Protestantism in Michigan : being a special history of the Methodist Episcopal Church and incidentally of other denominations

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PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN:

SPECIAL HISTORY

OF THE

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

AND INCIDENTALLY OF

OTHER DENOMINATIONS.

NOTICES OF THE ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE PRINCIPAL TOWNS AND CITIES OF

THE STATE; BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY PROMINENT PASTORS AND

LAYMEN CONNECTED WITH THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF

PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ILLUSTRATED.

BY ELIJAH H. PILCHER, D. D.

DIETPtOIT :

B. D. S. TYLER & CO., PUBLISHERS,

66 GKJSWOLD STREET.

^

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year Eighteen Hundred and Seventy -eight, by

ELIJAH H. P1LCHEK,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

COMPOSITION BY

W. H. SWA1L, 66 Griswold St., Detroit

RAND & WHITTLESEY, Griswold St.
Electrotypers.

Engravings by
THE WESTERN ENGRAVING Co., Detroit.

EMIL SCHOBER, 7 Fort St. West,
Bookbinder.

Press-work by
WM. GRAHAM, 52 Bates St.

TO THE

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN,

AMONG WHOM I HAVE LIVED SO PLEASANTLY AND LABORED

FOR SO MANY YEARS, THIS VOLUME

IS AFFECTIONATELY

DEDICATED.

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

It is now over twenty years since the idea was entertained by
;me of writing a History of the introduction and growth of Method
ism in this State, and I began to make preparations to do so. I
thought I had rare opportunities for such a work, being personally
acquainted with the first five persons who made a profession of a
Christian experience, and who, with two others, constituted the first
Christian Protestant Church in Michigan; and, also, being person
ally and well acquainted with the minister who was sent here in
1815 — the first after the War of 1812. From these persons the
lack of documentary statement was supplied. These persons are
all deceased now. Having come into Michigan in 1830, and having
been extensively connected with the work at an early day, added
to my means of presenting facts, I have continued this work, with
various interruptions, to the present day.

No one who has never undertaken such a task can form any
conception of the difficulty of obtaining accurate information. I
might have had this work ready years ago had it not been for a
desire to be accurate. I myself have, from time to time, published
short sketches, some of which contained errors. This work con
tains the latest and most accurate information that I have been
able to ob:aia; and if there should, in any case, be found a dis
crepancy between any of those sketches and this work, this is to be
the authority.

I should explain, also, why such prominence is given to the

Methodist Church over others in a work entitled " Protestantism/*
The fact is this: the first purpose was simply that of Methodism, but
I had obtained so much information as to others, as to enable me to
give an outline of them, which I have done. I have desired, also, to
furnish more in regard to other Churches, but have found it impos
sible to obtain the information, as those who had it, or the means of
obtaining it, either neglected or declined to furnish it. But they will
find here embodied, in regard to their own Churches, what they will
not find elsewhere without a great deal of time and labor.

This work has cost me a vast amount of toil, as well as a eon
siderable amount of money. Some will be disappointed in one way
and some in another. I cannot hope to satisfy everybody. But such
as it is I now commit it to the public. Whatever may be thought of
its style, the statement of facts are reliable and valuable for all.

ELIJAH H. PILCHER.

DETROIT, MICH., March 12th, 1878.

ENGRAVINGS.

Albion College, ....
Central Methodist Church, Detroit,
Council Held at Saginaw,
Desolation, ....

First Protestant Church in Michigan,
First M. E. Church, Jackson,
First M. E. Church, Kalamazoo,
Grand Rapids in 1830,

PORTRAITS.

Rev. J. M. Arnold,
" W. H. Brockway,
" B. F. Cocker, .
" W. H. Collins,
" Arthur Edwards,
" L. R. Fiske, .
" E. O. Haven,
" D. C. Jacokes,
" Luther Lee,
" E. H. Pilcher,
' J. H. Potts,
" H. F. Spencer,
" J. T. Robe,

L. R. Atwater,

H. Fish,

John Owen,

Mary A. Palmer,

David Preston,

William Phelps, .

PAGE.

385

199

279

04

84

256
334

. 284
242

. 204
435
399
239

• 327

356

Frontispiece.

416

. . 382

260

. . 343
331

• 139
H5

• 394
198

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN
MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER I.

Introductory — Jesuits — Their Course Accounted for — The Case with Protestants — Tenderest
Ties Sundered — Detroit Isolated — English-Speaking Population — First Settlers — Settled
1701 — State of Society — First Methodist Preacher, 1804 — Freeman — Kev. David Bacon —
N. Bangs — Detroit Burned — Bangs' Second Visit — W. Case — Territory Organized — Efforts
to Save Detroit — New City — Kichard Preaches 1807 — Case Appointed — Prospect — Society
Organized — Members — First Quarterly Meeting — Koads and Accommodations — Case's Diffi
culties — Mrs. Abbott — Conversion of Mr. Abbott — First Camp-Meeting — N. Holmes — Wm.
Mitchell— Retrospect.

;N examination of the circumstances and facts connected
with the introduction of the Christian religion and church
into a new country, or incident thereto, always forms an
interesting subject of contemplation ; and especially if that
new country, in its settlement, is isolated or far removed
from the rest of the world. Such a subject we have before us
at this time. The work of planting the gospel in such a coun-
^ try is always attended with much sacrifice of ease and comfort,
1 and accompanied with severe labor upon the part of those minis-
^ ters who have consented to be its messengers. The self-sacri
fices of the Roman Catholic missionaries, who have left their country
to carry their religion to distant lands, and sometimes to barbarous
tribes, have been made the theme of many a panegyric, and have
been held up as a proof of their love of religion. But their course
of life may be accounted for on other principles than a love for
religion or the souls of the people ; for they were set apart for the
work of the priesthood without any reference to a divine call to
that office, or even without any profession of spiritual regeneration,
and they had chosen that as a mere occupation rather than some
thing else. They could — as they did — easily become associates of
Indians, or any savage tribes, which contributed largely to their

10 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

success among them. Taking- this view, we may readily account
for the course adopted by them independently of any love for the
interests of humanity. We, however, are disposed to give them
full credit for sincerity and an honest purpose to diffuse what they
believed to be the true religion.

The case is far different with Protestant ministers — with those
who came forth into the wilderness to proclaim the everlasting
gospel to the scattered dwellers in the wilderness, or to uncivilized
tribes. These have been taught that their religion, so far from
destroying their natural relationships, only tends to refine and exalt
them — it makes the endearments of home only more dear — father,
mother, brother, sister, wife or children are the more dear to them,
while their love for these is only subordinated by their love for their
divine Saviour. With these, then, there must be a sundering of the
tenderest cords that exist in the human heart ; and nothing but a
thorough conviction of a divine call to the work could have impelled
them to go out as laborers in such a field. This was particularly
the case with the men who first established Protestantism in the city
of Detroit. No hope of glory among men or pecuniary emoluments
offered them any inducements to make the sacrifice of the endear
ments of home and to endure the labors and privations, and brave
the perils, necessarily connected with travel as ministers in this new,
and then distant country ; for it is to be remembered that the settle
ment at Detroit was, during its early history, and until a compara
tively recent date, almost entirely separated from all other settle
ments of any importance. The route across Canada from Montreal
or Buffalo was beset with many difficulties and perils, and attended
with almost incredible labors and hardships ; and it was nearly
impossible to reach it from any other direction.

A few English and American adventurers had braved the diffi
culties of settlement here. Stimulated either by the hope of repair
ing dilapidated fortunes, or carving out new ones, or perhaps by a
disrelish for more refined society, or perhaps from a spirit of adven
ture without any very definite object in view, they had intermingled
themselves with the old French population and the Indians. There
were also a few soldiers in the garrison. This was the English-
speaking population with which the first Protestant missionaries had
to associate and labor. Surely not a very promising prospect of
success.

Another thing, also, is to be called to mind — that is, that the
first settlers at Detroit were French Roman Catholics ; that the first
company who came out to make the settlement, with La Motte de

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I I

Cadillac, had a Catholic priest sent out with them as a necessary
appendage; that, therefore, from the first settlement in 1701, until
the place came into the possession of the English Government in
1 760, the entire population was French and Indians. They were all
Roman Catholics, for even the Indians had substituted the cere
monies of Romanism for their old rites. From the time it came into
the hands of the British, until it passed into the hands of the United
States in 1796, the entire English-speaking population, with a few
exceptions, consisted of the soldiers in the garrison. After the city
and country had passed into the possession of the United States
until after the war of 1812, but few English or Americans had turned
their attention in this direction, so that the whole population became
largely imbued with the French spirit and frivolity; and, of course,
they were but little inclined to true piety. From the newness of the
country, and from its isolation, there was scarcely any commerce
except the fur trade, and that was carried on by means of Indian
canoes coasting along the bays and shores of the lake. The long
winters were passed without any serious or valuable employment, as
nothing to which they could turn their attention could be remuner
ative, for the want ot commerce. The consequence was, their time
was spent in idle frivolity, which is adverse to mental or spiritual
culture.

The wants of the people were few and easily supplied, and no
necessity was felt for any considerable mental culture. As the
natural result of this state of things, the people gave themselves up,
especially during the winter months, to pleasure, particularly to
music and dancing, which tended to weaken the mind, vitiate the
moral sensibilities, and to disincline them to religion. The mere
ceremonies of Romanism did not lay any restraint on the people in
these respects.

We have now given a general view of the country and society
up to 1804. While the people were so given up to pleasure they
were not a little startled, in the spring of 1804, by the announcement
that a Methodist minister, or preacher, had come to the place and
would preach on the next Sabbath afternoon. The very announce
ment had astonished them greatly, and their astonishment was
unabated when they heard him. He preached the gospel in a very
plain and earnest manner, accompanied by the unction and power of
the Holy Spirit. This was the first Methodist sermon ever preached
in Michigan. The preacher was a venerable-looking man. His
name was Freeman. He was a local preacher from Canada, and
remained but a few days. Whence he came and whither he went

I 2 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the people did not concern themselves to know. No very perma
nent good was accomplished, except that Mrs. Maria C. McCarty
received such convictions for sin as never left her till she was con
verted some years afterwards.

This was generally supposed, for a long time, to have been the
first Protestant sermon ever delivered in Detroit. But this is found
to be a mistake ; for Rev. David Bacon had been sent out by a
society in Connecticut to establish a mission among the Indians at
Mackinaw and in the Northwest. He was a Congregational minis
ter. He, finding no opening among the Indians, stopped in Detroit,
and had preached a few times before Mr. Freeman came. He
came to Detroit in 1801. What success he had will hereafter be
related. He had no converts and was quickly forgotten by the
people. Moravian ministers had spent a winter in Michigan — about
1 780 — with their Indian flocks who had been driven from Ohio by
persecution, but they did not make any attempt at preaching among
the white people.

The astonishment and wonder of the people caused by the
meteor-like visit of Mr. Freeman had but just died away, and he
had been nearly forgotten, when another, a youthful and energetic
man, made his appearance at Detroit, as if he had dropped down
from heaven, and announced that he was a Methodist preacher.
This was in July or August, probably the latter, 1804. He opened
his mission among them for a few times and then disappeared. This
was the active, talented and laborious Nathan Bangs, who afterwards
shone so conspicuously in the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and stood so deservedly high in its councils, and became its
historian.

At the session of the New York Conference, held in the city of
New York, beginning July i2th, 1804, Nathan Bangs was appointed
to the River Lc French — that is, the Thames — Circuit in Upper
Canada District, and came to Detroit with the intention of making it
a regular appointment of his Circuit. For a long time it was sup
posed that this was the first Protestant preaching that had ever been
had here. But Mr. Freeman had been here before him and Mr.
Bacon had preached and was still here. Dr. Bangs, in his history,
says he met here a Congregational preacher, who had been preach
ing for a while, until nobody would come to hear him except a few
children. He said to the young and zealous itinerant, "If you can
do the people any good, I shall be glad of it, for I cannot." This
was Mr. Bacon of whom we have before spoken. Mr. Bangs made
three visits — the first two on a week day evening and the third and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I J

last on a Sabbath. At the first, he states " the light-hearted people
flocked to hear" him, but at the third, which was on the Sabbath,
only a few children came out to hear him. So he left them, wiping
off the dust from his feet as a testimony against them. This last
visit was in the month of October, 1804, or early in November of
that year.

A few months after this the whole town was consumed by fire
except one house. Detroit, at the time, contained about one hundred
and fifty houses. Dr. Bangs, in his history of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, says that the town was consumed by fire a few weeks
after his last visit; and this statement is repeated by Dr. Stevens in
his life and times of Dr. Bangs. But this statement is incorrect as to
time, as Mr. Bangs left in the last of October or early in November,
1804, and the fire did not occur until the eleventh day of June, 1805.
The error, however, refers only to the date and not the fact. Whether
this destruction had any relation to their rejection of the gospel, every
one must judge for himself.

Dr. Bangs furnished us with the following note respecting his
second visit to Detroit. He says : " I preached in the old council
house on a week-day evening The house was pretty well filled with
hearers. While preaching there arose a terrible thunder storm ; the
lightning flashed, the thunder rolled through the heavens with awful
noise. But I kept on preaching. I was afterwards informed that two
young men sat trembling, fearing that God was about to strike them
dead for what they had done, as they had put powder into the candles
in the expectation that they would burn down to the powder and ex
plode during the sermon. They were disappointed, as I concluded
my sermon and closed the meeting without any accident, though they
said when I took up the candle to see to read my hymn, they feared
the explosion would take place and burn my face and eyes." Mr.
Bangs, though not the first Protestant minister who preached here,
was nevertheless the first who came with the design of supplying
them with the word of life. That his predecessors had preached
here was only accidental, and incidental to something else. But the
sole business of Mr. Bangs was to preach to the people. What an
amount of zeal it must have required to undertake this work ! His
nearest appointment was on the River Thames, about forty miles dis
tant, and an almost impassable road to be passed over to reach it ; yet
he came, and would have continued to do so had there been any hope
of doing good. Detroit was thus abandoned by Protestant ministers
and the people left to themselves to pursue their follies unrestrained.

Five years now roll over this dark city before any other effort is

j 4 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

made to Protestantize the place or to afford services for those who
were already Protestants. We have no records or information that
any minister of any Protestant denomination ever visited or preached
an occasional sermon after November, 1804, till in the summer of
1809. According to the general minutes of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, at a session of the New York Conference which embraced
all this country, held in May, 1809, Rev. William Case, a talented,
active, energetic and persevering young man, a member of that Con
ference, was appointed to Detroit. This is the first time the place
appears on the records of the Church, or among the lists of appoint
ments. What the circumstances were which led to the appointment
at this time, it is impossible now to determine with certainty. The
Conference session, which was held in the City of New York, com
menced May loth. There was no Society, and no particular prospect
of organizing one, as there were no Protestant professors of religion,
as far as known, in this city or even in the Territory. The fact that
the Territorial Government of Michigan had been organized for four
years, and that Detroit was the residence of the Territorial officers,
and the importance of the locality itself, certainly indicated that this
field ought to be occupied. It is further probable that Mr. Robert
Abbott, who was a fur-trader, in some of his visits to Montreal had
taken occasion to solicit Methodist preaching, as he, doubtless, re
tained some recollection of the visits of Mr. Freeman and Mr. Bangs.
This supposition is strengthened by the fact that when Mr. Case came
to Detroit he found a home with Mr. Abbott. It is now surprising
that a Territorial Government should have existed for four years be
fore any denomination of Protestant Christians should have made any
vigorous and persistent effort to establish true Christianity among
the people; but such is the fact. It is very true there were but few
people in the Territory except the French, and they were Romanists.
The Territory of Michigan was organized in 1804 — that is, the
law was passed providing for it — and the officers were appointed so
as to put the Government into operation the following year ; and Gen
eral Hull, who had been appointed Governor, arrived at Detroit on
June 1 2th, 1805, to enter upon the duties of his office. He found the
city in ashes, the whole town having been consumed by fire, except
one house, on the preceding day. No special effort was made by the
panic-stricken people to save the town or to extinguish the flames,
except that the Catholic priest fell down on his knees and said low
mass. The following is the account given of this sad event, by Mr.
Dilhett, one of the resident Catholic priests : " I was occupied with
Mr. Richard, when a messenger came to inform us that three houses

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 5

had been already consumed, and there was no hope of saving the rest
I exhorted the faithful who were present to help each other, and imme
diately commenced the celebration of low mass, after which we had
barely time to remove the vestments and furniture of the church, with
the effects of the adjoining presbytery, when both buildings were
enveloped in the flames. In the course of three hours, from 9 o'clock
A. M. till noon, nothing was to be seen of the city except a mass of
burning coals and chimney tops stretching like pyramids into the air.
Fortunately there was no wind during the conflagration, which allowed
the flames and smoke to ascend to a prodigious height, giving the city
the appearance of an immense funeral pile. It was the most majestic,
and at the same time the most frightful spectacle I ever witnessed.
The city contained at least one hundred and fifty houses, mostly frame,
which caused the fire to spread with the utmost rapidity. The number
of people in the town being unusually large, there was ample force
for removing the merchandise and furniture of the inhabitants, which
were in great measure saved. No personal injury was sustained
during the fire." *

This was the condition of affairs when Governor Hull arrived to
enter upon the duties of his office. The General Government rendered
important assistance to the inhabitants in this time of their calamity.
They also granted to the city a large tract of land — ten thousand acres.
A new city was laid out under the supervision of Judge Woodward,
who was a man of some eccentricity and who had some peculiar ideas
of taste ; after whom one of the great avenues was named. He desired
to give the new city the form of a spider's web, which he did in part
— a form which, though fine on paper, has been found to be very incon
venient in practice ; and it has been very much broken in upon in
more modern utilitarian days. After such a calamity and with so little
connection with the commercial world, as might have been expected,
the growth of the city was very slow for many years.

In 1807, there being no Protestant minister in Detroit or in the
Territory of Michigan, the Governor of the Territory, General Hull,
and other Protestant gentlemen, invited Mr. Richard, the Roman
Catholic priest, to preach to them in the Council House, in the
English language. He consented to do so, though he spoke the
language very indifferently. On one occasion he tried to quote
the expression, " Ye are my sheep." He said, " Ye are my mut
tons." But this showed that these officers and gentry wanted
some religious service and thought that an indifferent one was
better than none. In writing to his bishop in regard to this mat
ter, Mr. Richard uses the following language; "Although I was

*Metropolitan Almanac, 1855.

1 6 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

sensible of my incapacity, as there was no English minister here
of any denomination, I thought it might be of some utility to take
possession of the ground." In accordance with this invitation,
he held meetings at noon every Sunday in the Council House, in
the English language, for some time, and delivered instructions
" on the general principles of the Christian religion, the principles
to be adopted in the investigation of truth, the causes of errors,
the spirituality and immortality of the soul, and the evidenes of
Christianity in general," intending at a later period to present the
peculiar doctrines of the Romish Church. But he never reached the
latter topic. Thus things continued for two years longer. This was
the condition of affairs when Rev. William Case received his appoint
ment to this field. He was appointed as a missionary, without any
Missionary Society to support him. Here was an open field — at least
there was no Protestant competition. But sin was rife and folly
predominant.

This field would have presented a very dark and forbidding
prospect, had it not been that the Circuit extended into Canada and
embraced a few societies there. Yet they were so distant and small
that the dark horizon was not relieved by them. But our mis
sionary came in the name of his Master, and opened his mission in
the strength of Divine grace. He labored and prayed — sowed the
seed and watered it with his tears, and though the year closed and
no Society was organized in the city or on this side of the river, it
was not in vain, as we shall see ; for, before he finally left for the
Conference, he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had not la
bored altogether for naught, as one man had been converted, of
whom a more particular account will be given hereafter. In a few
months after he left, a Society was organized by a successor sent
from the Western Conference, which increased to about thirty mem
bers in the next two years, and was prospering, when the War of
1812 broke out and scattered most of them.

The first Protestant religious Society, or Church, which was a
Methodist one, in Michigan, was organized in Detroit in the autumn
of 1 8 10, by Rev. William Mitchell. We have seen that Mr. Case
left without effecting this object. But the good work had been
begun by the conversion of Robert Abbott, which was quickly fol
lowed by that of Mrs. Abbott, of her sister Mrs. McCarty and
her husband, and three or more of their neighbors. Nearly three
months intervened between the time that Mr. Case left and the
coming of his successor, William Mitchell, from the Western Con
ference, which included Ohio, West Virginia and a part of Kentucky.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I /

Ninian Holmes was also sent from the Genesee Conference. The
former gathered the converts into a Church. This first Church was
composed of seven members, viz : Robert Abbott, Betsey Abbott his
wife, Wm. McCarty, Maria C. McCarty his wife, William Stacy,
Betsey Stacy his wife, and Sarah Macomb Wm. McCarty was
appointed class-leader. These have all died in the faith and have
gone to receive their reward. This was the beginning of Protestant
Christianity in this peninsula.

According to the Minutes of the New York Conference for
1809, Joseph Sawyer was the Presiding Elder of Upper Canada
District, which included Detroit Circuit, but there are no recollec
tions of his having visited Michigan. It is probable he did not,
as there was no Society formed till after the next Conference.
The first quarterly meeting ever held in Michigan, with love feast,
baptism and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, was held by Wm.
Mitchell, in the spring of 1811, in the house of William Weaver,
a Roman Catholic, on the River Rouge. The next year, 1812,
Rev. Henry Ryan was Presiding Elder, and attended the second
quarterly meeting in this peninsula. It was held in the house of
Robert Abbott, in Detroit. The time is not definitely settled,
though it is probable it was late in the autumn of 1811. We think
that this was the fact from two considerations or circumstances :
All the old members agreed that it was in the autumn and within a
year of the time the Church was organized ; and, in the next place,
the interest created by the conversion of Mr. Abbott and his friends,
and the consequent organization of a Methodist Church or Society,
would have induced the preacher in charge to have a quarterly meet
ing and a visit from the Presiding Elder as soon as possible. We
may safely say, then, that the second occasion of the administration
of baptism and of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, by Protestant
hands in Michigan, was in the autumn of 1811, under the direction
of Rev. Henry Ryan, Presiding Elder, assisted by Rev. Ninian Holmes,
the preacher in charge.

We may well pause a moment and admire the Christian heroism
connected with the introduction of Protestant Christianity into this
peninsula. We say Protestant Christianity because, although we do
not recognize the Romish Church as a true Christian Church, yet
she has some semblance to Christianity, and claims to be the
Christian Church. Taunts, sneers, cold neglect and petty perse
cutions had to be encountered, as well as the toil, labor and
dangers of travel, in these distant parts. Amidst all these the
young itinerants persevered, with no worldly emoluments promised

1 8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

them. They were allowed to receive one hundred dollars per
annum, provided the people would give it to them, with the
privilege of " boarding 'round." This part of the country, at this
time, was so completely isolated from the rest of the world, except
a few scattering settlements along the Canada shore, that it was
a vast undertaking to reach it. We will here give the state of
the case as Nathan Bangs found it when he was appointed to the
River Thames Circuit, which included Detroit. This was in 1804,
as we have before stated. There was not much improvement for
many years after, as the reader will learn when he comes to hear
Joseph Hickox speak of the same matter in 1815.

Mr. Bangs left the City of New York on horseback, in the latter
part of the month of June, " went into Canada by the way of Kings
ton, thence up the country along the northwestern shore of Lake
Ontario to the Long Point Circuit, and thence on through Oxford to
the town of Delaware, on the River Thames. Here he lodged for
the night in the last log hut in the settlement. The next morning,
just as the day began to dawn, he arose and took his departure, and
after traveling through a wilderness of forty-five miles, guided only
by marked trees, he arrived at a solitary log house about sunset,
weary, hungry and thirsty. Here he was entertained with the best
the house could afford, which consisted of some Indian pudding and
milk for his supper and a bundle of straw lor his bed. The next
day, about 12 o'clock, he arrived at an Indian village on the north
bank of the River Thames, the inhabitants of which were under the
instruction of two Moravian missionaries.

" About 3 o'clock p. M. of the same day he arrived at the first
house of the settlememt, when the following conversation took place
between the missionary and a man he saw in the yard before the
door of the house. After the introductory salutation the misionary
inquired :

" 'Do you want the Gospel preached here?' After some delibera
tion it was answered, * Yes, that we do. Do you preach the Gospel?'
'That is my occupation.' 'Alight, then, from your horse and come
in, will you?' 'I have come a great distance to preach the Gospel to
the people here ; and it is Saturday afternoon, to-morrow is the Sab
bath, and I must have a house to preach in before I get off my horse/
After a few moments consideration, he replied : ' I have a house for
you to preach in, provender for your horse, and food and lodging
for yourself, and you shall be welcome to them if you will dismount
and come in.' Thanking him for his kind offer, the missionary dis
mounted and entered the hospitable mansion in the name of the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 19

Lord, saying, ' Peace be to this hoiise! A young man mounted his
horse and rode ten miles down the river, inviting the people to at
tend meeting in that house the next day at 10 o'clock A. M."

Here he commenced his labors on this Circuit. He then sent
appointments down the river, along through the settlements, which
he filled ; and was everywhere cordially received by the people.
" He proceeded down the shore of the lake, crossed over to Detroit,
and preached in the Council House ; thence to Fort Maiden, and
down the shore of Lake Erie, into a settlement made up of Ameri
can, English, Scotch, Irish and Dutch immigrants. The people every
where flocked to hear the word." Of the condition of the people
he thus speaks : "A more destitute place I had never found. Young
people had arrived at the age of sixteen who had never heard a Gos
pel sermon, and he found a Methodist family who had lived in that
country for seven years without hearing a sermon preached. But
although the people generally were extremely ignorant of spiritual
things, and very loose in their morals, they seemed ripe for the Gos
pel, and hence received and treated God's messenger with great
attention and kindness. He continued among them about three
months, when he left them for the Niagara Circuit, intending to re
turn again soon, but was prevented. He was succeeded the next
year by William Case, who was instrumental of great good to the
souls of the people. Societies and regular circuits were formed,
which have continued to flourish and increase to the present time."

The foregoing quotations are made from the " History of the
Methodist Episcopal Church," by Dr. Bangs. He writes of scenes
in which he participated. In regard to his successor he made a
mistake in the date. He says he (that is himself) "was succeeded
the next year by William Case." This is an error as to the time,
and not as to the man. It was from some time in July, probably the
last of the month, till some time in October or November, 1 804, that
Mr. Bangs was here. According to the General Minutes for 1805,
William Case was appointed, as junior preacher, with Henry Ryan,
on the Bay Quinte Circuit, and the Thames Circuit was left off the
Minutes entirely, and no appointment was made that could include
this region until 1809, when William Case was appointed to Detroit.
So William Case was his successor, but not till five years had passed,
during which time the people had been left without the preaching of
the Gospel. Dr. Bangs doubtless wrote from memory, without refer
ring to the Minutes, and so missed the date. The fact is stated cor
rectly, but not the time, as shown by the official Minutes, confirmed
by the testimony of Robert Abbott, Wm. McCarty, and others.

20 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

In his history, Dr. Bangs furnishes the following account of
things in Detroit during the time of his stay on the Circuit : " Detroit,
at that time, seemed to be a most abandoned place. On his second
visit the missionary was introduced to a Congregational minister,*
who told him that he had preached in Detroit until none but a few
children would come to hear; 'and,' said he, 'if you can succeed,
which I very much doubt, I shall rejoice.' On the third visit, which
was on the Sabbath, sure enough, only a few children came to the
place of worship, and no one appearing to take any interest in hear
ing the Gospel preached there, our missionary shook the dust off his
feet as a testimony against them, and took his departure from them."
From the foregoing statements of the difficulties of travel and the
condition of the people, it will be readily seen that it required some
courage and perseverance to fulfill the duties of a preacher here.

When William Case came, five years later than Mr. Bangs, he
found no special improvement in the people, in the country, in the
accommodations, or in the facilities for traveling. At the time he
came to Detroit, which was in the month of July or August, 1809; for,
although the appointment was made in the latter part of May, for some
reason he did not reach Detroit until some time after — there were
no Methodists here, or any Protestant professors of religion, so far as
known. He had to shift for himself as best he could. As a single
man, he was only allowed to receive one hundred dollars a year, and
no provision for board. He could not afford to hire his board out of
this sum. Besides, it was altogether uncertain whether he would
receive even that small sum. However, the Lord soon raised him
up a friend in the person of Robert Abbott, Esq., who, although not a
professor of religion or a Christian, kindly invited him to the hospital
ities of his house. But here he met with an unexpected difficulty;
that was, Mrs. Abbott was very strongly prejudiced against the
Methodists, of whom she had heard something unfavorable from her
mother. This prejudice was so strong, that she took occasion to
annoy Mr. Case as much as she dared to. At this time Mr. Abbott
was Auditor General of the Territory, and much of his time at his
office. On one occasion, he called at Mr. Abbott's office in the city
and found him very busy, so that he could not go with him to his
house at that time, but he directed Mr. Case to go down and said he
would follow as soon as he could. Mr. Abbott then resided about a
mile out of the city, down the river. The weather was now cold, and
Mr. Case had been very much chilled and fatigued with his travel
ing. Mrs. Abbott saw him coming and determined he should find
no entertainment there. Though she knew who he was and that

*Rev. David Bacon, before mentioned.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2 I

he must be both cold and hungry, she refused him admittance to the
house ; she kept him standing in the cold until he became satisfied
that he would not be admitted, when he turned away and sought
for entertainment at a hotel. When Mr. Abbott came home he
inquired for the minister, but she said he had not been there — she
had not seen him. Mr. Abbott immediately searched him out, and
finally brought him back to his house. Mrs. Abbott had contracted
this prejudice mostly from her mother, and partly from the fact that
her father was a Roman Catholic. Her mother had told her that
the object of these Methodist preachers was to separate husbands
from their wives — to break up families, and the like. This prejudice
was afterwards strengthened by the fact that when Mr. Case was
there, they had spent much time in private conversation. Mr.
Abbott was seeking for religious light and instruction. On one of
these occasions she determined to ascertain what they were about,
so she came silently to the door, and placing her eye and ear
alternately to the key-hole, she was much astonished to find them
engaged in prayer together. She studiously avoided his society, and
neglected to minister to his comfort when there, leaving him to
occupy a cold room alone, and not furnishing him with needful food
if her husband was not present. These facts were obtained from
her own lips by the writer, with the expectation that they would be
given in this history.

Some time early in the month of June, 1810, a Camp-Meeting
was held on the River Thames, in Canada, which Mr. Abbott was in
duced to attend. He had not been converted as yet, but was deeply
anxious for his salvation. He took his family with him and had his
own tent. We once asked Mrs. Abbott how she happened to go to
the Camp-Meeting while she had such a bitter prejudice against the
Methodists. She replied, " I was obliged to go ; Mr. Abbott govern
ed his own house." As to the general results of the meeting we
have taken no pains to inquire, as we were interested only in one
particular, that is, the effect it had on the work in Michigan. As the
meeting progressd in its services, Mr. Abbott became more and
more anxious about himself — using the means to secure what he
desired, " Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." In his
case, as well as in many others, all his notions and plans for obtaining
this manifestation of grace were set aside, and the Lord led him by a
way that he knew not, and that he had not conceived of before. Yet
it was the very way taught in the Bible — the way of simple faith in
Jesus Christ as a present Saviour. One night, after he had retired to
bed and the encampment had become still and all was quiet, as he

22 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

lay meditating and looking to Jesus, he was enabled to put his whole
trust in Him ; in a moment the darkness passed from his mind, and
the true light shone into his heart. He bounded from his bed and
ran out in his night clothes, as he was, shouting " Hallelujah to the
Lamb." So overwhelming was the sense of Divine love to him, that
he neither knew nor cared for anything else than to praise God for it.
There was joy in the encampment that night, as well as among the
angels of God, over a sinner saved by grace through faith. This was
the first Camp-Meeting held in this region, and Mr. Abbott was the
first inhabitant of Michigan who was converted. This was the first
fruit of the seed sown by Mr. Case in this unpromising field, though
it did not appear until after he had left. Mr. Abbott holds so impor
tant a relation to the Protestant cause in Michigan, that it will be
interesting to have a somewhat extended sketch of his life and char
acter, which will be found in the next chapter. Mr. Case's labors had
been very successful on the Canada side and along the Thames, so
that he reported seventy-eight members for Detroit Circuit, but they
were all in Canada. He left for Conference in May, and visited his
parents before the session.

The Genesee Conference had been created by the authority of
the General Conference, embracing this country, and held its first
session in Lyons, New York, commencing on the 2Oth of July, 1810.
At this Conference Mr. Case was appointed Presiding Elder of Cay-
uga District, which separated him from Michigan for the present, but
he returns to it again in the capacity of Presiding Elder.

Mr. Case was succeeded on the Circuit by Rev. Ninian Holmes
in July, 1 8 10 — that is, at the session of the Genesee Conference, com
mencing July 2Oth, Mr. Holmes was appointed. Precisely at what
time he arrived at Detroit we have no means of ascertaining ; prob
ably however, it was from six to eight weeks after the session. When
he did arrive he found Rev. William Mitchell, from the Western Con
ference, who had been appointed also. Mr. Holmes labored princi
pally in Canada, and Mr. Mitchell on this side, and they returned one
hundred and thirty-four members for the Circuit, mostly in Canada.
The Society in Detroit and on the Rouge had grown to about
thirty members.

At the next session of the Genesee Conference, which com
menced on the 20th of July, 1811, Mr. Holmes was returned to De
troit Circuit, with a young man named Silas Hopkins for a colleague.
He continued his Circuit as far as Monroe on the south, where Mr.
Mitchell had organized a Society of over twenty members. At the
next Conference, in 1812, the Minutes show one hundred and thirty-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 23

four members. About fifty of them were in Michigan. The returns
this year do not afford an accurate statement of the membership, as
Mr. Holmes did not attend the Conference, and the report of last
year was adopted for this year. Probably there was no material
change in the numbers. The Conference was to meet, or did meet
at Niagara, Canada, on the 23d day of July of this year — 1812 — and
George W. Densmore was appointed to Detroit, but never came;
the reason being that hostilities between the United States and
Great Britian had commenced, war having been declared by the
United States on the i8th of June. With the Conference of July
23d, 1812, closes the period of peace and begins a time of darkness
and desolation ; and here we must pause in the line of our narrative
for a time, to be resumed after the storm has passed. Henry Ryan
has been the Presiding Elder for the last two years.

We will now take a hasty retrospect of this first period of the
history of Protestantism in this peninsula, before closing this chap
ter. The first conversion to experimental Christianity occurred in
June, 1810, and the first Methodist Church was organized at Detroit,
in the late autumn of the same year, which was the first Protestant
Church organized in Michigan. After the organization, this Society
steadily increased in numbers and moral strength until the summer
of 1812, at which time they numbered about thirty in Detroit and on
the Rouge. The last two years had been years of religious pros
perity, and gave promise of large and glorious triumphs to the cause
of vital Christianity. But alas! a dark cloud is gathering thick
around, which is to lay waste these bright prospects and darken
these fair hopes. The ravages of war are to lay waste the heritage
of the Lord, and brethren in Christ are to be arranged in hostile
ranks against each other. The brethren on each side of the river,
which divides the two countries, had pledged themselves to each
other not to take up arms in the war which was threatening. But
they knew not what they would be called upon to do. Whe.n once
they were required to enter the ranks they could not choose to spare
their brethren, when brought into conflict. The effect on the Soci
eties was just such as might have been expected. They were scat
tered, being deprived of pastors for three years. Yet there were a
few who kept the faith — kept up their organization, and were found
to constitute a Christian Church when the storm of war had passed
away. To these we shall have occasion to refer in our next chapter.

The following is the list of ministers who were appointed to
serve here prior and up to the time of the war, viz :

24 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

1504. — Nathan Bangs, to the Thames Circuit, called River Le
French, which included Detroit.

1809. — Upper Canada District, Joseph Sawyer, Presiding Elder.
Detroit Mission, William Case.

1810. — Upper Canada District, Henry Ryan, Presiding Elder.
Detroit — William Mitchell, from the Western Conference ; Ninian
Holmes, from the Genesee Conference.

Henry Ryan was continued on the District until the war inter
rupted the appointments.

1811. — Detroit, Ninian Holmes, Silas Hopkins.

1812. — Detroit, George W. Densmore.

The last of these rendered no service, as the war commenced
before he could reach his appointment, and he never came on to it

DESOLATION.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 25

CHAPTER II.

Biographical Sketches — D. Freeman — Nathan Bangs — William Case — Ninian Holmes — Silas
Hopkins— Henry Ryan— William Mitchell— Robert Abbott— William McCarty— Betsey
Abbott— Maria C. McCarty— William Stacy— Betsey Stacy— Sarah Macomb— Amy
Witherell.

little is known of Rev. Mr. Freeman, the first Methodist
preacher that ever visited Detroit, that not much can be said
of him. Mrs. McCarty, who was then quite a young lady, and
was very much impressed by his preaching, said he was a
very venerable-looking man, that he was a local preacher,
and that he appeared to be deeply pious. His preaching was
characterized by much earnest sympathy. What brought
him to Detroit they knew not, and where his home was they
could not tell. We have ascertained that his name was Daniel Free
man, and that his home was in Canada. Of all the other early char
acters we have fuller information, and it will, doubtless, be very inter
esting to trace their career to some extent in connection with, and
as forming a part of this history. We here introduce them.

