this part of Calhoun county in the late thirties. Ile came from Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, New York. His first visit to Michigan was in 1832, in company with Nedibiah Angell. They prospected above Battle Creek and other parts of the county but the general did not become a perma- nent settler until 1834. "He at once became interested in the affairs of the young colony and took an active part in its enterprises. He, in connection with Mr. Barney, his father-in-law, became owner of one-half of what is known as the Garnsey purchase," the tract of over eight hundred acres before referred to. This furnished a new and inviting field for one of Mr. Convis' active turn of mind, and he began the work in earnest. In taking views of the region about his new home, he found a desirable location some mile and a half above the mouth of the Battle Creek, which included the rapids in the stream at that point. Here he at once saw that a water power could be obtained and also that in this locality there was the making of a town. He selected eight acres covering the water power and began to see visions of a prospective town. He bought other lands in the vicinity.
In 1835 General Convis sold his one-half interest in the Garnsey property and gave his interest in the water power to Sands MeCamley, provided he would improve it.
He now turned his attention to building up a town on his purchase north of Battle Creek. Under his management he soon began to see the village of Verona springing up about him. There was at Verona, in 1837, just about the same development as at Battle Creek. In those days at Verona, Deacon David N. Salter was running the saw mill; Colonel Stewart had built a grist mill; Willard Mills and Ashley, worked at tailoring; mechanics at their trades; David Caldwell kept the tavern and he and his brother, John, had a cabinet shop; David II. Daniels, Sylvester Mills and Jeremiah Teed were selling dry goods as were Brown and Brigham; Dr. Rhodes was attending the sick and Felix
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and Gillespie did the pettifogging." It will be seen that in the days of which we speak, Verona was no mean competitor of Battle Creek.
On the admission of the state into the Union, General Convis was elected a member of the state house of representatives, of which body he was chosen speaker. IIe was re-elected for a second term. It was while in attendance on the sessions of the legislature, then sitting in Detroit, during the winter of 1837-38, that he received an injury re- sulting in his death. It seems that with a number of other legislators he was invited by Mr. Ten Eyck, a famous landlord of that time, to attend the wedding of his daughter about ten miles from the city. On the return of the party, the sleigh was overturned and the General so badly injured that he died shortly after in Detroit. The Calhoun County Patriot, of Marshall, in its issue of March 4, 1837, in comment- ing on the death of General Convis, said, "He came to Michigan in 1834, was elected a delegate to the state convention, which formed the con- stitution and was a member of the last legislature. The house ap- pointed him their speaker. He was re-elected to the present legislature by a large majority. He was justly regarded as a very useful member and at this time his death is a loss to the county and state and is irreparable to his family."
Among others who came to Battle Creek in 1834 and 1835 were Warren B. Shepherd, Josiah Gilbert, Joseph Farnsworth and David Salter. This same year came also the pioneer merchants of Battle Creek, William H. Coleman and David H. Daniels. Rev. Robert Adams, the first Baptist minister, and John Marvin, the first blacksmith, were valuable additions to the growing population.
THE FIRST SCHOOL IN BATTLE CREEK
Was taught by Warren B. Shepherd in the winter of 1834-35. A tax of sixty dollars had been levied and raised with which to build a log school house, which stood on the corner of Main and East Canal streets. This school house did duty for three or four years and in it the children and youth of the city were taught. Among them were enrolled some of the foremost men and women of the generation next after the pioneers. In his later years, Schoolmaster Shepherd delighted to tell of his pupils who had come to local prominence.
Following the log school house was a much larger and more preten- tions structure which cost five hundred dollars. In 1850, after a good deal of agitation for and against, it was finally decided to build a three- story brick school house at a cost of six thousand dollars. This building did duty for twenty years. It was in 1870-71 that the Central building was erected at a cost, building and grounds, of one hundred thousand dollars. This fine and roomy structure, at the time it was built was one of the largest and best equipped union school buildings in the state, served the city for high school purposes for nearly forty years, when the present high school building, which will compare favorably with any in the state, was erected.
