USA > Michigan > The history of the Church of the Brethren in Michigan > Part 3
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In the evening of the 9th of November we arrived at Greenbush, Clinton Co., Mich., where we found five members, two brethren and three sisters. They were well in body, but I thought, owing to a scarcity of pure spiritual food, they appeared rather unhealthy in spirit. They told us they had no preaching (by the brethren) for three years and five months. Only one month less than the time of dearth in the days of Elijah the prophet. We remained seven days, laboring to feed them with the word and bread of life.
On the morning of the 16th we took leave of the brethren and sisters and friends present, (many weeping because we had to part), and passed on to Oceana county, Michigan. We arrived at br. David Garver's (who removed from Medina county, O.,) on the evening of the 20th, and were received with a hearty welcome by the broth- er and sister, who, with young brother T. Wisler, are all the mem- bers of the church in Oceana.
We tarried with them four days, attending four appointments; and then on the morning of the 25th we bade them farewell, commend- ing all to the care of God, and departed for home, having traveled over 400 miles in a carriage. Br. David kindly accompanied us 25 miles in a carriage, (which was taken for his use), and on the morn- ing of the 26th we parted, he returned to his home, and we started on foot for Muskegon, a distance of 12 miles. After some detention at Muskegon we took Stage for Ferrysburg, distance 14 miles. This village is situated on the Detroit and Milwaukee R. R. The next morning we got aboard the Express train, and in the evening ar- rived in Detroit. At Detroit we got aboard the steamer "May Flower," and at 61/2 A. M. of the 28th we landed at Cleveland all
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
safe, passing 120 miles across Lake Erie in the night. We then took the cars for Grafton Station. Then the stage to Litchfield, Medina County, Ohio, and then walked to br. S. Garver's, where we arrived about 4 P. M., and found his kind family all well; and felt thankful to God for his preserving care.
We met to worship with the brethren of Black River at the house of br. Jos. Rittenhouse, and we had a pleasant time at the meetings in Black River. On the morning of the 30th br. Murry and I were brought to Wayne Co., O., by brethren Jos. Rittenhouse and George Fisher, and were entertained by br. George Irwin. The next morn- ing we were taken in br. Irwin's carriage to Wooster, where we got aboard the Express train for Pittsburg. At Alliance br. Murry stopped off to go via Wheeling. I passed on to Pittsburg where I arrived in the evening. There getting aboard the steamer Franklin, I arrived in Brownsville the next morning. There getting into the hack I passed homeward, where I arrived about 3 P. M. of the 3rd of December, after an absence of five weeks. I found my family well, and thank God for his preserving care. We are all well at present. Blessed be God evermore. Amen. Hillsboro, Pa., Dec. 13, 18632 John Wise
Thus it is evident that the Brethren were beginning to lo- cate at different parts of the state. But it is observed that the most families were now settling in Eaton, Barry, and Ionia counties, where the Woodland and Thornapple church- es were soon to be organized. Some of the members to lo- cate here the earliest were George and Jacob Kepner and their wives, Henry Hulliberger and wife, Elder George Long and wife, and some of their daughters.
The settlers who organized the Woodland church moved into that community before 1870. These people had come from Ohio. On the list of the charter members appear the names of early residents of Woodland Township: Isaac Smith, Isaac Miller, Moses Warner, Daniel Williams, Sam- uel M. Smith and others.
Prior to 1883, the time of the unhappy division of the Brethren into three parts, I. F. Rairigh and wife, S. M. Smith and wife, D. A. Mote and wife and their three sons,
2 Gospel Visitor, January, 1864. Volume XIV, page 29.
39
Movements of Early Brethren Settlers
Emanuel, Jonathan and Anderson, and their two daughters, Sister Tobias and Sister Hulliberger, J. G. Winey and wife and some of their children were in the church.
