History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 44

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The Rev. William Grandy, of Lansing, was then called to the pastorate, preaching his first sermon April 2, 1871. He had a large congregation, and was a very popular preacher. He also made many improvements in the church edifice. He preached his last sermon in July, 1874.

The Rev. E. W. Borden, of Midland, Mich., succeeded Mr. Grandy, commencing his labors in February, 1876, the church being without a pas- tor nearly two years. He remained with the church two years, when he removed to Ann Arbor to edu- cate his children.

At the present time (July, 1879) the congrega- tion has no pastor.

The whole number received into the church since its organization is 177 (on profession, 124; by let- ter, 53); during the same time the number dis- missed has been 83,-by letter, 62; by death, 21. The present membership is 70. Stated pulpit sup- ply, twenty-one years; amount paid for the same, $10,800. Original cost of house, grounds, and furnishings, $1800; repairs and improvements, $750; contributions to benevolent objects, $1000; incidentals, $800; total, $15,150.

The church celebrated its twenty-fifth anniver- sary on Dec. 10, 1878, the Rev. D. L. Eaton, of Ovid, Mich., preaching the sermon, and Mr. J. M. Holden, of Green Oak, reading the church history.

THE FIRST WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH .*

This church is situated on the " west side," cor- ner of Washington and Fourth Streets, and has the following history : There were a few members of the Pleasant Valley Wesleyan Church residing in and near the village of Brighton, and others in sympathy with their principles, who desired the labors of the Pleasant Valley pastor, Rev. J. H. Canfield, in the ministration of the Word, where it could be more conveniently enjoyed. To accom- plish this he was invited to establish an appoint- ment at the village, and the old Appleton Hall was secured, and supplied with temporary seats, a dry- goods box being used for a pulpit; and under these circumstances the first Wesleyan Methodist services were held in the village of Brighton.

* Prepared by the pastor, OOgle

VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON.

209

In this hall, on April 5, 1874, the First Wes- leyan Methodist Society was organized, with a membership of 7 persons, and 2 received on pro- bation. Notwithstanding the disadvantages con- nected with their place of worship, they were happy in being able to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences.

On one or two occasions they came to the place of meeting and found the seats removed from the room, and they were compelled to bring in boards wagon-seats, etc., to furnish seats for the congre- gation. During the week the seats were restored to their proper place in the hall, ready for the next service.

After using the " dry-goods box" pulpit a short time, a young mechanic volunteered to make a pulpit, which, when it was finished, looked very much like a grocery-store counter ; but it answered the purpose, and was thankfully received by the society. One of the members then furnished an old-fashioned sofa, which was covered with common calico, and with this fitting out for the pastor and congregation, they started on the road to prosperity. They were soon apprised, however, of the fact that they were meeting with opposition on every hand. The members had all belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church in the village, and had severed their connection therewith on account of its association with secret societies ; and because of their unpopularity in this respect they suffered much annoyance.

They continued their meetings in the hall, with encouraging prospects, until the man who had control of it began buying wool and storing it away in the back end of the room. The odor from the wool was so offensive that they were compelled to abandon the hall, and were left without a place to hold their services. A short time after this the Presbyterian Society kindly offered them the use of their church, and they continued their appoint- ments there until their own house of worship was completed. The society enjoyed prosperity, and on the Ist day of November had increased its membership to 27.

June 30, 1874, a legal organization was effected, and in a short time steps were taken for building a house of worship. To encourage the building, Mr. E. G. McPherson, of Howell, donated two lots on the corner of Washington and Fourth Streets, and subscribed $100 towards building the church. Other friends of the cause came nobly forward with a helping hand, and notwithstanding unfore- seen embarrassments, which were very discourag- ing, the house was completed.

The contract for the building was given to Enos H. Buck by the Board of Trustees, consisting of

Alanson P. Dickenson, Ambrose M. Sweet, and Charles Barnhart, Sept. 3, 1874, and work on the building began immediately. The church is 50 by 32 feet, and the posts are 20 feet high. The belfry and tower extend about 40 feet above the roof of the building, and have a device at the top consist- ing of a hand with the forefinger pointing upward.

The cost of the building was $1475, exclusive of the wall, which was built by the society and not included in the contract. The building was dedi- cated Jan. 30, 1875, Rev. L. N. Stratton, of Syra- cuse, N. Y., editor of the American Wesleyan, officiating.

Brighton Church was made one of the appoint- ments on Kensington and Brighton charge, and in view of the number of appointments on the charge, services were held here only on alternate Sabbath mornings. Notwithstanding this disadvantage the society witnessed a goodly degree of prosperity.

