History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 10

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373

USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 10

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My three brothers became earnest Christians. In the Autumn of 1887, my father, with his family, except myself, immigrated to the territory of Michigan, and continued home mission work in the new field of Washtenaw County. I was then in Williams College, Mass. I had prepared for college in part under Rev. Marcus Ford, at Newark Valley, Tioga County, N. Y., and completed the course at a new manual labor academy near Columbiaville, on the bank of the Hudson River, four miles north of the city of Hudson, N. Y. This school soon failed. The liberal contributions were lost, and the experiment checked that kind of self-support. I had taught dis- trict school some; while in college I taught one year of term time and kept my class standing. I taught in Sabbath-school, and superintended it at times from my early experience, until I began preaching. While in college I gained spiritual life and strength by attending a daily prayer meeting. I also, with other students, did

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

considerable religious work in the adjacent neighborhoods. I grad- uated in 1840, with a class of thirty. I paid my way mostly by my own earnings and economy. Many students in Williams College did the same. The students of that college have been from its be- ginning, a force of earnest and industrious young men. After grad- uating, I took charge of the Williamstown Academy and continued .in it about two years. During this time a revival meeting was held under the management of Dr. Beman, of Troy, N. Y., when twenty- five of my scholars united with the church together. I was then associated with Mr. H. G. Bulkley, in the Regent's Academy at East Greenbush, near Albany, N. Y., for three years. During these years I read my theological course under private direction. In 1846, I started westward to enter upon my ministerial work; was received into the Detroit Presbytery in 1847, and was soon ordained at Troy, Oakland County, Mich .; was about this time married to Miss Har- riet L. Ostrander, of Schodack, N. Y. Here I preached and taught a high school for four years. I then went to Rochester, six miles from Troy, and took charge of the Congregational Church and academy, both of which I held for four years. During these years no other preachers were upon this field. My efforts were devoted to church, school, schoolhouse appointments, pastoral visits. funer- als and family duties. I had good health and the Lord prospered me. We had good revival work there and the society built a new house of worship. In the Autumn of 1854 my wife died of quick consumption. In the Spring of 1855 I took charge of the Presby- terian Church at Birmingham, Oakland County, ten miles from Rochester. There I labored twelve years. I superintended the high school for five years of this time; also superintended the build- ing of a new church, did active temperance work and supplied reg- ularly, on every Sabbath evening, the church at Royal Oak, for four years, and for eight years at Wing Lake. In 1858 I was married to Miss Sarah C. Coggshall. In 1867 I went to Vassar, Tuscola County, Mich., a thriving village and growing county. I continued preaching here for seven years, and was considerably engaged in educational work. In the Autumn of 1868 I buried my second wife and little daughter. In 1874 I entered upon my present field at Ludington, Mich., a city of five years' growth and three thousand population. I organized the Presbyterian Church, and still continue to be its pastor. Of my six children three are living and are young men. My life of sixty seven years has been one of self-reliance, good health, fine opportunities and open fields for labor. I have been an educationalist, devoted to our national freedom, temper- ance, missions and constant gospel labor. I trust that my aims have been true and my activities not in vain.

GRACE CHURCH.

The parish of Grace Church dates from about May, 1872, when it was visited by Rev. Joseph B. Pritchard, who remained here most of the time until June of the present year, when he closed his lab- ors with this parish. In his farewell sermon he gave a history of the parish, from which we quote as follows:

"May 28, 1872, I visited Ludington for the first time. Our ser- vices on that occasion were held in the hall over the Pere Marquette Lumber Company's store. I found here three communicants. The Summer following and a part of the year 1873, I held services in Ludington one Sunday in the month, only. Another religious body occupying the hall above mentioned, we found it exceedingly difficult to find a place to hold the two services on the Sunday I came here. I remember we held the service several times in the old Masonic Hall. The building itself was not very inviting, but the floor being beautifully carpeted with sawdust, we were enabled to get along without very much confusion.