NATHAN BANGS, D. D. What can be more sublime and grand
than to see a man devoting the vigor and sprightliness of early man
hood to elevate and ennoble humanity ! What more God-like than
for such an one to forsake father, mother, home and friends, and
to renounce all prospects of worldly gain, honor or preferment, and
to consecrate his talents, energies and life to the work of preach
ing the Everlasting Gospel to lost sinners ; to brave dangers, en
counter perils, endure hardships, suffer hunger, experience fatigue and
weariness, in order to carry peace to the wretched, hope to the
disconsolate, and light to those who sit in darkness. It is above all
else — it is heavenly. All this is what Nathan Bangs did. He had
as fair a prospect for this world as young men of his day had, of
honor and gain. He had talents, energy and industry, to succeed in
anything he might undertake, as well as others. But all these he

26 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

laid on the altar of sacrifice to God, and laid himself at the feet of
the blessed Saviour, to be used as would best promote His glory and
the salvation of men lost in sin. At the time he made the devotion
he could not have had the remotest conception of the honor which
came to him in after years ; for the denomination — the Methodist—
to which he attached himself, was* small, poor, and generally despised
by the worldly-wise. He could have seen before him nothing but
hard labor, great suffering and anxiety, so far as this world was con
cerned, only" as he relied on the Divine promise, uln Me ye shall have
peace." After his conversion, which occurred in 1800, in Upper
Canada, and which was sound and clear, he soon entered the work
of the itinerant ministry in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
united with the Church on trial before he had any satisfactory assu
rance of adoption into the Divine family, a very proper act for any one.
He gives the following very interesting account of the exercises of
his mind at this period : " Having thus united myself with the chil
dren of God, it was now my principal concern to make sure work
of my salvation. Though I had frequent manifestations of the grace
of God, and could occasionally rejoice in Him, I had not yet attained
to a clear witness of my acceptance with Him. The subject of reli
gion engrossed my attention, and I sought every opportunity to con
verse with devout people on my state and prospects. Some said
they believed me to be already justified, while others exhorted me to
be thankful for what I had received, and to persevere until I should
find a satisfactory evidence of my acceptance with God. My prayer
was for some miraculous, some physical manifestation of Divine
grace. It pleased the Lord to disappoint me in this respect, as in so
many others. After struggling hard, praying much, reading the Holy
Scriptures, fasting, and conversing with religious friends for some
days, He showed to my mind a scene such as I had never fully seen
before. All my past sins seemed pictured upon my memory ; the
righteous law of God, so often broken by me, shone in overwhelming
splendor before me. I saw and acknowledged the justice of my con
demnation. Christ was then exhibited to my mind as having ' fulfill
ed the law and made it honorable,' * bearing my sins in His own body
on the tree/ so that I, receiving Him by faith, need not bear them
any longer myself. This view humbled me in the dust. At the
same time, I felt a gracious power to rely upon his atoning merits by
simple faith. Instantly I felt my sins were cancelled for Christ's
sake, and the Spirit of God bore witness with mine that I was adopt
ed into the family of His people. My mind was filled with awe and
reverence. The wisdom, power and goodness of God in devising

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2 7

such a scheme for the recovery of fallen man, struck me with
astonishment. And with ecstasy of holy joy did I lay hold upon
the cross of the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. All boasting was
excluded, except the matchless love of God, who sent His Son to die
for the world, ' that whosoever believeth in Him should not perxish,
but have everlasting life.' This view of the plan of redemption
and salvation was as clear to me then as it has been at any time
since, though not by any means so comprehensively defined as in
later experience and studies. It has since been enlarged, and made
to appear more exact, symmetrical and beautiful in all its parts.
Here let me record my grateful, adoring sense of the loving-kind
ness of my God in watching so providentially over my infant
days, in leading me through the intricacies of youth up to manhood,
bearing with my sinfulness, conducting me to a strange land, where
He directed my steps among His people, opening the path of life
and peace to my troubled soul, receiving me at last, by adoption,
into the household of His saints. It was now August, 1800, in the
twenty-second year of my age, I having been twenty-one on the
2nd of May preceding. "*

Having now fully identified himself with the people of God, he
moved forward in his work without faltering, for more than three
score years, — abundant in labors and crowned with glorious success.
He united with the New York Annual Conference on trial, in 1802,
and passed through the various grades of the ministry. His first
appointment was on Bay Quinte Circuit, in Canada West, as the
third preacher, with Joseph Sawyer and Peter Vannest. These were
noble associates for a young man. Next year he was returned to
the same Circuit, as the second preacher. The following year, 1804,
he was appointed alone to the River le French Circuit, which brought
him to Detroit. The name of the Circuit was thus called through
mistake. It should have been the River Thames Circuit. It is this
appointment which brings him into the range of our history. He
continued on this Circuit only about three or four months. He left
his Circuit to make a visit to his friends in the bounds of the Niagara
Circuit, with the expectation of returning soon, but did not, for some
reason not now ascertainable, as he has left us no information on the
subject. But if he had returned to the Circuit it would have made
no difference with Detroit, as he had left it for good, having " shaken
the dust off his feet for a testimony against them," because they
were so given up to folly and wickedness that they would not come
to hear him preach the word of life. The circumstances were cer-

*Life and Times of Nathan Bangs, D. D. — Stevens' — pp. 47, 48, 49.

28 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

tainly very discouraging, and perhaps any one would have done the
same thing in the same circumstances, that is, to leave them. But
the probability is, if he could have devoted some time to the place,
and called among the people, they would not have forgotten the
meeting and some good might have been accomplished. In those
days of vast circuits, but very little time could be given to any one
place for calls on the people at their homes. What could we expect
to accomplish now, to come around and preach one sermon only
once in three or four weeks? Certainly, nothing. The people of
Detroit, then, had no appreciation of the value of the Gospel to
them. They knew but very little about it and cared less, and consi
dered the preaching only an interference with their pleasures. There
are vast multitudes in the same city now, as in all large cities, who
have the same opinion of the preaching of the Gospel, and it re
quires patient, continuous labor to gain their attention to the things
•of religion.

Mr. Bangs was full of energy and characterized by an active
zeal for the cause of God, and desired, very naturally, to see the
fruit of his labor. How trying the situation ! Here he was, a lone
laborer in a vast region of country, with few or no Christian hearts
to sympathize with him. He had no place of entertainment in the
city, except at the hotel, and that was poor enough. Who could blame
him for leaving the people to themselves, or for devoting his labors to
a more promising field? Surely, none. There were no members re
turned for the Circuit at the next Conference, from which we infer
there were no societies formed in it and he was sent to it simply
with the hope of making a Circuit and organizing societies. We
suppose the reason he did not return to it, after his visit to his
friends, to be that his Presiding Elder thought he could be better
employed elsewhere. The importance of "Detroit was not then
realized. This Circuit, by that name, never again appears in the list
of appointments. That Mr. Bangs had talents and perseverance
•enough to have succeeded, if any one could, is evident from his sub
sequent successes. We have but a few more words in regard to
this Circuit.

Dr. Stevens says: "We have witnessed the severity of his trials
in these new countries. He had endured them 'as a good soldier of
the Lord Jesus;' and he would have appeared justified had he, in
retracing his steps to his paternal home and to the Conference in
New York City, asked for an appointment nearer his kindred and in
a more genial climate, especially as he went to the session almost
wrecked in health. But he went thither for the express purpose of

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 29

soliciting permission to throw himself into a still more westward and
more desolate region, a region noted, at that time, for pestilential
disease and religious destitution — the recent settlements on the
River Thames, a stream which enters the St. Clair, opposite Detroit,
beyond the northwestern shore of Lake Erie."* This was noble in
him, to desire to enter this perilous but destitute field. In this quo
tation there is a geographical mistake, which it may be well to correct
— " The River Thames, a stream which enters the St. Clair, opposite
Detroit'' The Thames "enters the St. Clair," not "opposite Detroit,"
but about thirty miles a little north of east from Detroit. Detroit
is situated on the north bank of Detroit River, several miles below
Lake St. Clair. The field of labor, however, is the same and he
desired to cultivate it, and with what success we have already seen.
It is much to be regetted that there should have seemed to be any
necessity for abandoning Detroit at that time.

In due course of time Mr. Bangs rose to the highest position a
man can occupy in the Methodist Episcopal Church, unless it be the
Episcopacy. He was editor of the church organ, The Christian
Advocate, for a long time, and wielded a controlling influence in the
councils of the Church for many years. He originated the Mission
ary Society, an organization now doing a vast amount of good and
extending its benign influences into all parts of the globe ; and when
the office of Missionary Secretary was created, the General Confer
ence instinctively turned to him as the man for the place — a place
which he successfully filled for many years. He was the founder of
American Methodist periodical literature, and in due time was deserv
edly titled " Doctor of Divinity'' Dr. Bangs is so widely and favor
ably known in his writings, both controversial and historical, that it is
not necessary to say much more concerning him here. The reader
is also referred to the " Life and Times of Nathan Bangs, D. D.,"
by Dr. Stevens, a work of great merit, from which we have already
quoted.

In the latter part of his life, Dr. Bangs was a very earnest ad
vocate of Christian holiness as a distinct experience, and maintained
the blessing of perfect love in his own heart and experience for many
years. He devoted a long life actively to the cause of Christ, and
was finally gathered to his fathers in peace, like a shock of corn fully
ripe. There is something so noble, so God-like, in such a life, so de
voted to the interests of humanity, that we should expect its termi
nation to be like the sun setting in a sea of glory. Such was the de
mise of this great and good man, for he was good in greatness and

*Life and Times of Nathan Bangs, D. D ,, p. 131.

30 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

great in goodness. That he had his trials and discouragements, is
undoubtedly true, for these are common to all men, but he realized
the truth of the promise of Divine help, " My grace is sufficient for
thee." His entire hope was in the atonement of the Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. He was a noble specimen of a Christian gentleman—
of a sanctified human nature. He died in the City of New York,
'• on the 3d day of May, 1862, one day after his eighty-fourth birth
day," having been in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church
for sixty years.

We shall now take leave of Dr. Bangs in the language of Dr.
Stevens: " Singularly effective, definitive and symmetrical in his life —
in the struggles and self-dicipline of his youth, the activity and suc
cess of his manhood, the sanctity and peace of his old age, we take
our leave of him at the grave, assured that it has been good for the
world that he lived, and for us that we have traced the lessons of his
life."

REV. WILLIAM CASE. Five years have passed since Mr. Bangs
left Detroit, before a successor has appeared. How many of " the
light-hearted people," and wicked inhabitants, have floated down the
stream of time to eternal despair ! But the spell which has bound
the people is to be broken, in a measure. Who will do it? Who
will be sent to this dark and dreary region, and who will consent to
come to it? Well may we ask these questions, for at the time of
which we write, it was more of a task to reach Detroit from the seat
of an Annual Conference, than it is now to go to India or China,
and a minister was more separated from his brethren than now in
the distant missionary fields. The fatigues and difficulties of travel
were certainly as great. Yet there are here perishing sinners to be
looked after, and to be saved if possible. Ministers must not, and
will not count their lives dear unto themselves, 1:0 that they may
but win Christ Jesus, and secure the salvation of souls — souls
bought by the precious blood of Christ.

At the session of the New York Conference, held in the City of
New York, commencing May loth, 1809, it was determined to send
a missionary to Detroit. He is so designated in the Minutes,
although there was no Missionary Society to aid in his support. In
accordance with this determination, Rev. William Case, who had
been four years in the ministry, having joined the Conference in
1805, was appointed to Detroit. This chapter, and indeed our whole
History, would be very defective did we not furnish a somewhat de
tailed biography of this early and active missionary, for, although he
was not the first who attempted to plant the standard of the Gospel

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 3!

and Protestantism on Michigan soil, he was the first who made any
persevering- effort for that purpose, and continued in it until fruit ap
peared, and with his name Detroit first appears on the records of
the Church — in the Minutes of the Conference, as an appointment.
Mr. Case, by giving time and devoting attention, succeeded in lead
ing one man to embrace the cause of Christ. Others had received
the spirit of conviction, which subsequently resulted in sound conver
sion, but of this fact he was not advised at the time. So he labored
in hope. If no other good had resulted from the labors of this year,
than the conversion of Robert Abbott, it would have been abundant
compensation for the labor put forth and the toil endured ; for Mr.
Abbott became a nucleus around which a Church soon clustered, so
that the work assumed form and permanency.

William Case was born in the town of Swansea, Massachusetts,
August 2/th, 1780 ; so he was twenty-nine years old when he came
to Detroit. He made profession of religion and joined the Church —
the Methodist Episcopal Church — in 1803, when he was twenty-three
years of age. He was admitted on trial in the New York Confer
ence in 1805, at its session held in Ashgrove, begining June I2th.
Having volunteered for the work in Canada, he was appointed to the
Bay Quinte Circuit, in the Upper Canada District, as junior preacher.
The next year he was appointed to the Oswegotchie Circuit, in the
same District. The first year Henry Ryan, and the second Gershom
Pearse was in charge, and Joseph Sawyer was the Presiding Elder.
The next year, 1807, he was appointed to Ulster Circuit, in Albany
District, as junior preacher, under Elias Vanderlip, with Henry Stead
as Presiding Elder. According to the Minutes of the New York
Conference, Mr. Case was ordained an Elder at its session held at
Amenia, beginning April 6th, 1808. At this Conference he was ap
pointed in charge of Ancaster Circuit, in Upper Canada District, alone,
Joseph Sawyer still being Presiding Elder. We now find him in
trusted with the responsibility of being in charge of a Circuit, and
never after do we find him in any inferior position. In these appoint
ments is shown the changes to which men were subjected, and to which
they were called to submit in those early days. At the session of
the New York Conference, held in the City of New York, beginning-
May loth, 1809, he was appointed to Detroit as a missionary, but his
labors were not by any means to be confined to that place, for he ex
tended his work up the Thames, and down the lake shore in Canada.
Look at the undertaking! A missionary sent, having to travel from
New York City to Detroit on horseback, to form a Circuit, gather
up members wherever he might find them, and then depend on them

32 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

for a support; for, though he was appointed and called a missionary,
there was no Society — no funds to fall back on for his support, as
our Missionary Society had not then been organized. With all this
labor and these dark prospects before him, he went into the work in
the name of his Divine Master.

In regard to his having gone to Canada, Mr. Case, in his semi
centennial sermon, makes the following remarks ; " I have much rea
son to believe that my appointment to this country was in the order
of providence, and divinely directed. A field thus distant was the
more suitable to wean one from a numerous circle of friends, and a
new country was best adapted to my youth and inexperience. I have
every cause to be satisfied with my choice, and abundant reason to
be grateful to my Christian brethren, and to the inhabitants of Canada

fenerally, for their generous and kind treatment, and the marked
ospitality which has everywhere been shown me in every part of
the Province. In connection with this subject, I beg to relate an in
cident which occurred in my journey to this country. It was while
traveling through the forest of Black River. As I was drawing near
to the field of my future labor, I felt more and more deeply impress
ed with the importance of my mission, and my insufficiency for
preaching to a people already well instructed. As yet but a boy —
only about two years since my conversion — devoid of ministerial
talent as I was of beard — I feared, on account of my incompetency,,
that I should not be received in a strange land. So strong were the
emotions of my heart that I dismounted from my horse and sat
down, and wept and prayed. While thus weeping, these words were
spoken to me in a voice that I could not misunderstand: 'I will go
before thee, — will prepare the hearts of the people to receive thee ;
and thou shalt have fathers, and mothers, and children in that land/
This promise I have seen fulfilled to the letter, and hereby give glory
to God for this and a hundred promises more, which have by his
blessed word and his Holy Spirit been impressed on my heart."

We must furnish one more incident. It will be remembered
that Canada was embraced in the New York Conference until 1810;
so he had to come over into the States to attend the sessions. In
1808 he had attended the session, and on his return found difficulty
in getting back. But hear his own words: "In 1808, on my arrival
at Black Rock, the embargo prohibited the transportation of property
across the river. At first I was perplexed, and knew not what to do.
So I went to the hay loft, and fell on my face in prayer. I asked the
Lord, as I was engaged in His work, to open my way to fulfill my
mission in Canada. Having committed all to God, I returned to my

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 33

lodgings at the inn, when a stranger smilingly said : ' I should not
wonder if the missionary should jump into the boat, take his horse
by the bridle, and swim around the embargo! I did so, swam across
the Niagara River, and landed safely in Canada."

It is now time to return to his relation to the work in Michigan.
He is to be regarded as the founder, under God, of Protestantism in
Michigan, although he did not organize the Church, for he cleared the
way for those who entered into his labors. In the midst of many
discouragements he persevered, trusting in God. His way was not
always smooth. Although he found a friend in Robert Abbott, Esq.,
who did all he could to make him feel at home and to render him
comfortable, it was otherwise with Mrs. Abbott. Her mother, who had
been educated an Irish Presbyterian, had become a Roman Catholic,
and for some reason had acquired a most bitter enmity toward the
Methodists, having resided in Philadelphia for a time and heard some
thing of them. Mrs. Abbott's father was a French Catholic, and in
herited all the Roman Catholic virulence against all Protestants,.
With this education the idea of having a Methodist preacher in the
house was most abhorent to her. She, therefore, sought every op
portunity and resorted to all the means she dared to make his stay
there as uncomfortable as possible.

Mr. Case was a plain, earnest and faithful preacher, and did not
spare the follies and wickedness of the people. This, of course, was
not always palatable to those who were described. On one occasion
some of the baser sort about the town, wishing to vent their spleen —
to show their contempt for religion and the minister — and being too
cowardly to do it openly, stole into the stable at night and trimmed
the hair from the tail and mane of his unoffending horse. In the
morning Mr. Case found his horse in that sad plight; but nothing
daunted, he mounted his Pegassus and rode through the principal
streets of the town, making full show of what had been done. S-nne
of the principal citizens were much chagrined at this circumstance
and offered him a high price for the animal, but he refused to sell
him at any price and rode him away. In this way he defeated the
purpose they had in view, and turned the shame on themselves.

By permission of the General Conference of 1808, as they un
derstood it, the bishops organized the Genesee Conference, em
bracing- the Susquehannah, Cayuga, Upper and Lower Canada dis
tricts, in 1810, and the first session thereof was held at the village of
Lyons, New York, in a corn-house belonging to Judge Dorsey. This
session commenced July 2Oth, 1810. It may be that from the place —
a corn house — in which the Conference sessions were held this year,

34 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

originated the remark of an enemy of Methodism, that " a corn crib
would now hold all the Methodists, and in a short time a corn basket
will hold them." Mr. Case, from his appointment at Detroit, became
a member of this Conference and continued so until the Canada
Conference was created, the first session of which was held at Hal-
lowell, in Upper Canada, beginning August 25th, 1824. At this first
session of the Genesee Conference, Mr. Case was appointed to the
Cayuga District, as Presiding Elder, on which he remained four years.
Upon the expiration of this period, at the session of the Genesee
Conference held in Genoa, Cayuga County, New York, he was ap
pointed in charge of Chenango District, on which he remained only
one year, and was, at the session of the Conference commencing
June 2Qth, 1815, appointed Presiding Elder of Upper Canada Dis
trict, which brought him once more to Detroit, as this was included
in his district. He remained on this district one year only, and was
transferred to the Lower Canada District. Why these frequent
changes from district to district occurred, we have no means of
determining. One thing, however, is certain, that is, it was not for
want of ability to sustain himself for a longer period. Very probably
it arose from the fact that the districts were so difficult to travel and
so laborious, that it was thought advisable to afford relief by change.
Mr. Case remained in the Lower Canada District for four years,
viz: from July, 1816, to July 2Oth, 1820. From the time of his ap
pointment to the Upper Canada District, in 1815, he became fully and
entirely identified with the interests of Methodism in Canada — that
became his home. In July, 1820, he was re-appointed to the Upper
Canada District, in charge of which he remained four years, but was
not officially connected with Michigan Methodism, as Michigan, (that
is, Detroit,) was transferred to the Ohio Conference, by act of the
General Conference, in 1820. Mr. Case, however, was at the first
Camp-Meeting held in Michigan, on the River Rouge. It was held
by Rev. John P. Kent, in 1822. His labors at this Camp-Meeting
were highly appreciated and were very useful. At the expiration of
his term of four years on the Upper Canada District, he was ap
pointed to the Bay Quinte District, and from thence forward he be
came identified with the Indian Missions of that region, although he
supplied this district for four years — that is, from 1824 to 1828. By
permission of the General Conference of 1828, the Canada Confer
ence erected itself into an independent Church, entitled the Meth
odist Episcopal Church in Canada. In this new body Mr. Case
held a very conspicuous place and rendered very important services.
His whole soul became wrapped up in the interests of the Indian

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 35

Missions in Canada, of which he might be said to be the father. He
was once elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
Canada, before the union of a part of the body with the Wesleyans
of Great Britain, — that is, while the Methodists of Canada were all
one body, — but he declined to be ordained, and continued his labors
among the Indians. In the good providence of God he was permit
ted to visit Detroit in 1853, and to attend the session of the Michi
gan Conference, which met in that city for the third time this year.
He preached on the Sabbath, and reviewed the past with great in
terest and much pleasure, contrasting the past with the present. It
was a great pleasure to the Conference to be favored with his pres
ence at this time.

Mr. Case was a man of athletic frame, dignified and command
ing in his personal appearance, of indomitable perseverance, of a
strong and vigorous mind, of close observation, of a kind and
sweet spirit. He was a devoted Christian, and was a very earnest
and successful laborer. God gave him many souls as seals to his
ministry. He died in 1855, honored and respected by all who knew
him. Indeed, so transparent and pure was his character, that to
know him was to love him. We in Michigan love and honor him, and
even venerate him, because he was honored of God as the instrument
•of laying the foundation of Methodism in our Peninsular State. But
he has gone to his peaceful and glorious rest in heaven.

REV. NINIAN HOLMES was admitted on trial in the New York
Conference in 1807, and was appointed as the third preacher, with
Nathan Bangs and Thomas Whitehead, on Niagara Circuit. In
1808 he was appointed in charge of Bay Quinte Circuit. In 1809 he
was admitted into full connection in the Conference, and ordained
both as Deacon and Elder, as a missionary. Why he was so desig
nated does not appear. He was appointed to Augusta Circuit.
These appointments were all in Canada West, now Ontario ; or as it
was then called, Upper Canada. In 1810 he was appointed to
Detroit, alone, but found Mitchell here from the Western Confer
ence, as before stated. The next year, 1811, he was returned to
Detroit, with Silas Hopkins as his colleague and junior. This has
the appearance of a determination to prosecute the work here with
vigor. Some success attended their labors. This is the last appoint
ment that Mr. Holmes ever supplied, for although at the Conference
of 1812 he was appointed to Niagara Circuit, in Canada, the break
ing out of the war prevented his going to it. He continued in
Detroit until after the surrender of the place by General Hull, for
on that day he was in the city and baptized a child for Wm. McCarty.

36 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

In consequence of the war, all communication with his Conference —
the Genesee — was broken off; and when the smoke of battle and
the clouds of war were cleared away, and peace was declared in
1815, and the scattered members were to be gathered up and re
organized, Mr. Holmes did not report himself at headquarters for
duty in the itinerant field. His name disappears, in this way, from
the records of the workmen. Though he had assisted " at the intro
duction ot strangers among the workmen," he himself now declined
"to assist in the work of rebuilding the temple" of our God. He set
tled down on the Thames, engaged in business, and so has passed
from our view. It is sad to think of a man capable of doing much
good, as he was, settling down to mere secular employments while
there was so much need of his help, " to restore and build the waste
places of Zion." While on this Circuit, he and his colleague seemed
disposed to take in all the places they could, for they continued to
extend their labors to Monroe, and made that journey of forty miles
and back to preach to a small congregation. They had some suc
cess there. A small Society had been organized the year before, all
of whom were scattered by the war. We have not been able to ob
tain any information in regard to Mr. Holmes' religious experience
or the finale of his existence. He is said to have been a very good
preacher and faithful to his work while here.

REV. SILAS HOPKINS. We can say but very little in regard to
this young man. He was admitted on trial in the Genesee Confer
ence, at the session, July nth, 1811, and appointed to Detroit, as
above stated. The next year, 1812, he was appointed to Augusta,
in Canada, but as everything was in confusion, by the war, he could
not attend to it, and so disappears. We have no further mention of
him in the records of the Church.

JOSEPH SAWYER appears on the Minutes for 1809, as the Pre
siding Elder, but as he does not appear to have visited Michigan at
all, we make no further mention of him.

HENRY RYAN stands at the head of Upper Canada District
for the years 1810, 1811 and 1812. He appears again in 1816,
1817, 1818 and 1819, in the same office, making seven years in
all that he was connected with Michigan Methodism, in this rela
tion. It is proper, therefore, to furnish some sketch of his life
and character. Mr. Ryan was a very large man, of Herculean
strength; of a vigorous mind and a determined will. This last
trait in his character finally led him astray, and induced him to
abandon the Church in which he had labored very successfully for
many years and to set up a small party for himself. His party, from

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 37

a common disposition to designate a people by the name of the
leading spirit among them, was called Ryanites. He had done much
hard service, and had seen much rough fare. He was emphatically
a pioneer. He could preach with great power and effect. The
largeness of his frame was sometimes of service to him. The fol
lowing anecdote has been related of him : On one occasion he had
preached with great plainness and effect, so much so that a certain
son of Vulcan became very much exasperated and swore he would
whip the first Methodist preacher who should pass his shop. He
lived on the road Mr. Ryan had to pass to reach his next appoint
ment. Some one who had heard the threatening informed the preacher
of it, and advised him to seek some other road, as the blacksmith
was a very desperate and determined man and would be likely to
execute his threat. Mr. Ryan thought it not advisable to be driven
from his course by any such apprehension, so when the time came
he started on his way. The blacksmith had seen him coming and
was prepared for him. When the preacher came up to where he
was by the side of the road, the fellow accosted him, asking him if he
was not a Methodist preacher, to which inquiry the preacher respond
ed that his name was Ryan, and that he was a Methodist preacher.
" Well, then, " said the fellow, " you must dismount, as I have sworn I
Would whip the first Methodist priest that comes this way." Mr.
Ryan very coolly told him he thought he had taken a very foolish
oath, and that he had better let him pass. This only increased the
fury of the man, as he thought the preacher was afraid of him ; so
he told him he could not pass without a flogging. On this Mr. Ryan
alighted from his horse, saying, " If I must, then, I must." Mr. Ryan
then deliberately laid aside his coat, rolled up his sleeves, exhibiting
an arm something like a hand-spike and a fist resembling a sledge
hammer. Having made these preparations, he approached the black
smith with his arm uplifted, exclaiming, " The Lord have mercy on
your poor soul, as I shall have none on your body." The poor fellow
was not prepared for this kind of exhibition, and quailed before the
preacher. But the preacher did not let him escape without a whole
some exhortation, and exacting from him a pledge never to insult
another minister. There are several editions of this story, but some
thing of the kind occurred and we give it as we received it. A large
body was of good service at that time. He was the last Presiding
Elder sent out from the Genesee Conference, whose district included
Detroit. He has gone to his long account ; we trust in peace, for
we think him sincere, though in error in his last years. We will
honor him for the hard, beneficial service which he rendered in this

38 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

field, and draw the veil of charity over the foibles and errors of his
separation from the Church.

Henry Ryan was admitted into the traveling connection in 1800,
and was appointed in charge of Vergennes Circuit, in the New York
District, with Robert Dyer as his colleague and Freeborn Garretson
as his Presiding Elder. This was before the connection was proper
ly divided into Annual Conferences, or rather so distinguished in the
Minutes of the appointments, as is now the case. The bishops
called certain districts together, as was convenient, and made the
appointments for the year. The Conference met in New York
City, June igth, 1800. The next year it met in the same place, June
1 6th, and Mr. Ryan was returned to Vergennes Circuit, alone, and
the district was now called Pittsfield, with Shadrach Bostwick as the
Presiding Elder. In 1802, June ist, he was admitted into full con
nection and ordained Deacon, and was appointed in charge of
Fletcher Circuit, with Elijah Hedding as his colleague. The District
and Presiding Elder are the same. The conferences are distinguish
ed in the Minutes this year, for the first time, and Pittsfield District
is included in the New York Conference. At the session of the
New York Conference, held in New York, beginning June i2th,
1804, he was ordained an Elder and appointed in charge of Platts-
burg Circuit, of which he had charge the year before. It is not
necessary to follow him through all his appointments. The next
year he was appointed in charge of Bay Quinte Circuit, in the Upper
Canada District, and from this time he becomes identified with
Canada, and in 1810 he was appointed to the Upper Canada Dis
trict as Presiding Elder, which brought him into the range of our
History, as before related. In the Minutes of the Canada Confer
ence, for the year 1827, we find Henry Ryan's name returned as
having withdrawn from the connection this year. This was a great
mistake in him. We find this one peculiarity in his case — that is, he
was appointed in charge of a Circuit his first year, and always after
continued in charge of circuits or districts as long as he was effect
ive ; while such men as Bangs, Case and Hedding had to serve for
a time as juniors. Mr. Ryan had been on the list of superannuates
for the last two years preceding his severance of his connection with
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Ryan had superior executive abilities, as was acknowl
edged in the appointments he received. It will be remembered that,
for three years during the war, the Church in Canada being con
nected with the Genesee Conference, could not be supplied with
ministers. During this time Mr. Ryan called the ministers in Canada

HISTORY .OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 39

together, and as a kind of self-constituted bishop, assigned them to
their fields of labor. This, of course, was without any legal author
ity ; but such was their confidence in his executive ability that they
acquiesced in it. He having an inexorable will, by the exercise of
this power became, as was thought by many, a little too arbitrary ;
and when the fitting occasion appeared, they repudiated him. He
was deserving of great praise for his skill and supervision over the
work during the war, and that was freely accorded to him ; but when
they thought he had demanded too much they refused, and that
refusal he could not well brook. So he withdrew, and led in the
organization of a new body which has been known as the " Methodist
New Connection," but has now united with the Wesleyan body in
Canada, and become absorbed in "The Methodist Church of Canada."

REV. WILLIAM MITCHELL, who acted so conspicuous and im
portant a part in the history of Methodism at its organization in
Michigan, must not be confounded with Joseph Mitchell who spent
the winter of 1816-17 in Detroit, and of whom we speak elsewhere.
Our materials for making up a memorial sketch of William Mitchell
are very few. He was regarded by those who knew him here as a
very good man and a fine preacher. We gather the following facts
from our General Minutes, concerning him : He was admitted on
trial by the Western Conference in 1807, and expelled in 1812 ; for
what cause is not stated. In the meantime he had been appointed
as follows, viz : 1807, Mad River Circuit, in Ohio, as junior preacher ;
1808 and 1809 (two years), Little Kan awha, in Virginia ; 1810, he
was ordained Elder and stationed on Detroit Circuit, on which he
remained only one year; 1811, Tuscarawas, in the Muskingum Dis
trict, in Ohio ; 1812, the sad announcement is made that he was ex
pelled from the connection. Here he is lost to our view. Why Mr.
Mitchell should have been sent from the Western Conference, when
Mr. Holmes was sent from the Genesee, we cannot tell. But the
fact is, so little was known of Detroit that the mistake might easily
occur. How they settled the matter of jurisdiction we are not in
formed, but we infer that Mr. Holmes attended to so much of the
Circuit as was in Canada, and Mr. Mitchell to Michigan ; so Mr.
Mitchell organized the Church in Detroit and on the Rouge, as
before, stated.

This closes our ministerial list for the first period of our History.
There were but a few men, but they were men of ability. They
laid a good foundation and commenced to rear a goodly structure,
and were only interrupted by the breaking out of the war. But we
have reason to be very thankful that the fruit of their labor was

4O HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

not all destroyed — that a few were found steadfast at the end of the
conflict. We will now proceed to give some account of the laymen,
and of some of the women of this period, which will be interesting
and valuable.

ROBERT ABBOTT, Esq., holds such a relation to the work of Pro
testantism in Michigan, that our History would be quite incomplete
without a pretty full notice of his life and experience. Some time
in the month of June, 1810, there was a Camp-Meeting held on the
River Thames, which Mr. Abbott attended. He had not yet ex
perienced renewing grace, but was deeply anxious for his own salva
tion. The circumstances of his conversion have before been fully
related.

Robert Abbott was born in Detroit, in 1771, and was probably
the first American born here. We use the term American, in dis
tinction from Indian and French ; for although both these were
American by their residence, they are usually distinguished as
Indian or French, as the case may be. He was Anglican in his
origin. His mother is said to have been the first American woman
speaking the English language who settled at Detroit. She was
born at Albany, N. Y., of Dutch parentage. His father, James Ab
bott, was a merchant from Dublin, Ireland, and is said to have been
the first English-speaking person who opened business in this city.
He was here some time before he was married.

Mr. Abbott was born in the midst of wild savagism ; for it
would seem that his family was the only English-speaking family
here at the time. Indians were numerous, and the few French set
tlers had conformed themselves almost entirely to the Indian cos
tumes and habits of life, and instead of elevating the former they
had been reduced to their level. This grew partly out of the French
adaptability to their surroundings. The circumstances were such
that it was with the utmost difficulty they could obtain a supply of the
conveniences, or even the necessaries of civilized life. It is a uni
versal principle of human nature to avoid much exertion, unless
there is a very strong stimulus to it. The free and easy kind of
indolent life of the savage, relieved only by the excitement of the
chase, suited the French settlers better than the labors and restraints
of civilization. Agriculture was of no value beyond the supply of
their immediate wants — it furnished no remuneration. The materials
for civilized costumes were costly, while they had little or nothing
to pay. Hunting, fishing and trapping formed their chief occupa
tion, and furnished them with what means they had to obtain money
or goods. Up to this time, the nearest settlement of any account

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 41

was at Montreal, in Canada, one that was too far off to exercise any
civilizing influence on the inhabitants of Detroit and its vicinity. The
British Government had had a garrison of soldiers here for eleven
years, at the time of Mr. Abbott's birth ; they having wrested Fort
Ponchartrain from the French, November 2Qth, 1760. But we know
a garrison of soldiers never promotes civilization. Indeed, there
were none here over whom to exert any civilizing influence, except
the Indians and French. These had made common cause against the
English, and were alike uninfluenced by them. So complete was the
identification of the French and Indians, that at the time of Pontiac's
siege of Detroit the persons and property of the French settlers
were unharmed. The Indians called them brothers, and treated them
as such. Pontiac, the great Chief of the Northwest, was not pleased
with the occupancy of the country by the English, and in 1761 com
menced a plan for the destruction of the garrison and all English
persons who might chance to be in the country. He collected his
allies from all parts of the country, and made to them the most
incendiary speeches and aroused all the blood-thirsty dispositions of
their savage natures. He besieged the garrison at Detroit. He
cruelly murdered all soldiers, officers, and others whom he could by
any means get into his possession. One poor old woman who lived
outside the fort was cruelly murdered, and an unoffending old man,
who resided on what is now called Belle Isle, was likewise slain. He
laid a deep plot to get into the fort and take it by treachery, but
this was revealed to the commanding officer, General Gladwin, and
so failed. He finally abandoned his project, and in 1764 raised the
siege of Detroit and returned to the Maumee River. The popula
tion at this time, for the whole of Michigan, was said to be about
2,500; but a census taken in 1768 reports only 572. It is quite
probable that the former number is an exaggeration ; but a reason is
given for the decrease ; that is, that many of the inhabitants, fearing
the consequences of having taken a part with Pontiac, fled to Illinois.
But this is hardly sufficient to account for the difference. The place
now being under the British Government, and having become com
paratively safe for English people, Mr. James Abbott, a merchant
from Dublin, Ireland, and father of our subject, settled here for trade.
He was born here as before stated, in the midst of exciting and
savage scenes, for society had not much improved in the last ten
years. Detroit was a great point of concentration for the natives to
dispose of their peltries and to receive annuities from the British
Government.

When Mr. Robert Abbott came to maturity he entered into the

42 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

fur trade with the Indians and succeeded in acquiring a good property
for the times. He also acquired a respectable business education, so
that he was in a condition to fill the Government offices of the times
with credit and satisfaction, he having been Auditor General of the
Territory for several years. Under the circumstances with which he
was surrounded and brought up, he was utterly destitute of religious
knowledge until after he had attained his majority, or manhood.
He probably heard Mr. Freeman and Mr. Bangs preach when they
were here in 1804. He married into a Roman Catholic family, and
it is rather a matter of wonder that, under the circumstances, he did
not drink in that faith ; but he seemed not to have done so. When
Mr. Case came to Detroit, in 1809, as a Methodist Missionary, he
found a home with Mr. Abbott, and after many conferences on the
subject, he made up his mind to enlist under the banner of Christ as
presented by Mr. Case, and was happily converted in June, 1810.
The fact that he made a profession of experimental religion indicates
a decision of character which is very commendable. None of his
family or friends were quite ready to join with him then, though
some did soon after. He had to take his stand alone. Even his
wife and her friends were strongly against him, and he had every
reason to expect he would meet with scorn and contempt, if not
open persecution. It was only after long and very earnest thought
that he decided the question of becoming a Christian ; but having
once decided he ought to do so, he entered upon it with alacrity.
It is not to be wondered at that, after so severe and long-continued
a mental struggle, the change should be marked end that his
Christian joy should rise very high, as it did when he received the
evidence of pardoning grace. Having put his hand to the plow, he
never looked back nor turned aside from his profession of faith in
Christ.

When Rev. Mr. Case came to Detroit, in 1809, there were no
Protestant professors of religion in the Territory, so far as then
known, and consequently there were no Christians to greet him on
his coming or to give him welcome. He came to Detroit as a
Christian adventurer, seeking to save the lost in sin. Mr. Abbott,
by some means not now ascertainable, found out that such a man
was in the city, and was at once strongly drawn to him, and invited
him to his house. He proved to be an angel of love and mercy.
Mrs. Abbott and her relatives were very bitterly opposed to this
procedure. It will at once be apparent that, under the circum
stances, it required a great amount of firm decision on the part of
Mr. Abbott to take a Methodist preacher into his house and furnish

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 43

him a resting place. But he did it. How the preacher was received
by the wife, and what fears she entertained, have been before nar
rated. When the Church was to be organized here he united with
it, helping to constitute it. For many years he took as active a part
in the affairs of the Church as his health and the duties of his office
would permit, and contributed liberally of his money for the main
tenance of the Gospel. The latter he continued to do to the end of
his life.

When it wras decided to build a church on the River Rouge,
about five miles out of the city, which was done in 1818, he took a
very active interest in obtaining and collecting subscriptions for that
purpose. Indeed, he had to manage the business mainly himself,
because he had more means and time at command than any other
member. All the members did what they could, but he necessarily
had to be very active in it. About the time of the building of this
church, for a few years he resided on a farm in its immediate vicinity,
surrounded by French Roman Catholics mainly, who had little or no-
regard for the Sabbath. Mr. Abbott having been appointed a Jus
tice of tbe Peace, fined many of them for working on the Sabbath.
He met with much opposition in this, and some threats of violence
to his property for it, but he persevered and effected quite a reform
ation in this respect for the time being.