In the fall of 1875 Rev. D. A. Richards became their pastor, and, like his predecessors, labored hard to build up the cause and the societies under his care. He moved his family to Brighton and se- cured a residence near the church ; the attachment between pastor and people became very strong. Revival meetings were held at the church the fol- lowing winter, which resulted in much good, and some accessions to the church ; congregations in- creased, and though the society were meeting with persistent opposition, the sun of prosperity shone more brightly on them than ever before. A good organ, of the "Sterling" manufacture, was pur- chased, and a suitable choir selected ; these made no small addition to the interest of the society in connection with their public services.

In the fall of 1875 the Michigan Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist connection was held at Brighton, and notwithstanding the fact that the attendance was unusually large, all were well cared for by the people of Brighton and vicinity. The devotional exercises of the Conference were very interesting and profitable, and the society was per- manently benefited by them. The number of min- isters and delegates in attendance, and the earnest- ness manifested in the work of salvation, were among the noticeable features connected with the Conference, and had a tendency to decrease the prejudice that had previously existed against the society.

In the fall of 1877 a change of ministers again took place, and Rev. E. W. Bruce (the present incumbent) became pastor of the charge. He also moved his family to Brighton and dwells among his people. At a quarterly meeting held during the spring of 1878, the Quarterly Conference voted to so arrange the appointments as to give the

Hosted by

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

church at Brighton an appointment every Sabbath morning, and the result of the change was very soon perceived in the increased congregation and interest that followed. At the regular yearly re- organization of the Sabbath-school the pastor was chosen superintendent, and was re-elected to the same position the present year (1879). The Sabbath- school has been, and still is, in a prosperous con- dition, and assists very materially in sustaining the interests of the church.

During the past year the church edifice has been somewhat beautified and improved by putting new carpet on the floor, and hanging beautiful mottoes upon its walls. A goodly number of persons have been added to the membership of the church, and in the fall of 1878 the work was enlarged so as to require the services of two preachers. Rev. M. Cuthbert was called to a part of the field. There has been a regular interchanging of appointments between the two pastors during the past year (1879), which has been both agreeable and profit- able.

From the commencement to the present date this society has had many difficulties, ordinary and extraordinary, to contend with, but it is believed that for it there is a prosperous future, on the conditions of purity and fidelity.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The Baptist Society of the village of Brighton is a comparatively recent organization, the denomi- nation, though represented in the persons of sev- eral prominent citizens, never having taken meas- ures to effect a permanent foothold in the commu- nity. The society was at a later date reorganized by a council and admitted to the Wayne Associa- tion on that occasion, its constituted members being G. W. Jenks, Lewis Scott, Lyman Banks, Charles C. Jenks, Abagail Thomas, Louis Jenks, Amanda Fuller, Sarah E. Burgess, Sarah H. Cook, Susannah Banks, Kate Trune, Helen Anthony, and Clarissa G. Scott.

Rev. G. F. Ellis has preached to them since the organization of the church, the service being held on Sabbath afternoon in the Methodist Episcopal church, which is secured for the purpose. The present membership is 25. The society are pre- paring to erect a house of worship on lots pur- chased for the purpose. Mrs. G. S. Burgess is church clerk.

THE SCHOOLS OF BRIGHTON.

The first school-house in the village of Brighton was erected in the summer of 1837, upon ground now occupied by the dwelling of Patrick Donley, on Grand River Street. In some mysterious way, unknown to the present generation, though, seem-

ingly, not at all to the surprise of the past, this school-house was built before the organization of the district, that not having taken place until the year 1838. Strange as it may seem, however, the truth of this statement is established beyond a doubt by the records, in which it is seen the in- spectors call a meeting of the voters of the district on the 30th of April, 1838, only ten days after the time of organization, this meeting to be held in the school-house.

It is also noticeable in the records that the name of Wm. Noble as director is found appended to several reports preceding the one in which he is recorded as elected to that office. It is but another instance of the peculiar faculty the pioneers of knowledge in Brighton seemed to have had of reversing the natural order of things,-in fact, of putting the cart before the horse.

However, these seeming inconsistencies are in a manner explained by the fact that the oldest in- habitants have a vague remembrance of a district organization, with Maynard Maltby as director, which existed at the time of the building of the first school-house. But if there ever existed such a body, it seems to have disdained all records or written reports of its meetings.

