History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 79

Author: Edwin Orin Wood
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Federal publishingcompany
Number of Pages: 861

USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 79

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).

Following the Rev. McEldowney were A. F. Bourns, W. H. Peace, James Venning and I. N. Elwood. In 1888 a splendid new edifice was built to make room for the large congregation, and in 1889 it stood completed and was dedicated by Bishop Thomas Bowman. Again, in 1892, a fire broke out from accidental causes and the beautiful new church was burned to the ground. Afflicted, but not cast down, the society again devoted itself to the task con- fronting it, till another edifice was erected, the same in which they now wor- ship and which was dedicated in 1894. From the first appointment in 1834 until the present time the pastors of the Court Street Methodist church have been earnest, hard-working men, having at heart the interests of their congre- gation. The present incumbent, the Rev. Howard Field, is no exception, and under his pastorate the membership has reached the one thousand four hun- dred mark.

From the first appointment in 1834 up to the present year of 1916 the pastors who have served the Court Street church have been, Bradford Frazee, W. H. Borckway, O. F. North, L. D. Whitney, Larmon Chatfield, Ebenezer Steel, F. B. Bangs, William Mothersill, Harrison Morgan, David Burns, M. B. Camburn, B. S. Tayler, William Mahon, J. M. Arnold, George Taylor, J. A. Baughman, W. H. Perrine, W. E. Bigelow, Luther Lee, T. C. Gardner, J. F. Davidson, John McEldowney, W. H. Pearce, James Venning, I. N. Elwood, J. P. Pryor, N. G. Lyons, Henry E. Wolfe, G. W. Grimes, C. E. Allen, A. Raymond Johns, Ralph Cushman and Howard A. Field.

GARLAND STREET METHODIST CHURCH.

At the time of the burning of the Court Street church in 1861, some of the members of the society held the opinion that a more central location should be chosen for the new church. This, however, being thought unwise, the situation resolved itself into the forming of a new society on Garland street, on the opposite side of the river. By means of transfer from the old church, their membership soon amounted to eighty. The first pastor was the Rev. Isaac Crawford, under whose direction the new house of worship was erected and finished before the close of 1861, the lots on which the church was built being generously donated by Chauncey L. Payne and Charles P. Avery. In 1878 the Rev. T. J. Joslin was appointed pastor, the same min- ister by whose untiring work the Court Street society had been able to rebuild

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after the fire of 1861. The Garland Street church in the one year of Mr. Joslin's pastorate brought its membership up to nearly three hundred. The first church building had been improved from year to year, until in 1888 it was decided to erect a spacious brick edifice on the same site. By a curious parallel the corner stone was laid on the same day as that of the third Court Street church. The degree of success realized by the Garland Street church is seen in the fact that during the years from 1888 to 1916 the membership has steadily increased, until at this time, under the pastorate of the Rev. G. W. Olmstead, it numbers twelve hundred.

The pastors who have served the Garland Street church since its organ- ization in 1861 to the year of 1916 are: Orrin Whitman, W. O. Burnett, G. W. Lowe, E. R. Hascall, William Fox, Isaac Crawford, Jacob Horton, A. F. Bowns, H. S. White, W. W. Washburn, G. H. Whitney, E. E. Caster, T. J. Joslin, E. W. Frazer, G. W. Jennings, G. N. Kennedy, G. H. Whitney, E. D. Dimond, W. H. Rider, G. W. Olmstead.

OAK PARK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Oak Park Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1909, the first services being held in a tent erected for the purpose at the corner of Newall and North Saginaw streets. Within six months the site was pur- chased and the chapel adjoining the present edifice was built under the direc- tion of the Rev. Frank Field, the first pastor. Two years later the base- ment of the church was built and the services, with the Rev. Frank Miner as pastor, were held here until 1915, when the church edifice was erected, the entire cost being seventy thousand dollars. The new church which was dedicated in 1916, is one of the handsome churches of Flint, with a most approved system of lighting, and has also installed an acousticon, or tele- phone system, for the aid of the deaf.

Under the pastorate of the Rev. Horace Mallinson, who has been in charge for the past three years, the membership has reached the six hundred mark, and the Sunday school rolls include four hundred names.

