History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 85

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434

USA > Michigan > Kent County > History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 85

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In 1842 Rev. T. Z. R. Jones was sent into this part of this State by the American Baptist Home Missionary Society, and the Church was resuscitated. Mr. Jones remained only two or three years, making Grand Rapids his headquarters and preaching in - the towns and settlements about, when he left, and the Church was again without a pastor. And so the Church struggled along, few in numbers, weak in resources, "cast down, but not de- stroyed." They met for worship sometimes in private houses,-for awhile in the old court-house, which stood in the park, in the school-house on Prospect Hill, and again in an upper room in the National Hotel, which stood where the Morton House now stands. In Judge E. W. Davis they found a natural leader, who did much to keep up their meetings and their courage, and whose Sabbath exhortations supplied the place of preaching.

About this time a lot was purchased on the West Side, as a site for a church edifice, and materials were collected for building it. But the Church was not able to procure a title to the property, and so the project failed. The Church was supplied at different times by Rev. F. L. Batchelder, who organized a Church at Indian creek, now the Alpine and Walker Church. This took a number of members from the Grand Rapids Church, and much weak- ened it.

In 1848 the Church purchased the old Episcopal house of wor- ship, which stood at the corner of Bronson and North Division streets, where now stands the residence of Julius Berkey. The building itself is the blacksmith shop which now stands on the corner of Park and Division streets. About the same time that this purchase was made, the Church called Rev. C. A. Jennison to be its pastor. He was a young man of promise, devout in spirit

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and cultured in mind, and a time of brighter and better things seemed now to be opening for the Church. But Mr. Jennison's health soon failed him. He was obliged to resign, and soon after died. He was followed in 1849 by Rev. A. J. Bingham as pastor. He was an earnest preacher, a faithful pastor, a man of sweet and Christly spirit, and of blessed memory. He remained only two years, and in his turn was followed by Rev. Francis Prescott, a man of most unselfish life and missionary zeal, whose stay with the Church as its pastor was about the usual two years, and who did good and telling service for the Master on other fields till called suddenly to his reward.

In 1856 Rev. L. M. Woodruff became pastor. At his sugges- tion the Church was disbanded, for the purpose of a somewhat different organization, and the Tabernacle Church was formed. This led to a division of interests, to separation, and the reorgani- zation of the First Church, and to general dissensions, which un- happily greatly discouraged as they greatly weakened the Baptist cause. After Mr. Woodruff resigned, the Tabernacle Church called Rev. S. F. Holt to become its pastor, a man energetic in character and of much force and ability as a preacher. The First Church was statedly supplied by Rev. Abel Bingham, father of Rev. A. J. Bingham, a man whose fidelity and spirit of sacrifice had been long and well tested in missionary work at the Sault Ste. Marie, and who died here, honored and full of years, whose chil- dren and grandchildren are here to-day, and whose remains rest in the cemetery. A short time before Mr. Holt's resignation, which took place in 1860, the two Churches came together, and Mr. H. was pastor of the Church as united.

In 1861 the Second Church was formed, and Rev. C. C. Miller, A. Stanwood and others, supplied the pulpit until May, 1863, when Rev. C. B. Smith, D.D., was called to be its pastor, a man of power.

Rev. Messrs. Bingham and Fay continued to supply the First Church until 1862, when Rev. Peter Van Winkle became its pastor. It was during the pastorates of Dr. Smith and Mr. Van Winkle that the Churches each built houses of worship; the First church, a brick structure on the site of the present house of worship, and the Second church on Division street. Both these pastors were very earnest men and did their work with a will that did much to inspire both the Churches in their undertakings. During the pas- torate of Mr. Van Winkle the Church in Paris was formed, from members of the First Church.

In January, 1867, Dr. Smith resigned and Rev. Nathan A. Reed was called to the pastorate of the Church, who entered upon his duties in the following May.

Following Mr. Van Winkle, the First Church called Rev. Isaac Butterfield, in April, 1867. He is a man whom most of you know and love for his genuine worth, his candor as a man and his ability as a preacher. These two, Butterfield and Reed, worked heartily together and did much in laying the foundations on which the sub-

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

sequent prosperities of the Baptist cause in this city have risen. Two churches so near together, both weak, were manifestly not meeting, nor did they seem likely to meet the prospective demands which were upon the Baptists of the city, in the new future that was already opening to it ; and these brethren had the wisdom to see it. Accordingly, Jan. 11, 1869, a meeting was held by members of the two Churches for the pur- pose of forming an organization which should bring the two then existing Churches together as one. Twelve brethren, of whom seven remain to-day and five have gone to their rest, then united and formed this present Church, to be known as "The Bap- tist Church of the City of Grand Rapids." The two Churches dissolved and their members, to the number of 250, united with the new organization, and so there was again but one Baptist Church in the city.