This school-house was used by the district until the year 1847, when, becoming dissatisfied with it for various reasons, it was sold. The building was moved by Orlando A. Fuller to the south side of Fitch Street, west of Grand River Street, on a lot now owned by John Becker and occupied by Manfred L. Derby. It was used for a blacksmith- shop until the year 1878, when it was moved to the rear of the lot and since used as a barn.

For the ensuing three years the district owned no school-house, but rented houses for school purposes. A house called "The Old Largee House," situated in a field on a line with the eastern continuance of Fitch Street, was rented by Daniel C. Marsh, director, for a temporary school-room. This is the only house recorded as rented in the three years intervening between the sale of the old school-house and the building of a new one, though it is hardly supposable that it was the only one rented during that period.

Finally the district became weary of shifting the school "from pillar to post," and determined to possess a building of its own, in which the village lads and lasses might have ample opportunity for the expansion of their minds.

At a district school-meeting, held Nov. 20, 1847, the first move was made towards the building of a new school-house. But nothing seems to have been accomplished until 1849, when, at the

21I

VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON.

annual meeting, on the motion of John D. Apple- ton, it was resolved to build a new school-house the ensuing year. It was also voted to raise by tax the ensuing winter $350 to build the same. William Cushing and John M. Ten Eyck were appointed a committee to act in conjunction with the district board, James B. Lee, John O. Apple- ton, and Roswell Barnes, as building committee. The building was completed and occupied late in the fall of the year 1850. It was located on the northeast corner of East Street and Spencer Road. It was used by the district until 1868. In July, 1870, it was sold to Elisha Case for $376. It was afterwards used by Charles A. Withey as a car- riage-shop. In the year 1873 it was burned to the ground.

At the annual school-meeting, held Sept. 16, 1863, the first steps were taken towards the build- ing of the present school-house. At this meeting it was voted that $1500 be raised by tax for the erection of the same. At an adjourned meeting, held October 14th of the same year, a committee was appointed, consisting of Egbert F. Albright, James B. Lee, and Everett Wilson, for the purpose of selecting a site. Nothing, however, was actually accomplished until Sept. 24, 1866, when it was voted "to locate the site for a new school-house on lands west of the Ann Arbor road, south and east of lands and dwelling owned by D. C. Marsh, and north of land owned by Charles Baetger ; and also that the sum of $2500 be raised by tax on the taxable property of the district for the purpose of purchasing a site and buying materials for building a school-house in said district." At a session of the Legislature, held early in the year 1867, an act ,was passed authorizing the trustees to issue the bonds of the district to the amount of $7500 for the purpose of building a school-house. These bonds were issued and negotiated, furnishing, to- gether with the tax voted, the money for building the house.

At a meeting of the board of trustees, held Feb. 7, 1867, the site selected by the committee was bought of Ira W. Case and Spaulding N. Case, and the sum of $487.50 paid for the same. Proposals for building the house by contract were advertised for and received, but all were rejected. The build- ing was commenced early in the spring of 1868, under the superintendence of the board of trus- tees, which embraced the following gentlemen : William R. Cobb, Henry W. Pipp, William H. Naylor; Ira P. Bingham, Moderator; Egbert F. Albright, Director; and John E. Weichers, As- sessor ; and was completed at an expense of $10,400, exclusive of the site, and occupied the first Monday in December, 1868.

The early schools in Brighton partook largely of the nature of all other first district schools,- that is, were extremely primitive in their character. Their teachers were not required to be familiar with many studies besides "the three R's,-read- ing, 'riting, and 'rithmetic,"-and generally were not very learned individuals. A lady was em- ployed to teach the summer school; but a gentle- man was always engaged for the winter, partly, no doubt, because he was supposed to be wiser and more capable of instructing the older class of pu- pils that attended at that season, but principally because he was endowed with strength to subdue the "big boys" if any insubordination should arise. The school-house was a cheap and small structure, capable of holding only a limited number of pupils.

The first settlers, no doubt, felt the need of a school ; witness the following copy of a teacher's certificate given by the school inspectors. It is taken verbatim from the recording-book of the district :

" The undersigned School inspectors of the Township of Brighton Do Certify that A regular meating of the Boarard of School inspectors on the 15 Day of April, Did personely Examon Miss Marrett S. Hoges in respect to Moral Charractor, Larning, And Co., And find her well qualified to teach A primery Skool In District No. 5, in the township of Brighton for one year from the date here of, unles the inspectors for the tim Being Shall Sooner Revoke or Cansel this Certificate. Give under our hand And Seel this 15 Day of Aprile, 1844."

