USA > Michigan > Monroe County > History of Monroe County, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 55
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
education in every way, not only by organizing schools for the immediate training of his own people, but by favoring all other proper schemes for general intelligence. He brought to the territory the first printing press ever seen here, and in 1809 published a small folio gazette called the "Michigan Essay, or Impartial Observer." He was one of the first offi- cers of the University and a professor in it. His acquaintance and friend- ship were prized among Protestants as well as Catholics. His quaint humor and shrewd sense, in no way weakened by his imperfect pronun- ciation of English is even yet a pleasant memory with old Detroiters. He died greatly lamented in Detroit in 1834 during the epidemic of Asiatic cholera which carried off hundreds of citizens, and which was the cause of many deaths in Monroe, of prominent people during that year.
THE HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH
The establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in Monroe county was at a very early day, when the country on both sides of the River Raisin was an unbroken wilderness, and the people few besides the copper colored inhabitants of the dense woods. The hardships and privation of the pioneer priests were very great, but endured with patience born of their religious zeal. From the records of old St. Anne's in Detroit, which was the good mother of this brave little congregation at the Raisin, are taken interesting facts and documents, establishing the date and cir- cumstances of the first application for a priest. The document is as follows :
"First Assembly of Catholic Citizens at the River Raisin. Registered in my office in the Book No. 1, on pages 288 and 289. Peter Audrain, Clerk.
"Before me, and in presence of Mr. Frichette, priest and pastor of the Parish of St. Anne, at Detroit, the undersigned here to-day assembled to comply with the views of Monseigneur, the bishop, namely, that the inhabitants of the new settlement on the River Raisin should agree for choosing a convenient place for a parsonage, and to buy of Mr. Montigny one acre and two rods of land, for the sum of four hundred francs, and also one-half acre as a free gift from Joseph Hivon; said land to serve as a monument to the Lord.
"On these one acre and a half and two rods shall be built the church, the presbytery and enclosure, and the said land shall belong to the pastor or his successors. Hoping that thus we will meet the views of Monseigneur we will commence with the presbytery, which, with the help of the Lord, will also serve as a chapel. We hope and wish that meanwhile Parson Frichette will visit our settlement, the weather permitting, and honor us with the holy sacraments, which we will beg to deserve, and we promise to him the customary tithes.
"In the expectation that Monseigneur will approve of our under- taking, and that he will have us participate of the grace and indulgence, we sign our name or mark to-day, the 15th of October, 1788.
"Jean X Dubruil. Louis X. Ledux .. T. Britier Benac. Gabriel X Godfroy. Louis Gallaine. Joseph Bordeau. - Degeme.
Louis X Suzor.
Baptiste X Couture.
Antoine X Campau.
Paple X Couture, fily.
Charles X Cauline.
Francis X Labaux.
Rosella X Dronor.
.
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
Bean X Jo Bean.
Jean lais X Sourdilat.
Jaques X Prudone.
Pierre X W. Lee.
Joseph X Bissonette.
Joseph X Menor.
Pierre X Joncco.
Jaques X Gagnier.
Bazil X Cousino.
Joseph X Dronillard.
Joseph X Pouget.
Francis X Jeandron.
Etienne X Jacob.
Margaret X DeBaptiste.
Louis X Devaux.
- Cicott.
Crisophorn X St. Louis.
Ceyamani X Navar.
Jean X Dusaux.
Baptiste X Dronillard.
Gabriel X Bissonette.
Charles D. Chabert.
Alexis X Lovel."
Jean Louis X Lazoiness.
Jean Baptiste X Bissonette.
Baptiste X Tailland.
Baptiste X Lapoint.
"St. Anthony was the name given to this church which was on the Mominee farm, some two and one-half miles west of the present St. Mary's church which succeeded it. This site was chosen as the most central in the River Raisin settlement, and most convenient to be reached by the inhabitants. The chapel served for a time as a place of worship but was inconvenient and unsuitable for the purpose of a church, and was afterwards taken down, leaving much of the old remains for many years, but which now have disappeared. The cemetery on the north side of the church continued to be used for many years, and even now this ancient burial place can be easily identified by some of the broken stones and portions of decayed wooden crosses which once marked the graves. Father Frichette was succeeded by the Rev. Father Antoine Goulietz who remained until July, 1788, and was followed by Rev. Edward Burke who devoted himself to the affairs of the parish for two years. By this time the people's circumstances had improved materially so that the support of the church was partly assumed by the congregation ; they pledged themselves to give one quarter of all their crops from their farms, and in addition each person a member, was to deliver one cord of wood at the parsonage of the priest. Father Dilhet followed Rev. Father Burke who was a very industrious worker. He induced the bishops of Baltimore and Quebec to visit Monroe during his pastorate who confirmed a class of one hundred and ninety persons. Repeated attempts were made to erect a church better suited to the needs of the parish but failed. Rev. Father Gabriel Richard took charge of the parish in 1805, and continued his priestly connection with the church until 1827. He was an exceptionally able and devout man, possessing splendid executive abilities and of great service in relieving his parish- ioners of much of their sufferings from poverty and ill fortune. More extended allusion has already been made to this great man.
