History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 66

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761

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" In 1875 the nomenclature of the grading was somewhat simplified by the omission of the word 'intermediate,' and the schools are now divided into 3 departments of 4 grades each, as follows : Primary, grammar, and high school; in all, 12 grades of one year each.

" The grades of the school culminate in the high school; nearly every pupil who enters a primary or grammar grade expects, event- ually, to become a pupil in the high school, and hopes to graduate therefrom. Its stimulating influence upon all the grades below is too

wide-spread and deep-reaching to admit of computation ; nor is it any less difficult to estimate its influence upon the community which sus- tains it. In one respect, however, its value and importance are easily recognized,-the number of teachers it has furnished, both from its graduates and from those who have not completed any regular course, is surprisingly large. The graduating exercises excite a larger in- terest among the people of Kalamazoo than any other educational event of the year; the largest audience-room attainable is far too small to hold those seeking admittance, and hundreds are turned away. The high school is not, to any great extent, a preparatory school to the University of Michigan; yet 15 per cent. of its gradu- ates, and some of its undergraduates, have entered the university, while several have gone to other colleges."

An annual teachers' institute is held by the superintend- ent in the week preceding the fall term, continuing three days.

Besides its public schools the village had, almost from the earliest years, very good select schools. These were often taught by clergymen, lawyers, and other competent persons. As early as 1836 a gentleman by the name of Hall was teaching a select school ; and among other prom- inent teachers between 1840 and 1850 were Rev. Richards and J. W. Bruce. A lyceum was also among the early institutions of learning .*

LIBRARIES.

Ladies' Library Association .- This association was formed in 1852, through the efforts of several of the vil- lage ladies, and placed under the management of ten of their number, as executive officers. Mrs. Kedzie was chosen the first president. The money paid as membership fees was expended in the purchase of books and renting a room for the use of the library. Public entertainments, tableaux, concerts, etc., were given, and all aided in increasing the funds. In 1867 the number of volumes in the library was 1356, including many which were excellent. The number at present is 2908, and very many of them are the works of standard authors. During six years succeeding April, 1853, the association occupied one of the lower rooms in the court-house, and from 1859 to 1868 one of the base- ment rooms of the Baptist church. In the latter year it removed to Corporation Hall, where it remained until the fall of 1878, when it again occupied its former rooms in the Baptist church. The increasing number of volumes and the importance of the institution finally necessitated the erection of a building which should be an honor to the association, and steps were taken toward that end. The present elegant building, located on Park Street, was erected in 1878, by Messrs. Bush & Paterson, and cost, altogether, $9371.09. The contract price was $8000, of which $2000 were paid out of the building fund of the association, and $3000 by the citizens of the village in pri- vate donations. The balance of $3000 was borrowed, and a mortgage given on the building for the amount. Mrs. Ruth W. Webster donated the lot on which the building stands, and an elegant memorial window in her honor has been placed in the eastern end. The inscription upon it is as follows :

" In Memoriam. Ruth W. Webster, November 27th, 1878. Twenty- four years Treasurer and Fifteen years Librarian of the Ladies' Li- brary Association. Faithful unto Death. She hath wrought a good work."

# For history of institutes, colleges, branch of University, etc., see Chapter XXI.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

This window cost $320. The new building was dedicated Tuesday evening, May 20, 1879, and formally opened on the evening following. It is located on the east side of Park Street, south of the park, and faces the west. The archi- tecture is composite, classed with the Renaissance period, with antique English features predominating. It is built of brick, with cut-stone trimmings, is two stories high, 30 by 60 feet in dimensions, with a tower 14 by 18, besides the portico. "The basement is cemented and is devoted to the heating and ventilating arrangements. The latter are of the most recent design, and, together with the window openings, control the currents in the rooms above, so that the percep- tible circulation is only in the upper strata of air in the rooms. The woodwork, the very finest of its class, is in black ash. The window-casings are heavy, and the shutters, in opening, fold into them, so as to appear a part of the, casing. The windows are of plate-glass in the two sliding sashes, with movable transoms of stained glass, having va- rious designs from well-known subjects in literature. The foundations and supports for both floors are as solid as would be required for a building several times the size of this. The supports which uphold the floor above are so arranged that they can constitute the limit of the alcoves, if the fu- ture growth of the library requires the adoption of that arrangement. The walls are left in the rough finish, ready for frescoing, which will be added at a future time."* The first floor is entirely occupied by the library, except a space at the front (west) end, which can be shut off by folding doors and used for meetings of the board. A museum has been inaugurated in this part, and already has an interesting col- lection. The upper room, or auditorium, is finely finished, and a neat stage occupies its east end. All the windows, above and below, are tasteful, and decorated with scenes rep- resenting passages in the works of various authors,-all for- eign except one. The only American scene is from Cooper. The present officers of the library are : President, Mrs. H. C. Briggs ; Vice-President, Mrs. K. Brooks; Secretary, Miss L. Cobb; Treasurer, Mrs. T. P. Sheldon, long a prominent member; Assistant Secretary, Miss C. S. Shel- don ; Critic, Mrs. George Trask ; Associate Chairmen Art and Literature Committee, Mrs. R. Babcock, Mrs. J. J. Griffiths ; Chairman Science and Education Committee, Mrs. J. K. Wagner ; Chairman History Committee, Mrs. Lyon ; Associate Chairmen of Miscellaneous Committee, Mrs. Sheldon, Mrs. McDuffie ; Librarian, Mrs. J. Sill.

