USA > Michigan > Ionia County > History of Ionia County, Michigan : her people, industries and institutions, Volume I > Part 36
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South Boston, established on Angust 16, 1849. R. J. Hess, Angust 16, 1849; George Wickham, May 26. 1852; Simeon Hunt, February 3, 1853: Eldbridge G. Williams, May 13, 1854; Curtis Clarke, December 16, 1862; Harley B. Church, January 20, 1865: Alfred Stearns. December 2. 1867: Elbridge G. Williams, July 19, 1872. Discontinued on November 19. 1856.
Stony Creek, established on Angust 2, 1852. Archibald Wilcox, August 2. 1852. Discontinued on November 19, 1856.
South Cass, established on December 30, 1840. Myron Tupper, Decem- ber 28, 18440; George Sickles, June 24. 1854: Esteven Russell. December 18, 1860; Gordon H. Shepard, February 23. 186: Martin Cox. December 6. 1871: Frank W. Clark, May 13. 1873: Samuel O. Hosford. January 5.
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1874; Eber Sickles, July 7. 1875; Charles M. Runyan, March 4, 1878; Charles Sickles, April 25, 1879; Gordon II. Shepard, April 5, 1880.
West Sebewa, established on April 14, 1871. Nathan Steward, April 14. 1871; Andrew C. Steward, November 14, 1871: Charles M. Caldwell, January 24, 1876: Luke Cook, March 20. 1877: George W. Adams, June 7. 1880.
Waterville. established on April 5. 1838. James H. Hoag, April 5, 1838: Cyprian S. Ilooker, March 13, 1869. Discontinued on March 14, 1841.
Woods Corners, established on April 15, 1869. Jefferson E. Bennett, April 15, 1869: Jefferson E. Bennett, April 15, 1869; Joseph Dehen, Decem- ber 9. 1870: Daniel T. Iloyt, April 5. 1876: Joseph Dehen, April 17. 1877.
CHAPTER XXVIIL.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
THE METHODIST CHURCH IN IONIA.
The history of Methodism in lonia began in 1854, when Rev. R. W. Monet organized the first class at the home of Oliver Arnold in what is now South Fonia. That first class consisted of Silas Arnold, Antha and Authilda. his children, and Silas Arnold, class leader. These were the only representa- tives of Methodism in lonia for two years. The pioneer Methodists held their services from house to house until 1846, when a lot was purchased on Washington street and the erection of a church begin: but lack of funds delayed its completion. Until 1853 lonia was a part of the Lyons circuit : but in that year it appears in the Michigan conference as the Ionia charge. with Rev. George Bignell appointed pastor. During this pastorate a great revival was held. Some of the present members of the church were con- verted in that meeting. The Michigan conference met in lonia for the first time in the fall of 1860. Bishop Matthew Simpson was the presiding bishop, and seventy-seven members of the conference were present.
The old church had been enlarged but was entirely inadequate for the needs of the rapidly growing congregation, and in 1869 the lot on the corner of Depot and East Main street was purchased for $4.000, and in the fall of that year the stone foundation of the present church edifice was laid. The basement was completed and dedicated on May 30. 1871. The church as planned was to be one of the largest and finest in Michigan at the time. Some of the men who stood back of the movement to build such a splendid church were J. L. Hudson, James M. Kidd J. C. Blanchard. N. M. Lewis and II. C. Sessions. The church was completed and dedicated on May 4, 1873, the total cost being $63,000. Rev. T. F. Hildreth was pastor of the church during this important period and is remembered by the okler residents as a powerful preacher, and during his pastorate a great revival was hell. In the fall of 1870 Rev. Washington Gardener was appointed pastor and during his term the debt which had embarrassed the church for years was paid. The Meth- odist saints of this trying period of the church history, whose piety and devo-
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tion blessed the city and pushed forward the Kingdom of God. were Jesse Stevenson and wife. George Rosecrans, Abner Wright, Jesse Holcomb. Brother MePherson, Brother and Sister Howard. Richard Hudson, Hamp- ton Rich and wife. A. S. Wright, Sister Blanchard. W. C. Page and wife. John Stevenson, and last but not least Brother Abraham DeKwak, who far forty-four years and more was a shining light and a constant benediction to the city.
