History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 80

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 80

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).

The Rev. William A. Seabrease was the next rector, coming from Min- eral Point, Wisconsin, in 1881. During his rectorship the vested choir was introduced and many changes made. Mr. Seabrease resigned in 1888 and the Rev. Ralph E. Macduff accepted the call to the parish, remaining for fifteen years, thus having the longest rectorship in the history of the parish. Mr. Macduff became very prominently identified with the life of the com- munity during his stay in Flint and accomplished much for his church and his city. He resigned in 1902 and went to Jackson, where he remained for a number of years, afterwards devoting himself entirely to literary work. His death occurred in Flint in 1916.

After the resignation of Mr. Macduff the church extended a call to the Rev. E. A. Penick, of Phoenix, Arizona, which he did not accept, although he ministered to the parish until the Rev. W. Dudley Powers, D. D., came in 1903. Doctor Powers remained for ten years, and during his stay the present rectory was built and a number of memorials to the church were received. Doctor Powers, a man of scholarly ability, resigned in 1913, and was followed by the present rector, Rev. John Bradford Pengelly.

Under the rectorship of Mr. Pengelly, St. Paul's church has enjoyed three years of the most active progressiveness. The chapel has been entirely remodeled, and the old rectory, directly adjoining the church, has been torn down to make way for a stone parish house to cost in the neighborhood of sixty thousand dollars. This parish house will include, besides club and reading rooms, a large auditorium for public meetings, the St. Paul's Men's Club having attained a membership of over three hundred men of all denom-

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inations. The different societies of the parish are in excellent condition, the membership being in 1916 about eleven hundred.

The following is a list of the rectors of St. Paul's church from 1840 to 1916: Daniel E. Brown, Charles Reighly, John J. Swan, J. W. Birch- more, Marcus Lane, A. W. Seabrease, R. E. Macduff, W. Dudley Powers, J. Bradford Pengelly.

CHRIST'S MISSION.

This Episcopalian parish was organized as a result of Christ's Mission Sunday school, started toward the close of the rectorship of the Rev. Ralph E. Macduff, of St. Paul's church, in 1902. The persons most directly inter- ested were Miss Helen Stone, who gave the use of a house for the services, Miss Elizabeth Durand and Stuart Hoyt. In addition to the Sunday school work, there was regular vesper service each week. In 1907 the Rev. Charles L. Ramsay was appointed priest and in 1910 the present church building was erected. The membership list now numbers two hundred, and the church, located in the newer section of Flint, has an ever-widening sphere of influ- ence. The present rector is Rev. C. E. Bishop.

THE ADVENT CHURCH.

In 1875 was organized in Flint a society of Seventh-Day Adventists, resulting from a series of tent meetings held in and near Flint, by Elders Lamson and Jones. The first society comprised forty-six members. In 1877 a church building, of Gothic style, was completed, with sittings for three hundred persons. The membership at present amounts to about one hundred.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The organization of the Congregational church of Flint dates from 1867. Its first membership was composed mainly of those who had been members of other churches of the same order elsewhere in the state, in the Western Reserve (of Ohio) or in the East. Many of these had connected themselves with the First Presbyterian church of Flint, of which the Rev. H. H. Northrup was then the able pastor; but their liberal theology was hardly in accord with the doctrine of the Presbyterians, so in the summer of 1867 they decided that it would be wise to form a Congregational church of the New England type.

After a few weeks' reflection and consultation, a meeting was held on

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the evening of September 18, 1867, at the home of William L. Smith, since then widely known throughout Michigan as one of its leading merchants. The Rev. Frank P. Woodbury, of Meriden, New Hampshire, was invited to preach the following Sunday at Awanaga hall, at which time a Sunday school was formed, with William L. Smith as superintendent. That week Mr. Woodbury was formally made pastor at a yearly salary of twelve hun- dred dollars. In 1868 a church site was secured at the southeast corner of Saginaw and Second streets. The building was begun in June and finished in November.

Among the donations received from outside sources was that of the Hon. Levi Walker, an elder in the Presbyterian church, who, on the even- ing before the dedication, unsolicited and in the dark, slipped a hundred- dollar bill into the hand of the chairman of the building committee and hastily left before the extent of his gift could be known.

