History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 67

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

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The First Unitarian Church was organized in September, 1858, with Allen Potter, William W. Alcott, Charles S. May, Harrison A. Smith, Silas Hubbard, Jonathan Tainter, and W. N. Burt as trustees. An organization had pre- viously existed, more especially under the control of the Christian denomination, of which Rev. Mr. Russell was the minister. This was continued about two years. In 1858, Rev. S. B. Flagg was invited to become the minister of the congregation, and meetings were held in the court-house. In 1861 measures were taken towards the erection of a church edifice. A lot was purchased on the east side of Park Street, between Lovell and Cedar, and the present church built thereon and dedicated in May, 1863. In November, 1864, Mr. Flagg resigned, and was succeeded in March, 1865, by Rev. C. G. Howland, the present pastor. Regular meetings are not at this time kept up, although the society still exists.

St. Augustine's Church ( Catholic) .- This church is located at the corner of Kalamazoo Avenue and Park Street. Ser- vices were held by various missionaries until the first Sunday in February, 1856, when Rev. Father Isidore Ant. Lebel took charge as the first pastor, and held missionary services in adjoining counties. The first church edifice was a small brick building, which stood on the corner near the site of the present fine brick structure. The latter was begun in 1864 and finished and dedicated about 1869. Its total cost was in the neighborhood of $75,000. It is built of cream-colored brick, with stone trimmings. It has a base- ment 9 feet in the clear, and projecting about 5 feet above

the ground. The height of the side walls from the grade line is 30 feet. The entire length of the building is 131 feet, and its width is 53 feet, except at the front, where the two massive spires increase the width to 68 feet. These spires are 130 feet high. The style of the church is Romanesque, with a strong Norman character in its front. The present pastor is Rev. Father Patrick B. Murray, who came here in the early part of 1876 from Ypsilanti. Much of his life has been spent at Mackinac, on Beaver Island, and among the early missions in the northeastern portion of the State. He has no assistants in his charge of St. Augus- tine's, which has about 1100 communicants. A school sustained by the parish has an attendance of about 240, and is taught by four Sisters of Mercy from Monroe, Mich. The Sunday-school has about the same attendance.

Congregation Benai Israel .- The Israelites of Kalama- zoo organized into a congregation according to the ancient Hebrew rites at the beginning of the year 1866. They began their organization by laying out a piece of ground for a burial-place, which is located west of and adjoining Mountain Home Cemetery. Services were held at private houses until about 1866, when a rabbi was engaged and regular services were held at the house of Mr. Rosenberg, where a room was fitted up for use as a synagogue, meet- ings occurring on Friday evening and Saturday morning of each week. The present house of worship on South Street, east of Burdick, was built in 1873-74 and dedicated in January, 1875. The membership is now (January, 1880) between 25 and 30, and nearly every member has a family. Mr. Meyer Cramer was secretary and treasurer for ten years, or until November, 1879, when Julius Schuster was chosen to fill the position. The other officers at present are B. M. Desenberg, President; Henry Stern, Vice- President ; M. Cohn, D. Lilienfeld, Trustees. The lot on which the synagogue stands, together with the frame house now used as a residence for the minister, was purchased at a cost of $5000, and the expense of building, etc., swelled the total to nearly $15,000. When the day of dedication arrived the debt of the society was $5000, but it has since been reduced to about $1700, and mainly from the pockets of the members. The ministers of this organization have been Revs. Simon Rosenberg, E. Liepmansohn (who re- mained about five years), Isaac Epstein, also about five years, closing his labors Nov. 18, 1878, and Dr. Maurice Fluegel, who was elected to the pastorate in the month of January, 1880.

Reformed Church .- The Reformed Church of Kalamazoo was organized April 12, 1850, and consists of Hollanders, who hold their services in the Dutch language. The first pastor was Rev. Wynand Gardenier, who was installed in April, 1854, and died March 13, 1856. His successor was Rev. Henry G. Klyn, who was installed Nov. 18, 1857, and remained until March 25, 1863. Following him the pastors have been Rev. Y. Van der Meulen, installed in August, 1864, stayed about three and a half years ; Rev. Adrian Kriekaard, beginning in 1868 and remaining eight years ; and Rev. J. W. Ter Winkel, the present pastor. In 1850 the property on South Street belonging to the Congregationalists was purchased, including a lot and a frame church ; the present frame parsonage was built

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

soon after. The Methodist Episcopal church building was purchased by this society in the latter part of 1865, and sold and removed in 1870. The present large frame church was at once erected on the same site (southeast corner of Church Square), at a cost of about $13,000. The present membership of the Reformed Church is about 130 families, and its Consistory is composed of the following persons, viz. :

- Waal, - Hanekroot, J. Sinon, A. Pyl, M. Lucasse,

H. Ebeling, Elders ; J. J. Van Kersen, E. Tanis, Stulting, I. Toonder, Deacons. The Sunday-school has an attendance of about 300.'

