USA > Michigan > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Volume I > Part 30
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
The association has had wonderful influence in the up-building of Three Rivers, and through it a very large proportion of mechan- ics have obtained homes in place of being renters and more or less transient, as would be the case otherwise. The state inspection department, Building and Loan Bureau, has commended this asso- ciation more than once in respect to its unusual success, when the size of the town is taken into consideration.
THE CIVIC LEAGUE.
The Three Rivers Civic League was organized in the spring of 1908 immediately after the local option campaign of that year, as a result of which the county adopted the policy of "no open saloon."
The purpose of the association was the improvement of the town and to assist in any way proper in the enforcement of all its laws, and an organization was effected by the election of the follow- ing : E. B. Linsley, president; M. J. Huss, Sherman Doty, J. L. Cann and E. H. Andrews, vice presidents ; W. H. Burke, secretary ; O. T. Avery, treasurer.
In the spring of 1909 Mr. Linsley and Mr. Burke declined re- election on account of pressure of other matters and the following men were elected : M. J. Huss, president; C. L. Bothwell, secretary ; O. T. Avery, C. A. Howard, F. Sweitzer and M. S. Langley, vice presidents ; F. B. Watson, treasurer. The society has had excellent influence for the betterment of local conditions, and can always be relied upon to be found on the right side of every public question.
THE LOCAL PRESS.
The press of Three Rivers is now controlled by the Three Rivers Publishing Company, which issues the Daily Commercial Hustler and the weekly Times. Its history, however, goes back for about half a century, or to January 1, 1861, when the Three Rivers Reporter was established by Wilbur H. Clute. It continued as a fearless Republican newspaper until 1875, when it became a radical Greenback organ and made a most aggressive campaign in 1876. The Reporter was largely responsible for the fact that Lock- port township became the banner section of the state, if not the United States, in its overwhelming Greenback majority. It was discontinued in 1885, but revived by R. E. Case in the following
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year and conducted by him until the early nineties, when C. A. Maffett became its proprietor and changed its politics to Democratic. The paper remained of this persuasion until 1897, when it was pur- chased by a company of Republicans. It was conducted by them for about a year, and then discontinued.
The Three Rivers Herald was founded in 1868, being origi- nally published by a Mr. Reynolds as the Sturgis Star, the press and material for the first plant being brought from Chattanooga. It was later moved to Burr Oak by a Mr. Dewey, who there com- menced the publication of the Democrat. In July, 1872, this pa- per passed to Smith & Newton, but the enterprise languished, and in September, 1873, Arnold (Dr. Orin B.) & Son bought the dead plant of Mr. Newton, who was valiantly avoiding a sheriff's levy, and moved it to Three Rivers. In August, 1875, the name was changed from the Democrat to the Three Rivers Herald, and con- tinued under the vigorous management of Arnold & Son (T. L.) until the death of the doctor May 30, 1883, when the junior part- ner, a practical printer and journalist, assumed the sole proprietor- ship. In 1889, when he was appointed postmaster of Three Rivers, he sold to J. J. Parker.
In 1877 George A. B. Cooke founded the Three Rivers Tribune, which was edited for some time by John Prutzman.
On January 1, 1895, Mr. Parker commenced the publication of the Daily Hustler. He had already established the News-Reporter, which developed into the Commercial. In 1897 the Tribune was combined with the Three Rivers Herald. Mr. Parker sold an inter- est in his consolidated business to S. W. Doty in 1907, and in July, 1909, the two organized a stock company under the name of the Three Rivers Publishing Company, to publish the Commercial- Hustler (daily) and the Times (weekly). Of this company, Mr. Doty is president and Mr. Parker secretary and general manager.
THE METHODISTS AS CHURCH PIONEERS.
Three Rivers is a church-going city and the presence of seven well-supported houses of worship in the community is the best witness to the fact.
The genesis of organized religious work in this section is found in the labors of that tireless Methodist missionary, Rev. Erastus Felton, and the story is told with simplicity and interest in a little booklet recently issued by the First M. E. church.
Vol. 1-22
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
The past and the present of the town and the society are linked together by a single life, that of Mrs. Louis Salsig, who as a little girl came to Three Rivers in the days of beginnings. Her father, Jacob McInterfer, came here with his family in 1829, and while its members were still living in the wagon awaiting the building of a home, they had a pastoral call from Mr. Felton, who had just been appointed to the new St. Joseph mission. His circuit extended to Kalamazoo on the north and to Niles on the west and counted seventy-six members of the church. Today not less than fifty Methodist churches stand within the bounds of the old St. Joseph mission.