Among those following the successful pastorate of Mr. Woodbury was the Rev. Edward Woolsey Bacon, of the celebrated Bacon family of Con- necticut and conspicuous for his rare gift of preaching. Many years later, his nephew, the Rev. Theodore D. Bacon, was also pastor of the same church and generally accepted in the State Congregational Association as one of its leading scholars. Upon leaving Flint he entered the Unitarian denomina- tion, since when he has been pastor of the Old North church of Salem, Massachusetts. The present pastor is Rev. R. C. Hufstader and the church membership two hundred and ninety-five.

Below are the pastors of the Congregational church who have served from 1867 to 1916: L. P. Woodbury, B. D. Conkling, E. W. Bacon, Rich- ard Cordley, F. S. Hayden, A. B. Allen, L. B. Platt, Henry Ketchum, A. J. Covell, W. H. Brodhead, H. L. Hoyt, J. G. Haigh, T. D. Bacon, Ernest Evans, R. C. Hufstader.

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.

First Church of Christ, Scientist, was organized in Flint in 1900. The services since the date of organization have been held in an auditorium of the Ward building, corner West Second and Saginaw streets, and a reading room adjoining has also been maintained. The church has enjoyed a steady, substantial growth in membership, and in November, 1915, purchased the property at the corner of Harrison and East Court streets, formerly the George W. Buckingham homestead, where a church edifice is being erected.

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THE SALVATION ARMY.

Flint first became acquainted with the Salvation Army about the year 1884, since which time this organization, with its stirring watchword of "Blood and Fire," has accomplished much toward the betterment of the com- munity. Beginning with a force weak in numbers, but strong in earnest- ness, they have always occupied a recognized place in the public esteem. The regular membership now, in 1916, numbers over three hundred, with a fol- lowing of four thousand five hundred. A prominent feature is their band of thirty-five pieces, which was sent by the city of Flint to the International Congress in London in 1914, where it won much praise.

"The Citadel," a fine building of brick and stone, was erected on Beach street, in the heart of Flint, mainly through the efforts of Capt. Howard J. Clifford, at that time of the Salvation Army, but now pastor of the Park- land Presbyterian church. While many citizens contributed toward the cita- del, yet the largest single subscription was twenty-five thousand dollars by W. C. Durant. Directly adjoining "The Citadel" is the home of Adjutant May, whose door is open day and night to the call of distress.

Churches belonging to Flint Ministerial Association, 1916: First Bap- tist church, Rev. G. C. Crippen, membership 800; North Baptist church, Rev. George M. Vercoe, membership 425; Central Christian church, Rev. J. O. Crawford, membership 286; Congregational church, Rev. Robert Cary Hufstader, membership, 295; St. Paul's Episcopal church, Rev. J. Bradford Pengelly, membership, 1,100; Christ's mission, Rev. C. E. Bishop, member- ship 200; Fourth Ward Evangelical church, Rev. C. B. Stroh, membership 250; Kearsley Park church, Rev. Frederick Kirn, membership 55; First Free Methodist church, Rev. Mr. Porterfield, membership 73; Second Free Meth- odist church, Rev. F. J. Calkins, membership IIO; Lutheran church, Rev. Theodore Andres, membership 200; Mennonite church, Rev. Mr. Cleine, membership 60; Court Street Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. Howard Field, membership 1,400; Garland Street Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. G. W. Olmstead, membership 1,200; Oak Park Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. E. H. Mallinson, membership 600; Kearsley Street Methodist Epis- copal church, Rev. C. W. Hill, membership 100; Riverside Methodist Epis- copal church, Rev. George Tripp, membership 100; Lake View Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. P. B. Hoyt, membership 84; Quinn African Meth- odist Episcopal church, Rev. John O. Morley, membership 150; Methodist Protestant church, Rev. J. H. Cole, membership 200; First Presbyterian

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church, Rev. H. D. Borley, membership 700; Parkland Presbyterian church, Rev. Howard J. Clifford, membership 200; Salvation Army, Adjutant May, membership 300.

Churches not in Ministerial Association: Apostolic Holiness church, 1900 Lyman street, Rev. G. E. Houghton; Homedale Baptist church, corner Jane and Iowa streets; Hungarian Baptist church, Central avenue and Boule- vard; Mt. Olive Baptist church, Pine street, Rev. Mr. Dungy; Webster Avenue Baptist church, North Saginaw street; Christian Science church, corner Harrison and Court streets; Latter-Day Saints; Reorganized Church of Latter-Day Saints, Newall street, Rev. R. A. Harder; Lutheran, Swedish, services in Y. M. C. A. building; Seventh-Day Adventists, Stockton street, Rev. R. E. Tefft.

