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 46
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NICHOLS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND THE CHARITABLE UNION
The above named institutions are so intimately associated with each other that no complete history of either could be given without in- eluding both.
It was during the month of January, 1887, a committee of women of Battle Creek arranged for a charity ball, the proceeds to be used in the work of assisting the sick and unfortunate of the eity and its vi- cinity. This first venture netted $232.75, and to provide for the expen- diture of the money judiciously and systematically, an invitation was extended to the various ehurehes and benevolent organizations of the city to meet with them to consider the advisability of forming a per- manent organization of Associated Charities. After much consideration, it was decided that the membership should consist of two delegates from each church and from each fraternal society desiring representation.
The name determined upon was The Charitable Union of Battle Creek, Michigan, and its first officers were: Mrs. Caroline Kingman, president ; Mrs. Love, vice-president ; Mrs. J. Larkin, secretary; Mrs. Martha Pugsley, treasurer. A set of by-laws for governing The Chari- table Union was adopted by the first board of trustees numbering twenty women. Soon the necessity of a place where the sick eould be fully cared for became evident and definite action to this end was taken in January 1889, when an executive committee consisting of Mrs. Helen Nichols Caldwell, Mrs. M. B. Parker, Mrs. Fannie Alvord, Mrs. Abbie R. Flagg,
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and Mrs. Almon Preston were elected and instructed to take the pre- liminary steps towards seenring a proper location for a hospital and to make a selection of a matron and other help for the institution.
The Chadwick house on College street was secured at a rental of $12.00 per month and the name Union Home adopted. Mrs. Eva Cobb was installed as matron and Mrs. Julia Griggs as nurse. A call was made through the daily papers for room furnishings, which met with prompt response, and the Union Home under the control and direction of The Charitable Union opened on Feb. 4, 1889. Within six months, this building was filled to overflowing and the commodious residence of
NICHOLS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Walter Clark on West Van Buren street was leased at $25.00 per month. This soon became inadequate and the need of a permanent and com- modious building and grounds was very urgent.
Many meetings of the executive committee were held to discuss the needs and possibilities and several locations were visited. At a meeting held at the residence of Mrs. Kingman, the president of the associa- tion, Mrs. Helen Nichols Caldwell, told of her desire to have her father, Mr. John Nichols, found a memorial hospital in memory of her daugh- ter, Fannie Caldwell Abel, and she said that after thinking it over, she had sent for her father and told him what was so near her heart and that he listened for a moment in silence and then with tears in his eyes said, "Of course I will do that. I would rather do it than any- thing I can now think of. I only wonder I never thought of it before
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myself." This was the starting of the Nichols Memorial Hospital, and later when it was suggested that other contributions be re- ceived for the purchase of a heating plant, Mr. Nichols informed the association that he wished to do it all himself and to pay all the bills saying, "All I ask of the people is to take care of it after it is finished." The place selected and purchased by him for the hospital was what was then known as the L. II. Stewart property, corner of West Van Buren and Tompkins streets and fronting on West Main street. The hospital buildings were built during the summer and formally dedi- cated September 17, 1890. The property was placed in the hands of The Charitable Union for its free use and management so long as they should support it properly and do the charitable work. A year or so later Mrs. Nancy C. Nichols and her daughter, Mrs. Helen Nichols Caldwell, made a large addition to the hospital building, providing twenty-four more rooms. On the first of February, 1901, Mr. Edwin C. Nichols and his sister, Mrs. Helen Nichols Caldwell, made the formal deed of conveyance of all the hospital property to The Charitable Union of Battle Creek (a corporation existing under the laws of the state of Michigan) thus vesting the entire fee and title in The Charita- ble Union, but subject to the provision that the institution should always be known as the Nichols Memorial Hospital and used only as a publie and charitable hospital for necessary and proper medical pur- poses for the care of the siek and afflicted, and that whenever from any cause said property should cease to perform and to carry on said work, then the conveyanee to be void and the property to revert to the grant- ors, their heirs or assigns.
This gave The Charitable Union a permanent and commodious hospital building and grounds and Mr. Nichols and his sister, Mrs. Caldwell, have since continued to give it generous financial support. The various organizations and many citizens have also contributed well to the maintenance of the hospital, and the city of Battle Creek ap- propriates a small sum each year towards it.
