USA > Michigan > Grand Traverse County > Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions...to which will be appended...life sketches of well-known citizens of the county > Part 34
USA > Michigan > Leelanau County > Sprague's history of Grand Traverse and Leelanaw counties, Michigan embracing a concise review of their early settlement, industrial development and present conditions...to which will be appended...life sketches of well-known citizens of the county > Part 34
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At the close of May, 1873, Mr. Hatch preached his farewell sermon, and closed a most successful pastorate of seven years' duration. In September of the same year a call was extended to Rev. O. H. Spoor, of Vermontville, who accepted and remained here four years. Changes seemed to follow in quick succession, the following ministers occupying the pulpit for a short time only : Rev. Olney, Rev. O. W. Crow, Rev. W. R. Seaver, Rev. W. G. Puddeyfoot and Rev. George H. Cate. After nearly a year of va- cancy, the pulpit was occupied on May 5,
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1889, by a young man, Rev. Demas Cochlin, who has for the past fourteen years watched over the flock and been instrumental in add- ing many new members to the fold. The membership at this writing, February, 1903, is two hundred and forty-eight.
The church has large and flourishing auxiliary societies, together with a Sunday school having an enrollment of about four hundred and an average attendance of two hundred and seventy-three.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The First Methodist Episcopal church bears the distinction of being the first Prot- estant church organization to establish itself in Traverse City, a class consisting of seven having been organized by Rev. D. R. Lath- am April II, 1858. Like all the early re- ligious movements, the work was fraught with difficulties, not on account of the spir- itual deficiencies of the pioneers, but for the reason that the country which had to be traversed was wild and much territory had to be covered by one person ; then, too, funds were lacking, but the spirit of God was not only on the face of the waters but in the forest along the way, and the expounders of the Word were many times miraculously led by an unseen hand through dangers and hardships. In the soughing of the wind through the lonely pines, the angry roar of waters on the wild and picturesque shores, through the wintry blasts of the ice and sleet, suffering often from fatigue, hunger and cold, there was but one voice heard through it all, "Peace, be still," and on these men, with charmed lives, as it were, went their way, to be rewarded with abundant success at the last.
Rev. Mr. Latham was a licensed local preacher and came to this country by mere chance in search of renewed health. When he arrived here and observed the spiritual destitution of the people he felt it his duty to remain. In the fall of 1858 Mr. Latham's voluntary efforts ended, and he was ad- mitted to conference and appointed to the Elk Rapids circuit. The religious work in this vicinity was not to cease, however, with the removal of Mr. Latham. Through the instrumentality of a preacher named Pen- field, the attention of the conference of 1858 was directed to the work being done in Grand Traverse, the result of which was that a new district was formed, called the Grand Traverse district, Mr. Latham being suc- ceeded as pastor by Rev. W. W. Johnson, who was also appointed presiding elder. Mr. Johnson made his home at Old Mission and held services every alternate Sunday at Traverse City. It is told in the annals of the church that the privations and untold suffer- ings endured by Mr. Johnson were so wear- ing upon him that he recommended confer- ence to abandon the field, but, with true Christian spirit, the conference refused to desert those who had gathered around the cross in this northern wilderness and se- lected Rev. Solomon Steele to continue the work. Mr. Steele took up his residence in this city in the fall of 1859 in a little shanty on the west side, then known as "Slabtown." The shanty consisted of three rooms and a garret, and was named by the late Mrs. Per- ry Hannah, "Palace Shanty."