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized July 27, 1856, with 9 members. The frame church edifice was erected in 1865, and dedicated December 30th of that year by Bishop Wayman. From the organization to 1866 the pastors were Revs. M. T. Newsom, Isaac Dillon, John Ridgway, Joseph McClaren, Daniel Cooper, Mr. Epps, H. J. Andrews, and H. J. Young. The pastors, beginning with 1867, have been the following: Rev. Joseph McClaren, 1867-68; Rev. Turner Roberts, 1869; Rev. McCary, 1870; Rev. George Curtis, 1871; Rev. H. B. Gordon, 1872-73; Rev. Daniel Burden, 1874; Rev. Roberson Jeffries, 1875-76 ; Rev. John McSmith, 1877- 78 ; Rev. J. H. Alexander, 1879; and Rev. Roberson Jeff- ries, 1880. The present membership of this church is about 80.

The African Baptist Church was organized in 1855, with 9 members, and Rev. T. J. Showers was the first pastor. He was succeeded by Elder Burket, and the pas- tors since have been Elders Boulder, Warren (subsequently a chaplain in the army), Cozzens, Washington (who came here from Canada), Fay (of the First Church), Russell, and Thomas Scott, of Detroit, who is the present incum- bent. During his temporary absence the members meet with the African Methodist Episcopal congregation. The present frame church was begun about two years after the society was organized, but was not finished for two or three years longer. Elder Burket's time expired before the building was completed, and Elder Showers was again called and appointed by the society its agent for collecting funds to finish the structure, and in this way the difficul- ties were overcome. Considerable aid has also been rend- ered by the First Baptist Church. The present membership is about 35, and that of the Sunday-school about 45.

Zion Church (German Lutheran), located at No. 19 Pine Street, was organized about December, 1868, by Rev. Jacob Raible, who is still its pastor. The present frame church was built in the summer of 1869, and a small house was afterwards purchased and remodeled for a parsonage. The value of the property is about $5000. Both a Sunday- school and a day-school are maintained, both being under the care of the pastor. The attendance at the day-school varies from 20 to 40, while about 80 belong to the Sunday- school. The church has about 70 members. Services are held in the German language.

Plymouth Congregational Church .- This society was organized in April, and recorded, May 25, 1869, with 39 members, principally from the First Congregational Church. The first trustees were elected April 27, 1869, consisting of Moses Kingsley, D. T. Allen, Martin Wilson, I. W. Fisk,

William H. Dudley, and C. S. Montague. An organization known as the " Wilson Chapel Society" had been formed in 1866, and a building erected on Lovell Street, in which to hold missionary services and Sabbath-school. It was taken down in 1871, removed, and rebuilt on its present site, south- west corner of Cedar and Park Streets. The new society was the outgrowth of the mission. The first pastor was Rev. D. N. Bordwell,* who has been succeeded by Revs. William L. Bragg, H. N. Burton, D.D., and N. S. Wright, of whom the latter is now in charge. The value of the church property, including the parsonage, is about $10,000, although its actual cost was over $11,000. The member- ship is 200, and the Sabbath-school has a membership of about 190. Dr. Burton was pastor a little more than three years, and Mr. Wright took charge Nov. 1, 1879.

True Dutch Reformed Church .- The buildings of this society are located at the southwest corner of Walnut and John Streets. The church was organized in April, 1869, with 37 male members, whose wives were afterwards ad- mitted to membership. The first pastor was Rev. John Noordewier, who came in the fall of 1871, and remained sixteen months. He was succeeded by Rev. E. Van der Vreis, who remained nearly five years. After a vacancy of some months-from April to December, 1879-Rev. J. Noordewier again took charge, and is the present pastor. Services are held in the language of the Netherlands. Be- tween 40 and 50 families are now connected with this church. The present frame house of worship was built in 1870, and the parsonage adjoining was erected during the pastorate of Mr. Van der Vreis. A good Sunday-school is maintained, conducted by four teachers. The value of the property belonging to the society is about $5000.