He was firm and decided in his attachment to the Christian
cause and the Church of his choice, and his end was peace. A
few days before his death one of his sons asked him how he felt in
his mind. He said, "There is not a cloud, betwixt me and heaven, as
big as a hand." As he came to the valley of the shadow of death
he feared no evil. He died very easy and peacefully, for God was
with him.

There are a few incidents occurring in his life worthy of note.
He was the first Anglo-American born in Detroit. He was the first
person who experienced the forgiveness of sins, through faith in the
blood of Christ, of the residents here. He was one to help form the
first Protestant Church in Michigan — at Detroit — and to take an
active part toward the erection of the first Protestant meeting-house
in Michigan. These are events which do not often occur in the his
tory of one man. The late Bishop Thomson, who was once stationed
in Detroit for two years, and knew Mr. Abbott well, writes of him ;
" Mr. Abbott was what Pope calls the noblest work of God, 'an
honest man.' He was much of his time in political life, and was one
of those rare men who can sacrifice office to principle, and expose
corruption even in those who have power to displace them."

44 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Many of Mr. Abbott's later years were spent in much suffering,
but these physical sufferings were endured patiently, "as seeing Him
that is invisible." He died at Coldwater, 1853, aged eighty-two
years. He had temporarily removed his residence from Detroit to
Coldwater, Michigan, and made his home with a married daughter,
Mrs. Chandler. Here he waited patiently for his release from the
labors and sufferings of earth, and met death with a smile.

WILLIAM McCARTY, who was the first class-leader ever appoint
ed in Michigan, and who held the office for many years, comes next
to our notice and is worthy of a memorial sketch. He was born
on Grosse Isle, in 1798. His father was an Irishman and had been
pressed into the British Army, but as soon as he could get released
from the army he came to Michigan and settled on Grosse Isle,
having married, and where William was born. The educational ad
vantages were very few in Michigan at that time, and William re
ceived but very little help in that direction in his youth. Our subject
possessed all the lively sympathy and warm-heartedness for which
the Irish are so proverbial. He was led to a consecration of his
heart to God and a Christian experience, under the labors of Rev.
William Mitchell, of whom mention has already been made. The
precise time is not given, but it must have been within a few months
after the conversion of Robert Abbott, who was his brother-in-law,
as he was one of the seven to form the first Society or Church, when
it was organized in late autumn of 1810, and he was appointed the
class-leader and continued to perform the duties of that office while
the preachers remained, before the war. When the occurrence of
the war took the ministers away, he kept the flock together as well
as he could, holding religious services with them, so that when they
were permitted to come again, which was after three years of priva
tion, seven were found to be recognized as a Church. His care and
.supervision over them during this interval of ministerial service had
great influence, at this critical period, to keep them alive in the cause
— "steadfast in the faith." When Rev. Joseph Hickox came to
Detroit Circuit, in 1815, he found seven, that is the seven named as
constituting the original Society, still standing fast in the faith. These
he immediately recognized as members of the Church — and con
tinued William McCarty as the class-leader. Mr. McCarty was
well adapted to that office. He possessed a warm and lively
temperament, ready utterance, very respectable talents, and a sound
Christian experience. These are very important qualifications for
a successful class-leader. He held this office most of the time
until his death. He was licensed as an exhorter, April 2Oth, 1822,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 45

by Rev, John P. Kent. This was while Mr. Kent was supplying
Detroit Circuit, after the death of Rev. Platt B. Morey, as noticed in
its proper place hereafter. He continued to hold license as an ex-
horter as long as he lived. In this department of Church labor he
had few equals.

Mr. McCarty continued to reside in the County of Wayne and
in the vicinity of Detroit until the summer of 1831, at which time he
removed to the County of Branch and settled on a small prairie in
the township of Girard. In this locality he was one to help consti
tute the second Christian Church organized in Branch County. The
first Society was organized by Rev. E. H. Pilcher, on the igth of
June, 1832, at Coldwater, consisting of Allen Tibbitts, Caroline M.
Tibbitts, Joseph Hanchett and Nancy Hanchett. This second Soci
ety was organized a few weeks later, by Rev. E. S. Gavit, the junior
preacher on the Circuit. When the county of Branch was organ
ized, in 1833, he was elected the first sheriff and removed his resi
dence to Coldwater, where he finally ended his career. At this place
he entered into trade in the days of wild speculation — in 1836 and
1837, but failed in business, as many others did. Now there came a
hard struggle for him and a test of his Christian character. If he at
tempted to pay his debts, it would strip him of everything, and he
and his wife, with part of his family who were still dependent on
him for support and education, would be thrown upon the world with
nothing — to begin the world anew. He had it in his power now to
keep a sufficient amount of property under cover to make himself
and family very comfortable during his life. The temptation was
very strong to do so, and the reasoning very specious. He strug
gled with this temptation for some time; but, as might have been ex
pected, he was without religious life or consolation. Finally, he saw
clearly what would be the result to his soul, and grace triumphed.
He immediately determined to do right — to make a clean sweep
of the matter, and expose all his property to meet his debts, as far
as possible. No sooner had he made this determination than he be
came exceedingly happy, and ever after thanked God that he had
been able to resist the temptation and do right. He died very happy
in 1844, aged fifty-five years, having been a member of the Method
ist Episcopal Church for thirty-four years. It had been a very com
mon remark with him that he expected " to go straight from Cold-
water to heaven." While on his death-bed he said to his children,
"Live religion" To a Christian brother who called to see him a few
days before his departure he said: "Brother Fisk, if I could get
loose from this old body, how quick I would be there — in heaven,"

46 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Thus he died, in the faith for which he had contended for so many
years, and has gone to receive that " crown of righteousness which
the Lord the righteous Judge " had prepared for him. He was
the second man who professed conversion in Michigan. We are
indebted to him for much valuable information in regard to 'the
organization of the Methodist Church in this peninsula.

BETSEY ABBOTT. How soon will all means of obtaining informa
tion of the early history of Protestantism in Michigan be gone! All
the members of the first Protestant Church in Michigan are now
laid in the grave. Betsey Abbott was the wife of Robert Abbott,
and was brought to the knowledge of salvation soon after he was,
and she was ready to join the Methodist Church as soon as there
was one to be organized. She was sister to Mrs. Maria C. McCarty.
We have already given sufficient notice of her early religious train
ing and prejudices. These prejudices yielded to the power of grace
and she became decidedly attached to the Church she had so violent
ly opposed. After her conversion she always retained her relation
to the Church as a member. She was not at her own home at the
time of her death, as she had resided, ever after the death of her hus
band, with her daughter at Coldwater. She had been visiting her
daughter, Mrs. E. V. Cicott in Detroit, for a short time previous to
her death. The following brief notice of her, written by her pastor,
was published at the time : " Died, in Detroit, Michigan, March 24th,
[1858], Betsey Abbott, of this place, aged seventy-three years and
four months. The deceased had been a useful member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-eight years. Herself, her
companion and her sister, were three of the first class of seven or
ganized in Detroit — the first Methodist class formed in the State.
The sister of the deceased, who also is a resident of this place, is the
only one now living.

" Sister Abbott was an amiable and faithful Christian, highly es
teemed and loved while she lived, and her death has caused deep
sorrow among acquaintances and friends. She died in peace, trust
ing in the merits of the Saviour.

"COLDWATER, MICH., April 5th, 1858. N. ABBOTT."

In relation to Mrs. Abbott, the late Bishop Thomson, in an
article in the Western Christian Advocate, dated Oct. 6th, 1858, thus
speaks : " She had a strong attachment to the Church, and opened
her house with grace to its ministers. It was amusing to hear her
tales of early days, and particularly her anecdotes of the eccen
tric Mitchell, who said on one occasion, while preaching in Detroit :
* You, General Macomb, and you, General Cass, will burn in hell

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 47

like common sinners, if you do not repent !' and on another occa
sion cried out, at the commencement of religious services, 'Stop that
ungodly big fiddle till we get done worship !'

" It was no less amusing to hear her account of the reproofs she
administered on such occasions, when she got the offending minister
seated at her hospitable table."

Thus are the relics of the early days of Methodism in Michigan
passing away ; for when the preparation for this History was com
menced Mrs. Abbott and Mrs. McCarty, with their husbands, were
both living and were freely consulted ; but they are now both gone,
thus severing the last living links of this period of our Methodistic
History, because all the ministers who officiated here then are also
gone.

MARIA C. Me C ARTY was the last survivor of the seven who con
stituted the first Protestant Church organization in Detroit, and was
the first to feel the true conviction for sin, though not the first one
converted in the city. She resided in the City of Detroit in 1 804,
and always retained a lively recollection of the visit and preaching
of Rev. Mr. Freeman, in that year, of whom we have before spoken.
His bold, earnest preaching impressed her heart deeply, so that she
never was satisfied with her condition till she found peace in Christ,
some years afterwards. The conversion of her brother-in-law, Rob
ert Abbott, took such hold upon her already awakened heart that
she soon gave herself up to Christ and found peace in His name.
As soon as there was a minister to organize a Church, she was ready
to unite with it. She had been educated, as her sister Mrs. Abbott,
in abhorence of the Methodists, but did not appear to have partaken
of the spirit of opposition in the same measure. But whatever her
prejudices might have been, they all finally yielded to the power of
truth, when she gave her heart to the Saviour. Her life was con
sistent with her profession, and she always remained firm in her
attachment to the Church of her choice. Her last days were cheer
ful and happy.

We avail ourselves of the following obituary notice, written by
Hon. Albert Chandler and published in one of the papers of the
City of Coldwater, at the time of her death :

" Died, in the City of Coldwater, on the morning of the loth ult.,
Mrs. Maria C. McCarty, widow of the whilom Wm. McCarty, at the
advanced age of seventy-six years, after an illness of three months.
The deceased was born in the City of Philadelphia. At an early age
her parents with their children moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., where she
received her education, and at the age of twelve years she with her

48 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

parents removed to Detroit, where she resided for a number of
years, and especially during the war of 1812; she passing through
all the trials incident to that war on the frontier. She witnessed the
disgraceful surrender of Detroit. In 1831, she with her husband
emigrated to Branch County. When she arrived where now stands
the flourishing City of Coldwater she was sheltered by her son-
in-law, Mr. Allen Tibbitts, in the only house then standing on the
ground of the present city. After spending just time enough to
visit her children, she and her husband started for their contemplated
farm home in the township of Girard, Branch County. At this time
Girard was an Indian village, and the whole region round about was
in almost the undisturbed possession of the Indians, of whom there
were hundreds, while of the whites there were but few. After spend
ing a few years in Girard, more white people having come to join
the white population, a Methodist quarterly meeting was announced
to be held in Coldwater. The Methodists from far and near were noti
fied, and at the appointed time the Presiding Elder, Rev. James Gil-
ruth, riding one horse and leading another, as was his custom, ap
peared to fill the appointment he had made. The services were con
ducted in the aforesaid house of Mr. Tibbitts, which was a house
of but one room, and this answered the purpose of church, class
room, parlor, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and bed room.
Thirty-one worshipped in that house, the deceased among the number,
and tarried there during the quarterly meeting. It was a joyous
meeting of Christians. The communicants came to worship God —
no conventional nonsense prevented the full enjoyment of the occa
sion. Soon after this memorable quarterly meeting, the first held in
the county, the deceased with her husband moved to Coldwater,
where she remained uninterruptedly until her death. She was a
firm and uncompromising Christian woman. Her religion was a
garment worn every day. She was the life and soul of every circle
in which she moved. With a wonderful memory of particulars, she
always interested and enlivened by her conversation. She was the
first to rise when opportunity was given for those who wished to
join in the first class of Methodists of the State of Michigan, and is
the last to fall in death and go to her reward in heaven, of that class.
Her husband, and other members of that first class of seven organ
ized in Detroit in 1810, are gone. Her husband was the first class-
leader and the first licensed exhorter in the State, and continued to
hold these offices, and also that of Sabbath-School Superintendent,
until his death, which occurred about eighteen years since. The
deceased was punctual to all her engagements as a mother, citizen

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 49

and Christian. For years, if any of her family or sisters in the
Church were sick, the first person sent for was 'Aunty McCarty/ as
she was affectionately called. She never made excuses, but night
and day, rain or shine, she would promptly repair to the sick couch
and intelligently administer to the wants of the sufferer.

''She was a true friend to the Union. She knew what it had
cost of sacrifice and blood ; and when the rebels struck at the life of
the nation she yielded her full share of children and grandchildren
for its maintenance. To show her attachment to the Union, it may
be proper to give an incident. She had a sister living South during
the Rebellion. That sister, in the last letter she wrote the deceased,
undertook the defense of the right of secession. She replied warm
ly, denying the right of the South to go away, maintaining the cause
of the Union of our fathers. This closed the correspondence. She
has lived to see the State take the place of the Territory, and the
city grow up around that one house. In all her stay she was the
universal favorite. She was a remarkably healthy and active woman,
and industrious to a fault. She was known only to be loved. Her
end was such as might have been expected from her life. She had
stood up for Jesus for over half a ceutury. Not long before her
death she said to the writer : ' I know in whom I trust.' She quietly
fell asleep in Jesus — 'blessed sleep.' '

Thus far, Mr. Chandler. Her decease occurred June loth,
1863. In her death we lose the last link connecting us with the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit before the war.

WILLIAM STACY was converted soon after Robert Abbott, and
joined the Church at the same time with him and others to form the
first Christian Church, other than Roman Catholic, in this peninsula.
He was not large of stature nor very active in religious meetings,
but he was firm, quiet and steady in his religious life. He settled in
the vicinity of Detroit some time prior to 1810, though the exact
time cannot be ascertained now. At the time of his death, which
occurred in 1827, he resided on a farm on the River Rouge, about
seven miles out of the City of Detroit. He left a fragrant memorial
behind. He was the first of the original seven who entered into
the heavenly rest. In his religious devotions he was very devout
and earnest, but not boisterous. He attended the prayer and class
meetings very constantly, and always took part in the exercises. He
was a very devoted Christian, and died in full hope of a glorious
immortality.

BETSEY STACY was the wife of the above, and survived him for
a number of years. Her maiden name was Thomas. She was

50 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

born in Newtown, New York, and was converted to God about the
same time with her husband, so that she joirted the Methodist Epis
copal Church on the same day and was one of the noted seven.
She was large of stature, commanding and noble in her appearance,
and of an ardent temperament. Her early advantages for religious
and intellectual culture were very limited, but her conversion was
sound and clear. Her religious life was steady and consistent. She
was more active in Church work and religious meetings than her
husband, and could exhort with great power, sympathy and effect.
She lived a widow for a number of years after the death of Mr.
Stacy, and then married for her second husband, Philip Warren, a
very devoted and excellent Christian man, with whom she lived hap
pily for several years. Her faith and religious activity continued
to the last. She died in a good old age, in 1853. Her funeral
sermon was preached by Rev. C. C. Olds, who was stationed in the
Congress Street Church, Detroit, of which she was a member at the
time of her death. In all her life and devotions she demonstrated
the power of Divine grace to purify and sustain ; and when she
came to the Jordan of death she feared no evil, but passed peace
fully away.

SARAH MACOMB is the least known of all these seven. We are
able at this distance of time, in the absence of records, to obtain but
very little information in regard to this Christian lady. She resided
on the Rouge ; was the wife of Major Macomb, a major in the mili
tia, and who did not live very long after the war. After his death
she married a Mr. Corbus, and some time about 1830 she removed
to the eastern edge of Branch County, where she lived for a number
of years, and has finally gone to her heavenly home, we have no
doubt. Of her last years we have not been able to gather much in
formation, especially as it regards her religious life. She was one of
the early converts, and joined the Church as soon as it was proposed
to organize one here. During the dark days of the war she stood
firm in the cause, and was one of the members recognized by the
minister who came first after the war. We have no doubt of her
peaceful end from the devotion she made in early life and in the
beginning of the work here. We have not been able to ascertain
the precise time or the circumstances of her death.

Thus have we given a brief biographical or memorial sketch of
the original seven who constituted the first Protestant Church organ
ized in Detroit — in Michigan. They embraced four families — that is,
there were three men and their wives, and one lady whose husband
did not join. There are a few particulars, very interesting, worthy

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 5 I

of notice. The first of these is, that these original seven should
alone have remained faithful and adhered together to the cause of
Christ during the struggle of the war, while all the others who
joined afterwards were scattered — though they did not all give up the
cause of religion, as was the case with Mrs. Witherell, of whom we
shall give a notice a little farther along. Another singular and in
teresting fact is, that not one of these seven ever became an apos
tate from the faith, but all retained their membership uninterruptedly
through life, and died in the faith and peace of the Gospel. A third
particular is, that these seven alone, five years later, at the close of
the war, should have been recognized as the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Detroit, by Rev. Mr. Hickox, while all the others — for the
Church had increased to thirty before the war — should have been
scattered. This last fact is so singular that we would have been very
slow to believe it had we not had the united testimony of four of
these same persons. As we have been personally acquainted with
five of these original seven, we have received the statement from
their own lips. We record these things to the praise and glory of
Him who had called them out of darkness into "His marvelous

light."

AMY WITHERELL. One very pious lady has generally been
overlooked, in speaking of the early Methodists of this State, prob
ably for the reason that she left Detroit on a visit to Vermont
sometime in 1811, in a little less than a year from the time she first
came here, she being afraid of the Indians, and did not return
until 1817 — till the country became thoroughly quiet after the war.
This lady was Mrs. Amy Witherell, wife of Judge James Witherell,
one of the Territorial Judges, and mother of the late Judge B. F. H.
Witherell of Detroit. This lady came to Detroit to reside, in the
autumn of 1810, soon after the Methodist Society was organized, and
had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Vermont.
She was born in 1778, and died in Detroit in 1848, aged 70 years.
It was our good fortune to have been somewhat acquainted with her.
She possessed a very vigorous and independent mind ; had an amia
ble disposition, and always shed a radiance of delight around her.
She was converted to an experience of Christian grace and love in
early youth, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ver
mont, at a time when it required no little independence of mind to
do so, as well as courage to be associated with them. One little in
cident will serve to show how the Methodist Church was regarded at
that time. Her husband had come to Detroit — having been ap
pointed one of the judges of the Territory — to prepare to bring his

52 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

family here to reside. Mrs. Witherell wished to attend a Methodist
meeting a few miles from her home, and went to a neighbor to pro
cure a horse to ride, as it was rather too long a walk for her. The
neighbor said he was willing to lend her the horse, but he wished
she would hitch the animal out of hearing of the preaching. He was
afraid the Methodist preaching would contaminate even his horse,
Mrs. Witherell was a very pious, consistent Christian, an ornament
to the Church for many years, and died in great peace. She became
a Methodist at a time when it was far from being fashionable to be
come one. Christianity, as believed and presented by the Methodists,
she looked upon as being the religion of the heart, and as such, she
gave to it her unqualified assent. Though born in Rhode Island,
about 1786 she removed to Vermont, and there first heard the early
pioneer Methodist preachers, of whom, in after life, she frequently
spoke as earnest men of God. Through a long life there was " no
variableness or shadow of turning" with her. She well understood
the principles of Methodism, having made herself familiar with
Fletcher's Checks, Wesley's Sermons, and other works on the sub
ject. She was always ready to give a reason for the hope that was
in her. She was not fond of controversy, but when sought by " the
orthodox," as the Calvinists called themselves, she was ready, and
they seldom retired with many laurels. Her son, Hon. B. F. H.
Witherell, said to us once, " I recollect many years ago in Vermont,
she attended a Calvinist Conference meeting. The clergyman, who
was a friend of our family, came up to her and said, in his peculiar,
friendly way, 'Well, Mrs. Witherell, when shall we have you with
us?' She promptly replied, ' Never while I have my senses/ — which
at once settled the question."

We take pleasure in introducing the following sketch from the
pen of the late Bishop Thomson, when he was editor of the Western
Christian Advocate, under date of Oct. 6th, 1858: "Of Mrs. Amy
Witherell I must be allowed to say something, as, through some
oversight, no notice of her death has been taken, 1 believe, in any
of our Church papers. She was descended from Roger Williams,
and was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on June I7th, 1778.
While but a child she was removed to Vermont, where she enjoyed
the ministry of Bishop Hedding and some of his worthy associates.
Under the first Methodist sermon she ever heard, she became con
vinced of the truth of Methodist doctrines, and she never changed
her opinion. Early a subject of grace and a member of the Church,
she remained faithful unto death. In 1810, when Detroit was a
mere village and military post, she removed to it. As the Indians

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 53

here received their annuities, Mrs. Witherell found her home un
pleasant, for from early life she had entertained a great fear of the
savages. Her husband, therefore, proposed that his wife should
take the three youngest children East, and spend the winter there.
As the prospect of war soon arose, they did not return in the spring,
but were followed by the rest of the family — two daughters — who
returned by land.

"In 1813 Judge Witherell purchased the property where the
Troy Conference Academy now stands, and where his family re
mained till 1817. In this year they returned to Detroit. It was
before the whistle of the steamboat had been heard upon the West
ern lakes, and their conveyance from Buffalo was by a small sailing
vessel. During the voyage a sudden storm arose, drenching all the
passengers on deck. Mrs. Witherell escaped to the hold, where,
being fastened down, she remained without food or light for thirty
hours. At length the vessel arrived off Cleveland, where the people,
surveying her from the shore, were expecting to see it go down.
Providentially, through an opening in the bar of driftwood of the
river just large enough to admit its passage, it escaped.

" Mrs. Witherell was a lady of a remarkably sweet spirit. Her
life was one of trial, affliction, bereavement and persecution ; yet
she passed it patiently in faith, joyful through hope, and rooted in
charity. She was called to lay in the grave several of her children
under the most painful circumstances ; one shortly after his gradua
tion, another while midshipman in the navy — all of them of great
promise ; yet she murmured not. The ten last years of her life she
spent in widowhood; but cheerful and happy, a pleasant companion
either for youth or age.

"During her residence in New England the Methodists were
few, feeble, and much misrepresented. Mrs. Witherell was often
assailed by sarcasm, raillery and abuse, as well as argument and re
monstrance ; but having a ready memory and a ready utterance, she
always had a reason for her hope, and so happy and so triumphant
in her replies that she received from her neighbors the title conferred
by the Pope upon King Henry the Eighth, 'Defender of the Faith.'

"She was not so bigoted as to prevent her from attending sister
churches when her own was closed, and sometimes catholicity was
mistaken for wavering. While in attendance at a hyper-Calvinistic
Church, on an examination of candidates for admission, a reverend
gentleman approaching her, inquired with a pompous air, 'When,
Mrs. Witherell, shall we have you among us ?' ' Not while I have
my senses/ was the reply. The prejudice against Methodism at that

54 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

time can now scarcely be conceived. A lady, known as an ex
emplary Christian, applied to the Church to which she belonged for
a letter to unite with the Methodists; but she was turned out to the
bufferings of Satan. The pastor of that Church, however, on his
dying bed sent for Methodist ministers, to pray and talk with him.

"In Fairhaven the pastor of a Calvinistic Church forbade his
son's attendance on the ministry of the Methodists, and when he dis
obeyed, he followed him, and taking him by the collar, led him out.

"Mrs. WitherelPs house was a hospitable home for the preachers,
among whom she used often to speak of Byington, White, Draper,
Lewis and Dunbar. She died August 7th, 1848. She was one of
the excellent of the earth. After her visits to our parsonage, my
good wife was accustomed to find some pieces of silver or gold
dropped into a vase or concealed beneath a cloth. Of her it might be
said, 'She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she stretcheth
out her hands to the needy. She openeth her mouth with wisdo.m,
and in her hand is the law of kindness. Her children rise up and
call her blessed ; yea, her husband also praiseth her.'

" She served her generation and fell asleep in Jesus, in full
prospect of the resurrection morning. I find one daughter of hers
still in the Detroit Church, as an ornamental pillar."*

At this point we must close our first period of History, because
there is now a chasm in ministerial services for the space of three
years. The horrors of war were experienced by the inhabitants of
Detroit and vicinity — Eastern Michigan — and, as we have seen, the
ministers of the Gospel were prevented from ministering to the
Church here. During the past period there was but one year in
which there was, designedly, more than one minister on the Detroit
Circuit ; that was the last year before the war commenced, when Mr.
Holmes was assisted by Silas Hopkins. It is probable they so ar
ranged the Circuit that there was preaching regularly at each ap
pointment once in two weeks. But there were a few very earnest
men and women, as we have seen, who during their deprivation of
ministerial service, kept up their regular services, and maintained
the work of God. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for us at
this period of the growth of the city and country, and of the Church,
to realize the difficulties they had to encounter. But God was with
them, and though most of them were dispersed — some going to
other parts, and some going back to sin — a few stood fast in the
faith, and kept the Church alive, the fortunes of which will be re
corded in our further History.

*This was Mrs. ^fary A. Palmer, who has since died, vl- ; March iQth, 1874, after a very brief illness. A
memoir of her will be given in the proper place.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 55

CHAPTER III. •

Close of the War — First Appointment — Other Denominations — Monteith — Hickox in Canada —
Col. James' Order — Success — Reflections — Presbyterian Ministers — Friendship Interrupted
— Mitchell — Evangelistic Society — Grant of Land — Presbyterian Church Organized —
Laning Appointed — Harmon — Numbers — Davis — Conclusion.

|E had to close our last period just at the opening of the
war between Great Britain and the United States. War
was declared on the part of the United States against
Great Britain in June, 1812, and Michigan being directly
on the border, had to be much involved. Detroit and
Monroe were the only points where anything of importance
could be transacted. The bloody massacre at Monroe or French
Town has passed into history. Our business is not so much
with the State as the Church, still we must take sufficient notice
of the affairs of the State, as to enable the reader to appreciate
the difficulties with which the Church had to struggle.

This chapter properly opens a new period in our History, but
with no very flattering prospects. The storms and tempests which
had raged in this region, from the time the United States declared
war against Great Britain until peace was declared in 1815, laid
waste every fair prospect and scattered almost entirely the little flock
of Christians who lived in and about Detroit.

We may here remark that no other denomination of Christians
had as yet made any effort to establish a Church in this place or in
this peninsula. Nor had any other ministers ventured to brave the
difficulties and dangers and to endure the privations necessary to
come here to preach the Gospel, with the one exception before
named, and he preached but a few times and gave up the field in
despair. All that had been done for the moral and religious irr
provement of the people, except so far as Romanism does thai,
had been done by the Methodists alone.

56 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

As soon as the clouds of war began to disappear, so that it wai
practicable to keep open the intercourse between the two nations,
ministers were sent to this field ; and Detroit appears again on our
Minutes in 1815. The Genesee Conference met at Lyons, in the
State of New York, June 29th, 1815, when the condition of the peo
ple of Detroit and the adjacent country was duly considered. It was
determined at this session to send them a minister. According to
this determination, Rev. Joseph Hickox was appointed to Detroit,
which was included in the Upper Canada District, with Wm. Case as
Presiding Elder. The Circuit at the time was in chaos, and he was
expected to include a wide range of country, requiring a vast
amount of labor and self-sacrifice to make its rounds. What an
undertaking! But where was there ever a field of labor coming
within the range of possibilities, that was neglected or abandoned by
the Methodist itinerants ! They have always been noted for perse
vering labors.

Mr. Hickox was a young, unmarried man, full of life and energy,
having been but three years in the ministry. He was ordained
Elder this year, which was a year in advance of the regular time, in
view of his being appointed to this distant and isolated field. What
more noble spirit could be exhibited than was here displayed! Here
he was, a lone man assigned to this distant field of labor, to gain his
support as best he could among the people. There was then no
Missionary Society upon which he could rely for a support. He had
to go out in the name of his Master, hardly knowing whither he went.
He was a young man of talent, whose words dropped from his lips
with a peculiar unction ; he was of the Saint Chrysostom cast. He
possessed an earnest piety and zeal that carried him through all the
difficulties and embarrassments which presented themselves in his
path. Mr. Hickox continued on this Circuit for two years.

This chapter will embrace what we may denominate the second
period of Protestantism in Michigan. This period will run through a
term of five years and will take in a little wider range than the former,
because the country having become a little more settled, the Circuit
embraced a wider extent of Michigan soil. We make this period
extend to the time when Michigan was transferred frpm the Genesee
to the Ohio Conference, which was done by the General Conference
of 1820. This period extends from June 29th, 1815, to July, 1820.
The first appointment from the Ohio Conference was made in
August, 1820. Joseph Hickox was the first minister appointed, and
Truman Dixon was the last. We shall soon see what changes shall
have occurred in these five years.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 57

As was to be expected, the ravages of war had made their im
pression on the feeble Christian Church which had been organized
in Detroit. They had now been three years without a pastor, and
in the midst of war scenes. In consequence of this interruption of
pastoral and ministerial labor, and the demoralizing influences of war,
when Mr. Hickox arrived he only found seven who " had not defiled
their garments," and who wished to be regarded as members of a
Christian Church. It was emphatically a little Church in the wilder
ness. How their hearts must have leaped for joy when a minister
was sent to them again! It was like the dawning of the morning
after a long and dreary night. This was the number of Protestant
Christians in Michigan in 1815.

They were at once recognized by Mr. Hickox as a Christian
Church, and were cheered and animated in their Christian course by
the regular visits and ministrations of this young and active minister
of Jesus Christ. There were several of the Corbuses, Thomases and
Hanchetts residing on the River Rouge, from three to eight miles
out of the city, who soon became members, so that the Society in
creased with considerable rapidity; nevertheless, it was subject to con
siderable fluctuations. The increase of population was slow, as yet,
and the labors of the minister in Michigan was confined to Detroit
and its vicinity. The precise numbers in Society for each year can
not be ascertained, as the old class-books are not to be found and
the Conference Minutes include the members on the Canada side
also. It is much to be regretted that the early records were so
loosely kept. Indeed, no book of records was used except the class
book, and that often consisted of a single sheet of paper folded so
as to make several pages. When this little book was filled, or per
haps when the list of members was revised, the names were trans
ferred to a new one of similar capacity, leaving out all who had
died, removed, withdrawn or been expelled; then this was usually
thrown aside as a matter of no more consequence. The thought
was not entertained that these old books would ever be of any
service or interest as historical references. Mr. McCarty, however,
who was the first class leader in Michigan and continued in that
capacity for many years, took the precaution to preserve nearly all his
books — had them all stitched together and neatly preserved until his
death. When he died, the minister who preached his funeral sermon
called on the widow and obtained these books, with the pledge that
he would return them — a pledge that he failed to redeem. As this
minister shortly after left the place and the ministry, and died, it has
been impossible to reclaim them. We can now only arrive approx-

58 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

imately at the numbers in Society in Michigan, from the General
Minutes, because the Detroit Circuit extended into Canada, and the
majority of the members resided on that side of the river. In this
state of facts we have had to rely very much on the recollections of
the few relics of those days with whom we have been able to con
verse. These recollections conflict in some instances. But we have
to make the best we can of their statements ; for what we have lost
in regard to these things is irreclaimably lost.

As before stated, Mr. Hickox was appointed to this field, and
after a tedious and perilous journey, he reached Detroit and com
menced his labors. An account of his journey will be found in the
next chapter. Mr. Hickox gives the following statement of affairs
here on his arrival : "In that portion of the work situated on the
Canada side I found the remnants of a few societies which had been
formed by the Rev. William Case and his successors ; but the
tumults of war had destroyed every vestige of organization. In
Michigan, some itinerants had labored here, partially before the war."

Mr. Hickox continues his narrative : " Among the Methodists I
found in Detroit was Robert Abbott, Esq. He was an upright and
useful man, and of essential service in building up the Church there.
He introduced me to the Governor, General Cass, who received
me kindly, expressing his pleasure at finding I was to labor in
that field; said that the Council House should always be at my ser
vice when I came, and himself and family would be constant attend
ants. He afterwards showed every favor that could be desired.

" At that time the work placed before the missionary was such
as to appall the heart, and such did he feel to be his own inadequacy
for it that nothing short of his confidence in the power and abound
ing grace of God could have emboldened him to undertake it or to
persevere in it. Detroit was a sink of iniquity The original inhab
itants were Canadian French, characterized by all the loose morals
of secluded Catholicism. Besides, it had been under martial law for
three years, alternately under the British and American dominancy.
The pandemonium created by rum-drinking British soldiers, Indians
and French may more easily be imagined than described. It was
awful.

" Though the morals of our troops were of a higher grade than
the others, yet war in its mildest form is an enemy to righteousness
and temperance. The only Americans in the city (Detroit) were a
few traders, whose antipathy to religion was proverbial. When I
arrived, Generals Harrison, Brown and Cass were holding confer
ences with the Indians, preparatory to a general treaty of peace.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 59

The garrison consisted of a large number of soldiers. In this state
of society but little impression could be made by a sermon once in
three weeks. True, the Council House, a large and commodious
building, was always filled with attentive auditors — the superior offi
cers setting a decorous example by their uniform presence and
respectful attention. But in my hurried rounds on a three weeks'
circuit, traveling some three hundred miles, my stay in Detroit was
necessarily so short that I could not follow up to any extent, by
pastoral visitation, any impression that might have been made by
the labor of the pulpit."

It will be seen, hereafter, that it was a great mistake and a sad
misfortune to our cause — the cause of religion — that more concen
trated labor was not bestowed on the City of Detroit at that time.
But Methodists have not even yet learned much wisdom, in this
respect, from the losses of the past. The fact is, a Metdodist
preacher's heart is so overflowing with benevolence and so burdened
with desire for the immediate salvation of sinners, that he finds it
exceedingly difficult to turn away from the call of any destitute
place. The circuits had to be so constituted as to supply as
many of these places as possible. In this way they have pioneered
most of the new country, and have, too often, left many of the grow
ing towns to be occupied by others. Such was the case with
Detroit. Either the ultimate importance of the place was not per
ceived or it was not regarded. Perhaps this is not much to be
wondered at, after all.

The souls of the people scattered through the country were
valuable, to be sure; but, then, it is right to have an eye to the great
est amount of good ultimately, and to concentrate labor at the
centers of influence. Every one knows that important towns exert
a wide influence over a large extent of country ; and that the power
of a religious denomination for good is, to a considerable extent,
dependent on its position in such towns. The reason of this is so
patent that it is not necessary to say anything more about it. Many
have thought that the Methodist economy was not adapted to large
towns and cities. They have confounded policy with polity, that is
all. And herein lies their mistake : for the doctrines of Methodism
can be just as well appreciated in cities as in the country, and its
earnest ministry is just as valuable for the one as the other. But by
this disregard for the ultimate good they have so failed, in many
instances, to meet the wishes of the people as to the frequency of
services, that they have turned their attention in some other direction
for a supply, and when they have waked up to the matter the people

6O HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

have become so bound to others that, though they would have pre
ferred their ministry, they have not been able to call them back, and
the Methodists have had to occupy a secondary position. People in
towns and cities will not be satisfied with only occasional services;
and if they cannot be supplied by the denomination which they
would have preferred, they will take up with such as they can get.

We know it may be said, in palliation of this blunder, that they
had but few members upon whom a minister might depend for a
support. But cannot a Methodist minister live where any other
minister can? Take this very case: Mr. Hickox might have secured,
at once, the whole of the people that would have given any support
to any one — we mean the Protestant portion — because General Cass,
who was the Territorial Governor, and others in authority gave him
a cordial welcome and attended his ministry whenever he came, and
of course, would not then have thought of looking for any other if
he could have supplied them every Sabbath; and would have sup
ported him too, at least as well as he was supported on the whole
Circuit, as he had the entire ground for one year. But the desire "to
possess all the land that joins," led him to give them services only
once in three weeks, and as he said, not following up the labors of
the Sabbath by mingling with the people during the week, all or
nearly all the labor was lost ; and when another came and offered
to supply them more frequently, he gathered them around him.
We do not intend to censure Mr. Hickox, because he was only car
rying out what was then the policy of the Church. If he had adopt
ed a different line of policy he would have been censured by his
superiors in office, as wishing to escape from the hard service of visit
ing the sparse settlements. The same line of policy is still pursued,
to a certain extent. The Rev. Alfred Brunson, who was appointed
to Detroit Circuit in 1822, was the first who ventured to change the
policy in regard to the City of Detroit. He concentrated his labor
here and left the care of the Circuit chiefly to his colleague. This
was the beginning of a new era for Methodism in this city, and if it
had only been properly carried out afterwards it would have been
better for their cause.

The next summer after Mr. Hickox came — that is, in Jnne, 1816,
— a Presbyterian minister came and settled himself down among the
people and proposed supplying them every Sabbath, and even
wished and attempted to crowd Mr. Hickox out from the third Sab
bath in the evening, as we shall see after a little. He was sent out
under the auspices of the Board of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church. The result of his coming, with the proposition

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 6l

to supply them constantly was that the people, not sympathizing
with the policy of leaving them two-thirds of the time, in order to*
supply other places, gave their support to the new comer, and he
organized a Society — not a Church — composed of persons of all the
different Protestant creeds in the place. This they did, notwithstand
ing they would have much preferred Mr. Hickox if they could have
had his services. Had the Methodist Missionary adopted the same
course the first year he was here he might have secured all this,
which would have given the Methodists such a position that nothing
but the veriest recreancy to their trust could ever have placed them
in a secondary position in this community. Another error in policy
prevailed in the Methodist Church at that day, which at a subsequent
period nearly destroyed what interest they had gained in this city;
that is, the location of their churches. It was thought they must be
located out of the town, or at least on the outskirts, so as to be out of
the noise and bustle of business. But it is useless to speculate
about these things now, as that cannot retrieve their losses, and we
have introduced these thoughts here simply for the purpose of leav
ing on record our views of such a policy, and with the faint hope
that they may contribute a little to encourage a different course of
operation in new places that are yet to spring up. We should con
centrate efforts at the centers of influence,, and locate our churches
in the midst of the people and not hide them away as if we were
ashamed to have the people find them.

