USA > Michigan > Hillsdale County > History of Hillsdale county. Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 37
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
1832 .- Dr. William Mottram, taught four weeks; re- moved from Jonesville to Nottawa Prairie, St. Joseph Co., Mich., thence to Kalamazoo, where he still resides.
1832-33 .- Dr. Chase, taught four months; died at Coldwater, Branch Co., Mich.
1833 .- Miss Orra Nicholson, a niece of Benaiah Jones, taught four months ; died at Jonesville in 1834.
1833-34 .- Benjamin L. Baxter, taught five months ; went to Dartmouth College, and after his return to this State taught at Tecumseh ; read law at that place, and has
there since practiced his profession ; has been a member of the Legislature, and held the office of regent of the uni- versity for some years.
1834 .- Miss Delilah Blackmar, taught four months ; is now Mrs. Kempton.
1834-35 .- Wolcott G. Branch, taught five months ; was a lawyer by profession, and died at Somerset, in this county. 1835 .- Miss Lucinda Kies, taught four months ; is now Mrs. Ayers.
1835-36 .- Mr. Morse, taught five months ; history un- known.
1836 .- Miss Nancy Belknap, taught four months ; de- ceased.
1836-37 .- Salem T. King, taught five months ; see list of lawyers ; now deceased.
1837 .- Miss Rachel Stilwell, taught four months; is now Mrs. H. L. Hewitt, of Hillsdale.
1837-38 .- Mr. Johnston, taught five months ; history unknown.
1838 .- Miss Belinda Sears, taught four months; history unknown.
1838-39 .- John Ross, taught five months; history un- known.
1839 .- Miss Cordelia Van Ness, taught four months ; now Mrs. J. M. Munroe, of Branch Co., Mich.
1839-40 .- Chester S. Kendall, taught nine months ; history unknown.
1840-41 .- Same person taught nine months.
1841-42 .- John Sweegles, Jr., taught nine months; pub- lished the Hillsdale Gazette, and was afterwards State audi- tor-general ; died at St. John's, Mich., in 1855.
1842-43 .- Jesse H. Owen, taught nine months ; history unknown.
1843-44 .- Thaddeus Hampton, nine months ; deceased. 1844-45 .- John C. Dunham, nine months ; deceased.
1845-46 .- S. S. Coryell, nine months, taught afterwards at Hillsdale and at Lansing, at which latter place he now resides.
1846-47 .- George Fox, nine months ; history unknown.
1847-48 .- Alpheus S. Welch, forty-two weeks; salary $700; went from Jonesville to Ypsilanti as principal of State normal school, which position he retained until 1866, when he resigned and went to Florida ; while residing there he was United States senator ; left Florida on account of health of his family, and became first president of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, Ia., which position he still holds .* He was one of the early graduates of the Michigan University Taught at Jonesville also in 1848- 49, forty-two weeks, at salary of $800.
1849-50 .- Calvin S. Kingsley, forty-two weeks; salary $700; a graduate of Michigan University ; entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church ; removed to California, and thence to Nevada ; studied law, and divided his time between the pulpit and the bar.
1850-51 .- A. S. Darrow, thirty weeks; salary $400; present businesss and residence unknown.
1851 .- A. S. Welch, twelve weeks, $230.
1851-52 .- Same, forty-two weeks, $800.
# 1876.
141
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
1852-53 .- George E. Dudley, forty-two weeks, $700.
1853-54 .- Same, forty-two weeks, $800. Mr. Dudley entered the hardware business with R. Gardner, and after a year or two of business life was appointed professor of mathematics at Ypsilanti, which position he held until his death, some years since, in Detroit.
1854-55 .- Rev. A. B. Dunlap and wife, forty-two weeks, $1100. Mr. Dunlap was a Presbyterian clergyman ; after- wards removed to Grand Traverse Co., Mich .; left the pulpit on account of ill health ; has been a member of the State Legislature, and is now an extensive pomologist and horticulturist in Grand Traverse County.
1855-56 .- Moses M. Ham, forty-two weeks, $750.
1856-57 .- Same, forty-two weeks, $750; went from Jonesville to Detroit, as assistant editor of the Detroit Free Press, and from there removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where he became editor and proprietor of one of the leading news- papers of the State.
1857-58 .- Rev. G. W. Bancroft, forty-two weeks, $750; went from Jonesville to Hastings, Mich., where he taught for some years, and was afterwards ordained as a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, becoming rector of that church at Hastings.
