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 56
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Dr. Henry H. Northrop was the next pastor; during his pastorate Dr. Harry Conant, an influential member of the church and a useful mem- ber of the session, died. Thomas Foster succeeded Mr. Northrup and almost his first duty was to officiate at the funeral of Henry Disbrow, an efficient, active and honored officer of the church. Following him Rev. L. P. Le Doux served for about a year, when Rev. Addison K. Strong was installed February, 1856. His pastorate was interrupted for some months by his election to and acceptance of the chaplaincy of the Sev- enth Michigan Infantry, Colonel Grosvenor commanding. After his re- tirement from this position he resumed his pastoral relations with his church. In August, 1857, Hon. Daniel S. Bacon, Thomas Clarke and Dr. George Lauden were ordained elders, at which time the number of members was two hundred and eleven. On January 3, 1844, the request was made by about twenty members for letters of dismissal for the pur- pose of organizing a church in the township of La Salle, which was ap- proved by the Presbytery of Monroe, and the church was then organized with the following membership: John Bradford, Lewis Darrah, David A. Hall, Catherine Hayes, Susan Hall, Bethice M. Kimball, Eleanor Bradford, Charles Hall, Amea Bradford, Jeannet Withington, Eliza M. Cornell, Eliza Cornell, John T. Gilbert, E. H. Gilbert, John D. Turner, Samuel Mulholland, Sarah Withington, Mary Withington and Francis Charter, Sr.
From 1861 to 1865 the active membership of the church was some- what decreased by enlistments in the army and by the appointments to commissioned officers' positions. In 1873 during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. D. P. Putnam extensive alterations and improvements were made in the church, including reseating, cathedral windows and elaborate decorations. The total cost of this work was $14,000. A new organ was afterwards installed at a cost of $2,500. In 1912 the towers on the church and chapel were carried up several feet, and finished in accord- ance with the original design, so that the congregation now worship in one of the finest edifices of this denomination in the state.
The present pastor is Rev. William Clark Burns, D. D., who was called to this church while pastor of the large church at Honeoye, New York. Dr. Burns, while giving devoted service to this parish, also serves the Presbyterian church at La Salle in this county some five miles dis- tant from Monroe, preaching every Sunday afternoon to a good congre- gation. He has been deeply interested in the Sunday schools of both churches and in the maintenance of these and Christian Endeavor societies. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred by Hillsdale College, Michigan. The following is an authentic list of the names of all the pastors of First Presbyterian church of Monroe: Rev. John Mon- teith, 1816; Rev. Moses Hunter, 1820; Rev. P. W. Warriner, 1833; Rev. R. G. Conklin, 1835; Rev. James Blythe, 1837; Rev. Conway P. Wing, 1839-40; Rev. D. O. Morton, 1840; Rev. Nathaniel West, 1843; Rev. R. W. Patterson, 1842; Rev. Wm. Page, 1844; Rev. Robert Southgate, 1846-
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49; Rev. H. H. Northrup, 1851; Rev. Louis P. Ledoux, 1853-1855; Rev. A. K. Strong, D. D., 1856-62; Rev. C. N. Mattoon, D. D., 1864-69; Rev. W. W. Newell, 1869-71; Rev. D. P. Putnam, D. D., 1871-81; Rev. W. W. Macomber, 1881; Rev. S. W. Pratt, 1882-89; Rev. L. B. Bissell, 1898-91; Rev. A. W. Allen, 1901-05; Rev. William C. Burns, D. D., 1906.
Rev. L. B. Bissell occupied the pulpit as pastor of the church in 1898 and 1899. In 1900 Rev. A. W. Allen was called to the pastorate and remained with the church until 1905, when he tendered his resig- nation, which was accepted, and the pulpit was declared vacant. In January, 1906, the session extended a call to Rev. William C. Burns, D. D., pastor of the Congregational church of Honeoye, New York, and he was duly installed as pastor in February, 1906. In 1873, during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Putnam the sum of $14,000.00 was expended in making alterations and improvements in the church building, greatly to the comfort and general appearance of the auditorium and in 1912 the church was further improved.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF LA SALLE
As stated, the First Presbyterian church of La Salle was an offshoot of the First Presbyterian church of Monroe. It was organized January 7, 1844, by Rev. Nathaniel West, pastor of the Monroe church, who was designated by the Monroe Presbytery to perform this duty. The elders chosen at this time were Lewis Darrah, David A. Hall and John T. Gil- bert, with a board of trustees consisting of John Bradford, William Dunlap, Norman Barnes and Francis Charter. The first pastor ordained was Rev. William Buffett, who served until, upon his resignation, Rev. R. R. Salter was called, who occupied the pulpit for several years and who was a genial, hard-working and successful pastor. Other good men who have been connected with the work in this church are Rev. E. F. Tanner and Rev. Mr. Keller and others. At present Rev. W. C. Burns, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Monroe, fills the pulpit on Sunday afternoons and takes charge of the Sunday school, which is in a flourishing condition. The society own, free of any incumbrance, a substantial and convenient brick church, erected several years ago.
