History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 35

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 617

USA > Michigan > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In April, 1857, the church was again without a pastor, and an unsuccessful effort was made to engage the services of the Rev. L. Bath, of Grass Lake, Mich. In May following, the Rev. P. C. Dayfoot was again called to serve the church as pastor, laboring here three-fourths of the time. This engagement closed at the expiration of a year, when the church was again left destitute. After the Ist of May, 1858, the desk was supplied at different times by several clergymen, among whom were the Revs. Concklin, Lemon, and Tup- per. In October of 1859 the membership was reported at 97.

In May, 1860, the Rev. A. M. Hunt was elected pastor. His labors being acceptable to the church, a council convened for his ordination, Sept. 20, 1860, when he was set apart for the min- istry in the usual form. He continued here for one year, and closed his labors May 1, 1861. In this year the membership reported was 103.

Immediately after the close of Mr. Hunt's pas- torate, a call was extended to the Rev. John Booth, under whom the church prospered, and who continued to labor here until March, 1864. He is mentioned as a man "to be gratefully re- membered by those who enjoyed his ministra- tions; sound and logical as a preacher, and un- usually correct and faithful in all matters of disciplinary character."

In the August following the close of Mr. Booth's pastorate the Rev. William Tilley was engaged as pastor of the church, and under him there was great unity and prosperity. He re- mained until August, 1867, when he resigned the charge. During his pastorate the church received large accessions to its membership through the agency of a revival which occurred in the winter of 1866; the result of a series of meetings held here by the Rev. J. Moxom. During this time, also, William C. Rumsey and William L. Knapp were elected to the office of deacon (March, 1866). The membership of the church reported in the fall of 1867 was 130.

In January, 1868, the Rev. J. S. Boyden was in- vited to settle with the church, and, accepting the call, entered on his work here on the Ist of March following. During that year the church edifice was thoroughly refitted in its interior at a cost of $475, and soon afterwards was repainted outside. But its days were numbered and nearly finished. About four years later it gave place to the present church, which was built on the same site at a cost of about $11,500, and completed, dedicated, and occupied as a house of worship in the year 1873.

"The pastorate of the Rev. J. S. Boyden was fol- lowed by that of the Rev. William Putnam, who was succeeded by the Rev. C. H. Remington, the present pastor. The present deacons of the church are James Turner and Cyrus Holt. The member- ship at the present time (August, 1879) is about 200. Connected with the church is a Sabbath- school,-organized in 1843,-having a present membership of 140 pupils, and a library of 400 volumes. John Black is the superintendent of the school, and F. W. Rumsey, librarian.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOWELL.

The Presbyterian Church was, in point of time, the third religious organization formed in Howell ; but the ministers of this denomination were among the earliest, if not the very first, regularly author- ized preachers of the gospel who held religious worship in the village and township. Mr. Edward F. Gay, himself an original member of this church, named the Rev. William Page as the first minister who preached a sermon here, the services on that

Hosted by

168

HISTORY OF. LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

occasion being held at the house of James Sage ; and that the next minister here was the Rev. Jonathan Post (Baptist), who preached at the house of Moses Thompson. The Rev. A. L. Crittenden, however, in his narrative of early meetings in Howell makes Mr. Post the first minister who preached to a congregation here; this being in February, 1836. There is this to be said in favor of the latter statement, that at the time named, Mr. Crittenden was a resident of Howell, while Mr. Gay did not come here on his prospecting tour until some months later, and did not settle here until the spring of 1837. He may, therefore, have meant that Mr. Page was the first minister who preached here after his arrival ; but, however this may have been, the question of priority is an immaterial one.