1858-59 .- Same; same time and salary ; also 1859-60. 1860-61 .- J. C. Curtis, forty-two weeks, $750.
1861-62 .- Same, sixteen weeks, $200; history un- known.
1862 .- Henry C. Noe, twenty-nine weeks, $400; en- tered hardware business at Burr Oak, Mich .; afterwards became telegraph operator on line of Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway.
1862-63 .- Ephraim M. Murch, forty-two weeks, $600; history unknown.
1863-64 .- E. A. Frazer, forty-two weeks, $650; a graduate of Michigan University; taught a number of years at Kalamazoo, where he now resides ; is a member of the bar at that place.
1864 .- Rev. E. W. Childs, fourteen weeks, at rate of $700.
1864-65 .- Same, for languages alone, twenty-eight weeks, $200; present pastor of Presbyterian Church, Jonesville .*
1864-65 .- Francis Smith, twenty-eight weeks, at rate of $700; a graduate of Michigan University and Law School; now in the practice of his profession at Muskegon, Mich.
1865 .- Benjamin F. Wells, fourteen weeks, at rate of $700; history unknown.
1865-66 .- Newman Dryer, twenty-eight weeks, at rate of $700 ; farmer.
1866-1872 .- F. B. McClellan, forty-two weeks each year, at salary from $1000 to $1200; removed from here to Albion, Calhoun Co., Mich., where he took charge of the public schools.
1872-73 .- A. F. Cate, forty weeks, $1400; now in business at Manchester, N. H.
1873-74 .- G. A. Slayton, forty weeks, $1100; yet teaching in this State.
1874-76 .- J. D. H. Cornelius, forty weeks each year, $1200 ; a graduate of Michigan University.
" The history of teachers would be incomplete without some mention of assistants, both male and female, but the records are so imperfect that only a portion can be given, and even these with no certainty as to date when they taught; nor have we the time nor facilities to ascertain their subsequent history. Some taught but a single term, and some for several terms, and even years. We give, so far as we can, the dates when they commenced teaching in this school."+
Mrs. John Sweegles, 1841 ; deceased.
Miss Mary Hopkins, 1844; now Mrs. Isaac Alden, of Coldwater, Branch Co., Mich.
Miss Emeline Bacon, 1845; now Mrs. J. Eastman Johnston, of Centreville, St. Joseph Co., Mich.
Miss Mary Hale, 1846; now Mrs. Wyman, of Sidney, Ohio.
Miss Coburn, 1848; returned to New Hampshire.
Miss Clarissa Nimocks, 1841; now Mrs. H. W. Tuller, Jonesville.
Miss Delia Barnes, 1849; now Mrs. J. H. Hastings, of Hillsdale.
Mrs. C. S. Kingsley, 1849 ; now in Colorado.
C. H. Buck, 1849 ; history unknown.
Miss E. M. Orton, 1850; now Mrs. Hudson, Sandusky, Ohio.
John Starks, 1851 ; Presbyterian clergyman in Illinois.
J. M. B. Sill, 1852; superintendent of Detroit public schools.
Miss Sallie Beaumont, 1852; now Mrs. Prof. Sill, De- troit.
Miss Sarah Kinman, 1852; now Mrs. Goadby, of Cold- water.
Miss Gertrude Mulholland ; history unknown.
Miss Louisa George, 1853; now Mrs. George Button, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Miss Mary Wells, 1853; teaching in the South in 1876.
C. B. Crane, 1853; now Baptist minister.
D. W. C. Wisner, 1854; now merchant in Jonesville.
Miss Caroline Walter, 1854; now Mrs. William Wal- dron, of Hillsdale.
Mrs. A. B. Dunlap, 1854; now of Grand Traverse County.
Miss Sophia Wright, 1855; now of Grand Traverse County.
Miss Sarah Van Ness, 1856; now Mrs. J. F. Munroe, Detroit.
Miss M. E. Osband, 1856; history unknown.
Miss Harriet Taylor, 1856 ; history unknown.
Miss Martha Sinclair, 1856; now of Adrian College.
Miss E. Hampton, 1857 ; history unknown.
Miss J. H. Wheeler, 1857; history unknown.
Miss Jennie Sinclair, 1857 ; now of Jonesville.
Miss Harriet Wells, 1857; now of Boston.
Miss Sarah Wells, 1858; now Mrs. J. V. Copeland, Hud- son.