The different villages throughout Genesee county were likewise vigilant in the early days in the establishing of houses of worship, and with great personal sacrifice they labored to lay the foundation of good society and good government.

The town of Fenton was identified with the organization of religious societies as early as 1840, when the Baptist society was started with a few members, but it soon disbanded, part of the members going to Linden and others to Rose Center, Oakland county. A new society was organized in 1850 by the Rev. A. Lamb, of Parshalville, Livingston county, and in 1857 a hall was built for church purposes; the building is still standing. In later years a stone church was erected and since then the membership has increased in a proportionate growth with the town.

The Methodists first completed and dedicated a church in Fenton in 1853, with the Rev. George Brown as pastor. The Presbyterians conse- crated a church building in 1858, the society having been formed as early as 1840. St. Jude's church, Episcopal, was organized in 1859 and the services were then held in a small frame building. A beautiful stone edifice has since been erected, which is one of the most attractive small churches in the county, constructed in the simple Gothic style.

The Roman Catholics held services in Fenton in the early days in the homes of the parishioners, but it was not until 1868 that a church and par- sonage was erected. The first priest was the Rev. Fr. Thomas Bafter.

Previous to 1840 the Methodists organized a religious society in Flush- ing, holding their meetings for some time in a school house. Later a church building was erected and the society from its beginning has ever been in a prosperous condition. Among the early pastors who ministered to the needs of the community were several of the pastors who were prominently identi-

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fied with the Methodist societies in Flint, including Rev. Mr. Bigelow, Mr. Barnes, Rev. Seth Reed, T. J. Joslin and others. In Flushing are now established churches of all denominations.

In Pine Run, Clio, Richfield and Davison, the first societies to organize were also the Methodists, who established small churches in these villages during the period of 1858-65. For a number of years the societies had no ministers, but were supplied with preachers belonging to a circuit, and at other times the services were read by the members. Later, however, small churchs were built and supplied with resident clergymen. The Methodists also established the first church in Goodrich and Otisville, and in Mt. Morris built and dedicated a church as early as 1841.

Among the most beautiful churches in Genesee county is St. Mary's church in Mt. Morris, recently finished at a cost of about forty thousand dollars.

Far back in the early thirties of the last century, when Michigan was yet a territory and the present county of Genesee but forest and swamp, a few Irish settlers formed the nucleus around which St. Mary's congregation at Mt. Morris grew. Separated from an organized parish by many miles of difficult and fatiguing travel-for those were the days of the stage coach and the ox-team-these few families received spiritual attention only at long intervals from missionary priests who were sent from Detroit by Bishops Rese and Lefevre. The aged people of Mt. Morris congregation have many holy reminiscences of the heroic Fathers Kendigen, Cullen and Kilroy, who, in blinding snow and pouring rain, with knapsack strapped over their shoulders, traveled on horseback from Detroit to Sault Ste. Marie to administer the last sacrament to the dying and, perchance, to gather the scattering families of the community into a log house to assist at the sacrifice of the mass.

The settlers becoming more numerous, a church was built at Flint. To this church the people for miles around were attached. In 1867 the num- ber of families living near Mt. Morris had so increased as to warrant the erection of a church. The permission of Bishop Lefevre was obtained and a frame church built. This church was called St. Mary's and was attached as a mission to the parish at Flint. In 1870 Bishop Lefevre, recognizing the growth of the mission, decided to elevate it to the dignity of an inde- pendent parish. This he did in the fall of 1870 by appointing the Rev. Father M. Canters, who was then assistant priest at Bay City, the first resi- dent pastor. Father Canters remained in charge nearly two years and was

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succeeded by Father G. M. Girard. Father Girard was pastor nearly six years and was succeeded by Father E. M. DeKiere. Father DeKiere remained in charge five years. Father D. P. Coyle was the next pastor from 1884 to 1887. To Father Coyle succeeded Father L. J. Van Straelen, who remained in charge over eleven years. Father T. J. Slattery was the next pastor from 1898 to 1900. To Father Slattery succeeded the present pastor, Father T. Luby.

