USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > The county of Saginaw, Michigan : topography, history, art folio > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
This church has the largest Sabbath School of any church in the county or even in the whole Saginaw Valley, having a membership of upwards of five hundred. The congregation has about six hundred communicants. Rev. Chas. E. Bron- son, D. D., has been pastor of this church since March, 1892.
WARREN AVE. CHURCH, SAGINAW, E. S .- This church was organized in March, 1867, by Rev. L. I. Root. Its house of worship, a comfortable brick structure, is located on the corner of Warren Ave. and Millard St. and is valued at about $12,000.
This congregation has two hundred and forty communi- cants and needs about $2,500 a year for congregational expenses and contributes about $600 a year for benevolent purposes. Rev. Joseph R. Tewell is the present pastor, having begun his labors with the church March Ist, 1896.
WASHINGTON AVE. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of South Sa- ginaw, was organized in 1866 and for a long time occupied a modest building that had formerly been a school house. Dur- ing the pastorate of Rev. George S. Woodhull, D. D., who served the church from 1884 until 1888, the present commo- dious brick church on Washington Ave. was erected at a cost of about $5,000 and the parsonage secured at an additional cost of $2,000. This church has a membership of 140; its congregational expenses are about $1,100 a year, and last year the congregation contributed $110 for benevolent pur- poses. Rev. Wm. M. Campbell, Ph. D., the present pastor, has served the church since February, 1894.
SAGINAW SECOND CHURCH occupies a neat brick house of worship about six miles from the city, in Saginaw Township, on the banks of the Tittabawassee River. Organized back in the sixties, it has ministered to the needs of a prosperous farming community and maintained an even tenor of modest prosperity; it has a membership of seventy. Rev. J. Alex. Adair has been pastor of the church since the autumn of 1893 and preaches to the congregation every Sabbath afternoon.
GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH of Saginaw, was organ- ized in April, 1888, by Rev. Chas. D. Ellis who served the church as pastor for two years. This church has an elegant brick house of worship at the corner of Dearborn -and south Fayette streets, costing about $11,000, of this amount, Thos. Merrill, Esq., gave $8,000.
This church building was dedicated in October, 1891, under the pastorate of Rev. Alex. Danskin; the church has a membership of one hundred and sixty. Rev. J. Alex. Adair, who was formerly a professor in Hanover College, has been the pastor since October, 1893.
TAYMOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was organized in October, 1868, by Rev. Luke Nott. It has a neat church building and also a parsonage near Taymouth village, about two miles from Burt on the C. S. & M. R. R. Rev. Benja- min Hunter has been pastor of this church since November, 1892. The membership of this church is'one hundred and twelve, and for supporters has a thriving class of farmers and their families.
IMMANUAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is the twin sister of Grace Church, having been organized by the same person and on the same day. Its property consists of a neat church building and parsonage, and is located on the corner of State and Hanchett streets, Saginaw, W. S. This church has had but one pastor during its eight years of existence, as Rev. Charles D. Ellis, who organized the church, is still serving as pastor.
LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
Saginaw County has received largely of emigrants from the German Fatherland. In coming to this new country, the Germans have not forgotten the God of their fathers, nor the forms of worship to which they were accustomed in their native land. Ministers of the Gospel of their faith came with them and Lutheran Churches were established very early in the history of the settlement of this region. The first Luth-
eran Church to be organized in the county seems to have been the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost; this church is in Blumfield Township, eight miles from Saginaw on the Vassar plank road. This church is in connection with the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. It was organ- ized in 1847 by Rev. J. H. Ph. Graebner. This congrega- tion has had a splendid prosperity; it has out-grown two church buildings and now occupies a fine house of worship costing $5,000. Three hundred and seventy communicants are in connection with the congregation. Their parochial school furnishes schooling for seventy-five pupils; they have a parsonage and house for the school teacher and fifty acres of land. In their forty-nine years the church has had six pastors. Rev. E. Heinecke has served as pastor since July, I891.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS .- This congregation was organized in January, 1849, by Rev. F. Sievres, Sr., and is in connection with the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. This congregation has a splendid property on Court street, Saginaw, W. S., occupying the whole front between Fay- ette and Harrison streets, and consists of a brick church seated for seven hundred people, a school house and a pas- tor's residence. This congregation also has a school on the Hermansau road about half a mile north of the F. & P. M. R. R. Their property is worth about $35.000; they use $3,800 a year for congregational expenses and contribute $500 a year for benevolent purposes. Rev. Herman Speck- ard has been pastor since July, 1894.