Hon. Mylo L. Gay, son of Edward F. Gay, in a paper read on the occasion of the fortieth anni- versary of the formation of the Presbyterian Church, gave his recollections of that event and of some religious meetings which had preceded it (he being but a boy at the time alluded to), as follows :

" My first recollections of attending ' meeting' in the then new town date to a year and three months prior to the formation of this church. In the spring of 1837, I remember following along after my father in a winding path which led through the woods from the farm now known as the ' Reed farm,' down to the ' Centre,' then winding northward by another path through the woods to the Thompson log house on the bank of the pond, where meetings were held once in four weeks by Elder Post, who came on horse- back,-I think from Plymouth. Also in a fortnight thereafter we followed another trail westward to the small log house of James Sage, situated on the identical spot where now stands the resi- dence of William McPherson, Jr. There I think we occasionally listened to a Methodist preacher; and the particular impression here made upon my mind was the peculiar and quaint style of ' starting the tune' by old Mr. Sage, who, although himself a Uni- versalist, consented to act in the capacity of chorister, and also to accommodate the neighbors with a place in which to hold meet- ings. Another impression was in regard to the peculiar bent posi- tion required to be maintained by the taller persons when standing, to prevent their heads coming in contact with the cross-beams above.

" The 16th and 17th days of June, 1838, are still fresh in my memory, as they were memorable days in the history of the little hamlet then known as Livingston Centre. Those days fell on Saturday and Sunday, and the meetings were held in the loft of a one-and-a-half story building which my father had recently erected for a store. The floor of the room above was of rough boards, and the ceiling was nothing but the roof-boards and shingles, in close proximity to the heads of all adults; and the rough tama- rack rafters, with their knotty projections, were a constant reminder that all should humble themselves in the business in which they were then about to engage."

In the building thus described by Mr. Gay, the Presbyterian Church of Howell was formed by the Rev. Henry Root; the preliminary meeting being held on Saturday, the sixteenth, and the organiza- tion perfected on the 17th of June, 1838. Its or- ganization was on the union plan (Presbyterian

N. S. and Congregational), and the following-named persons comprised its original membership : David H. Austin, Josiah P. Jewett, Horace Griffith, Arte- mas Mahan, John T. Watson, George W. Jewett, Edward F. Gay, Price Morse, Andrew Riddle, William McPherson, Charles Clark, Lucretia Jew- ett, Catharine Griffith, Polly Ann Mahan, Hila Mahan, Julia Mahan, Sarah Mahan, Harriet L. Watson, Anise P. Jewett, Clarissa L. Gay, Elvira Morse, Elizabeth McPherson, Mrs. Moses Thomp- son, Matilda Clark, Mary Clark.

The " rotary system" was adopted in the organi- zation ; there were to be chosen three ruling elders, who were also to be invested with the office of deacon. The persons first elected to this double office were George W. Jewett, for one year; John T. Watson, for two years; Edward F. Gay, for three years; and George W. Jewett was chosen clerk.

The "Presbyterian Society of Howell" was formed by the requisite legal steps on the 7th of July next following the organization of the church. The first trustees of this society were Edward F. Gay and F. J. B. Crane, first class, for one year; Price Morse and Josiah P. Jewett, sec- ond class, for two years; Wellington A. Glover, third class, for three years. This organization of the society was filed in the county clerk's office, Dec. 5, 1838. The earliest meetings of this con- gregation for religious worship (after those in Mr. Gay's store building) were held in the village school-house. But in the year 1839, the church having become stronger by accessions to its mem- bership, a small frame church building was com- menced (and completed in 1840), on a site which is described by the Hon. M. L. Gay as being " a little to the west of Mr. Hannah's wagon- shops, opposite the school-house square, and front- ing to the south, quite a distance off in the bushes." The site proved unsatisfactory, being very difficult of approach in wet and muddy weather, and on this account, the building was not long after re- moved to the old public square, near its southeast corner. Afterwards, on account of a debt con- tracted in repairing and remodeling it, it was sub- jected to a forced sale to the highest bidder, and was eventually removed from the square to the place on East Street where it is now in use as a blacksmith-shop. The interior construction and arrangement of this old church building is thus described by Mr. Gay :