The following priests were successively stationed in this parish. Rev. Father Vincent Bradin, Rev. Father Smith, Rev. Father Cummings, Rev. Father Carabin, Rev. Father McCasker, Father Toussaint Santillis, Rev. Father Louis Gillet, a Redemptorist; Rev. Father Smoulders, of the same order; Father Poirier and Father Francis were companion priests from 1847 to 1855. Rev. Father Van Gepnip and Father Rievers suc- ceeded in the latter year; Rev. Father Edward Joos, one of the most devoted christians that this community ever knew came to the parish in 1857, and made his benign influence felt throughout the city and adja- cent country. He was most active and energetic, and so well directed and sagaciously prosecuted was his work, that his field of labor was soon extending into all the surrounding country; schools and missions were established, and in 1862 he undertook his greatest and noblest work
ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, MONROE
T
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
which today stands as a fitting monument to his name and character- the establishment of St. Mary's academy, of which the church, the State and the City of Monroe has great reason to be proud.
Rev. Father Soffers was another efficient and popular priest of St. Mary's-whose taste and judgment effected many improvements in the grounds and buildings; he built a rectory in the rear of St. Mary's and beautified the grounds; during the celebration of the centennial of the foundation of St. Mary's his good taste and judgment was everywhere remarked. Other parish churches in the city are St. Michael's and St. John's; the latter was organized and the edifice built by its first priest, Rev. Father Camillus Maes, who was formerly assistant to Rev. Edward Joos, and now Bishop of Covington, Kentucky, a most accomplished and cultivated man.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
The first effort to organize a separate Catholic church for the English speaking people was in 1834, which proved ineffectual, and in 1852 the effort to accomplish the same purpose resulted in the purchase of lots on the Navarre plat, in the third ward of the city, and laying a stone foundation therefor; but further effort was abandoned until 1872, when Father Maes was appointed pastor. Through his exertions and instru- mentality a more eligible lot was purchased on Monroe street. The corner stone to the church was laid in 1874, and a spacious and creditable brick church, 113 x 52, was completed and blessed in 1877. Father Maes, now Bishop of Covington, Kentucky, having been appointed (much to the regret of his congregation) secretary to Bishop Borges, retired therefrom in 1878. A bell was added in 1879. The cost of the church, independent of the parsonage was $10,000.
Rev. William A. Nevin succeeded Father Maes on the 15th of March, 1880, and remained in charge until July 21, 1881, when the Rev. P. Leavy succeeded him.
The congregation under his charge numbered one hundred and twenty families, with an average of five to a family, making a congregation of' six hundred. Father P. Leavy was highly esteemed, and in the discharge of his pastoral duties in 1889 was exposed in visiting a case of smallpox, contracted the disease and died. He was succeeded by Father Kelley, subsequently by Father Socklain. The present pastor is Rev. Wm. Hennessy.
ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH
St. Michael's church was organized in 1855 by Rev. Father Kronen- berg, a Redemptorist priest. When a purchase was made of the George B. Harleston property between Front street and the River Raisin. This, in the day of its glory was one of the finest residences in Monroe, situated in the large and most beautiful grounds. Colonel Harleston was a hospitable entertainer and his mansion was designed to allow of this propensity being gratified on a large scale. One of the apartments on the ground floor was sixty feet in length, and the house was surrounded on all sides by a spacious veranda. The Monroe county fair was held on these premises in the year 1848. The church immediately began changes and improvements to adapt it to the use of the congregation. In 1867 a handsome brick edifice 145 x 60 feet was erected and in 1873 a two and a half story brick pastoral residence was completed. Previous to 1863 Rev. Fathers Kronenberg, Majesky, Wehrle and Stengel were the pastors; at this date Rev. Father Schmittdiel took charge and served
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
for many years. A parochial school is connected with the church which has an attendance of more than one hundred and sixty.