ST. PAUL's CHURCH was organized in November, 1851, and now has a fine property at the corner of Ames and Har- rison streets, Saginaw, W. S. The house of worship was erected in 1869 and will accommodate an audience of seven hundred people. Three bells call the people together for worship; their school house of three rooms furnishes accom- modation for one hundred and twenty-five pupils during ten months each year. This congregation is in connection with the Michigan Synod, the ecclesiastical body under whose care the Lutheran Seminary on Court street is conducted, St. Paul's property has a valuation of about $25,000. The con- gregation possesses a house for the superintendant of their school and a parsonage. Rev. Christopher L. Eberhardt served this congregation as pastor during the long period of thirty-two years, till his death April 27th, 1893. Rev. Ferdi- nand Huber has been the pastor since June, 1893.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH is one of the oldest congregations in the county and was organized in 1851 by Rev. Julius Ehrhart. On November 14th, of that year, Rev. Conrad Volz became pastor of the church, and has served continuously ever since. Early in 1896 the venerable pastor, realizing his years, desired a release from pastoral duties, and the congregation acceded to his wishes to the extent of calling his son, Rev. Frederick Volz, to the active pastorate while continuing to their vener- able and loved minister the position of honorary pastor. The congregation has a fine property at the corner of Ger- mania avenue and Second street. Their fine brick church accommodates one thousand worshipers; they have two par- sonages and a fine school house where one hundred pupils are taught by two teachers; their communicants number seven hundred; congregational expenses are $2,500 a year and $570 were contributed for benevolent objects last year. The congregation is connected with the Synod of Ohio.
THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH of Blumfield is located near the village of Reese. It was organized in April, 1887, and connected with the Synod of Ohio. Rev. Frederick Volz, who organized the church, has served it as pastor till the pre- sent year. This congregation has a house of worship worth about $1,200 and erected in 1888; about forty families are connected with the congregation. Rev. H. G. Schwake has been pastor since May Ist, 1896.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH of Zilwaukee was organized in June, 1865, by Rev. Conrad Volz. Their house of worship, erected in 1881, is valued at about $2,000. They have a parsonage and a school where about thirty pupils are taught. The church has a membership of seventy. Rev. W. Boda- mer has been pastor since October, 1893.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH of Carrollton was organized by Rev. Christopher L. Eberhardt in 1884. It has a neat church building and parsonage with thirty-three members; thirty-two pupils are taught by their pastor in the church building. Rev. Carl Otzman has been pastor since February, 1894.
PEACE CHURCH also has the pastoral service of Rev. Mr. Otzman. This congregation worships in a school house in. Taymouth Township, one mile north of Foster Station on the C. S. & M. R. R. These two congregations are connected with the Michigan Synod.
ST. PETER'S CHURCH of Hemlock was organized by Rev. J. F. Mueller in 1878. It has a membership of sixty, with annual expenses of $650. The congregation has a parochial school attended by 43 pupils; its church was erected in 1880, with sittings for one hundred and fifty people; it also has a parsonage. Its connection is with the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. Rev. K. F. Mueller has been pastor since October, 1890.
. Rev. F. F. Reitz is pastor of three churches and has served them since January, 1895. They are connected with the Synod of Ohio.
ST. JAMES CHURCH of Saginaw is situated on Washington avenue, south of Ortman street, South Saginaw. Organized · in 1884 by Rev. Conrad Volz; it has a membership of one hundred and twelve; their house of worship was built in 1884 and cost $4,300; they have a parsonage valued at $850.
ST. MATTHEWS EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is located at the intersection of the Portsmouth and the King roads in the township of Bridgeport. It was organized in 1882 by Rev. J. Fritz; its house of worship was erected in 1882, having accommodations for two hundred people and valued at $3,000. The membership numbers one hundred and six.
HOPE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH is located a half a mile from the Flint River road, between sections 29 and 32 in Bridgeport Township. This congregation was organized in 1890 by Rev. C. T. Gebhardt. It has forty-eight members; its house of worship was erected in 1890 costing $700 and accommodates one hundred and fifty people. This congre- gation as well as the two just mentioned has the pastoral ser- vices of Rev. F. F. Reitz.
THE CHURCH OF ST. LORENZ of Frankenmuth, has a large sphere of influence; the township in which it is situated is thickly populated with industrious Germans.