William Wolfred and wife, Samuel Speicher and wife, and Henry Hahn and wife were among the members prior to the erection of the third house of worship in Ionia County. This house was built on the corner of S. M. Smith's farm, one-half mile south and one and one-half mile east of the center of Campbell Township, in the summer of 1870. To- day this building is being used by the Old Order Brethren for worship. It is conspicuous for its simplicity, especially on the inside. One can still see the long table at the front of the house with benches on either side for ministers and deacons. This is recognized as the customary arrangement of fifty years ago. A short distance from this same church was built a Progressive Brethren church house. Services are held at both of these churches. It would seem that a reuniting of these good people might redouble their effec- tiveness in the community.
Among the early ministers in this part of the state were Elders George Long, I. F. Rairigh, J. G. Winey, Samuel Groff, and S. M. Smith. Darwin M. Wood was chosen to the ministry and served about three years.
We turn now to the movements a little farther north. Elder Daniel Chambers and his family, consisting of his wife and his three sons, J. W., D. E., and M. M., moved to the place which they developed into and called home near the present site of the New Haven church. When they moved from Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, into Gratiot County, Michigan, there were only a few Brethren families living in what afterwards became the bounds of the New Haven church.
Through correspondence with the Primitive Christian and the Brethren at Work and through private correspond-
40
History of the Brethren in Michigan
ence with those who were eager to secure homes in a Brethren environment and to be of assistance in establishing the Brethren Church, a number of families located in the newly developing country farther northward. Among the families were Elder John Brillhart, Philip Probst, and James Richard of Crawford County, Ohio. The latter were deacons. Soon many families began to move into the bounds of the little log church called North Star. These were David White, Moses Brillhart, George Stone, Jacob Kepner, Reuben Yutzey, S. A. Ritter, Jacob Tombaugh, Emanuel Bollinger, Fred Kleinhan, Barnhart Shrider, Wil- liam Smith, Robert McMillar, George Emerick, Frank Hoff- man, William Sower, and H. D. Plott. These formed a stable group for the founding of a strong congregation in this part of the state.
In the spring of 1885, Emanuel Bollinger (closely related to D. W. Kurtz) and family moved from Portage County, Ohio, to Michigan, into the bounds of the New Haven church. In the fall of the same year they moved on a farm two miles north of Vestaburg. His son, Samuel Bollinger, is now the oldest minister in the district. He was a very faithful elder and pastor. It was in the home of Samuel Bollinger that the Vestaburg church was organized in 1901.
Sometime late in the fall of 1880, Matthew Holsworth, a member of the then-called German Baptist Brethren Church, from the West Thornapple congregation of Ionia County, moved to Rodney, Mecosta County, with his wife and family. They located on an eighty-acre tract of timber- land. The country being new, he with his wife, three sons and a daughter began to hew out a home for themselves. This family was here for about three years without con- tact with any of the Brethren. The loneliness of being away from the church made him resolve to visit the home church at Elmdale and attend the love feast in the fall of 1883. It
41
Movements of Early Brethren Settlers
was at his request that ministers began to hold meetings for the little group at Rodney and a church was planted there.
At the same time there were movements of our people in the far north. These people moved into Emmet County, near Petoskey, about 1880. A story in the Primitive Chris- tian, February 20, 1881, gives light on a family who were in grief because of the death of two sons. A visit was made by Dennis Weimer and wife from Grant County, West Virginia, who first stopped at Petoskey, a short distance from their destination. They made the trip to visit his brother Samuel. They had heard of the death of Samuel's two children, and decided to endeavor to comfort them in their sorrow. A meeting was held in Brother Martin Cos- ner's house on the Sunday of their visit. There was an ap- plicant for baptism. Martin Cosner's name was later found in records of the Little Traverse church as being one of their ministers. B. F. Lyons of Grant County, West Virginia, brother-in-law of Weimer, moved to Michigan a few weeks after Weimer returned home.
So we might continue the story of these adventurous pioneers, these members who were instrumental in begin- ning our own church in Michigan. It was through their careful and courageous undertaking that the churches began to grow. The faithful ministers of that day persevered and ably preached the Word and shepherded the flock. They faithfully visited in the homes of those early Brethren and left a kindly word to cheer and strengthen. But there were many problems to claim their attention.
