History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 100

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772

USA > Michigan > Eaton County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 100
USA > Michigan > Ingham County > History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan > Part 100

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" At a meeting appointed for the purpose of organizing an Inde- pendent Congregational Church in the town of Carmel, Mich., the following persons presented themselves, and were duly organized and declared to be the Independent Congregational Church of Christ of Carmel, by J. Dunton, a minister of the gospel: Gilbort Allen Wade, Sally Marin Wade, Samnel M. Martin, Harriet A. Martin, Peter Read Johnson, Persis Johnson, Sarah Minerva Smith.

" In behalf of tho church.

"Jan. 26, 1851."

" J. DUNTON, Clerk.

Of the members here named but three are now living,- Mrs. Wade and Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. It was first voted to extend a call to Rev. Joseph Dunton to become their pastor, but upon further consideration and better acquaint- ance it was resolved not to do so. The place of meeting was changed to Charlotte, Sept. 1, 1852, and the name changed to the First Congregational Church of Charlotte. Rev. W. B. Williams first passed through the village in January, 1850. On the 1st day of January, 1854, having accepted a call to become pastor of the church, he preached his first sermon in the place, the congregation at that time meeting in the court-house. Mr. Williams was ordained Feb. 2, 1854, and remained as pastor until 1866. From 1867 to 1872, Rev. B. F. Bradford was the pastor, and he

CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

401

was succeeded in the latter ycar by Rev. A. F. Bruske, who continued in charge until Aug. 25, 1878, since when Rev. J. Newton Brown has been the pastor. Rev. Mr. Williams, after concluding his labors as pastor of this church, found employment with missionary societies, also at Oberlin College, Olivet College, and elsewhere. He has also aided many churches in raising funds to pay off their debts.

It became, in the course of time, necessary that a church should be built, and subscriptions were raised for that pur- pose to the amount of $700. Of that sum $275 were raised in the East, and this was used to purchase the lot. The cost of the building was $1070, the contract having been given to Samuel Arnold and Mr. Slocum for $1000. The house was dedicated in July, 1856, when a debt of $310 was canceled by subscription. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. E. Taylor, of Kalamazoo. The Sunday-school was also started in 1856, with six scholars, which number was increased to eighteen the second Sabbath and twenty-two the third, while in six months it reached fifty.

The corner-stone of the fine brick church now in use was laid in 1872, and a portion of the building was ere long made ready for occupation. The main audience-room was not completed, however, until the summer of 1880, and ou the 22d of June, in the latter year, the main building was dedicated, the ceremonies being conducted under the super- vision of the pastor, Rev. J. Newton Brown. The sermon was delivered by Rev. Zachary Eddy, of the Fort Street Congregational Church of Detroit. Rev. W. B. Williams gave a historical account of the church, from notes and from memory. The cost of this building, with lot, etc., has been about $35,000, and it is said that but four Con- gregational churches in the State have been erccted at greater expense,-one at Grand Rapids, one at Saginaw, and two at Detroit. The dimensions of the church are as follows : outside length, 126 feet ; main audience-room, 75 by 52 feet ; lecture-room, 70 by 30 feet ; main tower, 100 feet high. The membership of the church in the fall of 1879 was 234. The Sunday-school had at the same time 400 members ; its present superintendent is F. S. Belcher. So fine a church edifice is seldom seen in a city no larger than Charlotte, and it reflects credit upon the architect, the society, and the place.

First Baptist Church .- Esther Searls was the first Bap- tist in Charlotte, and the next two were Julia Pierce and Mary Rager. April 5, 1852, these three secured a visit from Rev. John Tompkins, who preached a sermon at the old Ells log school-house in Carmel township. After the meeting the three ladies presented their letters and were recognized as the Baptist Conference of Carmel. In March, 1855, they met with others at Charlotte, when the member- ship was increased by five (two males and three females). Deacon William R. Kingman was one of the members. The name of the Conference was changed from Carmel to Charlotte, and Mr. Kingman was chosen clerk. Two others soon after joined, and a pastor was secured, in the person of Rev. John Tompkins, who gave them half his time. May 5, 1855, a council was called, and they were recognized as the First Baptist Church of Charlotte, Mr. Kingman being