"In the Fall of 1872 or Spring of 1873, I am not quite certain

which, we succeeded in getting the small school building adjoining the old school house, for our use. Here, in the Spring of 1873, we organized a Sunday-school, with considerable encouragement, and with the zeal manifested on the part of the teachers, the school proved a success. In this year the parish was organized and the rectory commenced. This, I think, was in the month of May. In the month of Angust following, I moved my family to Ludington, and took possession of the rectory in an unfinished state. About this time we changed from the small room where we had been holding service, to the largest room in the building. If I am not mistaken, it was here that we had the first convocation. January 1, 1874, the Bishop of Michigan visited the parish and confirmed five persons. The following Spring we moved into the Opera House, where we held the service and Sunday-school until we moved into the newly-erected church, or chapel, in the month of November, 1874, near the season of advent. The erection of this chapel was begun the previous June. All seemed to have one object in view, and the work went on harmoniously to its completion. And all who were interested are deserving of much credit for their kindness and willingness to make almost any sacrifice to sustain the service both of church and Sunday-school, during those days of toil and dis- couragement. The church was consecrated by the Bishop, October 12, 1875. *

"The church and rectory were both destroyed in the great fire of June, 1881. This left us again without a place for worship; con- sequently we only had occasional service in the M. E. Church. The rebuilding of our chapel was begun at once, and the corner-stone laid by the Bishop, August 28, 1881. The first of December a small room was rented and our services were resumed. The first Sunday after Easter, services were held in Masonic Hall, where we have continued to the present time. The new chapel is still unfin- ished. The Sunday-school numbers forty-four members and is in a prosperous condition."

The vestrymen are, M. Brayman, H. W. Williams, W. H. Phillips, William Foy, James A. Armstrong, O. S. Stout, Fayette Johnson, Rolan Wheeler, Thomas Crilley.

The original signers were, William Foy, John W. Thomas, John Fairbanks, George Westcott, William Frye, Lyman DePuy, Fayette Johnson, Charles H. DePuy, George T. Smith, James A. Boyd, Thomas Moone.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LUDINGTON.

The First Baptist Church of Ludington was organized July 15, 1876, with the following constituent members: James Thomp- son, Lydia Thompson, Julia Coffin, Edwin Andrew, Susan E. An- drew, H. N. Andrew and F. W. Andrew. C. E. Resseguie, Peleg Ewing and H. N. Andrew were elected trustees. James Thompson clerk, and F. W. Andrew treasu: er.

July 28, 1876, a council of recognition was called; said coun- cil, consisting of pastor and delegates from Manistee, Reed City, Chase and Pentwater, convened at Music Hall, August 8, 1876, and duly recognized the church, which was received with the White River Association, at its meeting at Hazel Grove, Muskegon County, August 16 and 17, 1876.

The first Monday in January was fixed as the time for the annual meeting, which has never been changed.

Music Hall was used as the place of worship, where only prayer meetings were held until in the Spring of 1877, when Rev. H. C. Beals, the state missionary, conducted a revival meeting | which lasted several weeks, and large additions were made, increasing the membership from seven to seventy-one.

In July, 1877, the society extended a call to Rev. E. B. Moody, of Midland, to become its pastor. The call was accepted, and he

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

entered upon his duties the first of the following August. He con- tinued his pastorate until February, 1878, when he resigned and the church was left without a pastor until the following April, when Rev. Volney Powell, of Rockford, accepted a call from the society. April 6, 1878, it was decided to build a house for worship, and a building committee, consisting of Rev. Volney Powell, James Thompson, John N. Foster, Mrs. M. A. Maxwell and Mrs. John N. Foster, was appointed with full power to act in all particulars as they deemed best, and report to the society when the building was completed. The Pere Marquette Lumber Company donated the lot, and May 1, the work of clearing it began. The committee pushed the work so rapidly that August 4 following, the building was occupied for service, although not entirely finished. October 12, the committee formally reported, and turned the property over to the trustees.