CHAPTER III
PROBLEMS CONFRONTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PIONEER CHURCHES
The period from 1850 to 1900 stands apart from later movements. During that era the people were working hard to become established. In spite of the tendency to keep together for fellowship, there was also a disposition to move into new sections until they found places of their choice. The records show that several years passed before there were enough members at any one place to organize a church. Out of this change of location of members, the church began to grow and develop into permanent congregations. By the end of the century about ten churches had been started with a total membership of about five hundred. These were all rural.
The largest growth came during the first quarter of the twentieth century. The healthful conditions attracted oth- ers from adjoining states: Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. Broth- er J. Edson Ulery, who moved to Manistee County in 1903, writes: "After the lumbering interests were reduced, land was very cheap and from 1902 to 1905 hundreds of Brethren families moved to Michigan. In a few years a number of mission churches were organized and were well manned with ministers."
If we go back to the years prior to 1900 we find that there were many problems that affected the progress of the church. The congregational territory was large. It was difficult to keep in contact with the families, and the min- istry to the spiritual needs could not be carried out in a very effective manner.
In 1873 any members living in Ionia, Kent or Ottawa counties and adjacent territory north were reckoned as
43
Problems Confronting Pioneer Churches
members of the Thornapple congregation. A congregation covering such an immense area soon encountered many un- usual situations. The writings of the Brethren at this time indicate a great many problems arising as they endeavored to start churches, often with fewer than a dozen people. It is difficult to present these particular problems in con- cise statements. However, we can say that the lack of min- isterial supervision, the task of erecting church houses with
ELDERS' BODY AT DISTRICT MEETING, SUGAR RIDGE, 1915.
Front row, left to right: Jacob E. Fredrick, L. T. Holsinger, Samuel Smith, Charles Wilkins, Peter Messner, George Stone, John Smith, O. Barnhart; back row: Granville Nev- inger, Samuel Bollinger, J. E. Albaugh, J. Edson Ulery, Da- vid Sower, J. P. Bowman, Ellis F. Caslow, Samuel Bowser.
meager funds the securing of which required much effort, and the disadvantages in ways and means of travel con- stituted the greatest problems.
The spiritual side of life among the scattered members was desperately in need of being nourished. They were calling for ministering brethren to come with the preached Word. A number of factors entered into the meeting of the
44
History of the Brethren in Michigan
need. There were few ministers. Traveling was hard, and the expense of making long trips was great. We read from a letter written by M. T. Baer on February 16, 1867, for the Gospel Visitor, page 93, an interesting account of his trip north. He says that he and F. P. Loehr made the trip together, traveling two hundred miles by horse and sleigh. They visited in Brother White's home in Allegan County and held meetings in a schoolhouse. Then they traveled forty miles to visit the Michael Hivelys, in Ottawa County. From there they journeyed forty miles to Andrew Shopbell's home in Ionia County. In this territory they located four- teen members living within a radius of six miles.
On another occasion Elder F. P. Loehr wrote:
I am the only Elder in the State of Michigan, and the field is large. I therefore propose to take the most western tier of counties from Van Buren northward for my field of labor. Let the brethren south of the second tier or south of St. Joseph County take that tier north- ward and so on until the state would be taken up. The reason why I propose this is, there are members in nearly every county in the state, who, with many of their neighbors, would be benefited by this course which under present arrangements will be neglected. May the Lord speed his cause through the instrumentality of his children.1
Mrs. Ella N. Williams wrote as follows:
There are no members here but my husband and I, and we would be very thankful if some ministering brethren would come and preach for us. I think there is a good chance of doing some good. You should not think that because it is Michigan, it is too cold. . . . We have not been to a meeting since we came here. The nearest members live about 60 miles from here, but I think there is a chance of getting them nearer. I have heard some say that if there was preaching here they would come to the Church. The doctrine was never preached here until last fall when Brother George Long, from Lent [or Kent] County and Brother Jacob Kintner, my father, from Sherwood, Defiance, Ohio, were here and preached. Some said they never heard such preaching before. So plain and everything seemed so clear. Brethren, do not forsake us, but come ... without delay.2
1 Gospel Visitor, 1868. Volume XIX, page 350.
" Primitive Christian, February 10, 1881, Volume XIX, page 95. Ella N. Williams, Mason County, Michigan.