Miss Elizabeth Eugh, 1858; now of Jackson Co., Mich.
* See history of said church.
+ History of school.
3
142
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Miss Helen Kimble, 1858; history unknown. .
Miss Barker, 1858; history unknown.
Miss Frances Calkins, 1858; history unknown.
Miss Ida Taylor, 1859; history unknown.
Miss Stoddard, 1861 ; history unknown.
Miss Antoinette Baxter, 1861 ; now Mrs. W. H. Brock- way, of Albion, Mich.
Miss Amanda M. Rowley, 1861 ; history unknown.
Miss Rachel Murch, 1862; now Mrs. Buell, Jonesville.
Miss Nora Sinclair, 1862; now Mrs. Perry, Lowell, Mich.
Miss Caroline Delavan, 1864 ; now of Alma, Mich.
Miss Ellen Olds, 1864; now Mrs. Charles Stowell, Hud- son.
Mrs. Sutton, 1864; history unknown.
Miss E. S. Race, 1864 ; history unknown.
Miss L. C. Graham, 1864 ; now of Jonesville.
C. W. Glasgow, 1865 ; now lawyer at La Grange, Ind.
Miss Mary Ann Prowdly, 1865 ; Jonesville.
Miss S. R. Taylor, 1866; now Mrs. Wm. H. Niles, Ottawa Co., Mich.
Miss Anna J. Cliff, 1867 ; history unknown.
Miss Emma Mitchell, 1867; now Mrs. Silas W. Glas- gow, Jonesville.
Miss Lillie Beaumont, 1868; now Mrs. F. B. Graham. Miss Ella Wade, 1868.
Miss Mary C. Delavan, 1869; now of Alma, Mich.
Miss F. J. Holt, 1869; teaching here in 1876.
Miss Ione St. John, 1869.
Miss Minerva Krapp, 1869; now Mrs. Tubbs, Jones- ville.
Miss Lizzie Sinclair, 1870 ; Jonesville.
Miss Sturgis, 1871 ; now of Scipio township.
Miss Nancy C. Tuller, 1871; history unknown.
Miss Celeste Barrett, 1871.
Miss Emma Meddick, 1871 ; teaching in 1876.
Miss Clara Munroe, 1871 ; since at Syracuse, N. Y.
Miss L. O. Woodruff, 1872; history unknown.
Miss Mary Reinohl, 1872; teaching in 1876.
Miss Ella Teed, 1872; Jonesville.
Miss Belle Kempton, 1872.
Miss Frances Dickinson, 1872; died in 1873.
Miss Elizabeth Gaige, 1872; died in 1874.
Miss Agnes La Kore, 1872 ; Jonesville.
Miss Ella A. Farnsworth, 1873; afterwards of Holly, Oakland Co.
Miss Hattie Hopkins, 1873; now Mrs. Ida Bentz, Jones- ville.
Miss Olive H. Bentley, 1873; history unknown.
Miss Jennie Alvord, 1873; Jonesville.
Miss Mary M. Purdy, 1873; Jonesville.
The present corps of teachers (1878) is as follows : Prin- cipal, Professor Gass ; First Assistant, Miss Kittie Smith ; Grammar Department, W. F. Hoag; First Intermediate, Miss Jennie Tuller ; First Primary, Miss Dunham ; Second Primary, Miss North.
The School Board consists of the following persons, viz. : E. O. Grosvenor, Moderator; W. J. Baxter, Director; James H. Wade, Assessor; D. A. Wisner, G. W. Chad- dock, J. S. Lewis.
The present union school building is one of the finest in the State, for a village of the size of Jonesville, and the school itself continues to reflect credit upon its founders and teachers, and is a worthy monument to the educators of the early days, whose liberal ideas laid the foundation of the present admirable system, and whose memory is justly cherished in its connection.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .*
" The first sermon preached in the place by a Methodist minister was in 1834, by the Rev. Mr. Colclazer, presiding elder, in a log and slab school-house located on a spot of ground between the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches.