The entire cost of the building was $2,400, of which $1,950 had been paid, leaving a debt of $450 unprovided for.

November 24, the church was dedicated, Rev. E. A. Mather, of Portland, preaching the dedicatory sermon, assisted by Rev. R. Lewis, of the Congregational, and the Rev. J. M. Aiken, of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city. The debt upon the church was paid during the following year, and the society has kept free from debt ever since that time.

Rev. Volney Powell resigned his pastorate in April, 1880, and the following August was succeeded by Rev. B. P. Hewitt, the pres- ent pastor.

During the Spring of 1882, the society purchased carpets for the church and made other improvements at a total expense of about $400.

The following persons have been trustees of the society: H. N. Andrews, P. Ewing, C. E. Ressegnie, E. H. Fogg, George Good- sell, John N. Foster, J. A. Borkstanz, A. Stengle, J. S. Stray.

The present board of trustees consists of J. S. Stray, John Foster, A. Stengle. John N. Foster, treasurer; Fannie J. Foster, clerk.

There have been 107 names on the church roll. The present membership is forty-seven. There have been seven deaths and fifty removals.

The pastor, Rev. Bertrand P. Hewitt, was born in Columbia, Jackson Co., Mich., May #8, 1844. He graduated at the Baptist Theological Seminary, in Chicago, in 1876. His first pastorate was at Crystal Lake, Ill., and afterward at Parma, Jackson County, Mich. In August, 1880, he removed from Parma to Ludington, to take charge of the Baptist Church in this city. Mr. Hewitt has been very successful in building up the society since coming here, and is very highly respected by the people of the city.

LUTHERAN CHURCH SOCIETIES.

The Scandinavian Lutheran Society was organized in 1875. They built a church on Melendy Street costing about $2,500. For some time the society has had no settled pastor, but has been supplied from other places.

The Danish Lutheran Society have recently built a church on Madison Street, in the Fourth Ward. This society is without a set- tled pastor, but is supplied from other places.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Society was organized in 1872 with twenty members. Immediately after organization the society erected a building 24x44 feet in size as a place of worship and minis- ter's residence. The first minister was Rev. William Denke, who remained until August, 1872, when he was succeeded by Rev. Henry Torney. In 1880 the building thus far used by the society was changed into a parsonage, and the society rented the use of the Swedish Church for a time. About that time they began to ar-

range for building a new church. The new edifice was finished the present season. The building is 40x88, and is one of the finest churches in this city. The membership of the church, at the pres- ent time, numbers forty. The present pastor, Rev. I. P. Karrer, sue- ceeded Mr. Torney in 1880. He was born in Bavaria in 1838, and came to this country in 1865. He preached first in Ohio, and then in Indiana. He now has five societies under his charge.

SABBATH SCHOOLS -- S. N. HILL.

The Christian people of the city of Ludington and the neighbor- hoods of the county are not prevented from doing gospel work by the difficulties of a new field. The pluck and zeal developed are worthy of admiration. The several churches in the city make the Sabbath - school a part of their regular Sabbath duties. The Presbyterian Sab- bath-school has an annual enrollment of 150; the Congregational enrolls 150; the Methodist Episcopal, 180; the Baptist 120; the Protestant Episcopal, 60; a mission school in the Fourth Ward en- rolls about 75. These are conducted and furnished with lesson papers, helps, reading papers and libraries in the same manner and equal to the older towns. Each of these schools is active and success- ful. Yearly some converts from these are gathered into the church. The Christian people know and feel that the children must be relig- iously educated, and the glorious record of the past century of Sab- bath-schools leaves the fact unquestioned, that the Sabbath-school is at present the great agency in doing this work. The moral con- trast of a town with and without Sabbath-schools is like the culti- vated field with its growing crops, and that covered with rank briars and thistles. The five churches of foreign nationality in the city also train and educate their children religiously in their own methods, mostly by catechetical exercises at stated times. The world, civilized and savage, know that

"As the twig is bent The tree's inclined."

