History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 96

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457

USA > Michigan > Washtenaw County > History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan > Part 96

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The plans and specifications were by G. W. Lloyd, of Detroit. The entire cost, about $30,000, except about $1,200, was raised in the parish and has been paid.

In the fall of 1880, the parish began the construction of a chapel connected with the east end of the church, and of a rectory on the north side of the latter, both of stone. These buildings are to be completed in the spring of 1881 at a cost of about $9,000. When completed there will be no more attractive or commodious group of church buildings in the State, and already the ivy gives to the main edifice its own unequaled loveliness of hue and twining tendril.

LUTHERAN CHURCH.

The first Germans came to Ann Arbor in 1830. Two years later they wrote to the Mission House at Basle, Switzerland, requesting

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ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP.

a minister be sent them. Rev. F. Schmid was sent the same year. The society was incorporated as the Evangelical Lutheran Society of Scio, and on its organization proceeded to erect a small frame church on the land presented to them by Mr. Allmendinger, one mile west of the city, which is now used as a cemetery. At first Mr. Schmid preached in the court-house and in the old Presbyte- rian church. In 1844 the present church edifice was erected, and enlarged in 1863. In 1858 they purchased the first musical instru- ment for the church, which was a harmonicon. In 1871 Rev. Mr. Schmid, finding his health too poor to longer continue in the ar- duous position of pastor, which he had filled so faithfully for 38 years, resigned, and his place was filled by Rev. Mr. Reuther, who continued until 1877, when Rev. John Neuman was called to suc- ceed him. Perhaps not a minister in the State remained as long in charge of one pastorate as did Mr. Schmid. It is to his untiring zeal and faithfulness that the Evangelical Lutheran Church owes its large membership and influence. For 38 years did he preach to, baptize, confirm, marry, and perform the rites of burial for a arger congregation than any other in the city.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

St. Thomas' Church (Catholic) was built by Rev. Thomas Cul- len, in the year 1843. Father Cullen came to Ann Arbor in 1840, perhaps in the latter part of 1839. Before the church was built services were held in different private houses, and for some time in an old dilapidated building on Washington street, which stood on the spot now occupied by Mr. Fred. Sorg's paint-shop.

The congregation in 1840 was as yet very small, but during the years following it grew rapidly. In 1860 the church was much too small to contain the steadily growing congregation, and a large ad- dition was built, which brought the church to the size in which it is now seen.

Father Cullen was the first resident priest of this city, but before his time, as far back as 1830, the few scattered families in Ann Arbor and vicinity were attended by Rev. Father Kelly up to 1835; from this time to the arrival of Father Cullen in 1840 they were administered to by Rev. Father Morrissy; both these aforenamed priests resided in Northfield. For more than 10 years, Father Cullen attended to the spiritual wants of all the Catholics living in the various towns from Ypsilanti to Kalamazoo. In the latter part of 1848, Rev. James Hennessy came to Ann Arbor to reside with Father Cullen and to share with him the pastoral labors of this wide field.

They built churches in many of the towns visited by them, as in Dexter, Northfield, Jackson, Marshall, etc. In 1852, Father Hen- nessy took up his residence in Marshall, Calhoun county, thus dividing their vast field of labor into an eastern and western half.

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

Father Cullen remained pastor of St. Thomas' at Ann Arbor up to the time of his death, which took place on the 7th of September, 1862. His missionary life had been one of great usefulness, but also one of great hardships. He lies buried under the sanctuary of the church he had built in this city.

Many of the parishes in the neighboring towns had by this time grown large enough to have resident priests, among these St. John's parish of Ypsilanti; hence, after the demise of Father Cullen, the Priest of Ypsilanti, Rev. Edward Vanpamel attended to the spiritual wants of the Ann Arbor congregation until a new pastor was sent, which happened in the beginning of May of the ensuing year, 1863. Rev. J. Stephen was the new pastor, who served the parish up to 1866. He bought a pastoral residence and made many improvements in the church.

Rev. H. Delbaer was the next pastor who labored very zealously in the parish for six years. He built an addition to the pastoral residence and founded a Catholic school, which has existed ever since and has done much good work.

Rev. J. Murphy succeeded Father Delbaer; he however re- mained but four months.