" The first class was organized in the year 1838 by the Rev. Mr. Manier, the first preacher located in the place. There were then some 13 members of the class. The fol- lowing ministers were over the church in order: 1839, Elijah Sabin and John Statford; 1840, John Statford and Peter Sabin ; 1841, Peter Sabin and John Jones; 1842, J. H. Pitzell and Peter Sabin ; 1843, J. H. Pitzell and Ira Lapham ; 1844, Isaac Bennett and Levi Warnier ; 1845, Isaac Bennett and - -; 1846, S. Steele and John C. Noble; 1847, S. Steele and J. Abbott; 1848, H. Pen- field and John Arnold; 1849, H. Penfield and T. C. Jacokes ; 1850, J. Boynton ; 1851, -- Buchanan and - Marsh ; 1852, Elijah Crane ; 1853, Isaac Taylor ; 1854, - Holl- stock ; 1855, - Finch ; 1856, - - Tombs ; 1858-59, Noah Fassett; 1860, Elijah Crane; 1861, Isaac Taylor ; 1862-63, N. M. Steele; 1864, F. G. Owen; 1865-66, - Thomas ; 1867, M. J. Smith ; 1868-69, John Hoyt; 1870-71, R. C. Welch ; 1872-73, H. P. Henderson ; 1874 -75, J. M. Robinson ; 1876, George L. Cole;" 1877, J. H. Potts; 1878 (until September), W. M. Ball ; present pastor, in charge since September, 1878, Rev. C. G. Thomas.
The present membership of this society is about 120, and that of the Sabbath-school 100. The latter is superintended by E. Lawrence; has 12 classes and teachers, and a library of 208 volumes. The frame church now in use, standing on Maumee Street next north of the town hall, was built in 1844, during Rev. Isaac Bennett's pastorate, at a cost of $1200, exclusive of seats, which were placed in it several years later. The building was largely repaired in 1872-73 at an expense of $2000. The first board of trustees con- sisted of F. M. Holloway, H. J. Olds, James Sturgis, Philip Harding, and Robert Gregory. The society is the oldest in the town.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF JONESVILLE
was organized by Rev. Calvin Clark in the summer of 1835. The first members were Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Champlin, Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Stevens, and Mr. Carpenter. They had no settled clergyman until September, 1837, when the wood building known as " The Session-House," on the lot south of the present church, was completed, and Rev. Elijah Buck was employed at a salary
# Items recorded in church book by Rev. George L. Cole, pastor in 1876.
+ Sketch by Hon. W. J. Baxter, of Jonesville.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF JONESVILLE, MICH. BUILT 1853, REBUILT 1878.
:
143
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of $500 per year. He preached for the church two years. The society first effected a legal organization under the name of " The Presbyterian Society of Jonesville," on Sept. 15, 1837. The first trustees were Joseph Sill, Azariah Wright, E. P. Champlin, Simon Jacobus, Ransom Gardner, and Lewis Smith. Owing to some neglect or oversight in filing proper certificates under the statute, it was deemed advisable to reorganize in February, 1840, but with the same name and several of the same trustees. Among the most active members and supporters of the church and society was E. P. Champlin, who gave the ground upon which the session- house was erected, and also that upon which the present church now stands ; and his mantle has fallen upon his chil- dren and those who now represent his family, who have given largely and liberally towards the present church, and who have placed a very beautiful memorial window in the north front of the new church as a token of affectionate remembrance, respect, and love. Rev. Mr. Buck was suc- ceeded by Rev. Wm. Page in 1838, who was in turn suc- ceeded by Rev. W. S. Taylor in 1843, and he by Rev. S. E. Lane in 1845.
Rev. S. C. Hickok was called in October, 1847, and was the first installed pastor of the church. He died in the summer of 1850. Rev. H. L. Stanley was called Oct. 15, 1850, and was duly installed as pastor, and remained until April, 1861,-more than ten years. For about a year the pulpit was supplied by several different clergymen until in June, 1862, when Rev. E. W. Childs was employed, who was installed as pastor. He remained until early in 1873, when he resigned, and Rev. George R. Milton was employed for one year. At the expiration of the year the Rev. E. W. Childs was again called and installed as pastor, and is still serving, having officiated continuously, with the excep- tion of one year, for more than sixteen years ; and for long years to come may he continue to be the pastor, spiritual adviser, and friend of this church and people.
The church and society worshiped in the "Session- House" until 1854, when the brick church on the site now occupied was dedicated. This brick church was used by the society, after various repairs and remodelings, until the spring of 1878, when it was mostly torn down to give place to the elegant and commodious church which was dedicated Nov. 26, 1878. Though a small portion of the walls of the old church remain, it has been so remodeled and added to, so enlarged, improved, and beautified, that it is to all in- tents and purposes a new church ; very commodious, com- plete, and beautiful in all its appointments, a credit to the church and society, and an ornament to the village.