The list of Methodist pastors in Ionia since the city became the head of a charge in 1853 is as follow : Revs. George Bignell, Isaac Bennett. Thomas Lyon. R. Sapp. R. C. Crawford. L. Earl. J. S. Child. George S. Barnes, 11. Worthington. T. F. Hildreth. R. M. Joy. A. J. Eldred, E. Cooley, Jr., Wash- ington Gardener. G. S. Hickey. Levi Master. A. M. Gould, L. E. Lennox, D. F. Barnes, W. R. Urch, W. L. Fox. W. I. Cogshall, E. G. Lewis, M. M. C'allen.
At present. under the pastorate of Clarence F. Hoag, the church is hav- ing a large measure of prosperity. The membership is four hundred and sixty-five. The Sunday school in three distinct departments is doing the best work in its history under the superintendency of R. A. Hawley, more room being needed to accommodate the rapidly growing classes, and the question of building a church house is being considered.
PORTLAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1836 the Michigan conference sent Reverend Mitchell upon the work known as the Grand River circuit. in which Portland was included. He preached when he could or as he found anybody to preach to, and after a two-years service was succeeded by Rev. Larmon Chatfield and a Mr. Blowers. They divided the labor of the circuit and during the first year. 1838, Mr. Blowers organized the first Methodist "Episcopal class at Portland. The members of the class numbered five: Mrs. Miner, Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Fox. Mrs. Hull's son and Mrs. Hull, the former of whom was chosen class leader. Mrs. Sally Knox was soon afterward admitted as a privileged member, her faith being that of a Congregationalist About this time worship which had been held at Philo Bogue's house was transferred to a log school house on the west side of the Grand river.
In 1839 the Grand River circuit was changed to Lyons Mission and included De Witt. Lyons, lonia and Portland, all in charge of Rev. Larmon Chatfield. They were in the Grand River district which embraced a great tract of country and over which Larmon Chatfield was appointed presiding
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elder in 1843. In 1839 the pastors in charge of the circuit were Z. C. Brown and Levi Warner: in 1840. Allen Staples and Samuel Lapham, and in 1841. William E. Bigelow and Larmon Chatfield. In that year two Sunday schools were organized on the circuit.
The church had struggled bravely for existence up to that time, but now began to take on the elements of prosperity, and five years later, when Revs. William C. Comfort and F. A. Blades were on the circuit the membership of the class was reported as forty-five and that of the charge two hundred and thirty-one. Ministers did not at that period receive luxurious salaries and what they did get came in a painfully uncertain way. Mr. Blades received three hundred and forty dollars yearly and in illustration of his sometimes impoverished condition it is said that he was once compelled to allow a letter to lie in the postoffice two weeks because he could not get the necessary two shillings to pay the postage.
In 1851 the Portland Methodists built a parsonage and in 1854 Lyons cirenit became Portland circuit. In 1860 the old red school house was pur- chased and fitted up as a place of worship, and the same year the church membership made a material advance in strength.
In 1865 there was a still more important step forward, and before the close of the year the erection of the church edifice was begun. It cost $7.500. was finished in 1866 and was dedicated in that year, Revs. A. J. Eldred and F. A. Blades, officiating.
In 186; Portland was made a station and from that time on the church increased steadily in strength. The pastors and presiding elders who have served this congregation up to the present are as follow : Presiding elders- 1838, Elijah I1. Pitcher : 1842, George Smith : 1843, Larmon Chatfield: 1847. James Shaw : 1848. George Bradley : 1850. David Burns: 1854. Henry Pen- field: 1860. G. Bradley: 1862. H. Hall; 1866. J. Jennings: 1867. C. C. Olds; 1860. D. F. Barnes: 1873. J. 1. Buell: 1870. Rev. Barnhart : 1885. . A. P. Moors: 1891, J. 1. Buell: 1807. W. W. Puffer: 1001. 1 .. DeLamarter: 1907. W. P. French: 1013. Arba Martin. Pastors-1838, Larmon Chatfield : 1839. 7. C. Brown, Levi Warner: 1840. Allen Staples, Samuel Lapham; 1841. Larmon Chatfield, William E. Biglow : 1842, Nathan Mount : 1843. R. B. Young: 1844, W. F. Cowles. Eli Westlake: 1845. William C. Comfort. F. 1. Blades: 1847. D. A. Curtis, William Fox: 1848, S. C. Woodard, G. N. Belknap: 18449. S. C. Woodard: 1850. J. S. Sutton, G. W. Hoag: 1851. J. S. Sutton. J. S. Harder : 1852, Orin Whitmore, A. R. Bartlett : 1853, Orin Whit- more. William MeKnight: 1854. 1. 1 .. Crittenden. G. D. Palmer: 1855. 1. A. Dunton, M. 1. Carpenter : 1856. W. W. Johnson : 1858. T. Clark : 1859.