On the fifth of June, 1872, Rev. Francis Joseph Van Erp took charge of the congregation, a man of much experience, great learning and high administrative qualities. Under bis wise manage- ment the parish prospered greatly, both temporally and spiritually. Under him the church was frescoed and new church furniture was procured. He died on the first of August, 1879, in conse- quence of injuries received by a fall from his carriage, on his way home from the county house, where he had held services for the inmates. The sad accident occurred on the 29th of July, two days previous to his death. On the 8th of August, Rev. W. J. Fierle the present pastor, was appointed to succeed him.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor was organized March 23, 1847, by a council called for that purpose. Forty-eight persons entered into covenant with each other at that time, nine of whom are still members of the Church.

The erection of a house of worship was begun almost immediately, the Church worshiping meantime in the court-house. In about two years the society had completed, and begun to occupy, the brick church still standing at the corner Fifth and Washington streets. They continued to worship in this house for about 25 years, when they sold it to the Second Lutheran Society, and built the fine stone edifice at the corner of State and Williams streets. This building cost about $35,000, and was dedicated in May, 1876.

The first pastor of the Church was Rev. E. P. Ingersoll, who re- mained for about a year. He was followed by Rev. L. S. Hobert,

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ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP.

who continued with the Church four years. Rev. William L. Mather followed him, and remained two years. Rev. Joseph Estabrook, while teaching in Ypsilanti, supplied the pulpit for a year. Rev. George Candee preached to the Church for about the same time; Rev. Samuel Cochrane, D. D .. for two years. Rev. E. A. Baldwin was the pastor six years, Rev. William Smith for one year, Rev. H. L. Hubbell from June, 1869, till October, 1876; and Rev. William H. Ryder since May, 1877.

The Church has enjoyed a very constant and steady growth and has been blessed with several revivals, the most fruitful of which occurred during the pastorates of Mr. Hobert, Mr. Estabrook and Mr. Hubbell. It numbers at present about 250 members.

Mr. Loren Mills was elected deacon at the organization of the Church and still remains in this office; with him are associated J. Austin Scott, Joseph D. Baldwin, Phineas L. Page, Austin A. Wood and Charles K. Adams.

Deacon Loren Mills was the superintendent of the Sunday- school for 19 years after the organization of the Church, when he resigned and Mr. Thomas White was elected; after two years of service he was removed by death, and was succeeded by Profes- sor Martin L. D'Ooge of Michigan University, who still remains in this office. The Sunday-school has an attendance of about 175.

THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF ANN ARBOR

was organized January. 1867. Its first pastor was Rev. Charles H. Brigham, by whose efforts the society was established, and who served as its minister for 11 years. The first trustees of the Church were T. S. Sanford, Randall Schuyler, George D. Hill, Hiram Arnold, Moses Rogers and Henry K. White, and the first clerk, L. D. Burch. In February the society began occupying the building known as the Methodist church, on the corner of Fifth and Ann streets, and in March purchased the same, repairing, painting and fitting it up for permanent use.

In May, 1877, Rev. Mr. Brigham was obliged to vacate his pulpit on account of sickness, and in February, 1879, he died in Brooklyn, N. Y. He was an exceptionally able preacher, an extensive writer for many leading papers and reviews, and one of the ripest scholars that this country has produced. The pulpit of the church was sup- plied from November, 1877, to June, 1878, by Rev. Joseph H. Allen, of Cambridge, Mass.

In October, 1878, Rev. J. T. Sunderland, the present pastor, en- tered upon his work. The society at the present time is full of vigorous life. It has recently purchased an excellent lot on State street, central between the University and the High School, and will begin the coming summer the erection of a new house of wor- ship, which will contain, in addition to audience room, Sunday- school rooms and parlor, a spacious and well furnished reading room. A fund has recently been created, partly by a legacy left

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

by the late Judge Seaman, of this city, and partly by voluntary sub- scriptions, for the establishment of a Liberal-Religious Library, which will also be provided with a room in the new church,-the library to be accessible to all persons who desire to read the best liberal-religious thought of the age.