The entire cost has been $9000, all of which has been paid, and the church was dedicated free of debt. The architect was L. D. Grosvenor, of Jackson. The contract- ors and builders were Selfridge & Somers, of this village. The building committee, who have given daily and constant attention and supervision to the work, are Messrs. S. C. Baker, Lewis H. Turner, E. O. Grosvenor, and John A. Sibbald, and the completed edifice is a standing testimonial to the skill, fidelity, and faithfulness of all who have thus been connected with the enterprise.
The membership, now about 160, has more than doubled during Mr. Childs' pastorate. A flourishing Sabbath-school
is maintained, with an attendance of about 100, and is managed by Silas Glasgow as Superintendent. It possesses a library of some 300 volumes, and has 16 classes and teachers. Meetings have been held since March, 1878, in the town hall during repairs on the church .*
A society of Universalists formerly existed here, which used the church now occupied by the Baptists. It is at present not sustained. This church was originally built by the Baptists.
THE SECOND ADVENTISTS
organized a society about 1861, which finally reached a membership of some 50 or more. The pastor during its existence was Abel E. Babcock, of Jonesville. The work done here by this denomination was by Rev. D. R. Mans- field and his wife, Rev. Mrs. M. S. Mansfield, well known among members of the society throughout the United States. The Universalist church was rented, and regular Sunday services held for five years. A subscription of $800 had been originally raised to build a church, but the breaking out of the war and other circumstances conspired against the consummation of their plans, and in time the society became practically disbanded, the Baptists having purchased the Universalist church property, and no meet- ings are now held, although there are numerous adherents to the belief in and around Jonesville.
GRACE CHURCH, JONESVILLE. +
Mission Work .- The history of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Hillsdale County begins with missionary work in the village of Jonesville. The records of the earliest mis- sion services are quite fragmentary, the most correct reports being obtainable from the recollections of the oldest resi- dents. The first service of the church appears to have been held on Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 1836, in the village school-house, by the Rev. Wm. N. Lyster, rector of St. Peter's Church, Tecumseh, from which place Mr. Lyster had, doubtless, ridden on horseback to Jonesville for this purpose. The next service was held by the Rev. Darius Barker, late from the diocese of Vermont, on Sunday, Oct. 21, 1838. Mr. Barker came, by formal appointment, as the first missionary of the church to this county.
Organization .- On Monday, Dec. 17, 1838, at the call of 26 declared Episcopalians, convened at the school-house, the parish was duly organized, under the title of " Grace Church," Jonesville. At the same time and place the first vestrymen were elected, as follows : Jedediah H. Dorwin, Nicholas Worthington, James K. Kinman, Henry A. Del- evan, Clinton E. Atwater, Robert Allan, and James F. Stark, and three associates, viz., Wm. Walton Murphy, James Bowland, and D. C. Stillwell.
On Thursday, Jan. 28, 1841, the parish was reorganized under the revised statute of 1839, retaining the same title, at which time an election of officers took place as follows : Charles Gregory, Senior Warden ; William Bettis, Junior Warden ; George C. Munro, Robert Allan, Sanford R. Smith, Charles Powell, Rockwell Manning, Henry A. Delevan, Willard W. Wood, Elias G. Dilla, and Wm. W.
# The new edifice was formally dedicated on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 1878.
t By the rector, Rev. W. W. Raymond.
144
HISTORY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Murphy, Vestrymen. Thereafter, George C. Munro has been elected annually to the present time (1878) ; Wm. W. Murphy also, with few exceptions; and Henry A. Delevan, until his removal from the parish in 1872.
Rectorship .- On Monday, Dec. 17, 1838, the Rev. Darius Barker was elected the first rector of the parish, and continued until 1843. His successors have been as follows: Rev. Luman Foote, 1844-46; Rev. Robert S. Elder, 1846-50 ; Rev. Charles R. Huson, 1852-54; Rev. Levi H. Corson, 1854-67 ; Rev. George A. Whitney, 1869-73; Rev. Wm. Wirt Raymond (rector of St. Peter's Church, Hillsdale), in charge of Grace Church, Jonesville, 1873-78; et log. The reverend and venerable Wm. N. Lyster, who held first service, was born at Sion, Wexford Co., Ireland, March 5, 1805; and died at Breedsville, Allegan Co., Mich., Sept. 9, 1877.
