USA > Michigan > Macomb County > History of Macomb County, Michigan > Part 42
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121
363
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
First Free Methodist society of Richmond was associated March 19, 1873, with Will- iam Carter, C. L. Harris, C. H. Cornuse, Trustees.
The First Independent Methodist Church of Warren was organized March 12, 1873, with Richard Barton, Isaiah Davy. James W. Hoyt, C. Davy, J. Norris, E. W. Halsey. Trustees.
The Methodist Church of Shelby Circuit was organized September 22, 1875, with Al- fred Watters, Putnam Mcclellan, Harmon Vosburg, Trustees.
The Seventh-Day Adventists of Armada organized their society October 18, 1873, with D. H. Lamson, S. T. Beardsley and William Wellman, Trustees.
St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church of New Baltimore was organized February 23. 1875, with P. F. H. Schars, John Johr, Rev. G. M. Skinner, C. L. Bradish. G. L. Phelps and George Elsey. signers of agreement.
The Methodist Church of Ray was incorporated March 6, 1876. with Dewitt Pretty, Joy Warran, Abial Green, Trustees.
Evangelical Lutheran Trinity Church of Clinton was organized October 31, 1878, with Henry Marlow, John Meitz, Charles Dettrich, Trustees.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation was organized November 8, 1878, with F. Kline. Christ Rieek and Fred Hummell. Trustees.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sterling was organized and rules for gov- ernment adopted January 10, 1880, with F. Schmidt. A. Newman. J. Beulet. G. Kukuk and F. Teller. Trustees.
The Methodist Protestant Church of Warren was organized March 15, 1880, with Charles Kidd, Milo Ames and Elijah Davy. Trustees.
The First Baptist Church of Macomb, in the town of Sterling, was incorporated Feb- ruary 21, 1880. with John Crittenden, George S. Hall and Samuel Goodsell, Trustees.
The Union Church society of Washington was organized in 1880, with William A. Stone. W. W. Vaughn, Henry Bennett and Timothy Lockwood, Trustees.
In the pages devoted to township histories, an effort will be made to deal fully with each of these organizations. Here, the subject of county churches only bears a general treatment for the purpose of rendering the general history of the county complete in this particular.
In 1881, John E. Day prepared a history of the churches of Macomb. The paper is replete with historical interest, and will be found a most valuable addition to this section of the general history. In the year 1781. all the Moravian missionaries laboring at three different stations on the Muskingum River in Ohio were taken prisoners and brought be- fore Col. De Peyster at Detroit, charged with treason to the English Government in act- ing in concert with United States troops at Pittsburgh. Early in July, several of the Indians who had been connected with the mission arrived at Detroit, among whom were Richard Conner and his family. Col. De Peyster was much interested in their behalf, and, through his influence permission was obtained of the Chippewas to settle upon their lands. De Peyster then advised them to settle upon the Huron (Clinton) River, and to
364
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
bring their Indian converts there. He furnished them a vessel and provisions and such utensils as they needed, together with two milch cows, some horses, and his lady also made them several useful presents. On the 20th of July, 1871, Zeisburger and Jungman, with their families, and Edwards and Jungsingle, missionaries, set out from Detroit with sixteen Delaware Indians, and arrived at their new home on the Clinton River the next evening. They named the place New Gnadenhutten, in remembrance of the old home on the Muskingum. It was then a perfect wilderness. Soon more of the dispersed con- verts were gathered to them, and a large settlement was in prospect. On the 16th of De- cember. 1783, the first ordinance of baptism was administered within our county. Sus. anah, daughter of Richard Conner, and afterward wife of Elisha Harrington, was bap- tized at the mission. She was the first child of white parents speaking the English lan- guage born within the county. She lived always in the county, and died at the age of sixty-tive years. Col. De Peyster, in treating with the Chippewas, had arranged that they should remain until peace was established between Great Britain and the United States. As they continned to remain after this, the Chippewas became jealous of them and as- sumed a threatening aspect, and on the 20th of April, 1786, the whole was abandoned and the colony scattered. The United States Government gave to Mr. Conner a deed of 160 acres of land in consideration of the fact that he had occupied it prior to the year 1796. Little was done at this point, now called Frederick, until after the war of 1812. During the scenes of this war, the Indians and the British soldiers had made a total destruction of the settlement, from which the few inhabitants fled at their approach. They burned and threw down the buildings, and used the fruit trees as hitching posts for their horses, thus destroying most of them. Thus was closed the mission of this remarkable class of reformers, and with it died the hope expressed by one of their most noted ministers, that " the Gospel may yet find an entrance among the wild Chippewa tribes inhabiting those parts." Next we find the Roman Catholic religion taught in a log chapel on the Clinton River, in 1806.