The following additional information was received after our article had been prepared for the press, and we insert it here.

About 1844-45, Mrs. Lyman Kendall and Mrs. Alexis Ransom adopted the plan of meeting once a week and read- ing to each other, for mutual benefit, and very shortly after- ward Mrs. Charles Gibbs united with them in their enter- prise. A volume of " Hyperion" was borrowed and its pages enjoyed. Soon the number of ladies was increased to eight, and the subject of forming a library association was seriously discussed. The village at the time contained prob- ably 2000 inhabitants. It was " districted," and the ladies made a thorough canvass for members of the association, from

whom a fee of fifty cents each was required, or a book taken, and in this way a library grew out of the " reading circle," as the meetings of the ladies had been called. The associa- tion adopted the name of the " Ladies' Library Associa- tion," and was in due time incorporated. Their first con- stitution was drawn up by Lyman Kendall, who was the first gentleman to interest himself in behalf of their undertaking. The executive board consisted of eight ladies, among whom were Mrs. Kendall, Mrs. Alexis Ransom, and Mrs. D. B. Webster. A room-the rent of which was given them- was fitted up in the old court-house, aud painted and papered by the ladies themselves. Mrs. Dr. J. A. B. Stone was also prominently connected with the organization, and from this beginning grew the present library. The old book-case has been disposed of at a recent date.

Young Men's Library Association .- This society was organized in September, 1858, with Herinan E. Hascall, President ; C. D. Hanscomb, Vice-President; A. J. Gib- son, Recording Secretary ; Maj. Thomas At Lee, Corres- ponding Secretary, and George W. Taylor, Treasurer. A library and reading-room was established in Parker & Dew- ing's block, on Burdick Street. The first meeting as an organization was held at the rooms of the association on Monday evening, March 7, 1859, when articles of incorpo- ration were adopted and an election of officers held. Pro- fessor D. Putnam was made President ; David Fisher, Vice- President ; M. Augustus Allen, Recording Secretary ; Dr. Foster Pratt, Corresponding Secretary ; H. B. Warner, Treasurer ; W. W. Peck, Librarian and Collector; and Herman E. Hascall, Dr. Homer O. Hitchcock, Dr. J. Adams Allen, and Thomas R. Sherwood, members of the Executive Committee. The new organization continued to sustain the reading-room already established, and by in- ducing several citizens to become life members, a fund was collected with which the first installment of books for the library, consisting of 500 volumes, was purchased. The first course of lectures before the association was also de- livered during the year, but with indifferent success pecuni- arily. Additions to the library were frequently made, but in the year 1861 the reading-room was discontinued by a vote of the association. The excitement of the war caused the society to be much neglected. At the close of the war, however, the interest in it was renewed, and a large num- ber of volumes was added to the old collection .; Since the school library was thrown open to the public little has been done by the Young Men's Library Association, and its books, 2000 in number, have been placed in charge of the former, although the latter still owns them.

Kalamazoo Public School Library .- This excellent library, now numbering about 5400 volumes, is the prop- erty of school district No. 1, and was started with a few books left from the old township library. The first books for the school library were purchased in 1860, and were for the use of the school-children only. Frank Little, Esq., was librarian from 1860 until 1872, in the fall of which latter year the library was thrown open to the public. At that time the number of volumes was less than 3000. Miss Mary J. Wolcott took charge as librarian, and remained in

# From description in Kalamazoo Telegraph, May 21, 1879.

+ From historical sketch of association, 1867.

