History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 83

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan > Part 83

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The evening service was probably the most interesting, as it chronicled the raising of the balance of the $5,000. The service commenced by the choir singing an anthem followed by the reading of a Scripture lesson by Rev. A. H. Ross, a prayer by Rev. T. W. Monteith, and the singing of the hymn, "Bow Thine Ear, Thou Eternal One." Rev. Z. Grinell, Jr., of De- troit, then delivered a fine discourse, his text being the fourth verse of the twenty-seventh Psalm. Rev. Mr. Harris then announced that there remained only $1,500 to be raised, and, as already stated, the amount was soon secured. The dedicatory prayer was then made by Rev. John Donnelly, it being a fervent plea that the church would be accepted by God, and that He would pour down untold blessings upon the pastor and congregation.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

As early as 1786 we can find traces of Catholic missionaries who visited the Otchipwes of the Sinclair River in the neighborhood of Black River. Over a century before 1786, about 1670-71, the two Sulpitians-Dollier and Galirice -visited the Indian villages along the river, and are supposed to have made a stay at the Champlain mission at the head of the River St. Clair, opposite Fort Gratiot. From this period until 1780, little is known of the Catholic Church of St. Clair. The father of the late Nelson Roberts, who passed this way about the year 1786 en route to Red River, reported on his return to Montreal, that he had seen a priest with the Indians at Black River. After the war of 1812, the visits of the missionary fathers to this district became more regular. In 1817, about twelve Catholic families moved north- ward from Swan Creek and located along the north bank of Black River. A reference to the chapter on French Settlement, or to the assessment roll of the county in 1821, will show the names of these early immigrants. Rev. Father Badin visited the settlement that year, when the mass was celebrated at the house of of Louis Tremble. In 1820, the Rev. Besrinquet ar- rived from Quebec, and the same year erected a little church on Walpole Island (Isle du Sud). This priest visited the Black River mission in 1820 or 1821, when he made a stay at Louis Tremble's house; celebrated the services of the church, baptized children, and performed a few marriage ceremonies. This priest left for Lake Superior, where he became a great Indian missionary. 34

530

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Rev. Father Sagelle came in 1825, and made regular visits to the mission stations at la Reviere aux Pins (St. Clair City); la Belle Reviere (Marine City); la Reviere aux Cignes (New Baltimore), making his home at the house of Louis Tremble. Rev. Gabriel Richard visited all these missionary stations before the coming of Father Sagelle.

Rev. Andrew Vizoiski, subsequently the venerable pastor of Grand Rapids, was appointed missionary to St. Clair in 1833. With the aid of the United States soldiers at Fort Gratiot, and the Catholics of the county, he built a log church in Cottrellville Township, two miles be- low Marine City; but the building and the ground on which it stood were washed away by the waters of the St. Clair. The parish registers, now in the archives of the St. Clair Church, bear testimony to his frequent visits to this portion of Michigan.

Rev. Frederic Baraga came to Cottrellville toward the close of 1834, with the intention of making St. Clair County his home, but finding the mission too limited for his apostolic zeal, he moved to Lake Superior in 1836, where he labored for many years, and where he was conse- crated Bishop of Sault de Ste. Marie in 1853.

From 1836 to 1850, the priests who visited the missions of St. Clair were Revs. Bauwen, Scalamon, Van Campenhout, Kendekins, and Van Rentreghan. £ Rev. Lawrence Kilroy, for- merly assistant priest at Grand Rapids, was appointed first resident pastor by Bishop Lefevre in 1850. He made his home at Vicksburg or Marysville, where he lived three years in the home of James Fisher. He visited Port Huron, St. Clair, Marine City, and the country mis- sions, and must be considered the organizer of the various Catholic congregations now existing in the county. In 1852, he completed the frame church at Marine City, in 1853 he built the frame house of worship at St. Clair, and made the village his home until 1857, when he came to reside at Port Huron. Here he purchased the old Methodist Church for $300, which was used as a Catholic Church until 1868, when the present church building was dedicated. This building was on the angle formed by Water street and Lapeer avenue. He erected church buildings in Columbus, Burchville, and Kenockee, and in 1867 was assigned the missions of Columbus and Kenockee, which he now administers. Rev. Lawrence Kilroy was born at Tisarm, Ireland, in 1815. He arrived at Detroit in 1834, and received minor orders from Bishop Raser, in 1839. He was ordained priest by Bishop Lafevre March 26, 1842, and was appointed pastor of Trinity Church, Detroit. He was assistant pastor of St. Andrew's Parish, Grand Rapids, from December 23, 1847, to January, 1850, when he entered upon the labors of his ministry in St. Clair County.