We have now fully introduced our missionary to the notice of
the reader in connection with the field of his operations, and must
resume the chain of history. Having gone up and inspected the
walls, he set himself at work to rebuild. What a prospect ! A lone
workman, and such a vast work before him ! But he knew in whom
he trusted. He was able in a short time to gather in the few who
had been members prior to the war, and a few joined anew. The
work accomplished this year was that the stakes were stuck, the
work was marked out, and the few lay-helpers to be found were ar
ranged so as to operate in concert for the advancement of the great
cause. Some of the members of the Church having their residence
jon the Rouge, they had a place of meeting there, about six miles out
of the city; yet not to the abandonment of the city, for Mr. Hickox
preached in the city on Sabbath evenings, once in three weeks. He
ought to have concentrated all the time for Sabbath services in the
city. In like manner, when it was determined to build a church it
was located on the River Rouge, instead of in. the. city. This was,
another great error.

62 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Mr. Hickox at the close of this year reported one hundred and
forty members for Detroit Circuit, at the Conference which met at
Paris, Canada, July lyth, 1816 ; but most of these were in Canada.
At this Conference he was returned to Detroit Circuit, and labored
faithfully for another year, and with encouraging success ; so much so
that he reported thirty members for Detroit — that is, for Michigan —
the members on the Canada side having been attached to the Thames
Circuit. This is the first report which gives us the definite numbers
in Michigan. The preaching places in Michigan, for the two years in
which Mr. Hickox traveled the Circuit, were Detroit City, River
Rouge, and French Town, now Monroe. This latter place, he says,
was a field ripe for the harvest but it was forty miles distant from the
other appointments, and a horrible road must be passed over twice
through a lonely wilderness to supply it ; and the missionary being
obliged generally to leave his horse on the Canada side, on account
of the difficulty of ferriage, he could only visit it occasionally. Hence
the harvest could not be gathered. Mr. Hickox states that in 1822,
after his location, he went there to attend a quarterly meeting with
Rev. John P. Kent, at which time a gracious revival occurred and a
large class was formed — large for the times. This class met princi
pally a little above the present site of the town. As these were the
only points at which the Americans had made settlements, the work
could not extend further in Michigan. Happy would it have been
for the Methodist cause if he and his successors had confined their
labors to these points. This, however, would have been so much in
contravention of the spirit of the times that it would not have been
tolerated at all.

Although not in the direct line of Michigan Protestantism, we
shall be pardoned for giving some notice of the trials and successes
of our missionary on the other side of the Detroit River, especially
as these were passed through and accomplished in connection with
his efforts to establish and advance the cause on this side. The
account is given in his own words :

" As I passed through the adjacent parts of Canada, it pleased
the Lord to follow the Word with such power that the people were
strongly aroused to a consideration of their spiritual interests, and
flocked to the places of meeting, on week days as well as on Sun
days. This provoked some of the more respectable British sin
ners, and they accused me of being a disturber of the peace. This
was so soon after the war that civil government was not yet re
established, and the country was under martial law. Col. James was
then in command near Sandwich, and seemed to have jurisdiction

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 63

along the lines. To him the gentry complained of me as a sort of
spy, and he issued orders to have me arrested and brought before
him. Having obtained information of this movement, it seemed to
me to be most prudent to anticipate an arrest ; so, mounting my
horse, I rode in haste to his quarters before my whereabouts could
be discovered. By the advice of friends, I had worn the sash of a
British officer, which gave me immunity when among the crowds of
Indians that beset my way. When the attendants of the Colonel
saw this, they supposed me to be somebody of importance. They
held my horse and stirrups, and helped me to dismount. The Colo
nel himself, misled by this, came to the piazza, received me with the
utmost courtesy, and showed me into his best room.

" I opened the matter by saying, 'Col. James, I suppose I am the
man you want to see.'

'" What is your name?' he asked.

" 'Joseph Hickox,' I replied. 'I am a Methodist preacher doing
the work of a missionary through this country, trying to. promote
peace among men. I have been told you are opposed to this, and I
have called to find out the reason.'

" He was taken all aback by the announcement, and looked
blank. But soon rallying, he said politely that he had no objections
to anything of that nature that I could do, but wished me all success
and promised me the freedom of the country."

This incident was only characteristic of the tact and shrewdness
of the man. This element of character fitted him well for the times,
and demonstrated the sagacity of Bishop McKendree, who made
the appointment. He succeeded in forming several new Societies
in Canada, but as these are not in the line of our History, no
further mention will be made of them. As we have already sug
gested, the rides and labors of the missionary to fulfill the duties
connected with Detroit Circuit for these two years were very
fatiguing and excessive. The reader will understand this better
by a reference to some facts. Three times every three weeks he
had to pass through a wilderness of fifty-seven miles without human
habitation, and to swim his horse five times each trip. In the winter,
when the clumsy ferry boats were stopped, he had to leave his horse
on the Canada side and to walk up and down the Detroit River,
seeking the strongest ice. Sometimes he was obliged to jump from
cake to cake of broken ice, and to leap over wide fissures, in order
to get to and from Detroit. But God gave him grace to meet all
these difficulties and preserved him in the midst of these dangers,

64 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

and made him happy as he passed through and triumphed over
them. We have these statements from his own pen.

At the end of his first year Mr. Hickox makes the following
very appropriate reflections: " When the chaotic state of the country,
and the multitudes who are perishing for lack of knowledge, are
considered, the privilege of preaching the world-wide Gospel and a
free salvation is so great that the labor and danger of doing so
sink into insignificance, and the remembrance of that work is full of
sweetness to me." He adds, "It was no small thing to ride a thous
and miles to and from conference." That is very true ; besides, the
journey had to be made on horseback.

During the second year that Mr. Hickox remained on this Circuit
the difficulties of traveling were somewhat removed, as the country
was slowly recovering from the disasters of the war — immigration
had begun to set in, in this direction, and some improvements were
made, as also some other advantages were secured. All the while
of his first year he had been a solitary watchman — beyond the hail
of any other — and had all the labor and responsibility to himself.
During the time of his absence from Detroit attending the Confer
ence, a Presbyterian minister appeared at Detroit, whom Mr. Hickox
found on his return, as he hoped, to share the responsibility of
holding forth the word of life to an ungodly city, and to be a fellow-
laborer — a helper in the Christian work.

This was the first introduction of Presbyterian preaching into
Detroit. This was in June, 1816. He was a well educated young
man, and gentlemanly in his manners. These two young men soon
formed a very pleasant acquaintance, which, however, was interrupted
in a short time, very unexpectedly to the Methodist Missionary.
The circumstances of the interruption were these, as related to the
writer by Mr. Hickox himself: Henry Ryan, the Presiding Elder of
the District, had preached to a large congregation in the Council
House. Rev. John Monteith, the Presbyterian minister was present.
After the sermon he was introduced to the Presiding Elder, where
upon the usual social greetings were exchanged; after which Mr.
Hickox remarked: "Mr. Monteith, after you preach, a week from
next Sabbath, will you be good enough to give out my appointment
for evening worship, to refresh the minds of the people?" "I don't
know how that will be," said he, stiffly. "I have an appointment at
that hour, myself; and I want you to change your time of preaching
to some week-day evening."

Mr. Ryan said, "Brother Hickox, probably you had better

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 65

remove your appointment to some week evening, to make all things
smooth."

To this proposition Mr. Hickox very justly responded: "Brother
Ryan, I have been preaching here for a year past, every three weeks,
before any other preacher came here. I think it ungenerous to ask
me to change, when Mr. Monteith has all the time to himself except one
Sabbath night in three weeks. I cannot consent to change." He ought
to have changed so as to have preached in Detroit every Sabbath.

"Act your pleasure," said Brother Ryan. "I don't wish to dic
tate." He ought to have stood up for his preacher. Instead of
advising him to yield, he ought to have encouraged him to hold on,
and to have rebuked the other sharply for his assumption.

This occurrence was so public that the difficulty became gener
ally known — the feelings of the people became interested to see how
the thing would terminate. The consequence of this interest was,
that the house was unusually crowded when Mr Hickox arrived.
Mr. Monteith had reached the house before him and occupied the
desk. When Mr. Hickox came in the following colloquy occurred :

Mr. Hickox — "Mr. Monteith, do you expect to preach to-night?"

Mr. M. (very short and pettishly) — "I do. I do"

Mr. H. — " Very well. I shall preach after you have done."

Mr. M. preached. After the sermon and prayer the conversa
tion was resumed.

Mr. H. — " I wish you would omit singing and I will preach."

Mr. M. — "I don't think the people will be willing to hear you."

M. H.— "I will ask them."

He immediately stepped into the desk and told the congregation
the reason of his being prevented from preaching, and said if they
would remain in their seats he would then give them a sermon.

Mr. M. — " I will leave the desk, then.""

Mr. H. — " Act your pleasure. The desk is large enough for us
both."

The congregation having signified their desire to hear him
by remaining quiet, Mr. Hickox gave them a sermon, during the
delivery of which they preserved perfect quiet and gave undivided
attention to him. When he had finished, he announced that in three
weeks from that time he would preach there again, according to his
established custom. " I occupy this house by the permission of the
Governor. When that permission is withdrawn I shall leave, and
not before."

Mr. Monteith, who had remained, replied : " The Governor
will not have the impoliteness to tell you to withdraw your appoint-

66 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ments." To which Mr. Hickox responded : " If the Governor will
tolerate you in making appointments in opposition to mine and in
refusing me the pulpit when mine become due, it is all I ask. The
same authority that admitted me here is necessary to exclude me
from the place."

Mr. M., in a somewhat subdued tone, and as if he wished to
drop the matter and had laid aside his assumption, said: "Your
manner of preaching is so different from mine. You can preach
extempore ; I cannot. You can get a congregation at any time, at
three hours' notice. So I thought you might change your time
to a week evening, and give me the advantage of all the Sabbath
services."

Mr. Hickox then told him that he could not comply with his
wishes without deranging the whole plan of his Circuit labor; and the
Circuit being very extensive, this would be very difficult to do. The
congregation waited very patiently until the parley was over, and, as
might have been expected, much prejudice was created against the
mistaken man, in consequence of his course, and sympathy was
raised in favor of Mr. Hickox. No further attempt was made to
drive the missionary from this part of the field. The above circum
stances occurred during the early part of the second year that Mr.
Hickox was appointed to the Detroit Circuit.

In late autumn or early winter of the second year the Methodist
Missionary was much comforted, not exactly " by the coming of
Titus," but by the coming of Rev. Joseph Mitchell, a venerable local
preacher of very popular talents. This Mr. Mitchell must not be
confounded with William Mitchell \vho was here in 1810, and organ
ized the first Society, or Church. Joseph Mitchell was a great and
useful pioneer of Methodism in different parts of the Western country.
The crossing of Detroit River in the winter being attended with
great difficulty and danger, Mr. Hickox confined his labors principally
to the Canada side, and gave up the city work mainly to Mr. Mit
chell. The latter soon became very popular among the people, and
it seemed as if he would carry everything before him. He ought to
have remained much longer than he did, and to have gathered in the
fruits of his labors and concentrated the Methodistic strength in the
city ; for although he dealt very plainly with the people, they loved
him. His great popularity aroused the jealous indignation of the
Rev. Mr. M., the opponent of Mr. Hickox, so that he thought he
must be put down, and thought he would try it, not having learned
wisdom from his former defeat.

Mr. M. called to see the venerable Mr. Mitchell, when the fol-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 6/

lowing conversation took place. The conversation is given as nar
rated by Mr. Mitchell himself:

Mr. M. asked Mr. Mitchell, "Have you ever been to college?"

Mr. Mitchell responded, " I have been past a college."

Again Mr. M. said, " I wish to make an agreement with you
not to preach doctrines."

Mr. Mitchell replied, " What! Not to preach the doctrines of
Methodism! I am bound to preach them, for I believe every tittle of
them to be true. Not to preach against Calvinism! That I am under
the necessity of doing, for I believe it to be an erroneous system of
doctrines."

Mr. Mitchell was a great opposer of Calvinism. This ended
the colloquy, and the divine went away discomfited and unsatisfied.
He had set his trap, but it would not spring as he wanted it to do.
We are sorry to say that this same spirit characterized this same
gentleman for many years after. He never succeeded in acquiring
much love for Methodism.

We are indebted to Mr. Hickox for the following incident illus
trative of Father Mitchell's manner and influence in the pulpit. On
a certain occasion, the Council House was crowded, as indeed it gen
erally was on Sunday. The Governor, and all the civil and military
officers and men of note were present. The preacher's theme was,
the necessity of the new birth. In the warmth of his application,
with finger pointing with significant force, and eyes fixed upon the
persons addressed, he cried out, " You, Governor! you, lawyers! you,
judges! you, doctors! you must be converted and born again, or
God will damn you as soon as the beggar on the dung hill." Deep
silence prevailed, and a lasting impression was made. Some of the
timid ones feared they would be offended.

The next morning Governor Cass sent him a complimentary
note, containing Jive dollars, saying it was the best sermon he ever
heard. Such was the position of Protestantism in Michigan, in the
spring of 1817. It is unaccountable to us that this was not followed
up, so as absolutely to have taken the City of Detroit for Christ. It
is true, they had to contend against great immorality, but the wicked
were held in awe. The people would have given the ministers a
good support ; and if these heavy blows, dealt out by such hands as
Father Mitchell's, had been repeated a little longer, and the ends
tied up well, by gathering the people into the Church, there might
have been raised up such a Society as would, always afterwards, have
held the commanding position in the place. Indeed, it is probable
the people would have become so thoroughly Methodized, that they

68 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

would not have thought of looking for any other Church for many
years. Not only did the interests of Methodism demand this atten
tion, but the cause of God as well ; for the whole people were then
so moved that a little more would have led them to a happy ex
perience of divine grace.

Rev. Mr. Monteith commenced his labors in Detroit, as before
stated, on the 6th of June, 1816, and the next year he succeeded in
the organization of a Society, not a Church, entitled " The First
Evangelistic Society," made up of persons of the Protestant faith,
without reference to their Church predilections, for the support of
the Gospel. They would have given their support to a Methodist
preacher just as soon as to any other, if they could have had his
services. Subsequently a petition was presented to the Governor
and judges for a lot to be granted for a Protestant Church, which
grant was not perfected till in 1825. It will, perhaps, be recollected
that when the city was destroyed by fire, in 1805, Congress donated
about ten thousand acres of land to the city as a relief fund, which in
cluded the city location, and that this land, upon a portion of which
the city was laid out, was at the disposal of the Legislative Council
of the Territory, which at that time consisted of the Governor
and judges. Hence the application to them for a church lot. Their
petition was not immediately granted, but in 1819, in accordance
with said petition, land was granted on the east side of Woodward
Avenue, extending from Larned street to within about sixty feet of
Congress street. The deed for this was not granted till in December,
1825. Not long after the grant, and before the deed was executed,
a small house of worship was built on the lot, by the contributions
of all, and it was intended as common property. In a few years,
however, the Presbyterians having obtained a controlling influence in
the Society, now called " The First Protestant Society," this house
and all the lands were voted to their exclusive use, and the Metho
dists, who had contributed their full proportion towards the erection of
the house, were left to find a place of worship where they could.
"The First Protestant Society," now become Presbyterian, finally
relinquished a narrow strip of this land, on the north side, to the
Protestant Episcopal Church, on which they erected a small church,
which remained till the spring of 1 844.

A Presbyterian Church was not organized in Detroit till 1825,
but Mr. Monteith continued his labors among the people until 1822,
when his relation was dissolved. The Presbyterians seem not to
have had any regular pastor until the Church was organized, in 1825,
when Rev. Noah M. Wells came and served for several years.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 69

After this little digression, we return to the regular line of our
History. Such was the position and influence of Messrs. Hickox
and Mitchell that, if they had followed up the labors they had be
stowed and the impressions they had made, by devoting their time to
the place and by mingling freely with the people, they might have
possessed the entire ground for many years. Mr. Mitchell left in the
spring. Why he did not remain longer cannot now be ascertained.
Probably his business demanded his attention elsewhere. Mr.
Hickox felt himself in duty bound to travel his large Circuit, and so
let the advantage slip away.

The Genesee Conference held its session in Elizabethtown, Can
ada, commencing June 2ist, 1817, at which time Gideon Laning, a
young and active minister, though married, was appointed to Detroit
Circuit. Mr. Laning's labors were somewhat interrupted by sickness,
but he did what he could and was assisted by Thomas Harmon, a
local preacher, who took the principal charge of the erection of the
log church on the Rouge, which was built this year. At the end of
the year, when he numbered the hosts of Israel under his charge,
he found he had gained ten, and returned forty members of Society.

There was nothing out of the ordinary course of events that
occurred this year to be worthy of special record, except the build
ing of the church, noticed elsewhere. The usual labor, toil and suf
fering accompanied the pathway of the lonely itinerant. God gave
him some success, for which all devout hearts will praise Him.

Mr. Harmon, above referred to, was a Canadian, and had been
an active and efficient soldier in the then late war. He had fought
hard against the Americans. Mr. Ryan, the Presiding Elder, employed
him contrary to the advice of William Case. He was not very
well liked as a preacher, yet he was active in building that log church.
As the whole Circuit was among Americans, it did not seem exactly
right or well to employ one who had fought against them to preach
to them ; yet he did well, on the whole. He was a rough, bold, fear
less kind of a man. He returned to Canada, and disappears from
our sight.

Alpheus Davis, a young man, succeeded Mr. Laning, and faith
fully performed the work assigned him, for one year. He received
his appointment to this lonely Circuit at the session of the Genesee
Conference, which met at Lansing, Cayuga County, New York, July
1 6th, 1818. At the. close of the year, he returned only thirty mem
bers, having lost just the number that Mr. Laning had gained the
year previous. We are to judge of the progress of the work, ordi
narily, by the numbers returned ; and yet, this is often fallacious :

70 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

for there may be such a condition of things that a decrease of num
bers would really give strength to the cause. Again, without any
increase in numbers, there may be a deepening and growing spirit
uality in the existing membership, which is of the greatest value to
the cause.

Next in the order of laborers was Truman Dixon. The Gen-
esee Conference held its session at Vienna, Ontario County, New
York, July ist, 1819. It was here he received his commission to this
isolated field. He came, labored, suffered, triumphed and returned
to his Conference, making a report of sixty-six members in Church
fellowship. This was a great apparent increase of the work. He
must have included some Societies in Canada. However this might
be, it was cause of devout thanksgiving to the great Head of the
Church. We rejoice in the conversion of sinners in any place, but
as we are chronicling the progress of Protestantism in Michigan we
cannot set down the number as much exceeding thirty — perhaps
it may have been forty, for Michigan. This will close the nar
rative for our second period. Mr. Dixon was the last minister
who was appointed from the Genesee Conference ; for by act of the
General Conference, held in May, 1820, Michigan was attached to
the Ohio Conference, and henceforth is to be supplied from that direc
tion. We must now bid adieu to Genesee, and make our respect
ful salutation to Ohio.

From the close of the war, in 1815, until July 2Oth, 1820, this
field had been cultivated by laborers from the Genesee Conference.
They found the work in a chaotic state, but through their labor it had
been arranged into a good degree of order, and some ripe fruit had
been already gathered. But now a change of relation is to take
place, for in May of this year Michigan was attached to the Ohio
Conference. The change produced a slight shock, as will be seen,
because the next report gives a decrease of members, as will appear
in the next period. William Case was the Presiding Elder for the
first year of this period, and Henry Ryan for the other four. We
may seem to have blamed the men appointed to this field, for not
bestowing more labor on Detroit; but perhaps there is no blame, for
at this period there was no appreciation of the value of Michigan.
The country had been reported to the General Government as being
not worth surveying, and Detroit was nearly all there was of Michi
gan of any value, and that was but a small town.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 7!

CHAPTER IV.

Joseph Hickox — Gideon Laning — Alpheus Davis — Truman Dixon — The Log Meeting-House —

Joseph Hanchett — Note.

>ERE seems to be the most appropriate place to furnish a
short account of Rev. JOSEPH HICKOX, whose name stands
at the head of this period. He was born near Hartford,
v Connecticut, August 2Oth, 1 788, so that at the time of his
* death, in 1867, he was seventy-nine years old. His
parents were of "the standing order," that is, they were Con-
=fe gregationalists of the old school. As a consequence, he was
I thoroughly instructed in the doctrines of the Church — that is, Cal-
*"• vinism of the old stamp — and in the external duties of a Christian
. life. During his early youth he was often the subject of gracious
impressions. These impressions were as often set aside by rebellion,
and the Spirit was grieved away. When about fifteen years of age,
he heard the first Methodist preacher, who visited the neighborhood
where he resided — at least he was the first of whom he had any
knowledge. His name was Richard Lyon, as he stated. This Mr.
Lyon was admitted into the traveling connection in 1797, and located
in 1808. It was, probably, during the year 1804 that he preached
there. He was appointed to Bristol Circuit in 1797. Mr. Hickox's
mother was very unwilling to let him go to hear this Methodist
preacher, fearing lest he should imbibe pernicious doctrines, accord
ing to the belief of that day. He, however, did go, and his mother
finally went with him. Having always heard sermons read, it seemed
to him very remarkable that a man could preach such a discourse
without his manuscript. The preacher set forth very impressively
the universality of the atonement, and very touchingly exhibited the
guilt of the sinner in not accepting its provisions at once. The peo
ple assembled were fairly electrified with the doctrines they heard,
and our lad among the rest. The preacher followed up the impres
sions he had made by visiting from house to house, exhorting, and

72 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

praying with the people. As is usual in connection with such labors,
there was a very gracious revival in the place, and very soon a large
Society was raised up. Young Hickox's mother was one of them.
Her fears in regard to the perniciousness of Methodist doctrines had
all subsided. Under the advice of Mr. Lyon, young Hickox was
induced to begin a religious life in earnest, and sought reconciliation
with God. He continued to seek, with varying constancy, for some
time, without obtaining any evidence of pardon. At length he was
led to forsake all for Christ, and obtained in the following year the
peace of reconciliation. We will now give his own language, as
descriptive of his state, resulting from his full devotion to Christ.
He says : " My peace was unruffled, and the exercises of my mind
were as clear as human consciousness could be. Jesus was 'my joy
and my song,' not only by day, but in the night watches." His ex
perience was very clear and glorious. He knew that his Redeemer
lived. By faith the blood of atonement had been applied to his con
science. His "peace was like a river."

While but a youth, the Church saw fit to lay upon him the re-
sponsibiliy of leading a class, and gave him license to exhort. Soon
an inward conviction of duty to preach came to him, and this was
followed by the urgent request of the brethren. This is usually the
order. When a man is called of God to the work of the ministry,
the Church, or at least some of the Church, feel the conviction of his
call nearly simultaneously with himself. As is common, he now had
a struggle. On the one hand was his own inward consciousness of
duty, and the convictions of the Church ; on the other, was the sense
of his inability. The latter produced a hesitancy which occasioned
much anxiety, accompanied with great loss to his peace of mind. His
life was much troubled on account of this struggle, but his convic
tion of duty did not abate in its force. At last, with many fears and
much reluctance, he consented to receive license as a local preacher,
which was signed by Rev. William Case, the Presiding Elder, with
the understanding that he was to enter the itinerancy. After a brief
service with what he calls "the militia," — that is, as a local preacher
— he was received into the Genesee Conference as a traveling
preacher, at the session held at Niagara, in Canada, beginning July
23d, 1812. He was appointed as junior preacher, with James H.
Baker, on the Shamokin Circuit, in Pennsylvania.

The next year he was appointed in charge of Canaan Circuit,
in Pennsylvania, and the year following he was appointed in charge
of St. Lawrence Circuit, in New York. On Canaan Circuit he had
a glorious revival at every appointment — many were converted and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 73

added to the Church. On St. Lawrence he had but little success, as
the people along the border were in such an unsettled state, on ac
count of the war, that they gave but little attention to the preaching
of the word of life. These last two years he had the same colleague.
His name was Robert Manshall.

This brings us down to the period when he becomes identified
with the fortunes and interests of Protestantism in Michigan ; for,
at a session of the Genesee Conference held at Lyons, New York,
beginning June 29th, 1815, he was appointed to Detroit — a place
which had been uncared for and unsupplied ever since the beginning
of the war. Detroit and its vicinity had been the great focus of
operations during the war of 1812, and was, therefore, the theater of
much strife and carnage. Although the city itself was ingloriously
surrendered by General Hull, without firing a single gun, the honor
of American arms had been amply retrieved by Commodore Perry
on the lake below, and by General Harrison on the Thames. The
strife and smoke of the battlefield had scarcely cleared away when
the missionary of peace comes in the name of the Prince of Peace,
to bring to the people the gospel of their salvation. It is an advent
urous enterprise, to be attended with much toil and suffering but to
be crowned with success.

How delightful it is to turn away from the scenes of strife, con
fusion and blood, which have so recently been enacted on this
ground, to a contemplation of the fruits of righteousness brought in
by the introduction of the gospel of peace among them. One
would have supposed that the people would have received the glad
message of love, which was now to be offered to them, with one
general acclaim of joy; but, alas! for them, some were so wedded to
the superstitions of Romanism, and others were so attached to their
worldly pleasures, that little heed was given to his message. Still
he found " a few names even in Detroit, who had not defiled their
garments." Of these few we have before given some account.

After this digression we must return to Mr. Hickox. At the
expiration of his two years of probation — that is, in 1814 — he was
admitted into full connection with the Conference, and ordained a
deacon ; and now, because he was to be sent as a missionary to this
frontier work, he was ordained an Elder, one year in advance of the
regular time — that is, in 1 8 1 5 — at the end of three years. What an
undertaking! All pleasing associations were to be left behind, and
he was to go among strangers, far from his Christian and ministerial
brethren, to encounter various dangers and sufferings. He was, in
fact, to plunge into the wilderness, not knowing among whom his lot

74 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

should be cast. He, however, faltered not. What were the worldly
inducements to the adoption of this course? He was allowed to re
ceive one hundred dollars per annum, provided the people saw fit to
give it to him. This was all. What a salary for such a service! Who,
not moved by the Holy Ghost to the work of the ministry, would under
take it? Long and fatiguing rides were to be performed on horse
back ; storms were to be breasted ; rivers and smaller streams were
to be forded and swum ; lodgings were to be found in rude log
cabins, and sometimes with ruder people ; the chilling blasts of win
ter were to be encountered ; various and appalling dangers were to
be met and passed ; and all for one Imndred dollars per year, and
that by no means certain. Could that be any inducement for a man
to adopt that course of life! Certainly not. But he was moved by
the Holy Ghost to preach the Gospel to these people, living in these
remote regions, secluded from religious services, and he cheerfully
obeyed, " not counting his life dear to himself," if he could win them
to Christ.

The Conference, as we have already said, held its session at
Lyons, New York. This was the second time it met at this place.
Bishop McKendree, of precious memory, presided.

Inasmuch as Mr. Hickox was going to a distant and wild por
tion of the country, it was thought necessary to give him a certificate
explanatory of his mission. He received the following, in the hand
writing of Joshua Soule, who was then General Book Steward, and
signed by Bishop McKendree :

" To ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I

"This is to certify that I, William McKendree, one of the bishops of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, have appointed Rev.
Joseph Hickox to the station of Detroit and the contiguous parts of the
country. Done at the Genesee Annual Conference, held at Lyons, in the
State of New York, July 24th, 1815.

"WILLIAM McKENDREE."

This paper, which was well worn and brown with age, he re
tained and preserved while he lived, as a relic of past days. Of the
ordination parchments which he received, he makes the following
quaint remarks : " My ordination parchments were types of the
times. Itinerants were then obliged to live much in the saddle, and
wardrobe, books and papers must take the smallest possible dimen
sions for portability. Hence my parchments were somewhat smaller
than a modern funeral note, being two and three-quarters by five
inches, with an old-fashioned border like love-feast tickets. In our
long rides we could have made no more use of the larger and more
elegant ones now in use than of a Byronic shirt collar."

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 75

Mr. Hickox was directed to take into his Circuit, Detroit and
the few settlements contiguous to it. The two on the rivers Rouge
and Raisin, were the principal in Michigan. On the Canada side of
the river it was to include Maiden, Sandwich, the new settlement
down the lake about sixty miles below Detroit, and the River
Thames. We have now given an outline of this Circuit of olden
times. If, however, one wishes to get an accurate view of it, let him
take a map, note the distances of the localities from each other, and
then let him call to mind the fact that the country was all new, and
that there were none of the facilities for travel which are now so
common, but that the roads were unwrought, the streams unbridged
— that the roads were, in fact, only trails, having none of the charac
teristics of a road made by the hand of civilization. Having now
introduced Mr. Hickox to the country, we will finish our running"
sketch of his character, leaving the filling up to be made from his
relation to the work in its more minute details. He occupied this
wild, uncultivated field for two years, performing faithfully his-
rounds, and gathering into the fold the few Christians he could
find. In Michigan, when he first arrived, he only found seven
who professed to be pious, having the Bible, and not the dogmas.
of the priests for their guide. There doubtless were some others,.
of other denominations in the City of Detroit, who professed to»
be Christians. The number was increased during his stay, so that
at the end of the first year, including those in Canada — which, by
the way, were more than those on this side — he returned one hundred'
and forty members ; and at the end of the next year he returned
thirty members for Michigan. This was in July, 1817.

Having completed his disciplinary term on this Circuit, he was-
sent, in 1817, to Litchfield Circuit, on the Mowhawk River, among
the Dutch. Here his labors were abundantly blest in turning many
from sin to holiness. The following year — that is, in 1 8 1 8 — he was
sent to Ancaster Circuit, Canada. This was, also, a year of prosper
ity. Many were added to the Church. Perhaps the value of the
work this year did not depend so much on the number of persons,
converted, as in their character and relations. Among the converts,
this year was Peter Jones, an Indian, who subsequently became so*
much noted for his successful labors among the Grand River Indians,
in Canada — whose name stands so deservedly high in the annals of
Canadian Methodism. Mr. Hickox was, probably, the first Methodist
preacher he ever heard, and "the sword of the Spirit," wielded by
him, pierced the heart of the barbarian, transforming him after the
image of Christ. He became a Christian minister, and was the in?-

76 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

strument of saving many others. We have this statement from the
pen of Mr. Hickox, although Dr. Webster in his "History of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada," places his conversion in
June, 1824. We cannot decide between them.

At the Conference of 1819, Mr. Hickox was sent to the Thames
Circuit. This was a part of his old field — that is, it formed a part of
Detroit Circuit, when he traveled that. Here, in 1816, he had mar
ried a wife. During this year his wife was very sick for most of the
time, so that he could not bestow more than half work on his Circuit.
His wife continuing very feeble, and as it was feared she was in a
consumptive decline, after having considered the matter, and having
consulted his Presiding Elder, it seemed to him to be his duty to
locate — to settle down. So at the session of the Genesee Confer-
•ence, for 1820, he asked for and obtained a location.

When he was first in Michigan he entered a tract of land on
the River Rouge, about sixteen miles from Detroit. He now re
moved his family to this new farm, and became fully identified with
Michigan and Protestantism in it. Here he resided until 1836, when
he removed to Illinois and settled not far from Rockford, where he
resided till 1866, living in hope of the rest of the saints in light.

We have now run rapidly through his itinerant life, but cannot
close without a further estimate of his abilities and character. He
possessed a high order of talent, connected with indomitable perse
verance and an ardent zeal for the cause of God. Bishop McKendree
re-appointed him to Detroit Mission, in 1816, remarking at the same
time that no other man could be found who would endure so much
hard service. It has always been the policy of the Methodist Epis
copal Church to assign the hardest and severest labors to those who
were the most cheerful to perform them. Whether this policy is cor
rect or just, we do not stop now to consider. But as the ministry is a
voluntary thing — that is, we cannot compel men to enter and remain
in it, it could not very well be avoided. Mr. Hickox was a man of
great tact and shrewdness, as some of the incidents heretofore related
will show. It is much to be regretted that in his case, as in many
others, when men have located, his piety and usefulness were not
uniform. Still, he at all times retained his relation to the Church and
continued to have an unabated interest in its welfare. The inference
from this is that a man whom God has so much honored in "turning
many to righteousness," runs a fearful risk when he consents to
locate and to cease the active work of the ministry. Mr. Hickox was
a very smooth, easy and eloquent speaker — never at a loss for

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 77

thoughts or words in which to express them, and always attracted!
large congregations.

We will now add a few reflections from his own pen, furnished'
at our request: "For about twenty years (1858) I have resided'
near Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois. My life here has been
as it was in Michigan, save that of late years sickness and advancing
age have so enfeebled me that I can seldom preach. Occasionally I
am called on to preach a funeral sermon, or to marry a couple, or to
baptise a child. But even these duties I begin to avoid, for the
reason that the time when the grasshopper becomes a burden is
upon me. Formerly all my thoughts were of labor, now they are
of rest ; and the time draws nigh for my release, and I begin to look
to the end of the journey. My animal pleasures fail, my mind flags,
and even religious joys move me less than formerly. But he that led
me out to vigorous activity, will lead me to the home of the blest if
I do not make shipwreck of my faith at this late stage."

Referring to the state of things at Detroit when he first arrived,
he says : " And truly, when the corner stones of society were thus to
be laid in the Northwest, the workmen stood armed with Gospel
weapons, and ' fighting against principalities and powers/ Though
so silent, the conflict was more severe, the victory more glorious than
those of the Thames, the Raisin and Lundy's Lane. But the glory
belongs to the Captain of our salvation, whose two-edged sword
shall yet slay the enemies of his kingdom and raise the Lord's house
to the top of the mountains, 4 and bring in everlasting righteousness/

' O, long expected day, begin —
Dawn on these realms of woe and sin ;

Fain would we leave this weary load,
And sleep in death, to rest with God/ "

It is time now to return to the direct line of our sketch. The
reader was left with the appointment of our missionary to Detroit,
first after the war-cry had died away, and he has been furnished with
some account of his labors and successes, but he has had no account
of his journey thither or of his reception when he arrived.

The hiatus would be too great if these particulars should be
passed over in silence. We will avail ourselves of free extracts from
the diary of Mr. Hickox touching these, points, and we cannot do
better than to give them in his own words. Having received his
appointment, he proceeded with all convenient despatch to Buffalo,
with the expectation of getting a passage by water. In this he was
disappointed. Hear his own words :

" After waiting two weeks at Buffalo for a vessel to take me up

78 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the lake, without avail, I crossed over to Canada, mounted my horse,
and commenced a tedious and dangerous journey through the for
ests, swamps, and savages. About half way I stopped with a friend,
who constrained me to stop over the Sabbath with him, and allow
an appointment for preaching to be circulated. Sunday morning,
however, news came that travelers and emigrants were collecting
some thirty miles in advance, preparing to move in a body through
a deep forest forty miles wide, and infested with hostile Indians. As
it was said to be dangerous to pass through that forest without a
formidable company, and as such companies were only occasionally
formed, I felt it to be my duty to push on that day, and join the com
pany for Monday's journey. It was the most trying Sabbath day's
journey I ever made. Several miles from the settlement I fell in
with two or three thousand Indians, painted in the highest . style of
savage life and yelling like demons. I was alone and knew not
what to expect. But they offered me no real injury. Towards the
close of the day, I seemed to have passed the host and to be com
paratively free from danger. Alighting from my horse, I breathed
more freely than I had done during the day, very thankful for a
whole skin. In the midst of this reverie of thankfulness, the crack of
a rifle near by suddenly put an end to my congratulations of myself.
My heart beat quickly, and the hair rose instantly on my head, as a
huge Indian stepped from behind a tree, as I feared, to my peril.
But summoning up all the coolness I could, I asked, 'Kill 'em?'
'No,' was the laconic reply. He had shot at game and had not
aimed at the itinerant. I reached the company in safety.

"Perhaps a worse road than we traveled the next day, was
never passed over. We were impeded by sloughs through which
a horse could pass only by successive lunges, rendered doubly
annoying by the clouds of flies and musquitoes that assailed us.
About midway of the forest, a mournful spectacle presented it
self. It was the field where Holmes overtook General Proctor, who
was retreating from Moravian Town, when a great slaughter took
place. The British had buried their dead so slightly that the wolves
had dragged their bodies from the loose earth that had been thrown
upon them. There lay the skeletons, strewn over the ground.
They were yet entire — the hair yet upon the head, and the teeth all
perfect, denoting the youth and strength of the slain. Such are
some of the desolations of sin which the minister of the Gospel is
sent to counteract.

" The next day after having passed this forest a man hailed me,
asking:

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 79

"'Are you a Methodist preacher?'

" 4Yes,' I replied.

"'Well, wont you preach for us?' continued he.

" 'Yes, if you will gather a congregation,' said I.

" Lying down to rest, after my toilsome journey, I slept soundly
until he awoke me, saying that the people had assembled. Spring
ing up, I was enabled to preach with freedom to this long forsaken
people ; and the God of all grace blest the word to the conversion
of one man at the time. He was the head of a family, and lived and
died in the faith. Much encouraged by this incident, at the very
threshold of my work, I began the task assigned me with confidence
in the power of God to make even this 'wilderness to bud and blos
som as the rose.' '

Through such perils and sufferings did Mr. Hickox proceed, un
til he reached Detroit, where he was kindly received by Robert Ab
bott, Esq., and the few faithful ones of whom we have before spoken.
As before noted, he located in 1820, and settled on his farm on the
Rouge. Here he performed much valuable service as a local
preacher, and there are many in and around Detroit who kindly
remember him, although almost an entire generation has come onto
the active stage since he left Michigan.

He removed from Illinois to Beloit, Wisconsin, where he died in
the faith and peace of the Gospel, January i6th, 1867. His expres
sions of personal confidence in the Divine Redeemer were very
satisfactory.