" At the right and left of the pulpit were two or three pews, the middle one elevated one step, and the back one still higher, and all at right angles with the body slips, the singers and other musi- cians claiming the side to the left of the preacher, and the young men in the habit of attending church appropriating the right al-

169

VILLAGE OF HOWELL.

most exclusively. It was from these elevated seats that a very commanding view of the congregation was to be obtained, it being also an exceedingly well-adapted position for the purpose of mak- ing a little vain display, were any so disposed. But whether from compulsion or choice, those seats were always well filled by the young men ; and, no doubt, I am relating the experience of many of the gray-heads of to-day when I aver that it was from those conspicuous seats, when occupied by them in youth, that their partners for life were chosen. From the side appropriated to, and occupied by the singers and musicians, we were wont to hear and enjoy good, old-fashioned tunes, sweeter by far than many of mod- ern days, though, perhaps, to the artistic ear, not rendered in the most faultless and scientific style, yet possessing a depth and power which neither time nor change have sufficed to efface from the memory."

During the first year of its existence-that is, up to the 16th of June, 1839-the church had re- ceived accessions to its membership to the number of 17. On the 21st of September in that year it was resolved, by a vote of the church, "that, inas- much as this church is now neither Presbyterian nor Congregational, we hereby become Presbyte- rian in due form." Thereupon the plan of organ- ization was changed, the church adopted the Pres- byterian form of government, and Edward F. Gay, Josiah P. Jewett, and Philester Jessup were elected as the first board of elders under the change of form.

From the organization of the church, and through the fifteen months of its continuance on the union plan, its pulpit had been filled most ac- ceptably by the Rev. Henry Root, and now, on the 25th of September, four days after its change in form, he was duly installed, by the usual cere- monies, as the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church. His ministration continued here until October, 1842. He was an earnest Christian, a devoted and efficient laborer, a man of kindly and agreeable manner, and universally beloved. The following-named ministers have been his succes- sors in the sacred office as pastors or stated sup- plies of this church, viz. : Rev. Sylvester Cochran, March, 1843, to March, 1844; Rev. Edward E. Gregory, March, 1844, to July, 1845; Rev. Henry Root,-a second term,-November, 1845, to July, 1847; Rev. H. H. Grannis, October, 1847, to April, 1850; Rev. L. Mills, October, 1850, to October, 1853; Rev. Robert McBride, October, 1853, to September, 1860; Rev. J. A. Griffes, September, 1861, to October, 1863 ; Rev. J. Ford Sutton, Feb- ruary, 1864, to July, 1865 ; Rev. Joel Kennedy, March, 1866, to August, 1867; Rev. Gustavus L. Foster, December, 1867, to December, 1872; Rev. George M. Clark, May, 1873, to July, 1874; Rev. Franklin A. Spencer, March to June, 1875,-a tem- porary supply. Rev. James Lewis, the present pastor of the church, began his labors July II, 1875, and was installed in October of the same year.

During the pastorate of Rev. Sylvester Cochran -July 29, 1843-it was

" Resolved, That the First Presbyterian Church of Howell be hereafter known and designated as the Congregational Church of Howell, and that this, the said church, be governed by the rules and regulations usually adopted in Congregational Churches."

But on the 27th of October, 1845, nearly simul- taneously with the commencement of the second pastorate of the Rev. Henry Root, the church again became Presbyterian. From that time it has been in the Presbyterian connection, but had only elders-elect, each chosen for the term of three years, until Sept. 26, 1875, when the elders were duly ordained and installed. William McPherson, however, was ordained in October, 1842, when first chosen elder.

The oldest of the ministers now living, who have been pastors of this church, is the Rev. Edward E. Gregory, who resides in Howell vil- lage, takes a lively interest in the welfare of the church, and still fills the pulpit most acceptably when occasion requires.

