USA > Michigan > St Clair County > History of the St. Clair County, Michigan, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources.. > Part 82
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tasty. To the east side of this is the infant room, 22x16 feet. connected by large sliding win- dows. It is pleasant to observe that, in the new arrangement, the little ones have been remem- bered with new chairs suited to their size. In the basement is an airy kitchen, with the neces- sary furniture, and back of this the furnace which heats the last two upper rooms described. A boiler has been ordered, to heat the audience room by steam. A dumb waiter works between the kitchen and upper story, as a convenience for church socials and festivals. The infant and Sunday schoolrooms open into a hiall. through which is the east entrance from the street. From this hall, a noiseless double door on reversible hinges connects with the main part of the church. It is a noticeable fact, that throughout the church there is no attempt at superfluous ornamentation; there is a happy combination of beauty.
, The dedicatory service was opened May 21, 1882, by the choir singing "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, " followed by a prayer by the pastor and the reading of a psalm, singing of an anthem by the choir. a Scripture lesson by Rev. John Donnelly, of Coldwater, and a prayer by
Rev. D. Baldwin, of Mason. The choir and congregation then sang the hymn, " In the cross of Christ I glory," after which Rev. L. Kirtley, of Jackson, preached an excellent sermon; his text being a portion of the twenty-first verse of the first chapter of the first epistle to the Cor- inthians-" It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believed." A quartette was then sung, and the pastor announced that one of the practical parts of the serv- ice and been reached-the raising of money. Mr. Harris then read the following financial statement, after which contributions were received:
EXPENDITURES.
Site.
$ 1,550
Building.
16,619
Furnishings
4,495
Total
$22,664
RECEIPTS.
4,000
Insurance on old building.
Land sales. . 1,140
Subscriptions.
7,814
Mortgage.
5,000
Note .
600
Total
$18,554
Balance.
$ 4,110
Mortgage
$ 5,000
Note. . .
600
Floating.
4,110
Total
9,710
A
AMOUNT OF INDEBTEDNESS.
ele Meixel
529
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
The congregation responded liberally, and in a short time $3.300 was contributed. The dedicatory prayer was also to have been made at this service, but owing to the late hour it was deferred until the evening. The service concluded by the choir singing one verse of the hymn "Coronation," and the prononneing of the benediction.
The afternoon service commenced at 3 o'clock by the choir singing an anthem. Rev. J. Grinnell, Jr .. of Detroit, then read a psalm. Rev. L. Kirtley, of Jackson, offered a prayer, and the choir and congregation sung "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah." Rev. John Donnelly. of Coldwater, then delivered an address. He was pastor of the Baptist Church for nine years and four months. He preached his first sermon in the oldl church eighteen years ago next Sun- day. When he first came here. in 1864, the membership of the church numbered 26 persons, IS being women. The first winter, nine or ten converts were received, and during his pastor- ato about 200 were added. The speaker referred to the noble women who helped to bear the burdens of the church, and credited them with being the foundation stones. The five trustees who were then in office also received much praise. They labored under the most adverse cir- eumstances, but always met the church's obligations in good spirit. All the work done in the old church would not be known until the resurrection morn. Rev. D. Baldwin, of Mason. also made a brief address. Ile was pastor here when the old church was burned, and well remem- It was at a
bered the 12th of January, 1579. the Sunday the church was Jaid in ruins. time when Port Huron's business men were passing through one of the darkest financial peri- ods that they ever experienced. When the church was destroyed, the congregation were ro. joieing in a revival season, and their joys were mingled with sadness when they found they were without a house of worship, but they soon regained their faith and resolved upon doing
more work. Remarks were also made by Rev. T. W. Monteith and Rey. Thomas Stalker and Rev. Mr. MeAaron, of Brockway. A quartette was then sung. after which subscriptions to the amount of $200 were received. The services closed by the congregation singing. " O. could I speak Thy matchless Word." and a prayer.
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, Thon Eternal One." Rey. 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 annonneed 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 1756 we can find traces of Catholie missionaries who visited the Otchipwes of the Sinclair River in the neighborhood of Black River. Over a century before 1756, 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 1750, little is known of the Catholic Church of St. Clair. The father of the late Nelson Roberts, who passed this way about the vear 1756 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 1512, the visits of the missionary fathers to this district became more regular. In ISI7, 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 1521, will show the names of these early immigrants. Rov. Father Badin visited the settlement that year. when the mass was celebrated at the house of of Louis Tremble. In 1520. the Rev. Bosrinquet ar- rived from Quebec, and the same year erected a little church on Walpole Island (Isto du Sud). This priest visited the Black River mission in 1820 or 1521. 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. 81
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 IS6S, 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 Kerockee, 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 laier 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.
4
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
531
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1540. by Rev. Charles Reighley. D. D. The first church edifice was erected in 1854. Rey. Sabin Hough came in 1812: Rev. Charles Reighley returned in 1843; Rev. P. D. Spalding came in IS(5): Rov. George B. Engle in IS50; Rov. Joseph Phelps in 1859; Rev. H. Banwell in 1861; Rev. William Stowe, in 1865; Rev. A. M. Lewis, In IS79, 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 1582 shows the condition of the church and society.
Baptized-Infants. 17
Adults
Total
Confirmed ..
15
Communicants Last reported.
205
Admitted in the parish
1.
Received from other parishes
Total added.
Died.
Removed from the parish.
10
Total lost ...
13
Present number.
Marriages 15
16
Public services Sundays
10%
Holy days. .
Other days
Total. 164
Holy communion- Sundays.
17
lloly days
1
Private.
Total. 25
Congregation -Families. .
175
Individuals not included in families.
15
Sunday School-Teachers and officers. 3-4
Scholars 300
Sunday School Library, volumes ..
100
PAROCHIAL ORGANIZATIONS CHURCH AID SOCIETY-HELPING HAND SOCIETY.
Communion alms not otherwise reported.
5, 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 >1
Total for parochial purpi
$ 2,058 ST
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 lews.
Total for general purposes. . .
34 41
By the Sunday school for its own purposes.
196 00
Total of contributions and offerings. 8 2.933 68
Burials.
532
HISTORY OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
694 31
Sources of above-Offertory.
Pew rents ... 1,168 97
Subscriptions, gifts, pledges, etc. 935 40
From parochial societies. .. 135 00
4,000 00
Valne of church property-Chapel. 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 churchi editice 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 avenne 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 previons 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 buildingsof 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, ISTS, Rev. William Fox was appointed as the financial agent of the church, and at once undertook the task of raising the $1.1.000 of debt. During 1879 he was industriously engaged in soliciting subscriptions, both in the city and throughout the easteru 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 $5.000. 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 Il. 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 ? llow 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. Il. " As has been stated, a new editice has taken the place of that destroyed by the storm. Under the administration of Rer. 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. sitnate on Teath 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 religions organizations of the city, The builling is frame, with tower and spire. Rov. C. Bofinger is the pastor.
SCHOOLS.
The country schools throughout the West fifty years ago, whether considering the built- ings, teachers or regulations, were generally of a character that would bo 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 punchoons elevated at a distance from the floor suggestive of dangerons 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 test-books comprising his limite l 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 ouly. 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 changel. 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 tiowsers of home manufacture kept in place by a couple of pieces of ticking. to which he appropriat- I 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 seene 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." ete . 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 diin 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; pot 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 ou 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- erthele-s. and there stands the schools of the city to-day the chief supporting pillars of the fut- nre. 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 baek to them in after times; and it did.
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