But as years went by the educated portion of the community constantly increased, and consequently the school became of a more elevated character, until finally it was graded, and teachers were em- ployed capable of giving instruction in the lan- guages, sciences, etc.

TEACHERS.

The following is a list of the teachers who have taught in the public schools, and is as nearly per- fect as to names and dates as it is practicable to make it.

1838 .- Mr. Jerald, Sophia Olney.

1839 .- Mr. Jerald, John C. Culver.

1840 .- John C. Culver, Miss E. Clark.

1841 .- Mr. Williams.

1842 .- Miss Mary Ann Hinckley.

1843 .- Corydon Lee.

1844 .- Corydon Lee, Miss Mariette Hodges.

1845 .- Corydon Lee, John Gilluly.

1846 .- John Gilluly, Daniel C. Marsh.

1847 .- Daniel C. Marsh.

1848 .- Amos Foster.

1849 .- Nathan Ames, Miss Ella Nichols.

1850,-Frederick Carlisle,

1851 .- Otis Whitney, Jr., Miss Margaret Gilluly.

1852 .- William Marsh.

1853 .- Norman L. Embury, Miss Sarah Dana.

1854 .- Martin Cranston, Miss Esther Foster. Hosted by

Foster Ogle

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HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

1855 .- Henry Pierson, Miss Margaret Gilluly, Mrs. Fanny M. Gilluly.

1856 .- Orlando B. Wheeler, Mrs. Lucy Spencer, Miss Caroline Gregory.

1857 .- John Gilluly, Mrs. Lucy Spencer.

1858 .- John Whitbeck, Sinclair Hamlin.

1859 .- Darius F. Boughton, Sinclair Hamlin, Miss Auriella Jud- son.

1860 .- Levi D. Cook, Miss Mary Case.

1861 .- Levi D. Cook, Miss Carrie O. A. Jaques, Miss Marian Jones.

1862 .- Egbert Mapes, Miss Orzilla Acker.

1863 .- Darius F. Boughton, Miss Adelaide Judson, Richard J. Lyon, Miss Orzilla Acker.

1864 .- Darius F. Boughton, Miss Florence Chadwick, Miss Mary Tock, Miss Orzilla Acker.

1865 .- Lucius Ball, Miss Marian Jones, Miss Ann Woodruff.

1866 .- Miss Adelaide Judson, Miss Marian Jones, Miss Florence Chadwick.

1867 .- John W. Crippen, Miss Juliette Fonda, Miss Adelaide A. Pease.

1868 .- Orson W. Tock, Miss Juliette Fonda.

1869 .- George A. Cable, Miss Hannah J. Dartt, Miss Adelaide Judson, Miss Florence Pratt.

1870 .- G. J. Holbrook, Miss Hannah J. Dartt, Miss Adelaide Judson, Miss Carrie Withey.

1871 .- Benj. F. Hickey, Miss Mary L. Sprout, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Lizzie Potter.

1872 .- Benj. F. Hickey, Miss Mollie Blanck, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Althea Pitkin, Miss Viola Cook.

1873 .- George A. Cady, Miss Lizzie Foster, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Lizzie Potter, Miss Adelaide A. Pease.

1874 .- Hiram S. Reed, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Lizzie Pot- ter, Miss Helen M. Elliotte.

1875 .- Hiram S. Reed, Miss Lizzie Potter, Miss Eugenie Hal- leck, Miss Helen M. Elliotte.

1876 .- John Whitbeck, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Lizzie Pot- ter, Miss Martha Weichers.

1877 .- John Whitbeck, Miss Emma E. Thurber, Miss Elizabeth A. Lignian, Miss Ettie Underwood, Miss Martha A. Wei- chers, Miss Elizabeth H. Buck.

1878 .- Harry S. Myers, Miss Mary McNamara, Miss Ettie Un- derwood, Miss Elizabeth H. Buck, Miss Martha A. Weichers. 1879 .- Harry S. Myers, Miss Mary McNamara, Miss Ettie Un- derwood, Miss Lucy Smith, Miss Flora Stewart.

Of the various teachers who have been employed to mould the young ideas of the village of Brighton but little can be said. The records for several of the first years are very imperfect, and, in fact, the name of the first teacher does not appear at all, but is recalled by some of the first settlers and schol- ars in both of the forms given in the list. John C. Culver formerly resided in Green Oak, on the farm now occupied by Isaac H. Smith. Corydon Lee was a resident of the village of Brighton, and at different times filled the offices of township clerk and school inspector. John Gilluly graduated from the law school in the University of Michigan, en- tered upon the practice of law in the village of Brighton, represented the county of Livingston in the Legislature, enlisted as captain in the 5th Mich- igan Infantry in 1861, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the same regiment, and was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, Dec.