Erastus Felton followed the next year with L. B. Gurley as his comrade on the big circuit, and for many years the preachers were appointed by twos, generally a young man with an older and more experienced preacher. In 1831 came George W. Walker, of whom E. H. Pilcher says: "No swollen river, no dismal swamp, or dangerous fen could daunt the lion heart that beat in his bosom." He preached at least once in the tavern of George Buck.
The first class was organized in the year 1833, during which year John Arney and his wife came to Three Rivers. How we would prize a picture of this little group that met in Brother Har- wood's house. More than three quarters of a century have gone since that day, and presently a century will have passed, but the passing of many centuries will not efface the glory of this little band, nor diminish our debt to them. The year 1833 is a signifi- cant date in the history of this church.
Richard C. Meek is remembered by William Arney as "A young man just from the farm; a tall finely formed man, clad in jeans or blue linsey, home-spun and home-made. The class that met at this time (1834) enrolled nine members. The house of Hiram Harwood, where the meetings were held, was a log house standing on Sickle's Corners on Johnny-cake prairie. As the people met, some would sit on benches, some on rude chairs, on stools and on the beds, of which there were three in the room." This was a typical congregation for the early preacher.
In the course of time the class met in the little frame school house in "Canada" and one of their number, George Wilson, be- came a local preacher and was a man of ability. His wife also loved the church and used often to walk from her home at Eshcol to the Thursday evening prayer meeting. In 1839, Rev. Ezra Cole and family came. He was a very useful preacher and for a time
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filled the regular appointments. He was always ready to preach funeral sermons and in this was very popular.
It is not easy to obtain with accuracy the names of the mem- bers of the church here in 1839, for no records remain, but the older members would include the following: Joseph and Esther Sterling, Catherine Hoffman, Mrs. L. G. Brown, Charles, John and Hannah Carpenter, John and Ruth Arney, Keziah and Sally Sands, Simeon Frost, Emeline Arney, Samuel and Deborah Wescott, William and Rachel Ryder, William and Sarah Wescott, Lydia Snyder, Daniel Cole, Ezra Cole and his wife.
This day of small beginnings was a day of many discourage- ments but despair never won. The Hoffmans would take a candle and go to the school house and hold a prayer meeting by them- selves, until one by one their company increased. Even the boys who came at first for fun remained to help in the singing and the prayer meeting became an established feature. With like faith a Sunday school was started, and in due time the little society had all the signs of being a full fledged church, except for the one lack of a church building of its own.
Mrs. Z. B. Ruggles takes up the story at this point: "In the year 1839 I came with my parents to Three Rivers. We found here in the wilderness a little society of Methodists. There was a Union Sabbath school and about as many members in the Pres- byterian church as in the Methodist. Both societies met in the little school house which stood on the north side of the public square. The outgrowth of that little Sunday school is at present seven large and flourishing schools. In 1846 the little school house had become too small and our increasing congregation demanded a better place of worship. The few members went to work to erect a church. It was a neat little brick edifice 30x40 feet and was a great undertaking for so few members. Some of them went out of their shops, carried brick and mortar and worked with a will, and the Lord blessed their efforts."
The building was completed and formally dedicated in 1847, Professor Hinman of Albion being present. At first, service was held only once in two weeks, as the Methodists shared this build- ing with the Presbyterians, they holding services on alternate Sabbaths until their own church was built. Andrew J. Eldred and Salmon P. Steele came in 1847 and for the next half century these names were to be well known throughout Michigan Methodism. Many of these men of the early days rose to places of power in the
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
church in after years. S. A. Osborn and S. P. Lee followed in 1849 and during their stay the church experienced a great revival and the additions to the church very materially aided the grow- ing society.
It is interesting to note how the authorities divorced this charge from one district and annexed it to another at their own pleasure, as it belonged at different times to the Ohio, Indiana and Michigan conferences. It was first a part of the St. Joseph mis- sion, then the La Porte district, then the Kalamazoo district, and finally the Niles district. Truly this has been an itinerant church.
The church that stands today was begun early in the sixties ; its corner-stone was laid in September, 1863, and the completed house of worship was dedicated on Thursday, October 12, 1865. To build such a church during the dark days of the war is indica- tive of the strong faith of the members. For nearly a half century it has proved one of the best working plants in this corner of the state. It has been the scene of many gracious revivals. Loyal men and true have served here as pastors and upwards of two thousand people must have belonged to it at some time during the years of its history. More than that number of boys and girls have been taught in its classes and have gone out into all the world. These men of old builded better than they knew and hun- dreds have reason to rejoice in their sacrificial service.