The children must be fashioned to the designs for the future. Ignorance of the Bible, Sabbath desecration, novel reading, profanity, vulgarity, and vicious indulgence, cannot result in good morals, re- finement, honesty, industry, or Christianity.

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The Sabbath-schools of the county are mostly undenominational. They are generally Summer schools and temporary in all their or- ganie arrangements, yet, have the same lessons and reading papers as the city schools; some of the older schools have libraries. About forty neighborhood schools are in operation during the Summer, with an enrollment of from twenty-five to seventy-five, making a county enrollment of 1,500, and the enrollment for the city Protestant schools of 700. These schools operate many cultured and happy scenes: anniversaries, pic-nics, concerts, class gatherings, Christmas presents, and socials, all of which are refining and refreshing to parents and children, and are a moral geniality to every neighbor- hood. In every school district are persons competent to conduct a Sabbath-school, and their appointment to some official position calls out their latent ability for the good of themselves and others. The families of neighborhoods are destined to become active elements of society in every part and position of our vast and growing country; and the gospel seed sowing and good moral efforts of these local and social Sabbath-schools, will be of invaluable benefit to generations to come. In the great moral reforms and Christian enterprise of society, all earnest and sober effort will yield its fruitful reward.

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS.

CRYSTAL LODGE, No 159, I. O. O. F., of Ludington, was organ- ized May 4, 1871. The first meeting was held at the Misner House, on Ludington Avenue. The first officers elected were N.G., Sam- uel W. Frisbie; V.G., Peter Anderson; R.S., George W. Clayton ;

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

P.S., Charles O. La Sone; Treasurer, Levi Shackelton. The meet- ings were held for a time in the second story of a building where Huston's hardware store now stands, and afterwards in the hall over the Pere Marquette Lumber Company's store. In July, 1880, the lodge moved into its present elegant quarters, in the Knights of Honor Hall, over the Danaher & Melendy store. The lodge is in a very flourishing condition. The present elective officers are, N.G., Andrew Murphy; V.G., John Tracy; R. S. Pierce; treasurer, Wil- liam Heysett; P.S., Joseph McMaster.

LAKE MICHIGAN LODGE, No. 694, KNIGHTS OF HONOR, was organ . ized July 18, 1877, with the following charter members: S. D. Haight, R. R. Wheeler, M. G. Smith, George Goodsell, W. W. Wil- liams, P. Ewing, George E. Tripp, H. F. Alexander, E. N. Fitch, Joseph Finsterwald, N. J. Gaylord, R. P. Bishop, William B. Roby, T. O'Brien, R. M. Garritt, James H. Boyd, C. T. Sawyer, J. A. Mitchell, L. J. Brown, George B. Hollis, F. J. Dowland, M. D. Seely, W. G. Hudson, M. J. Danaher, Dr. A. P. McConnell, L. C. Waldo, Peter Anderson, R. Arnott, P. Mendelson. The first officers elected were, E. N. Fitch, past dictator; Peleg Ewing, dictator; George E. Tripp, vice-dictator; W. G. Hudson, assistant dictator: A. P. McConnell, chaplain; M. G. Smith, guide; R. P. Bishop, reporter; L. C. Waldo, financial reporter; F. J. Dowland, treasurer: L. J. Brown, guardian; N. J. Gaylord, sentinel. The trustees were, M. J. Danaher, H. F. Alexander, O. O. Stunchfield. January 2, 1878, George B. Hollis with N. J. Gaylord, vice-dictator. During the year the lodge increased its membership and was very prosperous. At the June election William G. Hudson was elected dictator. and W. W. Williams vice-dictator. On the 28th of August W. B. Roby resigned his office of financial reporter, previous to leaving Luding- ton for the West. About this time the lodge gave an entertainment, and the proceeds, amounting to one hundred dollars, donated for the aid of yellow fever sufferers in the South. In January, 1879, W. W. Williams was elected dictator, and N. J. Gaylord, vice-dic- tator. Mr. Williams held the office of dictator for three successive terms. The meetings of the lodge were held in the Masonic Hall over the store of the Pere Marquette Lumber Company, until 1879. At that time the lodge moved into its new hall over the Danaher & Melendy store. The hail was fitted up and furnished in most ele- gant style at an expense of $1,200. In July, 1880, N. J. Gaylord · was elected dictator, and A. E. Smith vice-dictator. In January, 1881,A.E. Smith was elected dictator and Thomas Shorts vice-dictator They were succeeded in July by O. N. Tayloras dictator, and Thomas Shorts vice-dictator. In November, 1881, the lodge paid the last in- stallment of its debt, and is free from debt at the present time. The present officers are, Thomas Shorts, dictator; R. P. Bishop, vice-dicta- tor; Hiram Barnett, assistant dictator; W. Foy, reporter; H. Al- drich, financial reporter; F. J. Dowland, treasurer; A. P. McCon- nell, chaplain; Joseph P. Baggot, guide; W. J. Kirk, guardian; W. W. Noble, sentinel. The trustees are, George E. Tripp, O. N. Taylor, R. P. Bishop. The regular meetings of the lodge are held on the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month. The membership at present numbers ninety-two, and represents all the business and professional interests in the city. It has prospered from the beginning, and its charities have been wisely and liberally bestowed.