In September of the same year, 1869, the Church extended a call to the present pastor. The call was accepted, and he entered on his duties here the first Sunday in January, 1870. The Church num- bered 260 members. The tide of prosperity in the city was then just setting in from the previous prostration of business which the war had occasioned. Prospects were more than fair. They were quite exhilarating. The city was growing rapidly. It was making for itself a name in the east, for enterprise, which few of the smaller cities in the west enjoyed.

The house of worship on Division street was small, and too strait as soon as the churches had united. Provision had been made, at the time of the union, for the building of a suitable house. About the middle of the year 1870 steps were taken in this direc- tion. The first thing to be decided was a site upon which the new house should be built. This was satisfactorily decided. The lot on which the house of the First Church was standing was enlarged by purchasing land in the rear. This spot was already hallowed in the affections of many of the Church ; and the unanimity with which this selection was made was felt to be most auspicious. Plans for building the house were canvassed; $40,000 was thought to be the sum that should be expended. The general plans, how- ever, which the society on the whole, preferred, were thought might perhaps involve the sum of $50,000, which did not seem to be extravagant or beyond its ability. But when the "plans and specifications" were obtained the architect informed them that the expense of the house would be $60,000. This was felt, by several members of the Building Committee and of the Trustees, to be clearly beyond the ability of the society, and to involve a hazard which the members were slow to incur. The matter was thoroughly discussed. The plans seemed about perfect ; an expense, in pro- curing them, had already been incurred of $1,550. It was found impossible to change them with any satisfaction. The house, it was said, will last for a generation, and it is really no better than the prospective needs of the society require ; and in expectation that liberal aid would be given the society by the citizens gener-

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

ally, if its house of worship should be an ornament to the city. These were among the reasons which led to the final adoption of the plans. The contract was let for the building of the house at $60,000 and the old church building which then stood upon the site. But this was not done until pledges to the amount of $30,000 liad been made.

In the fall of 1871 ground was broken and the foundations put in. In May following the corner-stone was laid, with appropriate ceremonies. Leave of absence was granted, about this time, to the pastor, for the period of seven months' absence, and he left in June for a trip abroad, during which time the Church was accept- ably supplied by Rev. Butler Morley.

In the fall of 1873 the hard times came on ; business was at a stand-still ; men were failing ; money was scarce and hard to be got. Financial confidence was everywhere at a discount. Before the walls were up and the house enclosed, we reached a point at which the work must have stopped, had it not been for the ladies of the society, who had been earnestly at work raising money to furnish the church when it should be completed. They came gen- erously forward and put $3,500 into the hands of the Building Com- mittee. Many do not and never will know the struggles of those days ; the darkness and doubt which hung over them ; the burden that threatened to crush the few who stood underneath it. Then the contractor failed, and the whole enterprise, in its unfinished and embarrassed condition, was thrown upon the society. But through dint of great energy and the sacrifices of a few, and the blessing of God, the house was enclosed, the lower part was finished and furnished, and Dec. 23, 1873, it was dedicated, and regular worship was begun in it. On this occasion the sum of $13,000 was pledged. A number of leading citizens outside the society showed, by substantial proofs, their appreciation of what had been done.

For nearly four years public worship was confined to the lecture- room of the church, when, with a heavy debt still due, another effort was made, which resulted in finishing the house and fur- nishing it, and finished it for worship on the last Sunday in April, 1877. To this last effort and its success the Church is much in- debted to the zeal of the Rev. Dr. Smith, a former pastor, who still resides in the city. The entire cost to the society had been about $90,000, of which about $20,000 remained as a debt at that date. The attempt to raise this on the day of the proposed dedi- cation was not successful. Since they entered the audience-room the congregations have been large and attentive, increasing in numbers, in intelligence and in ability ; with a heart and a hope that has never forsaken them, and which they take as a pledge that the debt upon them will, in due time, be paid, and this incumbrance to their larger prosperity be removed. There is to-day a spirit and a purpose on the part of the officers and many of the members of the society such as has not been witnessed for years, to meet

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

and conquer indebtedness, and this needs only to be heartily seconded by all to carry the society out into the open sea of pros- perity.