Rev. John Reichenbach was born at Connor's Creek, Detroit, in 1840, was ordered to Ma- lines, Belgium, December 23, 1865; and the following year was appointed pastor of the church at St. Clair.

Rev. Edward E. Van Lauwe was born at Ghent, Belgium, October 13, 1836; studied at St. Barbe, at the American college of Louvain, under Rev. P. Kindekins, and at the University of Louvain. He was ordained July 26, 1862, came to Detroit the same year, and six years later was appointed pastor of Port Huron.

The corner-stone of St. Stephen's Church, of Port Huron, was laid by Rev. Lawrence Kil- roy in 1865, and the foundations completed by him the same year. Work on the building ceased until May 1, 1868, when Rev. Edward Van Lauwe, placed the first brick on the foun- dation walls. On November 22, 1868, the last brick was placed, and within a month the build- ing was dedicated (December 17, 1868), under the patronage of St. Stephen, the first Martyr. The building is plain Gothic, of red brick with green stone facings; 119 feet in length, 57 in width, and 40 feet in height from floor to ceiling. The central tower is completed; but the spire designed to surmount this tower, and bring its altitude to 150 feet, has not yet been un- dertaken. The entire cost of this church edifice is estimated at $30,000.

The parsonage was built under direction of Rev. Edward Van Lauwe in 1869-70 at a cost of $4,400.

The school building of St. Stephen's was commenced October 2, 1879, a sketch of which is given in the school history of Port Huron.

The Catholic congregations of this county, in 1875, numbered as follows: Port Huron, 1,800; St. Clair, 1,200; Marine City, 1,000; Kenockee and Columbus, 1,500; Burtchville, 100, and Marysville, 150.

531

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1840, by Rev. Charles Reighley, D. D. The first church edifice was erected in 1854. Rev. Sabin Hough came in 1842; Rev. Charles Reighley returned in 1843; Rev. P. D. Spalding came in 1845; Rev. George B. Engle in 1850; Rev. Joseph Phelps in 1859; Rev. H. Banwell in 1861; Rev. William Stowe, in 1865; Rev. A. M. Lewis. In 1879, Rev. Sidney Beckwith, the present pastor, took charge. H. L. Stevens and F. L. Wells, War- dens; Albert E. Stevenson, Lay Reader. Number of communicants, 220. The following re- port to the convention in 1882 shows the condition of the church and society.

Baptized-Infants. 17

Adults.

Total 20

Confirmed ..

Admitted in the parish

Received from other parishes.

Total added ..

Died. .

Removed from the parish.

Total lost ..

Present number. Marriages

Burials.

Public services-Sundays.

107

Holy days.

Other days.

Total. 164

Holy days

Private.

Total. 25

Congregation-Families ..

175

Individuals not included in families.

Sunday School-Teachers and officers.

Scholars . 300

Sunday School Library, volumes.

400

PAROCHIAL ORGANIZATIONS-CHURCH AID SOCIETY-HELPING HAND SOCIETY.

Communion alms not otherwise reported ..

$ 57 00

Rector's salary.

1,100 00

Music

230 00

Other current expenses ..

200 00

Rectory or improvement thereon.

60 00

Indebtedness on church property.

411 87

Total for parochial purposes. $ 2,058 87

Diocesan missions

65 00

Convention assessment.

42 00

Christmas fund ..

12 00

Church building in the Diocese.

25 00

Relief of sufferers by fire.

500 00

Total for Diocesan purposes. $ 644 00

Domestic missions

16 00

Foreign missions.

15 00

Mission to the Jews.

3 81

Total for general purposes. .

34 81

By the Sunday school for its own purposes.

196 00

Total of contributions and offerings.

$ 2,933 68

Communicants-Last reported.

205

220

Holy communion-Sundays.

532

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Sources of above-Offertory. 694 31

Pew rents. 1,168 97

Subscriptions, gifts, pledges, etc. 935 40

From parochial societies. .. 135 00

Value of church property-Chapel. 4,000 00

Church lot ..