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

that capacity for three years (or until 1875), when she was succeeded by her assistant, Miss Isabella C. Roberts, who still holds the position. The books of the Young Men's Library, some 2000 in number, were taken in charge, and their use was finally given to the school library, which, in- cluding them, contains 7400 volumes. The average circu- lation is about 700, although as many as 1000 are issued during some weeks in the winter. The rooms in use are those in Corporation Hall, formerly occupied by the Young Ladies' Library Association, and were taken possession of by the district in December, 1878. A free reading-room is also sustained in the same building.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

St. Luke's Church (Episcopal) .*- March 22, 1837, the articles of association of the parish of St. Luke's Church were signed, and the following officers elected : T. P. Shel- don and Thomas Clark, Wardens; A. Cooley, W. W. Welch, George A. O'Brien, C. E. Stuart, and William G. Dewing, Vestrymen. Mr. Sheldon is now (January, 1880) the senior warden of the parish. In September, 1837, the first church edifice was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Samuel Allen McCroskey, bishop of the diocese of Michigan, as- sisted by Rev. Charles Reiley, of Ypsilanti. Jan. 3, 1838, Rev. John Fenton was called to the rectorship, and re- mained one year. He resigned Jan. 26, 1839, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Bissell. In July, 1840, an addi- tion to the church edifice was completed ; Rev. Luman Foote was then rector, and continued until 1843. March 27, 1845, a call was extended to Rev. A. D. Cole, who became rector, and remained until November, 1849. In 1846 it was decided to dispose of the old church, and the corner- stone of the present building was laid on the 3d of Septem- ber, in that year. Beginning with the first day of October, 1848, the parish became self-sustaining. Feb. 11, 1850, Rev. Samuel Goodale became rector, remaining until 1853, and was succeeded in the latter year by Rev. C. C. Taylor, who continued to serve until his death, which occurred Feb. 1, 1855. On the 10th of October, 1855, Rev. E. B. Palmer was elected, and remained nearly two years. Rev. L. M. Freeman began his labors March 15, 1858, and dur- ing his rectorship the church edifice was enlarged to its present proportions. Mr. Freeman was succeeded by Rev. George Willard, who resigned Jan. 1, 1862, after one year's services. Rev. W. C. Hurd took charge Feb. 1, 1862, and became the rector on the 1st of April following, re- maining until January, 1865, when, owing to feeble health, he resigned. His successor, Rev. J. R. Anderson, entered on his labors Oct. 1, 1865, and remained a little over four years, closing his services in the latter part of 1869 or early in 1870. Rev. William Henry Watts came in the spring of 1870, and was succeeded, May 1, 1872; by Rev. J. F. Conover, the present rector. Mr. Conover had previously been a resident of Detroit for over seventeen years. St. Luke's is his first parish, he having entered the ministry im- mediately previous to his coming to Kalamazoo. The pres- ent number of communicants in this parish is about 190. The Sunday-school has an enrolled membership of 75, and an average attendance of about 55.

St. Barnabas' Chapel, located in the southeast part of the corporation, was opened Oct. 22, 1876, and is in charge of the rector of St. Luke's. The frame building in use was erected in 1876, at a cost of $1400, and will seat about 150 persons. The attendants are numbered among those of St. Luke's. Its Sunday-school has a membership of 50 to 75, and the attendance at the chapel varies from 25 to 100.

St. Luke's Church Home for aged and friendless women is located in a rented building at 79 Academy Street, and was established Nov. 1, 1879. Its objects are to take care of the poor of the parish and provide a comfortable home for aged, respectable women belonging to the parish, and for those outside if the cost of their maintenance is pro- vided for.

St. John's Church ( Episcopal) .- In the latter part of the year 1859 the project of establishing a second Episcopal Church began to be seriously discussed. The desire culmi- nated in the formation of St. John's Church on the evening of the feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, 1860. A vestry was elected, of which Horace E. Penfield was senior warden, and Rev. L. N. Freeman was invited to the rectorship. The congregation met in Firemen's Hall for worship, and in a short time the congregation and Sunday-school assumed large proportions. Mr. Freeman resigned Sept. 1, 1860, and lay reading was kept up until December 23d, when Rev. Samuel D. Pulford took charge of the parish. Soon after his arrival the subject of erecting a house of worship was discussed, and a building committee was appointed, con- sisting of the rector, H. E. Penfield, and W. I. Tillotson. Mr. Penfield donated grounds worth $2000 for a church and parsonage, and subscribed $1250 besides. The corner- stone of the church was laid April 17, 1861, by the bishop of the diocese, and the building was occupied the first Sun- day after Christmas, in the same year. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Pulford resigned, and Rev. C. A. Foster, LL D., was called. Six months later a neat and comfortable par- sonage was completed on the parsonage lot, adjoining the church. The successors of Dr. Foster have been as follows : Rev. Robert H. Paine, from December, 1876, to Decem- ber, 1877; Rev. Charles T. Stout, since April 14, 1878. An interval of about a year elapsed between Dr. Foster's resignation and Mr. Paine's coming. A reduction in the number of communicants in this parish has been caused by removals, the number now (January, 1880) being 96. The Sunday-school has a membership of about 90, and is con- ducted by 13 teachers and officers. The church edifice is built of brick, and stands on Lovell Street, at the head of Church Street.