RAISINVILLE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH DISBANDED
The Congregational church in Raisinville, owing to a division of senti- ment on the subject of maintaining a church there, or joining with the church at Maybee, was disbanded in 1895, a portion of the congregation taking up a connection with the Maybee church and the remainder asso- ciating themselves with other organizations. The church building and lot reverted to the original owners. The Rev. Mr. Eastlake was the last pastor of the church.
ST. PAUL'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The history of the Methodist church in Monroe is a long and honor- able one. Dating back to the year 1808, it appears that not previous to that time had there been any attempts to establish Protestantism in the River Raisin valley. There were very few English families in this vicinity, but many French, who were Roman Catholics from Quebec
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and Montreal, whose spiritual welfare was looked after by their own church and priests. Mr. Burton of Detroit, the historian of Michigan, has records to which reference has been made, showing that according to the journal kept by Rev. Mr. Case, that clergyman came to Detroit about 1806 as an itinerant preacher of the Methodist denomination. He alludes to the formation of a church at the River Rouge and shortly after he visited the River Raisin settlement and preached to the small con- gregation assembled to hear him. The records of the church at Monroe reveal the fact that Rev. William Mitchell of the western conference, who was on the Detroit circuit and received his appointment from that body, was the first Protestant minister to preach with any regularity at Mon- roe (then called Frenchtown), whose labors along the scattered settle- ments of the River Raisin resulted in the organization of a Methodist Episcopal church in the year 1811, consisting of some two dozen mem- bers. This being but a year before the breaking out of the war between this country and England, but little progress was made, and the unpro- tected settlers along the frontier were scattered far and wide, many re- turning to their former homes in Ohio and Kentucky. The little church at Monroe was broken up and for eight years or more following there was no successful attempt made to resume the work there. In 1817 Rev. Joseph Mitchell took up the work, and as the refugees returned and more were added to the American population, the church grew, until in 1821 it was reorganized under the ministration of Rev. John Kent, who was then traveling on the Detroit circuit from the Ohio con- ference.
It is true that while this reorganization was but a feeble one, it was the beginning of a new era. The membership of the church at that time consisted of the following persons: Samuel Choate, Elizabeth Choate, Isaac R. Parker, Mary Parker, Lyman Harvey, Sarah Harvey, Mary Harvey, Seth Choate, Ethel Choate, Abigail Choate and Philemer West- eleven in all and from but three families. The meetings of this devoted little band of Christians were held at the house of one of the members, about two miles west of the village, and the preaching services were very irregular. Rev. Platt B. Money of the Ohio conference was here in 1821 and Reverends Alfred Bronson and Samuel Baker in 1823 and 1824-26. Rev. John A. Baughman and Rev. William Simmons followed in 1824. The next to preach in the Monroe church were Reverends George W. Walker and J. Armstrong in 1827 and 1828. The Monroe circuit embraced all the settlements in Michigan south and west of De- troit, extending into Ohio. The country was practically a wilderness and the "Black Swamp" of northern Ohio was a terror to adventurous travelers. Strong nerves, undaunted zeal as well as physical strength, were required to prosecute the arduous duties of the circuit rider. At this time Rev. James W. Finley was sent to this circuit, which extended from Defiance, Ohio, to Tecumseh and Adrian. It also required faith and courage among those who were upholding the cause in Monroe; but staunch and capable men and women were indefatigable in their efforts. It was in the year 1836 that the society decided to build a suitable church for the growing membership. A lot was purchased on Monroe street, south of the site of the present edifice, and active preparations made to carry out the plans for a "meeting house," 60 x 40 feet, on the ground. The building committee was authorized to "act in their discretion in adopting the Grecian, Doric or Tuscan style of architecture." The contractor failed to complete the building, forfeited his contract, and the society was obliged to carry on the work to completion, which they did successfully.