2,500 00

Rectory and lot.

3,500 00

Total value of property $10,000 00 Salary pledged to the Rector, $1,100. Number of sittings in the church, 250-rented.

Indebtedness-On church property, $500.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The following historical notice of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Port Huron was written the day after the destruction of the building in July, 1879. Since that time the church edifice has been rebuilt and restored. It forms one of the finest houses of worship in Michigan, and is, beyond all doubt, a true testimonial to the earnestness of the Methodists of Port Huron.

The first Methodist society of Port Huron was organized in 1830, but discontinued or disbanded after a short time. In 1834, a society of nineteen members was formed, which gradually increased until 1844, when a church building was erected. "The building," says the chronicler, " became insufficient for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing congrega- tion, and it was sold to the Catholics, and a new church commenced on Sixth street, near Water. In the course of time, the Catholic society sold the property, and it still stands on the angle between Lapeer avenue and Water street, and is at present used as a saloon. In 1851, the Sixth street building was so far completed that the basement could be used by the congregation, and it was not until some five years later that the audience room was formally dedicated. Many 'reminiscences are still related by the older members of the church of the efforts put forth to secure this building, and of the sacrifices made by some of its friends to pay their subscriptions. This building still stands, in a good state of preservation, is used as a temperance hall and reading room, and is the property of Mr. George Fish.

" For several years previous to 1871, there was a growing feeling among the membership that their church accommodations were not such as were demanded by the large congregation, and at a meeting of the officers of the church, held February 27, 1871, the pastor, Rev. F. A. Bourns, was asked to call a general meeting of the church to consider the subject. Such a meeting was held March 6, and was unanimous in favor of commencing the erection of a new church. Accordingly, the lot on which the ruined church now lies, together with the house ad- joining, was purchased, for which the society paid $5,800. The house being suitable for a parsonage, it was used for that purpose, and the old one, on the corner of Eighth and Court streets, was sold. Under the superintendence of the late Henry Fish and other church officers, a subscription was started, and was responded to most generously by members of the congrega- tion, as well as by citizens generally, and before long a sufficient amount was subscribed to warrant the commencement of the building. The foundation was put down, and arrangements · made to proceed with the work, the expectation being to complete the church within two years. In May, 1875, the building was up, the basement finished, and it was dedicated by the late Bishop E. R. Amos. Rev. J. S. Smart, now of Bay City, was pastor at that time. Nothing

further toward the completion of the church has been done since. The church edifice was of Gothic architecture, and was one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the State. The front of the building was particularly admired for its symmetry and beautiful finish. The roof and'finely proportioned spire were covered with slate of different colors, which added very much to its appearance when viewed from a distance. The exterior of the church was finished. The windows were in, the floors laid, and the audience room and vestibule were ready for plaster- ing. The basement, as we have intimated, was well finished and nicely furnished, and has been occupied for over four years.

" The cost of the ruined church, exclusive of the ground on which it stands, was $32,000. This includes a very fine bell, weighing 4,000 pounds, which still hangs securely in the tower.

533

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

Unfortunately for the society, when the hard times came on they were in debt to the amount of $14,000. About this time, when the pressure began to be severely felt, and thousands of business houses and corporations all over the country were failing, the society suffered the loss of its financial leader, Hon. Henry Fish. Several of the more wealthy members suffered very severe financial reverses, and others have removed from the city, so that the ability to bear this burdensome debt was very much lessened. At different times, within the past two or three years, the society has been in almost utter despair, the saving of their beautiful church seem- ing an impossibility. At the annual conference, held in September, 1878, Rev. William Fox was appointed as the financial agent of the church, and at once undertook the task of raising the $14,000 of debt. During 1879 he was industriously engaged in soliciting subscriptions, both in the city and throughout the eastern part of the State. By an almost superhuman effort, $8,000 were subscribed. About half of this sum was collected, so that the present indebtedness of the society on the ruined church, counting in uncollected subscriptions, is about $8,000. We learn that the membership of the church is so prostrated financially, that they are actually not able to pay the current expenses and the interest on the debt. Thus it will be seen that the Methodist Church of Port Huron is utterly paralyzed under its financial burdens, and now, since this new disaster has come upon them, they are, of course, financially ruined. It will cost fully $10,000 to put the building into its former shape."