First Congregational Church .- The building of this society is located at the northeast corner of Academy and Park Streets. The church was organized June 6, 1835, with 14 members, under the Presbyterian form of govern- ment, by Rev. Silas Woodbury, whose services terminated in August, 1839. Rev. O. P. Hoyt was called to the pas- torate in April, 1840. The Congregational form of gov- ernment was adopted Jan. 10, 1842, the church still retain- ing its connection with the Presbytery, on the plan of union, then common in like organizations, and was thus united until Feb. 5, 1849, when the acting pastor, Rev. O. P. Hoyt, with some 50 members, to whom letters of dis-

* Located at northwest corner Main and Park Streets.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

missal were given, withdrew from its communion, and organized the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo. Rev. A. S. Kedzie was settled as pastor of the Congrega- tional Church in May, 1850, and remained until May 19, 1853. During his ministry measures were taken for the erection of a church edifice, which was completed in 1852. In the summer of 1853 Rev. John T. Avery supplied the pulpit. Rev. Granville Wardwall succeeded him as supply, Jan. 5, 1854, and was elected pastor on the 9th of Feb- ruary following, closing his labors here Feb. 14, 1855. Rev. Edward Taylor received a call in December, 1855, and was installed as pastor* Feb. 21, 1856, remaining until Oct. 5, 1863. In November, 1863, Rev. Henry Mills was called, and was installed April 6, 1864 ; his services termi- nated Oct. 18, 1865. Rev. F. F. Ford was called Nov. 27, 1865, and remained as supply until January, 1867. Rev. Oliver S. Dean supplied the pulpit from July 29, 1867, to Nov. 30, 1873; Rev. Frank Russell, from Jan. 17, 1874, to April 23, 1878 ; and Rev. W. H. Thomas, the present supply, assumed his duties Sept. 1, 1878. Dur- ing the winter of 1879-80 the interior of the church was extensively repaired, and now presents a fine appearance. The present membership is 305, and the Sunday-school has about 200 members.

Presbyterian Church .- The First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo was organized Feb. 6, 1849, with 51 members, dismissed for the purpose from the First Congregational Church. L. H. Trask, F. E. Woodbury, and W. P. Bar- rows were elected elders. On the 25th of the same month 58 others united with the church, and additional elders were elected in the persons of Alexander McCall, A. Armes, and D. B. Webster, while Henry Gilbert and Lyman Tuttle were elected deacons. A house of worship had been erected during the previous summer and fall (1848), and public worship and a Sabbath-school were begun in it early in March, 1849. Rev. O. P. Hoyt acted as pastor about two years, and finally entered upon the duties of district secre- tary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. From that time until September, 1854, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. J. W. Ray, Rev. H. W. Peck, Rev. E. S. Lacy, and others. At the last named date Rev. William S. Huggins became the pastor, and died in office March 23, 1862. In 1860, the house having been found . too small to accommodate the increased congregation, it was enlarged to about double its original capacity. After the death of Mr. Huggins, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. E. Strong, D.D., and others, until the fall of 1863, when an invitation was extended to Rev. Job Pierson, which was accepted, and he was installed pastor Jan. 14, 1864, re- maining until July 1, 1868. His successors have been Rev. J. V. Hilton, from Nov. 1, 1868, to July 1, 1873; Rev. A. K. Strong, D.D., from March 1, 1874, to July 4, 1875; Rev. J. H. France, from Nov. 7, 1875, to Dec. 1, 1878; and George L. Spinning, D.D., since Jan. 1, 1879. The elders of this church at present are L. H. Trask, F. E. Woodward, H. Gilbert, C. A. Booth, Jonathan Parsons, J. S. Ayres. The deacons are P. L. Haines, R. Corkie, J. D.

Sumner, John De Visser. The membership on the 20th of January, 1880, was 370. The Sabbath-school has a membership of 275, and an average attendance of 200; its superintendent is W. F. Parsons. The North Presbyterian Church, until recently a mission Sabbath-school, was estab- lished originally by the First Church.

First Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first sermon preached in this town was by Rev. James T. Robe, who was appointed to the Kalamazoo Mission in 1832 by the Indiana Conference, and who is still a resident of the place. The service was held at the house of Titus Bronson. The first Methodist Episcopal class was organized in 1833, consisting of 8 members, f with Harrison Coleman as leader. The first board of trustees was organized Feb. 8, 1841, at the house of C. Walters, and consisted of David Swayze, C. Walters, Luke Olmstead, Isaac A. Tewkesbury, Amos P. Bush, Isaac Wiseman, William E. White, and David J. Davidson. The first church edifice was dedicated in 1842, and stood on the southeast corner of Church Square. It was occupied until the spring of 1866, when it was sold to the Reformed Dutch Church. The present elegant brick church, at the southeast corner of Rose and Lovell Streets, was built in 1867-69, and cost $50,000. It was dedicated Sept. 12, 1869, at the close of the pastoral labors of Rev. Liston H. Pearce. Rev. H. N. Joy was appointed pastor at about the same time. The chapel of the present church was begun in 1867, and for some time it appeared doubtful that a church would be erected ; but in 1868 the enterprise was taken in hand by thirteen men, who pledged themselves to see the plan carried out, and the result was the final com- pletion of the building. Dr. E. O. Haven on the day of dedication remarked that it was the most beautiful Metho- dist church he ever saw. The building is one hundred and thirty-five feet long and averages eighty feet in width,- these measurements including the chapel. The main tower, at the northwest corner of the structure, is one hundred and seventy feet high. The dedication sermon was delivered by Rev. J. M. Reed, then editor of the Chicago Christian Advocate. The society is now clear of debt and in a good financial condition. The membership is about 500, and the pastor is Rev. John Graham, who has been in charge since September, 1878. The Sabbath-school has an enrollment of about 400, and an average attendance of 250. The superintendent is James M. Davis, Esq.

First Baptist Church .- This church, located at the southwest corner of Church and Main Streets, was organ- ized in 1836, in connection with the early religious move- ments of the town. Its first pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Hall, D.D., was the first resident minister and stated preacher who located in the village, his settlement dating from June, 1835. The original members of the church numbered 14; Ezekiel Ransom and Enoch French were the first deacons. Dr. Hall served as pastor about eight years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. A. B. Stone, D.D., who officiated six and a half years, and was assisted at times by his asso- ciate in the Baptist Institute, Prof. W. L. Eaton. The third pastor was Rev. E. Anderson, who was ordained and settled in 1849, remaining a little under three years. Rev.

# During Mr. Taylor's pastorate the church was enlarged to its present dimensions,-42 by 90 feet,-with a chapel in the rear, 24 by 36 feet.

Rodney Seymour, of Kalamazoo, is the sole survivor of this class.

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

S. Haskell succeeded him in August, 1852, and continued until 1871, when he resigned soon after the dedication of the church (as remodeled), and accepted a call to Ann Arbor, Mich. His successor was Rev. -- Hodge, D.D., who remained until 1878, when he resigned and accepted a call to become pastor of the First Baptist Church of Mil- waukee, Wis. The present pastor, Rev. N. J. Wheeler, took charge of the church in April, 1879, having previously occupied the pulpit of the Central Baptist Church, of New- port, R. I. The present house of worship was begun in 1853, and completed and dedicated in October, 1855. In 1870 it was remodeled, and a large sum of money laid out in repairs. In August, 1879, the membership, as reported to the Association, was 442. A large and flourishing Sab- bath-school is maintained, with Rev. Samuel Brooks, D.D., of Kalamazoo College, as superintendent.

Tabernacle Baptist Church .- This church was organized early in 1865, and was composed principally of those who had been members of the First Baptist Church. The dea- cons were Samuel H. Ransom, John Potter, Lorenzo J. Fox, and John Tabor, who had held the same position in the First Church. The pulpit was supplied for a short time by Rev. J. A. B. Stone and by ministers from abroad. They were formally recognized by an ecclesiastical council in November, 1865. In April, 1865, Rev. Jeremiah Hall, late president of Dennison University, was called to the pastorate, having been also the first pastor of the First Church. Firemen's Hall was fitted up in 1865 as a place in which to hold services, but it was proposed to erect a church edifice in some more suitable place. This was not done, however, and the society has now ceased to exist.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 66

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott Number of Pages: 761

Author: Durant, Samuel W. comp
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Philadelphia. Everts & Abbott
Number of Pages: 761