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N. L. Otis, J. Sprague: 1860, N. L Otis. J. M. Pratt: 1861. E. Westlake ; 1863. Frederick Glass: 1864. 11. C. Peck: 1865. B. W. Blanchard: 1866, William M. Coplin: 1868. David Engle: 1871. A. P. Moors: 1874, J. W. Reid: 1877. George L. Haight: 1870. A P. Morrison: 1881, Levi Farr; 1882. M. M. Callen: 1885. J. W. Miller: 1886. J. W. Hallenbeck: 1880, F. T. Lumber : 1800. Robert H. Bready : 1892, S. L. Davis: 1803. W. P. French ; 1895. N. L. Bray: 1899. J. W. H. Carlisle: 1002. G. A. Buell: 1905. G. S. Robinson: 1908. Arthur Trott: 1910. W. W. Slee: 1915. C. E. Pollock.
In 1879 a new parsonage was built and in 1893 it was rebuilt. having been partially destroyed by fire. In 1897 the Ionia and Lansing districts were consolidated. On August 18. 1912, the church building was struck by lightning and totally destroyed. But by this time the congregation was not the weak society it had been forty years before as evinced by the fact that July 17. 1913. the corner-stone was laid for a new $25,000 edifice. It was dedicated on March 20. 1914. by Bishop David HI. Moore. The church is in a very prosperous condition and has enrolled two hundred and twenty-five members, which is one of the largest congregations in the county. An active Sunday school. Epworth League. Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, Woman's Home Missionary Society and Ladies' Aid Society are auxiliaries of this congregation.
BELDING CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCHI.
The Central Methodist Episcopal church of Belding was organized in 1884 with the following charter members: Myron .A. Barlow. Albert Jenks. Mrs. Jacob King. Mrs. Laura Rickerd. Elizabeth Weeks, Mrs. Deitz and Mrs. Asher Williams. The first building for the accommodation of this congregation was located on section 11, in the township of Otisco and was erected of wood. The congregation at Belding became an active factor in the church life of the town from the start and the membership increased with the population.
About the year 1910 a fine new parsonage was erected at a cost of $5.000 on the lot next to the church. Six years previous to that time. in 1904. the present church building was erected. It was constructed of cement blocks at a cost of $31.000.
The ministers who have served the Central church are as follow: Rev. Clark Seymour was the first pastor and to him a great amount of praise is due in the organization of the Methodist class in the village. Rev. Seymour was followed by L. B. Kenyon. R. M. Young. N. E. Gibbs, William Judd.
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C. A. Varmum, O. J. Golden. A. O. Carman. John Sheean. G. F. Craig. G. W. Maxwell and W. E. Doty.
This congregation has a membership at present of three hundred and twenty-five. An active Sunday school with an enrollment of about five hun- dred. an Epworth League with a membership of one hundred, Junior League. a Ladies' Aid Society. Woman's Foreign Missionary and Standard Bearers are strong auxiliaries of the church.
GREEN'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church which is locally known as the Green's church was organized about the year 1845 with the following charter men- bers: Edwin Russell and wife, William Smith and wife. Lydia Smith, Edward Post. Thomas Murry and wife and Sarah Howe.
