History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 62

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I > Part 62

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The financial crisis ended, confidence began to reign, and the inhabitants assnmed their wonted occupations. A brief period was afforded to realize all the dangers which had surrounded thein and were now dispersed-to make a survey of the wreck, cansed by financial depression on the one side, and by famine and disease on the other. They saw the bones of the savages lying scattered over their garden plots, along the river bank; and seeing, regretted their oft-repeated wish that the " Indian would die." The new solitude was real; the red men, who varied the monotony of life in the wilderness, were gone, and the few who remained were so stricken with the calamity which befel their tribe, that moroseness was added to their natural stoicism, rendering them objects to be at once pitied and feared.

A short time, and the importance of the Valley reasserted itself. In 1841 a few settlers arrived; the darkest hour in the history of the Valley was past, and business was resnmed. In 1845 immi- grants ponred in from every quarter, bringing with them a wealth of strength and health; nor did the capitalist reinain far behind. In 1848 labor and capital formed a partnership and together began the work of building up the old town of Saginaw, as well as of es- tablishing a new city.

606

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

In 1837 was built the first public building in the Saginaw Valley. It stood in the rear of the present court-house and served as the place of worship of the Presbyterian Church until the ercction of the present house of worship in 1852. It was built for the purposes of a school and conrt-house, but on the erection of the present court- house, the structure was moved to the spot where the county jail now stands. Subjected to another journey, the old building was converted into a dwelling-house.

The first school district was organized April 18. 1837. It com- prised the territory now known as the townships of Saginaw, Buena Vista, Carrollton, Zilwaukee, Spalding, Frankenlust, a part of Swan Creek, Portsmouth, Kochville and Bridgeport, with one school-house, situated on the public square, near the site of the present county court-house. The first shade-trees were planted on the business portion of Court street, by Mr. Fisk, sr .. an old and respected settler. The trees opposite the Taylor House alone re- main. Two trees, planted on Washington street by Mrs. Dr. Lee, then a little girl of only seven summers, still flourish, apparently in the spring-time of their growth.

The first journal started in 1836 by John P. Hosmer, subse- quently edited by Hiram L. Miller, fell to the ground before the business revival of 1841. It was succeeded by R. W. Jenny's paper, known as The North Star, in 1842. Even then the people were not prepared to support a journal, as the suspension of the Star became a necessity after an irregular publication. The Spirit of the Times, edited by L. L. G. Jones, was the herald of the true revival of industry and may be considered the first newspaper which met with sufficient support to justify publication.

From 1845 to 1850 a steady progress was made: the old settle- ment extended, and still men looked forward to the wild tract on the east side of the river for a further extension. In 1849 the busi- ness of Saginaw was represented by 11 dealers in dry-goods, groceries, etc. ; one steam saw-mill, three hotels, five carpenteries, three blacksinith shops, one bakery, three boot and shoc stores. Four years later the Union school building, the German Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church (1851), Methodist Episcopal (1854), First Presbyterian (1852), St. John's Episcopal (1853), St. Andrew's Catholic (1853), were erected, and with the county court-house, formed a little city in themselves.

From 1857 to 1860 great advances were made, the old citizens entered upon the work of erecting new dwelling-houses, improving the streets, building factories and stores, hotels, schools, and even more churches. The whistles of steamboats and saw-mills, the rush of busy mechanics, workmen, and employers, and the appear- ance of the people in general told that the era of prosperity had arrived. The manufacture of salt was an established fact in 1860, and henceforth the star of Saginaw was in the ascendant. Within the three years from 1857 to 1860 the population advanced from 536 to 1,712. In 1866 it reached 5,426; in 1870, 7,460; in 1876, 9,890; in 1880, 10,526, and in June, 1881, the resident and floating

613

SAGINAW CITY.

THE CITY OF THE PRESENT.