The entire valuation of the property of St. Mary's church, including the parish hall, is over fifty thousand dollars. The church contains, besides its fine altar and organ, several paintings of value. The parish of St. Mary's contains about one hundred and thirty families. The church also has a mis- sion at Birch Run, consisting of about seventy-five families, and a church is being completed this year (1916) at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars. Father Luby also has charge of this mission.

The Rev. Father Thomas Luby is a man of unusual qualifications for his work, having broad views and a strong personality. In Genesee county and in more distant localities, his influence has been beneficent, not only in the work of his parish but in combating the more threatening forms of socialism. As a writer of anti-socialistic pamphlets, Father Luby has at- tracted wide-spread and deserved notice.

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CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE GOLDEN JUBILEE.

On June 6-8, 1905, there was celebrated at Flint, in the county of Genesee, the fiftieth anniversary of the city. Many cities have observed their fiftieth anniversary, but it is doubtful whether any other city has ever had the privilege of combining with the celebration of the fiftieth anniver- sary of its incorporation the ceremonies incident to the dedication of a stately new court house, of a beautiful new library building, of memorial tablets to its soldiers and sailors, the laying of the corner-stone of a new federal building and the welcoming home of its former citizens. The fif- tieth anniversary of Flint was signalized by the most substantial evidences of financial, intellectual and moral prosperity.

The historian of the day, Rev. Theodore D. Bacon, prepared for the official record this "History of the Golden Jubilee and Old Home Coming. Reunion." We cannot do better than quote in its entirety this thorough and able contribution to the city's history. It reads as follows:

"George Eliot says, somewhere that there has never been a great nation without processions. There is profound truth in the remark. Celebrations and processions are not such trivial things as they seem sometimes when we come to read about them. The speeches may be forgotten, and the order of march and the number of men in line, which were such burning questions the week before the event, may seem utterly trivial the day after, but a new sense of common life remains, stirred into consciousness by the celebration, which would otherwise have lain dormant. People feel that they belong together more, they are less a crowd and more a real body corporate. The United States was more a country after the Centennial, so Flint is more of a city as a result of its Semi-Centennial Jubilee.

"It is good, too, that these celebrations should be recorded, even though the record may not be quite as interesting as the latest novel, for it brings to mind more than the mere events in detail. As these are recalled, there comes with them a renewal of that common feeling which makes the life of the city, and, as the years go by, the old-time celebration gains in significance for young and old.

"The Jubilee had its inception in a chance remark to Mayor Bruce J.

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Macdonald, by one who happened to be looking over the records of the city, that Mr. Macdonald was the fiftieth mayor of the city. Further conference between the mayor and Alderman M. P. Cook led to a motion by the latter in the council for a celebration and a committee to have charge of it. The motion was passed unanimously and the movement was inaugurated. This general committee confined its activities principally to the appointment of an executive committee, carefully chosen from representative men of the town, by whom the plan was outlined and the various subordinate commit- tees were appointed.

"At the outset the plan for the celebration was extremely modest, not to say meager, but as the idea grew in the minds of the people suggestions began to come in from all sides and a much broader and more adequate conception of what was to be done was established. It was designed that the celebration should appeal to all classes of the community and also make as deep an impression as might be on those who come from outside. There must be a recollection of the past, an appreciation of the present and a glance into the future. There must be display and amusement, and a set- ting forth of material advancement and prosperity; but these must not be allowed to overshadow the moral and intellectual aspects of the occasion. Every living person, near and far, who had ever lived in Flint, must be made to feel, as far as possible, that he or she had an important share in this celebration.

"In order to accomplish this result, it was needful, not only to make ready an adequate celebration, but to make it widely known. For this pur- pose the newspapers of the state were kept filled with interesting reading concerning Flint and its golden jubilee, and a persistent canvass was made for names of former inhabitants of the city to whom programs and invita- tions to be present were sent. Dignitaries of other cities and other promi- nent citizens of the country also were urged to be present. Nor were these appeals in vain, for when the day arrived a great concourse arrived to help make the celebration an eventful one.

"A few words should be said also regarding the financial side of the enterprise. Naturally such an undertaking could not be carried through without a good deal of expense, but so great was the willingness of the people of the city to contribute in cash and labor and supplies that not only was the celebration carried through according to the program, but. wonderful to relate, a substantial surplus was left after the celebration was over. The total cash subscriptions were $8,373.75, while a surplus of $1,203.46 was reported to the common council on November 6, after all

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bills had been paid. How well this foresight, public spirit and executive ability were rewarded, the remainder of this narrative must endeavor to set forth.