A Young People's Literary and Social Club connected with the Church contains over 100 members and holds weekly meetings, which are largely attended. A large students' Bible class, con- ducted usually by the pastor, meets every Sunday for the study of the Bible, Christian history and biography, the great religion s of the world, living questions of Theology and Ethics, etc. The Sunday-school, under the superintendency of Prof. T. P. Wilson, is full of life and interest. The Church has a membership of about 60 families. The present trustees are Prof. Chas. E. Greene. Prof. B. F. Nichols, Judge W. D. Harriman, James B. Gott, A. McRey- nolds and Mrs. Prof. Langley; the clerk of the society is Benja- min Brown. The Church, existing not for ecclesiastical ends but for the purpose of promoting truth, righteousness and charity among men, and believing in the simple rational Christianity of Jesus, but not in the prevailing theological systems, limits its fellow- ship by no creed or dogmatic test, and invites to union and co-opera- tion with it all who desire to labor in practical ways to build up the kingdom of God.

THE SECOND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

of Ann Arbor was organized in the lower town in 1850. The first to minister to the spiritual wants of this congregation was Rev. Manasseh Hickey, who was succeeded, in the order named, by Revs. Robert Bird, Andrew Bell, Edmund W. Borden, W. Benson Ira W. Donaldson and George Taylor. Mr. Taylor receivd his ap pointment in the fall of 1859, and was the last to serve, the organi- zation disbanding, its members being transferred to other Churches.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION CHURCH.

The first meeting for the organization of this Church was held on July 16, 1875, in the old Congregational church, situated on the corner of Fifth and Washington streets, the officiating minister be- ing Rev. H. F. Belser. An organization was then effected with William Merkle, Philip Lohr, and Christian Mack as deacons, while Christian Hoffstetter, Louis Sleicher, Conrad Schneider, Adam D. Seyler, Frederick Hutzel, and Frederick Schmidt were elected as trustees. The Church increased in membership very rapidly, as 169 were enrolled on the records within a few weeks. It was decided at that meeting to buy the church they were then occupying, and accordingly negotiations were entered into with the Congregational Church and officers, and being satisfactory, the grounds and build- ing were purchased at a cost of $4,300. The Church concluded to renovate the building and immediately did so, at a cost of about

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ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP.

$2,000. The pastor, Rev. H. F. Belser, is of an enterprising and progressive nature, and under his pastorship the Church has flour- ished, and now stands among the leading Churches of that denomi- nation in the State. They are entirely out of debt and have a comfortable sum of money laid by to be used when needed. The present Church officers are the same as when organized with three exceptions; Andrew Birk now fills the office of deacon in the place of Philip Lohr, while Jacob Neidhamer and Gregor Negley occupy the position of trustees, in place of Messrs. Sleicher and Schneider. A Sunday-school was organized at the time the Church was, with William Merkle, Superintendent; Frederick Schlade, Treasurer; Gustav Graupner, Secretary. The present officers are Frederick Schmidt, Superintendent; F. Belser, Treasurer; William Belser, Secretary, and with a membership roll of 295. A large library of nearly 475 volumes is owned and used by the Sunday-school. The Sunday-school is also in a fine condition, is free from debt, with a surplus of over $100.

GERMAN M. E. CHURCH.

This body was organized about 1840 or 1845, and had for its first pastor the Rev. Sethelmeyer, and for trustees Daniel Allmendinger and John Ungemach. In 1846 a house of worship was erected on the northwest corner of Division and Liberty streets, where the members have since gathered to hear the word of God. Conrad Tranker is the present pastor, and Joseph Greve and Adam Stoll- Steimer the present trustees. A Sunday-school numbers 40 mem- bers, and at the last election the following officers were chosen to their respective positions: Superintendent, Gustav Schlatterbeck; Secretary and Organist, Julius Schlatterbeck; Treasurer, Julia Gull.

AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH.

This Church was organized in 1871 by Revs. G. C. Booth and W. S. Langford, of Detroit, with 16 members. Rev. J. W. Brooks was the first pastor, and was followed by Revs. J. Bass, F. Meyers, P. C. Cooper, C. H. Ward, W. H. Gordon, L. Ratliff, H. H. Wil- son and the present pastor, C. W. E. Gilmore. In 1877 a building was purchased and removed to its present location on Fourth, be- tween Pontiac and Summit streets; fitted up, remodeled, with a total outlay of $600. The present officers are: Trustees-John White, Louis Carson and Henry Smith; Stewards-Simeon Davis, John Brown and John Britton. A Sunday-school, of the same denomination, was organized some time during the war, and has lived and prospered until the present time. It now numbers over 40 members, and is governed by the following officers: Superin- tendent, Henry Williams; Secretary and Treasurer, Louis Carson.