The fine brick church of this congregation, and parsonage · is a property having a value of probably $20,000. Its con- nection is with the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. Rev. E. Mayer is the pastor.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH of Frankenmuth, is located about one half mile from the village. This church is an off-shoot from the St. Lorenz Church. It has a fine modern house of wor- ship and is connected with the Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states. Rev. Prof. E. Mertz is the pastor.
LUTHERAN CHURCH of Chesaning, of which Rev. H. Gaugnus is pastor, has a house of worship and a pasonage, together worth about $1,800. The church of Brady is also supplied by the same pastor. These two congregations together have about fifty members and are connected with the Michigan Synod.
ST. MATTHEWS CHURCH of Tittabawassee Township, is located about eight miles north of Saginaw and two miles from Lawndale Station on the F. & P. M. R. R. The con- gregation has a house of worship and a parsonage, a school and cemetery with twenty acres of land; forty-four pupils are in its school; fifty communicants are connected with the con- gregation; its ecclesiastical connection is with the Michigan Synod. Rev. Frederick Menke is the pastor.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH is located on south Fifth street, between Germania avenue and Lapeer street, Saginaw, E. S. This church is connected with the Iowa Synod; the pastor is Rev. E. Prottengeier, who also serves the Zions Church which is located on the corner of Mason and Hancock streets, Saginaw, W. S. Iowa Synod is its ecclesiastical connection.
TRINITY EVANGELICAL CHURCH is located at. the corner of Cherry and south Ninth streets, Saginaw, E. S. The church is connected with the Synod of Missouri. Rev. E. L. Arndt is the pastor.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH of Marion Springs is connected with the Synod of Michigan. Rev. K. Schoenaw is the pastor.
ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH of Saginaw, W. S., is located on the corner of Bliss and Elm streets. Its connec- tion is with the Synod of Missouri. Rev. Emil Wenk is pastor.
RES. OF HENRY COLCLOUGH, BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP.
RES. OF HON. H. M. YOUMANS, BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP.
RES. AND PORTRAITS OF MR. AND MRS. WM. SCHULZ, BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP.
RES. OF C. MCLELLAN, SAGINAW TOWNSHIP.
SOUTH END DAIRY FARM.
RES. AND PORTRAITS OF MR. AND MRS. EZRA FRY, BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP.
RES. OF WM. L. SCHULTZ, BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP.
MAPLE FARM, BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP. PROPERTY OF W. W. MARTIN.
PHARMACY
OFFICE AND PORTRAIT OF GEO. S. LOCKWOOD, FIRE INSURANCE, MONEY LOANER AND REAL ESTATE DEALER, 414 COURT STREET.
MASONIC TEMPLE, COR. WASHINGTON AVE. AND JOHNSON ST., SAGINAW, E. S. ERECTED 1893 AT A COST OF $70,000.
ISURANCE
INSURANCE
EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR VIEWS OF B. GEER & SON'S INSURANCE AGENCY, . 216 N. HAMILTON STREET.
135
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal is quite often the pioneer of churches. In this county, however, two other denominations had church organizations before there was a M. E. Church organized. This denomination was not very far behind, however, and has made a good record since entering the field. Rev. William Dawe has been presiding elder of the district in which the Saginaw churches are. Under his wise and ener- getic oversight the churches have greatly prospered.
FIRST M. E. CHURCH of Saginaw, is located on the cor- ner of south Michigan avenue and Adams street, W. S., Rev. Henry E. Wolfe has been the pastor since 1893. This church was organized in 1851 and has been a splendid success, hav- ing at the present time four hundred and twenty members. Their fine brick house of worship, erected in 1886, together with their parsonage and league hall, is probably worth $40,000. The congregation contributes $2,800 a year for running expenses and contributed about $600 last year for benevolent purposes.
JEFFERSON AVENUE CHURCH of Saginaw, E. S., is located on Jefferson avenue, just south of the Hoyt Library. This church was organized in 1852 and now has a membership of four hundred and five; their fine brick church building was erected in 1870 and has seating capacity for an audience of nine hundred. Its value together with the paronage just at the rear of the church, facing Warren avenue, is probably worth $45,000. The annual running expenses are $3,200. Rev. George H. Jennings has been the pastor since Septem- ber, 1895.
EPWORTH CHURCH was organized in 1863; its old church, still standing on Hess street, was enlarged once or twice but was finally outgrown and the present splendid edifice of this congregation was erected in 1889. It is located at the corner of south Washington avenue and Randolph street, and has a probable value of $25,000. It will accommodate an audience of six hundred people, but by throwing open adjoining rooms, twelve hundred people can be seated. The membership of this church is now two hundred and twenty-five. The con- gregation requires $1,500 a year for running expenses. Rev. Samuel M. Gilchriese has been pastor since September, 1894.