Of the clergymen mentioned in the above list as having served this church at various times, the only one who died during the term of his pastorate here was the Rev. Robert McBride, who passed away in the prime of manhood. His death oc- curred on the 15th of September, 1860, at Sparta, Wis., to which place he had gone a short time before on a visit to his parents, and in the hope of improving his declining health. A few days after his death the Sparta Herald-of which his father was editor and publisher-contained the following brief history of his life, and of the scenes and events attending his dissolution. It is reproduced here, because it cannot fail to be read with interest by many who well remember his ministration and his virtues.

" Our dearly beloved son had spent but eight years in the min- istry-after graduating in theology at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1853- before his mission on earth was cut short by an apparently untimely death, but even this brief period was truly and earnestly devoted to the service of his Divine Master.

" Consecrated in early infancy to the service of the Saviour by a devoted, pious mother, who led the way to Christ in death, as she had ever faithfully in life, at great personal sacrifices and privations to both his parents he was early placed in a position to fit him for the work. He pursued his studies for ten years with unusual assiduity, and became a ripe scholar when his term of in- struction closed. At the age of sixteen he surrendered his heart to God, during a season of revival in the institution with which he was connected, and from that time on was a true follower of Christ. In 1854 he connected himself in marriage with Miss Abbie Comstock, of Adrian, Mich., who was eminently fitted, in every respect, to aid him in the important work upon which he had entered.

" His first year was occupied in the Presbyterian Church at Parma, and the seven subsequent years in the Presbyterian Church at Howell, Mich., where he labored as their pastor to the general

Page

170

HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

acceptance to his people and with good success in winning souls to Christ. About three months ago he was attacked with a severe hemorrhage, then supposed to proceed from his throat, which en- tirely prostrated his energies, and he was compelled to relinquish his labors in the desk. Ilis vascular system from early youth being of a feeble, relaxed character, -though enjoying good health generally otherwise,-he became subject to frequent slight hem- orrhages, from close application as a student, but not of a serious nature until recently. A journey and rest was recommended, and with his wife and child, he came to Wisconsin about three weeks ago. For the first week of his arrival he appeared to recover rapidly, and confidently expected to return in a few weeks and resume his labors at Howell; but God in his providence had arranged it otherwise, and summoned him to a higher sphere.

" The call was sudden and unexpected to himself, as well as to all his sorrow-stricken relatives and friends, but it found him with his lamp trimmed and burning. No serious result was appre- hended from a slight fever which affected him for a week or two by his physician or family, until but a few hours previous to his death. When informed of his condition and that he had but a few hours to live at the most, and might not but for a very few minutes,-his pulse had ceased entirely and extremities becoming cold,-he received it calinly, and at once committed his soul to God. The distress and anguish of his wife and child impressed him strongly with deep emotions for a few minutes, but he soon resumed his composure and endeavored to soothe and administer comfort and consolation to the dear ones he loved with so much tender affection. The Saviour graciously placed underneath him his arms of mercy, sustaining and supporting him in a remarkable manner throughout, so that he was enabled to converse frequently and freely with his afflicted wife and relatives; while in the in- tervals he appeared to hold close communion with his God. But once he spoke of his great disappointment in being thus early cut off from the sacred mission he had so much at heart, of laboring for souls, but expressed a cheerful submission to the will of his heavenly Father in this, as in all things else.

" During a private conversation I had with him for a few min- utes, about three hours before his death, I asked him if he had any fear of death, now apparently so nigh, or doubts on his mind of his acceptance with God. He at once replied, ' I cannot say that I have any timid fears of death, but I feel that it is an awful realization to be thus suddenly hurried into the presence of my final Judge. I know that I have fallen far short of my duty to God and his service on earth, but I feel great assurance that I have a precious Saviour who will plead for me, and while I entertain a well-grounded hope of an acceptance with God, I trust that I shall have a clearer manifestation of that acceptance before my departure.' About one o'clock P.M., his extreme exhaustion and short, quick breathing admonished him that his end was nigh. Having affectionately embraced his wife and child, requesting her to remain as calm and quiet as possible, he closed his eyes and lay apparently in deep communion. In a few minutes his yet clear eyes opened wide, and shone with peculiar lustre as he earnestly gazed out, as if seeing or hearing something in the far-off distance ; softly but distinctly he said, ' I hear the waters roll.' In a few minutes after he again said, 'I see the bright river.' A placid, sweet smile for an instant curved over his lips, his eyes gently closed, two or three scarcely perceptible breaths escaped,-he was asleep in Christ the Saviour."