In 1843 there were only three German Catholic families in the city of Monroe. Their number gradually increased, so that in 1845 Rev. Peter Kronenberg, of the congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or Order of Redemptorists (C. S. S. R.), found fourteen families in the city, and undertook to unite them and form a Catholic congregation. A committee was chosen consisting of Joseph Schaub, George Steiner, Anthony Westerman, Andrew Kirschner, and Joseph Billman, who, within the year, purchased the grounds of the present St. Michael's church, with the exception of the corner lot, for the sum of $2,000. On the grounds there was a private building, the present school house, although it has been some considerably changed from the original structure. They immediately paid five hundred dollars on the property, the balance paid in installments during six years, and at once the house on the grounds was, at an expense of five hundred dollars, converted into a church. On the Feast of St. Michael, Archangel, September 29, 1845, the church was blessed by the Very Reverend Father Bernard, provincial of the C. S. S. R., and the Rev. Peter Kronenberg appointed the first pastor. But the Redemptorist Fathers in 1850 totally abandoned the Monroe missions, and the Rev. John VanGepnip was sent by the bishop to succeed the Rev. Peter Kronenberg in the care of St. Michael's congregation, con- tinuing about four years, and though being a Hollander he spoke German but imperfectly, still he was very much beloved by the people under his charge. Rev. Father C. G. Bolte is the present pastor.
ST. MICHAEL'S COMMANDERY, KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN
St. Michael's Commandery No. 93, was organized in Monroe, on March 27, 1887, with twenty-one charter members, all of whom with the exception of Milton B. Soleau were members of St. Michael's church organization. At the present time members are admitted from all local parishes. The first meeting, for organization was held in the office of the late Andrew Baier, and a few months later, on September 29th, St. Michael's Day, the commandery appeared, for the first time in its new uniform, and attended service, in a body, at St. Michael's church. The commandery holds the honor of being the senior commandery in the First Regiment, Michigan Knights of St. John. The first officers of the commandery were : Spiritual adviser, Rev. B. Schmittdiel; president, Jacob Martin; vice-president, John M. Hech; recording secretary, Ed. M. Schreiber; financial secretary, Henry D. Hoffman; treasurer, Frank J. Yaeger; sergeant-at-arms, George J. S. Schrauder; capt, Andrew Mitchell; first lieutenant, William Heil; second lieutenant, F. A. Daiber; color bearer, John Hoffmeister; trustees, Jno. A. Martin, Henry C. Schreiber, Milton B. Soleau, Erhardt Schrauder, Andrew Baier. Twenty- five years have elapsed since the organization was effected and the com- mandery has enjoyed a prosperous existence, and increased in numbers. On April 15th the organization celebrated its 25th anniversary by a banquet which was enjoyed by a fine company of guests. Addresses were made by Ex-Mayor Jacob Martin, Rev. Father Bolte, Dr. C. Len- hard of Detroit, Rev. Father James Downey, Rev. Father M. J. Crowley and C. Mullen of Monroe, E. J. Schueber of Bay City ; Hon. A. J. Weier and others. The present corps of officers and roster of members are: Spiritual adviser, Rev. Chas G. Bolte; captain, Andrew Mitchel; 1st lieutenant, John A. Martin; 2nd lieutenant, George J. Schroder, presi- dent, John A. Kirschner; 1st vice-president, Walter L. Hoffman; 2nd vice president, Ulrich Leib; recording secretary, Jos. M. Autian; finan-
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
cial secretary, Harry J. Steiner ; treasurer, E. A. Yaeger; Al. B. Hiel, Fred Schoepfer, J. A. Mitchell, S. W. Lauer, G. A. Rupp, A. K. Quell, I. C. Godfroy, E. M. Cloonan, E. Foederer, Geo. C. Kirschner, J. J. Kiley, Fred Lauer, Geo. M. Martin, Jos. Forth, Frank Quell, B. Roberts, P. S. Schaub, W. A. Sturn, J. Schwingschegl, C. Verhoven, F. D. Weber, A. J. Weier, F. J. Yaeger, Jos. Forner, Chas. Haehle, Jacob Martin, F. A. Daiber, F. S. Schrauder, John McGill.