The reverend and venerable Darius Barker, first mission- ary and first rector, is still living in Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Mich , in white-haired age. He was present in Christ church, Detroit, Sept. 11, 1877, at the funeral of the Rev. Mr. Lyster, as first mourner among the clergy. The Rev. R. S. Elder died while he was yet rector of the parish, in August, 1850.
Church Building .- In August, 1844, the foundation and corner-stone of a church building were laid on a beautiful plat of ground nine rods by twelve, being the east end of an oblong square opposite the village park, the Presbyterian house of worship occupying the west end, a plat of equal beauty and dimensions. The east plat came into possession of the church through the purchase of Geo. C. Munro.
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, 1848, the building was conse- crated by the bishop of the diocese, in the presence of a joyful assembly. The edifice is a comfortable frame struct- ure, of a seating capacity of about 250,-a famous and con- spicuous mark of devotion in the early days, from the tower of which, since 1850, the full-toned bell has sum- moned all the surrounding inhabitants to worship.
Communicants .- The rector, Rev. Darius Barker, cele- brated the holy communion for the first time in the parish on Christmas-day, 1838, six persons participating. The whole number of communicants registered in the parish has been about 100. The number of communicants re- ported to the convention of the diocese from Grace Church, 1847, was 9; 1848, 15; 1849, 22; 1863, 52; and there- after annually as follows: 50, 53, 44, 42, 44, 30, 31, 30, 35, 25, 25, 33, 33, 37, 41. The fluctuation in numbers has been caused by deaths and removals,-more by the . latter cause than by the former.
Official Acts .- The first administration of the sacrament of holy baptism was in April, 1839, to three children of James K. Kinman. The whole number of baptisms regis- tered is 227, infants and adults. The first ministration of the sacred rite of confirmation, or the laying on of hands, was by the Rt. Rev. Samuel A. McCoskry, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese, on Sunday, April 7, 1839, to two candidates. The confirmations have numbered 97, in twenty-one visi- tations of the bishop. The registered marriages have num- bered 135. The registered burials have numbered 175. The annual offerings for all purposes, exclusive of the church building fund, have varied from $300 to $1000.
The present officers of the parish (1878) are Wm. W. Upham, Senior Warden ; James W. Button, Junior War- den ; Wm. W. Murphy, Charles Prowdley, Fred. C. Bark- man, Jonathan B. Graham, James R. Burnett, Lyman S. Wilson, and George C. Munn, Vestrymen.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
A Baptist Society was organized here as early as about 1842, by Rev. William G. Wisner, who became its pastor. During his term of service the church now used by the society was built, Mr. Wisner hewing some of the timbers himself. The records of the old society cannot be found, and, perhaps, much of interest is therefore unattainable. It finally became practically disbanded, and was formally recorded as having ceased to exist in 1860. A new society was, however, organized upon the 19th of December of the same year, with twenty-five members. The church, which had been sold to the Universalists, was repurchased from them, and since then the society has flourished. Its pastors since the reorganization have been Revs. L. J. Huntley, H. M. Gallup, William Remington, A. A. Hopkins, and the present incumbent, Rev. E. R. Bennett. The mem- bership in November, 1878, was 70, with a Sabbath-school numbering 100 members, having seven classes and teachers, and a library of 200 volumes. The church is located on the north side of the public square, and though the out- side is not prepossessing in appearance, the interior is very pleasant and neatly and comfortably furnished. Mr. Ben- nett has been in charge since July, 1877.
MANUFACTURES.
Jonesville Woolen-Mills .- These mills were started in 1853, with Hon. Jonathan B. Graham as a stockholder and the first president of the company. He was the agent also for building, fitting, and managing the mill. The company became insolvent and he purchased the bulk of the stock at sheriff's sale, to secure himself for what he had invested. In 1860 he succeeded in effecting a sale to Ransom Gard- ner, and the firm of Gardner & Co. assumed the manage- ment of the factory. The first mill was destroyed by fire on the 3d of January, 1866, and the present structure erected the same year by Messrs. Gardner & Co. It is 103 by 51 feet, and five stories high, and contained when in operation 30 looms, 1500 spindles, and 5 sets of cards ; 800 pounds of wool were used daily, from which were manufactured 500 yards of woolen cloth, the force em- ployed numbering 65 hands. The machinery was driven by a 60 horse-power steam-engine. This was the largest and first important woolen-mill in the State, and was long prosperous. The proprietors finally failed, however, and the business was wound up in 1875, the property going into the hands of the bondholders.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.