The North Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo (corner Burdick and Ransom Streets) was organized March 13, 1878, by the Presbytery of Kalamazoo, at a special meeting called for that purpose, Rev. Joseph H. France, Moderator, Rev. Theodore D. Marsh, Clerk ; Rev. Dr. Alfred Eddy, of Niles, Mich., preaching the sermon on the " True Church." There were received at this time 9 by letter from the First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo, 2 by certificate from the First Baptist Church, Kalamazoo, 3 by certificate from the Methodist Episcopal Church of Kalamazoo, 3 by letter from the United Presbyterian congregation of Martin, and 19 on profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, making 36 in all. The ordinance of baptism was adminis- tered to 6 of them. Since the organization 16 have been received on profession and 2 by letter. The present mem- bership is 55.

The officers of the church and society are Rev. John Anderson, Pastor ; Daniel O. Roberts, Egbert H. Clark, Justus G. Ketchum, Seth N. Hicks, Elders; Henry J. Howard, James Thomas, Deacons; Seth N. Hicks, Egbert H. Clark, Justus G. Ketchum, Samuel Born, James Nitch- kie, Wm. Henry How, Trustees.

The officers of the Sabbath-school are Daniel O. Roberts,

# Mr. Bordwell became pastor in May, 1869, and resigned Sept. 16, 1873. Mr. Bragg was called Nov. 30, 1873, and came-about the fol- lowing Christmas-from Marshalltown, Iowa. He resigned in Sep- tember, 1875. A call was extended to Dr. Burton, Feb. 28, 1876, and he assumed charge in March.

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VILLAGE OF KALAMAZOO.

Superintendent; Egbert H. Clark, Assistant Superinten- dent; Justus G. Ketchum, Secretary ; Eliza Valentine, Librarian ; Fred Goodman, Chorister; John Hoedemaker, Organist.

The Sabbath-school (of which the North Church is the outgrowth) was organized by 4 young ladies (members of the First Presbyterian Sabbath-school), viz., Misses Eliza L. Valentine, Helen Reed, Bertha Hilbert, and Addie Haley, on the 5th day of June, 1864, in the oak forest on the east side of Kalamazoo River, now known as the semi- nary grounds. Beneath those majestic oaks, on that beau- tiful June day, 12 scholars were gathered for the first time to hear God's word, and this " Mission in the Woods," or " Mission Woods Sabbath-school," as it always has been known, was organized, and continued in its forest home, managed by the young ladies, until fall, when Mr. B. Mc- Cain became interested in the work, and through his en- deavors the old red school-house was secured for their ses- sions, and this school moved in the first Sabbath in October, 1864. Mr. McCain remained superintendent of the school until April, 1865, when Mr. Herbert Dennison, the assis- tant superintendent, took the position, and at the first an- nual meeting,* in June, 1865, Mr. Frank S. Hillhouse was elected superintendent, and he remained as such for five years, or until June, 1870, when he resigned the position, positively declining to accept it again. During his admin- istration David Haines and Gilbert Wilson were assistant superintendents, S. W. Faxon, Mary H. and Lucius L. Clark, secretaries. Mr. Hillhouse entered upon this work, and gathered around him many valuable helpers, and this school soon outgrew its quarters in the school-house, and knew not where to go.

At this juncture the First Presbyterian Sabbath-school voted to buy a lot and build a chapel, and L. H. Trask, W. A. Tomlinson, and D. O. Roberts were appointed a com- mittee for that purpose, and they selected the lot corner of Burdick and Ransom Streets, and erected the chapel now standing thereon, 60 by 28 feet, at a cost not far from $2000. The school took possession the first Sabbath in August, 1866, and very soon doubled its numbers, and has continued to occupy it until the present time.

At the annual meeting in June, 1870, Daniel O. Rob- erts was elected superintendent ; H. M. Warren, assistant ; Edward C. Parsons, secretary. During the administration of Mr. Roberts, nearly ten years, he has had very valuable assistance from Mr. Gilbert Wilson, D. C. Higley, and Egbert H. Clark (the present incumbent), who, as assist- ant superintendents, have contributed largely to the success of the school. Mr. Edward C. Parsons, as secretary and chorister (for several years), Mr. Frank H. Tuthill, M. R. Gardner, and Mr. Justus G. Ketchum, the present sec- retary, have aided very materially in keeping the school well organized.

Mr. S. W. Faxon and S. V. Streeter, as choristers, and Miss Lina Hoedemaker, as organist and chorister, for sev- eral years, have done much towards cultivating the musical talent of the school. To the present organist, Mr. John A.

Hoedemaker, the school and church feel under great obli- gations for his faithful attendance, not only in presiding at the organ, but in leading the singing for both church and Sabbath-school until within a few months. Mr. Fred. Goodmon, our present chorister, has come to his assistance in leading the singing in both church and Sunday-school. Miss E. L. Valentine, one of the original organizers, has been librarian for fifteen years.