The hospital contains sixty rooms exclusive of halls, toilet rooms and closets, and with two large, pleasant verandas. There are forty-five beds for patients; fourteen rooms for nurses and help; three operating and auxiliary rooms; one treatment room; one laboratory, together with suitable office, reception, dining, kitchen, lanndry and store rooms. Two graduate nurses and twenty pupil nurses are employed besides the necessary house help. The family averages seventy-five in number and the patients cared for the past year numbered seven hundred and fifty-one.
The Nichols Memorial Training School of Nurses was organized during the year 1899, the medical staff consisting of prominent local physicians and surgeons who give their time and talent in lectures and instructions to the classes and have greatly assisted in the regular school work. The nurse's course is a three year one and graduates of this school are received and aceepted by the State Medieal Association equally with any or all of the other hospitals in the state.
The Charitable Union is organized primarily to administer the affairs of the Nichols Memorial Hospital or such other hospitals as it
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may or shall control, by receiving and caring for therein both medically and surgically such sick and deserving persons, with or without com- pensation therefor and for such length of time and under such cir- cumstances as the board of trustees shall in their discretion determine.
Its secondary object is to dispense aid to the worthy poor of the city and vicinity in a way not to supersede the poor officers of the county or of any benevolent society, but to co-operate therewith in all such work.
Its membership is composed entirely of women, viz .: Two from each church and two from each fraternal society desiring representation.
At is annual meeting eleven trustees are selected, from which num- ber the officers for the ensuing year are chosen. The present board of trustees are : Mrs. Abbie R. Flagg, president; Mrs. Mary Anderson, first vice-president; Mrs. Lillie Ranger, second vice-president; Mrs. Lottie B. Whipple, recording secretary; Mrs. Angie Keet, financial secretary ; Mrs. Martha Webb, treasurer general fund; Mrs. Ida Wat- tles, treasurer relief fund; Mrs. Mary Bell; Mrs. Leila Penner; Mrs. Emma J. Evans; Mrs. Phoebe Rogers; Miss Elizabeth Lee, superin- tendent ; Miss Elsie Russ, surgical nurse ; Miss Lulu N. Young, office clerk.
No member of The Charitable Union receives any pay or remunera- tion whatever for work or services. They labor loyally and heartily for the good of humanity and are justly proud of their past record and duly hopeful for the future. From the small beginning of a few years ago they have wrought out a great and beneficent institution carrying its message of love, charity and Christian helpfulness into the hearts and homes of hundreds and thousands of suffering and afflicted people. But the need for still greater room and increased and improved hospital facilities is most urgent and the ways and means are now being con- sidered for making these additions and improvements and greatly enlarging the work and extending the blessings of this truly Christian charitable hospital.
The excellent work done and the beautiful spirit shown by The Char- itable Union have received recognition on the part of many good people by way of bequests and endowments, of which the following are es- pecially mentioned : Mrs. Charlotte Stillson Rogers, bequest of $20,- 000.00; Mr. and Mrs. George Davis, bequest of $15,000.00; Mrs. Ange- line Phillips, bequest of $1,500.00; Mrs. Jane Wakelee, bequest of $500.00; Mrs. Alta Clark, bequest of $300.00.
The money realized through the above bequests is to be used for the enlargement of the hospital and for building a new Nurses' Home and the improvement where possible in the means and appliances for the extension and betterment of the work.
The people cannot but feel deeply grateful to those whose hearty support and generous contributions have helped to encourage and maintain this great institution. It is the hope and expectation of the trustees that as time goes on the capable administration of its affairs by the Charitable Union will be more and more appreciated and under- stood and will lead others to make similar bequests to the hospital fund.
The Nicholas Memorial Hospital is pre-eminently "of the people,
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for the people and by the people." Administered as it is by its corps of self-sacrificing and devoted women who give of their time and effort freely and without fee or reward, non-sectarian, but warmly sympathetic and deeply religious, not dependent upon nor controlled by local physi- cians and surgeons or by any medical school, they are free to adopt such modern ways and improved means as appeal to the conscience and judgment of its trustees. It opens its doors night and day to the vic- tims of disease, the injured, the sick and suffering, without distinction of class or color and equally to the rich, the poor, the high and the lowly, freely and lovingly to each and to all.