During the 10 years of Dr. Graves' pastorate, he preached 760 sermons, attended 179 funerals and celebrated 175 marriages. He baptized into the fellowship of this Church 214, received by let- ter from other Churches 271, received on experience 31, making a total increase of 516. During the same time there have been dis- missed, to join other Churches, 120, there have died from the number 49, and been dropped or excluded 46, making a total loss in membership of 215. The net gain, therefore, has been 301, making the present membership 561. The pastoral visits made, which have been largely among the poor, the sick and the strangers, have amounted to something over 2,700.

The Sabbath-school, from 1870 to 1880, has experienced a cor- responding growth and increase of efficiency. Dea. R. B. Loomis was superintendent in 1870. R. W. Butterfield, Dea. M. H. Walker, Dea. J. C. Buchanan and M. S. Crosby, have successively filled the office and contributed to the success which the school has attained. The Sabbath-school numbered, 10 years ago, about 350. The number at present is 675, with an average attendance of 400. Connected with the school are four Bible classes. In all, there are 43 teachers and nine other officers. The school has raised by collections, during the 10 years, about $5,000, most of which sum has been paid toward the debt on the church. In April, 1877, the school pledged $1,860 in liquidation of the church bonds, $1,348.56 of which have already been paid. In a body of young men and women of such energy and purpose as this has displayed, the Church may well see great promise for the future.

There is also an efficient mission-school, under the superintend- ence of A. A. Stearns, which numbers 114 pupils and 11 officers and teachers; total, 125.

The Church and society, during the 10 years ending in 1880, raised, in round numbers, the following sums: For building and furnishing the church edifice, $60,000; for current expenses, $40,000; for outside benevolence, $3,000; for poor fund, $500; total, $103,500; showing an average of more than $10,000 a year.

The Baptist Chapel .- This building, located on Charles street, was completed in September, 1881. Its trustees have adhered firmly to the resolution not to build, or finish the work already be- gun, any faster than funds were available for the purpose. The lot on which the building stands was donated by John Calkins. With the exception of a few donations ranging from $5 to $50, and, we understand, one of $100, the greater part of the money for building purposes was raised in small sums, contributions from persons immediately connected with the enterprise, or by means of entertainments, socials, ice-cream parties, etc. The building was contracted for at about $800.

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The history of this Church, in the valley of the Grand river, extends far beyond the pioneer era of the county, and possibly connects itself with that of the first French missionaries and ex- plorers. During the first and second decades of the 19th century, Rev. Gabriel Richards and other priests from Detroit visited the Indian villages, but not until 1833 was anything approaching a permanent establishment attempted. In that year Rev. Frederic Baraga arrived, and, selecting a tra st of land on the west bank of the river, opposite the head of Island No. 4 (classed in modern maps as Island No. 3), located the Catholic Mission. This, accord- ing to a plat made by John Almy in 1838, was located south of section line 26, and contained about 65 acres. Here he caused a frame building to be erected, which was used as a chapel, and im- mediately north of it built a small dwelling house. The history of the Church, from this period to the present time, is taken from a · sketch prepared by John Hart. His relation of facts corresponds with notes recently taken, and contains much that is of historical value.

About June 3, 1833, Bishop La Fevre sent the Rev. Frederic Ba- raga to this region to establish a mission among the inhabitants, they being composed chiefly of Indians of the Ottawa tribe and occasionally a Canadian trapper or half-breed. The village of this tribe was situated on the west side of the river, about where the Michigan Southern round-house is located now, and here the labors of this pious missionary father began. Suffering hardships of all kinds, performing acts of charity and kindness among the copper- colored children of the forest, and attending to the work of the Father, the time of the first missionary was spent. The first church, or at least the first building owned by the Catholics of this section, was a large frame building, with dormer windows,, which had been used by Toussaint Campau as a storehouse for furs, peltries, etc., and which stood nearly on the present site of the Barnard House. This building, which was transferred to Father Baraga, and after- ward, for some reason, taken back, stands on Waterloo street, the first building south of Arthur Wood's carriage-shop. It was originally painted a yellow color, but time has long since removed all trace of that decoration. Services were held in this building for about a year and a half, when, it being taken from him, Father Baraga returned to the Indian village, and with the assistance of some friendly Indians, bought lumber from a saw-mill that was sit- mated on a creek that empties into Grand river, above where the Wonderly Company mills now stand, and built a kind of hut, in which he held the services and performed the ceremonies for a long time, suffering frequently from cold and hunger.