The first building was erected of wood. on section 17, Orleans town- ship. In 1872 a second building was erected at a cost of $2,500 and still serves this congregation. Green's church was at first supplied from Orleans in the days when the services were held in the school house. Later it became part of the circuit with Smyrna. About 1898 it was supplied from Belding, Rev. A. O. Carman being the first regular pastor. This society has a membership at present of about thirty-five with an active Sunday school and Ladies' Aid Society.
PALO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The first Methodist Episcopal class organized in Ronald township is said to have been the one at South Ronald, which was formed at the Long Plain school house by Rev. F. A. Blades, of the lonia circuit The Ronald class was formed in 1852 by Rev. Mr. Honse with six members, Stephen Ackles and wife, Robert Evans and wife, Jeremiah Mabie and wife. At the outset the lonia circuit included the classes in Ronald, but on September 20. 1854, a transfer was made when the Matherton circuit was established.
On the 14th of December. 1854, the first quarterly meeting of the Matherton circuit assembled. Hemy Penfield was presiding ckler and Clark Sutton, preacher in charge. In 1856 Ronald class was changed to Palo class. and in 1862 the charge had expanded to the strength of ten classes. In that year Palo circuit was formed.
In 1869 a commencement was made on the house of worship and in August. 1870, the edifice was dedicated. Rev. J. M. Fuller, of Lowell,
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preached the dedicatory sermon. The church measures thirty-six by sixty feet and cost $4.500, fully furnished. The parsonage had been built in 1858.
The ministers who have served this church and their tenure of service is given as follows: Clark Sutton, 1854: Moses Carpenter, N. L. Otis. 1858; John Bragging, 1850: John Sprague, W. F. Jenkins, 1850-66; E. D. Young, 1866: C. 11. Fisher. : 867-70; G. C. Draper, 1870-72: W. M. Colby, 1872-73: J. R. Cadwell. 1873-74; B. S. Mills, 1874-76; M. D. Carrell, 1876-79: James Roberts. 1879-81 : W. W. Kork, 1881-82; D. C. Riehl, 1882-84: T. 11. Jacokes, 1884-86: F. N. Janes, 1886-80: O. J. Golden, 1889-94; John Dob- son. 1894-99: William A. Elner, 1800-1901 ; J. C. Dietrich. 1901-04: J. W. Buell, 1904-08: F. A. VanDewalker, 1908-10; C. H. Wirth, 1910-11: J. B. McGinness: 1911-13; H. A. Crumb, 1913-15: and the present incumbent, D. C. Crawford.
This congregation has experienced a steady growth and at present has a membership of one hundred and forty. The auxiliaries of the church con- sist of an active Sunday school, Ladies' Aid Society. Queen Esther Society. Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and various minor societies.
HUBBARDSTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Hubbardston was organized in 1856 by the Rev. Moses Carpenter. It was then placed on the Matherton circuit and Rev. N. L. Otis was appointed to that field in 1858. The first class was very small and its members either died or moved away. Rev. John Bray- gins filled this charge after Reverend Otis. The first meetings were held by the organization in a school building which is now used by the Roman Cath- olic church for a parochial school building. At some period shortly after 1858 services were discontinued and Hubbardston Methodism was inactive for a short period.
In 1866 Rev. N. L. Otis was again appointed to that circuit and the congregation at Hubbardston was revived. The church building which is still used by the congregation was begun in 1867 and completed in 1869. It is a wooden structure and was erected at a cost of $3.500. Praise is due N. E. Rogers for the completion of this edifice.
A list of the members of the Hubbardston class from 1856 to 1866 is given below and although this may not constitute the charter members, yet these are the names of the persons who contributed to the success of the class : Harrison Colby, Mariah Colby, Margaret Cunningham. Harriett Cronkite. Peter Edwards, Margaret Edwards, Lawrence Ellis, Fannie Ellis, William
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Fralick. Sarah Fralick, Oscar Goolthrite. Levi Johnson. Irene Johnson, Isaac Mershon. Peninnah Mershon. Mary Mershon. Julia Morse. D. W. Porter, Mary Porter, Amasa Sessions, Mary Sessions. Nathaniel Sessions. Chloe Sessions, S. E. Stoughton. Emma Stephens, William Vredenburg, Calvin Woodward, Mary Woodward and Mary Wolverton.