CHAPTER XXII
BATTLE CREEK CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-ST. THOM- AS CHURCH-FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH-MAPLE STREET M. E. CHURCH-UPTON AVENUE M. E. CHURCH-THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST TABERNACLE-INDEPENDENT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH- FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST-IMMANUEL APOSTOLIC HOLI- NESS CHURCH-GERMAN EVANGELICAL ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-LITERARY AND SECRET SOCIETIES OF BATTLE CREEK (BY W. R. WOODEN )-THE WOMAN'S LEAGUE-YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (BY WIL- LIAM S. POTTER)-WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION (BY MRS. W. S. KEET, CALHOUN).
Battle Creek has an unusual number of well-supported churches and societies for a place of its size, as will be seen by the following sketches.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
By W. S. Potter
The First Presbyterian church of Battle Creek was organized May 27, 1883, by eighty-nine persons, the majority of whom had withdrawn for doctrinal reasons from what was then known as the Congregational- Presbyterian church of this city. The congregation worshipped in vari- ous halls and in the old Dutch Reformed church building for about two years until the present lot was bought and a commodious chapel erected. For about a year and a half the pulpit was supplied by various ministers, especially by Professors Loba and Daniels of the faculty of Olivet college. In the latter part of the year 1884, the Rev. George F. Chipperfield was called as the first pastor, who remained four years. In November, 1888, the Rev. William S. Potter succeeded Mr. Chipperfield and continued as pastor for nearly twenty-three years, when on August 1, 1911, he re- signed to take a vacation from his church labors, but maintaining his residence in the city. When he took charge of the church in 1888, there were about one hundred and seventy-five members and when he resigned there were seven hundred. A new church building was erected during his pastorate, the dedication taking place in February, 1896. The his- tory of this church has been especially marked by a firm, yet broad and
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charitable, adherence to sound evengelical doctrine; by the unity and loyalty of its people; by catholicity of spirit and ready co-operation with other churches and christians; by constant participation in move- ments for reform and civic betterment ; by the prompt discharge of all its financial obligations; and in general by a high and marked moral in- fluence on the community. The growth of the church in membership, in influence, and in usefulness is worthy of special remark.
Upon the resignation of Mr. Potter the church was fortunate in se- euring a suecessor, after in interval of only three months, in the person of the Rev. J. F. Horton, district secretary of the American Bible Society, for Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, who already gives deeided promise of continuing and carrying forward successfully the work previously ac- complished.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
The early records were lost. In 1875 the clerk, C. G. Conklin found to of the nineteen charter members of the church and learned the follow- ing items from them: The church was organized in April, 1835, in a log schoolhouse over the race, the first and only one in town at that time. Robert Adams was minister for ten years after it was organized till his death. The town was then called Milton. Changed to Battle Creek in 1843. In 1844, a house of worship was begun. In 1848, it was enclosed and the basement finished for worship. At that time there were forty scholars in the Sunday-school and eight teachers and they were favored with the labors of a pastor one-half of the time. Wm. Carter was elerk for ten years or more. As delegates to the various associations in the early days we read the names of Wm. Betterly, E. MeGowen, and Rev. John Harris, who labored in the association without interruption for twenty years. He was a faithful helper in educational work especially in Kalamazoo college. It has been said that he and Judge Eldred, Hon. Nelson Eldred's father, walked to Kalamazoo to attend committee and board meetings many times. In 1850, the first meeting house was com- pleted and during that year one hundred members united with the church. In 1852, there was a Sunday school of one hundred members. In 1864, there was talk of enlarging the house of worship. . In 1866, there were sixty-seven additions to the church. In 1867, a movement to raise funds for a new meeting-house was started. In 1871, the old church was torn down to give place to the present edifice. Nineteen pastors have served the church since its organization, and many men prominent in the community have been associated in its work. The names of R. S. Poole, Alexander Wattles, Harmon Bradley, William and George Betterly and Peter Hoffmaster are among the members of the church who did much for its upbuilding. Hon. Nelson Eldred and Charles Willard were members of the congregation who contributed much to the church in the way of wise council and liberal gifts. Mr. Willard presented the church with the substantial brick building adjoining the meeting house on the east as a memorial gift in memory of his daughter, Mrs. Laura Willard. The present membership of the church is seven hundred and twenty-three with about six hundred enrolled in the
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Sunday-school. The present pastor Rev. B. Frank Taber was settled in 1905. In 1911, a building was erected to the west of the house of worship mainly for the use of the men of the church, the Baraca class for men numbering one hundred and fifty. The church has a valuable property fronting on Main street, and is one of the most active religious bodies in the city.