The Government granted a plat of 60 acres on the west side of the river near the Indian village, for the benefit of the mission. This ground was sold by the bishop in 1847 to Mr. George Mills,

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for the sum of $4,000. During the years 1833-'6 the population of the " city" of Grand Rapids varied about as follows: 1833, popula- tion about 100; 1834, 800, and in 1835 the population had decreased to only 60 families, while in 1836 100 families constituted the pop- ulation. About 1837 the late Louis Campau, in fulfillment of a vow made to that effect, built a church (with some slight contribu- tions from a few others) on the corner of Monroe and Division streets, where the Porter block now stands, which was to have been deeded to the bishop the day the church was dedicated, the bishop having to come from Detroit on horseback to dedicate it. From some cause unknown to the mitre, the transfer was never made, and soon after- ward, some misunderstanding having arisen between Campau and the rest of the congregation, Rev. Viszoski, who was then pastor of this parish, removed his vestments in the midst of the services, and taking the necessary articles for the completion of the service, started with his congregation for his own little church in the Indian vil- lage, crossing the river in canoes near where the railroad bridge now stands, and there finished the mass. The Campau church was never used afterward by the Catholics, but was sold to the Congregation- alists in 1841, and was occupied by that society until its removal, some years since, to make room for the Porter block, which now oc- «cupies the "old Congregational church corner," as it is still called by many old settlers. After this event Father Vizsoski and his little flock held services sometimes in the little chapel of the Indian vil- lage, and sometimes in a small, red school-house, which stood some- where on Division street, between Bronson and Bridge, and not un- frequently in private houses.

In this manner Father Viszoski got along until after the sale of the west-side property to Mr. Mills, and with part of the money re- ceived in that transaction, the property on the corner of Monroe and Ottawa streets, where the magnificent block of Aldrich, God- frey & White now stands, was purchased from Mr. George Godfrey, together with his house (the finest in town then) for the then exor- bitant price of $1,500. The bare ground was sold a few years since for business purposes, and brought $56.000. The corner-stone of the " old stone church" was laid on the 10th of June, 1849. Robert Hilton, C. B. White and Wm. Davidson were the builders. Jan.14, 1850, the church was partially and the priest's house totally destroy. ed by fire. The fire was undoubtedly ignited by sparks left in the ashes, although a few were to be found who did not hesitate to say they believed it to be the work of an incendiary. It proved to be a most disastrous fire in its results; the aged mother and dear sister of Rev. Father Kilroy, the assistant priest, both perished in the flames. Many persons said they saw Miss Kilroy outside the building, but it was supposed she returned to assist her mother, who was unable from sickness to leave her bed, and was overtaken by the fierce ele- ment and offered up as a holocaust on the altar of filial love. All the records of baptisms, marriages and deaths, and in fact, all the records of the Church, both financial and otherwise, were destroyed

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HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY.

in this terrible fire. This was a great loss to the Church, as the books and papers included the records from 1833 until 1850, nearly 20 years. After this crushing event, the small congregation of Catholics were down-hearted, and Father Viszoski was at a loss to know where he was to find a place to hold his services and shelter for himself, when Mr. Maximus Ringuette, who lived then in the building which is now the Grand River House, on Waterloo street, offered him not only an asylum for himself, but the largest room in the house to hold services in. This most generous offer was ac- cepted by the Reverend Father, and for 11 months services were held there until, after many trials, the stone church on Monroe street was finished and dedicated.