GRACE COUNCIL, NO. 171, ROYAL ARCANUM, was organized Sep- tember, 18, 1878, with the following charter members : W. G. Hudson, W. E. Armstrong, Joseph Stitt, R. F. Kasson, A. P. McConnell, M. Brayınan, H. N. Scott, J. E. Mailled, E. W. Fogg, J. W. Page, A. E. Cartier, J. H. Root, T. E. Pierce, George Davidson, P. Mendel- son, Horace Butters, J. S. Stearns, A. J. Wilcox, F. C. Kuhli, J. V. Henry, John S. Woodruff, Thomas Neilan, William Tolles, Eli Nelson. The following were the first officers elected: W. G. Hud-

son, regent; W. E. Armstrong, vice regent; Joseph Stitt, past regent; M. Brayman, orator; A. P. McConnell, chaplain; H. N. Scott, secretary; R. F. Kasson, treasurer; J. E. Mailled, collector: E. W. Fogg, warden; W. Tolles, guide; trustees: A. E. Cartier, J. W. Page, J. H. Root. For 1879 the officers were: W. E. Armstrong, regent: J. W. Page, vice regent; J. H. Root, orator; J. E. Mailled, collector: R. F. Kasson, treasurer; A. P. M.Connell, chaplain; W. Tolles, guide; E. W. Fogg, warden; J. W. Brown, sentinel; trus- tees, A. E. Cartier, J. W. Root, J. W. Page. In 1880, William Tolles was regent. In March, 1880, several officers resigned, and E. W. Fogg was made treasurer; W. E. Armstrong, collector; William Foy, secretary; H. N. Scott, guide; T. F. Crilly, vice regent; William Surplice, orator. The membership at this time munbered thirty-eight. During 1880, the membership was increased to seventy. In December, 1880, Robert Kasson, a member of the order, died, and the sum of $3,000 was paid to his mother as a death benefit. The officers for 1881 were: Thomas F. Crilly, regent; A. : T. Wiley, vice regent; William Surplice, orator; W. Foy, secretary; J. A. Armstrong, collector; E. W. Fogg, treasurer; A. P. McConnell, chaplain; H. N. Scott, guide; R. Rasmussen, warden; trustees: W. W. Williams, Joseph Stitt, Thomas Neilan. For 1882 the officers are: W. W. Williams, regent; G. Chase, vice regent; W. Rath, orator; William Foy, secretary; J. A. Armstrong, collector; E. W. Fogg, treasurer; A. P. McConnell, chaplain: R. Rasmussen, guide; A. Hunter, warden: trustees: W. E. Armstrong, William Rath, Peter Mendelson. The present membership of the Council numbers sixty-eight. John Gee, a member of the Council, died April 7, 1882.