From what has been written on the progress of this city, it will appear that its municipal and commercial beginning was made in 1857, and extended in 1865. Since the day of the incorporation of Saginaw as a city, its advance, though not so remarkable as its eastern sister, will compare very favorably with any of the new cities of the Union. To-day there are as many business houses and factories here as there were men, women and children at the beginning of the year 1857; and still there is no reason whatever to suppose that the city has reached the limit of its growth. There are 109 streets within the fire limits, laid off regularly, many of them great thoroughfares, and the greater number shaded with a double line of thrifty trees. Although these streets are well built up, there is yet sufficient room for building purposes. The business center is metropolitan in the character of its houses and streets ; the stores are at once attractive and extensive : the Taylor House and 14 other hotels are all well adapted to meet the requirements of the city in this respect, each fostering a special trade ; the offices of manufacturers, bankers, insurance companies and professional men are carried on systematically; re- ligion, education, fraternity are all well represented, and under the regime of a well regulated society, the city progresses slowly but surely, to hold that high place to which its situation and the intelligence of its people entitle it.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The history of the Presbyterian Church of Saginaw City extends back to the pioneer days, when Norman Little, Wm. Hartwell, Thomas Sinith, T. L. Howe, Hinds Smith, Mrs. Harvey Will- iams, Jane A. Little, Elizabeth Rice, Mrs. H. L. Miller, Mabel Terrill, Mrs. Julia Smith and Mrs. T. L. Howe formed a Presbyterian society, with Rev. H. L. Miller as director. Two years later, March 1, 1838, the society was organized, and as Mr. Miller presided over its beginning, so he continued now to watch over its growth.

The first sermon delivered in the Valley to an American congre- gation, was that preached by Mr. Miller in the carpentery, which then occupied the southeast corner of Washington and Ames; the next meeting of the society was held in the postoffice, north side of Court, between Hamilton and Water streets. The subsequent meetings were held within Norman Little's house, then standing on the corner of Washington and Madison; again in the "Mc- chanic's Hall, " Washington street ; and in 1837 within that church- school-court-honse, in early days removed by order of the Board of County Commissioners, from its old location, directly in rear of the present court-house, to the spot on which the county jail now stands, lest the good old building would take fire, and in turn help to destroy the great court-house, then being built. After th ..

614

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

change of location this very useful old structure continued in use as a church-school-house, etc., until 1852, when the Presbyterian congregation began to worship in their new church, completed and dedicated Dec. 12, that year.

Mr. Miller continued in the ministry of the Church until the fall of 1839, when, owing to failing health, he retired. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. C. F. Foot, who remained until May, 1840. From this period until March, 1842, there is no record save that con- tained in the simple sentence: "The church was organized as a Presbyterian Church, but, during the first years of its existence, was not under the care of any ecclesiastical body." In 1842 Rev. Harvey Hyde was " stated supply," the form of government was changed from the Presbyterian to that of the Congregational; but one year later, in 1843, returned to its original form, connected itself with the Detroit Presbytery, and observed this connection until the constitution of the Saginaw Presbytery in 1856, to which it was transferred.

Mr. Hyde remained until May, 1844. Rev. C. H. Baldwin suc- ceeded, as " stated supply," January, 1846, and retired July, 1847. Rev. Louis Mills was " stated supply " from November, 1848, to July, 1849. After this period the Rev. D. M. Cooper received a call, June, 1851, and continued in the pastorate until April, 1859 During his ministry the first church built in the Valley was con-' structed at a cost of over $3,000, after plans by H. C. Weston. The dedicatory sermon was preachlied by Rev. R. R. Kellogg, of Detroit. Rev. D. H. Taylor succeeded Mr. Cooper as stated supply, and continued in the ministry from March, 1861, to March, 1865, when a call was extended to the Rev. J. W. Hough. Rev. R. P. Shaw entered upon the duties of pastor, and continued in the ministry of the Church here until succeeded by Rev. Mr. Bruske.

The condition of the Church on April 1, 1881, is shown in the following exhibit:

Added to church on examination. 8

Entire membership 66 certificate.

169

Adults baptized.

Children

Sunday-school membership

. .. 300 ..

COLLECTIONS.

Home Misssons.

$ 268 31

Foreign

201 53

Relief fund. .

87 85

General Assembly.

10 57

For sufferers by famine in Persia

102 90

By Sabbath-school for American Sunday-school Union.

52 10

By young people's class. .

2 10

By Golden Rule Mission Band .. 60 00

By Woman's Foreign Missionary Society.

142 15

Total.

927 51

Congregational.

$2,228 39

615

SAGINAW CITY.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The following historical sketch of the M. E. Society and Church was written by Hon. John Moore, and placed at the disposal of the publishers of this history by the present pastor, Rev. I. H. Reddick:

"May 20, 1850, Rev. George Bradley, as presiding elder of the Grand Rapids district of the Methodist Conference, made a cer- tificate appointing Andrew Bell, Stephen Lyttle, Levi D. Cham- berlain and Louisa Hart, 'Trustees in Trust of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Saginaw county.' This certificate was recorded June 24, 1850. Mr. Bradley was at this date presiding elder of a district embracing, I think, Lapeer county on the east, extend- ing to Lake Michigan on the west, and including all the territory to the north in the Lower Peninsula. Mr. Bradley was a noble specimen of that type of Methodist preachers who 25 years ago labored in the pioneer work of the Church in this State. In person and in capacity to endure labor, he might well be called a giant. He had great natural ability. His voice sweet and pleasant in ordinary discourse, was at times 'a voice of thunder.' His zeal and earnestness of purpose in his Master's cause stopped at no sacrifice. When a boy I learned to love him, and in mature years he commanded my highest respect. When he died the Church lost one of the best and purest men I ever knew.