"The formal exercises began on Tuesday evening, June 6, 1905. At six o'clock the mayor, common council and other city officials and ex-offi- cials gathered at the Dryden and marched from there, escorted by the chief marshal, Lieutenant-Colonel Parker, his aides and Company A, Michigan National Guard, to the First Ward park, where the celebration was formally turned over to the mayor, Hon. D. D. Aitkin, by Judge Charles H. Wisner, chairman of the general committee. In a few well-chosen words, the chair- man made the presentation, which was fittingly replied to by Mayor Aitkin. A great ringing of bells and blowing of factory whistles, all over the city, proclaimed that the celebration was formally opened. The officials, present and past, then retired to the Dryden to partake of a banquet, while the troops proceeded, in company with Crapo Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, to the Grand Trunk depot to receive the old battle-flags, which arrived from Lansing in charge of Colonel Cox. These flags had been car- ried by Michigan regiments through the Civil War and are very precious mementoes. They were carried to the Bryant House for safe-keeping until the parade next morning.

"At eight o'clock came the illumination of the city, which afforded entertainment to the crowds assembled on the streets. In addition to the eight electric arches on South Saginaw street, two new arches had been erected, one just across the bridge on North Saginaw street bearing the legend, "Flint, Vehicle City," and one, the Jubilee arch, at the corner of South Saginaw and Fifth streets. They were now put in operation for the first time. But the special attractions were the two search-lights, sent to the city by the United States navy department, and, above all, the electric fountain in the First Ward park, a labor of love on the part of Manager Beard of the electric light works, Superintendent Fisher, of the water works, and Chief Rose, of the fire department.

"One of the search-lights was erected just north of the fountain on a raised platform, whence its dazzling rays were directed along the great throng on Saginaw street, while the other was mounted up at the Michigan state school for the deaf, and sent its great beams toward the sky from various angles, attracting attention for miles around. But it was the foun- tain after all that held the attention of those who were able to get anywhere near it, with its waters constantly pouring over the bright lights, which changed from red to blue or to pale green, and then perhaps to the bright

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light of the ordinary lamp, only to come back in a moment to some other color, the whole modified and rendered opalescent by the flow of water. People would gaze for a while and then make room for others, only to stand around the outskirts of the crowd and work thier way back slowly for another view of the fascinating object. Slowly the crowds faded away to rest before the more strenuous celebration of the two days to come.

"Wednesday morning the celebration began early by a salute of fifty guns at six o'clock, followed at eight by fifty strokes of the city hall bell; and soon thereafter Saginaw street was alive with people and with sound, for the bands were assembling, and strains of a dozen different melodies in as many different keys set the small boy to dancing and the sensitive ear to shrinking. But by 9:30 all clashing of chords had ceased and the whole line of march was thronged with eager spectators awaiting the first grand parade. The business blocks and many private houses were gaily and often elaborately decked with flags and bunting, and from every window and from the tops of many houses spectators were in evidence. The line of march was in the form of a string with a loop at the end of it. The procession marched north on Saginaw street, from Eighth street as far as Wood street, then west to Detroit street, and southerly on Detroit to Saginaw, and up Saginaw to Fifth. As leader in the procession came the Vice-President of the United States, Hon. Charies W. Fairbanks, in a carriage with Mayor Aitkin. Standing erect in the carriage, he made a most conspicuous figure and was heartily cheered along the whole line of march. Following him came the athletic figure of Governor Fred M. Warner, of Michigan, on horseback, well-mounted, and surrounded by the regulation group of gor- geously arrayed aides. Then came two battalions of the Michigan National Guard, led by Brigadier-General Harrah and under the immediate com- mand of Colonel Bates. As they marched along, with upright carriage and swinging step, they made a fine impression and were greeted with hearty applause. But the special favorites were the Detroit Naval Reserves, who followed, for these men had seen real service and had met the Spaniards in the West Indies. The conflict was not a long one, but it had been enough to show that the spirit of '76 and '61 is still with us, and that men accus- tomed to luxury and the pleasant things of life still have the old mettle in them and can put up with the hardships and the harsh discipline of the com- mon sailor for the sake of the country and the old flag. The spirit is just as truly in the soldiers as in the sailors, but these men had had the chance to show it and were still ready for active service.

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History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 80

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