Turning next from these, the first missionary of which we find any record is a Method- ist of the name of Case. This man was located at Detroit in the early days of Methodism in Michigan, about the year 1807. In that year, he preached repeatedly in the house of Mr. William Tucker, in the township of Harrison. He also preached at the house of Christian Clemens. But no organization seems to have been effected until the people had somewhat recovered from the effects of the war of 1812. On the return of peace to our borders, emigrants came from the East, and with them came missionaries of the Method- ist, the Presbyterian and the Episcopal orders. Meetings were held in the court house, a log structure built in the year 1818; in schoolhouses, where any existed; in barns and in private dwellings, and in the open woods.
In December, 1821, Platt B. Morey, a Methodist clergyman, was taken sick at Mt. Clemens, died, and was buried there, but whose body was removed to the cemetery at De- troit, where it now rests. He was the first Methodist minister whose body was buried in Michigan soil.
5
365
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
In 1824. a class was formed in Harrison: in 1826, one at Mt. Clemens.
Who were the Moravians? They were a society of brethren taking their name from the country of Moravia, from which they sprang in the twelfth century. They were of a quiet and loving disposition, and so united were they in their beliefs and purposes as to gain the name of United Brethren. They were similar in religious belief to Luther, and were remarkable for zeal in missionary labors.
Soon after 1824, preaching was enjoyed at Utica, but no organization was formed un- til some years later. In the year 1825, Abel Warren, who, the year before, had settled in the township of Shelby, began to preach, and without doubt held meetings in the vicinity of Utica, but the exact dates I am not at present able to give. At Romeo, religious wor. ship was first instituted by the Methodists previous to the year 1824.
Elias Pettit, who at that time had charge of the Detroit Circuit, came out as far as the " Hoxie settlement " ( Romeo), and preached in the houses of the settlers. This pio- neer of Methodism in Michigan was born in Vermont, and on his conversion and license to preach. was sent into Canada on a missionary tour for some years. He was the first minister of which we have any knowledge as preaching in the northern portion of the county. He was a powerful man, of large and robust frame, and powerful lungs, and was what the brethren of those times were wont to call a powerful preacher. It was said of him that he would travel a circuit as long as he could get anything to eat on it. and then go to work and earn something, and then take the circuit again. He died in Iowa, in the year 1860.
Associated with the above as a local preacher was Elder Warren, whose memory is still fragrant in many a household. This man was the first who was licensed to preach in the State of Michigan. He was not a man of classical education, but brought to the work what, for the place and times, was better still-a kind and sympathetic heart and a large stock of sound. practical common sense. In the early years of the settlements, his serv- ices were often in requisition far and near, as he was the man desired to officiate at fu- nerals. thus becoming endeared to nearly every family. He had also a fine musical talent. and was usually the leader in the service of song on most occasions. Albert Finch, then an old man, was the pioneer who opened his house for the religions services and for the entertainment of the minister. It was in his house that the class was formed. This class consisted of Albert Finch, Joseph Freeman. James Leslie and their wives, and was the first church of Protestant faith formed in the county. In the year 1826, a remarkable revival occurred in the little settlement, at which many young people were converted who have since made useful members of society and lights in the Christian world. The per- sons forming this society (class), with most who joined at the time of the first revival, have passed away, and only their memory and the fruits of their toil remain (about the year 1827). This was very early in the history of Michigan's religious life, for a report of the Detroit Circuit. three years previous, gives "one circuit, one minister, twenty members and one log meeting-house,"
About the year 1827, a minister of the Congregational order visited the village of
C
366
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
Romeo, and preached in such places as seemed most convenient. Although living at Pon- tiae, he felt an interest in the work of founding new churches and in ministering to the spiritual wants of those who lacked the means of grace. He used regularly to make the journey on foot to Romeo, and preach at this and intermediate points onee in four weeks. It was under his aid and advice that a Congregational Church was formed in 1829, the first in the county and second in the State, consisting of eight persons, one of whom still survives (in 1881). His wish to die in the harness was gratified, for he died while attend- ing General Congregational Association of Michigan.