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Problems Confronting Pioneer Churches
Brother C. A. Price of Nashville, Barry County, came on March 19th and had three meetings. Brother Price was a stranger to us. He preached with power and left a good impression on the minds of the people.3
Those who were serving in the ministry of the church responded to the many calls, but could not reach every place. A large part of the time the faraway places had to get along the best they could. A brother in the Little Traverse church, Emmet County, says: "Our little band is in love and union. We have no minister, but two deacons. We meet every three or four weeks for worship. We ask an interest in the prayers of the Church."4
Elder F. P. Loehr reminds us through the pages of the Gospel Visitor of the need for more ministerial help:
On the 9th of October I left home, accompanied by Bro. Elijah Showalter, arrived before night at our old Bro. White's in Monterey, Allegan County where I spoke to an attentive little congregation (that was hastily got together) in the German and English lan- guages, and thought it was a pity we can not be here oftener. In the morning we started for Bro. D. Woods, at Carrolton Center, where we arrived in the evening, the distance being some forty miles. The people here requested meetings as soon as they recog- nized me. So we spoke to them next evening, it being Sunday, the 12th. Their satisfaction being expressed, I spoke to them again Friday evening following-the house being crowded, yet perfect order prevailed from the first to last. Thus we occupied our time every evening in the different school-houses, apparently to great satisfaction. May the Lord accompany with his power what was done in great weakness. Saturday the members met (as many as could be informed) in council to prepare the work necessary to be done here, and appointed Saturday, October 16th to meet again at the house of Bro. H. Gerky in Ionia, to set things in order that are wanting to make that little Church more efficient in the arduous duties in a frontier settlement of brethren. I think they are the most northerly of the brotherhood, yet their hearts seem to glow with love and zeal for the cause of the Master.5
3 Primitive Christian, April 19, 1881, Volume XIX, page 232. Ella N. Wil- liams, Mason County, Michigan.
4 Primitive Christian and Pilgrim, 1879, article dated December 1, 1878.
5 Gospel Visitor, 1868-69. Volume XIX, page 351.
46
History of the Brethren in Michigan
Elder S. S. Mohler of Bradford, Ohio, gives a very vivid story of his visit to Michigan. The newsletter, written for the Gospel Visitor, was dated November 20, 1868.
During our stay of nine days, we visited members living in Ionia, Barry, and Kent Counties. We held meetings in those several coun- ties, and were pleased to find our dear brethren and sisters in ear- nest, and anxious for the growth and prosperity of the Church. We also had the pleasure of visiting br. Wood at his home. He is a speaker, and the only one for a distance of perhaps sixty or seventy miles. He seems willing to do all that is in his power to do, to build up the brotherhood in his vicinity by holdings regularly every two weeks, and frequently every Sabbath. He needs the prayers of the Church, and we hope the Lord will be his helper. There are about fifty members living in Ionia, Barry, Kent and Eaton Counties, which makes it quite burdensome for one speaker to attend to, as br. Wood is obliged to do. . .. We cannot give a full account of the many acts of kindness done us by all the members we visited, such as br. Winey, Moses, Snyder, Crowel, Spindler, I. Smith, and C. Smith for which we can only commend them to the Good Shepherd and Bishop of our souls who ever careth for His. ... Upon the whole, we would encourage brethren to go and see the country with the hope of doing something for themselves and also for the Lord. A stronger Christian influence is wanted there.6
The first meeting at Elsie was held on June 20, 1874, by Elder George Long of Ionia County and Isaac Miller of Barry County. There were twelve members at the love feast on the tenth of October the same year. Elsie is lo- cated in the corners of Saginaw, Shiawasee, Clinton and Gratiot counties. However, the church building is in Clin- ton County. We read about a special call for ministers. "We would like very much to have brethren come and see us, as we are on the frontier borders, and it is not very likely for brethren to call on us the same as though we lived where brethren were all around us," says Brother Zachariah Albaugh, a deacon at the Elsie church at that time. He continues, "I have one request to make, and hope some brother will answer for the information of a friend
6 Gospel Visitor, 1868-69.
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48
History of the Brethren in Michigan
who is seeking after true religion. He wants some brother to write through the Companion and the Visitor on baptism. Why we baptize forward? And also explain the sixth chap- ter of Romans, third and fourth verse."7
This particular problem of supplying ministerial help was soon taken up by the district. At the first district meeting, held at the Thornapple church May 1, 1874, a paper was considered which asked that "ways and means be provided for more extensively spreading the Gospel in Michigan." It was decided to try to raise fifty cents on each $100.00 valuation of their property.