AMES CHURCH is located on Hanchett street, between State street and Lincoln avenue. It has a membership of one hundred and forty. Its house of worship was erected in. 1894 and is capable of seating about five hundred people, but by opening the sliding doors and using the parlors, one hun- dred more can be accommodated. A fine parsonage adjoins the church on the north, and the property has a value of probably $7,500. Rev. James A. Lowry has been pastor since 1895.
ASBURY CHURCH on Warren avenue, has a neat church building erected in 1892 with a value of about $3,000. It will accommodate about three hundred and fifty people; the pres- ent membership of the church is about one hundred and ten; this church was organized in 1891; the annual expenses of the congregation are $1,000. Rev. Robert Patinson has been pastor since September, 1895.
SPAULDING CHURCH is connected in pastoral oversight 'with Asbury Church. It is located in the township of Spaul- ding on the county line road, about four miles from the city.
THE McBRATNIE MEMORIAL CHURCH is situated in Tho- mastown near Shields P. O. It was organized in 1889 by Rev. Caton McBratnie. It has a property worth perhaps $800 and a membership of thirty-nine. Rev. G. S. Manly has served the church since September. 1895.
THE BRIDGEPORT CHURCH was organized in 1893 and the same year they erected their brick church edifice at a cost of about $3,000. The membership of this church is twenty- seven, with Rev. G. S. Manly as pastor.
ST. CHARLES 'CHURCH was organized in 1864 by Rev. C. W. Austin who is the present pastor since September, 1895. The membership is ninety-five and annual expenses $600. Their house of worship was erected in 1868 and is valued at $2,000, and will accommodate four hundred people. A parsonage also is a part of the property of the society.
The churches of BURT, with a membership of forty, ALBEE with a membership of twenty-two, and the Indian Mission of Taymouth, are under the pastoral care of Rev. Frederick Spence since September, 1895. Two school house
appointments are a part of the work of this circuit; the three churches each have a comfortable little church building and a parsonage for the charge is located at Burt. The Burt church was organized in 1885 and the Albee church in 1890, both by Rev. T. Daniels who has done pioneer work in that vicinity. The Burt church was erected in 1887, and the Albee church in 1891.
METHODIST CHURCH of Freeland has had a useful past and is well equiped for doing its work in this thriving village." This church has eighty-one members and needs about $600 a year for its running expenses. Their parsonage is next to the church on the east. Rev. Philip J. Wright has been. pas- tor since September, 1895.
The churches of OAKLEY, membership forty-six; CHAPIN, membership twenty five; and ROBINSON, membership nineteen, have been, since September, 1895, under the pastoral over- sight of Rev. Frederick Strong. The church at Oakley has a house of worship built in 1895, valued at about $1,500.
Chapin's church was erected in 1891. Oakley church was organized in 1868 and the Chapin church was organized in 1869. The Robinson church, in the township of Brady, expects to erect a house of worship in the near future.
The churches of CARROLLTON and ZILWAUKEE, since Sep- tember, 1894, have been under the pastoral care of Rev. Jesse B. Russell. Each of these churches has a house of worship and a small membership.
THE HEMLOCK CHURCH, with a membership of about sixty, and the MERRILL CHURCH of about the same member- ship, are both under the pastoral care of Rev. Horace N. Aldrich; each church has a commodious house of worship and a fine opportunity for doing its proper work.
HUBBARD MEMORIAL CHURCH is located in Thomastown near Frost P. O. It has a membership of forty-five; its church edifice was erected in 1888 and its estimated value is $2,200, with seating capacity for two hundred and seventy- five people. Rev. G. W. Gorden has been pastor since Sep- tember, 1894.
CHESANING CHURCH is a thriving organization of one hundred and seventy-five members. It has as equipment a church building and parsonage; it requires about $900 a year for running expenses and gave last year for benevolent pur- poses $75.00. Rev. John S. Joslin is the pastor of this church
GERMAN CHURCH of Saginaw, E. S., is located on Warren avenue between Lapeer and Tuscola streets. This church has had an existence since 1857 and now has one hundred members. Their church edifice will accommodate two hun- dred and seventy-five worshipers and is valued at $5,000. The church has a parsonage. Rev. Christian Bauman has been pastor since September, 1895.