chosen deacon. June 18, 1755, the church became a mem- ber of the Kalamazoo Association. Mr. Tompkins con- tinued as pastor two and a half years, and was succeeded by Rev. S. P. Town, who was called March 27, 1859, and remained three and a half years. For two years follow- ing the church was without a pastor, Rev. S. W. Sleater rendering voluntary service. He was chosen as pastor in July, 1865, and remained nearly two years. Rev. J. R. Ab- bott was called Jan. 12, 1868, and remained over two years. During his pastorate the present frame church occupied by the society was erected, the dedication occurring Oct. 13, 1869 ; the sermon being preached on that occasion by Rev. Mr. Curtis, of Hastings. April 25, 1870, Rev. L. Galpin became supply, and stayed six months. He was succeeded by Rev. A. M. Allyn, as supply, Jan. 1, 1871. Mr. Allyn became pastor June 19th, of the same year, and was or- dained on the 19th of the following month of July. His labors with this church were closed Oct. 25, 1873, and Rev. - was called November 29th following, remain- ing over three years. Rev. William Tilley became pas- tor in December, 1876, continuing for nine months. Rev. S. W. Sleater and others supplied for the balance of the year, and Rev. A. Maynard was secured as supply Jan. 26, 1878. He was afterwards called as pastor, and closed his labors here early in 1880. The present pastor, Rev. Edwin H. Teall, was settled March 21, 1880. The mem- bership of the church in July, 1880, was 134, and the average attendance at the Sunday-school is about 100; the superintendent of the latter is Parm. Thomas.

The First Unitarian Society of Charlotte was organized Nov. 3, 1878, under the general laws of the State. The first trustees were: F. W. Higby, President ; F. A. Ells, Secretary ; M. S. Phillips, G. W. Sherwood, Frank Mer- ritt. The board elected R. D. Wheaton treasurer. The board is now the same, except that T. D. Green has the place of F. A. Ells, and is president of the society. Abont forty families are identified with the society. The present pastor, Rev. J. N. Pardee, who had organized a society at Jackson and been afterwards engaged in missionary work, was first at Charlotte, in June, 1877, at which time he held two meetings. Several persons expressed a desire that he should remain and organize a society, but a press of mis- siooary work forbade, and he sent Rev. Daniel Rowen to the place. The latter conducted meetings in private houses, etc., for several months, and this was the beginning of the work which resulted in the organization of the society. Mr. Pardee returned in July, 1878, and preached here the first Sunday in the month, making Charlotte headquarters for his missionary labors in the State. When the society was organized he became the settled minister, and has re- mained notil the present. The audiences, which at first numbered about thirty individuals, have increased to 100. A Sunday-school was organized in May, 1880, with twelve children in attendance. The number is now about forty. Mr. Pardee is the superintendent. Meetings had been for some time held in the old Red Ribbon Hall, near the post- office, but in the spring of 1880 the place of meeting was changed to Sampson Hall. It is now thought expedient to build, and a church will probably be erected in the fall of the present year (1880).

402

HISTORY OF EATON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Centenary Church, United Brethren .- This society was formed in 1867 by Rev. Amos Stilson, and in 1870 the membership was 155. Of this number many have since removed, and the membership in June, 1880, was but seventy-six. One appointment, in the township of Carmel, was organized iu 1877, and has a membership of about thirty. It is preparing to build a church. The present brick church at Charlotte was built in 1874,-the centen- uial anniversary of the formation of the United Brethren Church. The pastors since Mr. Stilsou have been Revs. G. S. Lake, B. H. Mowers, A. A. DeGroat, B. F. Hunger- ford, B. D. Miller, G. A. Bowles, S. Ferguson, B. II. Mowers (a second time), Emmett Sly, and C. B. Sherk, the present pastor, who began his labors here in September, 1878. The Sunday-school is superintended by Judson Terrill, and has an attendance ranging from forty to fifty. The parsonage is located immediately in the rear of the church, but is not occupied by the pastor.

German Lutheran Church .- This society has been in existence only a few years. The frame building formerly used by the Congregationalists was purchased and dedicated as a Lutheran church, Oct. 29, 1876. A sermon was preached in the evening by Rev. August F. Bruske, then pastor of the Congregational Church, on the " History and Doctrines of the Lutheran Church." The building was removed to a location on West Seminary Street. The present pastor is Rev. G. F. Gerkensmeyer, of Marshall, who preaches once in two weeks during the summer, and onee in four weeks in the winter.