The death of Mr. McBride was sincerely mourned by his church, and by the entire community of Howell, as that of an able preacher, a devoted pastor, and an excellent, influential, and Christian citizen.

The accessions to the membership of the Pres- byterian Church of Howell are given below.

During the first year-ending June 16, 1839- there were added to the original membership Philester Jessup and wife, Mrs. Butler, Catharine Butler, Sarah Walker, Mary Jessup, Adam Rora- bacher, Eunice Curtis, Nancy Waterman, Samuel W. Glover, John Russell, Nancy Rorabacher, An- geline Brown, Elizabeth Gay, Caleb Curtis, Mary Curtis, Samuel Hubbard.

In the year ending June 16, 1840: Mrs. Lovina Root, Lydia Ann Sexton, Eleanor Waterman, William Austin, Harriet Fisk, John R. Neely, Elijah Coffren, Salmon Davis, Ruth Davis, Francis Morse, Nancy M. Austin.

Year ending June, 1841 : Giles Tucker, Rhoda Scofield, Henry D. Benjamin, Mrs. H. D. Benjamin, Diantha Armstrong, Sylvester Sexton, Mary A. Skilbeck, Benjamin Curtis, Elizabeth Waterman, John G. Mason, William Spafford, Mrs. Fanny Kneeland, Esther Willard, Mrs. William Spafford.

Year ending June, 1842: Zebulon M. Drew, Lucy H. Drew, Wellington A. Glover, Michael S. Brennan, Mylo L. Gay, Allen Stearns, Luther M. Glover, William Sexton, S. Newhall Mahan, Philip Carlton, Mary Carlton, Sarah Moore, Louisa Jessup, John D. Pinckney, James Haddan, Thomas Carlton, Andrew L. Hill, Hannah C. Hill, Jane Stilson, Martha Stilson, Miriam B. Stilson, Elijah M. Hutchinson, Cyrena Hutchinson, Benjamin W. Hutchinson, David Durfee, Josiah Turner, Eva- line Turner, Elvira Stilson, Matilda Stilson, Phi- lander Glover, Ruhamah Glover, Mary Jane Glover, Sarah Kneeland, Mabel A. Glover, Sally Ann Dar- win.

Year ending June, 1843 : James Yates and wife, George Lawrence, Joseph B. Skilbeck, Mary Wat- son.

Year ending June, 1844 : Margaret Yates, Betsey Bliss.

Year ending June, 1845 : Mrs. Jane Gregory.

Year ending June, 1846: Samuel M. Yerkes and wife, Julia Jessup, George McDowell and wife.

Year ending June, 1847: None.

Year ending June, 1848: Mary Cook, Joseph Stafford, Sally Stafford, Polly Stafford, Lucinda Stafford, Mrs. Van Keuren, William Winton, Thomas R. Spence, John S. Dixon, Phebe Dixon.

Year ending June, 1849: Sally Ann Wilber, Electa Grannis, Huldah Huntley, Emma Spence.

Year ending June, 1850: James S. Foster, Au- gusta Foster, Jacob M. Eager, Emily Eager, Sal- mon Adams, Mrs. Salmon Adams, Jacob D. Gale, Mrs. Sarah Gale, Mary Gale, David Blackman, Asenath Blackman, Albert Pixley, H. N. Pixley, H. S. Sparks, Eliza Sparks.

Year ending June, 1851 : Mrs. Eliza Mills, Al- bert Mills, Lucius F. Mills, Hosted's, Mary E. Mills, Polly

171

VILLAGE OF HOWELL.