It was the next year, at the district meeting of 1875, that a district missionary board of three members (one minister, one deacon and one lay member) was chosen by the dele- gates, whose duty was to see that the gospel was preached where there were favorable openings, and the local church- es were requested to raise money and forward it to the treasurer at least twice each year.
The board secured different ministers to hold meetings at new points; it was permitted to pay only traveling ex- penses. At the close of the first year the board reported $43.71 received and $31.20 paid out.
About the year 1892 it was decided that ministers work- ing under the direction of the board for a week or more should receive a reasonable compensation for their time, the amount to be left to the judgment of the board.
After a few years it was thought good to elect a district evangelist at each district meeting to work under the direc- tion of the missionary board. He was to have traveling ex- penses paid and $1.00 per day for his time a part of the year, and $1.25 per day, exclusive of Sundays, the rest of the year for all time spent in the work.
7 Christian Family Companion, 1875. Volume II, page 102.
49
Problems Confronting Pioneer Churches
At the district meeting of 1904 a new missionary plan was adopted and the number of members on the board increased to five. These were authorized to employ one or more evangelists a part or all of the time, as prudence might dictate and the means in the treasury would allow.
For several years past, the district meeting has voted an appropriation to be raised by the several congregations of the district to be used in district missionary work. This money may be used in part for renting, buying, or build- ing meetinghouses wherever in the judgment of the board such aid should be given in city or country. The district meeting in 1906 voted $500.00 to be raised during the current year by the fifteen local congregations then in the district.
Then as ministers labored in spreading the gospel there arose a need for church buildings. Congregations were in- creasing in numbers and the homes and schoolhouses were no longer adequate for the meetings. The need for church houses increased rapidly during the decade from 1870 to 1880. Until churches were built, the love feasts were held in barns. Often the dedication of a new meetinghouse was observed with a big meeting which closed with a love feast. Many times this was in an unfinished building.
At Thornapple the first meetinghouse was begun in 1870 and so far finished that it was used for worship in the fall of that year. (From the notes of the Thornapple church as given in the Missionary Visitor, May 1907.) This house stands four miles east of the southwest corner of Ionia County on the line between Ionia and Barry counties.
In the year 1878, what is known as the west house was built near the northwest corner of Campbell Township, Ionia County, about one mile south of Elmdale. It cost $850.00. The work was done mostly by the brethren as a free donation to the Lord.
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History of the Brethren in Michigan
FIRST CHURCH HOUSE IN MICHIGAN
In the year 1888 a third church house was built in Camp- bell Township, one mile east and two and one-half miles south of Clarksville.
The first house, built in 1870, is still standing and has been used by the Old Order Brethren since 1883. The two other church houses are each forty by fifty feet in size, and are frame buildings. The probable cost would have been about $1,500.00 each if all of the material and labor had been paid for, but much of this was donated.
In January 1906 a church house was purchased in the village of Lake Odessa. The house and the lot cost $1,000.00. The money was in part contributed by members of the Woodland congregation and in part by the citizens of Lake Odessa. This was a good substantial frame building thirty- two by fifty-four feet in size and was formerly used by the Methodists. After a few years the meetings here were discontinued and the building was then sold to another denomination.
51
Problems Confronting Pioneer Churches
The Sugar Ridge history reveals that "five of the members donated two dollars each to buy the land on which the church now stands. The work of clearing the land of trees was done by the members. The building committee of the mission board donated one hundred dollars and the church- es from which the members formerly came gave enough more to get the building program well started. Many days of hard work by the various members followed, and on the evening before the day set for the dedication the shav- ings were swept out of the building and another Brethren church was ready to be put into the service of the Lord."
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