The first impetus for a new church came out of the enthusiastic revival during the pastorate of David Burns. Z. B. Ruggles had a class of seventy young people, mostly the converts of this re- vival. This need of a new church became so apparent that after a time a canvass was made of the members and friends of the church and about ten thousand dollars was pledged. The work was begun on the installment plan, getting the material together as best they could and getting ready for what all knew to be an undertaking that would tax their resources to the utmost.
As the walls of the church rose, the difficulties increased and war prices for labor and material played havoc with the original estimates. But it pays to build in faith and one by one the difficul- ties were met and conquered. The church was well under way when the conference of 1864 brought the Rev. D. A. Gillett and into this enterprise he put his best life. Winter came upon the workers, the money gave out, and through the long winter the walls stood as a silent challenge to the faith of the Methodist fathers, and a source of pessimism to the doubting. There have always been
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plenty of people to say that things could not be done. "They can never finish it," they said, "but then the county seat will probably be moved to Three Rivers and it will make a fine court house." By this time they had put about $6,000 into their church and still they were worshipping in a rented hall. It was thought that at least $11,000 more would be needed to finish it. For this they worked and prayed and trusted, and their faith was not in vain.
The spring of 1865 brought new courage and more funds and the work began again and slowly but surely the walls rose and the roof and steeple went on at last, and although this was only the beginning of the end, they knew that they had won. The base- ment was not finished until a little later, but the auditorium was completed and the church was ready for a congregation that was perfectly willing to say good-by to Kelsey's Hall that had been their church home for so long.
In the diary of William Arney for October 12, 1865, is this entry, "Cool and cloudy. All hands went to the dedication of the church at Three Rivers. Rev. R. M. Hatfield preached, as- sisted by Dr. Eddy of Chicago. $6,000 raised by subscription ; $1,000 yet unprovided for." Then follows a statement of the amount of his own pledge and four days later the significant entry : "Borrowed $10 of Wetherbee." Probably all who attended the dedication had to borrow in like manner. On the last day of the year we find the words: "Farewell to 1865, an eventful year ! The like we never expect to see again."
Its founders put more into the building of this church than those of a later day shall ever know. No wonder they have a pardonable pride in the work of their hands. The older men will never forget how they labored upon the walls and on the building, or met in all-night session to plan to keep things moving. $32,000 was the total cost of the building and the furnishing, but it took more than money to build the church.
Isaiah Wilson was here at that time and has a vivid recollec- tion of the day. "I was present on the day of dedication and a great day it was for Three Rivers Methodism. Bishop Ames was expected to preach and dedicate the church, but being unable to be present he sent Dr. Eddy and Dr. Hatfield in his place. The preachers were then in the prime of life and at their best on that occasion. The audience room was filled with enthusiastic Metho- dists. They came from Centerville and from all around the coun- try. I remember Brother Hardy, the old and faithful class leader ;
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he was shouting happy all day, and so were the Arneys. At that time Three Rivers was a great church, old-fashioned, noisy, full of fire and evangelistic power. Dr. Hatfield and Dr. Eddy were powerful preachers and there was no end to their wit and humor. We laughed, cried, and shouted, and freely gave while there was any money left in the crowd."
The growth of the church was accompanied by wise provision for the pastor's home. It was Rev. T. B. Granger whose experience with official boards had taught him to ask for what he wanted, who with true diplomacy told the brethren that they must either provide him a house or he would live at Centerville. This argu- ment has always been a forceful one and the board acceded to the demand and purchased a little house on West street which house is still standing. This first location came afterwards to be con- sidered unhealthy, so the board traded the house in for a second parsonage right next door to the church. This was first occupied by Rev. W. H. Pearce, and did service until the pastorate of J. W. Reid, who led in the building of the present comfortable brick parsonage. The strong church, as now organized, numbers more than 450 members, with Rev. N. A. McCune as pastor. Those who have served the Methodists of Three Rivers, both as "circuit riders" and settled pastors since 1829, are as follows :
1829-30 Erastus Felton.
1830- 1 L. B. Gurley and Erastus Felton.
1831-40 G. W. Walker, Benjamin Cooper, T. O'Dell, Benoni Harris, John Newell, Edward Smith, Jr., Wm. Todd, R. S. Robinson, Geo. M. Beswick, T. P. McCool, George Stanley, J. D. Sanford and John Ercanbrack.