KEARSLEY STREET METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Kearsley Street Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1909, through the efforts of the Rev. P. B. Hoyt, who is now the pastor of the Lake View Methodist Episcopal church. The church building, at the corner of East Kearsley and Forest streets, was formerly an old mission church which was erected a number of years ago, but has been arranged to suit the

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needs of a growing congregation. Mr. Hoyt remained as pastor for six years, or until 1915, when the Rev. Mr. Duddeon took charge. At the recent conference held in 1916 the church was admitted to the Flint Ministerial Association and the Rev. C. W. Hill appointed as pastor. It has a mem- bership of one hundred, a Sunday school of two hundred, and flourishing societies of both the Junior and Epworth leagues.

RIVERSIDE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Riverside Methodist Episcopal church was also organized in 1909, through the efforts of the same Rev. P. B. Hoyt who was influential in effecting the organization of the Kearsley Street church. This church is located on Lewis boulevard in the suburb of Homedale, and was also under the charge of Mr. Hoyt until 1915, when Mr. Duddeon took charge of the pastorate in connection with his work at the Kearsley Street church. In 1916 this organization was also admitted to the Flint Ministerial Association and the Rev. George Tripp was appointed pastor. It has a membership of one hundred, with a Sunday school attendance of two hundred.

LAKE VIEW METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Lake View Methodist Episcopal church was first started in 19II as a Sunday school in Elm Park, a southern suburb of Flint, the classes being held in a house at the corner of Pingree and Ferris avenues. During that year twenty persons effected an informal organization and the Rev. J. B. Goss officiated as pastor. The society was permanently organized in 1912, by the Rev. Harrison Karr, and a building was erected for church purposes on Ferris avenue. The Rev. G. W. Wright then took charge of the pastorate for two years, followed by the Rev. George Loomas for one year. In 1916 the Rev. P. B. Hoyt was appointed pastor, and under his leadership the society has purchased the property at the corner of Fifteenth and South Saginaw streets and will eventually erect a church edifice. The present membership is eighty-four, and the membership of the Sunday school is two hundred and fifty-one. The Epworth league and the Junior league also have an increasing membership.

AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH.

The African Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1875, at the home of Mrs. Nancy West, by a few members of one of the Sunday school

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classes in the Garland Street church, and was under the supervision of the Rev. John Furgeson. It was part of a circuit of which Saginaw was the head. A church building was shortly erected in 1876, called the Quinn Chapel church, and cost the members many years of energy and struggle. Among the pastors who have been in charge were John Furgeson, C. W. E. Gilmore, G. W. Brown, J. S. Masterson, S. Simons, Benjamin Roberts, J. S. Hill, D. A. Graham, W. H. Simpson and others. Their present membership numbers about one hundred under the Rev. William Morley, pastor.

FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

The society of the Free Methodist church was organized in 1880. Their church building, which was a part of the old Presbyterian church, was pur- chased and moved to its present site on Oak street in 1885. The following have served as pastors: A. V. Leonardson, W. N. Pittinger, W. S. Haight, E. D. Hartley, E. Steere, W. Cuthbert, E. W. Harding, A. S. Andrews, J. M. Greene, W. W. Hoyt, H. Montgomery, the Rev. Mr. Jackson and the Rev. Mr. Warren. The society at present, under the present pastor, the Rev. Mr. Porterfield, numbers seventy-three members and one hundred and seventy-five scholars in the Sunday school.

SECOND FREE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Second Free Methodist church was organized about the year 1908 and the Rev. F. J. Calkins appointed pastor. In eight years the membership has increased to one hundred ten, the present minister being the Rev. Mr. McCarty.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

The Methodist Protestant church is one of the youngest church organ- izations in the city, being organized in 1900. Its building was dedicated, March 18, 1901, on the corner of North Saginaw and Elizabeth streets. From a small beginning, its membership has increased to over two hundred. Its pastors have been W. H. Cole, M. J. Weaver and the Rev. Mr. Hescott. In 1916 the Rev. W. H. Cole was recalled to a second pastorate.

EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

The society of the Fourth Ward Evangelical church dates its beginning to the year 1864, when it was detached from the Owosso mission and con-

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stituted a mission by itself. During the first few years it was part of a cir- cuit of six towns. In 1868 they began the building of a brick church in the fourth ward, which they dedicated in March, 1869, and which they have much improved recently. For many years their society enjoyed great pros- perity, but there came a time, as seems to be the case with almost all German congregations in this country, when the language problem became a serious question. The children of German families, growing up with American children, learned our language and soon wished their church services con- ducted in English. So this was agitated for some years, till in 1897 they resolved to change all their public services from the German to the Eng- lish language and since then the society has increased in growth. The mem- bership in 1916, under the Rev. C. B. Stroh, numbers two hundred fifty, with an increasing Sunday school and a large Young People's Alliance.

KEARSLEY PARK EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

The Kearsley Park Evangelical church, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Kirn, organized in 1916, is doing a wonderfully flourishing work, and even in a few months has gained a membership of eighty-five, with a Sun- day school of three hundred. The influence of such a church in the out- lying districts of Flint can hardly be estimated and does credit to the pastor in charge.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The first settlers of Flint found church organizations on either side of them, and on the Sabbath day they could elect to go to meeting either to Genesee, four miles to the north, or to Grand Blanc, six miles to the south, so, there being no Congregational society in Flint River, on May 7, 1837, seventeen persons of that faith met at the "River House," the home of Lewis Buckingham, and organized the Congregational Association.

However, there was no Congregational Association in this region, so this society, in 1840, submitted its articles of faith to the presbytery of Detroit and was taken under the care of that body. Afterward we find it appealing to this presbytery in cases of discipline and submitting to its gov- ernment. The first communion was held in a barn standing near the east corner of the square west of Saginaw and north of Kearsley streets.

The Rev. Orson Parker supplied the pulpit a part of the first year, being succeeded by the Rev. John Beach. In 1845 the Rev. J. G. Atter- bury was ordained and installed as the first regular pastor. Not long after

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Mr. Atterbury began his ministry, the church entered upon the work of erect- ing a house of worship and in 1848 an edifice was dedicated, being a large white wooden building, of the old-fashioned type, on the corner of Saginaw and Second streets. One of the organizers of this church society, Wait Beach, a son of Jonathan Beach, who had participated in the scenes of the Revolutionary War, gave the land for this, the first house of worship of the Presbyterian church; he also gave the land for the Methodist church and parsonage on Court street; also land for the first cemetery and the land for the court house.

One of the early pastors of this church was the Rev. H. H. Northrup, who served as pastor from 1852 until 1867 and afterward spent the remainder of his long life in Flint. During the ministry of the Rev. Archibald McSween, who assumed the pastorate of the church in 1868, the land on Grand Traverse street, now the site of the Presbyterian manse, was pur- chased and fitted up at a cost of about four thousand dollars.

In 1876 the Rev. George P. Tindall accepted a call to the pastorate and labored for five years, during which time eighty-five new members were received. Mr. Tindall then retired from the service. In 1885, the old church being inadequate for the needs of the congregation, it was voted to erect an imposing stone structure two blocks to the south on Saginaw street. This undertaking was accomplished under the direction of the pastor, Rev. Henry Melville Curtis, who, during his pastorate in Flint, became very influential in the affairs of the church. Rev. Mr. Curtis closed his pastorate in 1890 and was followed by the Rev. George F. Hunting, D. D., who remained from 1891 until 1895; the Rev. Henry Neill, who was pastor from 1895 to 1899, and the Rev. J. G. Inglis, who occupied the pulpit from 1899 to 1891.

Mr. Inglis was followed by the Rev. Charles A. Lippincott, D. D., who remained for twelve years, from 1901 to 1913. Under the pastorate of Doctor Lippincott, a man whose ability was recognized and valued both in his parish and in the business and civic circles of the community, the work of the church was rapidly extended and the membership greatly increased. Doctor Lippincott resigned to take charge of a pastorate in South Bend, Indiana, and the present pastor is Rev. H. D. Borley, under whose leader- ship the church rolls now contain seven hundred names and the benevolent societies carry on a large and beneficent work.

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PARKLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The Parkland Presbyterian church society has nearly completed its first church building, under the pastorate of the Rev. Howard J. Clifford, a one- time leader of the Salvation Army. It is a sightly edifice of brick and stone, following the lines of old English architecture, with a seating capacity of nearly five hundred. The needs of institutional work are well looked out for in the system of club rooms, shower baths, kitchen, etc., and there is a primary room for two hundred children. The entire work has been carried on without debt. .