The fourth quarterly conference, H. Colclazer, presiding elder, was held in Monroe, July 1, 1837, when important measures of great interest
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to the church and the community were adopted. Among them was a resolution that Monroe be constituted a "station;" also that the newly erected church be named "Wesley Chapel," which it bore until a con- siderably later date, when it was changed to "St. Paul's M. E. church." In 1842 the congregation felt the effects of the financial depression fol- lowing the panic of 1837 and 1838. The mortgage of $2,500 maturing, the society resolved to sell the church pews in order to raise the money to liquidate this mortgage. This plan was successful and many citi- zens, members of other denominations, became purchasers of pews. Among these we find the well-known names of Hon. Robert McClelland, James Armitage, Levi S. Humphry, Isacher Frost, George W. Strong, E. G. Morton, Hiram Stone, Walter P. Clarke, Julius D. Morton, F. M. Winans, E. H. Reynolds. The present beautiful and commodious brick edifice standing on the corner of Monroe and Second streets was erected during the pastorate of Rev. James Venning, and its cost proved a somewhat heavy burden upon the congregation, but none flinched. To the loyalty and generous aid of Mr. Israel E. Ilgenfritz, more than to any other man, who came to the rescue at a critical period, assuming an indebtedness of more than $15,000, the society owes its freedom from further financial difficulties. A very tasteful and substantial brick parsonage has been added to the church property.
The names of the ministers who have preached in St. Paul's during the hundred years of its existence are as follows: Rev. W. C. Mitchell, 1810-11; Rev. Ninian Holmes, 1811-12; Rev. Joseph Mitchell, 1817-19; Rev. John P. Kent, 1820-21; Rev. Platt B. Morey, 1821; Rev. Samuel Baker, 1822; Rev. Alfred Bronson, 1822; Rev. D. O. Plympton, 1824; Rev. Elisha Patee, 1823-24; Rev. Jacob Hill, 1829; Rev. John A. Baugh- man, 1825-26; Rev. J. W. Finley, 1830-31; Rev. E. H. Pilcher and E. C. Gavitt, 1832 and 1833; Revs. Southern and Gavitt, 1834; Rev. Robert Triggs and Rev. M. G. Perziker, 1835-36; Rev. J. F. Davidson, 1836- 1838; Rev. A. M. Fitch, 1839; Rev. David Burns, 1840; Rev. Resin Sapp, 1841; Rev. James Shaw, 1842-43; Revs. H. Colelazer and George Taylor, 1844 and 1845; Rev. J. C. Harrison, 1846; Rev. J. R. Richards, 1847-48 ; Rev. Elijah Crane, 1848; Rev. Harrison Morgan, 1849-51; Rev. T. C. Gardner, 1851-1853; Rev. Seth Reed, 1853-55; Rev. F. W. May, 1855-56; Rev. W. E. Bigelow, 1856-58; Rev. F. W. Warren, 1858-59; Rev. J. H. Burnham, 1859-61; Rev. L. C. York, 1861-63; Rev. William Fox, 1863- 64; Rev. John Levington, 1864; Rev. W. H. Sheir, 1867-68; Rev. J. W. Scott, 1869; Rev. James Venning, 1869-72; Rev. J. C. Worthy, 1872-75; Rev. David Cassler, 1875-78; Rev. O. J. Perrin, 1878-80; Rev. J. E. Jacklin, 1880-82; Rev. C. M. Cobern, 1883-86; Rev. W. Washburn, 1886- 88; Rev. T. G. Potter, 1888-90; Rev. W. B. Pope, 1890-94; Rev. Joseph Frazer, 1894-96; Rev. S. C. Eastman, 1896-98; Rev. W. J. Pulmer, 1898-01; Rev. W. E. Burnet, 1901-04; Rev. D. Stanley Shaw, 1904-07; Rev. J. D. Whiteford, 1907-08; Rev. E. L. Moon, 1908-09; Rev. Howard Goldie, 1909-12; Rev. W. H. Brown, 1912.
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH [By courtesy of Rev. Chas. O'Meara, Rector.]
In the month of September, 1831, whilst the state of Michigan was still a territory, with a population of but a little more than 80,000 and our city only a hamlet of a few hundred people, environed by the "mur- muring waters of the Raisin, the lake and the forest primeval," con- stantly visited by the dusky children of the woods, the Rev. M. Bury of Detroit came on horseback from that town to visit this village. Find-
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ing a welcome at the home of Mr. Dan B. Miller, who he had learned was a member of the Episcopal church, he sent word out amongst the friends and acquaintances of his host that services in accordance with the usages of the Episcopal church would be held in the court house. His invitation was accepted by a very respectable number of the in- habitants, who assembled in attendance upon the first service of the Episcopal church ever held in Monroe. The musical portion of the devotions, if not beyond criticism, was hearty and sincere, while the responses of the litany were necessarily weak for the reason that there were to be found only three prayer books in the village. In November of the same year Rev. Mr. Bury again visited Monroe and held services in the court house, on which occasion he was accompanied by that promi- nent churchman of Detroit, Hon. C. C. Trowbridge. At this service the rite of baptism was celebrated for the first time by an Episcopal elergyman ; two children were baptized, one of them the infant daughter of General Murray of the British army, then living in Monroe, and the other the child of Mr. Dan B. Miller, of the village, who was given the name which afterwards became familiar in Detroit as a lawyer and a banker, as well as a prominent one in the diocese of Michigan, viz. Sidney D. Miller.