Grace Church ( Episcopal), formerly known as St. John's, ocenpies the old court-house, which has been purchased by the society, and stands opposite its former location, on the east side of Cochran Avenue. The first services were held in 1872. It is at present a mission, in charge of Rev. J. W. Bancroft, of Hastings. About thirty families are connected with it, having a membership of sixty-five or seventy.

A Catholic church was erected in the north part of the city in 1868. It is a frame building.

MILITARY.

When the hot blast from the throat of the monster, Rebellion, swept over the land, it at first almost scorched the senses of the people; but when it had passed by, the fever of revenge for insults to the old flag and threats upon a grand government took the place of sudden stupefaction, and everywhere the eall, "To arms !" rang startlingly throughout the North, and in all directions were heard the quick tread of patriotic fect and the mutterings of a coming storm of retribution. How well the Peninsular State re- bponded to the eall of a wronged government is vividly recollected, and how well her sons fought is attested by the empty chairs, the maimed bodies, and the broken constitu- tions now seen within her borders. Eaton County did well her part, and Charlotte, although at the time but a small place, furnished true and loyal men for the fray. The first enlistments were in what was subsequently known as Com- pany H, of the Sixth Michigan Infantry (afterwards artillery ). Members of this company hold annual reunions, and at the last one, held at Charlotte in August, 1880, some forty of

the veterans were in attendance. At a reunion in 1876, the following address, descriptive of the company and its campaigns, was delivered by Capt. William S. Trask, one of the bravest soldiers and truest citizens Charlotte ever furnished :

" Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow-Soldiers, but more especially you, Com- rades of Company HI and of the Sixth Michigan :

" Among all nations it has beco deemed well to cherish the recollec- tion of heroic achievements, for they are the memories which, coined into history, lend brilliancy to the national record. And though the realities of iron war may not deserve to compare with the milder eon- quests won beneath the motto of ' peace on earth, good-will to wien,' yet poor indeed is that country which has no rights or privileges worthy of defense, or, baving the rights, is lacking in generous sons to venture liberty and life in her cause. And it is well to rescue such memories from oblivion ; for, besides not being least atoong the causes which shape the moral and lend cohorence to national purpose and national sentiment, they are the germs which, taking root in the minds of the young, will in after years furnish countless defenders for her hour of peril and lend a fairer lustre to her glory.

" Besides, there are other and better reasons why we should cherish and seck to keep alive these memories fast hastening into nothing- ness ; for are they not the recollection of deeds carved out with the lives of comrades,-realities of which oaught but the shadow remains, -cherished memories sacred to the young and the brave that we buried long ago at Baltimore, on the shore of the Atlantic, in the shifting sands of Ship Island, and the borders of the Gulf und along tbe ' Father of Waters' from New Orleans to Vicksburg, and the well- filled graveyards of Eaton County. Yes, eomrales, you are the rep - resentatives of a company, the first your county furnished for the war, -before the days of hounties,-a company that has left a chain of silent sentinels almost around the entire confederacy, in attestation of the purpose with which it went forth and the manner in which it did its duty. And it is not only in remembrance of all this that we are assembled to-day, but it is to renew those associations and to continue those friendships which we have sbared on the march, by the bivonae and the camp-fire, and which were cemented by a common cause and common peril on the field of battle.

" As the mind goes back to those scenes, long to be remembered, one can hardly realize that it is almost fifteen years since the organization of Company H in the spring of '61. You well remember the thrill of indignation that swept like an electric storm over the land when the news come of the hiring on Fort Sumter. Theo caore the menacing of the Capital and the firing on the troops in Baltimore; and it dawoed at last upon the minds of a peaceful people that they were called upon to defend by force of arms all that was dear to them, all that was bequeathed to them from the hard-fought fields of the Revo- lution.

" It was an era such as a man might live a lifetime and not see. What a melting away was there of all partisan lines! Party spirit entirely suceninbed to the awakened patriotisin of the country. Thousands offered themselves for the preservation of the common heri- tage, and of that number, I need not blush to say, you and I helped to swell the multitude by one. Those who could not go were only anxious to testify their good-will to those who were going. Their homes, their fricodships, and their purses were freely tendered us ; and for several weeks we availed ourselves of their hospitality, and drilled up and down these streets and over on the old fair-ground, that we might learn the rudiments in the art of war.

" When we found we were too late for the three months' service we promptly reorganized, and on the 19th of June, 1861, we went to Fort Wayne to qualify ourselves to some extent for the duties that lay before us. We came home the 3d of August, and on the 20th the eom- pany, one hundred and eleven strong, bade adicu to Charlotte, and ten days later was on its way to the South.