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

As early as the year 1837 an attempt was made to secure the permanent organization of a Baptist church in Flint. Several efforts having failed, finally a society was effected, which was begun under the direction of the Rev. Alfred Handy, missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society.

The first meetings of the society were held in a room over the jail, in the court house, but within a few years a church building was erected and on December 12, 1855, was dedicated the first house of worship of the First Baptist church of Flint. In 1868 it was enlarged and re-dedicated. The first seven years of endeavor were full of trials and discouragements, but from 1869 to 1874 it enjoyed a high degree of prosperity. In common with all churches, its financial support suffered for some years from the great panic of 1873.

The first church, a frame building, was built after a hard struggle and was afterwards enlarged. This building served its purpose until, in 1890, their numbers and ability had increased so they were enabled to erect the beautiful and commodious structure that stands at the corner of Second and Beach streets, a credit to themselves and the city.

During the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Lapp, 1905-10, a branch Sunday school was established in the northern part of the city, which, owing to the rapid growth of that section, soon developed into an independent organ- ization known as the North Baptist church. This church now has a mem- bership of four hundred and twenty-five and a property valued at from forty to sixty thousand dollars, and its pastor is Rev. George M. Vercoe.

At the present time the First and North churches are co-operating in a (47)

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Hungarian mission work in the neighborhood of Center street and Indus- trial avenue. The First church is also interested with another down-town church in promoting mission schools in that rapidly-growing section of the city known as the fifth ward.

The First church owns a parsonage, which is splendidly located about four blocks from the house of worship, and some vacant lots which are being held for use as the city grows. The church membership, under the present pastor, Rev. G. C. Crippen, numbers eight hundred.

The following is a list of pastors of the Baptist church during the years of its history : Alfred Handy, A. K. Tupper, J. S. Goodman, J. S. Boyden, Charles Johnson, S. Cornelius, S. W. Titus, James Cooper, C. J. Thompson, W. L. Farnum, L. D. Temple, W. I .. Farnum, W. W. Hicks, E. R. Curry, C. E. Lapp, J. M. T. Childrey and G. C. Crippen.

COLORED BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Colored Baptist church conducts its work under the leadership of the Rev. Mr. Dunzy, with a membership of about sixty. It has a fine church edifice with rooms for social service.

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Sometime previous to 1855 St. Michael's Roman Catholic church had been completed and occupied its first building in Flint. In 1856 Rev. C. L. Deceunick began a pastorate which extended over fifteen years. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Flanigan, who remained two years. Rev. James Gillespie was installed as pastor in 1873. He organized a school and had as instructors a principal and two assistant teachers and an average attend- ance of two hundred pupils during the regular term of ten months. A sub- stantial school building of brick was meanwhile erected, at a cost of seven thousand dollars, with rooms in which the various societies of the church held their meetings. The next pastor was Rev. Robert W. Haire, who was installed on August 1, 1875. His administration was successful, his energies being mainly directed to the maintenance of the parochial school, to which he gave much of his time and attention. In 1879 it numbered about three hundred pupils, who were instructed by an efficient corps of teachers. The primary department was under the supervision of Sister Catherine, assisted by three religieuses, all of the order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, from Monroe, Michigan. Father Haire went to Dakota in 1881 and Father T. J.

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Murphy was called from Grand Haven, Michigan, to the parish in charge of St. Michael's church. On entering upon his work, he found himself with- out a residence to live in, with a church building falling over his head and everywhere evidences of decay. Under Father Murphy's administration a new parochial residence has been erected; the present large and handsome brick and stone church has been built, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars; a fine hall just north of the church has been built, at a cost of fourteen thou- sand dollars, to which his congregation and friends have access at all times. It is named the "Father Murphy Hall" and is capable of seating about six hundred persons. As an evidence of Father Murphy's popularity and of the good feeling existing toward him and his society, more than two-thirds of the cost of the hall was donated by non-Catholics of all creeds. The parish school has about two hundred and thirty pupils, taught by the Sisters, and about one thousand persons attend the two masses said in the church each Sunday. Father Murphy is beloved by every one, his charity and gen- erous nature making him easily one of the most popular and public spirited men in Flint.