There has been no great change in the church building except the addi- tion of a small chapel. Rev. N. 1 .. Otis served the congregation until 1868: A. R Boggs. 1869: Albert Smith. 1887-80: 1. M. Garlick. 1889-02: S. I. Horr. 1802-04; I. R. llawley, 1804-06; N. M. Barnes, 1806-1001 ; D. M. Ward. 1001-04: W. L. Mann, 1004-06; Charles Hayward, 1006-08: Charles Baughman, 1908-10: J. S. Valentine, 1010-12: W. M. Chatfield. 1912-14: E. B Dixon, 1914-15 : and the present incumbent. W. S. Phillips.
There is a membership at present of sixty-seven. This society also has a strong Sunday school of one hundred members.
ORLEANS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A Methodist Episcopal class was organized in Orleans at a moderately carly date, but just when or who were the organizing members cannot be clearly ascertained. for there are no records to enlighten the chronicler, and none of the early members within reach. In the steward's book appears the information that "the Ofisco cirenit was formerly a part of the okl Flat River circuit from which it was separated in 1861. and then constituted a circuit by itself." Rev. Mr. Frieze, who was a famous and a zealous preacher on the Flat River circuit, preached the first Methodist sermon in Orleans. Among the ministers who served on that and the Otisco circuit, with Orleans as a field of their work, were the Revs. T. B. Granger, Seth Reed, J. N. Thomas, Isaac Bennett, T. S. Finch, William McKnight. E. Bush. Alfred Allen. J. W. Cawthorne. C. H. Fisher, E. Marble, A. P. Moors. E. D. Young, William T. Williams, T. J. Spencer. Alonzo Rogers, M. D. Carrel, N. L. Brav. W. A. Brownson, D. O. Ball, J. M. Niken and W. H. Ware.
There were in Orleans two Methodist Episcopal classes on the Otisco cirenit which had five appointments, Rev. W. H. Ware being the preacher in charge in November, 1880. The Orleans classes worshipped at the town hall and Green's Methodist Episcopal church. in section 17. erected in 1872.
About the year 1893, during the pastorate of W. E. Ogden, the class purchased a Grange hall, moved it to the lot which had been secured in the village, and remodeled it for a church. This continued to be the church home of the class until the need for a more modern edifice became so press-
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ing that in 1915. under the leadership of Rev. F. W. Nickel, a new site was purchased. This was more centrally located in the village and the church building was again moved and remodeled.
It was dedicated on September 5. 1915. by District Superintendent Will- iam Il. Phelps, and is one of the most attractive village churches found in the county. The parsonage was formerly west of the old town hall but in 1914 Rev. F. W. Nickel led in a movement which resulted in a more modern home for the pastor and located only three doors from the church. The following is the list of pastors who have served this church in the past twenty- five years : J. Marzolf, D. C. Woodard, S. C. Woodard. F. A. Van De Walker. F. J. Freeman. G. W. Riggs, F. J. Spencer. Bramfit. W. E. Ogden, 1. K. Stewart, N. E. Gibbs. A. E. Simmons. J W. Buell, N. S. Tuttle. I. B. Kenyon. W. M. P. Jerrett. F. W. Nickel and E. W. Morse. The present membership is fifty-six.
LYONS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
No records remain of the beginnings of the church at Lyons, but it prob- ably was first organized between 1855 and 1859. Methodist meetings were first held in a school house, then in a town hall. Some of those, whose memories go back the farthest, speak of a Mr. Pratt, a Mr. Otis, and a Mr. Sprague as among the earliest Methodist preachers of the place. Rev. Horace Ilall, who was appointed to Lyons in 1860 is the first of whom any written record remains. About 1858 or 1850. the society purchased a church building which had been built by the Episcopalians a few years before. it stood on the bank of the river en East Water street, and as "The old brown church" it continued to be used by the Methodists until 1882, when the present brick edifice on East Main street was built under the pastorate of Rev. D. W. Parsons.