KOCHVILLE GERMAN CHURCH was organized in 1863 and has a present membership of one hundred; it is located on the Bay state road, about six miles from Ssginaw. Rev. Charles E. Buerkle has been pastor since December, 1894.
THE AFRICAN M. E. CHURCH of Saginaw, E. S., is located on Janes street between Warren and Weadock avenues. It has had organic life since 1870; the house of worship is valued at $1,500 and will accommodate an audience of two hundred people; their membership numbers fifty, with Rev. B. Roberts at present in pastoral charge.
METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCHES.
There are five church organizations of this denomination in the county. The first Methodist Protestant Church of Saginaw is located at the corner of Fourth and Farwell streets, E. S. It was organized in 1883 and now has a membership of one hundred. This congregation has a fine brick house of worship seated for five hundred people and valued at $7,000. Rev. A. Moffat has been pastor since September, 1895. This congregation has a parsonage just in the rear of the church facing on Fifth street.
THE STEPHENS ST. CHURCH is located at the corner of Stephens and South Fayette streets, Saginaw, W. S. Their property consists of house of worship and parsonage. Rev. G. H. Kurtz is pastor since 1895.
THE SOUTH SAGINAW CHURCH is located at the corner of Randolph and Wilkins streets. Rev. Frank E. Kunsman is pastor.
The Methodist Protestant Church in the village of Birch Run, and the Methodist Protestant Church on the Saginaw and Genesee plank roads, about ten miles from Saginaw, are under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Reilly. These churches each have a neat church building and are doing the work in a quiet and steady way.
EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.
This is a denomination of christians very similar to the German Methodist Church and would almost certainly have been one with them but for an error in administration many years ago.
ZION CHURCH is located at the corner of Hancock and north Fayette streets. The congregation was organized in 1875 and now numbers fifty-four communicants; their parson- age, procured in 1888, is located at 509 north Fayette street. Rev. Wm. Vogel has served the church as pastor since April, 1895.
IMMANUEL CHURCH of Kochville was organized in 1879. The church is located on the nortwest corner of section thir- ty-two and has a membership of twenty-two. Rev. Wm. Vogel also has pastoral supervision of this church.
THE CHESANING EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION CHURCH is located in the village of Chesaning, and many Germans of that thriving village find in this church a religious home.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
The Roman Catholic Church began organized work in this county in 1852. Previous to that year visiting priests had from time to time ministered to a little band who were hoping for the organization of a church of their own faith.
In 1852, Bishop Peter Paul Lefevre organized ST. AN- DREWS PARISH with a very few members. Its house of wor- ship was erected in 1866, has six hundred sittings and is located at the corner of . Monroe street and north Michigan avenue, Saginaw, W. S. Its parsonage is just east of the church, facing on Hamilton street. Its school, the St. An- drews Academy, is on the corner of Monroe and north Fay- ette streets, and is under the care of Sister Mary Matthew. The property of this parish is worth probably about $18,000. Rev. R. Vander Hayden has been in charge of this parish since 1862 and has thus been longer in service in his parish, than any other priest or minister in the county.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH is located at the corner of Hoyt and Owen streets, Saginaw, E. S. This congregation was organ- ized by Rev. H. J. H. Schutjes in 1859. It has now about two hundred families, with an annual congregational expense of $3,000, and last year the congregation gave for benevolent purposes, $800. About two hundred and twenty-five pupils are taught at the parish Academy on Hoyt street, just east of the church. A fine parsonage is part of the belongings of the parish. Rev. Michael Dalton has had the oversight of this flock since August, 1889.
CHURCH OF STS. PETER AND PAUL was organized in 1887 by Rev. E. Lefevre, who is still in pastoral charge. Its fine brick church, erected at a cost of $15,000, is located at the ·corner of Wayne and south Fayette streets. This edifice was erected in 1887 and has seating capacity for seven hun- dred and fifty people. The fine parsonage is on Wayne street, just west of the church. The congregation numbers nine hundred and fifty members; the parish school, located just south of the church building, has one hundred and sixty-five enrolled pupils.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH is located at the corner of north Sixth and Sears streets. This congregation was organized in 1871 and is an off-shoot of St. Mary's. The parish has a commo- dious church building and parsonage just adjoining the church. Rev. Richard Sweeny is in pastoral charge.
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART is at the corner of Sixth and Cherry streets, Saginaw, E. S. This church is also a child of St. Mary's and was organized in 1873. Its pastor is Rev. Joseph Reiss.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.