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

St. Matthew's parish includes all the territory south and east of Flint river, and has had only one priest since its founding in October, 1911, the Rev. Father Michael J. Comerford. Father Comerford is a Michigan man, educated at the Jesuit College in Detroit and well known for his fine scholar- ship and broad spirit. The first services of this parish were held in the Davison block, and that same year a tract of land was bought on the east side of Beach street, between Second and Third streets. The new school (mentioned elsewhere) was opened in 1914 in a fine, modern brick building, of which the first floor is used for church services, pending the erection of a church of which the plans are already completed. Owing to the large number of communicants, four masses are said each Sunday. During the illness of Father Comerford, Father Van Antwerp is fulfilling the duties of assistant priest.

ALL SAINTS' CHURCH.

Under the leadership of Rev. Father John B. Hewelt, the parish of All Saints' church has been doing a great work, the church and school house, side by side, ministering to the needs of about five thousand five hundred souls. A goodly proportion of the foreign population of Flint here receive

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spiritual counsel. The active work of All Saints' church has checked and reduced to a minimum the growth of Socialism in Flint, and foreign agitators of the Industrial Workers of the World coming to urge strikes among the factory workers have been every time thwarted in their plans by the vigilance of the church. Through the efforts of Father Hewelt, two dramatic clubs have been organized, one English, the other in foreign languages; clothing and groceries are distributed among the poorer districts; every Sunday, from four to ten p. m. the parish house is open to hear and adjust cases of dis- agreement among parishioners, avoiding, if possible, the courts of law, and the good foreign population of Flint is constantly being instructed in and helped to understand and obey the laws of the country, state, county and municipality in which they live.

ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

St. Paul's Episcopal church is among the most active churches of cen- tral Michigan and its organization was the result of a visit in 1839, of the Rev. Daniel E. Brown, missionary to the Indians, who visited Flint River on a prospecting trip. Nineteen of the early residents of the county asso- ciated themselves together for the purpose of starting a church society, and on Christmas day of that year the holy communion was celebrated for the first time in Genesee county by an Episcopalian clergyman.

Notice of the organization was communicated to the bishop and in 1840 the same Daniel E. Brown became the first rector of St. Paul's church. A temporary building had been fitted up for the use of the members, built of rough boards and logs and generally referred to as "The Tabernacle." In 1842, however, a small amount having been raised by subscription among the Episcopalians throughout the county, a building was erected on the site of what is now the Orpheum theatre in Flint. 'This was known as the "Old Church," a building "thirty-four feet broad and forty-eight feet long," and in 1843 was consecrated as "St. Paul's church" by the bishop. During this year the parish purchased a bell, which is still in use, and at a meeting of the vestry in that year it was "Resolved, that the sexton be instructed to ring the bell on Sundays for the benefit of the Presbyterian society (who have no bell) if they request it, when the Episcopal society has no service."

In 1846, the Rev. Mr. Brown having resigned, the Rev. Charles Reigh- ley took charge of the parish, followed by the Rev. George Swan. Later a call was extended to the Rev. Mr. Birchmore, a scholarly and refined gentle- man, who became the rector on Easter day, 1860. Mr. Birchmore's activity

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resulted in repairs to the church and the purchase of a very handsome font, which is still in use. An organ built by the rector at a cost of nine hundred and twenty-five dollars, was also installed and the gallery enlarged. The resignation of Mr. Birchmore was accepted after nearly ten years of service, and in 1869 the Rev. Marcus Lane became rector.

At this time the building of a new church became a recognized neces- sity, and the winter was spent in hauling stone from the quarries of John Sutton, near Flushing, Mr. Sutton having liberally donated the same pro- vided the parish would "get it out." It required nearly four hundred cords of stone to construct the church, which was erected on the Beecher property at the corner of Saginaw and Third streets. Built in pure English Gothic style, St. Paul's church stands as a monument to the churchmanship and ability of Marcus Lane. A window of great beauty has recently been placed in the south wall of the church as a special memorial to him.

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History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 79

Author: Edwin Orin Wood Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Federal publishingcompany Number of Pages: 861

Author: Edwin Orin Wood
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Federal publishingcompany
Number of Pages: 861