1840- 1 Erastus Kellogg.
1841- 2 Richard C. Meek and J. W. Brier.
1842- 3 Richard C. Meek and Charles Babcock.
1843- 4 Peter Sabin and Daniel Bush.
1844- 6 John Ercanbrack, Henry Worthington, E. S. Taylor.
1846- 7 John Ercanbrack and George King.
1847- 8 Salmon P. Steele and Andrew J. Eldred.
1848- 9 Salmon P. Steele and W. E. Tappan.
1849-51 S. A. Osborn, S. P. Lee, L. M. Earle.
1851- 3 Henry Pennifield, Brother Finch.
1853- 5 V. G. Boynton, Enoch Holdstock, Alexander Camp- bell.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
1855- 7 Thomas B. Granger.
1857-60 David Burns.
1860- 2 Henry Pennifield.
1862- 4
Alfred A. Dunton.
1864- 7 Daniel D. Gillett.
1867 T. H. Jacokes.
1868-71 W. H. Pearce.
1871- 3 Levi Tarr.
1873- 5
Israel Cogshall.
1875- 7
J. W. Miller.
1877- 9
A. J. Eldred.
1879-81
F. B. Bangs.
1881- 3 David Engle.
1883- 5
C. S. Cox.
1885- 8 J. W. Reid.
1888-91 J. A. Sprague.
1891- 4 J. S. Montgomery.
1894- 6
F. C. Lee.
1896 J. A. Bready.
1896- 7 E. G. Lewis.
1897- 8 W. A. Frye.
1898-04
R. A. Wright.
1904-07
W. H. Phelps.
1907
Rev. N. A. McCune.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian church of Three Rivers was organized by Rev. Mr. Stanley of Mottville, August 12, 1838, with the follow- ing nineteen members: James Slote and his wife Hannah; Mrs. Sarah Snyder and daughter; McDonald Campbell and Jane, his wife; John Boudman ; Catherine Mowrey; Mr. and Mrs. John Sick- ler; Hon. Edward S. Moore and his wife, Mary P .; Mrs. Elizabeth Moore; Dr. Edward S. Egery; Mrs. Louisa Manning; John Troy and his wife Rebecca; Mr. and Mrs. Miles Bristol and Samuel L. Sterling. On the same day Messrs. Moore, Slote and Campbell were ordained as elders.
The first session meeting was held at the house of Dr. Egery, March 4, 1839, Mr. Moore being the only elder present; for Mr. Slote had died in Pennsylvania only the month previous, and Mr. Campbell had passed away September 4, 1838, about three weeks
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
after being ordained. There was also present Rev. Benjamin Ogden, of New Brunswick Presbytery, who had been serving as pastor of the society since November.
For the first ten years of their history the Presbyterians of Three Rivers had no separate house of worship, and during that period were served by the following: Rev. Benjamin Ogden, 1838- 43; Rev. Albert H. Gaston, 1843-6; Rev. Robert McMath, 1846-50. The first communion was held January 29, 1844, and the first com- munion in the new church March 4, 1849. On February 14th, the house of worship was dedicated, Rev. O. P. Hoyt, of Kalamazoo, preaching the sermon. Ten years later the church was enlarged so as to increase its seating capacity about one third, which was made necessary by the pronounced growth of the membership.
Rev. William Page was called to the pastorate in 1850, served four years, and his successors, up to the time of the coming of the first installed paster (Rev. Joseph A. Ranney) in 1859, were Rev. William M. Blackburn, 1854-6; Rev. Almon G. Martin, 1856-9.
Mr. Ranney's fruitful pastorate continued until September, 1872. In 1866 occurred the most memorable communion season in the history of the society, and during his entire pastorate 266 mem- bers united with the church. By 1868 it became evident that addi- tional accommodations must be provided, and ground was therefore broken for the large edifice which was completed and dedicated May 11, 1870, at a cost of about $30.000. The sermon was preached by Rev. William Hogarth, D. D., and the first church communion was held four days after the dedication.
After Mr. Ranney, the settled pastors of the church were: Rev. George Barnes, 1872-3; Rev. John D. McCord, 1873-4; Rev. William A. Masker, 1874-8; Rev. Thomas Gordon, 1878-81; Rev. H. B. Thayer, 1882-4; Rev. George C. Frost, 1885-90; Rev. E. W. Ranken, 1891-2; Rev: Hope F. Ross, 1893-4; Rev. W. H. McPher- son, 1894-1901; Rev. L. R. Toner, 1901-4; Rev. A. C. V. Skinner, 1904-7 ; Rev. J. A. Gallaher, May, 1908.