It is a noteworthy fact that during the twenty-five years of its exist- ence, the commandery had not lost one active member from its ranks.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH OF EXETER TOWNSHIP
The establishment of a Catholic church in the township of Exeter had for its initial proceedings the public meeting held in 1834, which took place at the residence of James Donahoe, which was a log house erected by this pioneer in the dense wilderness and amid the swamps and marshes which there formed the geographical features of this township. There were no roads, and the only means of intercourse between the sparsely inhabited settlements on the water courses was by means of trails and the foot paths which had been the Indians' highways and the missionaries' traveled roads. The settlers were few and scattered, but here the cross was raised and faithfully guarded. The mission thus established under such adverse circumstances and amid such discourag- ing environments was visited from time to time by priests.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, ERIE
This church was one of the first established in the county. The first settlers in Erie township were French Canadians, who like the families who first settled on the River Raisin were Roman Catholics from Mon- treal, Three Rivers and Quebec. Their first church, built in 1819, was like their own domiciles constructed of logs, and served the purposes of worship until 1826, when a frame church was built by the little congre- gation and used by them for nearly thirty years, when a more desirable home was demanded, and by the exertions and liberality of the people of Vienna, the village which is now known as Erie, a fine brick edifice 111 x 47 feet was erected and is now still in use. It is a fine structure in which the people take much pride and where more than two hundred families worship. The first priest who officiated at Erie was Rev. Father Gabriel Richard, from St. Anne's church of Detroit and St. Mary's of Monroe; from 1825 until 1835 other priests from Monroe supplied the place of regular pastors. After that date chiefly from the parish of St. Mary's at Monroe, services were held in the log cabins of the French settlers; among the names of such we find those of Philip Flood, Peter Burns, Michael Fagan, John Murphy, Luke Dunn and others.
A rude log building was the first chapel consecrated in 1847, where Rev. Father Simons celebrated the first mass. In 1861 a brick church 40 x 80 feet in dimensions was built, which very comfortably accommo- dated the increased membership in the parish and was regularly served by pastors from other churches, among whom was the highly esteemed Rev. Father Ronayne, whose residence was at Stony Creek, and who officiated also at two other stations, Maybee and Stony Creek. The fol- lowing were the regular pastors: Rev. Joseph Bellamy, Rev. Stephen Badin, Rev. Theo. Carabin. Rev. J. Brayn, Rev. J. Terisonen, Rev. T. Wurlop, Rev. H. Reviers, Rev. L. Lionnet, Rev. Charles Thomas. Vol. I-28
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
PROTESTANT CHURCHES OF MONROE COUNTY
The first permanent Protestant church in the Territory of Michigan was organized at Detroit in 1818 and was called the "First Protestant Society." Its membership was made up of persons belonging to several bodies of Christians and was not denominational in its form, so that ministers of various denominations and opinions officiated at different periods. Its first settled pastor was Rev. John Monteith, he who first preached at the River Raisin in 1816, and organized the First Presby- terian church in Monroe in 1820.
In his account of the establishment of permanent Protestant societies in the new settlement at Monroe and at Detroit, Mr. Monteith says, in letters addressed to the officers of the Presbyterian church: "I arrived at Detroit, June 27, 1816. Scarcely any preaching in English had ever been heard there before that date. I continued the English preacher of that place about five years. In the meantime I made frequent excursions through the territory, particularly to River Raisin and Miami. My first preaching at the River Raisin was on Friday morning at eight o'clock, July 12, 1816, to a small but very attentive auditory. They earnestly begged for more frequent preaching. During the following years I visited there and at Miami, several times spending several days at each place. I preached once and visited the families at Port Lawrence (now Toledo). I wrote to the east for help and on the 7th of December, 1819, Rev. Moses Hunter, a licensed preacher, arrived. He labored alternately at Monroe and Fort Meigs (now Perrysburg) till the 7th of April, 1820. The Lord prospered his labors in both places and churches were gathered in about a month after he commenced. Just a month after his arrival I went and labored with him for nine days."
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MONROE
"On Sunday, January 9, 1820, we organized the First Presbyterian church at Miami, Ohio, and ordained three elders and three deacons. On the tenth we returned to Monroe and visited the English families in the neighborhood. On the eleventh I preached at Downing's on the River Raisin, on the twelfth held a conference of those disposed to unite in forming a church at Monroe, at Oliver Johnson's brick house (then standing on the southwest corner of Front and Washington streets) ; thirteenth, organized the First Presbyterian church of Monroe; articles of belief were adopted, substantially such as are now used in our church, except that nothing was admitted which would interfere with the ordi- nary practices of the several evangelical denominations, for we received not only Presbyterians, but Congregationalists, Methodists, Baptists and Episcopalians.
"On January 30, preached and administered the Lord's Supper for the first time in Monroe, there being twenty-two persons. On May 18, 1820, preached in the court house and admitted five persons to the church. My last visit to Monroe previous to leaving the country was on the 15th of May, when thirty-five additional members united with the church."