As Abel Warren was the pioneer of Methodism in this county, so was Mr. Ruggles of Congregationalism. His eustom was to visit the family of each settler, find out their faith and denomination, and so gather together those of his belief and preach to them un- til a settled minister could be procured. These two men have wrought out for northern Macomb a religious history of which we have seen the blade and the ear, and it is hoped we may yet see abundantly the full corn in the ear.
The church planted thus in the woods was blessed in numbers and in usefulness, and was the City of Refuge to many a soul seeking escape from the pursuit of sin. The first minister to the church at Romeo was Rev. Luther Shaw, from 1830 to 1835: afterward. Rev. O. O. Thompson, James B. Shaw, Mr. Kellogg. Hurd Ladd and others.
In 1835, Episcopal services began to be held by a Rev. Mr. Holister, which services have been maintained irregularly to the present time.
In 1846, a Baptist Church was organized in Romeo, with nine members, of which Rev. E. A. Mather was for a long time pastor. Still later, those of the Christian persuasion became united, under the care of Elders Cannon and Richards, and built a church.
In church building. the Congregational at Romeo takes the lead. the first being erected in 1834, at a cost of abont $400. Some fifteen years later, this was removed and used as a private school, and a more commodious house erected in its place. In 1878, this second house was torn down, and the present edifice takes its place. The Methodists built a church in 1839, with a basement, which was used as an audience room one year. when the body of the house was completed. In 1855. it was found necessary to enlarge the building, and again in 1867. In 1872, the old church was removed from the ground and the present church edifice erected.
Still another of the early workers in the eause of religion was the Rev. John Taylor. who settled in the township of Bruce in the year 1832. He was thoroughly educated, re- fined in his tastes, genial and noble in his bearing, and of kind and pleasing address-a finished scholar of the old school. For some time he held Sabbath services in his own house: then was instrumental. with the aid of his neighbors, in building upon his own land a small building, which served for many years as church and schoolhouse.
The Seoteh settlement was just being formed at this time, and they united with the people of Bruce, and. in July, 1833, a church was formed, of six persons as members. most of them bringing letters from churches to which they formerly belonged. Members were received into this church from Monroe County, N. Y .: from East Hampton, L. I. ;
367
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
from Old South Church, Boston; from Marlboro, N. H .; from Monroe, N. Y., and from Brighton, N. Y .; and many from the Reform Presbyterians, or Seceders, in Scotland. This church prospered under the ministrations of Mr. Taylor, and reached a membership of nearly eighty. In the year 1836, a division arose, the history of which may be of in- terest. The settlers, as mentioned above, were largely from New England, and brought with them the habits and customs of their native States. Among these customs was that of commencing the keeping of the Sabbath upon the evening of the day previous, and ending at sunset of the Sabbath. Another was that of meeting upon the evening of the Sabbath to sing and practice in church music. Both these customs met the disapproval of the Scottish brethren, and a breach was opened. Added to this was the fact that the Scotch brethren clung with great tenacity to the use of the Psalms rendered in rhyme for church music, and objected to the employment of any instrument of music in the church. These differences began to be talked about and agitated, until at last two or more of the Scotch brethren brought the whole matter to an issue by demanding a dismissal and a letter of recommendation. The ground of complaint was clothed in the following lan- guage: 1. That the church violate the Sabbath in attending singing schools on Sabbath evenings. 2. That the church make use of and sing Watts' Psalms and Hymns in public worship. 3. That some of the church consider the Sabbath as commencing at evening and ending at evening, and so violate their Sabbath.