An African Baptist Church was organized many years ago, and

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

for a long period was in a very flourishing condition. They have a house of worship in the Fourth ward, but have no regular ser- vice.

SCHOOLS.

We are indebted to Prof. W. S. Perry, Superintendent of Public Schools, for the following very able historical paper on the schools of Ann Arbor:

"The first settlers of Ann Arbor, Messrs. Allen and Rumsey, arrived in 1824. The first school was opened in '25, by Miss Mon- roe, in a log house on the present site of Duffy's store. The furni- ture of the room consisted of a few very rude benches and a chair. All the light enjoyed was received through windows composed of single panes of glass 8x9 inches.

"The following year Miss Harriet G. Parsons, the late Mrs. Leoine Mills, taught in the same place. In 1829 Miss Parsons removed her school to a frame house on the site of the present Zion Luthe- ran church, Washington street. The same year a one-story brick building was erected by subscription for religious meetings and school purposes, on what is known as 'Jail Square,' on the south- west corner. The land was owned by the county, and about a year thereafter, the Board of Supervisors added a story to the building, which was used for some years thereafter as a 'jury-room ' (court- room).

" Who taught the first school in this building cannot probably be ascertained.

" Down to this point there had been no public schools in the place; indeed, nearly all the early educational work of Ann Arbor was done by private enterprise.

The public schools began their career in 1830. In that year the township of Ann Arbor, which then included all of Pittsfield and a part of Northfield, was divided into 11 districts. District No. 1 in- cluded the village of Ann Arbor, and was similar to the present district in size, but different somewhat in shape. The first public school seems to have been taught in 1831, by whom, neither record nor tradition informs us. In 1832 the first school report, by the school commissioners, was made. The document is unique as it is brief. It contains simply these three items: 'No. of children be- tween 5 and 15 years of age in the district, 161. Average No. in school, 35. No public moneys received.'

" For nearly a whole decade the records of the schools are missing, and memory faileth. In 1842 the township was re-districted, No. 1 becoming No. 11, with boundaries slightly differing from those of the parent district.

"A few'existing school reports of this period furnish us with the following interesting facts:

1839.

1840.

1842.

1844.

No. of children between 5 and 15.

141

143

426

608

No. enrolled in school. .

.110

139

253

365

Money raised for school purposes.

$500

$174

$299

$300

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ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP.

" About this time Union schools began to spring up in various parts of the State, and the agitation of the subject struck our little village and soon rose to fever heat. In 1845 a formidable petition, which secured the names of nearly all the solid men of the town north of Huron St., the aristocratic part of the village, was pre- sented to the school inspectors, praying them to divide the districts ' before any expense is incurred in preparing to build a mammoth school-house, as we prefer the system which experience has proved to the visionary and costly experiments.' Counter petitions of those living in the south and west portions of the town were made, but nevertheless the division was made, and for eight years the town supported two schools and two sets of officers throughout. The experiment, however, was far from satisfactory.

" It is now proper to return to the private schools by which the educational field was principally occupied.

"In 1829 a 'select school' was opened by T. W. and Moses Mer- rill, in the Goodrich Block, for teaching ' higher English and Latin and Greek.' It was soon removed to a brick house standing where Eberbach's drug store now is, and there it was continued during 1830 and '31, by J. W. Merrill, assisted by Miss Charlotte Mosely. Some of our most prominent citizens were pupils in this school.

" In the fall of 1832 several leading citizens of the town requested Rev. O. C. Thompson, now of Detroit, at that time acting as agent of the Sunday-School Union in the Territory of Michigan, to open an academy. He acceded, and during the following winter taught a large and popular school in the Presbyterian church on the site of the present church. It was a school of high grade, well sustained in the departments of classics, science and higher mathematics, and was patronized by students from all parts of the Territory. There are good grounds for believing that at that time there was not another school of equally high character west of the lakes. Infant schools were maintained, at this period, in various parts of the vil- lage by Mrs. O. C. Thompson, Mrs. Merrill and others."

In 1835 a high school, with courses of study in the classics and English, was kept by Luke H. Parsons on the corner of Huron and Fourth streets, now occupied by Cook's Hotel.