"This appointment of trustees by Mr. Bradley was, I suppose, for this place (Saginaw City), although in terms general for the county. The organization then created must, I think, have lapsed, as when I came here it had no active existence, and was never after- ward recognized. Lyttle, I anı informed, resided in what has since been called South Saginaw, and died in the latter part of the year 1850. Chamberlain resided, where I knew him years afterward, in Tittabawassee township, where he died not long since. Hart I never knew. Bell, I think, must have been a minister who had prior to that tinie preached here. None of them resided here in the spring of 1851. At this last named date there was no Methodist Church organization, no class and noregular preaching. Occasion- ally during the summer of that year, Bradley, as presiding elder, preached in that part of the conrt-house then finished-in the first story, used as a court-room, and for all public meetings. Prior to this, and as early as 1835 or 1836, Methodist ministers had preached here in connection with other charges in Genesee county. I am told that Bell, Brown and Brockway had thus labored here. Mr. Brockway informed me that he had preached here, but there was no organization and no class.

" In the fall of 1851 the Rev. C. C. Olds was sent by the Con- ference, and remained with us for one year. He organized a class, consisting of Theodore Dean, his two sisters and Mrs. Moore. This, I suppose, was the first class formed, and the commencement

616

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

of the present Church organization, as it has been maintained to the present time. I know of no other person then resident here who professed to be a Methodist. There were several then resid- ing near Shattuck's mill: J. N. Gotee and his wife, who after- ward removed to this place and united with the Church; Mrs. Shat- tuck, C. C. Batchelor, Mrs. Swarthout and, perhaps, others in that vicinity; but they constituted a separate class, and held meetings n the Ure school-house.

" Dean and his sisters, soon after this class was formed, moved to East Saginaw. The sisters married and removed to Winona, in the State of Minnesota, where they resided when I last heard from them. Dean left the country after a few years, and, I think, is dead. Mrs. Moore is the sole resident survivor of that class. The Church records, I suppose, show the names of those who from that time to this have been members of the Church. I could give the names of many, but not all; and their recapitulation, if of record, could do us no good. Mr. Olds remained until the fall of 1852. At that date Bradley, who had been presiding elder for many years, was appointed to look after Saginaw City, East Saginaw, Bay City (then Lower Saginaw), and the whole Saginaw Valley, in- cluding the Indian missions. He had no assistant. He was fol- lowed in the fall of 1853 by A. C. Shaw, who resided at East Sagi- naw, and preached in both towns. £ In January, 1854, a contract was made for lot 4, in block 7, north of Cass street, upon which the church in part stands. One of the duplicate contracts for the lot I have preserved, and with this pass the same over to your Board, with the hope that it may be kept. You will notice that it is conditional, and binds no one but Mrs. Mackie, the grantor. There was good reason for this peculiarity. The party of the second part is called the "Trustees in Trust of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Saginaw;" but there were no trustees, and there was no one to contract. The pastor, Mr. Shaw, a very zealous man, was determined to have a place of worship, and cared little for any legal organization. The difficulty was solved by the contract providing for payment of interest upon two hun- dred and fifty dollars and taxes for five years, and at the end of that time, if the principal sum was paid, a decd was to be given; if not paid, the society had the right to remove buildings from the lot. To make it sure that the interest and taxes would be paid, I guarantied their payment in due form. Mr. Frazer, then Mrs. Mackie's attorney iu fact, was satisfied; but whether any primary circumstances were such that the guaranty was of any real value might well be doubted by one as well advised as myself of my financial condition.

"Soon after this contract was made the old school-house was pur- chased and moved upon the lot, fitted up as a chapel, and used as such until the present church was built, when it was changed again and made into a parsonage. It was used as a parsonage until 1873 or 1874. when it was sold and removed from the premises. This old building has a history full of interest, but further than here.