ST. THOMAS CHURCH
We shall attempt, to touch, only, upon those incidents in the early history of St. Thomas church with which the present generation are unfamiliar.
Preaching and services according to the doctrine of the Episcopal church was held in this locality as early as 1839 by the Rev. F. H. Cun- nin, D. D., and public worship was later conducted by the Rev. Samuel Buel, who was entertained at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel W. MeCamly and Mrs. Barton, at that time the only Episcopalians in the village.
Again, in 1841, the Rev. Montgomery Schuyler visited the village and held services, which were largely attended by the townspeople, and much interest was manifested.
On April 21, 1842, the Rt. Rev. Samuel A. MeCoskry, Bishop of the Diocese, visited the place and administered confirmation to six persons. This gave an impetus to the work, and things were in such a hopeful state that it was deemed advisable to organize a parish. The work was in the hands of Rev. Mr. Schuyler, who saw his labors rewarded by the organi- zation of a parish on August 7, 1842, under the name and title of St. Thomas Church of Battle Creek, Michigan.
The following year a call was extended to the Rev. R. G. Cox. He ac- cepted the same, but remained for only a few months, being succeeded by the Rev. R. S. Adams on May 1, 1845. Mr. Adams remained for near- ly three years as Rector, during which time a neat and substantial church was erected and dedicated to the service of Almighty God.
This church was used, and from time to time improved, during a period of twenty-five years, until 1875, when it was torn down to give place for the present church building.
Among those who were prominent in carrying out the work, were the following : William Andrus, C. Wakelee, J. M. Ward, Edward Cox, M. D., C. F. Bock, Mrs. A. T. Havens and Mrs. J. S. Townsend.
The plan and design was by Mortimer S. Smith of Detroit, and the building was erected at a cost of about $20,000. At that time, and for many years afterwards, it was the most costly church edifice in this city, and now, after many years, it is universally admired for its solidity and splendid proportions.
The corner stone of the new church was laid by Bishop Gillespie, on Wednesday, June 14, 1876, with appropriate ceremonies. The address on the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Dr. McKurdy, of Niles. The con- secration of the church occurred on February 27, 1878, with very im- pressive ceremonies. The ceremony was by Bishop Gillespie, who preached an eloquent sermon on the occasion. A large crowd attended,
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and in addition to the laity, the following clergy were present : Bishop Gillespie, Rev. A. Bush and Rev. J. D. Webster, Detroit; Rev. G. E. Peters, Albion; Rev. H. J. Cook, Coldwater; Rev. H. B. Whittemore, Marshall; Rev. J. F. Conover, Kalamazoo; Rev. S. R. Beckwith, Grand Rapids; Rev W. Raymond and Rev. John T. McGrath, Rector.
The consecration service was at 10:30, followed by a sumptuous ban- quet at Centennial Hall in the afternoon, at which three hundred and fifty persons were present. There was a second service in the evening, with addresses by the visiting clergy, and altogether it was a day long to be remembered.
Memorial windows were placed in the new church, and with these were associated the names of: John K. Lothridge, Sylvester Reed, Na- thaniel Tapscott, John Stuart, James and Alice Townsend, Allan T. Havens. Among other gifts presented was a handsome lectern given by Mrs. A. T. Havens' Bible class.
The Rectors who have followed the Rev. R. S. Adams were :
Rev. H. Safford, who served the parish from June 14, 1849, to Feb- rnary 18, 1852. D. B. Lyon, from June 1, 1852, to April 1, 1855. George Willard, from April 15, 1855, to April 9, 1860. Augustns Bush, from September 23, 1860, to August, 1866. Charles Ritter, from October 1, 1866, to October 27, 1867. Josiah Phelps, from February 4, 1868, to February 17, 1871. George W. Wilson, from June 1, 1871, to March 15, 1872. I. E. Jackson, for a few months only, in 1874.
Each of them faithfully served the parish, and each one contributed his share to its upbuilding.