Hildebrant, Benjamin F. Scofield, Celestia Scofield, Julia C. Scofield, Sarah Ann Scofield, Edefy Sco- field, Sarah L. Jewett, Elizabeth McPherson, Jane Rose, Mary V. Jewett, Mary Ann Carl, Rufus W. Scofield, Morris Thompson, Julia Ann Peebles, Lauren K. Hewett, James Mulloy, Dr. Harring- ton, Hannah H. Mulloy, Sarah Harrington, Silas Beardsley, Theda Beardsley, Julia Brown, Isabel McPherson, Mary Louisa Huntley, Delia S. Hunt- ley, Antoinette Blackman, Helen A. Blackman, Martha H. Balch, Minerva Stafford, Mary E. Skil- beck, Caroline A. Whipple, Joseph H. Steel, Irene Hewett, Samuel Hunt, Royal P. Melendy, Cordelia Melendy.

Year ending June, 1852: Philo L. Reed and wife, Olive Hicks, Lyman Melondy, Levi Hicks.

Year ending June, 1853: Charles P. Holmes, Eliza Holmes, Miranda L. Wadhams, James Hall, Sally Hall, Jared Huntington, Candace Huntington.

Three years ending June, 1856: If there were any accessions to the membership during these years, they have not been found.

Year ending June, 1857 : Mrs. Abbie McBride, Mrs. Eliza Sullivan, H. H. Mills.

Year ending June, 1858: Dr. H. J. Rumsey and wife, James Smith and wife, William Huntington, Sarah L. Axtell, Ann Eliza Gilbert, Francis A. Skilbeck, Anna M. Sullivan, Lucretia Scofield, Sarah E. Wells, Louisa Merrells, W. K. Sexton, Z. F. Crossman, Ellen A. Jewett, Eliza J. Jewett, Margaret Frisbee, Louisa Mulloy, Laura A. Reed, Maria S. Lawson, Andrew D. Waddell, Hudson B. Blackman, Alexander McPherson, George Wake- field, Alvaro J. W. Thompson, Mary Jane McDow- ell, Prudence E. McDowell, Lucia Turner, Martha J. Glover, Mary L. McPherson, B. Howard Lawson, Dr. R. C. Hutton, Martha A. Hutton, Dr. Wm. L. Wells, Julia M. Wells, Rachel Blanck, Francis N. Munroe, Julia Gilbert, Sarah McFall, Sarah Wake- field, Hannah Telling, Edward C. McPherson, Her- man W. Merrells, Henry B. Curtis, Sarah A. Curtis, Mary Mulloy, Francis E. Reed, Perley D. Skilbeck.

Year ending June, 1859: Mrs. Emeline Bunnell, Hannah Monroe, Ellen Phillips, Mrs. Sarah Briggs, Henry Baker, Mrs. Cordelia Glover.

The accessions to the church during the last twenty years have been too numerous to be con- veniently given. The present number of its mem- bers is 275.

The present (1879) elders of the church are William McPherson, S. M. Yerkes, F. N. Monroe, P. L. Reed, R. P. Melendy, Theodore Welcker, and J. M. Eager.

The Sabbath-school connected with the church is organized into 26 classes, and has a very large attendance. Its present officers are : Superintend-

ent, M. J. McPherson ; Assistant Superintendent, H. H. Mills ; Secretary, Birt. F. Parsons; Librarian, Ernest D. Hutton ; Assistant Librarian, Samuel F. Crosman ; Treasurer, Alexander McPherson ; Col- lector, E. Huntley.

The church edifice which is the present house of worship of this church was built during the pastor- ate of the Rev. Robert McBride, having been com- pleted and dedicated in the autumn of 1855. It is a good and commodious brick structure, standing on a site located in the southeast angle of Sibley and McCarthy Streets. The society owns a good parsonage, located on Lake Street, built in the year 1868.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 35

Author: Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 617

Author:
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 617