In the same year there was established the Manual Labor School on what is known as the "Eberbach place " about two miles east of the court-house, on the south Ypsilanti road. The academic department aimed to furnish all the facilities for a literary school of high grade. It was in charge of Rev. Samuel Hair. The pupils were expected to pay for their board, in whole or in part, by labor on the farm. Three and a half hours of daily labor, or two hours of work daily and 50 cents at the end of each week, paid for three meals per day. The experiment was not successful, and after a fitful existence of three years, the school was closed.

About the same time the female seminary, conducted by the Misses Page, was started in the back part of the present Leonard House, continuing there and in other parts of the village two or

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HISTORY OF WASHTENAW COUNTY.

three years. This school was deservedly popular. The Misses P. were scholarly women and skillful teachers.

It was also in 1835 that the famous " Old Academy " was erected on the corner of Fourth and Williams streets, where now stands the residence of Mrs. Behr. The school was opened by Mr. and Mrs. Griffin, who had previously organized a school on Duffy's corner. The academy at once offered a wide range of studies in English, Latin, Greek and the sciences, with apparatus for chem- istry, philosophy, astronomy and surveying. It speedily estab- lished itself with confidence of the people, and for a number of years was the accepted and only prominent school in the place. Mr. O'Neil, and after him Mr. Mealletta, followed the Griffins in the management of the school. About the year 1845 a ladies' seminary of considerable repute was established and conducted for two or more years by Mrs. Wood, in the eastern part of the village, on Lawrence addition.

In 1844 an academical school which had some connection with the university as a preparatory department, was insti- tuted by A. S. Welch, now President of Iowa Agricultural Col- lege. It continued three years, doing excellent work, especially in preparing students for the university.

The schools in Lower Town, Fifth ward, until their consolida- tion with the city schools in 1861, had an interesting history, and deserves some special mention. Like those in Upper Town, the first schools were private. One of the most eminent of the teach- ers there was Dr. Thomas Holmes, who taught in the M. E. Church, then Baptist, in 1838. He also taught a district school in the same place the following year.

The same year, '39, the first school-house was built of brick on Traver St., and the following winter Dr. Holmes dedicated it by teaching an excellent school.

This building served its purpose, and the people in that locality, until 1857, when the present two-story brick building was erected on Wall St. For several years, the school there was quite large and flourishing. The first teachers in it were Mr. Holden, his sis- ter and Mrs. Mudge, now Mrs. C. K. Adams.

The most famous and most permanent of the private schools of Ann Arbor was the Misses Clark's seminary for young ladies. It was opened in the old Argus Block in 1839, but soon was removed to the corner of Fourth and Liberty streets, where it remained for three years; it then migrated to the corner of Main and Lib. erty, and continued its good work there for six years; it then sojourned for a short time on the corner of 2d and Huron Sts., thence it found its way to the corner of North and 4th sts., where it was burned out. The school then took quarters in the brick building on Division, where it continued for 10 years, until the death of its worthy principal, Mary Clark, in 1876, making an aggregate period for this school of 37 years.

Charles Almeri dinger Died Nov. 21.1887 Agc 68.10.11 y

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ANN ARBOR TOWNSHIP.

The Misses Clark, both in school proper and in their society relations, have occupied a large place in the educational history of Ann Arbor.

Many prominent women, here and elsewhere, owe their high culture to the facilities enjoyed in this seminary. History, liter- ature, and the lighter sciences were taught with marked success.

In botany, Mary Clark was authority, and several plants bear- ing her name attest her patience and ability as an original inves- tigator. In history, especially ecclesiastical history, Miss Clark had no peer in the city, probably not in the State.

We now go back to the public schools which were conducted in two districts. Upon the division of the districts in 1845, the old academy fell into the hands of the south district, No. 12, and for the following decade was the headquarters of school operations of the districts.

Near the same time, '45 or '46, the building now known as the St. Thomas school was erected by the north district, No. 11, for a public school-house.

It is a matter of regret that during these years, up to the re- union of the two districts in 1853, the material for a school history of Ann Arbor are so meager that not even the names of the teachers have been preserved.

The following statistical items, from the reports of the two dis- tricts for 1846 and '48, will be found of interest:

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History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan, Part 96

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co. Number of Pages: 1457

Author: Chas. C. Chapman & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : Chas. C. Chapman & Co.
Number of Pages: 1457