PERE MARQUETTE LODGE, No. 299, F. AND A. M., was organized in April, 1871. The first meetings were held in an oldl building on Ludington Avenne, near Charles Street. Subsequently they met in the second story of the building now ocenpied by Mr. Huston's hardware store. Still later, they met in the hill over the Pere Marquette Lumber Company's store, and after the fire moved into their present hall in the Clayton Block. The first in ister of the lodge was M. D. Ewell, and his successors have been Peleg Eving, Jason Gillette aufd George N. Stray. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and has about one hundred members. There is also a Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery.

LUDINGTON CHAPTER, NO. 92, OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS, was insti- tuted February 3, 1874. The officers installed were: H.P., W. G. Hudson; K., E. N. Fitch; S., Jason Gillette; C.O.H., A. G. Spen- cer; P.S., L. T. Southworth; R.A.C., William Farrell; M.1stV., L. B. Wightman; M.2AV., R. Andley; M.3AV., L. Lovell: seere- tary, J. Finsterwald, treasurer, M. D. Ewell. The present term the principal officers are: H.P., H. B. Smith; K., P. Ewing; seribe, F. P. Dunwell. .

APOLLO COMMANDERY, No. 31, was institute.l J.maury 31, 1882, with E.C., W. G. Hudson; Gen., F. P. Dunwell; C.G., H. B. Smith.

LUDINGTON COUNCIL, No. 48, was instituted May 31, 1876, with T.I.M., L. T. Southworth; D.I.M., P. Ewing; P.C. of W., W. G. Hudson. The present officers are: T.I.M., P. Ewing; D.T.I.M., George N. Stray; secretary, Jacob Staffon. The membership is thirty-five.

THE GERMAN AID SOCIETY Was organized in 1876. Its object is mutual aid and relief for its members. The society has been very prosperous from its start. Last year the society erected a large building on James Street, called Arbeiter Hall. It is used for society purposes anl as a public hall. The building is fifty by one hundred and twenty feet in size, and contains a roomy stage, fitted up with new and handsome scenery. The present officers of the society are: Henry Neuman, president; Frederic Ohland, vice

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RES . OF F. J. DOWLAND, LUDINGTON, MICH.

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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.

president; P. J. Sprecken anl George Schmidt, secretaries; W. Peters, treasurer.

There are also Swedish and Scandinavian aid societies, which are benevolent institutions, the objects of which are mutual benefit.

THE "PAP" WILLIAMS POST, No. 15, G. A. R., was organized Tuesday evening, May 25, 1880, by Col. A. T. MeReynold, of Grand Rapids, department commander. Its officers were: Chancy Gibbs, commander; Isaac Gibson, senior vice commander; George Goodsell, junior vice commander; Dr. A. P. McConnell, surgeon; R. P. Bishop, chaplain; George W. Clayton, quartermaster; L. E. Hawley, quartersergeant; C. G. Wing, adjutant; James Wood, sergeant major; W. G. Hudson, officer of the day; C. P. Stanton, officer of the guard. About forty names were signed to the charter, twenty-nine of whom were mustered in at the first meeting. The post has prospered better than might have been expected in so young a county, and at the present time has nearly one hundred members. A very pleasant post room has been fitted up over the store of the Pere Marquette Lumber Company, where meetings of the post are held twice a month, on Thursday evenings. The present officers are: Charles G. Ward, commander; C. P. Stanton, senior vice commander; Gardner Chase, junior vice commander; Fayette Johnson, adjutant; R. P. Bishop, officer of the day; Dr. A. P. McConnell, surgeon; Lucius E. Hawley, chaplain; W. C. Mckay, officer of the guard; J. Shekelton, quartermaster. On the Fourth of July last, the lalies of Ludington presented the post with an elegant silk flag.

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History of Mason County, Michigan, Part 10

Author: H. R. Page & Co. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 373

Author: H. R. Page & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 373