"You will recall the many pleasant hours spent at Camp MeKim, in Baltimore, till November 14th, when we went on board the steamer ' Georgiana' bound for Eastern Shore, Va. You will remember with me tho many pleasant incidents of our march through Accomack, and Northampton Counties, in which we had all the exciting interest of an advance on the enemy with noue of its perils ; for they dis- persed at our coming without offering us battle. You will remem- ber our expedition to llog Island, the turkey review, and tho many

403

CITY OF CHARLOTTE.

incidents of the hivouac and the march ; but more than all else the sad death of the amiable Allen Baer.

"We returned to Baltimore, and in the ensuing February we em- barked for Fortress Monroe, and pitched our tents at Newport News, having haried Whitmore and Jones while at Camp Mckim. At New- port News you will remember the ' Congress' and the 'Cumberland' anchored there, soon to take a tragic part in the brilliant but ill- matched contest with the 'Merrimac,' and on the other side of Hampton Roads the flaunting banners and the white tents of the enemy.

" On the 4th of March we went on board the steamship ' Constitu- tion,' and the next day we ran by the Sewall's Point batteries, coming for the first time under fire.

" We were, you will remember, three full regiments on board one vessel, and imagination fails to picture what might have been our fate had we been two days later in getting out of Hampton Roads. As it was, we were hardly out of hearing of the sound of the guns when the fight between the ' Monitor' and the ' Merrimac' took place.

" You will recall the terrible storm off Hatteras, succeeded hy the beautiful weather, as we ran down the Florida coast. You will remem- ber the placid waters of the Gulf and the white sand-hills of Ship Island as we saw them on the morning of the 19th of March. This was our home till the 15th of April, when, after burying Lindsley, we went on board the ' Great Republic,' the largest sailing-vessel io the American mercantile navy, and it became our home for over two weeks of waiting at the Southwest Pass and in Black Bay. We were far-off spectators of the fall of Forts Jackson aad St. Philip and the destruction of the rebel ram ' Manassas.'

"On the 2d of May, 1862, we entered New Orleans, and again, on the 14th, we embarked on the ' Laurel Hill' bound up the river. You will remember the many haps and mishaps of that voyage on the swollen river, and the lonely burial of Myers ten miles ahove Natchez.

"On the evening of the 20th we joined the fleet under Farragut just helow Vicksburg. Here the prospect for a fight was good, and for a few days we expected to try titles for the possession of that strong- bold, and that, too, with a good prospect of success. It was deemed inadvisable, however, and on the 26th of May we started down the river. No one who was there will forget the scene at Grand Gulf where our transports were fired into hy a battery of four pieces and William Lamb was killed, We buried him on the heights that night, and Grand Golf, if it now existed, would have better reasons than have we for holding the day in remembrance. However, the destruc- tion of the town was not due to us. And let me say there are few situations more trying to the courage and steadiness of men than to be cooped up on board a river steamer whose boilers present a fair target to the enemy's practice, and exposed to the rapid fire of a hat- tery of well-served field-pieces. That we were not blown into the air or sent to the bottom of the river is a wonder. However, while we could use our muskets we did use them, and with such effect that for a few moments the gunners were driven from their guns.

" The 29th of May we landed at Baton Rouge. The pleasant quar- ters that we occupied and the great sickness which began to show itself among the men, the fruit of our long sojourn on board trans- ports, will at once fill your memories with pleasing and with sad rec- ollections. Here we buried Kinney, Ploof, Charter, King, Lake, Barrett, Fen, Bateman, and King.

"You will recall how reluctantly we left our quarters and went out to bivouac in the woods on the 28th of July. Here it was that the morning of the 5th of August found us when we marched out for the first time to try the realities of the battle-field.

" It was a day to be remembered, for, though overshadowed by other battles where greater numbers were engaged, few excel it in desperate fighting or in the importance of the results determined hy the issue of the fight. It was the first effort of the enemy to win back the mastery of the river below Vicksburg, won from them by the heroism of Farragut.

"To capture Baton Rouge was not alone to make prisoners of the few sickly troops stationed there and obtain their supplies and muni- tions of war; it was to re-establish their communications with the West by three important lines,-the Opelousas Railroad, Red River, and the road running west from Vicksburg.