The church membership is about 260, while the Sunday school numbers 190.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Baptists of Three Rivers first organized a society April 6, 1861, the council for the purpose being composed of Rev. J. L. Mc- Cloud, of Schoolcraft, Rev. Samuel Haskell, of Kalamazoo, and Rev. S. E. Faxon. Its original roll of membership consisted of
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
William F. Arnold and wife; William M. Griffin, wife and two daughters; Cornelius Young; William Churchill and son Adney ; Mrs. Sally Woodhull, Mrs. Frost and Samuel Ludwig. Messrs. Churchill and Ludwig were the deacons and Mr. Griffin, clerk. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Luther H. Trowbridge, who was a licentiate when he first came, but was ordained at Three Rivers, and remained until 1869.
The first house of worship, which was built in 1864 at a cost of $7,000 was burned in 1871, and for some time thereafter the society met at Kelsey's Hall. A Sunday school was organized before the church was built, J. W. French being one of its first superinten- dents. The present church, whose house of worship is on Main street, between Prutzman and Kelsey, is in charge of Rev. A. V. Whipple.
THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.
The First Reformed Church of the United States in Three Rivers was organized by Rev. Daniel Kroh, February 1, 1863. Among the forty-three charter members were the following: John G. Ott, John Buss, Lucas Thurer, F. Burgin and John Steininger, with their wives; Henry Stotz, George Scheidhart, Charles Ettel- man and F. Keiser. Its church in the Third ward was built in 1870, at a cost of $11,000, and provided for 350 sittings. Since the organization of the society its pastors have been as follows: Revs. Daniel Kroh, Henry Wiegand, Jesse L. Schlosser, Louis Grosen- bach (nine years), William E. Ludwig, Freeman Ware, Henry S. Bailey, Elwood J. Bulgin, Parley E. Zartman, Charles R. Hart- man and George Longaker, the present incumbent, who assumed the charge in 1904. The church membership is about 190 and that of the Sunday school somewhat larger.
MOORE PARK REFORMED CHURCH
This society has a church about half a mile east of the station of Moore Park. It was founded in 1859 by Rev. Daniel Lantz, erected a building in 1880, and is now under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Wiegand.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which Rev. J. D. Brosy is pastor, was organized April 3, 1870, by adopting a consti-
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
tution and electing the following trustees: Aaron Schall, Samuel Weinberg, Levi Van Dorsten and the pastor, Rev. Delo. Among its twenty-nine charter members were Samuel Fees; S. H. Acker, James King, Lanson G. Reichart, Samuel Bobb, Samuel Van Dor- sten and Jacob Schwartz, with their wives; Josiah Steininger; and Mesdames M. C. Delo (the pastor's wife), and Mary M. Schall. Rev. Delo, the first pastor, remained with the church until 1876. In 1872-3 the society erected in the Second ward, on Sixth street, a large brick church, valued at $10,000 and with a seating capacity of 350.
The following denominations are also represented at Three Rivers: Episcopal (Trinity church), Rev. Mr. Frankel; Methodist Protestant, organized about forty years ago, Rev. D. A. Van Doren present pastor of the local society; German Lutheran, Rev. Louis G. Beuchterlein pastor, and Catholic (branch of the Mendon church, with Father Kaufmann in charge).
CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
The story of the Three Rivers Catholic Mission can be told in a few words. The mission was without a church until quite recently, and the conditions of missions without churches are much the same everywhere. Previous to the year 1889, Father Cappen, of Niles, visited Three Rivers occasionally. He celebrated Holy Mass in a hall on the third floor of a store building. For a while the mission was unattended. In 1892 Messrs. Behan and Donovan appealed to Father Buyse, of Jackson, who, calling upon the bishop, was given charge of Three Rivers. He and Father Jos. Stauss attended alternately for three years. Father Schaeper assumed charge in 1895, the mission having been attached to Mendon. The hall which was the meeting place of several lodges, continued to be used for divine services. It was ill suited for the purpose for many reasons, but no better quarters could be had.
The Rev. Henry J. Kaufmann succeeded Father Schaeper in the spring of 1903, and it was evident to him that the few Catholics who constituted the mission (the average attendance was 45) could not build a church unassisted. Upon application, the Rt. Rev. Bishop gave permission to build, and authorized the pastor to collect for the church from anyone who felt disposed to give for the pur- pose. At first it was planned to buy the building which was formerly
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