Discipline was followed by entreaty, and a church meeting was called to consider the case, and was adjourned hoping that the breach would in some manner be closed up. But such was not the case, and the church reluctantly voted to grant the request of the two brethren, and also of any others who might be in a like manner disaffected. The gap thus made continued to widen as one after another withdrew, until nearly one-half the members had withdrawn, the church expressing the hope that " when they have more thor- oughly weighed and considered the matter, they will return and renew their covenant and continue to enjoy Christian privileges with us." The Scotch members all withdrew at this time, and formed a church in the midst of the Scotch settlement, in the township of Al- mont, which church is still in a prosperous condition.
This calamity was followed by another of greater effect upon the little church, which was the death of the pastor, who had borne it in his arms thus far. He died suddenly, in December, 1840, dressed to attend church. He prepared to meet his God in the earthly sanctuary, but met Him in heaven. They were now children without a father, and were to continue in this condition for some years. Still another cause was the disciplinesof un- ruly members. The pulpit was supplied for a time from Romeo, and latterly the church at Bruce and that at Armada Village acted jointly, and the same minister served in both places.
This was continned for many years, with mutual satisfaction, but at length the mem- bership had so decreased, and a change of pastors occurring at Armada, the appointment at this place was dropped.
In 1834, a Methodist class was formed at what is known as the center of Armada, at
368
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
a log schoolhouse lately erected at that place, I think under the direction of Rev. Leonard Hill, minister in charge at Romeo.
Trial Day was Class-Leader of this class, and regularly walked from his house three miles to meet his class. A Sabbath school was also held here, and Mr. Tenycke, who lived on the Andrews farm, and Mr. Elijah Burke, of Armada, were regular attendants and officers. After two or three years, a class was formed at West Armada, and the appointment at the Center was taken up. Urial Day was made leader of the new class. The class at West Armada was maintained for many years, and preaching regularly supplied from Romeo. and latterly from Armada. A Sabbath school was held in connection with the appoint- ment a portion of the time. From deaths and removals of members, this appointment was taken up about the year 1860.
At an early day-the date I have not yet been able to fix-Rev. John Cannon, of Washington Township, with Mr. H. N. Richards, and a little later, with Bro. Reuben R. Smith, began to hold meetings of Christian order, having as a center a schoolhouse four miles north of Romeo, on the Almont road. From this place as a center, meetings were held in a circle of ten miles diameter for many years, but I am not aware that any church was formed until that at Romeo, about the year 1865, soon after which a church was built' and the society has prospered. In the year 1840, Rev. Elisha D. Andrews took up his residence at the center of Armada, and aided very much in the development of the relig- ious sentiment of northern Macomb. He held meetings at the houses of the settlers or at the schoolhouse. He assisted often in the burial service for the settlers, and cheered by his eounsel and comfort the sick and the dying.
The first preaching in the village of Armada, in the house of Elijah Burke, by Isaac Ruggles, of Pontiac. Services had been held previously by a Baptist minister at or near Sanford Corbin's. A church organization was effected at this place, of whom Deacon Goodale and wife and Sanford Corbin and wife, as also Mrs. Pliny Corbin, were members.
The Baptist Church in the village was formed in the year 1856, and the appointment at Deacon Goodale's taken up. Previous to this time, the people living south of this place attended church at Ray Center. The Baptist Church at Ray was formed at an early date, as early. I think, as 1830 to 1834. The place was then known as the Chubb settlement, and some of that name were among the movers or the new organization.
The house of worship at the Chubb settlement was a frame building, about 18x26 feet, with a huge stone fire-place in one end. In later years, when it was concluded to place a stove in the building, the pulpit was placed over the stones of which the hearth was formed, and some of the ministers thought it was a sort of doing penance, standing and kneeling on the stones during the service. Mr. Wright, commonly known as Elder Wright, preached at this house for some time, living on his farm some two miles south of the church.