" For this purpose Gen. Breckenridge advanced on the place with three brigades numbering nearly or quite twice our effective force. Our numbers and the sickly condition of our troops were well known to the enemy, for their friends in the city not only kept them well

posted as to our condition and numbers, but had actually prepared food for their breakfast after the brief morning exercise of whipping the 'Yanks.' And before making the assault, Breckenridge, in an address to his troops, assured them that the place was only garrisoned hy a few sickly regiments, and promised that if they would make one vigorous dash they should breakfast at the State-house.

" How well I remember in the early twilight the scattering shots, here and there, followed by the heavier voices of the cannon, that awoke many that morning to summon them to a deeper slumher ere nightfall. I can hear as then the shouts of ' Fall in ! fall in !' and the tumultuous rattle of the drums beating the long roll. I can see now as I saw then the mist rising from the ground io the balmy morning air, and the blue smoke that came stealing through the woods from the, scene of conflict. The firing had censed, the Fourteenth Maine had been driven from their camp in an exposed position, the pickets were coming in, and the enemy were advancing. I remember the first and only smile I ever saw on the face of Gen. Williams as he complimented us on the force that we mustered for battle, for many of ns, weak from sickness, were staggering under the weight of our arms, and were fitter for the hospital than the fight. It was the first pleasant words that I had ever heard from his lips, and, in my mind, it atoned for rouch of his severity in the past. I remember the hearty and cheerful salutations of the Indiana officers as we filed into line on their right in a fog of mingled vapor and smoke, so dense that one could see but a short distance in advance. We were in line along the edge of a wood fronting the Magnolia Cemetery. Our right rested on a road where a section of artillery was posted. We were hardly in line when we were ordered to lie down, and again the firing com- menced and a few cannon-shots flew over us. It was the prelude to the enemy's charge. A confused yelling was heard in our front. It was the much-talked-of rebel yell. They charged up to the cemetery fence, only separated from us by a narrow road. We were expecting the retreat of our skirmishers and reserved our fire, not heing able in the smoke to distinguish friend from foe. The battery on our right opened, and then came the entire storm of rebel lead. We were then lying almost under the muzzles of their guns, and the tempest that went over us was simply terrific. 'Fire !' rang along our line, and we fired as we lay. There was no chance to overshoot. It was like a blast from the destroying angel, and the liviog went back faster than they came. Their spirit was broken, and Gen. Williams, a few mo- ments before his death, said, 'Give the Michigan regiment the praise of checking the enemy.' Other advances were made, hut the delusive hope of an easy victory was gone, and they were easily repelled by the artillery. Here we lost Dwight and Vickery. Such was the bat- tle of Baton Rouge as I saw it.

"In the mean time, on the extreme right, Capt. Cordon, with two or three companies, was holding in check an entire brigade, repulsing one charge after another, and capturing the colors of the Third Louisiana Regiment.

"On the 21st of August we were recalled from Baton Rouge, and your memories will rapidly retrace the scenes of Camp Williams, Camp Death, and the cotton-press where we spent our second Christ- mas and New Years' in the service. At or near New Orleans lie the remains of Scott, Rogers, Merrill, Procter, Cross, Dunton, Darken, Barber, Ryan, Finch, Mahan, Shrum, Knapp, Clark, and Henry.

" March 11, 1863, we left our quarters for the Teche expedition under Gen. Weitzel, but I have not time to recall the varied scenes which are still fresh in your memories. Suffice it to say that no regi- went on the field stood higher in reputation or were considered more trustworthy than the Michigan Sixth. After witnessing the destruc- tion of the rebel gunboat ' Cotten' we returned to our old quarters. From there we went to the parapet at Carrolton, and from there to Kennerville.

" From this place we made our long march over the trestle-work, which extends almost uubrokenly from Kennerville to Manchac Pass. You will recall the gloomy horrors of those cypress swamps and the memory of the tepid waters of Lake Maurepas, with which we were destined to become well acquainted.

" Our brilliant skirmish, March 24th, in the advance on Pontcha- toula, is an occasion that recalls only pleasant memories, for we drove an equal force of cavalry through those open pine-woods in a manner that made it lively for them, and yet without the loss of a man. You will remember the sharp fight at the bridge, where several were wounded, its destruction that night, and the manner in which we were awakened the next morning. You will remember the skirmish hack

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History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan, Part 100

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co. Number of Pages: 772

Author: Durant, Samuel W. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia : D.W. Ensign & Co.
Number of Pages: 772