GIDEON LANING, who succeeded Mr. Hickox on Detroit Circuit
in 1817, was admitted into the Gene see Conference on trial in 1812 ;
received his regular appointments ; passed through the grades of
the ministry, and labored usefully in the cause. He remained on this
charge but one year; and, indeed, he rendered but little more than
a half year's service on the Detroit Circuit, because of sickness, and
his place was supplied by Thomas Harmon, as has been before
stated. The people would have been much better pleased, if they
could have had his ministry, than they were with the supply they had.
Mr. Laning still lives — 1877 — so it does not become us to say much
concerning him at this time. When appointed to Detroit, it was in
tended he should devote himself exclusively to Michigan, and he
received the following paper, signed by the Bishop making the ap
pointment :

" To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN :

w The Rev. Gideon Laning is employed on a mission to Detroit to preach the
Gospel, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is

8O HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

hereby recommended to the hospitality of all, wherever Providence may call
him in the performance of his mission.
Elizabethtown, 25th June, 1816. (Signed) ENOCH GEORGE."

Mr. Laning was born in New Jersey, March 23d, 1792. His
parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1800
they removed to Western New York, where, when he was thirteen
years of age, he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church. When seventeen years old he began to call sinners to re
pentance, and officiated as an exhorter and local preacher until twenty
years old, when he was admitted on trial in the Genesee Conference.
His youthful appearance drew crowds to hear him, and his word was
attended with much success — how much, eternity alone will unfold.
He had traveled five very extensive circuits in Central and Western
New York, before he was appointed to the Detroit Mission in 1817.
Detroit had stood on the General Minutes for several years previous,
but the preachers appointed had bestowqd their labor principally on
the adjacent parts of Canada. This year — 1817 — it was resolved
for the first time to have the missionary devote his time exclusively
to Michigan, as the above paper, signed by Bishop George, will show.
Mr. Laning preached in William McCarty's private dwelling on the
Rouge on Sabbath morning, and in the Council House in Detroit at
night. He had to leave the mission on account of failure of health.
As soon as able after leaving the mission he journeyed South, and
his health so much improved that he took an appointment at the
next Conference.

For five years ensuing he occupied fields of labor in Pennsyl
vania, Maryland and Virginia. In 1823 he returned to the Genesee
Conference in Western New York, where he has retained his stand
ing ever since. Although he has been on the superannuated list for
several years past, he has done effective service nearly forty years,
including four years of chaplaincy in an alms-house.

1° ^57, after an absence of n early forty years, he visited Michi
gan. He makes the following remarks in regard to this visit : " I
was astonished in witnessing the contrast. Where there was but
one class of Methodists of less than thirty names, in 1817, there was
now, according to the Minutes, a membership of about twenty-five
thousand. And where I was the only Protestant minister, except a
licentiate (John Monteith), in Detroit, there were now two annual
conferences, besides a great number of ministers and churches of
other evangelical denominations. Then, there was not a building
called a church in all Michigan; now, they were numerous. 'What
hath God wrought?' Where I had to follow an Indian trail to get

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 8 1

to the settlement, and ford rivers, or have the horse swim by the side
of a canoe while holding him by the bridle, or if no one was present
to paddle it, to lie down and be drawn to the opposite shore, there
were railroads now, and every facility for travel. Cities and villages
had sprung up as if by magic, where there was only a dense forest
forty years before."

In regard to his work, he says : " In respect to my mission field,
in 1817, I found the English and Yankee people ready to listen to
the preached word. They were quite friendly and hospitable. As
to the French, they were under Catholic domination. I saw but one
Indian with whom I could converse. He had been educated for an
interpreter to a Presbyterian mission, and had served in that capacity
for some few years. He told me the missionary wanted him to return
with him, but his people would not suffer it. So he had remained
and become as wicked as ever. I invited him to attend my preaching
at the Rouge, it being only ten miles distant, which he promised to
do. I never saw any people more hungry for the preached word,
than at a settlement about fifty miles in a northwesterly direction
from Detroit. They had never been visited by a preacher before.
The whole community would turn out on a week-day, and drink in
every word. One man told me he had left his harvestfield and
walked eight miles to hear me. At the Raisin (now Monroe) I had
a large congregation. At the Rapids of the Maumee, Ohio, I entered
an open door. It was affecting in Detroit City, on a bright moon
light evening, to have the Council House yard and adjacent street
filled with attentive hearers. O that my health had been such that
I could have continued on the mission ! But God does all things well."

It is a pity he did not confine his labors to Detroit and the
Rouge. His eloquence charmed the people, and his gentlemanly
manners gave him access to all classes. At the Raisin, and in a few
other places, he found a few persons who had been Methodists pre
vious to their removing to Michigan. So, with what his successor
may have received, a grand total of forty members was returned at
the next Conference, for Michigan. He was a very worthy laborer
in this field.

ALPHEUS DAVIS was admitted on trial in the Genesee Confer
ence in 1816, and died in 1820. He was born in Paris, Oneida
County, New York, December nth, 1793. He was, consequently,
twenty-three years old when he entered the itinerant work. He ex
perienced religion when about thirteen years of age, and for some
time performed faithfully the duties and professed the enjoyments
of a Christian life. Unfortunately, then he fell into the snare of the

82 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Devil, and for a short time lived in a careless, backslidden state. In
this condition he found no rest to his soul. At length, with deep
and earnest penitence, he returned to the fold of Christ — to the
fellowship of the saints — " the household of faith." Severe was
the struggle when he came back to the Lord. Very soon after
his restoration to the life of a Christian he began to exercise himself
in religious meetings, exhibiting such talents as to satisfy the Church
that he was called of God to the work of the ministry. Having re
ceived license as a local preacher, he sustained that relation for one
year, and then was employed by the Presiding Elder to supply a
Circuit for one year. In these relations he gave such satisfaction
that he was recommended to the Conference, and admitted into the
itinerant connection. The first two years he traveled in the Eastern
portion of the Conference. In 1818 he was sent to these ends of
the earth — as Detroit was then regarded — to the care of these sheep
in the wilderness. There seems not to have been much success at
tending his labors here, as he only returned thirty members at the
close of his term, or year. He continued in connection with this
work only one year, as we find by the Minutes he was appointed to
Herkimer Circuit, New York, for the next year. He labored faith
fully, with declining health.

At the Conference held in August, 1820, he was placed on the
superannuated list ; but he continued to waste away so rapidly with
pulmonary consumption that he fell asleep in Jesus, October 8th,
1820. He had not married. We find the following estimate of his
worth in the Official Minutes for 1821 : " Our departed brother and
fellow-laborer in the Gospel has left a vacancy in the Church of God
which few will be able to supply. To say he had no faults would be
to raise him above human beings ; but to say few have had less,
would be believed by all who knew him. In the private circles of
social life he was highly esteemed, as well by the aged as the youth.
An assemblage of agreeable and useful qualities, which were the or
nament of his mind and the savor of his life, could not fail to inter
est society. But when we follow our dearly beloved brother through
the more retired and obscure scenes of life into the field of his
public ministry, we find him no less the faithful pastor of his flock
than the agreeable and profitable associate of his friends, and the
dutiful child. His private studies, his pastoral visits and his public
exercises were happily directed to the great object which the Gospel
is designed to promote ; and it may be said of him in every station
which he filled, that ' his labor was not in vain in the Lord.' Though
he sustained every relation in life he held with reputation and use-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 83

fulness, at no period did he shine with more lustre or appear to
greater advantage than in his last illness. The patience which dis
tinguished the last sufferings of Brother Davis, as well as the forti
tude and cheerfulness with which he met the King of Terrors, gave
evidence of that true piety which is peculiar to the Christian. He
was held in such high estimation by the friends among whom he
died, that several families contended for the privilege of nursing him
in his sickness. But notwithstanding his youth, his rare and promis
ing abilities, and the hopes and solicitudes of his friends, he fell a
victim to death! He sleeps to wake no more in time! This promising
youth, after having ' fought the good fight, and kept the faith,' fin
ished his course October 8th, 1820. That he died in the Lord, and
that he rests from his labors, we can have no doubt." Thus God lays
by his workmen, but yet carries on His work.

We have been able to gather but scanty materials for a memo
rial sketch of the life and labors of REV. TRUMAN DIXON. He was
admitted on trial in the Genesee Conference in 1818; consequently,
this was his second appointment, as he was sent to Detroit in 1819,
where he labored for one year only. He had good success on this
charge, as he returned sixty-six members, a little more than double
the last year's report. He is said to have been a man of good abil
ities as a preacher, and attended faithfully to his work here. The Gene-
see Conference held its session July 2Oth, 1820, at Niagara, in Cana
da, at which time the connection of Michigan with that Conference
ceased. Mr. Dixon located in 1825, having devoted seven years to
the itinerant ministry. We now lose sight of him. He seems to
have been a man of considerable mental power, and to have been
.capable of accomplishing much good. It is a pity that such men, for
any cause, should cease the active ministerial work. The world is so
much in need of the labors of such men that they ought, unless re
leased by Divine Providence disabling them, to continue their active
labors for its reformation.

THE OLD LOG CHURCH. We have before spoken of the fact that
the first Protestant Christian Church in Michigan was built by the
Methodists in the vicinity of Detroit. It is not to be supposed that
this was done without much effort ; for, though it was a humble
building, the people were poor and few, especially those who felt
any interest in such an enterprise. In regard to this old church,
Rev. John A. Baughman, now deceased, and who was the last min
ister who preached in it, remarked to us : "The old log church stood
on the north side of the road running from Detroit up the River
Rouge, some five or rix miles from the city, a short distance from the

84 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

river. The size, as nearly as I can recollect, was about twenty- four
by thirty feet, standing lengthwise east and west, fronting south to
wards the road and river. The pulpit was on the north side, oppsite
the door, built of plain, common boards, dressed, standing directly
against the wall. The pulpit was entered by steps at the east end.
It had no altar. The floor consisted of plain, rough boards nailed
upon sleepers. The seats consisted of plain, rough benches, made
by boring auger holes and inserting round sticks of wood into them.
These were placed so as to leave an aisle in front of the pulpit, to
the door. There were four windows to the house — one in each end
and one on each side of the door in the front side of the house.
The ceiling was from eleven to twelve feet high from the floor, con
sisting of round logs from which the bark was peeled, for joists.
These were covered with rough boards laid loosely over them. The
house was warmed by a large stove which stood in the center, with
the pipe running into a chimney, and thus passing out of the roof.
The body of the building consisted of quite large, hewed logs, put
up somewhat after the old French style."

Our recollection of the position of this building — for it was
still standing, though not used for a church, when we came into the
country in 1830 — is that it stood with the end towards the road, and
if we had been about to have a drawing made of it we should have
had it in that way. But this is of no consequence, and we are as
likely to be mistaken as Mr. Baughman. Though the church was
abandoned as a place of worship when we came into the country,
and we preached in a private house a little above it, we used to pass
it often and have gone into it to look at it with feelings of rever
ence, as its having been a place where much good had been done ;
for one who used to worship in it once said to us, "There was much
of Divine power in their meetings, and prayer and praise there as
cended to Heaven. Peace and joy filled their hearts, while they
walked in fellowship and love."

Mr. Hickox said of this old church: "In the spring of 1818
they put up a comfortable hewed-log chapel, for the worship of
Almighty God. While they stood in the forest, those trees from
which the logs were taken had echoed to the shouts of savages,
rendered wild by the spirit of darkness ; but now, by the exceeding
greatness of the Lord's power in them that believe, they resounded
with praise to the Prince of Peace. This was the first house of
worship erected in the Territory of Michigan." He means Protes
tant place of worship.

We may as well finish the history of this house in this place as

F/RST M.ZfCHURCH IN

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 85

to postpone it. From the changes occurring in society by the

growth of the country, and from difficulties and disaffections in the
hurch, the location became very inconvenient, and this house was
abandoned as a place of worship in 1828, after having been used in
that way for about ten years.

When we first came to Michigan, in 1830, having been appoint
ed to Ann Arbor Circuit, which included the ground where this
church was located, this house was still standing, but in a dilapi
dated condition. Being abandoned it soon fell into decay, and a few
years later, some one conceiving the idea that it was rather unsight
ly, and not having any fear of the Methodists before his eyes, set
fire to it, which consumed most of the materials of which it was
made. Thus passes the glory of the world — of all terrestrial things.
It had its day of usefulness, and now, like many other things, when
it can no longer be used it is first abandoned and then destroyed.

The remains of this first house, built for the worship of the true
and living God, in Michigan, lay undisturbed in their ashes and ruins
until in the month of June, 1851. At this time the ministers of the
Methodist Episcopal Church residing in the City of Detroit, and
officiating in the churches, to wit : James Shaw, Presiding Elder of
Detroit District, Elijah H. Pilcher, of the Woodward Avenue
Church, George Taylor, of Congress street, and Lorenzo D. Price, of
Lafayette street — instigated by some kind of a spirit, laudable or
otherwise, as any one may please to consider it, at the suggestion of
Rev. George Taylor aforesaid — made a sally out of the city, and
with force and arms carried off all the remains of the timber that
was sufficiently sound, and had it manufactured into canes. These
amounted to about thirty in number. Most of these were sold at
the succeeding session of the Annual Conference, and the avails
were given to the Missionary Society. They reserved one each for
themselves. A few were donated as follows, viz : to Bishop Morris,
Bishop Scott, after he was elected to the Episcopal office ; Rev. Jud-
son D. Collins, who had just returned from the China Mission in
very poor health, after having been absent for several years. Robert
Abbott, Esq., took one for himself, and donated one to Rev. William
Case as a token of remembrance of the good that he had received
through his labors.

As the Bible did not prohibit wearing silver, these canes — that is,
the reserved and donated ones — were mounted with heavy silver
heads, and these words were engraved on the sides : " Relic of the
first Methodist, being the first Protestant Church in Michigan, built
1818." Thus has this first church, erected to the glory of God ia

86 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Michigan, and which was honored of God by the manifestations of
His Spirit in the conversion of precious souls, passed away. We
now say, Requiescat in pace — rest in peace — but your record is on
high and your memorial is not to perish from among men! Thus it
is with this world ; men and things have their day in which they may
be useful, and then to pass away — some to be forgotten and some
to be immortalized.

It would be curious and interesting if we could present the
original subscription, showing that some subscribed fractions of a
dollar, and others so many days of labor or a certain amount of ma
terials, and so on. Rev. Thomas Harmon, the supply in the absence
of Rev. Gideon Laning, and Robert Abbott, Esq., were the most
active agents in securing the erection of this house ; and in its latter
years, Joseph Hanchett was the most prominent member of the
Society in it.

It is proper here to note that the breaking up of the Society and
the abandonment of the church at so early a period was not entirely
dependent on the changes in the settlement, although that had a
good deal to do with it. Dissensions had sprung up among them,
and had run so high that some had been expelled from the Church
who had considerable influence in the community. This, as a matter
of course, set them in opposition to the Church. They therefore, did
all they could to break it down. This dissension grew partly out of
a jealousy towards Robert Abbott, Esq., who at this time owned a
farm on the Rouge and resided on it. Mr. Abbott, as has before
been shown, was a man of considerable influence in the Church, and
of high standing in the community. Before the abandonment of the
Church he had moved back to the city, and was fully identified with
the Church there. We may form a little idea of the spirit of evil
which had sprung up by noting a fact or two. Mr. Abbott had taken
a very active part in raising subscriptions for building the church,
and he acted as collector and treasurer. He was in poor health,
suffering very much from dyspepsia, and Mr. Harmon, the preacher,
had persuaded him to go with him into Canada and spend a few
weeks during the spring. This was before the building was com
pleted. During his absence, one of the members put into circula
tion the report that Mr. Abbott had run off with the funds of the
Church, and managed in some irregular way to have him declared
expelled from the Church. When Mr. Abbott returned from his
visit he was restored to his standing, as what was done was illegally
done. Mr. Abbott had charges preferred against this brother now,
for slander, and he was formally expelled. This man, who showed

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 87

that his expulsion was just by his violence and profane cursing, ever
after became an enemy of the Church. With such a spirit as now
began to spring up, it required but a few removals to make it im
practicable to keep it up. Mr. Abbott removed to the city ; William
McCarty had settled on a farm several miles farther up the river, and
could not attend here — so Mr. Hanchett was nearly left alone to
maintain the Church. William Stacy had died, and several of the
Corbuses had moved away. The meetings were withdrawn and
the church abandoned. It is always to be deplored, when dis
cords and divisions spring up in a Church, for they can only result
in evil. Why will members of a feeble Church, especially, ever allow
themselves to pursue such a suicidal course?

We must now say a few words more in regard to JOSEPH
HANCHETT. We knew him personally. He was a man of sound
mind, and seemed to have a genuine religious experience. He
removed to Branch County, and his was one of the two families
who settled at Coldwater in 1831, and he and his wife, with Allen
Tibbits and his wife, formed the first Methodist Society organized
there, in 1832. The Society at Coldwater was organized by Rev. E.
H. Pilcher, preacher in charge of Tecumseh Circuit, June igth, 1832,
consisting of Allen Tibbits, local preacher, Caroline M. Tibbits his
wife, Joseph Hanchett, and Nancy Hanchett his wife. This was the
first religious Society, or Church, organized in Branch County.
Allen Tibbitts, the local preacher just named, preached the first
sermon ever delivered at what is now the City of Coldwater, on the
fourth Sabbath of July, 1831, in a little log house in which he
resided, and in which Rev. E. H. Pilcher preached the first funeral
discourse ever delivered in Branch County, in October, 1831. It was
a daughter of Mr. Tibbitts that had died.

Joseph Hanchett died in Natchez, Mississippi, of yellow fever,
in September, 1849. He had gone there to visit a son. He was
buried by the Order of Odd Fellows. Allen Tibbitts was there on
the day of his burial, and attended his funeral. He had removed
from Coldwater to Beloit, Wisconsin, several years previous to this,
where his wife had died a few years before. He remained faithful
to the Church while he lived, and doubtless has gone to receive the
reward of the righteous in heaven.

We subjoin the following paper, taken from the Michigan
Christian Advocate, dated in April, 1877:

THE FIRST PROTESTANT CHURCH IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. —
Rev. Dr. Pilcher, in his researches in the preparation of a work en
titled, "The Introduction and Progress of Protestantism in Michigan,"

88 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

obtained the following statement through Mr. Silas Farmer, accom
panied with a note, which we also subjoin. It seems there was a dis
position at that time to ignore the existence of a Methodist Church
in Michigan. Mr. Abbott speaks of the Society or Church on the
River Rouge, simply because they had come to have more members
there than in the City of Detroit, and had built a church there. The
Society or Church, as originally organized, had a majority of its
members in the city, and they held their meetings in both places.
This advertisement settles definitely and authoritatively the fact, as
so often stated by Dr. Pilcher, that a Methodist Church had been
organized here in 1810, and had never become extinct. The place
on the Rouge referred to was only a little beyond Woodmere
Cemetery. Mr. Abbott himself joined this Church in 1810, he then
residing in the City of Detroit. Brother Farmer says :

DEAR BROTHER PILCHER : — The enclosed copy of advertisement from the
Detroit Weekly Gazette of April 3d, 1818, was only discovered by a careful search
through over 20,000 old newspapers, occupying over four months of time, and I
judge it is probably themost definite information possible to obtain, and the infor
mation was sought specially for my " Illustrated History of Detroit."

The advertisement reads as follows :

FIRST PROTESTANT CHURCH IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, was erected at the
River Rouge, on the 31st ultimo, by a Society of Methodists, a body corporate, be
longing to the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. The said Society
was established at the River Rouge in the year 1810, and through the mercies of
God has remained inflexible through the storms of war and other trials ; and by
the Divine blessing is still in a prosperous way.

ROBERT ABBOTT,
April 2, 1818. One of the Trustees of the River Bouge Methodist Episcopal Church.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 89

CHAPTER V.

Changes — Numbers — Kent, from Ohio Conference — Decrease — Settlements Increase — Morey
Appointed — Morey's Death — Supply — First Camp Meeting — Catholic Woman — Society Per
manently in Detroit — Ohio Conference, 1822 — Two Ministers — Baker is Married, and Dies
— Pattee and Plimpton — Hunter — Extending the Work — Reflections — Review — Corporation
Formed — Corporators — Meeting in May, 1820 — Erection of a Church — Simmons — Pattee
Goes East — Offer of Help — New Church — Isaac C. Hunter — Anecdote — Numbers — Inci
dents of Hickox and Richard — Richard.

|E now enter upon the third period of our History, which
extends from August, 1820, to September, 1836, a term
J of sixteen years. More rapid changes will have been
38^ made during this time than during all the years of our
past History. This period includes the time from the
«| transfer of Michigan to the Ohio Conference, until the Michigan
Conference was organized. But what have we to start with? The
last report made to the Genesee Conference by Mr. Dixon, July
2Oth, 1820, gives sixty-six members for Detroit Circuit; but we
cannot reckon more than thirty of these as belonging to Michi
gan, or else there must have been a very considerable scattering in
the few weeks which intervened between the appointments of this
year.

At the session of the Ohio Conference held at Chillicothe, Ohio,
commencing August 2Oth, 1820, Detroit is made to appear on its list
of appointments. It is found in the Lebanon District, James B. Fin-
ley, Presiding Elder. John P. Kent was appointed in charge of the
Circuit, alone. Mr. Kent was an able preacher and labored faithful
ly ; but in numbering up the hosts at the end of the year, we find a
return of only twenty members for Detroit Circuit at the Conference,
September 6th, 1821. Here is a decrease of ten or more. We are
not fully prepared to account for this decrease. It probably occurred,
in part, in consequence of the transfer of the country from one

90 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Conference to another, which occasioned the severance of ' all ap
pointments and members which were on the Canada side of the river.

We have now reached a period in our History when all the
numbers of the membership returned at the conferences belong in
Michigan, so that we can state the numbers with greater exactness
than heretofore. Mr. Kent was a young, unmarried man, though an
ordained Elder, but his health was not very rugged. Notwithstanding
his delicate health, he remained faithfully in charge of his work to
the close of the year. By his excessive labors and exposures in this
region of country, he became so prostrated that it was necessary for
him to take a superannuated relation at the Conference in 1821. Mr.
Finley, the Presiding Elder, visited the country in the spring of 1821.
A full account of his labors and visits will be found in another chap
ter, under the memorial notice of James B. Finley.

The settlements in Michigan began now to increase with con
siderable rapidity, so that the Itinerant could find places enough to
employ his whole time and tax his energies to their utmost. Mr.
Kent visited as many of these new settlements as he could, and ar
ranged them into a plan for a Circuit for his successor for the next
year. We will now state our position at the end of this first year of
our third period — that is, September 6th, 1821. We have one charge
(Detroit Circuit], one preaclier, twenty members, and one log meeting
house. Not a very encouraging state of things ; and yet, these were
nearly all the Protestant professors in the Territory. There had
been a Presbyterian Church organized in Monroe in 1820, but that
was very feeble ; and there were a few professors, besides Method
ists, in the City of Detroit. The cause, however, is of God ; and
we are to look to Him for the success.

At the Conference held at Lebanon, Ohio, beginning September
6th, 1821, Platt B. Morey, a young man of rather feeble health, who
had just been admitted on trial, was appointed to Detroit, and it was
still included in the Lebanon District. John Strange was appointed
Presiding Elder. Mr. Strange made one visit to Detroit and
preached with great power. His visit was of much advantage to
the cause in Detroit.

Mr. Morey reached the work some time in October, but he had
not completed a single round on his charge before he was taken
sick. He died at Mount Clemens, in December, 1821. His remains
were taken to Detroit for interment and were deposited in the grave
yard in the midst of the city. Rev. Joseph Hickox preached his
funeral sermon. In the spring of 1851, it having been determined to
erect a block for stores on this ground, the grave was taken up and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 9!

the remains transferred to Elmwood Cemetery, where the same plain
stone that marked his grave before still marks the spot where lies
his dust till the last, loud trumpet shall sound to awake the sleeping
dust to life. Mr. Morey was born at Trumansburg, New York, but
he had gone into Ohio. He was a very pious, good man, but
not a great preacher. He was young, and promised usefulness had
he lived. During his sickness his mind was clear, and he was very
happy. He died in great triumph. He was the first Methodist
preacher who was buried in Michigan soil.

Rev. John P. Kent, who had taken a superannuated relation, was
employed by the Presiding Elder to fill out the year. He returned
one hundred and thirty members at the end of the year. This was
an increase of one hundred and ten, as it will be recollected that there
were but twenty returned at the preceding Conference. New settle
ments had been included, and societies formed among immigrants ;
many had also been converted and added to the existing Soci
eties. The work was now widening in its circle, and assumed a more
permanent form, never again to recede.

Mr. Kent, assisted by Rev. William Case, Presiding Elder on
Upper Canada District, held a Camp-Meeting on the farm of William
Stacy, on the River Rouge, in the month of June, 1822 — the first
meeting of the kind ever held in Michigan. It was a very good and
profitable time. The whole country turnd out to see the novel spec
tacle of a meeting in the woods. Among many others who were
brought to a knowledge of the love of God for the first time, was a
French Catholic woman. While she was penitently asking for a new
heart, a relative of hers, a leading Romanist in these parts,
came into the altar. Looking on for a few minutes, with a mixture
of surprise and alarm ; then, in response to the suggestion of some
one that she wanted religion, he cried out, " She has got religion !
She need not seek religion ! She has got religion, for I have it now
in my pocket!" He probably referred to some note of indulgence,
or of confirmation, which had been given to him for her. But she
did not think that that was what she needed. She still sought it by
faith in Christ. She found peace in His name, and went away much
more comforted by the u love of God shed abroad in her heart by
the Holy Ghost given unto her " than by the religion in the pocket
of her relative. This was a very valuable meeting, and much last
ing good was accomplished. The Church was much benefited by it.

Some time during the year 1821 the Society became more fully
installed in the City of Detroit, and their meetings were constantly
held in the city. Previous to this time, although the preaching was

92 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

constant in the city — that is, once in three or four weeks — and
although the Society had been organized in the city, as before stated,
the Society met sometimes in Detroit, and sometimes on the River
Rouge in the log meeting-house. As yet, no vigorous effort had
been made to build a Methodist church in the city. Our people had
been content to occupy, occasionally, the house which had been built
by Protestants in common, under the name of " The First Protestant
Church or Society." By the way, the Methodists might at this time
have possessed themselves entirely of this house and property, if
they had adopted the advice given to a young lawyer, who had then
recently been converted and had joined the Methodist Church, by an
old gentleman who was not a professor of religion but was friendly
to the Methodists. He advised this young lawyer to induce
a sufficient number of Methodists and their particular friends to
become members of that Society, to control it, and then to vote the
property to their exclusive use and benefit. " But," said the young
man, "that would not be honorable." "No matter," said the old
gentleman, " if you do not do so, somebody else will, and you will
lose it." " Oh, I think not," said the confiding young man. It was
not long after this, however, before he found his confidence was mis
placed, and the statement of the old man was fully realized. The
Methodists had to find a place of worship as they could, this common
house having been voted to the exclusive use of another denomina
tion.

After the death of Mr. Morey, of whom \ve have nearly lost
sight, but whose appointment to this charge, in 1821, is now recalled
to mind, Mr. Kent filled out the year until the session of the Ohio
Conference, which met in Marietta, Ohio, beginning September 5th,
1822. Marietta is a small town situated on the Ohio River at the
confluence of the Muskingum River ; so that our Itinerant had to
travel on horseback to the southeast part of the State of Ohio to
reach the seat of his Conference. Mr. Kent returned one hundred
and thirty members for Detroit Circuit. The Circuit, however, extend
ed to the Maumee Rapids, in Ohio ; and he had reorganized the
Society at Monroe. (For a fuller account of this latter Society we
refer to Monroe, when it appears on our records.)

The work had so enlarged that at this Conference it was thought
advisable to increase the ministerial force — to send two ministers to
Detroit Circuit. This begins to seem a little as though we were
coming up out of the wilderness. A brighter day begins to dawn,
both for the country and for Michigan Protestantism, though a dark
cloud still hangs over our heavens in the city. This is mainly the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 93

result of previous miscalculation. In September, 1822, Alfred
Brunson and Samuel Baker were appointed to Detroit Circuit, which
was still included in the Lebanon District — James B. Finley, Pre
siding" Elder. Mr. Brunson confined his labors mostly to the city.
He was the first man who ventured to make a concentration of labor
in the city. Mr. Baker attended to the country work. Mr. Brunson
still lives — 1877 — in the enjoyment of a green old age. Mr. Baker,
during the year, formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Sarah
Harvey, of Monroe — late Mrs. Rev. John A. Baughman; went to Con
ference, which met at Urbana, Ohio, September 4th, 1823; was taken
sick, and died in a few days. At the Conference of 1823 they re
turned one Imndred and sixty-one members, being a net increase of
thirty-one over last year. Taking all the circumstances into the
account, this was doing* well. As nigh as we can now ascertain,
there were about sixty members in the City of Detroit.

The next year's appointments did not embrace as much strength
as the last. In September, 1823, Elias Pattee and Billings O. Plymp-
ton were stationed on this one Circuit. Mr. Pattee was a man of
moderate talents and limited education, but of great zeal. Mr.
Plympton was a noble-spirited and zealous Christian, but young —
just beginning, this being only his second year in the ministry.
This Circuit was now included in the Miami District — John Strange,
Presiding Elder — a District that extended from Cincinnati to Detroit.
Why it was severed from Lebanon District cannot be ascertained.
It certainly did not make it any more convenient for the Presiding
Elder to visit it. As might have been expected from the dimensions
of the District, the Presiding Elder does not appear to have visited
Michigan at all that year. Indeed, for the two years that Mr. Strange
presided, he does not appear to have made more than one visit to
the Territory. This is not to be wondered at, from its distance and
the difficulties of travel to reach it. The appointment this year was
not in every respect such as the character of the work demanded,
especially so far as the City of Detroit was concerned. The cause
gained no special strength in the city this year, though in the coun
try settlements large accessions were made, so that at the Confer
ence in 1824 — at the end of the year — they reported two hundred
and forty -two members for the Circuit. This was a net increase of
eighty-one. They have also lopped off the Maumee Rapids, and
confined their labors to Michigan. It will be recollected that immi
gration had now turned its course considerably toward Michigan,
and, as the settlements were formed, our ministers were ready to

94 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

supply them, and new appointments had been made in various local
ities.

Elias Pattee was reappointed to this Circuit in September, 1824,
and Isaac C. Hunter was associated with him as his colleague. The
Circuit was now included in the Sandusky District — a new District
which was organized at this Conference — and James B. Finley was
Presiding Elder again. It is most probable that Mr. Finley did not
visit Detroit more than once this year, as there are no memorials of
his having done so. As both preachers were ordained Elders, it was
not as essential that he should come, as it otherwise would have
been, because the ordinances could be administered without him;
and yet the visits of the Presiding Elder were looked for with great
interest in those days.

With the increasing population these brethren found increasing
demands for labor; and the work was much extended as the ijew
settlements increased, or came into existence, and these itinerants
were ready to follow them up and administer to them the Word of
Life. Mr. Pattee extended his labors as far west as Ypsilanti, and
organized a small Society at Woodruff's Grove, as Ypsilanti was then
called, in the summer of 1825. This was the first Christian Church
organized in Washtenaw County, or at any point in Michigan west
of Wayne County. Of the fortunes and successes of this Society a
full account will be given when Ypsilanti comes into notice as a dis
tinct charge, so we dismiss it for the present.

While these brethren were extending their labors to the increas
ing settlements in the country — to the outposts — the citadel was neg
lected — the city interests were not much promoted. Upon the whole,
there was no increase of membership in the Territory this year, as
the number returned was the same as last year — that is, two hundred
and forty-two. No advance, upon the whole, was made either in the
City of Detroit or the County of Wayne.

The real condition of a Church cannot always be determined by
the number of members at any given time. This may be stationary,
or may even have diminished, while the real moral power has been
accumulating and gathering strength, ready to develop itself on some
future occasion with the greater success. The Church may be con
stituted of such fickle and unstable people as that, in a few months,
after a flood-tide of prosperity, few of them only may be found walk
ing in the way of righteousness ; or it may be constituted of persons
of a firm, decided character, whose decision and constancy will make
a deep and abiding impression on a community. A Church of the
latter description will certamiy work its wav into the esteem and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 95

affections of the people, and will ultimately triumph. Heretofore we
have considered our work mostly in respect to its numerical increase.
It is now time to take a little review of it in other respects.

"The First Protestant Society of Detroit," having voted to
appropriate the small house of worship which had been erected in
the City of Detroit, by the common contributions of the people,
under the auspices of the " First Evangelistic Society" — a Society
which was made up of all Protestants, without reference to their
Church relations — to the exclusive use of the Presbyterians, and the
Methodists being left to find a place of worship where they could,
they thought of providing a house for themselves. They had a few
persons among them of sterling fidelity, who had become Methodists
from principle and who were disposed to rise or fall, as the case
might be, with this Church, and who felt deeply the need of a church
of their own. Of some of these men we shall hereafter give some
account.

As early as May, 1820, some effort had been made to obtain
from the Governor and Judges, who had the coutrol of the matter,
a lot on which to build a church, by calling together those citizens
who were friendly to the object to petition them for that purpose.
No corporation, however, was created until 1822. At this time, in
order to constitute a religious corporation, it was necessary to adopt
articles of association setting forth the object of the corporation,
which must be submitted to the Governor and Judges, and, if ap
proved by them, the signers and their successors were constituted a
corporation in law. Such articles of association were drawn up on
the 2 ist day of March, 1822, and signed by the persons whose names
are attached thereto.

The names attached to the articles of association did not com
prise all who were connected with the Church in the city at that time.
They, however, were enough to meet the demands of the law in such
cases. As this is the first organization of the kind in the line of our
History, it may be interesting to insert these articles here :

CONSTITUTION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OP THE CITY OF DETROIT.

To all whom these presents may come :

Know ye, that we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being desirous of estab
lishing a Methodist Episcopal Society in the City of Detroit, for the purpose of ac
quiring and enjoying the powers and immunities of a corporation or body politic in
law, according to an act of the Governor and Judges of the Territory of Michigan,
entitled " an act to confer on certain associations the power and immunities of cor
porations or bodies politic in law," do therefore, by these presents, associate ourselves
together for the said purpose by the name, style and title of *' The First Methodist
Episcopal Society of the City of Detroit," under the articles and conditions follow
ing, to wit :

96 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

SECTION 1. The said subscribers and their successors shall, according to the above-recited
act, become and be a corporation or body corporate in law and in fact, to have continuance by the
name, style and title of " The First Methodist Episcopal Society of the City of Detroit," and as such
shall have full power and authority to make, have and use one common seal with such device and
inscription as they shall deem proper, and the same to break, alter or renew at their pleasure, and
by the name, style and title aforesaid, be able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be
impleaded, in any court or courts, before any judge or judges, justice or justices, in all manner of
suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and demands whatsoever ; and all and every matter or thing
to do, in as full and as effectual a manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate
within the Territory of Michigan, may or can do, and shall be authorized and empowered to make
rules, by-laws and ordinances, and to do everything needful for the good government and support of
Baid Society. Provided that the said by-laws, rules and ordinances, or any of them, be not repug
nant to the Constitution of the United States, or to the laws of this Territory, or to the present in
strument upon which said Society is founded and established ; and, provided also, that the said by
laws, rules and ordinances shall not extend to the dissolution of said Society, without the consent of
all the members thereof.

SECTION. 2. The said Society and their successors, by the name, style and title aforesaid, shall
be able and capable in law, according to the terms and conditions of these presents, to take and hold
all manner of lands, tenements, rents annuities, franchises and hereditaments, and any sum or sums
of money, and any manner and portion of goods and chattels, given and bequeathed unto them to
be employed and disposed of according to the object, articles and conditions of this instrument, the
by-laws of the said Society, or of the will and intention of the donor: provided that the clear
yearly value or income of the messuages, houses, lands and tenements and real estate, and the inter
est of the money by them lent shall not exceed the sum of $2,500.

SECTION 3. There shall be elected annually nine Trustees, on the third Monday in May
(a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business), a Treasurer and
a Secretary, who shall be governed in their duties by this instrument and the by-laws and
ordinances of the Society.

SECTION 4. The Society shall have authority to make by-laws and ordinances for regu
lating the admission of new members to this Society; but no member shall be eligible to the
office of Trustee, Treasurer, of Secretary unless he be a member in regular standing and com
munion with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

SECTIONS. All officers who may be appointed by virtue of this constitution shall hold
their offices until the third Monday in May in each year and until others shall be appointed in
their places.

SECTION 6. All deeds, titles, conveyances of all lands, tenements and hereditaments, and
of all goods and chattels made to this Society shall be given to the Trustees (in trust for the
Society), and all deeds, titles and conveyances of the like property from this Society shall be
given by the Trustees, but no property of the Society shall be sold without their consent.

SECTION 7. The first election of officers for this Society shall be held on the 21st day of
March, 1822 ; and elections may be held at any time to supply vacancies, on public notice being
given by the Trustees, and a majority of members present at any such meeting, or at any other
meeting of the Society held pursuant to notice given as aforesaid, or at the annual election, shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

SECTION 8. It shall be competent for the Society, at any meeting held pursuant to notice
given by the trustees as aforesaid, to levy such amount of tax or taxes- as they may deem expedient,
upon each and every member of this Society.

SECTION 9. The Society shall have power to elect such other officers as may be deemed
necessary for the transaction of business.

(Signed,) Robert Abbott, Joseph Hickox, William Hickox, Joseph C. Corbus, Israel Noble,
James Kapple, Nathaniel Champ, James L. Reed, John Ramsey, Joseph Donald, James Abbott,
H. W. Johns, Edwin H. Goodwin, P. Warren, Jerry Dean, Joseph Hanchett, Robert P.Lewis,
John Farmer.

To this instrument the following approvals were appended:

DETROIT, March 21st, 1822.
Michigan, to wit:

I should greatly prefer the union of all Protestants under the name of Evangelical Churches,
as adopted in Germany and Prussia at the third centennial anniversary, October 31st, 1817, to the
retention of the existing sectarian distinctions. The objects, however, and the articles and condi
tions set forth and contained in this instrument are, in my opinion, lawful.

(Signed,) A. B. WOODWARD,

One of the Judges in and over the Territory of Michigan, and Presiding Judge of the Supreme Court
thereof.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 97

Tuesday, May 14th, 1822.

I have examined the foregoing instrument and consider it to be within the provisions of the
act of the Governor and Judges of this Territory, entitled " An act to confer on certain associations
the powers and immunities of corporations or bodies politic in law."