A Congregational Church was also formed at Ray about the year 1834, I think by Rev. O. C. Thompson, which had a varying degree of prosperity, but is now extinct. The old Baptist Church served the people of all denominations, until the year 1865, when a
€
369
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
division arose in the society on the question of a site for a church. The people living south of and about the corners on which the old church stood felt that that was the cen- tral place, and the only proper place. for a church to stand. while that portion of the so- ciety living about the place known as Freeman's Mill, could not consent to pay most of the building fund and travel all the distance, to build a church in a mud-hole at the center. The result was that two churches were built, and two religious societies organized, the one at the center as Congregational, under the leadership of Mr. England, and the society at the mill as a union society, with a sprinkling of nearly all denominations, but claimed by the Methodists. and a small class formed. A large and flourishing Sabbath school was formed at the Union Church, or rather in the schoolhouse, before the church was built. This school was organized through the efforts of J. E. Day, who was its Superintendent for several years. Services were held in the Union Church by the Free- Will Baptists, un- der Rev. E. R. Clark, and Congregational under Rev. R. G. Baird and Rev. Samuel Phil- lips. In 1879, Rev. J. Young Christian, of Romeo, commenced a series of meetings, which resulted in an extensive revival and a greatly enlarged and active church member- ship.
The Congregational Church in Armada Village was formed in 1835, by Rev. John B. Shaw, of the church at Romeo, who ministered to it in spiritual things for a short time, when Rev. S. A. Benton became its pastor, which position he held for fourteen years, and was succeeded by Rev. S. M. Judson, then by R. G. Baird.
The Methodist Class in Armada was formed at a date somewhat later than that of the Congregationalist, the precise time I have not been able to learn. It was for some time connected with the class at Richmond, the records of which do not come to hand. The Methodist Episcopal Church edifice was built in the year 1860 or thereabout.
Societies were formed at Memphis at a date not long after that at Armada, but the exact dates I have not been able to learn. Rev. William P. Russell settled in that village in 1848, and remained thirty two years, met the religious wants of a very large commu- nity, in whose houses he was often seen and always welcome. In growing up with this people, he had grown into their very hearts, and by his presence at every scene of joy or sorrow, became very dear to them. He baptized their infants, married their young, and in sorrow and with sympathy cheered the aged and the sick, and buried their dead.
And here let us drop for the present the chain of history of religious development of Macomb County, to be made more full and complete by some wiser pen than mine.
Were there better men and women then than now? Self-denial for the welfare of Christ's cause was more common than it is to-day. Father Ruggles could walk from Pon- tiac to the St. Clair River and return-a journey of more than one hundred miles-every month, to preach to new-comers who had no other means of supply, and his coming was anticipated and enjoyed with the keenest relish. Welcomed in every house, he blessed and honored every one which he entered. Self-denial was practiced to attend public wor- ship. Women and men, with their children, walked from four to eight miles to hear the sermon.
5
370
HISTORY OF MACOMB COUNTY.
The visit of the minister at the homes of the settlers was an event to be remembered by each member of the household, for he talked to each of the one great end of life and their prospects for a happy eternity. The minister was revered then more than now. The very name preacher carried with it a sacredness not now felt.
They were anstere in their lives, earnest in their work, and beyond reproach in their lives. The duties of those of the first generation in this county were of a formative char- acter. It is to them, under God, we owe our prestige. Religiously, morally, education- ally, they have made us what we are. The duties of us of the second generation are of a preservative nature. To protect, to preserve pure and to perpetuate are no less important than to create. God grant we may discharge our duties as well as they have done theirs. If we do this, we shall see not only the blade and the ear, but each succeeding year will develop abundantly the full corn in the ear.
CHAPTER XXII. THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
In former pages, full references are made to the action taken by the old settlers of this county in the military affairs known as the war of 1812, the Black Hawk war, the Toledo war and the Mexican campaign. Here let us deal with the county during that eventinl period in the nation's history when the Republic demanded a first sacrifice from the newly erected States-that period when the very safety of the glorious heritage be- queathed by the Fathers as a rich legacy was threatened by a fate worse than death-a life under laws that acknowledged slavery, a civil defiance of the first implied principles of the constitution.
Michigan was among the first to respond to the summons of patriotism and register itself on the national roll of honor, even as she was among the first to join in that joyous hymn which greeted the Republic, made doubly glorious within a century by the dual vic- tory which snatched freedom from the hands of tyranny at Yorktown in 1781, and won the precious boon for the colored slave in 1865.
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.