Early in the spring of 1832 Rev. Mr. Bury came and established the parish of Trinity church, the first wardens being General Murray and Seneca Allen. It was found necessary to install a permanent rec- tor in the parish, to succeed Dr. Bury, who was no longer able to give the necessary time; but only occasional visits were made by rectors of other churches in neighboring parishes.
Rev. Mr. Freeman came from Ypsilanti, and others supplied the pulpit until 1834, when in November of that year, Rev. Mr. O'Brien became the first rector of the parish. He found but four communi- cants and an empty treasury. With the characteristic bravery and in- domitable pluck of the pioneer clergy of that day he was undismayed by the discouraging outlook ; he grappled with the task before him.
It is an evidence not only of the devotion of that little band of earnest men and women who were the founders of this parish, but also of that broad-minded christianity which shone in the ecclesiastical spirit of the time, that among the handful of members of the Episcopal church, generously assisted by their friends and neighbors of other Protestant churches, the sum of about $1,500 was raised in Monroe. Rev. Mr. O'Brien then visited Detroit and a few parishes of the east, and was successful in securing contributions amounting to $1,300. In March following the church building was commenced on a lot facing the public square, at its northeast corner, which is now a portion of the site of the Park Hotel. In October the church was completed, and in May, 1834, the first convention of the diocese of Michigan was held there, Right Rev. Charles P. McIlvaine, bishop of Ohio, presiding, whose first official address was made to this convention, the first in the state over which a bishop presided. In 1842 Rev. Mr. O'Brien closed his pioneer rectorship of eleven years, afterwards rector for twenty years of Zion church, Pontiac, Michigan. Rev. Joseph S. Large was the next rector of Trinity church, during whose connection with the society all remaining incumbrance on the church was cleared. In accomplishing this, the generous gift of Hon. Dan B. Miller, in cancelling a mortgage upon the church held by him, amounting to $1,200, was not only very welcome, but gratefully appreciated by the society. Rev. W. H. Hunter succeeded Mr. Large as rector, who in turn was followed by Rev. C. F. Lewis, and he in 1850 by Rev. Lyster, who remained till 1855, when Rev. Mr. Bramwell became rector for a short time. After the latter's resignation the parish was vacant for a long time, during
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which Mr. Johnathan Stevens, a loyal member of the church and its ves- try, filled the posts personally of lay reader, warden, treasurer and sex- ton, unfailingly performing the duties of reading the service, collecting dues, paying bills and lighting fires.
Rev. Seth T. Carpenter and Rev. Thomas Green were the rectors in 1856-1864, and in 1864 the Rev. Henry Safford was in charge of the parish. In March, 1868, fire destroyed the parish church just after ex- tensive repairs had been made, and the building and contents were burned. In spite of this severe blow and the crippled condition of the parish, the undaunted and loyal spirits of the church at once started a movement for the erection of a new building, and a lot was chosen at the southwest corner of Monroe and Third streets, upon which was built the present beautiful stone church building. This was completed and opened for service in the fall of 1869. Members of all Protestant churches gave liberally to assist the disaster-stricken church, and a most worthy edifice was the result. In 1870 Rev. George Eastman took charge of the parish, through whose indefatigable efforts the remaining in- debtedness was paid off and the church was consecrated. Mr. Eastman remained as rector until 1878, when the parish very reluctantly parted with their devoted friend and leader. Rev. Ben T. Hutchins was the next incumbent until 1881, when he was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Osborne for four years. In 1885 there came to the parish that godly and saintly man, Rev. D. R. Brooke. It is the lot of but few rectors to have secured such a firm and loving hold, not only upon his church, but upon the community in which he lived, as that which Rev. Mr. Brooke held upon Monroe and Trinity church parish. After ten years' minis- tration to this people, failing health and a delicate constitution admon- ished him that lesser duties and a consideration of his physical limita- tions must be counted with, and his resignation was inevitable. In 1895 Rev. John Evans succeeded Mr. Brooke, whose earnest and faithful labors were instrumental in procuring the erection of a stone chapel
adjoining and harmonizing with the architectural design of the church. Mr. Evans remained in charge of the parish for five years, when he was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. Charles O'Meara, who came here from the parish of Charlottestown in Prince Edward Island. The church has a number of memorial windows, and the large and beautiful ones placed in the east wall of the church last year by the family of Gen. Joseph Rowe Smith and Maj. Henry Smith in memory of their notable ancestors are very beautiful ornaments of this church .. A very attractive rectory stands to the west on the same lot, built also of stone, and in architectural harmony with church and chapel, the three build- ings forming a group on a prominent corner that may well be viewed with pride by the people of the parish and of the city of Monroe.
TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH By Hon. Carl Franke
The first German Lutheran settlers came to Monroe in 1828, having immigrated from Baden and Bavaria, Germany. In 1844 there were seventeen Lutheran families in the city and about sixteen families at Sandy creek, who in 1833, united for the purpose of public services. At their earnest solicitation, Rev. Schmid, of Ann Arbor, arranged to visit the Lutherans of Monroe regularly every eight weeks and later every six weeks to hold public services and administer the sacraments. The first services were held in the Episcopal church. In 1834 a formal organi- zation was effected, Mr. Simon Knab and George Crownwett being elected as deacons. Five years later the first log church was built about four miles south of the city and called "Zoar church." The
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society, anxious to have their own pastor, communicated with Prof. Winkler, of the German Lutheran Seminary at Columbus, Ohio, who soon thereafter informed them of the arrival of several theological candidates, among them George William Hattstaedt, of Langenzenn, Bavaria. A unanimous call was sent to Rev. Hattstaedt, who accepted, and Oct. 9th, 1844, was ordained and installed in his new field of labor, by Rev. Schmid. Under the faithful administration of Rev. Hatts- staedt the membership increased rapidly and in November of that year a separate organization was effected in the city and one at Sandy Creek, the three societies forming one parish, held a general election Nov. 10th, of church officer's, a board of deacons and trustees for each society, and adopting a constitution, signed by fifty-six voting members.
All these years the church had no building of its own and meetings were held in various places, but in 1848, the Lutherans, though poor, decided to build, and in 1849 purchased three lots, corner Scott and Third streets, the site of the present church. The building was to be fifty by thirty feet, with a basement for a school-room. May 7th, '49, the cornerstone was laid and so far finished that Christmas could be celebrated in their own building, the basement being used as an audi- torium for three years. In 1852 the church was completed and dedi- cated. The Lutheran church believing that the fear of God is the foundation of all Christian life and of good citizenship, has always maintained parochial schools for the instruction of the young in relig- ion as well as in secular knowledge. As the society had been unable to employ a teacher, the pastor also taught school until 1853, when John Salomon Simon was called and accepted. This gentleman died in Illi- nois in 1912.
Like the clergy the teachers were also pledged upon the confessions of the Lutheran church as contained in the Book of Concord. In 1854, the constitution was revised and signed by forty voting members of whom fifteen voted to celebrate the golden anniversary in 1894. These were Jacob Flessa, John Caspar Gutmann, John Loeffler, John Lindoerfer, Leonhardt Reisig, Konrad Mohr, Geo. Kronbach, Sr., Geo. Katz, Adam Burck, Geo. Fiedler, Andrew Rummel, Frederick Probst, Frederick Kronbach, Konrad Marten, and Liberrus Baumgarten, of whom only the latter two are living today. During the next four years the membership was increased by fifty families and it was necessary to enlarge the church by a twenty-five foot addition. When the Civil war broke out some thirty members of Trinity Lutheran responded to Lincoln's call to arms, many of whom lost their lives in the cause of freedom.
In 1864 H. Lossner was called as second teacher and started his class with seventy pupils. He was succeeded by C. F. Grams and later by J. Hch Meyer, who since 1871 has faithfully and most successfully taught the primary grades until this day. In 1881 Mr. Simon accepted an urgent call to the Theological Preparatory Seminary at Springfield, Illinois, and was succeeded successively by Julius Wernicke, G. Stern, and W. Harbeck, the latter having served as teacher of the grammar grades since 1884. The present brick schoolhouse was built in 1869, with room for two classes of seven grades.
In 1883 the faithful pastor, advanced in years, began to fail in health and after several months' illness, died March 22, 1884, and was laid to rest March 25th, his funeral having been attended by his parish- ioners and many citizens who had learned to love and respect the pastor for his sterling qualities. During the vacancy, Rev. Trautmann, of Adrian, took charge of the church. A unanimous call was sent to Rev. Carl Franke, of Jackson, who with the consent of his parish, accepted, and on Aug 3, 1884 was duly installed. During his ministration many important improvements were made and special attention given to the
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