(Signed,) J. WITHEKELL.
Territory of Michigan.

I have perused and examined the foregoing instrument, and entertain no doubt of the law
fulness of the objects, articles and conditions therein set forth and contained; and do hereby certify
the same pursuant to the statute.

(Signed,) CHAS. LARNED,
Attorney General, Michigan Territory.

The preceding articles of association will be recorded by the Secretary of the Territory at
the expense of the applicants.

DETROIT, May 17th, 1822. -(Signed,) LEW. CASS,

Governor of the Territory.

Thus the Society has assumed a legal form and existence. This,
however, was not the creation of the Church, as that had taken
place long before, but it was only giving it a legal organization, so
that they might hold property in law. It is both interesting and sad
to mark, as we can in this case, the changes that take place in society
in the space of a few years. At this present writing, (1877), all the
Territorial officers who signed the approval of these articles of as
sociation, are dead. Of those who signed the articles of corporation
none now reside in Detroit. William Hickox resides in Washtenaw
County ; Joseph Hickox, Robert Abbott, William McCarty, Joseph
C. Corbus, Philip Warren, Jerry Dean, Joseph Hanchett, Israel
Noble and Nathaniel Champ, we know to have died in the faith and
peace of the Gospel. John Farmer is deceased. Of the rest we
can obtain no information, and cannot determine whether they are
living or dead ; probably they are dead.

At the meeting called May 2Oth, 1820, to petition for a lot,
Samuel Davenport presided, and B. F. H. Witherell acted as Secre
tary. These seem not to have been present at the meeting in 1822.
At this meeting a committee was appointed to make application
to the Governor and Judges for a lot and also to circulate a subscip-
tion to raise funds to build a house. That committee consisted of
Robert Abbott, William W. Pettit and Samuel T. Davenport. Noth
ing was accomplished at this time, perhaps because they had not as
yet been entirely shut out from other places. At the expiration of
two years they seemed to have waked up in good earnest, as out of a
deep sleep, and to have commenced active operations. A subscrip
tion was circulated, and such an amount obtained as that they felt
warranted in commencing the work of building. A lot was obtained
from the authorities who had the disposal of them, on the corner of
Gratiot Avenue and Farrar Street, which at the time was entirely out

98 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of the city. This was another of the great mistakes in regard to
Methodism in this city. At this date in the history of this denomi
nation, it seemed to be the general policy to keep Methodism at
such a distance from the people as to make it cost search and labor
to find it. In accordance with this policy, Methodist churches of
that day were generally located on the outskirts of towns, or a mile
or two in the country. In the present instance, they might just as
well have had a lot in the midst of the city as to have taken the one
they did. But they were so modest as to wish to get away from the
public gaze as much as possible. This lot was taken greatly to the
damage of their cause in the city. They saw this mistake when it
was too late to correct the whole of the mischief, and yet in time to
recover in part. When they saw their mistake and applied to the
city authorities for another location, they were told that that was one
of their own choosing, and that they must be content with it or pay
the full price for another. The authorities were not to blame for
that. In the summer of 1823 they commenced the erection of a
building, but the subscription was exhausted before the walls were
completed. It was of brick. It is said that the prospect was that it
would stand during the winter without a roof, which would nearly
ruin the walls, as it was now late in the fall, and there were no means
of completing them. In this state of facts, the legend is that the
mechanics of the city combined and completed this work on a Sab
bath day, without having consulted the Society. They chose the
Sabbath because they thought they could not afford to give the time
on any other day. If the Society had been consulted, of course they
would have refused to have the work done on the Sabbath. The
building being secured in this way it remained unfinished and unused
for several years — indeed, it was never finished. This was the
second Methodist Church in Michigan. Alfred Brunson was the minis
ter here when this work of building was begun. Precisely how long
the building stood thus unused is not material, only it was not usable
except in warm weather, as late as 1825 and 1826 ; for in the au
tumn of 1825, William Simmons was appointed to the Detroit station,
,and also in charge of Detroit District. He states that the Method
ists held their meetings in " the old Academy," while he was the
minister, and that they were very much annoyed in the evenings by
the choir of another Church holding a singing school in the upper
room of the building. Yet, occasionally, the Master of Assemblies
manifested himself in the conversion of some soul, when they made
noise sufficient to overcome the singing above. Having been de
prived of the occupancy of the common church, as before stated,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 99

and now annoyed in this manner, one would have supposed that they
might be left to themselves to get along as well as they could, but
this was not the fact ; for when any one who could afford them any
influence or pecuniary aid was converted among them, every possible
effort was made to proselyte them away. Still they struggled on and
finally succeeded, as will hereafter appear. Mr. Simmons remained
only one year. In the spring of 1826 he made a trip as far west as
Ann Arbor and preached, also at Ypsilanti. He found a desperate
road, but had the pleasure of marrying two daughters of Deacon
Maynard, at Mallet's Creek, between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
But he made no successful effort to fit the church for use. The above
we have obtained from Mr. Simmons himself.

This church was partially finished in 1826 and 1827, so that it
could be occupied. It was occasionally occupied in warm weather
from the time it was enclosed. It continued to be occupied in an
unfinished state until Methodism had nearly died out in its influence.
It became known, finally, as "the old brick church on the common."
During the spring of 1825 Elias Pattee, who was preacher in charge,
was permitted to travel as far east as New York City, to raise funds
to finish this house. He was absent about three months, and was so
successful in his mission, that when the Trustees came to settle with
him, they found that after applying all collections and donations, to
wards defraying his traveling expenses, which they had agreed to
pay, they owed him two dollars and a half.

The circunstances were now very discouraging indeed. It is a
wonder they did not give up in despair. Nothing but a love for the
principles of the Church could have induced men to continue in this
organization under these circumstances. But they loved the cause,
and were determined to hold to it, let what would come. Such noble
adherance deserves success, and will finally have it. It is said that an
offer of a subscription oifive hundred dollars was made by one man,
besides some other large ones, if they would build in an eligible posi
tion and with pews to rent. This would have furnished them with
a good house, free from debt. But these offers, on such conditions,
were spurned, as being such a departure from " old-fashioned Meth
odism," as not to be tolerated for a single moment. We admire their
firm attachment to what they regarded as principle, but not their
judgment ; for Methodism has ever been the child of Providence,
and in certain externals, not affecting vital principles, has adapted it
self to the times and places. Had this offer been accepted, we can
not tell what would have been the effect upon the Church in this
community. As it was* under the combined influence of an unfor-

IOO HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

tunate location — "on the commons" — and an unfinished church, they
made no progress, but became " beautifully less," until they became
nearly extinct in their influence on the community. No improvement
of any importance was made until they sold out and built a new
church at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Congress Street.
"The old brick church on the common" was used, as much and as
well as they could, for one decade, as they began to use it in 1824,
and left it in 1834, for the new frame one. Their new church was
commenced in 1833, and dedicated to the worship of Almighty God,
in 1834, and served them well until 1849, when, having purchased a
lot, at the corner of Woodward Avenue and State Street, and having
erected a larger and more elegant church, they left this and occupied
the new. The new one, by the way, was built with pews to rent.
At the same time, having sold their lot at the corner of Woodward
Avenue and Congress Street, they removed the old frame building
to the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Fourth Street, where they
had procured a lot, and fitted it up for a new congregation, which
was organized in the autumn of 1849, an^ they continued to worship
in the same "old house" until 1873, when they built a new one.

" That old brick church on the common" has had quite an event
ful history. Having been sold, it was for a time converted into a
Universalist Church. But that society did not succeed, and it was
soon disposed of again. It is rather a singular fact that, Universal-
ism has never been able to maintain an organized existence in this
city. After a little time, "the old brick church" was converted into
a theater, and was so used for a little while. But a theater cannot
flourish " on the common," much better than a church, and it was aban
doned. "The old brick church " had now to pass into other hands,
and was converted into a dwelling house, and is now used as such.
Thus ends the history of the second Methodist church erected in
Michigan.

It is a singular and significant fact that, in the space of seven
teen or eighteen years from the time this locality was abandoned,
as being too far out of town, the same Society should get back to
within a few rods of it ; and that the First Presbyterian Church
should have removed onto Gratiot Avenue, still nearer to it. This
only shows what mutations may take place in this changing world.

After this long digression, it is time to return to the direct line
of our narrative. It has before been stated that, at the Conference
held in 1824, Elias Pattee and Isaac C. Hunter were appointed to
Detroit Circuit. As yet, there was but one charge in Michigan.
We have before said a few things in regard to the senior preacher,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. IOI

so we pass that over now. But we may be permitted to make a few
observations, in this connection, in relation to the junior, Isaac C.
Hunter. He was a man of considerable talent, a little eccentric in
his manners, and at this time was not very pious. The preceding"
year he and his colleague, on a Circuit in Ohio, became involved in a
newspaper controversy which, though it began with fictitious names,
without one knowing who the other was, became very personal and
acrimonious ; and when they ascertained who the parties were they
did not abate in their acrimony In consequence of this fact, Mr.
Hunter supposed he was sent to Michigan as a kind of punishment
for his course the previous year. We said, therefore, he was not
very pious. He was much chafed in his feelings and made no special
effort to please the people. The result was, his labors were not very
satisfactory to the people, nor very successful. He was just in that
frame of mind which would be likely to make the people dislike him.

On one occasion some of the lower sort of people concluded
they would show their spite at him by inflicting an insult upon his
unoffending horse. This occured in the vicinity of Mount Clemens.
They went into the stable at night and cut the hair from the mane
and tail of the animal. Next morning, when the young preacher
went into the stable to look after his horse, he found the innocent
animal in that sad plight. He was in no frame of mind to pass off
such a matter with apparent good humor ; but he blustered a good
deal about it, which was a source of much gratification to those who
had committed the outrage. Such an affair, if passed off with good
humor, unless one can bring the offenders to punishment, always
brings shame upon those who commit the act and credit to those to
ward whom it was directed.

A case of an attempt to play off some fun at the expense of
two ministers in a small town in Ohio, some years ago, will serve to
illustrate. The wags of the town determined to elect the two resi
dent ministers to a menial office. They succeeded in electing one
of them as path-master and the other as fence-viewer. The former
said a good deal about the matter, and said he regarded it as an in
tended insult. This was rare satisfaction for them, for it was what
they wanted, to make him feel bad. The other coolly took the law,
ascertained what were the duties of his office, quietly had a measur
ing rod made, and immediately set about measuring all the fences in
town. Wherever he found a fence too low or otherwise defective,
according to law, he made them repair it, so that by this means al
most all the fences in town were renovated. In this way he made
them heartily ashamed of what they had done. Had Mr. Hunter

102 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

adopted this independent course he would have made them ashamed
of themselves. He had to go to Detroit. When he came near the
city he sought a way around to reach the residence of Robert Ab
bott, which then was some distance below the city. For fear that
some one would see the condition of his horse, he took his large
cloak and spread it all over the hind part of the animal so as to hide
the artificial deformity. Mr. Hunter is dead, now, but he became
more pious in after years. We refer to a future chapter for a fuller
notice of Mr. Hunter's life and labors.

Nothing of special interest was accomplished in the city this
year. At the end of the year — that is, in September, 1825 — they re
ported two hundred and forty-two members for this Circuit. This
was just the number reported the previous year. They had no in
crease. How could they have? These were all the members there
were in the Territory of Michigan; but not all the Christians, as other
Churches were being organized, and growing.

It will not be amiss, nor will it be displeasing to any, to introduce
an incident or two which occured about these days, just here, by way
of relieving the tedium of the narrative of the fortunes of the Church.
The name of Joseph Hickox has already become very familiar to the
reader, but still we must say a few things more about him, or rather
introduce him to notice again. The fact is, he is so intimately inter
woven with our early History that he must have frequent notices.
Although he had settled his family on a farm on the River Rouge,
about sixteen miles from Detroit, his familiarity with the frontier
work and his itinerant spirit and habits kept him almost constantly,
on the move to visit destitute places. He raised up a Society in his
own neighborhood, and penetrating the woods to the northeast of
his residence, he succeeded in producing a blessed revival, which
resulted in the formation of a large Society which afterwards
became an important one in the Circuit.

Mr. Hickox visited Detroit frequently. During these visits a
rather strange intimacy sprang up between himself and the Roman
Catholic priest at Detroit, Mr. Richard. This priest was a perfect
gentleman and a fine scholar, very shrewd and diligent in making
proselytes to his Church. It was this last feature in his character
that laid the foundation of their acquaintance, as he very much de
sired to gain Mr. Hickox to his faith. He left word, at a certain
time, with one of Mr. Hickox's friends that he would be glad to re
ceive a visit from him on his next visit to Detroit. On learning the
fact he rather avoided the meeting, knowing that the priest was a
thoroughly educated man and he, himself, had only such knowledge

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 03

as could be picked up in a few years of toil as an itinerant preacher.
One Sabbath afternoon, however, he stepped into his church and
heard him preach, upon which all his fears of meeting him were
dissipated. The next day Mr. Hickox called to see him, and was
received with all the politeness of which a Frenchman is capable of
exhibiting — which, by the way, cannot be exceeded by any other peo
ple. The following conversation then ensued :

Mr. Hickox — "I was to hear you preach yesterday."

Priest — "Ah! I did not know you were present."

H. — " Mr. Richard, you stated yesterday that Protestants say
that Catholics were once right, but are not what they were once.
But when we ask them in what and when we have changed, they are
dumb. Now, I am not dumb, but I can tell you both in what and
when you have deviated."

Priest — "In what have we changed?"

H. — "In the doctrine of transubstantiation. That was not known
in your Church for three hundred years after Christ, and was not an
article of faith until the sixth century. It was contested for three
hundred years by the most learned of the Fathers."

Priest — "I acknowledge this to be so, but it was always an
article of faith in reality though not in form."

H. — " Do you believe it?"

Priest—" I do."

H. — "What is soul? Is it not the intelligent part of man?"

Priest — " It is."

H. — " Does, then, the lifeless lump of matter become, by your
consecration, an intelligent being? If so, it is capable of being
taught. Go and teach it. But do you not consecrate more wafers
than are received by communicants, Mr. Richard?"

Priest—" I do."

H. — "And each one is a perfect God?"

Priest—" Yes."

H. — " Cannot cats and mice, and such animals, feed on them?"

Priest — " They can."

H. — "Then, if the cat has swallowed the Deity she must have
eternal life in her. What an absurd idea!"

Here Mr Richard colored as if displeased, but made no reply.
The subject was still pursued but he would only say, with a bland
smile, " Mr. Hickox, you are the first Protestant preacher I ever con
versed with. I must say, it is a mystery."

After this they had frequent and friendly interviews, he urging
Mr. Hickox to call every time he came to town. On one or two

104 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

occasions he tried, very politely, to bow Mr. Hickox into the Romish
Church and priesthood, telling him that his fortune would be made ;
that he could live like a gentleman, and never soil his hands again.
To which Mr. Hickox responded that he would gladly join him if he
could remove his objections to his Church. To which Mr. Richard
replied, " I have not tried yet." "Well," said Mr. Hickox, " try now.
If you believe me to be on the road to damnation — certain to be
lost, out of your Church — it is your duty to convince me and save
me now, if you can. I may not live to see you again." He only gave
his shoulders a peculiar shrug and remained silent.

On another occasion Mr. Hickox was passing his house and felt
suddenly moved to call, not knowing what topic to introduce. Mr.
Richard met him very cordially, at the door, when Mr. Hickox re
marked, " Mr. Richard, I did not intend to call but felt suddenly im
pressed to ask you a question."

Mr. Richard (quickly,) — " What is it! Ask it, do."

H. — " Were you ever born again! Did you ever see the time
when you were in a justified relation in the sight of Heaven?"

R. — "Never! Never!"

H. — "Then I must tell you what the Scriptures say of you."

R._« What do they say?"

H. — "That you are a blind leader of the blind, and that both will
fall into the ditch. You say you are leading a number of people in
the way to heaven, and yet you do not know the way yourself. Now
get converted yourself, in the name of God, sir, and then you will
be a safe guide to your people. That is all I have to say. Good
bye, sir." So he left him.

At another time, when the same topic had been under discus
sion between them, as he left the room a young man who was study
ing theology with the priest followed Mr. Hickox out and said he
knew that his (Mr. Hickox's) doctrine was true — that we must be
born again ; and that he was resolved to seek the salvation of his
soul by coming to the Saviour alone. He gave every evidence of
sincerity, but his death occurred shortly after and nothing could be
learned of his state of mind after that conversation.

These incidents are characteristic of the tact and talent of Mr.
Hickox. His friend, Mr. Richard, was a talented and well educated
Jesuit, but Mr. Hickox was too much for him in argument and could
vanquish him every time. These doctrinal discussions do not seem
to have produced any beneficial results on the mind of the priest,
but they probably were the means of the conversion of the young
man mentioned above. As the name of Mr. Richard, the Catholic

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 05

priest, has occurred several times in our narrative, it may not be
amiss to furnish, just here, a somewhat extended account of his life
and labors. This we shall produce mainly from the official memoir :
" Among the distinguished names that adorn the annals of Catholicity
in the United States of America is that of the Very Rev. GABRIEL
RICHARD, pastor of St. Ann's Church, Detroit, Michigan. He was
born at Saintes, in France, on the I5th of October, 1764, of highly
respectable parents. His mother, it is said, was a kinswoman of the
illustrious Bossuet. Having finished his classical education, and feel
ing called to the ecclesiastical state, he entered the Seminary of
Angers, where he prosecuted his theological studies." He was admit
ted to the priesthood in 1791, and shortly afterwards came to Amer
ica. He arrived in Baltimore, Md., June 24th, 1792. He expected
to have been employed as a teacher in a seminary in Baltimore; but
that not being well enough established to need his services, he went
to Illinois and the Northwest, where he found much need of labor,
as, according to his account, there was a very low state of morals.
The population was made up, principally, of Canadian French. Of
the congregation at Kaskaskia, he gives the following description :
" The people of this post are the worst in all Illinois. There is no
religion among them — scarcely any one attending mass, even on Sun
day. Intemperance, debauchery and idleness reign supreme." In
1 798 he was invited by Bishop Carroll to be the assistant of Rev.
Mr. Levadoux, at Detroit. He, therefore, left Illinois and arrived at
Detroit in June, 1798, "and entered at once upon his duties as assist
ant pastor of that place, and soon won the confidence of those
under his spiritual charge. At that time the jurisdiction of the pas
tor of Detroit extended over various places now embraced within
the limits of Michigan and Wisconsin. The entire Catholic popu
lation of these districts did not amount to more than five or six
thousand souls. The Catholics of Detroit and its vicinity consisted,
almost exclusively, of Canadian French. Mr, Richard had but little
opportunity of exercising himself in the English language, the study
of which he had undertaken with great zeal in order to increase his
usefulness. The inhabitants of the city were mostly persons whose
vernacular tongue was English, but there were not more than a dozen
among them who were Catholics. About a year after his arrival in
Michigan, Mr. Richard visited the Catholics on the Island of Michil-
imackinac, about twenty miles from the former Michilimackinac, or
Point St. Ignatius, where the Jesuit fathers had established a mission
more than a hundred years before.

" Mr. Richard's zeal for the welfare of his flock inspired him with

IO6 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the idea of establishing a printing press at Detroit, and publishing a
newspaper. This project he undertook in 1809, and for a time he
issued a periodical in French, entitled ' Essai du Michigain? but the
great distances which separated the people of the Territory, and the
irregularity of the mails led to the discontinuance of his journal. His
press, however, which was the first one introduced into the north
western part of the United States, and was for several years the
only printing apparatus in Michigan, did useful service under his
direction."

Mr. Richard continued his relation to the Church in Detroit
until his death, which took place in 1832. He died of cholera, on
its first visitation at Detroit.

He had served for one term as Delegate in Congress from the
Territory of Michigan, having been elected to that office in 1823.
He did good service for his constituents while there.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. IO/

CHAPTER VI.

Population — Difficulties of Settlement — Detroit District — Appointment! — The Men — Numbers
— Extent of Circuit — Abel Warren — Appointments for 1826 — Numbers— Baughman is Mar
ried — Society in Ann Arbor — Supply, 1827 — Coston — John Janes is Married — Geography
of Circuits — The District — Coston Visits South western Michigan — St. Joseph Mission — God-
dard — Names of Circuits — Ministers from Ohio--People from the East — Ministers — Circuits
— Results— Mary Keelcr— Eli Hubbard— An Infidel— A Neglecter Comes to a Bad End-
Curious Case — Incidents of Rowdies — "The Power" — Major Maxwell — One Visit — Appoint
ments for 1831 — Tecumseh Circuit — Kalamazoo — Increase — Black Hawk War — Love
Feast and Sacrament in Jackson and Marshall — Cholera — Camp Meeting — Charges in
1832 — First Ministers Raised Up — L. Davis — Indian Settlement — Numbers — Charges, 1834 —
Increase of the Work— Sunday Schools — Temperance — Literary Institution — Retrospect.

(HUS far in our narrative we have had only one charge to look
after, and that one charge attached to a distant District,,
so that it could receive very little assistance or encourage
ment from a Presiding Elder. This fact, however much to-
be regretted, cannot be charged to any fault of the Church
authorities. The simple fact was, the population of the
Territory had increased so slowly that it had not demanded
much more ministerial labor. The census of 1810 showed
only 4,762 inhabitants, and in 1820 only 8,896, a very slow increase.
A very large proportion of these were French Roman Catholics, and
could not be reached by our ministry, however many we might have
had in the field. If we had had missionary money, so that a man
might have confined his labors to the city, it is very likely that much
more might have been gained. But that we had not. Indeed, if we
had had the Missionary Society, and if the treasury thereof had been
well supplied, it is not likely that much of it would have been appro
priated to Michigan, because the future importance of the country,
and of the City of Detroit was not recognized. This is not much to

ZO8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

be wondered at, as so little was known of either its topography or
geology that it was supposed the country could never bear a dense
population, and consequently the city would be merely a trading
post Up to the period at which this chapter begins, but very few
had penetrated beyond the timbered belt which lies along the coast
on the east, and they knew nothing of the capabilities and resources
of the country. The very few who had gone beyond had very erro
neous ideas of the soil. The timber was so different from what they
had found elsewhere, and the characteristics of the soil, too, that they
thought it would not be productive for any length of time. It was
understood to be a swampy, marshy, barren country, fit for little else
than hunting grounds for the Indians. Indeed, the Indians were so
numerous that it seemed discouraging to the whites to think of set
tling here. Again, the means of reaching the country was such that
it required a great deal of courage or spirit of adventure to come.
There had been no steam craft on the lakes earlier than 1819; and
then for many years they were of such an inferior kind that, still, the
means of access was very poor. In order to come in from the south
with teams, a dismal swamp had to be passed through, and it looked
fearful to undertake it. One other circumstance operated to retard
settlement and tended to depreciate the importance of Detroit and
the whole of Michigan, that was, in its first settlement there was a
great deal of the ague and fever — it was regarded a sickly country.
With all these facts in view, it is not much a matter of wonder that
a greater interest in the religious supply of the country was not
taken. We, however, have arrived at a period when the population
is more rapidly increasing, as, according to the census for 1830, we
had increased to 31,639, and this demanded more ministerial labor;
still we had not learned the importance of concentration, and our men
undertook to "grasp in all the shore," and to meet ever}7 call. They
showed great zeal and perseverance, and had as good success as
could reasonably be expected from such diffusive labors. From this
time forward our charges are to increase in numbers.

At the session of the Ohio Conference which was held at Co
lumbus, Ohio, beginning October I2th, 1825, Detroit District was
created, embracing Detroit City Station and Detroit Circuit, in Michi
gan, and Fort Defiance, and Wyandotte Missions, in Ohio. We
now have to do only with the two former appointments, as the other
two lie out of our limits. William Simmons was appointed in charge
o the District, and also of the City Station. We suppose he was not
expected to visit the two missions in Ohio. John A. Baughman and
Solomon Manier were appointed to Detroit Circuit. There had been

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 09

a Presbyterian Church organized in Detroit this year,* and one in
Monroe some time previous to this ; also a Protestant Episcopal
Church in Detroit, and a Baptist Church in Oakland County. A Pres
byterian Church had been organized at Mackinaw ; so the ministerial
force, on the whole, has been considerably augmented. From this
time onward we have a gradual expansion of our work for a few
years, after which it enlarges much more rapidly, as the tide of immi
gration had set in more strongly in this direction.

Mr. Simmons was a young man, vigorous and active, and did
good service. He remained here only one year. Mr. Baughman
was well known in after years, and was remembered in all this coun
try for his earnest and zealous labors. Mr. Manier was also a young
man- — was of pleasing address and possessed good abilities. He
did not, however, have as much activity and energy as his col
league. He remained on the Circuit but one year and then returned
to Ohio, where he continued to labor in connection with the Ohio
Conference until 1834, when he located — dissolved his connection
with the itinerancy. The results of the labors of this year are sum
med up in the following returns of members as made to the Confer
ence in 1826, viz :

Detroit City, 70 ; Detroit Circuit, "2^0 — a total of 360, which
was a net increase of one hundred and thirty-eight members.

The work had been extended, by the indefatigable labors of
these active, persevering young men, into all the settlements which
had sprung into existence in the growing country. Why the
Circuit was called Detroit we are not able to determine. In the re
port of the membership at the Conference for 1826, is the first time
we have a distinct and separate report of the members belonging in
the City of Detroit. The Circuit included all of Michigan except the
city. A Society had been formed at Ypsilanti ; in the Township of
Troy, in Oakland County ; in the town of Washington, in Macomb
County; and Blissfield, in Lenawee County, was also visited. Mr.
Baughman went as far west as Ann Arbor, which was just coming
into existence, and preached a few times.

The most important Society in the Circuit was at the log meet
ing-house on the Rouge. Here " the joyful sound of the preaching
of the Gospel, of prayer and hymns of praise, had been heard, some
times mingled with the doleful howl of the wolf." But the glory of
this Society had already begun to wane, from internal dissensions
and from the changes in inhabitants, and soon after, this Society was
discontinued. Another green spot on this Circuit was on the Rouge,

*NoahM. Wells.

I 10 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

a little farther west, where Mr. Hickox resided. To perform the
rounds on this Circuit required a great deal of toilsome, lonesome
labor, and to accomplish them was attended with much exposure to
storms, and occasional lodgings in the woods.

In October, 1826, Zarah H. Coston was appointed Presiding
Elder of Detroit District and also in charge of Detroit Station. The
other appointments for the year were as follows, viz : Detroit Circuit,
John Janes ; Monroe, John A. Baughman ; St. Clair, James T. Don-
ahoo. We now have four charges — a greater division of the work,
but only an increase of one to the working force. These four men
had an extensive work on their hands, attended with many priva
tions and much toil ; for with the increase of charges there was no
diminution of labor and suffering to each, as they had to extend their
labors to the new settlements which had been made in the wilder
ness. But they addressed themselves to their work with warm
hearts and strong wills, and when they went up to the Conference
in September, 1827, and numbered up the hosts of our Israel, they
reported members as follows, viz : Detroit City, seventy ; Detroit
Circuit, two hundred and twenty-six ; Monroe, one hundred and fifty-
seven ; and St. Clair, thirty. Here we have an aggregate of four
hundred and eighty-three, being a net increase of one hundred and
twenty-three on the whole ; but no increase in the City Station. We
have already seen that the cause in the city labored under great
disadvantages on account of the location of the church.

It will be allowed, to state that one of our precious jewels was
captured and carried off to Ohio this year. John A. Baughman had
married Mrs. Sarah H. Baker, at Monroe, a very capable and effi
cient Christian laborer — a lady of much intelligence and activity in
the cause of Christ. But what we lose in Michigan the cause some
where else gains ; so we must be content. At the earnest solicita
tion of two young ladies who had recently settled there, a Society
had been organized at Ann Arbor, this year, by Mr. Baughman, un
der the direction of the Presiding Elder.

Who shall next cultivate this enlarging and important field? In
deed, it was difficult to estimate its importance, or to impress it upon
the authorities of the Church, who were to assign the supply ; for, al
though the people in their destitution received with kind attentions
any one who was sent to them in the name of the Lord, the foun
dations of society were to be laid ; and men of sound minds and of
discretion, as well as of Christian zeal and piety, were needed. The
work for the next year was we]1 supplied, as will appear from the list

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I I I

of appointments. The Conference met in September, 1827, at which
time the work was supplied as follows, viz :

Detroit District, Zarah H. Coston, Presiding Elder, who also
had charge of the City Station as before. Detroit Circuit, William
Runnels, John Janes; Monroe, George W. Walker y James Armstrong.
St. Clair seems to have been given up this year as a separate
charge, probably because the promise of doing good did not bear
any proportion to the sacrifice necessary to keep it up. These were
all rruen of fine preaching abilities.

The settlements were now rapidly increasing, as before shown
from the census for 1830, and consequently the work was much ex
tended. At the close of this year, it appears we had lost Jive in the
City of Detroit, and had on the aggregate gained only sixty-two
members.

Mr. Coston was a faithful, good man, and an excellent preacher.
If he had had a fair chance he would have advanced the cause great
ly ; but the disadvantages were more than a match for him. There
were, however, a few faithful men and women who would not yield
to the discouragements that were existing around them. They had
identified themselves with the fortunes of this Church, because they
believed that it was right, and, therefore, would not forsake it in the
days of its trial. Among these we may name Amy Witherell, Sally
Noble, Jerry Dean, Nancy Howard, John Owen, Philip Warren,
Nathaniel Champ, B. F. H. Witherell, and others of whom we have
spoken elsewhere.

This year another of our interesting and valuable ladies was
married and taken away from us. Rev. John Janes married Miss
Hannah B. Brown, of Ann Arbor. She was a very talented and well
educated lady, and was the chief agent in securing the organization
of the Society there the year before. She was a young lady of deep,
thorough Christian experience, and could illy be spared from the
feeble Society in Ann Arbor, but her sphere of usefulness was to be
enlarged and she joined the itinerant ranks. We will furnish a fuller
notice of this lady in connection with Ann Arbor.

We have been quite minute in our details thus far, because the
work was confined to so few charges. Probably it will not be dis
pleasing to continue this minuteness a little longer. At the session
of the Conference which met at Chillicothe, Ohio, September i8th,
1828, the following appointments were made for Michigan, viz:

Detroit District — Zarah H. Coston, Presiding Elder.'

Detroit City — Arza Broivn.

Oakland — William T. Snow.

*J2 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Huron — Benjamin Cooper.

Monroe — George W. Walker.

St. Clair — Eiias Pattee.

It will be seen that the work had been extended to such a
degree as to render it important that the Presiding Elder should
devote his whole time to the interests of the District, and not divide
his labors between that and the city. The men were all young, ex
cept Mr. Pattee, and unaccustomed to the administration of discipline,
and only two of them were authorized to administer the sacrament
of the Lord's Supper. In view of these two facts, it was necessary
that the Presidihg Elder should visit each quarterly meeting, a thing
he could not do and attend to the interests of the City Station.
Though he had but five charges, his time was well filled up and thor
oughly occupied.

It is proper here to furnish the geography of these charges, as
they now appear in our list. The City of Detroit is well enough
known not to need any further notice at this time, but not so with
the others. Oakland was so named from Oakland County, and
included all the settlements in Wayne County north of Detroit,
all of Oakland and Macomb Counties. There were considerable
settlements at Troy, Bloomfield, Perrin's, Farmington, Pontiac,
Auburn, and some other places in this county, and a log meeting
house a little northeast of Pontiac, known as Donation Chapel. In
Macomb County, Mount Clemens, Romeo, Washington or Shelby,
where Abel Warren lived, and Utica were the most noteworthy
places. The topography of this Circuit was quite interesting in con
templation, but not so much so in the actual survey by the itinerant
ministers ; for they had to plod through deep mud and explore the
swamps to meet their appointments. Much of this Circuit was in
heavy timbered land, and the roads were not made, only blazed out.

Huron Circuit was so named from the Huron River along which
it lay, and included that part of Wayne County lying west of the city
and watered by the River Rouge. The principal appointments in
this county were the old log meeting house, Hickox's, Nankin and
Plymouth at Paul Hazen's. It also included Washtenaw County.
As yet there was nothing beyond that. The principal settlements
were Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Boyden's Plains, Dixboro, Superior,
and Lodi Plains. There were many smaller settlements interme
diate to these, which were faithfully visited and supplied with the
word of life, furnishing labor for nearly every day in the week. This
name rightly disappears from our records after the next year, and
Ann Arbor takes its place, and covering more territory as the settle-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 13

ments were pushed farther into the woods. This year the appoint
ments were visited once in three weeks, by hard travel and much
toil and weariness. But the people, at least many of them, were
hungry for the bread of life.

Monroe Circuit included the south part of the County of
Wayne and all of Monroe and Lenawee Counties. Flat Rock,
Monroe, Raisinville, Ten Mile Creek, Maumee Rapids in Ohio, Ked-
zie's Grove, and Tecumseh, were the chief points of interest at this
time. Much of this Circuit was very difficult of travel on account of
the swamps and marshes. It was no holiday sport to make the
rounds on it.

The most isolated and desolate charge of the whole was St.
Clair. This lay along the St. Clair River, embracing Algonac,
Marine City, St. Clair and Port Huron, with some small settlements
back from the river. The people were few, and most of them had
no respect for religion or ministers, and it was then separated almost
entirely from the rest of the world. A Society had been formed,
some time before, at what is now Algonac, and this was the chief
point of interest in the Circuit. The Society had been organized by
a preacher from Canada. (See St. Clair.)

Thus we have given an outline of the settlements in Michigan
at the time of which we write. Everything was new and uninviting,
and offered to these ministers little besides toil and suffering. The
unbridged streams had to be forded or swum, and they had to wal
low through the marshes and swales. Occasionally, as they passed
around, as was the case with Walker on Monroe Circuit, when the
water was high, slightly frozen, and bridges gone, they would be
obliged to plunge in at the peril of life and limb. All this from a
love of souls. Of course this kind of labor and of peril was not pe
culiar to this country, but they are incidental to all new countries.
Some of the incidents of travel and suffering we shall notice here
after.

Detroit District embraced all the settlements there were in
Michigan, and so continued until the autumn of 1835, except a little
of the southwest corner, which in 183 2. was attached to the Indiana
Conference. In 1835 the work had so much enlarged that Ann
Arbor District was created, embracing all the Territory west of
Ypsilanti.

For the last few years there had been settlements springing up
in the southwest part of the Territory, the people coming in from
Virginia, Ohio and Indiana. They had now become sufficiently nu
merous for the organization of a county, and to send a Represent-

114 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ative to the Legislative Council of the Territory. But they were
destitute of Gospel privileges. The Representative called on Mr.
Coston, in Detroit, and set forth their condition and requested him
to assist them, and, if possible, to make arrangements for supplying
them in future. In accordance with this solicitation, in the summer
of 1829 he went, spending about three weeks among them. He
went as far as Niles. He made arrangements to send them a mis
sionary, which was done, as will appear from the list of appointments
for the next year.

The brethren toiled hard and faithfully, and when the next
Conference met in September, 1829, and they numbered up the
membership, it stood as follows : Detroit, 78 ; Oakland. 246 ;
Huron, 161 ; Monroe, 86 ; St. Clair, 49 — total, 620. This shows an
increase of thirteen for the city and seventy-five for the whole work
over last year. This is the last time we purpose to give the statis
tics in detail. Neither do we purpose to introduce the list of ap
pointments in the same manner again but once in the body of the
work. We purpose to take occasion, at some appropriate time and
place, to furnish minute and interesting accounts of the principal
places, and the rise and progress of the cause of religion in them.

It will not be necessary to refer again to the work in the City
of Detroit until after the close of this period, and it is sufficient now
to say that the work has been regularly supplied, and our cause has
gradually advanced in the city and assumed a permanency, and in
creased in interest, so that in 1836 we find one kundi -ed and fifty -
nine members returned for the city. They had, also, as before stated,
changed the location of their church, and had erected a very neat,
even elegant church for the times ; so that, in this respect, they were
nearly on an equal footing with any other church in the city. The
Sabbath school was large and flourishing.

At the Conference in 1829 St. Joseph Mission was added to the
list of appointments. This Mission embraced all the settlements in
the southwest part of the Territory. The principal point of interest
at this time was White Pigeon. Erastus Felton, who was appointed
to this Mission, labored faithfully and visited all the scattered settle
ments he could, and formed a number of small Societies, and returned
seventy-six members at the next Conference as the result. Some
had been converted, and many of them had been members else
where and had their certificates with them. How many of these
new homes were made glad by the visits of this indefatigable mis
sionary! He was a man of zeal and respectable preaching talents.

There was also a change in Presiding Elders this year — 1829.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 115

Mr.Coston was transferred to the Pittsburgh Conference, and Curtis
Goddard, a most excellent and worthy man, was appointed in charge
of the District. He continued in charge for three years. Mr. Goddard
joined the itinerant connection in 1814, and located in 1834, having
labored in connection with the Conference just twenty years. He
was a very devout, holy and exemplary man and excellent preacher,
and did much good in this District.

This year there was an increase of two handred and five in the
membership — so their labors " were not in vain in the Lord." This,
however, was not any more than keeping pace with the population.
As the Circuits were named for the counties or rivers, there will be
a change in their names from time to time, and some of the names
of this date will be entirely forgotten in this relation ; as Huron
does not appear again and Oakland will be lost in a few years more ;
St. Joseph, though now so important, will lose its identity in a little
while. We cannot complain of this, for it is right.

In the following year — 1830 — there was a general change of the
ministers. The ministers appointed to this Territory did not, any of
them, feel themselves identified with the interests of the Territory,
and were here simply because they were appointed by the authori
ties of the Church. This was a little unfavorable to the interests of
religion. They all came from Ohio, too, while a very large propor
tion of the settlers were from the East, making some difference in
manners and customs between the ministers and the people. It was
a very common thing in these early days — and, indeed, for a number
of years later — in love-feasts and class-meetings, to speak of the time
when they were converted " down in Old York State." Many of
these Eastern people sighed for their old preachers, and some efforts
were made to induce some of them to emigrate to this country, with
but little success. As yet, none had been raised up here.