617

SAGINAW CITY.

stated, it does not belong properly to the Church. Nov. 18, 1859, the stipulated price of our lot was paid, and the title conveyed to James N. Gotee, L. B. Curtis, Major W. Hollister, Smith Palmer, Edwin Saunders, George W. Davis and Abner Hubbard as trustees. The form of deed was that provided for in the discipline then in use. These persons had been, on the 5th of March preceding, ap- pointed trustees by William Fox, preacher in charge, and their certificates of appointment duly recorded in the clerk's office. Nov. 7, 1860, ten feet of lot three, in block seven, lying adjoining lot four, was purchased of James Fraser and George W. Bullock, and on that day conveyed to the same trustees for the considera- tion of $100. On the 16th of October, 1866, 50 feet of lot three and ten feet of lot two were donated to the Church by L. B. Curtis and myself, and conveyed to the Church by A. Lacy, under an agreement made with him by Mr. Curtis and myself. These three conveyances granted to the Church, and it now owns in fee-simple, lots three and four, block seven, north of Cass street, and 10 feet of lot two, adjoining lot three, in said block. The Church building as first erected was commenced in the y r 1859 or 1860, while Rev. William Fox was pastor, and finished in 1861. Charles C. Miller was the builder. It was afterward en- larged by the addition of 30 feet in the rear, and again still further by what is now used as a lecture-room, etc.

"It might be of some interest in future, if not now, to have in accessible form the names of all the preachers who have labored here since 1851. It is possible that there may be some mistakes in the list given in the years when some of them came and the time they remained, as I give the same from memory. I think, however, that the following is correct, viz .:

C. C. Olds .1851-'2

George Bradley 1852-'3

A. C. Shaw (in connection with East Saginaw). 1853-'4

Samuel Clement (in connec-

tion with.East Saginaw). 1854-'5

Jolın Levington 1855-7

T. C. Higgins. 1857-'8

William Fox. 1858-'60

Arthur Edwards, 1860 to sumn-

mer of 1861, when he became

chaplain of 1st Reg. Mich.

Vol Inf.

.1860-'1

R. S. Pardington 1861-3

J. C. Cochrane 1863-'4

A. R. Bartlett. 1864-"7

J. H. Burnham. 1867-'9

George I. Betts 1869-'70

J. N. Elwood. 1870-'2

J. Venning. 1872-'5

Thomas Stalker 1875-'7

Seth Reed. 1877-19

Isaac H. Reddick

1879-'81

" In 1867 my attention was called to certain informalities in the certificates of incorporation that had been filed and recorded in the Register's office, and in the name of the corporation. In that year I prepared an act to change the corporate name, and the same was passed by the Legislature and became a law. It may be found on page 285 of 2d vol., Laws of 1867. The corporate name, and in which business should be doue, is the Methodist Episcopal Church of the City of Saginaw.' I wish I could give the years

618

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

when a good parsonage was built, but that gratification must be left for the future."

Since this sketch of the M. E. Church was written, the parson- age, suggested by Hon. Jolin Moore, was built, and improvement after improvement effected.

THE AMES CHAPEL

in connection with the M. E. Church was built in 1873, and dedicated the same year. This chapel is located on the Penoyer farm, near Lincoln avenue. Rev. James Riley was the first missionary. Rev. Oscar W. Willetts succeeded him.

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Protestant Episcopal Society was organized in 1851, with Rev. Joseph Adderly as pastor. So early as 1836 James Busby, Mrs. Busby and Mrs. A. L. Richman, being the only members of the Episcopal Church in the Valley of the Saginaw, took steps to organize a society. In 1841 the services of the Church were held here by Rev. D. E. Brown, of Flint, for the first time; but not until 1851 were the wislies of the first members of the Church here acceded to. In that year Saginaw City was erected into the Prot- estant Episcopal Parish of St. John. Rev. D. B. Lyon visited the mission from 1846 until the coming of Rev. Joseph Adderly, dur- ing whose pastorate the parish was organized. Rev. V. Spalding was appointed to take charge of the mission Jan. 15, 1853, by Bishop McCoskry.

By a resolution of the wardens and vestry, adopted Jan. 22, 1853, Rev. Mr. Spalding was requested to become rector of the Church at a salary of $300 per amium. Another resolution authorized the loan of $200 from the Ladies' Association to be applied in completing the church building, the corner-stone of which was laid by Rt. Rev. Bishop McCoskry, April 7, 1853. The sum so borrowed was guarantied by a note, payable upon the com- pletion of the edifice, signed by E. J. Van Buren, Israel S. Catlin, Wardens; M. L. Gage, Charles L. Richman and Geo. H. Bullock, Vestrymen. At a meeting held March 28, 1853, under the presi- dency of Rev. V. Spalding, F. Millard and G. W. Bullock were appointed a building committee. Rev. O. H. Staples officiated for a short time in 1858. Rev. Edward McGee succeeded to the pastorate March 17, 1859.