The present outlook for the school and church is very encouraging. It stands in a portion of Kalamazoo number- ing several thousands, and not an evangelical church but this one.

The managers of the Sunday-school had felt for several years that stated preaching ought to be sustained in North Kalamazoo, and in January, 1876, the experiment was tried, and several of the students from the college preached during that winter, demonstrating that a congregation could be gathered with proper effort. Through the assist- ance of the Ladies' Aid Society of the First Presbyterian Church, who contributed $300 of the sum needed, the services of Rev. E. B. Sherwood were secured in April, 1876, who spent a year on the field, visiting from house to house, conducting evening meetings, and preaching on the Sabbath; he visited over 600 families in North Kalamazoo. To his labors, in a great degree, is attributed the organi- zation of the North Church, although it was not organized until nearly a year after he left. Mr. S. C. Irland, an evangelist from Chicago, succeeded Mr. Sherwood for nine months, until January, 1878, and when he left it seemed as though the effort to sustain preaching must be aban- doned; but "man's extremity is God's opportunity," and while it seemed the darkest, the light was very near to us. For the Lord sent us Rev. J. Anderson to preach a few Sabbaths, and the way opened for a church to be organized and he was chosen its pastor, and North Kalamazoo will long remember the labor of himself and his faithful wife in advancing the kingdom of the Lord. Since the organiza- tion of the society, they have been enabled to build an ad- dition to the chapel 24 by 36, for prayer-meetings, put in a furnace, gas, pews, and cushions, involving an expense of $1800, and are entirely out of debt. The congregations on the Sabbath have increased, and the Sabbath-school is cramped for want of room, having an average of nearly 200, with an enrollment of 400 and over at the present time.

Holland Free Evangelical Church .- In the summer of 1879 the True Reformed Church was supplied by Rev. C. Best. Owing to some technical difficulty in his credentials from the old country, from which he had recently come, he was not retained as pastor. In consequence he established an independent congregation, drawing about 20 families away from the True Church, and meetings under his leader- ship are now held in the Red-Ribbon Hall, on East Main Street. The Free Church has now about 80 members.

CHILDREN'S HOME.

As early as 1872-73, Mrs. William G. Dewing and Miss Eliza Fisher (now Mrs. Goodspeed) adopted the plan of having such children as could not attend the union school come one afternoon in each week and receive lessons in an

# The report of attendance for the year, at this meeting, was: Whole enrollment, 112; scholars left, 35; average attendance during the " year, -- scholars, 27; scholars and teachers, 32.

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HISTORY OF KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

industrial line,-sewing, knitting, etc.,-and all appeared very eager to learn. Two afternoons in each week were soon taken up, and these lessons were continued for some time. They finally ceased, however, and it was not until February, 1877, that further steps were taken in the matter. At the latter date William G. Dewing and wife established the "Children's Home," in a rented building at the west end of Main Street, where it was continued about eighteen months. This home was opened for the purpose of teach- ing children whose parents were unable to give them even a common education: The home was finally removed to a building on Potter Street, owned by Mrs. B. F. Orcutt, but even there the room is hardly sufficient, and it is ex- pected more commodious quarters will soon be engaged. The number of children at the home has ranged from 35 to 37, and all attend the union school except the younger ones. Miss C. C. Head, the present matron, has held the position, with the exception of the first three or four months, since the home was established. Six or seven children have been adopted from the institution, and good homes have been found for others, where they could receive the necessary training in the common and most useful duties of life.

The annual expense of running the home, including rent, matron's wages, etc., has been about $850, and this covers also the private contributions. The help hired num- ber from 12 to 14 persons, and the inmates of the home are all girls. The plan of the institution is truly benevo- lent, and the results of the labors of its founders have been very satisfactory. Mr. and Mrs. Dewing have visited many of the charitable institutions in this and other coun- tries, and the result of their observations has been the ap- plication in their own school of the best features of the others. The home is not incorporated. William G. Dew- ing is the present Secretary ; D. B. Merrill, Treasurer ; and Mrs. W. G. Dewing, Executive Committee. The institu- tion has supplied a great want in the village, and its benefits are recognized by all.

CEMETERIES.

Mountain Home Cemetery .- This beautiful city of the dead lies at the western extremity of the village proper, and is justly the pride of the citizens of Kalamazoo and the surprise of the " stranger within the gates," for it is seldom so fine a cemetery is found outside of a large city. What nature failed to do for the site the hand of man has sup- plied, and the arrangement of the cemetery is perfect. It is located among the rolling hills that shut in upon the Kal- amazoo valley to the westward, in the midst of a natural grove, and birds and squirrels live a life of enjoyment among the trees, recking not that the turf around them covers the earthly remains of many an honored citizen of the place, nor that the tears of mourners mingle with the soil that wraps their dead.