At that time, I. L. Stone, A. M., now the head of the great Duplex Printing Press plant, was the able and successful superintendent.
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THE CHURCHES OF BATTLE CREEK
Followed in rapid succession upon the material and educational de- velopment of the place. The Methodist Episcopal church was the first to enter the town as a permanent religious institution. It was in 1836 that a class was formed by the Rev. Asa Phelps. Mr. Phelps was a soldier during our second war with Great Britain. Some years after the war, he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and later became an ordained minister in that denomination. He came to Michigan in 1834, first settling at Bellevue. In 1836 he removed to the township of Emmet and in the same year organized a Methodist class of seven members in Battle Creek. Mr. Phelps preached the first sermon, services being held in the log school house. The first house of worship was a small frame structure built in 1841. In 1849, this church was sold to the colored Baptists and a new brick structure costing twenty-five thousand dollars was built and which did good service until the present beautiful and commodious house of worship was erected some two or three years ago.
Among the pioneers who early came to Battle Creek were a number of members of the Baptist church. Services were held in the log school house until better facilities could be afforded. The Rev. William Tay- lor, the pioneer Baptist minister of Schoolcraft, is credited with preach- ing the first sermon by a member of that denomination in this eity. It was in 1849 that the Baptists built their first house of worship in Battle Creek. In 1872 a fine new building was ereeted at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars.
The old log school house was in 1836 the birthplace of the united Congregational and Presbyterian church. The local members of these two Christian bodies, after due consideration and discussion of the subject, unanimously resolved to form a church on the plan recom- mended by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church and the association of congregational churches of Connecticut in 1801. This plan seems to have been very equitable, for when the letters of member- ship were submitted they were exactly equal in numbers. In January, 1842. a committee was raised "to superintend the building of a meeting house." A site was selected and by the fall of 1843 the building of the edifice had so far progressed that worship was held in the basement. A little later the church was completed and the Rev. Alexander Tratter was called to the pastorate. It would seem that certain prominent mem- beis of the church participated in the election exeitement of 1844 to a degree which carried them beyond their proper Christian bearings. Under date of November 21, of that year, there appears a confession signed by six of the prominent members expressing regret for "having been engaged in betting on the election" as "inconsistent with the spirit and principles of the Christian religion, a species of gambling pernicious in its influence on society, to be frowned upon and discoun- tenanced by all good men and Christians generally." In the membership of this church have been enrolled the names of some of the most influ- ential men in the history of Battle Creek. Among them are Moses Ilall, Talman W. Hall. David H. Daniels. John S. Van Brunt, Platt
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Gilbert, S. W. Leggett, W. H. Coleman, Samuel Flagler, William H. Skinner, and B. F. and H. T. Hinman. This union organization served the purpose of the membership of both denominations for a long time, but the union was ultimately severed and the adherents of each now worship in their own church. Aside from the larger cities, the Independ- ent Congregational church has, on Maple street, one of the finest houses of worship in the central west, while the Presbyterians are well housed and prosperous.
The first service held by members of the Episcopal church was about the year 1839, conducted by the Rev. F. H. Cummings. At that time there were but three or four Episcopalians in Battle Creek. The Rev. M. Schuyler came in 1841 and under his ministration the interest and numbers increased. In April, 1842, Bishop Samuel McCaskry came and held service in the Methodist Episcopal church, when six persons were confirmed. There were several visiting clergymen and the occa- sion was deemed a very important one as bearing on the future of that church in this city. On the seventh of August, following, a parish was organized. In 1843, a call was extended to the Rev. R. A. Cox at a stipulated salary of two hundred dollars a year. On the eleventh of June, 1848, "a neat and substantial church building," having been completed, was dedicated by Bishop McCaskry. In April, 1855, the Rev. George Willard was called from Coldwater to the rectorship of the church in Battle Creek, at a salary of six hundred dollars. A more complete history of this parish is found elsewhere. On the roll of its membership in the years gone by are, among many others, the names of Samuel W. MeCamley, W. M. Campbell, John Stewart, E. L. Stillson, W. M. Campbell, C. S. Gray, J. F. Hinman, C. S. Merrell, Victory P. Collier, and C. F. Bock. The church now has a fine property on Maple street, originally built in 1876 at a cost of twenty five thousand dollars.