For the year beginning in September, 1830, the appointments
stood as follows, viz :

Detroit District — Curtis Goddard, Presiding Elder.

Detroit City — Alvan Billings.

Oakland — Arza Brown, William Sprague.

Ann Arbor — Henry Colclazer, Elijah H. Pilcher.

Monroe — James W. Finley.

St. Clair — Benjamin Cooper.

St. Joseph — Leonard B. Gurley, Erastus Felton.

By this list there appears to be no increase in the number of
charges, but there was an increase of three in the number of men
to supply them. There had been, also, within a few years last

Il6 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

passed, an increase of the force of local preachers, who were ren
dering very efficient service, among whom were Marcus Swift, in
the Town of Nankin, a man of ability and deep piety, Laban Smith
and John J. Young of Bloomfield, and Allen Tibbitts of Plymouth.
These men rendered very effective service by their activity and
devotion to the work. There is one other name too precious and
valuable to be overlooked in this connection, although we shall speak
of him more fully hereafter, that is, Joseph Bangs, of Tecumseh, a
brother of the venerated Nathan Bangs, D. D., and father of Francis
B. Bangs of the Michigan Conference. He was a man of great power
as a preacher, and his piety was so undoubted that all who knew
him respected him.

The Circuits this year were enlarged in every direction in which
it was possible; as, the Ann Arbor Circuit, which takes the place of
the Huron of the last two years, was extended west to Jackson,
where a settlement had been commenced in the spring of 1830. In
order to do this the preachers had to go from Ann Arbor to Jack
son and return on the same route, to preach at Jackson and at Grass
Lake, making a journey of eighty miles to preach twice. There was
no regular road, and they had to follow the Indian trail much of the
way. Monroe Circuit was made to include Tecumseh and Adrian ;
Oakland extended itself towards the northwest. It included Farm-
ington, where, the year before, there had been a very powerful
revival, so that almost the entire population had been converted.
This was under the labors of William T. Snow. Many of the young
people became very active members of the Church. Among these
were the Meads and Thayers, whose parents were Presbyterians,
but the young people became very active and earnest Methodists.
Some of them still remain. The St. Joseph Circuit included all of
the southwest part of the Territory, and the two excellent and
talented young men found all they could do to meet the calls of the
new and growing settlements. They included Kalamazoo, where a
Society was organized, of which we shall speak hereafter, Niles, and
many minor places. At the end of the year they reported eleven
hundred and eighty-three members for Michigan, making an increase
of three hundred and fifty -eight over last year.

It is to be understood that these results were attained by much
labor, toil and suffering — also with some opposition. About this time
Mary Keeler, a very fine young lady, residing at Ten Mile Creek,
in Monroe Circuit, who had been thoughtless and gay, was con
verted and united with the Church. Her father was bitterly opposed
to religion and very determined in his way. So, when Mary came

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 17

home, being much enraged, he gave her the alternative, to abandon
her religion or be banished from her home forever. She chose
the latter ; but the Lord raised her up friends and supplied her
with homes. She became a very devoted, zealous and useful mem
ber of the Church. Eli Hubbard, too, of the same neighborhood,
was a wonder of Divine grace, being raised up to serve God in
the midst of great opposition, and from a low degree of sin ; but
he served his day and generation faithfully, and has gone home to
his reward.

In the neighborhood of Ann Arbor a Mrs. How was converted
in the spring of 1830. Her husband was very bitter in his opposi
tion, and persecuted her very much. On one occasion he collected
several of his same sort — freethinkers they wished to be considered,
but really tyrants, not willing that others should think freely — and
supplied the whisky. They drank and caroused, and, finally, to show
his contempt for religion, he took his wife's Bible, baptized it in
whisky — in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost — and then
put it in the fire and burned it up. As might be expected, he lived
a wretched life, and finally died a miserable death. It is surprising
that others will not take warning from such examples, but, yet, each
one seems to think that it will not be so with him. Still, if they
would only take counsel of their own feelings as well as these cir
cumstances, they would know that it could not be otherwise ; for they
would find a wretched, fiendish feeling in them which is opposed to
peace.

During the summer of 1831 there were three Camp Meetings
held in this country. One in the town of Superior, which was a
time of great interest, and many were converted. The writer will
never forget one family, in which there were two children, a son and
a daughter, coming to maturity. The mother was a Christian, and
very anxious for the salvation of her children. They were both
very deeply affected with a sense of their guilt at this meeting. The
daughter yielded so far as to make a profession of faith in Christ ;
but the son was very stubborn, and finally declared he would not
attend to it now, and turned away from the Saviour — to the great
grief of his parents and other friends. It seemed very sad at the
time, and we feared he would come to some bad end. We lost sight
of that young man for a few years, but the next place we found him
was in the State Prison for crime. A few months after we first saw
him in prison there was a break among the prisoners, and several of
them got out, and were determined to fight their way through the
country. Young Norton acted as leader of the gang. When sur-

I 1 8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

rounded by those who had been called out to arrest them, he was
required to surrender ; but he refused, and was making a movement
to disable some one, so that he might get on. He was now fired at
and mortally wounded, and died in a few hours. We were at his
funeral in the prison. How dangerous it is to resist the strivings of
the Divine Spirit !

Two of these meetings were held in the town of Bloomfield, in
Oakland County, near Birmingham. They were both occasions of
great power. Many were converted, and many were physically
prostrated, or had what is vulgarly called " the power " — not simply
Methodists, but Presbyterians and Baptists. During the time of the
second of these latter meetings, there was a pious lady in the imme
diate neighborhood who was very sick and not expected to live. For
some days she had been helpless and in a rather comatose state. She
revived a little and seemed to be engaged in prayer for a little while,
when she arose from her bed, walked across the room and back to
her bed, to the amazement of her attendants, and said she should
recover. She did recover. She said she had received the assur
ance of it in answer to prayer. We knew her well in after years when
we traveled the Farmington Circuit. We simply state the facts, and
leave every one to draw his own conclusions in regard to the power
of prayer.

At the first meeting in Bloomfield. which was in June, the fol
lowing incident occurred : One of the young preachers from an
adjoining Circuit observed, on Saturday evening, that there were
several young men who seemed disposed to make disturbance. He
determined, if possible, to defeat them. For this purpose he dis
guised himself, saying nothing to any one, and found a way to drop
in among them, so as not to be observed but to be recognized as
one of them. Thus he heard their plans and knew their purposes.
They did not propose anything very bad, only such as would disturb
and annoy. They had gathered around a fire on the outside of the
encampment, and were engaged in conversation, and waiting till some
opportunity should turn up. Now, to his surprise, he found another
young minister, partly disguised, but not so but that they had a little
suspicion of him — but by the help of the first this suspicion was
quieted. While sitting here, a shout broke out in a tent on the
opposite side of the ground. The public meetings had been closed,
and most of the tent-holders had retired ; but in this tent there was
so much interest they could not give up to sleep, but continued their
devotions. The power of the Lord came down upon them and some
of them shouted. When this shout was heard all must needs go

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 19

to see what was up. The young preacher left his comrades a few
moments to reconnoiter. When he returned he found most of them
together, some swearing and some doing other unsuitable things.
He thought his time had now come to make a strike among them.
So he, in a kind of swaggering way, proposed to them to go across
the ground and have a meeting, too, as they in the tent seemed to be
enjoying themselves so well. This, however, they did not like to do.
" Well," said he, " lets us have meeting right here. If you will hear
I'll preach." "Very well," said they; " we'll be glad of that." "Well,
now," said he, " you must all agree to stand by me and hear all I've
got to say." " Yes, we will," said they, and took their seats on a
bench which stood there in front of a tent. There was about a dozen
of them. He took off his hat, took for his text, " Prepare to meet
thy God," and preached for an hour or more. Soon after he began
two of them suspected they had got into a trap, and began to
whisper; probably they were saying, "Guess he's a preacher."
" Your attention," said he ; " you promised to hear all I had to
say." They stopped and he went on. He preached, setting forth
the necessity of a preparation, and the awful consequences if they
did not prepare. He had spoken but a few moments before he
and they were surrounded by the people coming from their tents.
When he closed his sermon he called on Arza Brown, the preacher
in charge of the Circuit, to pray. After prayer, " Now," said he, to
the people around him, " if you will pray I will hold class-meeting
with them. " He then spoke to them individually, and urged the
necessity and excellency of religion. The most of them were very
much affected. When he closed class-meeting, James W. Finley,
from Monroe, struck up and sung the hymn :

"Ye simple souls, that stray
Far from the paths of peace," &c.

When he was done singing he dismissed them, It was now near
the dawn of day. When dismissed, the most of them resorted to
their former place at the fire on the outside of the tents opposite.
The aforesaid disguised preacher was then among them — of course
not the one who had preached, but the other one, who, by the way,
was James W. Finley. " Well," said one, " this is a new thing. I
have heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing, but I never before heard of
a sheep in wolf's clothing," " Well," said another, " we must be very
careful what we say; for, just as likely as not, before we are aware of
it, one of these preachers will be right here among us."

Just as it was getting light, one of the number, an Irishman — a
school-teacher, who intended, as a rule, to be a very decent man —

I 20 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

came to the young preacher and said he wished to speak with him.
"Well, now," said the Irishman, " you rather got us into this." "Oh,
no," replied the preacher ; " you got yourselves into it." " Well, but
you took the advantage of us," quoth the first. " Oh, well," said the
latter ; " it is my business to take all the advantage of the Devil I
can." " But," persisted the Irishman, " if you saw me doing wrong it
was your place to come and tell me of it." " Oh, no," replied the
preacher ; " it is my business to preach and yours to hear." " But,"
continued the other, " it is not the best way. It has a tendency to
harden me." " That is a pretty story, for you are now crying like
a whipped baby and cannot help it," retorted the preacher. Here
ended the interview. There was no more disposition to disturb that
meeting, and some six or seven of the young men were converted
before the meeting closed.

The next year following there was a Camp Meeting held in this
same vicinity, at which there was a wonderful display of the Divine
power. Some of the strongest and least nervously excitable men in
all the country lay for hours entirely helpless, but yet as happy as
they could be. One described the sensation as that of being separ
ated from his body, and looking down upon it as it lay there in that
helpless condition, and knew that it was his own body. We are not
prepared to say much about this kind of manifestation ; only that it
seems to be a manifestation of the Divine Spirit, which has been ex
perienced in almost all countries and more or less among all re
ligious denominations. It is a manifestation not to be sought after.

In 1830 we became acquainted with Major Thompson Maxwell^
who died in 1831, aged ninety-six years, and whose funeral we
attended. He had resided on the River Rouge, about sixteen miles
from Detroit, for a number of years. He was step-father to Joseph
Hickox. He was a very pious, good man ; had been, in New Eng
land, a member of the Congregational Church, but had united with
the Methodist Episcopal Church some time before his death. He
was one of the men selected by John Hancock to throw the tea over
board in Boston Harbor. He was in twenty-three battles of the
Revolution. In the War of 1812 he was promoted to the rank of
Major in the Regular Army of the United States, and served faith
fully during the war. He died in the faith and peace of the Gospel
of Christ.

The circumstances alluded to above, of throwing the tea over
board in 1773 are thus described in Bancroft's History of the United
States : " Every endeavor had been exhausted to induce the con
signees of the tea to return it to England and not offer it for sale :

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 121

" It had been dark lor more than an hour. The church in which
they met was dimly lighted ; when, at a quarter before six, Rotch
appeared, and satisfied the people by relating that the Governor had
refused him a pass, because his ship was not properly cleared. As
soon as he had finished his report, Samuel Adams arose and gave
the word : ' This meeting can do nothing more to save the country/
On the instant a shout was heard at the porch ; the war-whoop
resounded ; a body of men, forty or fifty in number, disguised as
Indians, passed by the door ; and, encouraged by Samuel Adams,
Hancock and others, repaired to Griffin's wharf, posted guards to
prevent the intrusion of spies, took possession of the three tea ships,
and in about three hours three hundred and forty chests of tea,
being about the whole quantity that had been imported, were emp
tied into the bay, without the least injury to other property. * All
things were conducted with great order, decency, and perfect sub
mission to the government.' The people around, as they looked on,
were so still that the noise of the breaking open of the tea chests
was plainly heard. A delay of a few hours would have placed the
tea under the protection of the Admiral at the castle. After the
work was done the town became as still and calm as if it had been
holy time. The men from the country carried back the great news
to their villages."

Major Maxwell was a very quiet, unobtrusive man, but fearless
and courageous, and well fitted for an enterprise of that kind. His
last days were spent in quiet retirement in Wayne County, and his
dust sleeps in the country graveyard, and in an unmarked grave,
awaiting a glorious resurrection.

A little incident, illustrative of the occasional inconveniences of
intinerant life, occurred to us on this same Circuit. Belonging to
one of the country classes was Brother B., whose home was some
three miles distant from the place of meeting, and directly off from
the route we had to travel to perform our rounds on the Circuit
This brother became very urgent that we should visit him and stay
over night with him. We finally agreed that if he would be present
at the next meeting, so as to conduct us into the woods, we would
go with him. The meeting was on a week day. We confess we
rather hoped he would not be there, as the indications were not very
inviting or promising. But when the day came he was on hand and
claimed our company. We went. Our way was through thick woods,
occasionally deep mud, and not much road. When we reached the
habitation we found it to be a very rude log house, standing in the
forest with but a small patch cleared around it. There was a partial

122 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

fence inclosing it, but it did not exclude small animals, so there were
young hogs around the house, which occasionally intruded themselves
inside, notwithstanding there were two or three dogs lying around
the fire-place, though there was not much fire, as it was warm weather.
We found there was but one room to the house, and two beds in it.
All the appurtenances were such as might have been supposed from
the pigs and dogs. There were, also, several small children. It was
near night when we reached the habitation, and the good lady was in
expectation of our coming, and seemed to be pleased to think the
minister was coming to visit them. She made us as welcome as she
knew how to do. Our meal was provided, and we sat down to it.
But such a meal ! Well — we'll not attempt to describe it. We made
the best we could of it. As the hour of retiring to sleep approached
we kept wondering where we were to sleep. After prayers the
brother told us we were to occupy one of the two beds in the same
room. There were no curtains around them, and we had to snatch
the moments when the lady's face was turned the other way to get
into bed, as we were a very modest young man then. When we
were about to lie down to slumber, the good brother told us he
would be under the necessity of putting two or three of the little
fellows into the same bed, as they were not very well supplied.
When we looked at the bedding we concluded it had been washed
some time, but it must have been so long ago that it had forgotten
it. But there was no backing out now, so we turned in. The little
ones were turned in with us. But, before we had time to become
locked up in sleep, we found we had other companions besides
children. These were so pertinacious as to make such attacks on us
as to prevent our sleeping. We waited very wistfully for the morn
ing, and as soon as practicable we left the woods, and never found it
convenient to visit them again. Every itinerant can relate incidents
of this kind — and some much worse, perhaps. But the people are
good and kind, in their way, and seem to think they are all right.

We will now look for a few moments at the appointments made
in 1831 and to the results. The flood-tide of immigration seemed now
to have set in in this direction very strongly, calling for an increase
of laborers, and also for enlarging the aggregate of suffering and toil
to carry the Gospel to the new settlements. Still there were only
three new names of charges introduced to our notice — to wit, Ypsi-
lanti, Tecumseh and Kalamazoo Circuits. Ypsilanti embraced all of
Ann Arbor Circuit lying east of Ann Arbor. This is all we need
to say of the geography of this Circuit. Tecumseh is introduced to
the exclusion of Ann Arbor, so that we only have an increase of two

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 123

charges. But, as this is new in its boundaries, it will not be uninter
esting to furnish its geography and a description of the first round
made on it by the preacher in charge. Starting at Ann Arbor, it
went west to Marshall, thence south to Coldwater, thence east to
Clinton, thence south to Tecumseh and Adrian, thence north, through
Manchester and Saline, to Ann Arbor, making nearly four hundred
miles of travel to be performed every four weeks and to preach
twenty-seven times regularly in the same time.

It is to be premised that the autumn of 1831 was very rainy;
that all the swamps and marshes were full of water and the streams
were very high and many bridges were carried away. It is further
to be understood that the settlements were mostly made in parallel
lines, so that from Ann Arbor westward there were no north and
south roads. It will be seen that this Circuit embraced two of these
parallels ; so, in order to get around, we must find or make some
cross road.

We will furnish a few extracts from the journal of the preacher
in charge, descriptive of his first round :

"September ist, i8ji. I was appointed to Tecumseh Circuit
with Ezekiel S. Gavit. Arrived at Ann Arbor on September 2ist,
and commenced my labors on this Circuit, and had to fix its bounds.
I reached Jackson without any special difficulty, but this was as far
west as any itinerant had ever gone. Spent Sabbath, October 2d,
in Jackson. Monday, October 3d, rode nine miles to Brother Fas-
sett's, and preached at night. The Sandstone Creek was very high
and without bridge, so I got into the water pretty badly.

" October jth. Rode twenty-three miles to Marshall — a new
place. To-day, in crossing marshes, my horse got mired down twice,
so that I had to get off into the mud and water to help him out. I
had to cross one creek which was so narrow that a man could step
across in most any place where it was not worn by teams crossing it ,
but when" I rode into it my horse sank into the mire and water, so
that the water came over the top of my saddle. Reached Marshall
late in the afternoon, wet, cold and tired.

"Sunday, October gth. Preached twice in the private residence
of Sidney Ketchum. This was the first visit they had had from an
itinerant ; though Randall Hobart, a local preacher, had been here
for a few weeks, and had preached a few times. He has come to
settle here. A Presbyterian minister had purchased and was keep
ing public house, and to-day preached in his own house in the after
noon.

"Monday, roth. Having hired a man to go with me to find the

124 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

way to Coldwater, we set out. Left my clothes and books at Mar
shall, and filled my saddle-bags with oats for the horses and bread
and raw pork for ourselves. We supplied ourselves with an axe, a
gun, a pocket compass and a map, and so started to find our way
to Coldwater. We wallowed through marshes and creeks as we
came to them ; we marked the trees on the south side, so that we
could follow the same way back. When we came to the St. Joseph
River we found it very high, and did not like to venture in ; so we
cut a tree, which reached nearly across, and one went over on that
and the other drove the horses through and then followed on the
tree. Thus we continued until night overtook us. Wet and tired,
we kindled a fire, made a hut of brush, roasted our meat, and ate
supper and went to bed, after family prayer. My great-coat made
my bed, my saddle and saddle-bags my pillow. Slept some. The
wolves howled most hideously most of the night.

"Tuesday, October nth. Resumed our journey, but made no
progress in the right direction. Becoming satisfied that I could not
find my way through from this direction, and reach my appointment
at Clinton and Tecumseh on the Sabbath, we returned to Marshall,
so as to go back by way of Ann Arbor.

" Wednesday, i2th. Rode to Jackson, with about the same diffi
culties I found on my way out.

" Thursday, ijth. Rode to Ann Arbor, forty miles, over the
worst road I ever met with. The Grand River at Jackson was very
high, so that the log-way on each side of the bridge was all afloat.
My horse soon went down across the logs. Had to dismount, help
him off, and lead him across by the end of the bridge. All the
bridges across the marshes and little streams were either afloat or
were carried away. Occasionally I would make my horse leap across
the creek, but sometimes I had to strip him and drive him through,
and get myself and my baggage over the best I could. Near sun
down I reached Mill Creek, at Lima Center, where I found the
bridge entirely gone, except the stringers. There was no time to
parley. I stripped my horse and drove him into the creek. He
went to the opposite bank, but would not leap up, and he came
back. Drove him in again with the same result. This time I put
the baddle on and mounted, having left my saddle-bags, overcoat
and under coat on the bank. The water came over the top of the
saddle — made him leap up the bank, and we pressed on, but when
we had got about half way over the wide marsh, he mired down
and could not help himself. Dismounting, I rolled up my sleeves,
plunged niy hands down into the mud, pulled out his feet, and got

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 125

them onto fresh turf, and assisted him up. Went back after my
things, mounted, and rode eleven miles to Ann Arbor. Reached
thereabout nine o'clock p. M., wet, cold, tired and hungry."

From Ann Arbor he went southwest, and spent the Sabbath at
Clinton and Tecumseh. On Monday he started towards Coldwater.
When he stopped for the night at Moscow — it is now — he found a
Frenchman who claimed to have been a trader among the Indians
and knew the country well. He employed him to go as his guide,
but he proved to be a drunken, worthless fellow, and he discharged
him at Coldwater. He found there were a few families about five
miles north of Coldwater. He went on to that place, but was de
tained till Friday. On that day and the next we find the following
entries in his journal :

" Friday, October 2 ist. Took an early start. Provided myself
with an axe and blazed the trees on the south side. A few miles
after crossing the St. Joseph River I came to my old blazes. Thus
I blazed my way for twenty miles through the woods alone. Reached
Marshall about sundown, tired, wei and hungry. Found my colleague,
Brother Gavit, here, quite despondent because I had been delayed
by a funeral.

" Saturday, October 2 2d. Returned to Coldwater. Brother Gavit
came half way with me. We labored hard, and made the way plain,
and parted after prayer here, in the wild woods. Thus I have spent
four days, carrying an axe and blazing the trees to make a way to
get around our Circuit. My right shoulder is so sore and lame that
I can scarcely lift my hand to my head. But I am resolved to per
severe."

On this Circuit there was one place of ten miles without any
house, and in another part a place of twenty miles. On one part
of it there were sixty miles between appointments. They had to
stop at a tavern and pay their bills.

Kalamazoo Circuit took in all of Kalamazoo County, and what
ever there was west and northwest, to the Lake, furnishing a wide
and open range for the missionary. We have not been able to
obtain anything from the journal of the missionary for this year.

The results of the labors of this year are indicated in part by
the figures. Still, mere figures do not give a full view of what has
been accomplished by these self-denying labors. The foundations
are laid for the growth of Society. The figures show a net increase
of four hundred and ninety-Jive in the membership.

The Black Hawk War occurred during this year, and created
much excitement in Michigan for a few weeks. It was feared that

126 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the Indians of Michigan would be induced to join Black Hawk's
party, and occasion a great deal of mischief among us. But the war
was soon ended, and the people settled down again to their peaceful
pursuits. The tendency of all such excitements is to divert the
attention of the people, for a time, from the great interests of the
soul ; but, through the mercy of our God, this was of short duration.
A greater obstacle was found in the eagerness of the people to
secure the best locations for farms, mills and villages.

The first love-feasts and sacramental seasons held in the Coun
ties of Jackson and Calhoun were held this year. The one in Jack
son was in March, and that in Calhoun — Marshall — in June, 1832.

This, too, was the year of the first visit of that terrible scourge,
the cholera, to this part of the country. Ann Arbor and Marshall
were specially afflicted. Many died with it in both places.

There was but one Camp Meeting held in our Territory this
year. This was near Northville, and was an occasion of great spirit
ual power. Many were converted, and witnesses of perfect love
were raised up, and the cause was much benefited by this meeting.
The ministers in attendance were generally young, but they were
men of power, for God was with them. The meeting occurred early
in June, 1832.

With the opening of another year there is a change in the
superintendency of the District and a little change in the boundaries.
By act of the General Conference, which met in the City of Philadel
phia, in May, 1832, the southwest portion of Michigan was attached
to the Indiana Conference, because it was more convenient to sup
ply it from that direction. It continued in that relation till 1840.
James Gilruth was appointed Presiding Elder of Detroit District,
and continued in that office until 1836.

For the year 1832-33 we have some new charges — viz., Ann
Arbor is restored ; Farmington and Mount Clemens in place of
Oakland ; Saginaw and Calhoun Missions. The geography of these
charges has been before described, as this was mainly the division of
the work as the intervals of the great points were filled up, as Te-
cumseh Circuit of last year was divided into three parts — viz., Te-
cumseh, Ann Arbor and Calhoun — but the area was not extended,
and five preachers occupy the same territorial limits occupied by two
last year. The Saginaw Mission was an exception to this remark,
as the whole of its appointments were beyond where any other had
penetrated. This was rather an experiment, and it was given up at
the next Conference, because there were so few people to be reached
by it.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 127

It seems a little strange that as yet no one has been raised up
as a minister from this field. We have had occupation of Michigan
soil and have had Societies for about twenty-three years, and, of late
years, a rapidly increasing membership, and yet not one convert has
been called into the ministry. The supply has all come from abroad.
Perhaps one reason for this is the very dependence we have had on
Ohio, which has always been prolific in preachers. The Minutes of
1833 furnish the first instance of a minister from among Michigan
converts — to wit, Duncan McGregor. A few others, as L. D.Whitney,
Marcus Swift, Richard Lawrence, and William H. Brockway, were
recommended to the Conference from the Detroit District ; but they
were members of the Church before they came to Michigan, and
only one of them, Mr. Brockway, was licensed to preach here. The
next name of a Michigan convert entering the itinerant work was
Lorenzo Davis, who was converted in Ypsilanti, and joined the Con
ference in 1834. Neither of these two brethren — converts — is now
in the itinerant ranks. Messrs. Whitney, Swift and Lawrence located,
and have since died. They died in the faith.

At the Conference of 1833 there was no increase of the number
of charges, although there had been an increase of nine hundred in
the membership. Saginaw Mission was left off the Minutes, but
Huron Mission was introduced. This Mission lay along the Huron
River below Ypsilanti, and extended out to Dearborn. The chief
point of interest in this Mission was an Indian settlement a little
above Flat Rock. They were Wyandottes, and there was a number
of members of the Church among them. Old Blue Jacket was a
very important character among them, and a man of considerable
mental power. Old Honness was an interesting patriarch among
them. He was supposed, at this time, to be something over one
hundred years old. He was a white man, but had been taken by
the Indians when a little boy — so small that he had only a confused
idea of his parents — was of German origin. He was now rejoicing
in the consolations of religion, having been converted about two
years before. He died shortly after this in the peace of the Gospel.
The last year before this Monroe Circuit included this Indian settle
ment, and we employed William H. Brockway to teach the Mission
school. While engaged in this work he was licensed to preach and
recommended to the Conference. We shall never forget one visit
we made to this Mission. We stayed over night among them, sleep
ing on the soft side of a bench in the school-house, in company with
Mr. Brockway and the boys who attended the school. The next day
we visited around among them. About noon we were very weary

I 28 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

and hungry, and called at a cabin and had a dinner of hominy and
Indian sugar. We did not stop to think how the sugar had been
made, or how much filth there might be in the sugar or the hominy.
It was one of the most delicious meals we ever ate, according to the
princples of the German proverb, " Hunger is the best sauce." It
was a hard day, but we have never regretted having devoted it to
them. These Indians left their small reservation in a few years after
this and went west of the Mississippi.

The year closes up with an increase of seven hundred and fifty
members. We now have an entire membership of three thousand
three hundred and eighteen, and twenty ministers.

For the next year — 1834 — we have only one increase in the
number of charges — that is Cassopolis — taking the west half of St.
Joseph Circuit. In the eastern part of the Territory the Huron
Mission is extinguished and Plymouth is introduced, to continue as
a permanent charge, though it will, from time to time, be pared
down to become a Station. The work went on prosperously this
year.

We have but one more year in this third period to complete
our annals. This year — 1835 — shows a considerable increase of the
work. Detroit District is divided and Ann Arbor District is created,
and there are six new charges. Only one of these, however, is in
entirely new ground — that is, Grand River Mission.

We find an increase of one thousand six hundred members for
this year.

We have, then, at the close of this third period of our History,
two Districts, with three charges belonging to a District, in Indiana,
making nineteen charges; twenty -nine itinerant, and a much larger
number of local preachers, and four thousand nine hundred and twen
ty members.

This, however, does not exhibit the whole work which has been
done ; for the Sabbath School has secured much attention, as, in
every place where it was practicable, Sabbath Schools have been
organized and conducted through the joint labors of ministers and
laymen and women of God.

The Sabbath School work has all originated within this period
of our History, as distinctive Methodist Sabbath Schools, or even
any at all. A mission Sabbath School was started in Detroit proba
bly about 1820, and the Methodists were content to co-operate with
that school until some time in 1827, when they started a school of
their own. We have not been able to ascertain the precise date of
the origin of either of these schools, though we have made dili-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 29

gent inquiry. The same thing holds in regard to these schools that
does in regard to the Churches here — their early records are not to be
found, and we have to depend on the memory of individuals mainly.
This union school originated and was maintained by Presbyterian
influence, and the records were not preserved. Hon. Alanson Sheley
has the first records to be found. This first Methodist Sabbath School
in Michigan had to struggle with great difficulties, such as the loca
tion of the unfinished "church on the commons," the prestige of the
union, and the want of teachers. Mr. Jerry Dean was the prime
mover in this enterprise, and was the first superintendent. Hon.
John Owen, then quite a young man and a member of the Meth
odist Church, was secretary of the union school, and did not, at first,
join in this Methodist movement. After a time — that is, in 1830 —
however, he was induced to give up the position which he held as
secretary and take the superintendency of the Methodist School, a
position which he held for many years after. He procured a small
room down on Woodward Avenue, near Congress Street, which
had been used as a lawyer's office, to which he removed the
school, and kept it there until the new church was erected at the
corner of Woodward Avenue and Congress Street. This was, in
deed, the day of small things. Down to the date to which this period
comes the Sunday School work had not been so systematized as that
any statistical reports were made, so we have to content ourselves
with the general statement that this work was attended to by the
Churches in those days, perhaps not with the same degree of thor
oughness as at this day ; but, yet, the work was begun and carried
forward with a commendable degree of zeal, and with considerable
success. Then we had not the appliances for instruction, nor the
attractions of the present day. But a noble work was done, and
these pioneers in this department of Church work are worthy of all
praise. They sowed and we have entered into their labors, and we
are gathering a grand fruitage.

The Temperance reform was entered into very heartily and act
ively. Ministers became earnest lecturers, and in 1832 the member
ship in this Peninsula almost unanimously signed memorials to the
General Conference, asking for a more stringent rule on the subject
of the sale and use of intoxicating liquors. Although the Church
was considered a Temperance Society, our ministers and people
generally united in Temperance organizations and efforts with those
who did not belong to the Church but were willing to operate in this
cause, and work in this way for the good of humanity.

We copy the following resolutions from the records of the

I 30 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Quarterly Conference for Ann Arbor Circuit, dated April 5th, 1834,
as characteristic of the feelings and action of the Methodists at that
date on the subject of Temperance :

"Resolved (i), That such is the light that is now cast upon the
subject of total abstinence from the use of ardent spirits that no per
sons can be considered as members in good standing in our Societies
who continue to use such articles, except as a medicine in cases of
necessity.

"Resolved (2), That we highly disapprove of the practice of sell
ing ardent spirits, except in accordance with the last clause of the
preceding resolution, and that we will use our influence to dissuade
our members from engaging in the traffic.

"Resolved (3), That we recommend to all our members to unite
in forming and supporting Temperance societies."

Already had the idea of building up a literary institution, under
the patronage and fostering care of Methodism been entertained,
and a charter had been obtained from the Legislative Council of
of the Territory for this purpose. The location was unfortunate,
and it became necessary to change the location afterwards ; but,
yet, the charter obtained in 1835 was the foundation of the Albion
College. The ball was put in motion in 1833, by the agreement of
Dr. B. H. Packard, of Ann Arbor, Rev. Henry Colclazer and Rev.
E. H. Pilcher to undertake it, and at the Conference in 1834 a
committee was appointed to fix on a location and to apply to the
Legislative Council for a charter. This committee decided to locate
the institution at Spring Arbor, in Jackson County, and secured
a charter accordingly. We now look upon the movement made at
that time as a wild scheme — as it was located in the woods in fact
— but, still, it shows the purpose to do a noble work for posterity.
As wild as the scheme may now be regarded, it was no more so
than the one adopted by the Baptists, Presbyterians and Protest
ant Episcopalians, about the same time. The Baptists and we
have persevered while the other two have failed. Kalamazoo and
Albion Colleges are monuments of perseverance and successful bat
tling with great difficulties. We shall have occasion to speak of
Albion College more specifically in our next period. (See Albion?)

Let us now take a general retrospect of this third period of
our History. What has been the gain in these sixteen years ? We
began with one charge, one minister and twenty members. Now we
have twenty-nine charges, twenty -nine ministers, and four thousand nine
hundred and twenty members. Then we had no Sabbath Schools, and
now we have them in all our growing, villages. Then we had one

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

log meeting-house, and now we have one very neat and pleasant
one in the City of Detroit, and one frame one in the town of
Plymouth, at Cooper's Corners. In several other places, as in
Monroe, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, the incipient steps were taken
towards buildings, but there were no other churches built during
this period, except a log one in the vicinity of Pontiac, which was
known as " Donation Chapel," and another small one at Algonac,
on the St. Clair River. The age of church building had not yet
arrived. Indeed, the country was too new to give much thought
in that direction. Most of the people who had come in here to
settle were in but moderate circumstances, and they were not in
a condition to build churches. The Presbyterians had built a church
in Detroit, in Ann Arbor, Monroe, and in the towns of Webster,
Farmington and Pontiac, and, perhaps, in a few other places. The
Protestant Episcopalians had built in Detroit, Monroe and Troy.
The Baptists had erected a small church in Detroit and Troy.
These were all the church accommodations furnished in this coun
try at this period, so far as we have been able to ascertain. The
people were content to worship in school-houses and in private
houses. This, however, is a state of things not to continue, for, as
the conveniences of the people are increased at home, they will
demand a corresponding increase in church conveniences.

In our extensive Circuits we were in the habit of preaching*
wherever we could find an open door, whether it was in a private
residence, a school-house or a tavern. The first Temperance lec
ture ever delivered in the County of Jackson was in a bar-room,
which was used also as a chapel. We stepped behind the bar and
delivered a formal lecture to a crowded audience. This was in 1832.
The keeper had just determined to keep a Temperance house, and
this was the most commodious room for a public Temperance meet
ing. And the first quarterly. meeting, with love-feast and sacrament,
was held in the same tavern in the village of Jackson in March, 1832.
The occasion was one of deep and thrilling interest, notwithstanding
the surroundings. One young man was converted who proved to
be a very firm and devoted Christian.

Thus did the itinerants keep pace with the people in their set
tlements, and keep them under the civilizing and elevating influences
of the Gospel of the Lord and Saviour. No other system but such
a one as the Methodist could have met the necessities of this or any
other new country. The natural tendency of man in a new and wild
country is to barbarism ; and, unless he is constantly reminded of
his higher, nobler destiny, he will certainly retrograde. Under the

132 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

excitement of a new settlement — a struggle with rugged, wild nature
— he would soon conform to these circumstances were he left to him
self. To the minister, too, there was something interesting, exciting,
and even thrilling in his labors and associations. The wild forests
have often been made to ring with their songs of praise. The cour
ageous, and even daring perseverance exhibited by them is above
all praise. It was not worldly gain or worldly honor that stimulated
them onwards, for they had no prospect of either ; but " the love of
Christ constrained them," and impelled them onward, and they were
content to share the inconveniences of the people, if they could do
them good ; and they did them good, for they preserved them and
their children from retrograding, and influenced many of them to
become devoted and earnest Christians. It is only an itinerant sys
tem of ministerial supply that could have met the exigencies of this
country thus far. Some of the towns have been supplied by others,
but the country, generally, has been left to our care and labor.

In this encomium on the itinerant system of ministerial supply
for a new country, we are not to be understood as entering into
the mooted question as to whether it is the best system for a settled
state of society. Neither do we intend to say that the Methodists
have done all of the pioneer work ; for we well remember the perse
vering labors of Rev. Calvin Clark, of the Presbyterian Home Mis
sion, in this country. His zeal was very commendable and success
ful in founding Churches. Among the Free Will Baptists, too, Rev.
Mr. Limbockor was a very active pioneer, having come into the
country as early as 1830. Although the ministers of this denomina
tion were so early in the field, they have never become very numer
ous. They now have a flourishing college at Hillsdale under their
care, and are doing a good educational work, but they are not nu
merous.

Regular, or Close Communion Baptists, have done much early
work, and were among the very first in educational enterprise.
They were the first to undertake the publication of a religious news
paper.

All denominations have contributed to the maintenance of
Christianity and Christian civilization in this country, though some
have done more of the real pioneer work than others during the
formative period of our country.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 133

CHAPTER VII.

Prefatory — John P. Kent — Alfred Brunson — Samuel Baker — John Strange — Jerry Dean — John
Owen — Sally Noble — Philip Warren — Mary A. Palmer — Isaac C. Hunter — Sarah H. Baugh-
man — Jonathan E. Chaplin — G. Smith.

(T will be both interesting and profitable to devote a chapter to
some of the men and women of this period. Some of them
have gone to their great reward, while some we shall name
still live to honor the cause of our God and to glorify His
grace. The first we introduce is the minister who was ap
pointed here at the beginning of this period of our History:

REV. JOHN P. KENT was the first minister sent to the Detroit
Circuit from the Ohio Conference, if we except William Mitchell,
who was sent here through mistake from what was then called the
Western Conference, which included Ohio and much more of what
was called the West in 1810. Mr. Kent was appointed to the
Detroit Circuit at the session of the Ohio Conference held at Chilli-
cothe, Ohio, beginning August 8th, 1820. Detroit was included in
Lebanon District, which extended from the Ohio River on the south
to and including Michigan. James B. Finley was the Presiding Elder.
Since 1810 Detroit had stood connected with the Genesee Confer
ence, and was included in the Upper Canada District. The transfer
of it to another Conference seems to have produced a little confu
sion. The presumption is that the last preacher from the Genesee
Conference did not send to the Ohio Conference any plan of the
appointments or any list of the Societies, and the new preacher had
to find out the preaching places and the Societies as well as he could.
The Presiding Elder, James B. Finley, in his auto-biography, written
many years after — that is, in 1854 — says: "This year the people
of Detroit desired me to send them a preacher ;" that he " found a
young man by the name of Morey, who went there, carved out a
Circuit, and returned to Conference with a plan." He must have

134 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

written this from memory, and was mistaken, we think, because the
Genesee Conference met on the 2Oth of July, and the Ohio Confer
ence met on the 8th of August, making less than three weeks be
tween them. Mr. Dixon, the last preacher from the Genesee Con
ference, it is to be presumed, remained till some time in June; for he
made his report of members to his Conference. Still, it is possible
that, as soon as Mr. Dixon left, some of the people wrote him,
fearing they might be overlooked ; but it was not possible for him
to send Mr. Morey, or any other man, to seek out a plan before
Conference. At all events, Mr. Kent was appointed to Detroit Cir
cuit in August, 1820, and came here and worked the Circuit, sup
plying all the places in Michigan where he could find an open door,
and extended his Circuit as far south as the Maumee Rapids. He
was a young man, single, and not very robust in health, but performed
his work faithfully and well. His health became so much impaired
by his long and fatiguing rides and great exposure, that it seemed
necessary for him to take a superannuated relation to the Confer
ence at its next session. He, however, was not permitted to remain
long inactive ; for his successor, Mr. Morey, having died early in the
year, he was employed by the Presiding Elder to fill out the yean
It was during this year he held a Camp Meeting on the Rouge, which
resulted in much good to the cause. These two years constituted
his whole service in Michigan.