. The society here was now thoroughly organized and work begun on a systematic basis. At this time ex-presiding elder J. W. Miller was a young attorney living at Pent- water. During the winter of 1858 he ex-
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perienced religion and was given a license to preach. After a time he was persuaded to go to Acme, and from there he ably assisted Mr. Steele in the work of the district, preaching in the homes of the people until Mr. Steele's removal to Detroit in the fall of 1860. It was at this time that Mr. Miller was pre- vailed upon to hold services in the school- house here until the conference of 1860, when Rev. J. W. Robinson was appointed for Traverse City. Rev. William Rork was appointed pastor in the fall of 1862 and was succeeded the following year by Rev. J. E. McAllister. In 1863 Rev. G. W. Sherman was appointed to this place, and after a pas- torate of three years was succeeded, in 1866, by Rev. V. G. Boynton. The conference of 1867 appointed Rev. G. C. Draper to take up the work. In the fall of 1868 Rev. J. W. Reid was appointed pastor and in 1869 he was relieved by Rev. W. Prouty, who was returned by the conference of 1870. In 1871 Rev. James Roberts was appointed by the conference; he remained two years and was succeeded in 1873 by Rev. David Engle. In 1874 Rev. Worthington was appointed and remained two years. Rev. M. M. Callen took charge of the work in 1876 and his efforts were crowned with great success, and after a pastorate of three years he was fol- lowed by Rev. W. H. Thompson. Rev. W. H. Carlisle was pastor for three years, from the autumn of 1880 to 1883, when he was succeeded by Rev. E. H. Day. The follow- ing ministers have followed successively in the order named up to the present time : Revs. R. Shorts, W. Hansom, F. C. Lee, G. D. Chase, G. W. Sherman, W. A. Frye, J. A. Bready, W. L. Laufman. The work of all these last seven or eight is still fresh in the minds of the people, and many of them
have hosts of warm friends here. Rev. W. L. Laufman's pastorate has been notably suc- cessful.
The presiding elders of the Grand Trav- erse district have been Revs. S. Steele, J. Boynton, V. G. Boynton, M. B. Camburn, J. W. Miller, A. P. Moores, A. J. Eldred, W. R. Stinchcomb, E. L. Kellogg, M. D. Carrel.
The question of building a house of worship was agitated by Rev. G. W. Sher- man in 1867. Hon. Perry Hannah gave the site and the result was that, through the un- tiring efforts and self-denial of a few zealous people, an edifice was completed and ready for dedication October 13, 1867. The exer- cises were conducted by Rev. A. P. Mead, of Jackson, and were very impressive. An ex- tract from the Herald says :
"Mr. Mead had been three nights with- out sleep and spent the whole of Saturday night in an open boat on Grand Traverse bay. Though greatly exhausted, he did not shrink from the work he had undertaken. The dedication sermon was exceedingly able and eloquent, and made a deep impression on the audience. At the close of the sermon it was announced that the church had cost, ex- clusive of the spire, which had not yet been erected, four thousand dollars, and that of this sum seven hundred dollars was yet to be provided for. Mr. Mead proposed to raise the sum in a few minutes and he did so." The steeple was built during Rev. H. Worth- ington's stay, and the bell was purchased and hung a few years later.
In 1892, during Rev. G. D. Chase's pas- torate, the seating capacity of the church having been inadequate many times to ac- commodate those who sought to gain ad- mission, the desirability of additional room
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was discussed and resulted in the remodeling of the building to its present dimensions, at a cost of about five thousand dollars. It is now a fine building and has a seating capac- ity of six hundred, but seven hundred can be accommodated when occasion demands.
There are two auxiliary societies con- nected with the church which are in a very flourishing condition. They are the Ladies' Aid Society and the Woman's Home and Foreign Missionary Society. The church parlors, in the rear of the church edifice, have been built under the supervision of the La- dies' Aid Society, at a cost of four hundred dollars.
There are now five hundred and fifty communicants enrolled on the church mem- bership.
SECOND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Previous to the founding of what is known as the Second Methodist Episcopal church of Traverse City there existed the Traverse City circuit, with appointments at Bingham, Elmwood, Cedar Run, Birmley school and Lone Tree. These appointments were filled in turn by Rev. H. Downs, Rev. George W. Youker, Rev. C. W. Smith, Rev. A. D. Green and Rev. O. G. Whitman. In September, 1887, Rev. W. A. Heath was ap- pointed to this circuit and organized a class of fifteen or sixteen members on the west side of the city, holding meetings in the Union Chapel. The charge then became known as West Traverse City, with ap- pointments at West Traverse City, Bingham, Lone Tree, Long Lake and Elmwood. In September, 1888, Rev. S. Steele was ap- pointed to the charge, with appointments at West Traverse City, Long Lake, Lone Tree
and Birmley school. He served one year and was succeeded by Rev. A. W. Bushee, who also served one year from September, 1889, to 1890. Rev. W. A. Taylor served from September, 1890, to September, 1892, and was succeeded by Rev. J. W. Miller, who served from September, 1892, to 1895. Rev. H. W. Smith was appointed to take charge in 1895.