The new church was consecrated by Bishop McCoskry, May 9, 1860, in presence of the congregation and of the vestry. The lat- ter was represented on the occasion by N. Barnard, W. Binder, M. Butman, N. D. Lee, J. Parish, D. H. Jerome, L. Webster, Geo. Williams, Stewart B. Williams, and W. H. Sweet.

Owing to munificence at home and the earnestness with which Rev. Mr. Spalding and Charles L. Richman sought financial aid abroad, the sum required to liquidate the debt incurred in building

619

SAGINAW CITY.

the church was furnished; the two gentlemen named succeeded in collecting $1,100 in the Eastern towns, together with a baptis mal bowl and communion set, donated by Mrs. Hale, of Canandaigua. Geo. W. Bullock presented the Bible and prayer-book, which are now in possession of the pastor.

Rev. Mr. McGec was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. O. E. Fuller, June 18, 1862. Rev. John Lectch, of Elmira, N. Y., was called by the vestry July 10, 1865. Rev. W. H. Watts was next called to the rectorship, and entered upon the duties of his office Dec. 1, 1871. Mr. Watts was succeeded by Rev. L. S. Stevens, of Toledo, Ohio, Dec. 1, 1876, under whose administra- tion the society has grown in number and influence. The church was enlarged during the year 1873 at an expense of $2,200, and the rectory completed in-1878 at a cost of $3,500. Further im- provements are proposed, among them being the erection of a new church.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

There are no records on which to base data regarding the first services of the Church in the great camp ground of the Chippewa Indians. It is, however, very probable that each and every one of the French missionaries visited the Saginaw Valley, and, as is the custom of the ministers of that faith, erected a temporary altar, whereon to offer sacrifice. In the early trading days, before the treaty of Saginaw was perfected, the blacked-robed missionaries were wont to visit this section of the land at long intervals; and even subsequently to 1819 a few priests came hither.

In 1841 Rev. Martin Kundig arrived here to establish a Catholic mission, and in the month of May held service in the house of I. J. Malden, on Water street, near the location of the first freight depot of the M. C. R. R. Rev. Lawrence Kilroy, afterward agent of the State of Indiana in the war for the Union, and now of Strat- ford, C. W., was appointed to the charge of the Saginaw mission, and for many years held the services of the Church in the homes of the people. Father Monahan and Kendekens succeeded him. Rev. H. T. H. Schutzes, Secretary to Bishop Borgess, was the first priest appointed to the special charge of the Saginaw Valley mis- siou. The first house of worship was a carpenter's shop, purchased in 1852, which stood on Washington street, opposite the Baptist church. In 1853 this building was moved to the N. E. corner of Monroe and Washington, and used as a church for the 12 succeed- ing years. Rev. R. Vanderhayden was appointed priest of the mission of Saginaw and East Saginaw in 1862, and under his direc- tion the present church was built in 1865. Five years later the building was enlarged, the erection of schools commenced, and subsequently a parochial house erected. In 1866 the half parish of East Saginaw was set off as a separate mission, and Rev. R. Vanderhayden appointed pastor of the Church here. Since that

620

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY.

time schools have been built, the Sisters of Providence have estab- lished a convent here, the church building has been enlarged and otherwise improved, the congregation has increased, and the general condition of the parish is satisfactory.

THE SAGINAW BAPTIST CHURCH

was organized Nov. 19, 1863. From the time of the organization of the Church in East Saginaw, in 1858, the Baptists on the west side of the river had been connected with that Church. But in the month of November, 1863, 14 of them asked for letters of dismis- sion from the East Saginaw Church in order to form themselves into a Church in this city. The names of those 14 persons were as follows: V. A. Paine, Mrs. Harriet Paine, Ebenezer Briggs, Win. M. Haskell, Mrs. Julia M. Haskell, Eli Townsend, Mrs. Han- uah Townsend, Mrs. Belinda Benjamin, Mrs. Nancy A. Cody, Mrs. Matilda Miller, Mrs. Christina Ross, Mrs. Mercia B. Pahner, Jane Low and Hannah Briggs. In addition to these, Mrs. Julia A. Burrows brought a letter from the First Church in Rochester, N. Y., and Mrs. Jenny F. Paine brought one from the Church in Bay City, thus making the number of constituent members 16.

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History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume I, Part 62

Author: Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 962

Author:
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : C.C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 962