The membership of the church in 1820 consisted of the following : Joseph Farrington, Perris Farrington, Isabella Mulholland, Mary More, Samuel Egnew, George Alford, Priscilla Alford, Polly Wells, Eliza D. Johnson, Samuel Felt, Anne Felt, Rebecca Bice, Harvey Bliss, Nancy Bliss, Mrs. Sanborne, Lucy Egnew, John Anderson, Elizabeth Anderson, Wolcott Lawrence, Henry Disbrow, Sarah Disbrow and Mary M. Stowell.
This is the record of the establishment of the First Presbyterian church of Monroe (made up from the session records) from the ministra- tions of Rev. John Monteith and Rev. Moses Hunter in 1816. After the
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MONROE
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
departure of these men from the field occasional preaching was heard from Rev. Messrs. Frontis, Ely, Prince, Goodman and McIlvaine for a few months at a time, when Rev. P. W. Warriner was installed the first pastor by the Presbytery of Monroe; under his ministry in the autumn of 1831 there was a large accession to the church. April 5, 1833, H. Conant and Robt. Clarke were elected members of the session. At this time the members numbered one hundred and twenty-nine.
The pastors from that time until May, 1837, were Rev. John Beattie, Rev. N. H. Conklin, Rev. Samuel Senter, Rev. J. W. Blythe. In that year a division in the church took place and twenty-nine members with- drew for the purpose of forming the Second Presbyterian church; this society was organized and Rev. R. S. Crampton chosen pastor, and the following elected elders : Wolcott Lawrence, Norman R. Haskell, William H. Boyd and Isaac Lewis. The First church about this time elected John Anderson and Charles Noble, elders. In October, 1833, the church sustained a serious loss by death of one of its elders, that learned, judicious and distinguished man, Dr. Robert Clarke. In 1838 Rev. J. W. Blythe was succeeded by Rev. Conway P. Wing, who was installed pastor in June, 1839.
CHURCH REUNITED
In this year the two divisions of the church were reunited, the thirty- nine members of the Second church being received back into the old con- gregation, making the church a very strong one of 213 members, and the session augmented by the election of William H. Boyd, Norman R. Haskell and Stephen P. Morehouse, elders. Two years later Rev. Mr. Wing was obliged by ill health to give up the pastorate, and in 1840 Mr. R. W. Patterson filled the pulpit as stated supply for a few months. In this year Colonel John Anderson, a pioneer of Monroe and a most highly esteemed and valuable officer of the church, passed away at an advanced age.
Rev. Nathaniel West was ordained pastor in 1842; he was a notable man and a most forcible preacher. Services were that time held in the court room of the old court house on the public square. Judge Lawrence, another prominent man of Monroe and one of the elders of this church, an able officer, died on April 29, 1843. Rev. William Paige was pastor until the autumn of 1845, when Rev. William Southgate was called to the pulpit. The church was increased by the addition of thirty-one per- sons.
CHURCH OF 1846 BUILT
In 1846 the congregation decided to build a church edifice to accom- modate the large and growing congregations; on November of that year the cornerstone of the present commodious and dignified structure was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The brick used in this building were manufactured by Mr. James Nelson, a member of the church, who operated a brickyard near the city. They were all made by the primitive hand process, the clay being prepared in the pit by oxen who trod it in the pit to the proper consistency. The church was dedicated February 15, 1848, and from the records of the board of elders we take the follow- ing notes of that impressive event: "The new church edifice of this church was dedicated to the service of Almighty God this day. The ser- mon was preached by Rev. . Robert Southgate, the pastor-elect, from Haggai, second chapter and ninth verse: 'The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the former.' Dedicatory prayer by Rev. E. Cheever, of Tecumseh ; Reverend Messrs. E. Cheever, John Monteith and E. Curtis, a committee from the Presbytery to attend the installation of the pastor,
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HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY
were present, and in the evening of same day the services were held." It was a noteworthy incident that the charge to the people was by the Rev. John Monteith, the minister who held the first Protestant services and preached to the first Presbyterian congregation in Monroe in 1816.
The Presbyterians and Congregationalists at Raisinville having by this time become numerous in that township, resolved to organize and erect a church in their neighborhood, and there being a considerable number who had united with the Monroe church and attended service there now withdrew and joined their neighbors in establishing a Con- gregational church on the River Raisin a few miles west of Monroe, and being known as the "Raisinville church."
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