During the pastorate of Mr. Miller a lot was purchased for a church location and when Mr. Smith arrived he at once began to make preparations for the erection of a place of worship. He met with little encourage- ment from the church people, as the most of them were in very moderate circumstances, some of them being considered poor. But Mr. Smith was not a man to be discouraged by such circumstances. He started out anew. and sought aid from other sources, and from the contributions which he received he was able to make a beginning, and, understand- ing the carpenter's trade, he did a large por- tion of the work himself. The late Rev. E. L. Kellogg, presiding elder of the district, was a liberal contributor. In the fall of 1896 the church was dedicated by Rev. Washington Gardiner, and enough money and subscriptions received to make the church entirely free from debt and partially pay for the parsonage, which was erected that same year. Rev. M. E. Rousch was pastor in 1897-1898. The present pastor, Rev. Hugh Kennedy, began his labors September 18, 1899. During the year 1900 the church and parsonage were remodeled, enlarged and completed. The society is in a flourishing condition, the membership having more than doubled during the last three years, and at this writing numbers two hundred and forty- six.
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THE FRIENDS CHURCH.
Something over twenty years ago a number of families of Friends from Win- chester, Indiana, moved to northern Michi- gan and located in Leelanaw and Grand Traverse counties. They established two meetings, one known as Round Top and the other as Long Lake. These two united in holding monthly meetings, alternating between the two places. Other Friends came from other points in Indiana and some from southern Michigan, where the Friends have lived for the greater part of a century. These organized other meetings. The meeting nearest Traverse City was held at Lone Tree in Garfield township.
Prominent among the faithful ministers of the gospel who have worked among them for several years in this region are Amos Kenworthy, Jonathan Hodgson, Jo- siah P. White, Josiah Pennington and others, whose work has borne rich fruit. But none of the meetings had a regularly appointed pastor until the winter of 1891, when a young man was called to take charge of Long Lake and Lone Tree meetings. Later the Friends of Lone Tree and Long Lake decided it would be well to establish a meet- ing place at Traverse City, so, under the able leadership of Mead A. Kelsey, their newly-called pastor, they began holding a meeting each Sunday afternoon in the United Brethren church on Elmwood ave- nue. These meetings grew so rapidly that it was soon necessary to secure the old school building, on the same street, and es- tablish regular meetings and a Bible school.
In 1893 it was decided that greater good could be done by building a permanent home. This was made easier of accom-
plishment by many of the members pledging large sums, to be paid in work and material. It was especially their desire to build at some distance from other English churches, that persons might be enabled to hear the gospel preached who were at that time pre- vented by distance from so doing, and also because the Friends have always sought to reach the isolated . parts of the earth. Through the generosity of Perry Hannah and others they were able to secure the presene fine location. The building was com- menced and the work progressed quite rap- idly, and the Friends' meeting-house, which is frequently spoken of by visitors to the city as one of its most attractive church buildings, was dedicated July 22, 1894.
The people who meet in this pleasant house belong to the Indiana yearly meeting of Friends, which is held every fall at Rich- mond, Indiana. They are progressive Friends, holding firmly to the spiritual truths and simplicity of life as taught by George Fox, Robert Barclay, William Penn, and the other clear-minded leaders of their society, but believing that the plain language and dress are no longer a neces- sary testimony against worldliness, as at the time of their adoption.
A large number were added to the meet- ing during the winter and spring of 1903, and the society is now in a very flourishing condition. Rev. Henry Mckinley is the present pastor.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
While the Protestant Episcopal church had no parish organization in Traverse City until 1867, yet the services of that church was among the very first, if not the
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first, religious services to be held among the early settlers. A. T. Lay, of the firm of Hannah, Lay & Company, a very devout and zealous churchman, who was the patron of the first Sunday school in the city, used in the early days of the settlement to fre- quently give lay readings for the spiritual benefit of the people before a clergyman of any denomination had been settled here. No effort, however, was made to organize a parish until 1867, when Rev. Dr. Brown, of Detroit, who was sent here on missionary work by Bishop McCrosky, of the Michigan diocese, when a parish was organized, known as St. Paul's parish. A vestry was elected, but the parish was abandoned in a short time, Dr. Brown remaining only a few months, then going to Elk Rapids.