Some time previous to 1877, an old settler, whose initials speak a well-known name in the history of this county, saw a sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church Society in one of the city papers, to which he refers as follows:

To the Editor : SIR .- In your last Sunday's issue, containing an account of the building of the First Methodist Church in St. Clair County, you state that there were but four persons on the subscription list now living, in which you are mistaken. W. R. Gowling, of Clyde, and Mr. Hopkins, of St. Clair, should be in- cluded. The writer of this knew a large proportion of the subscribers, and the list extends from the lowest settlements on St. Clair River to John H. Westbrook's mills at the upper settlements on Black River and Mill Creek, now the village of Ruby, and represents nearly all the Protestants of St. Clair County, there being about an equal number of French Catholics, and the two together comprised about the entire population. The amount of subscriptions and the mode of payment is pretty good evidence of the state of finances at that time. The cider, whisky and rum so generously paid in aid of its construction, would doubtless have been classed under the head of "sundries" by a less sincere and truth loving man than John K. Smith, who always called things by their proper names.

What would our croakers of the hard times say now at getting out lumber at $6, and shingles at $1 a thousand ? How would our $30,000 churches, our $2,000 ministers, our lady attendants, dressed in a ward- robe for the occasion costing more than the whole church building at Point Duchiene, have managed their matters in those primitive days, and now calling the present terrible hard times ? D. B. H.

" As has been stated. a new edifice has taken the place of that destroyed by the storm. Under the administration of Rev. Thomas Stalker, this society has made remarkable ad- vances."

OTHER CHURCHES.

The United Presbyterian Church of Port Huron is situated at the corner of Broad and Michigan streets. The organization of this society is referred to in the general history. Rev. Thomas W. Monteith, pastor.

Ths German Lutheran Church and School, situate on Tenth and Griswold streets, of which the Rev. R. Lauritzen is pastor, claims a small membership. The school is denomi- national.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Port Huron, with a house of worship on the corner of Seventh and Pine streets, is one of the leading religious organizations of the city. The building is frame, with tower and spire. Rev. C. Bofinger is the pastor.

SCHOOLS.

The country schools throughout the West fifty years ago, whether considering the build- ings, teachers or regulations, were generally of a character that would be denominated exceed- ingly primitive. The buildings were usually sorry apologies for a modern tenement, or a room 12x14, in some incomplete residence. The seats were slabs of puncheons elevated at a distance from the floor suggestive of dangerous possibilities to small scholars, who were required to sit thereon, however painful the experience. The teacher was ordinarily a man of fact, who regard_

534

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

ed all else but his duties as fiction unworthy of his condescension. As a rule, he occupied an old-fashioned arm-chair about the center of the room, adjoining a small round table, which sup- ported, in addition to the text-books comprising his limited course, a birch rod of tried strength, length, breadth and thickness, as the pupils ofttimes had sensible evidence. With these sur- roundings, that would, in this day of superior educational facilities, be regarded as discom- forts not to be endured, scholars were taught the alphabet, their "abs, " reading sentences, con - taining words of two syllables only. and many other incidents peculiar to school life which, in that age, inspired the intellectual, but to-day provoke the mirthful and cause mental inquiries if such things could be. But recurrence to those days often engages the reflections of pioneers, who see no compensation in the labor-saving apparatus employed to aid the ambitious youth in his ascent of the hill of knowledge.