The Adventists began to hold services in 1854 in a small frame house sixteen by twenty-four in size. They now have, on Cass street ad- jacent to MeCamley park, in the western part of the city not only the largest auditorium in the city but one of the largest in seating capacity of any house of worship in the state.
The Catholic church was organized in 1860. For a time the members worshipped in a little church built and first occupied by the Society of Friends. The Catholics have now one of the finest church properties and strongest parishes in the city.
The above named are the oldest in point of settlement and among the most prominent in the city. These with others are treated more at length in another chapter.
Battle Creek has her full quota of secret, fraternal, literary and social societies and clubs. These are elsewhere set forth.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS
Nothing has contributed so much to the rapid increase in popula- tion, to the accumulated wealth and the general prosperity of the city as the manufacturing industries. Many of those operating in the ear- lier years have ceased to exist but these interests, as a whole, have never
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been of such magnitude as now. It so happens that the oldest of these is the most important. It is now sixty-four years since the Nichols and Shepard Vibrator Threshing Machine plant began to do business on west Canal street. It was in 1869 that it built the plant it now occu- pies at the junction of the Michigan Central and Grand Trunk Railroads. The Advance is another very important concern that manufactures along the same line. This plant was recently purchased by the M. Rumley Company, of LaPorte, Indiana. It will continue to be operated in this city by its new owners, who have already increased its produc- tive capacity. The Duplex Printing Press plant, at the head of which is 1. L. Stone, is an exceedingly important industry. Its output is sold not only in all the large cities of the United States but in those of every country not only in Europe but in the Far East.
GOOTS & SMDES CROCHE AT
JEFFERSON AVENUE, NORTHI, IN 1866
The American and the Union Steam Pump Companies and the II. B. Sherman Manufacturing Company are among the solid concerns of the city. Each company has a large domestic, besides a very considerable export trade.
The prepared food industry which at one time seized not only Battle Creek but the country for miles around with a sort of craze, during which many plants were built and most of them started, much money invested and the most of which was lost, has settled down to a staple business which is carried on by a very limited number of con- cerns of this class. The success of Mr. C. W. Post, the acknowledged head of the Prepared Food industry, has been phenomenal and has made Battle Creek, Michigan, known in every hamlet in the land. The Toasted Corn Flake Company, at the head of which is Wm. K. Kellogg, is another concern of this class which is doing a large business and seems to be on a soldid foundation. These are some of the more important
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A. LECI ELE LEC
BATTLE CREEK SANITARIUM
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of the present day industries of Battle Creek, but there are many others in a prosperous condition and well deserving of mention. Unitedly they have made Battle Creek one of the most widely known eities of its size in the country. Among the present day captains of industry in Battle Creek may be mentioned Edwin C. Nichols, William H. Mason, Irving L. Stone, Edward C. Hinman, Charles W. Post, C. E. Kolb, William K. Kellogg, Howard B. Sherman and L. B. Anderson. These men have each and all done much to place Battle Creek in the front rank of the manufacturing cities of Michigan.
But the one institution that has given Battle Creek its widest fame, that brings more people within the gates of the city and from a more extended area and sends them away grateful that they came, is the
BATTLE CREEK SANITARIUM
Its inception, development and growth are covered by the time of one life and that life we trust not yet far spent. The Sanitarium is largely the product of the genius of John II. Kellogg, though he has now and has had in the past the help of many able assistants building up and carrying forward the work of the institution. It nevertheless remains, that to Dr. Kellogg more than to any other one man does the city of Battle Creek owe the fact that it has the largest single health giving plant in our own or any other country ; that its head is an author of wide repute and a surgeon of international reputation. The Battle Creek of the future will think of John H. Kellogg, M. D., as one of the great men of his time, one of the benefactors of his race.
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