The pastors since 1860 were as follow: Horace Hall, 1860-61; Josiah Fowler, 1861-63: E. D Youngs, 1863-65: William M. Colby, 1865-67: Charles Chick. 1867-60: I. S. Harder. 1869-71: F. I. Bell. 1871-73: G. L. Gilbert. 1873-74: S. P. Warner, 1874-75: G. F. Hollister. 1875-78: D. S. Haviland. 1878-80: D. W. Parsons, 1880-83: M. W. Knapp. 1883-84: J. Gulick. 1884-86: T. H. Jacokes. 1886-80: F. J. Freeman. 1880-01: William Judd. 1891-95: 1. R. Keillor, 1895-96: W. E. Ogden. 1896-00: M. F. Loomis. 1899-1900: J. C. Jewell. 1900-02: N. R. Woods. 1902-03: H. E. Wylie. 1903-1908; W. W. Hurd. 1908-15: George A. Brown, the present pastor.
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The present membership is nearly two hundred. The church sustains a good Sunday school. an Epworth League, a Ladies' Aid Society, a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, with its auxiliary Standard Bearers among the young ladies and King's Heralds among the children. The church building was improved and redecorated in 1915.
PEWAMO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHL.
The Pewamo Methodist church was organized some time in the sixties. The detailed records have not been preserved. There is record of the fol- lowing resident pastors : S. Snyder, 1871; L. C. Austin, 1873: J. A. Sprague, 1874: J W. Hallenbeck, 1875: F. Glass, 1876: D. W. Parsons, 1879; D. M. Ward. 1880; 1. P. Fergusson, 1881. From that time on Pewamo was attached to other charges. Most of the time it has been a part of Lyons charge and served by the pastor from Lyons. In fon the church building. which had long served as a place of worship, was destroyed by fire. Under the leadership of Rev. W. W. Hurd. of Lyons, a new edifice was built and dedicated. June 29. 1913, which is one of the most beautiful and conveniently arranged country churches to be found in the state. Its cost was $4,000. . 1 Sunday school, a Ladies' Aid Society, and a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society are maintained.
There was formerly a Methodist Episcopal church at Muir. For some years it had a resident pastor, but after 1878 it was attached to Lyons charge and served by the pastor of that charge. It ultimately disbanded, many of its members joining the Lyons church.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF IONIA.
The initiatory step in the formation of the First Baptist church of lonia was taken on June 24, 1834, at which time Rev. E. Loomis, agent of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and Kev. S. Slater, of the Thomas mission station were present. After sermon and religious services, Samuel Dexter, Erastus Yeomans and Alfred Cornell, and their wives, formed themselves into a conference. On the 23rd of the following August. Reverend Loomis being present, the subject of church organization was dis- cussed; it was thereupon decided to organize as the First Baptist church of lonia.
W. B. Lincoln was the first candidate for baptism. The following day, August 24. 1834. Reverend Loomis preached at the home of Erastus Yeo-
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mans. After this service Reverend Loomis extended the right hand of fel- lowship to Brother Cornell in behalf of the church, also to W. B. Lincoln, who was to be the first church clerk. . On the 18th of February, 1837, the church met at the school house in school district No. 1, according to previous adjournment, and adopted the articles of faith and covenant presented by the following committee, appointed for that purpose, namely: J. Eaton. R. S. Park, W. B. Lincoln and Erastus Yeomans. The following were also members of the church at this time, all received by letter : George Dexter and wife. Stephen Dexter and wife, William Wood and wife. Jeremiah Eaton. C'andis Dexter. Justus Barber, Mercy Smith and Delilah Clapsaddle. In August. 1837. Rev. A. C. Sangster, became pastor of the church and so con- tinued until 1840, when he was succeeded by Rev. II. D. Buttolph, who remained in this relation until 1844. The church at this time numbered forty-five members.
In 1845, Rev. . Alfred Cornell became pastor and remained with the church until 1862. a period of seventeen years-years of faithful, untiring, consecrated service, not only to his own church people, but to all the sur- rounding country. During the early part of Reverend Cornell's ministra- tion, a house of worship was erected; this building was occupied as a church until the completion of the new building in 1872. This first structure erected and dedicated as a church was the first and only church edifice in this section of the then wilderness, and for several years continued to be used for all large gatherings and wedding celebrations.
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