Gibbon relates that, during a cruel persecution at Ephesus, seven noble youths concealed themselves in a cave, when they fell into a sleep which was miraculously prolonged for a hun- dred years. On awakening they found everything so changed, to conform to the advanced age, that they burst into tears and prayed God that they might be permitted to return to their slumbers again. Such are the feelings of many who were scholars half a century ago, regard- ing with feelings of indignation the neglected facilities of the present, "when fond memory brings the light of other days about them." The school teachers of fifty years ago were ear- nest in their efforts, and the advanced state of education during these the final decades of the nineteenth century are, in a great measure, the result of their labors. The pupil of those times, too. was a character of the day beyond comparison or caricature. He usually appeared at school prompt to the minute, barefoot in summer. his trowsers of home manufacture kept in place by a couple of pieces of ticking, to which he appropriated the term "gallusses," and his head protected from the penetrating rays of the summer's sun by a chip hat, or cap deftly fashioned by a mother's or a sister's hands. Thus embellished, the young man of promise came early, and from his advent upon the scene to his exit therefrom joined constant issue with the teacher with such requests as "Lemme speak to sis," "Lemme go out," "Lemme ha' a drink," etc., etc., until the expiration of the day's term, when he is permitted to go home, where, after the chores are done, he slips off his trowsers, hangs them on his bed post by the "galluses," and, soon rev- eling in the dim land of dreams, becomes forgetful of the trials that will be born again with the morrow. Among the early settlers there were many men of unusual ability; not men of ex- tensive education, but men who made their marks upon the times, and, had they received the advantages of early training, would have proved themselves giants in intellectual and moral forces. Even with the few advantages which the Western schools of the past age afforded, there were men went forth from them who did prove equal to all and every emergency which private or public life called upon them to meet. The first American settlers were earnest in everything. They said, "We are going to make the utmost of the capabilities of this spot," and they did. First they said, "In process of time, all over this beautiful country will be scattered educational institutions of a high order; the needs of an intelligent people will demand them. What is to hinder us from building a village on this slope which overlooks one of the most lovely landscapes in the world? Nothing is to hinder; let us do it." And it was done. At that time there were a few houses and shanties in the little hamlet of Black River, and the commencement of anything so portentous as a schoolhouse in so small a community without a penny of foreign aid would have seemed preposterous to the average mind, but it was done nev - ertheless, and there stands the schools of the city to-day the chief supporting pillars of the fut- ure. Considering all the circumstances-the times, the poverty of the district, the sparseness of the population, the infinitesimal size of the village-the erection of the first school building was a great achievement. It is safe to say that only a few persons or families subscribed four- fifths of all the money it cost. True they reckoned that this money or some of it would come back to them in after times; and it did.

The children of the Canadian French were taught by young men employed in the Black River steam mill. Even in 1821, a missionary school was started at Fort Gratiot by John S. Hudson, John Hart, their wives, and a Miss Osmer. This Indian school continued in opera- tion three years, when the teachers moved to Mackinac, together with thirty or forty of their

535

HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.

dusky pupils. In that old school, Edward Petit and other children of the French settlers re- ceived their first lessons. Instead of slates, the scholars used small boxes of sand, on which the pupils wrote with pointed sticks.

The first schoolhouse was built in 1833 near the corner of Broad and Superior streets, in rear of the present Hudson House. It was a 24x26 foot building, eight and one half feet from floor to ceiling. This concern was subsequently known as the Old Brown Schoolhouse, not that it was painted brown, but turned that color under atmospheric influences. From 1833 to 1842, this was the schoolhouse of Port Huron. In 1842, a new schoolhouse was built in the park south of Black River. In 1849, the union school building was completed. Ten years later, the Park Schoolhouse was destroyed by fire. The city of to-day supports five public schools, all well administered. The schools of St. Stephen's Parish, in connection with the Catholic Church, form a remarkable monument to the earnestness of the congregation.

In July, 1852, a select school was formed by Mr. Magee. The following is the advertise- ment: "The subscriber begs leave to inform the inhabitants of Port Huron, of his immediate intention of commencing a Select Mathematical and Classical School in this place. Those wishful to favor the above school, will please call at the Rev. Mr. Benton's residence, or at the stores of Messrs. Gillet, Dowling, and Beach, and leave the names of those whom they wish to have instructed. His terms will be reasonable, and he pledges himself, as a teacher, to be swayed by impartiality, devotedness to the interests of his pupils, and the broadest Christian charity. GEORGE MAGEE.

"PORT HURON, July 17, 1852."

The German-English School was conducted by C. F. Diehl, in 1863. The schoolroom was in the basement of the old Brockway House, on West Butler street, near the Baptist Church.

St. Stephen's School .- The elegant school building known as St. Stephen's was erected in 1879-80 by Rev. E. Van Lauwe. This structure was begun October 2, 1879, and the house finished the following year. The building of the schoolhouse was carried out successfully, owing to the liberal spirit in which the congregation and men of other religious denominations contributed moneys, as well as to the well-directed energy of the pastor. The schools were opened in 1880 with the Sisters of Providence in charge. The number of pupils in attendance at the opening in September, 1889, was 279.

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History of St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources, its war record, biographical sketches, the whole preceded by a history of Michigan, Part 83

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co. Number of Pages: 818

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, A.T. Andreas & Co.
Number of Pages: 818