13, 1862. Daniel C. Marsh is still living in the village of Brighton. Martin Cranston now lives on a farm in the township of Tyrone. Mrs. Fanny Gilluly went with her husband, James Gilluly, to Kansas, where she is now living, at Lawrence. Many of the citizens of Brighton well remember Miss Caroline Gregory, of Northville, who taught school in 1856. She was somewhat strong in mind and body, and defied the directors' efforts to dis- miss her from the school. Mr. Lee having locked her out of the school-room, she broke the door open, and, after thus forcibly effecting an entrance, went on with her school with few or no scholars. A compromise was finally effected, hostilities ceased, and Miss Gregory returned to her home in Northville. Mrs. Lucy Spencer, wife of John G. Spencer, is living in the State of New York. John Whitbeck, after teaching in 1858, was for several years principal of one of the ward schools of De- troit, and is at the present time living on his farm in the township of Hamburg. Darius F. Bough- ton, after leaving Brighton, studied medicine, be- came an M.D., removed to Wisconsin, and now holds the position of superintendent in the State Asylum for the Insane. Miss Aureilla Judson, wife of George G. Smith, still resides in the village. Levi D. Cook filled the office of township clerk and school inspector. He removed to Le Roy, N. Y., where he died some years since. Miss Mary Case was a resident of Hamburg, and has been dead some years. Miss Carrie O. A. Jaques was a resident of Nankin, Wayne Co., and returned to her home after teaching in Brighton. She is still living, and is the wife of Charles Church, a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Miss Marian Jones, now the wife of Willard Hen- drick, resides in Hamburg. Miss Orzilla Acker, wife of Andrew Fuller, is now residing at Au Sable.

Miss Adelaide Judson and Richard J. Lyon are yet residents of Brighton, and are almost the only teachers of ten years ago who have not found a mate. Miss Florence Chadwick has since married, and is now living in Illinois. Miss Mary Tock, now deceased, married Henry Lake. Ann Wood- ruff, wife of George P. Dudley, is still living in the village. John W. Crippen is yet living, and is a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Juliette Fonda removed to Saginaw City, where she has been for many years, and is yet teaching in the Union School. Adelaide A. Pease has taught more or less since her term in 1867, and is still a maiden lady. Orson W. Tock studied medicine, graduated at the University of Michigan, and is now practicing at Gaines. George A. Cable, when last heard from, was studying medicine in Cleveland.

VILLAGE OF BRIGHTON.

213

paring the figures of the earlier with the later years, in the following table :

Children in dis- trict between 5 and 20 years.

Amount paid teachers.

Paid for build- ing, repairs, etc.

Primary money received.

1838.

$5.00

1840.

$70.00

15.00

$24.40

1850.

80.00

350.00

25.50

1855.

157.00

45.00

53.76

1860 ..

129

238.00

48.00

58.42

1865 ..

148

310.00

120.00

64.80

1870.

206

1795.00

185 00

96.60

1875.

278

1494.00

266.00

I 30.00

1879 ..

...

267

1470.00

342.00

128.16

Since 1838 the district has expended for teach- ers' wages, $20,625; for buildings, repairs, and contingent expenses, $16,321 ; and the amount of primary money received aggregated $2385.13.

SELECT SCHOOLS.

The first of the select or private schools of Brighton was taught by Miss Mary B. Pratt, in the second story of the " Balch House," now occu- pied by Morris Du Bois as a blacksmith-shop. Miss Pratt was a graduate of Fredonia Academy, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., from which place she came with her brother, Erastus J. Pratt (now of Green Oak), in 1845, and opened the first term of her school soon after her arrival. She taught several terms so acceptably that the public school was closed part of the time that she taught in Brighton. Sickness intervened. She closed school in 1847, returned to her home in Fredonia in the winter of 1848, and died in the spring of the latter year. She was succeeded by James Smart, who taught one term, either in the first school-house erected, or in the " Worden House," which stood on the site of the present Methodist Episcopal church.

It is thought by some of the pioneers that Amos Foster taught a select school in the year 1848 or 1849.

William Marsh, brother of Daniel C. Marsh, kept a private school during the summer of 1852 in the second story of the dwelling now occupied by Thomas T. Tunis. Mr. Marsh was assisted by Miss Carrie Sharp and Miss - Chamberlain. He was succeeded in the same school-room by Miss Maria Osborn, sister of the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church.

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History of Livingston County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 44

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

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