The site of the cemetery was first purchased from the State by L. H. Trask, it being a part of section 16 (school lands). In liber P of Deed Records for Kalamazoo County, at page 87, is recorded a deed from Lucius L. Clark and wife, and Henry Gilbert and wife, to the Moun- tain Home Cemetery Association, conveying, for the sum of

$500, on the 22d of January, 1850, the following described premises, embracing nearly 17 acres :*

" Beginning at the southwest corner of lot No. 34, on section 16, town 2 south, of range 11 west, according to plat No. 2 of said section, on file in the office of the Regis- ter of Deeds for Kalamazoo County ; thence by mag. need. north 5° 45' west 9 chains and 28 links, said course being on the west line of said lot 34; thence east 14 chains and 48 links; thence south 5° 45' east, parallel with the west line of said lot 34, 12 chains and 69 links to the centre of Grand Prairie Road; thence north 84° 30' west along the centre of said road 5 chains and 38 links ; thence north 73º west, 9 chains and 38 links to the place of beginning."

Two small additions have since been made, one each on the north and west. The original purchasers of the cem- etery were 30 men of the place, who contributed $20 each. The ground was surveyed and laid out by L. H. Trask, and the purchasers met and drew lots for choice of sites for their own use, after which the remaining lots were thrown open to public sale, the price being $20 each ; this figure was afterwards increased to $30, and finally to $40. Recent improvements which have been made are assessed to the lots adjacent, but aside from this all lots are held at $40. The following is section 1 of the act incorporating the cem- etery, approved March 28, 1849, and amended in 1875 :

" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, That Isaac Moffatt, Jr., Luther H. Trask, Jeremiah P. Woodbury, Alexander Buell, Horace Starkweather, Nathaniel A. Balch, Epaphro. Ransom, David B. Webster, and Mitchell Hinsdell, and their successors, be, and they are hereby constituted, a body pol- itic and corporate, by the name and style of the ' Trustees of Mountain Home Cemetery,' and by that name to have perpetual succession, and be capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, answering and being answered unto, defending and being defended, in all suits, complaints, matters, and causes whatsoever, in any court of law or equity in this State; and to have a common seal, and to make all such by-laws, rules, and regulations (not repugnant or contrary to the law of the land), as they may deem necessary, relative to said cemetery, and the good government and management thereof."

It is related that the former owner of the property, Mr. West, was the first person to be laid beneath the sod of the new cemetery. " One day he saw the last of earth and was ready for his last, long sleep. It was a raw, chill No- vember day; biting blasts and bitter rains prevailed, the dead leaves lay in wet masses, and turned up their black sides as the funeral train passed to the narrow resting-place the old man had chosen for himself, a retired and lonely spot. It was a mournful sight ; but five or six persons had attended his funeral, and the pall was borne by them, and, as they struggled up the hillside to the grave, they were obliged often to set it down. The remains were deposited below the surface with no other prayer or benediction than the requiem of the blast, and no weepers but the cold and cruel heavens. No stone nor slab of any kind marks the spot where he was laid, and very few know of its where- abouts."

The permanent fund of the cemetery corporation, arising from the surplus from the sale of lots over the cost of im- provements, etc., is now about $12,000, the interest of

# This deed is contradictory to the statement that the land was pur- chased of a man named West, and for the sum of $600, and if any trade was ever made with Mr. West it does not appear on the record.

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which only is used for necessary expenses, together with the proceeds of additional lot sales if they are not added to the permanent fund. The trustees receive no compensa- tion for their services. A frame building-sexton's lodge -has been erected near the entrance to the cemetery, and is now occupied by James Borland, who has been sexton since 1873, succeeding William Oliver. The present officers of Mountain Home Cemetery are L. H. Trask, President; N. A. Balch, Secretary; F. E. Woodward, Treas- urer ; S. S. Cobb, Superintendent ; Isaac Moffatt, L. H. Trask, A. Buell, S. S. Cobb, N. A. Balch, J. P. Wood- bury, F. E. Woodward, Henry Gibert, David Fisher, Trustees ; L. H. Trask, J. P. Woodbury, S. S. Cobb, Com- mittee on Grounds ; A. Buell, David Fisher, N. Balch, Committee on Finance.

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History of Kalamazoo county, Michigan, Part 67

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