During the years 1870, '71 and '72 Rev. A. C. Lewis, of Elk Rapids, held oc- casional services, and in 1873 another parish was organized and the name of Grace church was given to the corporation. The signers of the articles of association were E. L. Sprague, John F. Grant, Dr. S. S. Wright, L. O. Sayler, Homer P. Daw and Frank De Neveu. A vestry was subsequent- ly elected, consisting of the same persons, with the addition of Frank L. Furbish. Of the first vestrymen but few remain, Mr. Grant, Mr. Sayler, Dr. Wright and Mr. Furbish having joined the church trium- phant.
From December, 1873, to July, 1874, monthly services were held by Rev. A. C. Lewis in a hall in what was then known as the Campbell House, now Park Place, which has since been cut up into suites of sleeping rooms, and from August until October in Leach's Hall, in the building now known as the Leelanaw Hotel.
The first time that a live bishop ever visited Traverse City, so far as there is any record, was August 19, 1874, when the Rt. Rev. Bishop McCrosky, of Detroit, came and held evening services in the Congrega- tional church, kindly loaned for that pur- pose. He was assisted by Revs. Bush and Lewis.
In May, 1875, Rt. Rev. George D. Gil- lespie, bishop of Western Michigan, visited the parish and held divine services in Leach's Hall and confirmed two persons. The Bishop again visited the parish the 13th of December, 1875, and held services in the Congregational church, at which time he baptized four adults and confirmed six.
In the spring of 1876 a site on State street was donated by Hannah, Lay & Com- pany for a church building. July 18th of the same year the Bishop held a service on the site and broke ground for the same in lieu of laying a corner stone. The con- tract for building was awarded to J. W. Hilton, who put it up and completed it in November at a cost of seventeen hundred dollars. November 12th dedication services were held and the building was consecrated to the worship of Almighty God by the bishop of the diocese, assisted by Rev. A. C. Lewis.
The first clergyman called to the parish was Rev. J. W. Sparling, formerly a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, then in deacon's orders, who came January 3, 1877. During his two years' residence the church grew rapidly and great interest was manifest. Owing to ill health, Mr. Sparling was forced to resign and Rev. Joseph S. Large, of Big Rapids, was called to fill the vacancy. Mr. Large came and, with his three charming daughters, made friends rapidly
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and enjoyed the esteem of all. After a lov- ing service of seven years' duration Mr. Large was compelled through age and fail- ing health to seek a change of climate.
In the meantime a large number of the members of the parish having died or moved away, the church was closed from 1886 to 1891, with the exception of occasional ser- vices. During a part of this time Rev. Dr. Thrall and Rev. Luther Pardee, resident clergymen of Elk Rapids, held alternate services between Elk Rapids and Traverse City. E. L. Sprague, senior warden, held lay services for a time, but in 1891 Bishop Gillespie responded to the desires of the par- ish for a resident clergyman and sent Rev. A. E. Wells. Mr. Wells resigned in the fall of 1897 and the present rector, Rev. Charles T. Stout, was called by the vestry.
In 1897, largely through the advice and financial assistance of the late James Mor- gan, of Chicago, the church building was moved from its first location to the site now occupied by it on the corner of Boardman avenue and Washington street, at the ex- pense of nearly one thousand dollars. Since then many improvements have been added. The grounds have been nicely fitted up, and through the generosity of Mrs. James Mor- gan, of Chicago, a fine vocallion has been placed in the church and a wing built for its reception. Many handsome furnishings have been added to the interior. Five new stained-glass windows have also been added. Among the latter is a memorial window fur- nished by Mrs. L. O. Sayler for her late husband, one of the first vestrymen; a beautiful altar by Mrs. Smith Barnes, a memorial for Mr. Barnes; a beautiful cross for the altar, a gift from Miss Allie Craw-
ford in memory of her father and mother, and many other fine furnishings.
Mr. Stout came to his new field of work with his family and begun his active duties January 1, 1898. During Mr. Stout's rec- torship a large number of communicants have been added to the church register. The church has a large vested choir of young people, embracing many of the finest voices in the city, nearly all of whom are communi- cants.
There are three important societies con- nected with the church, the Woman's Auxil- liary, the Ladies' Guild and the Junior Workers. The outlook for the future use- fulness of the church is very bright.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Built of stone, the First Presbyterian church, located on the corner of Washington and Park streets, presents the most impos- ing and substantial appearance of any church in Traverse City.