The following is a list of clergymen who have been connected with St. Andrew's Church, and before St. Andrew's church was built, with the mission: Rev. Frederic Baraga, 1833 until 1835. He was assisted part of the time by Rev. Andrew Viszoski, who succeeded him in 1835. The first assistant of which we can find any record, that Father Viszoski had, was an Irish priest named Pierce, who was here for a short time only in 1837. Father Pierce was succceded in 1837 by Father Mills, and he in turn was suc- ceeded by Rev. Father Boehm, a Belgian, in 1838. Father Boehm re- inained for about a year, and was succeeded in 1839 by Rev. Father Lang. The next to come was Father Kilroy, in 1847. He remained until that most terribly disastrous fire, by which his mother and sister were so fatally burned. In 1850, Father Kilroy being removed to Detroit, Rev. Father De Kunick was sent to fill his place, and remained here until 1853, when Viszoski died. In 1853 Rev. Father Van Pammel carne as an assistant to Father De Kunick. In 1854 Father De Kunick was removed to a mission in the Upper Penin- sula, and Father Van Pammel succeeded to the pastoral charge of the congregation, and Rev. Father Van Erb came as his assistant. In 1856 Father Van Pammel built the old St. Mary's German church on the west side, and Father Van Erb succeeded him as pastor of St. Andrew's, and in 1857 Father Montard came as his assistant. In 1858 Rev. Hugh O'Quigley, D. D., succeeded Father Van Erb, and Father F. X. Poureet succeeded Father Montard as his assistant. Rev. Father Brady succeeded Father O'Quigley and Father Montard both in 1859, being his own assistant. In 1862 Rev. Joseph Kin- dekens succeeded Father Brady. He was in turn succeeded in 1865 by Father B. J. Wormers. It was during Father Wormers' pastor- ate that St. Andrew's bell was purchased. It was, and still remains, the best bell in the city. In 1868 Rev. J. C. Pulcher came as suc- cessor to Father Wormers, and remained the pastor of St. Andrew's until he built St. James' church, on the west side, and removed there as its pastor. He was succeeded in the pastoral charge of St. Andrew's by Rev. P. J. McManus, in June, 1872. Soon after Father McManus came here he began the construction of the beautiful school building which now stands on the corner of Sheldon and Maple streets, opposite the new church. This building was fitted

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GRAND RAPIDS CITY.

up as a school-house on the two lower floors, and the upper floor was fitted up to use temporarily as a church. During the winter of 1873 Father McManus entered into negotiations with Hon. Moses V. Aldrich for the old church property, on the corner of Monroe and Ottawa streets, and it was finally sold to that gentleman for the handsome sum of $56,000. On the 27th of the following March the chapel in the school building was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Casper H. Borgess, Bishop of Detroit, and the regular services of St. Andrew's congregation were held there until Dec. 19, 1876, when the new church was completed. As soon as the old church on Monroe street was vacated, the work of tearing it down and remov- ing the material to the site of the new church building was begun, and ere the frosts of winter came, the stone was all laid in the foun- dations of the church which, to-day, is one of the finest in Michi- gan; while on the site of the old church, which had stood for 20 years. a landmark to Christians, pointing the way to Heaven, the foundation walls of the magnificent " Aldrich" block were begun. The new church of St. Andrew's was dedicated Dec. 19, 1876, by Bishop Borgess.

St. Mary's Church. In 1855 the German Catholic population of the city had reached such proportions as to suggest the pro- priety of demanding the appointment of a German priest. In September of that year 16 German families purchased two lots at the corner of Broadway and First streets, for $800, and entered upon the construction of a frame church building. This was a structure 60 x 28 feet, erected at a cost of $2,800. The members of the building committee were: L. Martin, A. Theile, T. Kruse, J. Kunnen, Wm. Hake and J. Naegele. In this work the small congregation of Germans was ably assisted by Rev. E. Van Pammell, then pastor of St. Andrew's. After the dedication of the old St. Mary's church Rev. Mr. Van Pammell celebrated the first mass. Rev. M. M. Marco was appointed pastor in Sep- tember, 1857. During his pastorate lots were bought for school buildings, and the parochial house erected west of the frame church. Rev. Fred. Algyre was appointed pastor in May, 1861. He was succeeded by Rev. Henry Beerhorst in January, 1864, who remained until April, 1870. This priest bought two lots on Turner and First streets, on which he purposed erecting a large church. To him also is due the merit of introducing the Sisters of Notre Dame into the schools of the parish. In May, 1870, Rev. T. G. Ehrenstrasser was appointed pastor. Shortly after his arrival he determined to carry out the church-building design of his pre- decessor, and was so successful that within three years, May 25, 1873, Bishop Borgess presided over the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the present beautiful church of St. Mary. Little over another year had passed, when the same bishop dedicated the building to public worship in presence of 5,000 people (Oct. 18, 1874).

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History of Kent County, Michigan, together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 85

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago) Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1434

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Chapman, Charles C., & Co. (Chicago)
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1434