The parish was then vacant until the Rev. John T. McGrath came as Rector on December 17, 1877. His services were appreciated, and he labored with success until September 10, 1879, when he accepted an urgent call to a parish in Philadelphia. Rev. Dr. Corbett followed in March, 1880, and remained for four years, being succeeded in August, 1884, by Rev. W. W. Taylor. In 1887, Rev. A. P. Greenleaf became Rector, and was succeeded in 1892 by Rev. Preston Barr. After Mr. Barr's departure the parish remained without a Rector about nine months, although during that time occasional services were held as well as lay meetings and Sunday-school. At the close of 1893, a call was extended to the Rev. Lewis Brown, B. D., of St. Luke's, Cincinnati, and he entered on his duties as Rector on Ash Wednesday, February 7, 1894. His work was very successful.
The handsome and commodions Rectory was built in 1891, during the incumbency of Rev. A. P. Greenleaf. The parish hall, in the basement of the church, was built in 1902, with funds created by a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Jane Wakelee. Mrs. Wakelee's life was one of service to the church, and her work lives on in the spacious rooms provided by her thoughtfulness and love for St. Thomas church. The parish rooms were dedicated on October 28, 1902. The vestibule of the church was decorated and beantified with funds left by Mrs. A. T. Havens, Mrs. Havens left many things about the church that will stand as monuments to her memory as an earnest Christian woman.
The fiftieth anniversary of St. Thomas church was celebrated with
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ceremonies covering five days, from Wednesday, June 13, and ending Sunday, June 17, 1894. The Rt. Rev. George D. Gillespie, D. D., Bishop of Western Michigan, conducted the evening services Wednesday, preach- ed a sermon and confirmed. This service was followed by an informal reception at the home of Mrs. George Willard, by the Daughters of the King. Thursday, June 14, was taken up by carriage drives to Goguac Lake and about the city. At 8:00 in the evening, an historical meeting was held. Friday, June 15, a banquet was held at the Auditorium from 6:00 to 10:00 P. M., at which Dr. A. T. Metcalf acted as toastmaster. Saturday, June 16, there was an entertainment by the Sunday-school, and on Sunday, June 17, Rev. Lewis Brown, the Rector, delivered the baccalaureate sermon before the graduating class of the high school. This was followed by an evening service at 7:45, and installation of Daughters of the King.
The Rev. W. H. Osborn became Rector in 1900, and remained until October, 1905. He was succeeded by the Rev. Chester Wood, January I, 1906. Mr. Wood served the parish until June, 1909. The following Sep- tember the Rev. George Paull Torrence Sargent was called to be Rector.
Much might be written about the struggles through which this church has passed. A long list of noble, self-sacrificing pastors have labored here, with a company of zealous men and women, whose desire was al- ways for God's church and the truth.
There is a tender spot in the hearts of multitudes of men and women for St. Thomas church, because some event in their lives or in the lives of their dear ones takes its rise in this parish. Scores of memories sur- round our sanctuary and make it most sacred to us who enter into the labors of our forefathers.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
About the year 1833 a Methodist class was formed in Marshall, the only village in Calhoun county, and a little later twelve miles west at a settlement called Wanpakisco, now Battle Creek.
Rev. Asa Phelps, father of Silas Phelps of Emmett, preached the first sermon in Battle Creek in 1835 and organized the first class in connec- tion with the M. E. church, consisting of seven members: Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Clark, Addison Clark, Miss Altha Spink and himself. The class book containing these names and the ad- ditions made to them, was in the Phelps family for many years, and may now be in existence.
They met first in a log cabin, and then in a log school house, situated about where the little triangle is, at the intersection of Jackson and Madi- son streets. Later they bought the present city hall site, opposite the post office, and the present church site on the flat-iron between Main and Marshall streets. In the year 1859 the trustees built a fine brick church, with a graceful spire, upon this triangular lot, selling the former church and lot for a ridiculously small price. This served them splendid- ly for nearly fifty years.
On February 23, 1906, Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Robinson sent a proposi-
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tion to the quarterly conference, offering to give ten thousand dollars toward a new church to be built in 1907. This new church costing over sixty thousand dollars, was started during the pastorate of Rev. P. J. Maveety, D. D., and was dedieated on September 27, 1908, by Bishop Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Robinson celebrated the third anni- versary of the new church by giving their beautiful home to be used as a parsonage.
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