The present pastor, Rev. Wiley K. Wright, came to Traverse City the first day of January, 1895, and on January 8th, just one week after his arrival, the Presbyterian society was organized. The church was started as a home mission charge, but be- came self-supporting in April, 1897, two years and three months after its organiza- tion.
The building was erected in 1897 and the first services were held in it January 23, 1898. In size the building is thirty-six by fifty feet, with a high basement, a part of which is used for Sunday school and society meetings. The auditorium has a seating ca- pacity of three hundred. The interior finish
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is very fine. The decorations and frescoing are all in soft colors, which blend beautifully with the stained glass windows. Several of the handsome windows are placed as me- morials of prominent deceased members.
A flourishing Sunday school is the pride of the church, as is also a thriving Chris- tian Endeavor Society. The Woman's Mis- sionary society has a large membership and is doing an excellent work.
ST. FRANCIS CHURCH.
The history of the Catholic church in Traverse City dates back to an early day. In 1855 Rev. Fr. Mrack, who was in charge of the work among the Indians at Cross Vil- lage, was transferred to Pashabatown, Lee- lanaw county, where he made his home and established a school for the Indians. From this point Father Mrack made regular visits to mission fields, going as far north as Petoskey, and in 1860 he was notified to include Traverse City in his rounds. There was no available place for holding services here then excepting private houses, and these were gladly offered by the members of the Catholic church. Services were held most frequently at the homes of Martin Sheridan, Dominic Dunn and Frank Pohoral.
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In 1869 Father Mrack was consecrated Bishop of Marquette, and Rev. Father A. Herbstreet succeeded him in this region, making his home in Sutton's Bay, and visit- ing Traverse City once a month. It was through his efforts that the first church building was begun in 1870, a frame build- ing only twenty-four by thirty feet, but it was amply large when completed for the 'lit- tle body of communicants here at the time. In the fall of 1870 Father Herbstreet was
transferred to Big Rapids and Rev. Father Zorn succeeded him, also making his home at Sutton's Bay. He attended to the work of twenty-one missions. He said mass in the little church building here for the first time in December, 1870.
Thirty-three years has shown a wonder- ful growth of the church here, which could only come from sincerity of belief and close application of each individual to his religious duties, a very commendable characteristic. among Catholics. The work of the first priests in this community was attended with hardships, but they were undaunted by these and pressed forward, being followed by the earnest prayers of their order and their peo- ple, feeling that their duty called them to. surmount obstacles.
The successor of Father Zorn, who was obliged to relinquish the Traverse City charge owing to too large a territory, was Rev. Father Shackeltown, who came here from Big Rapids. He took temporary charge of the mission here and after about eight months he was relieved by Rev. Father Zussa, who remained only three months. Father Zorn again took charge and assumed the duties of keeping the Catholic society to- gether until 1877.
In the year 1877 Rev. Father Zeigler ar- rived here. He made immediate prepara- tions to organize the Catholics into a regu- lar constituted parish. He knew the im- portance of instructing the children in the ways of the church and induced six St. Dominic Sisters, of New York, to come here and establish a branch school. A history of this school is given elsewhere.
Father Zeigler's make-up was of the kind that makes things "go" and soon after his arrival here the original church building
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was outgrown and an addition became nec- essary. This being accomplished, Father Zeigler built a parish residence of modest dimensions on the site where the home of Father Bauer stands. It was a neat cottage, costing one thousand two hundred dollars. Regular Sunday services have been held here since the fall of 1883. Father Zeigler labored here eight years, at the end of that time resigning and entering the Franciscan Order at St. Louis, Missouri.
Many of even the younger generation re- member Rev. Father Nyssen, who came here in 1885. He held his first services here De- cember 6th of that year. At the time of his coming the little church, with its additions, was again outgrown, and Father Nyssen's ambition was to build a new one that should be a credit to the society and to the city. He met with varying degrees of success and finally procured the present site, on which the foundation for the church was laid, but the people were too poor to do more. At length he became discouraged, resigned and left the parish without a priest. He sailed for Europe and after spending a few months in travel, his heart turned again to Traverse City and at his request he was again given charge of the work here. He came back August 3, 1888, and the following year, Au- gust 18th, the present church was conse- crated, the cost, including the altar and pews, being seven thousand nine hundred and forty dollars and forty-five cents.
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