Mr. Kent was admitted into the itinerant connection by the
Ohio Conference in 1815, and regularly admitted into full member
ship, and ordained Deacon and Elder. The latter took place in 1 8 1 9,
so that he was an Elder of one year's standing when appointed to
Detroit, and, being unmarried, he seemed to be well suited to such
work. He was of an excellent spirit, possessed very good abilities,
and rendered very valuable service to the cause of God. Mr. Kent
made the same mistake which had been made by his predeces
sors and many of his successors — that was, undertaking to do too
much ; so much that he could not take care of the city as it deserved ;
and so much as to break down his health. He was a truly pious
man, an earnest preacher, who was much respected by the people*
He afterwards married, and was transferred to the Genesee Confer
ence, to which he still belongs, and now lives in quiet retirement, in
the enjoyment of the consolations of that religion which he labored
to promote under such great difficulties in this new country, and in
the dignity of a venerable and green old age.

REV. ALFRED BRUNSON, D. D., who was appointed to Detroit in
1822 as the successor of Mr. Kent, was born in Danbury, Connecti-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 135

cut, February 9th, 1793, so that at this present writing — 1877 — he is
eighty-four years old. He was converted to God in Carlisle, Penn-
sylvynia, February 3d, 1809, and united with the Methodist Episco
pal Church in that place April 2cl, 1809, "when a runaway 'prentice/'
He returned to Connecticut, and experienced the blessing of per
fect love October 9th, 1 809 ; and was licensed to exhort on March
loth, 1812. In 1812 he removed to Ohio, and settled in Fowler,
Trumbull County. In 1813-14 he spent one year in the army;
was at the Thames and in the battle in which Tecumseh was killed,
under General Harrison, and spent the winter in Detroit. In 1815,
April 1 5th, he was licensed to preach in Hartford, Ohio. In 1818 he
was sent by Rev. James B. Finley, Presiding Elder, to organize Huron
Circuit, Ohio, including Sandusky City,, in which he preached the first
sermon ever preached there. In 1819 he was ordained Deacon, as
a local preacher, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was sent to the old Erie
Circuit, Pennsylvania, by the Presiding Elder, William Swayzee. He
was received on trial in the Ohio Conference in 1820, and was ad
mitted into full connection in 1822, and ordained an Elder. From
this Conference he was sent to Detroit, with Samuel Baker for a col
league. The following is his description of Detroit Circuit at that
time : " The Circuit then extended over the entire settled part of
Michigan, except Sault Ste. Marie. I went from Detroit to Pontiac ;
thence to Mount Clemens, and back to Detroit ; thence to the River
Rouge, where was the only Methodist Church in the Territory, a log
one, near Robert Abbott's ; thence up that river to a point fifteen
miles from Detroit ; thence back to the Maumee road and to Mon
roe on the River Raisin, and up that river nine miles to the upper
settlement, the road being only an Indian trail ; thence back to the
Maumee road and to the Maumee at the foot of the Rapids ; thence
right back on the lake and river road to Detroit. There were re
turned to us about one hundred and thirty members.

" We arranged so as to preach every Sabbath in Detroit, in the
old Council House. After Brother Baker had been once around the
Detroit end, he proposed to take the south end of the Circuit, and
leave me at Detroit. So we spent the year. We held our quarter
ly meetings together, but had no Presiding Elder during the year.

"A subscription had been raised, and, in 1823, the foundation of
the first Methodist Church in the city was laid — since turned into a
dwelling ; but it was not made ready to occupy until after I left. I
was sick in Detroit ; had inflammation of the lungs and then of the
liver ; was blistered, and then preached with blisters on my breast

136 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

six by eight inches, which burst and discharged a half a pint of water
while in the pulpit. This occurred three times."

He left Detroit in the autumn of 1823, and returned to Ohio.
While in Detroit he kept a boarding-house in order to get subsist
ence for his family, and yet he left the Circuit one hundred dollars in
debt, which he paid the next year out of private funds. In regard
to the traveling he has furnished us with the following sketch: "Our
mode of travel was on horseback, except in the winter, when we
used 'carry-alls,' or jumpers. In going home from Mount Clemens
on the ice, I took a straight shute across Lake St. Clair. When
about half way, and a mile from shore, with cakes of ice piled ten
feet high outside of me, my horse's foot broke through. My heart
was in my mouth as quick as thought. In a step or two more he
went through again — but this time relieved me, for I found it was
only a thin shell over the main ice. On this same trip, just before
leaving the land for the lake, I passed a house with if^A hung out
for sale. The man that was with me inquired the price, telling the
Frenchman that I was a priest for whom he wanted the fish. "Oh!"
said the Frenchman, "I'll give him all the fish I've got if he'll
pardon my sins." My friend informed him that I didn't pretend to
forgive sins, paid him for the fish, and left. Let the Catholic priests
say what they will about referring their people to Christ, their people
expect them to absolve them."

Mr. Brunson has always continued in the itinerant work, and
has been connected for many years with the Wisconsin Conference.
He has recently issued a book, entitled, " Incidents of My Life and
Times," and we are not at liberty to say more in this work, though
he has much more to say in regard to his labors in Michigan. Dr.
Brunson — for he is a D. D. — is a noble and great man, and has done
much for the cause of true piety.

It seems eminently appropriate that REV. SAMUEL BAKER should
be named in this connection, especially as this was the last work he
ever supplied, and as he was the colleague of Mr. Brunson. Mr.
Baker was born in the City of Baltimore, Maryland, September
1 3th, 1793, and was only a few months younger than his colleague.
He was converted to God through faith in Jesus Christ when about
eighteen years of age, and united himself to the Methodist Episcopal
Church at once. He commenced the work of the itinerant ministry
in the year 1816. In this work he continued to discharge his duties
with fidelity and success until his Master called him from the labors
of earth to the glorious refreshments of Heaven. His whole ener
gies, physical, intellectual and moral, were devoted to his work. He

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 137

went to the Conference, from Detroit Circuit^ about the first of Sep
tember, 1823, with his bride, in the possession of ordinary health.
He had just been united in marriage to Miss Sarah Harvey, of
Monroe, a young lady of talent and piety. She accompanied him to
Conference to return a widow; for, while at the Conference, the hand
of disease was laid upon him fatally. He probably had contracted
the disease from his excessive labors in this new country. An ap
pointment was assigned him, but he never reached it. After the
attack of the disease he succeeded in reaching the residence of his
brother, Dr. Baker, which was not many miles distant from the seat
of the Conference, where he ended his race. His sufferings were
great ; but when he saw his end drawing nigh, he exclaimed in holy
triumph, " Glory, glory to God and the Lamb ! There is victory in
death." Thus he fell asleep in Jesus, September 26th, 1823, in the
thirty-first year of his age, and at the end of his seventh year in the
itinerant ministry. Mr. Baker was a good and useful man, and his
name is worthy to be recorded in the annals of the Church.

We now introduce a name not very familiar to the religious
annals of Michigan, and his name comes into this connection simply
from the fact that he was Presiding Elder over this country for two
years in the early history. REV. JOHN STRANGE, who was appointed
to the Lebanon District, Ohio Conference, which included Detroit
in 1821, "was a native of Virginia, and was born November I5th,
1 789. When quite young he emigrated to Ohio, embraced religion
in youth, and united himself to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
commenced his itinerant labors in 1810, under the direction of the
Rev. James Quin, Presiding Elder. In 1811 he was admitted on
trial in the Ohio Conference, where he labored thirteen years with
great fidelity, acceptance and usefulness. The balance of his useful
life was spent in Indiana. He was zealous and faithful ; an eloquent
and beloved minister of Jesus Christ. He has left abundant proof,
both in Ohio and Indiana, of his success in the great work of win
ning souls to Christ — * epistles known and read of all men.' He
died in peace, December 2d, 1832, but will long live in the memory
of endeared thousands." This is the record of him found in the
official Minutes of the Indiana Conference for 1833.

Mr. Strange was a man of much more than ordinary talents, a
fine speaker, and was very useful in the Church. He was a little
eccentric at times — a matter to which some object ; but, perhaps, in
his case, as it was perfectly natural — this was one means of his useful
ness among the masses of the people. On one occasion, as he was
preaching at a quarterly meeting in Detroit, he stopped suddenly,

138 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

and then said : " Some say they shout because they cannot help it ;
but I think God will not thank them for such shouting. I shout be
cause I love to do so." On another occasion, stopping suddenly as
before, he remarked : " Some will say, that is a strange preacher ;
another, he is eloquent ; and another, he preaches too loud ; but
there is a man — pointing to a lawyer — who for five dollars will
labor much more zealously than I do," The manner of saying this
was peculiar, and produced a profound sensation. He was a man
of deep and earnest piety, and was a zealous and faithful laborer.

Thus far in this chapter we have confined ourselves to sketches
of ministers who have labored in this field, but we do not purpose
to continue to do so ; for there are laymen, and there are holy women,
too, who deserve to be remembered by the Church and the world.
Several of these we now purpose to introduce to notice, giving a
brief sketch of their lives. One of these was JERRY DEAN, who has
already appeared by name in our narrative. Rev. James B. Finley,
in his account of his first visit to Detroit, in 1821, speaks of him as
his " old friend," having known him in Ohio. He has passed to his
heavenly rest, but, as he stood by the Church here in the days of its
darkness and feebleness, it is proper to make some grateful mention
of him in this History. He was an intelligent mechanic — a saddler
by trade — a very devoted Christian, and was, for many years, an
active and very faithful member of the Methodist Church. He was
converted and joined the Church in Ohio when but a young man,
and had not been long married when he came to Detroit to reside.
He came to Detroit to settle in business early in 1820. Being
a member of the Church at the time, his house became one of
the resting-places for the weary itinerants. He was industrious and
prudent in the management of his affairs, succeeded well in his busi
ness, and accumulated a handsome property, which he was always
willing to use liberally and freely for the support of religion. He
was the first superintendent of the first Methodist Sabbath School in
Michigan, established in Detroit in 1827. His end was peace. He
died April 22d, 1839, in the forty-fourth year of his age, having been
born December 25th, 1796. He was a man of a sound Christian
experience, and, though always mild and gentle, he was earnest in
his piety. He emphatically possessed " the ornament of a meek
and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price." He
was a noble, generous-hearted man. The Church sustained a real
loss when he was called to his rest. Of him the late Bishop Thom
son once wrote : " Among the lost and loved of my Detroit flock
that are still fresh in my memory are Jerry Dean and father Abbott

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 139

Few men that I have ever met with have breathed more of the spirit
of Christ than the first. He was gentle as a lamb, loving as a mother,
and conscientious as a child." His whole life-study seemed to be to
ascertain how he could best promote the cause of the blessed Re
deemer.

We shall next introduce one, who, though living, is too far ad
vanced to be inflated by anything we may have to say, and we intro
duce him here because of his intimate association with the last-
named, and because that association was mutually profitable in a
religious way, though he was the junior of the other by several years.
Some time during the year 1818, a poor boy, who was born in or
near Toronto, Canada West, March 2Oth, 1809, came to Detroit with
a widowed mother. He was cast upon the world to shift for himself
at the age of nine years. This lad, though attracting no special
attention at that time from the Church or the community, was des
tined to act a very conspicuous part in the interests of the Church in
Detroit, as well as in political and financial circles. Being thrown
upon his own resources, and having a strong desire to acquire a suf
ficient education to be able to transact ordinary business, at least, he
found a friend in a gentleman who had charge of the only academy in
the city. This gentleman, in consideration of his taking care of the
school building and waiting on him, gave him his tuition free. This
pedagogue was a man of very strict habits, and kept a very close
surveillance over the habits of his protege, not allowing him to
spend his evenings in the streets with other boys. This restraint
seemed hard to him at the time, but it was of great service to him
afterwards ; for, by this means, many hours were occupied in acquir
ing useful knowledge, which otherwise would have been worse
than lost ; besides, he acquired a habit of close application, which,
subsequently, proved to be of incalculable value to him. In conse
quence of the removal of this gentleman from the city, he had to
leave school in 1821. When his friend and patron was about to
leave, he gave the lad a recommendation, by means of which he
obtained a situation as clerk in the drug store of Dr. Chapin, with
whom he remained as clerk until the Autumn of 1829, at which time,
being twenty years old, he was taken in as partner in the business, in
which relation he continued until the death of the Doctor. He was
taken into partnership without money, as he had very little ; but he
had capacity and application, and these he offset against capital.
Both in his relation as clerk and joint partner he had the principal
labor to perform.

By close application to business, and ready attention to those

140 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

who came to trade, there resulted a large increase of business. After
the death of the senior of the firm, he continued the same business for
a time alone, so that he had to attend to customers during the day,
and then post and write up his books at night, so that many a time he
has worked all night. Such labor and attention deserved success.
Such success attended him in his business that he concluded to
retire from trade in the spring of 1853. ^ *s proper to be named
here that, when he first entered into business, he devoted himself
assiduously to it, so that the employer, first, and then the partner,
might not suffer from his neglect. Never did he suffer himself to be
called off by the various amusements and recreations usually in
dulged in by young men. This course was adopted not from penu-
riousness, or a miserly spirit, because his liberal contributions to
benevolent enterprises show that he has no narrow spirit, but he did
it from a principle of moral obligation to his employer and partner.
Since 1853 he has relaxed a little from the severities of business life,
and, yet, he has not abandoned business entirely, as he is the presi
dent of a bank and associated in some other financial operations.
He is now a man of wealth — of wealth secured in regular trade ; for
it is to be noted, that notwithstanding the many temptations to with
draw money from regular trade to enter into speculations, he never
.allowed himself to run the hazard, so that the name of HON. JOHN
OWEN is almost a synonym for sound business integrity. We have
given this sketch of his business life and its results thus far as a
tribute to the mercy of God. He was converted to God in his youth,
and united himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit,
Nov. 2d, 1823, which laid the foundation for his success in after years.
When we call to mind the moral condition of Detroit at that
time — the almost entire absence of religious influence — the gayety
which prevailed — and that Methodism was "a hissing and a by
word;" that the Methodists were a neglected people ; that they
worshiped in the old Council House, and then in the unfinished and
unfurnished " brick church on the common," we find great reason to
magnify the grace of God, which led him to identify himself and his
spiritual interests with them, and which kept him in the way while
in his youth. In conversation with him once he remarked to us:
"To this step" — that is, his union with the Church — "I owe my suc
cess in business and my present position in society. The influence
.of the Church kept my feet from those snares which surrounded
young men at that time, and dragged them to a dishonorable grave."
No doubt the remark is a true one, and happy would it be for every
young man if he would follow his example.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

The condition of the Church was such that it became necessary
he should become active in its operations while he was yet young-
— an activity, especially, in regard to its finances — an activity which
he has never ceased to exercise. The time was, however, when one-
dollar and a half per year was thought to be a large sum for him to
pay towards the support of the Gospel. With increasing wealth, he
increased in his contributions for the cause of piety. He was early
made treasurer of the Church, and has continued to hold that office
for many years. After paying such amount as he was expected to
pay, if, after the Society had done what they could to raise the salary
of the minister, there remained a deficiency, he footed the bill. This
he did for many years. During the lifetime of Jerry Dean these
two men stood shoulder to shoulder in all the financial interests and
improvements of the Church, the former — that is, Owen — devising
and the latter co-operating, usually making equal subscriptions. If
what Solomon says be true, as it is, that " A good name is rather
to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver
and gold," Mr. Owen must be regarded as exceedingly wealthy. Yet
we do not mean to say that he has been without fault, or that no one
has ever spoken against him ; but the blessing of some that were
ready to perish is upon him.

Mr. Owen is disposed to hold a low estimate of himself — and it
is right to exalt the grace of God. In a communication to us he
uses this language in regard to himself: "When I remember the
opportunities I have had for doing good and glorifying God, and, yet,
how little I have done, I feel I have been a very unprofitable servant
I cannot, therefore, look back with satisfaction on the long term of
years which has passed since I gave myself to God and His Church ;
but feel I have great reason to ask forgiveness for my shortcomings,
and need to pray for the influence of the Spirit, that I may be quick
ened with new zeal in the service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ." He has always been true to the principles of the Church,
and an unvarying friend to the ministers who have been appointed
to the charge.

No one could have predicted, when he saw that boy blacking^
the boots of that teacher and rendering other services for him as an
equivalent for the care and instruction which he gave him, that he
was looking on a future wealthy banker. How much the world —
and, even, the Church — is disposed to look upon this as a mere for
tuitous circumstance, and not to consider that God's providence is in
it. But he never would have stood where he now stands had it not
been for his having become a Christian during the formative stage of

142 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

his life. At a later period of his life he was called, contrary to his
own wish, to serve his State in a financial capacity, and held the office
of State Treasurer, and administered it admirably well for three terms,
or six years.

There are two points in this case worthy of note, and to which
we would call special attention, as forming the foundation of his
present position, both as regards his wealth and high standing in the
public estimation. The first is that he became decidedly pious in his
youth, and determined to honor God with his substance, and he faith
fully executed the determination. That widowed mother was never
forgotten or neglected, and God honored him for it. The other
point is that he always transacted his business on Christian princi
ples. He did not " make haste to be rich." Men may become rich
by fraud and evil practices, but they forfeit the public esteem. He
never allowed himself to venture where there was any probability of
his transactions having the appearance of fraud, never undertaking
any projects where there was not a clear way before him, and where
he could not show a clean sheet. Patient, honest perseverance in
honest business, associated with Christian piety and liberality, has
been crowned with great success. It is his greatest pleasure, now,
to think that he has contributed something towards the advancement
of Christianity under the Methodistic form, as he believes that is bet
ter calculated than any other — though he is no bigot — to advance
true Christian piety. His case is presented as worthy of imitation
in the items last named, and as worthy of being considered by all
young men, and for the glory of God's grace.

There is one more item of value to be considered in his history,
that is, his connection with the Sabbath School cause. About 1820,
a little before the time of his conversion, a union Sabbath School was
organized in Detroit — the first Sabbath School in Michigan — into
which he entered as a pupil, and, after a few years, though but a lad,
he was appointed the secretary. In this relation he continued until
the summer of 1830. Notwithstanding his necessarily close appli
cation to business, he was always faithful to his post, both as pupil
and officer. In 1827 the Methodist people concluded it was best for
them to organize a Sabbath School of their own, which they did, with
very indifferent success for the time being, for it was difficult to get
the children to go out to the "brick church on the common." Our
subject, though a member of the Church, did not enter into this
movement at the beginning, as he found it difficult to break away
from his former associations. But, at length, in 1830, by the urgent
persuasion of his brethren, he consented to take charge of the school

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 143

as superintendent. When he was appointed to the superintendency
he immediately rented a room on Woodward Avenue, down in the
midst of the people, and removed his school to it. This was a small
room, but answerd a pretty good purpose until the new church was
built, in 1834, at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Congress
street. Now, in his new responsibility, notwithstanding his close
application to business, he always found time to attend to the inter
ests of his Sabbath School, for his heart was in it, and it was a
pleasure to him to attend to it. He feels and says that his relation
to the Sabbath School work has been one great means of keeping
him so firmly attached to the interests of Christianity. There is no
doubt of the correctness of this opinion; for there is nothing so
well calculated to bind us to Christianity as Christian work. He
superintended this school, with a short interruption, for many
years ; and, when he finally resigned the superintendency, he took
charge of the infant class for several years. It is a most interesting
scene to look upon, to see one who, though immersed in business
and trade, has been so constant and cheerful in labors of this
kind. This matter has been introduced here not for the purpose
of lauding him, but to furnish an example for others, by showing
what can be done. He still feels a deep interest in all departments
of Church work. As the Church prospers he rejoices, and is ever
ready, of the ability that God gives him, to assist in its enterprises.
As Mr. Owen still lives, it is not permitted us to say anything more
than to express the confidence that the grace of God in Jesus Christ,
which he experienced in his youth, may abide in him to the end of
life.

There was one active and earnest Christian lady who is inter
woven with our first recollections of Detroit ; one whose zeal was
proverbial ; who was a member of the Church at Mount Clemens
as early as 1820-21, and came to Detroit to reside in 1822. She
became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the days
of its feebleness in this peninsula, and did not forsake it in its dark
est days of trial. It was at her house, at Mount Clemens, that Rev.
Platt B. Morey died, after a short illness, in 1821. Her husband
was also a member of the Church, but was not so active and earnest
as she was, and is not so prominent in our recollection, though a
very good man. For many years she sustained an unblemished
Christian character, and died in peace. She had an ardent tempera
ment, which showed itself in the earnestness of her religious labors
and exercises. A more than ordinary amount of talent had been
-committed to her trust. Had she lived in these days, she, doubtless,

144 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

would have been a successful evangelist ; as it was, she was always
active in religious meetings, praying and exhorting with much feeling
and often with great power and effect. She embraced religion in
early life, and lived in the enjoyment of its consolations under some
very adverse and discouraging circumstances. Early in her Christian
life she made a full consecration of herself to God, and felt that
"the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin ;" that "perfect love
casteth out all fear." Her profession of such a deep experience of
the things of God, was well sustained by a consistent, cheerful
Christian life. Her eyes were always weak and defective, but for
about nine years before her death she was deprived of her sight,
so that the light of this world was entirely shut out, though she
enjoyed the light of the spirit very brilliantly. We had the privilege
of visiting her occasionally in her blindness, and always found her
full of light in the Lord. It was indeed a rich feast to spend an hour
in her society.

MRS. SALLY NOBLE died at Monroe, whither she had removed
from Detroit, some ten or more years before her demise, which
occurred in the spring of 1857, in the fifty-second year of her age.
When she came to lie on her bed of death she repeated the follow
ing lines of one of our hymns as expressive of her state of mind:

"Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out sweetly there."

What a happy state of mind — a state of mind which no philoso
phy can produce. Nothing but the religion of the Lord Jesus has
ever yet produced triumph in death. Thus in the ripeness of grace
she rests in the bosom of her loving Saviour.

" The toils of life are o'er,
Its suffering and its care."

Her husband survived until 1875, when he passed away, in
peace, in the city of Monroe, in fulness of years and ripeness of
Christian love, and they have joined hands on the blest shore.

Another who was cotemporary with Mrs. Noble in the interests
and affairs of the Church in Detroit, and who always stood firm at
his post, deserves a few lines of notice. Philip Warren was a quiet
man, but an active and earnest Christian. All who saw him felt, at
once, that they were in the presence of a deeply pious man. He
was quite useful in the Church ; and he, too, has been called from

vts^ -^%^

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 145

the labors of earth to the refreshments of heaven. He died in the
ripeness of age and in the maturity of a Christian life.

MRS. MARY A. PALMER was the daughter of Hon. James and
Mrs. Amy Witherell, and came to Detroit with her parents, in 1810,
but returned East with her mother a short time after. There were two
reasons for this return to the East, to wit* the mother was always in
fear and dread of the Indians, many of whom were in and about
Detroit at that time ; the other reason was to have better advantages
for educating the children. The mother and family returned to Michi
gan in 1817. The daughter Mary, in 1821, was married to Mr.
Thomas Palmer, who was engaged in the mercantile business in De
troit. Their wedding trip East and return was an adventurous one.
At the time there was but one steamboat on the lake, to wit : the
Walk-in-the-water, which was a small craft. On the return they,
with a few others, went on board at evening, at Buffalo, with fair hopes
for a safe voyage. During the night, after having put out, a fearful
storm arose, which drove the vessel back, and just at clawn of day
it was driven on the rocks at Black Rock, and became a perfect
wreck. The winds howled a terrible requiem for the Walk-in-the-
water. The passengers were all saved. Mrs. Palmer was the first
to leap ashore after the vessel struck. She retained a very vivid re
membrance of the awful night, and of the shock, even to her death.
There seemed to be very little hope of soon getting to Detroit by
sail, and the only other thing which remained to them was to hire a
team and drive across Canada, which was both perilous and tedi
ous. Mr. Palmer had been so long absent from his business, he
thought he must secure the most speedy return possible. So he and
another man engaged a team to take them through with their wives.
It required two weeks of hard toil to get through. About half way
of their journey, after nightfall one day, the wagon broke down in
the midst of a wood, about a mile and a half from any house. It
was raining, dark and muddy. They could not stay where they were.
One of the men went and procured some kind of a light, by means
of which the ladies were enabled to make the distance, being wet
and thoroughly bespattered with mud. It was near midnight when
they reached the cabin in the woods. They found the poor people
very hospitable, and having made a large fire they managed to dry
their garments against morning, so that they were enabled to go on
their way, when the wagon was repaired. This was a very trying
journey for Mrs. Palmer, in the month of November, as it was. Her
sufferings did not end when she reached the Detroit River, for that
had to be passed over which was more terrible to her than anything

146 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

she had passed on the way. There were no steam ferries then, nor
even row boats, but they had to secure a canoe, and that to be pro
pelled and guided by a drunken Frenchman. Notwithstanding her
great suffering in her fears, the river was crossed in safety, and she
found herself once more in the association of her family. Mrs. Pal
mer, some years before her marriage, had connected herself with
the Methodist Church, which she adorned by a consistent life, for
nearly sixty years. In one respect there was a marked contrast be
tween her and Mrs. Noble, just above mentioned, for although she
was quite regular and constant in her attendance on the regular ser
vices of the Church, she never took any active part in religious meet
ings. Although she was a very intelligent woman, well educated,
and could converse intelligently on religion or any other subject in
private, her natural timidity prevented her from saying anything in
public. She was large and commanding in person and of noble
presence. She was always strongly attached to the Church and sup
ported it liberally during her life, and had always expressed a pur
pose to make some kind of a bequest to the Church, but like too
many others, not anticipating death so near, she was carried off
without having made any such provision. Her husband had died
some years before — in 1868. Fortunately she had a son who was
the principal heir, who had so much love and veneration for his
mother that he afterwards voluntarily carried out what he thought
to be, substantially, his mother's design. He gave, in her name,yfo*
thousand dollars to the " Superannuated Preachers' Aid Society of
the Detroit Annual Conference," for a permanent fund, which, by the
action of that Society, is to be known as the Mary A. Palmer Fund,
with two conditions — that the interest only shall be used, and, that
whenever Manasseh Hickey, Elijah H. Pilcher, and Seth Reed, or
either of them become superannuated, one-third of the interest shall
be appropriated "to each of them, annually, during life, and to their
widows after them, in like manner. In the meantime, and after their
death the interest goes into the general funds of the Society. These
are ministers who had been her pastors in her earlier years, and for
whom she had a great friendship ; and, further, he annually appro
priates twenty-five dollars to the Jefferson Avenue Methodist Church
in the name of his mother. Thus Hon. Thomas W. Palmer, of
Detroit, endeavors to carry out what he thinks would be the will
of that mother.

Mrs. Palmer was born in Fairhaven, Vermont, in 1795, and first
came to Detroit with her parents in 1810. She died, after a very
brief illness, on March iQth, 1874, having the respect and good will

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 47

of all who knew her. She was a sincere, quiet Christian and chari
table woman, and "endured as seeing Him that is invisible." She
left a son (Thomas W. Palmer), a daughter (Mrs. Julia E. Hubbard),
a grand-daughter (Miss Mary E. Roby), and a host of friends to
mourn her absence. She was one of the originators of the Protestant
Orphan Asylum in Detroit, and for many years was connected with
it in an official capacity, and was deeply interested in the workings of
the institution. She had very quick and active sympathies for the
sufferings of the needy and distressed.

Thus one of the old, benevolent, Christian women of Detroit
has been enrolled with the dead, and, yet, she lives in the agencies
put in operation for the benefit of the needy ; and we have good
confidence that she lives with her Saviour.

There is one point in this narrative on which it is proper to
comment — that is, her failure to make the bequest contemplated. In
her case it came out well simply because of the honorable venera
tion of her son for her memory; but there are few such sons and
heirs. Men and women of means, who contemplate doing anything
for the cause of God and humanity, had better do it themselves, and
during their life-time. Time is short and life is uncertain, and wills
and bequests are often set aside when made, and this kind of work
had better be done at once. There is, also, great carelessness in
the preparation of wills, so that very few bequests are ever realized
by the objects for which they were designed by the testator. If
people depend on wills for benevolence, let them have them carefully
drawn, and executed in good time.

REV. ISAAC C. HUNTER was sent to Detroit Circuit in 1824, which
brings him within the line of our History. As he is dead, it is very
fitting that we should give some special notice of him in this place.
He united with the Conference, as an itinerant preacher, in 1819,
and labored with a good degree of success and usefulness, upon the
whole, until his death. He remained upon the Detroit Circuit only
one year, which was rather a barren year for good. The reason for
this we have before mentioned when giving an account of the work
in Detroit Circuit, in which, also, we gave some account of Mr.
Hunter ; but we propose now a fuller memoir. After leaving Michi
gan he became more pious and more useful than he had been before.
He was the Presiding Elder in the Kanawha District in Virginia, in
1829-30, which included Nicholas Circuit, when the writer labored
on that Circuit — the first year he traveled as a preacher. In those
mountain regions we formed a very pleasant acquaintance with him,
or rather renewed it, for he had traveled the Circuit in which our

I 48 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

father resided, and often stopped there the first year after he left
Detroit. We give a short extract from the official memoir, as fur
nished in the Minutes of the Ohio Conference for the year 1842 :

"Rev. Isaac C. Hunter was a native of Pennsylvania, born in
Bellefonte, Centre County, August 3Oth, 1793. He received twenty-
three appointments to different stations, and for years was a success
ful Presiding Elder, and had the confidence and esteem of the min
istry and membership with whom he labored and to which he be
longed. He had a strong and vigorous mind, which he cultivated
assiduously by applying himself to the Bible and such other studies
as tended to increase his knowledge of the Bible. God honored him
in life with success in his labors and with triumph in his death. But
he is no more — for the Lord has taken him, and has left the Church
shrouded in mourning and his widow and orphan children bathed in
tears. In May, 1842, he was seized with a violent cold, which pro
duced inflammation of the lungs, and on the 27th of June terminated
in death. During his illness he was patient and happy. Although
his afflictions were great, yet grace sustained him ; and when the
closing scene was nigh, and the lamp of life was flickering in its
socket, and his weeping friends stood and gazed on the dissolution
of the earthly house, he beheld " a house not made with hands, eter
nal in the heavens." His face was illuminated with a heavenly smile,
and his eyes, even in death, sparkled with joy ; and with the trium
phant shout he bid adieu to all below, and now, with all the sanctified,
enjoys an endless rest."

We here introduce a name which has been incidentally men
tioned before, but it is worthy of a further notice. The circum
stances of her conversion and the activity of her labor are worthy of
note. Her residence was at Monroe, as heretofore mentioned. Her
mother was a widow, and, although not a Methodist, she invited Rev.
J. P. Kent, when he first went to Monroe to preach, in 1820, to make
his home at her house, whenever he came around. He did fre
quently stop there during the two years he supplied the Circuit.
The daughter was handsome and gay — fond of society and worldly
amusements; and the circumstances indicated that she was utterly
thoughtless on the subject of religion. But Divine truth, under the
ministration of Mr. Kent, took effect, and, to the astonishment and
chagrin of her gay companions, Miss Sarah Harvey made a profes
sion of religion, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, which
was then very feeble in the place. Being talented and well educated,
she at once became active and useful in the cause. She attended the
Camp Meeting, which Mr. Kent held on the Rouge in the summer

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 149

of 1822, and was a very useful laborer. It is not at all surprising,
under these circumstances, that the junior preacher, who succeeded
Mr. Kent the next year, was so captivated and taken that he sought
to make her his companion in his ministerial work ; nor is it surpris
ing that, with the ardent desire she then had to do good, she should
consent to be identified with the itinerant ministry; and she became
Mrs. Rev. Samuel Baker. But he soon died, and, in due time, she
became Mrs. Rev. John A. Baughman, and with him shared the
labors and responsibilities of an itinerant minister's life for many
years. After she came to have the responsibility of a family, as was
very natural, she relaxed somewhat in the activity of her Christian
labor. Many of her later years were accompanied with much suffer
ing, and she had to give up Church work entirely ; and, yet, she
always found great delight in attending the class-meetings whenever
it was practicable. After the death of her husband, which preceded
hers by five years, she made her home with her son-in-law, Bela
Hubbard, Esq. We here subjoin a brief memoir of her :

MRS. SARAH H. BAUGHMAN was born near Rochester, New York,
January 22d, 1799, of English parentage. She removed to Monroe,
Michigan, with her widowed mother, in May, 1816. She was con
verted to God and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Monroe,
under the labors of Rev. John P. Kent, in 1821. At the time of her
conversion she was very decided in her convictions of the correctness
of Methodist doctrines, and identified herself fully with the Church,
although it was very feeble in that locality at that time. She was
married to Rev. Samuel Baker at Monroe in August, 1823, and went
with him to Conference at Urbana, Ohio, on horseback. Mr. Baker
was taken sick at Conference, and died in a few days, and she was
left alone among strangers and to return to Michigan, which she did.
On her return, she was, for some time, lost in the woods, and had to
endure all the painful sensations of being hopelessly lost in a forest.
She finally succeeded in finding a way out. She remained at Monroe,
and did what she could to advance the interests of the feeble Church
— for she was an active Christian then — till she was married to Rev.
John A. Baughman, which took place in Monroe in May, 1826, when
she removed with him to Ohio, where she remained till he was trans
ferred to the Michigan Conference in 1838. After her marriage with
Mr. Baughman, her life became merged with his, and she fully shared
with him the labors and inconveniences of an itinerant life for many
years. She died in Detroit, where she had resided for many of her
latter years, March i9th, 1873. She fell asleep in Jesus, and lives
with Him in His glorious kingdom.

I 50 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

It is said that, during her girlhood's days at Monroe, she was
known as a person of unusually attractive manners, and full of life
and frolic. At that time there was much social intercourse between
the French and the settlers from the Eastern States, and she was
often a visitant with them in gay circles at Detroit. Her conversion
and connection with the Methodist Episcopal Church must have cost
her a great struggle, and must have made a very marked change in
her feelings and life ; for she became a decided and active Christian.
From the time of her marriage with Mr. Baughman, she devoted her
self cheerfully and actively to the duties and hardships, which were
inseparable from the position of a Methodist minister's wife, itiner
ating throughout the large and sparsely populated Circuits of Ohio
and Michigan, as they were then.

Mrs. Baughman was a lady of more than ordinary intellectual
ability, refined in manners and tastes, and she always moved with
grace and elegance in the most refined circles of society in the places
where her husband was stationed. For a good many of her last
years her health was quite delicate, and she lived in quiet retire
ment, and in the enjoyment of the sweet consolations of that religion
which she had professed for so many years.

We had reserved a space here for a memorial notice of an able
and excellent Presbyterian minister, but, failing to receive the items
from his family, we now fill it with another, whose memoir will be
read with great satisfaction and profit by many.

REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS CHAPLIN, a great-grandson of the much-
esteemed and eminent Jonathan Edwards, was born in Chaplin,
Windham County, Connecticut, in the year 1 789. His parents were
respectable, religious, and liberal supporters of religious institutions.
He removed, when young, to the State of New York, where he com
menced and completed the study of law, after having graduated at
Yale College. He was an able logician, and when, in his senior year
in college, President Dwight gave the class an opportunity to ques
tion his doctrines, he entered the lists, and controverted the doctrines
of Calvinism, and, in his own estimation and that of the class, he
triumphed over the Doctor. This gave him great self-complacency
and consequence in his own eyes. Having no evangelical — Arminian
— instruction, he wandered into Unitarianism, then into Universalism,
and, finally and naturally, into downright infidelity.

Some time during the War of 1812 he was appointed aid-de
camp to General Porter, on the north frontier, where he acquired the
habit of intemperance, from which he was subsequently delivered by
converting grace. Soon after the close of the war he came to the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 151

West, and settled at Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, where he
entered on the practice of law, in which he continued until the time
of his entrance upon the work of the ministry,

In connection with his law practice he continued the practice of
intoxication until he reached the lowest point of degradation. Being
a man of great versatility of talent, quick of wit and repartee, and
having an almost exhaustless fund of anecdote, after he became a
sot landlords and hotel-keepers would board him for days, to collect
and hold company for them by his wit and humorous stories. He
had proceeded so far in his drunkenness and infidelity that he had
been known to administer baptism and the sacrament to a dog. He
had become utterly abandoned, and reduced to the lowest state of
poverty. In reflecting on his state, he came to the conclusion that
there was only one way by which he could be saved from a drunkard's
grave and a drunkard's hell, that was, to become a Christian, if possi
ble for him. Having come to this conclusion, his breath still steaming
with liquor, he attended a watch-night meeting on the last night of
the year 1829, held by Rev. John F. Wright, at which it pleased God
to awaken him thoroughly to a sense of his lost condition. He came
forward to the altar as a penitent, and, about the time the clock
struck twelve, he gave Mr. Wright his hand as an applicant for
Church membership. Some of the brethren thought he was now
only mocking, but he was sincere. These ministers encouraged him,
and, in a few days afterwards, at his own fireside, he received the
knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins through faith in Jesus
Christ, and never after drank a drop of spirituous liquors. He was
saved from the appetite.

In 1833, when Rev. H. O. Sheldon, who had the matter in
charge, was looking for a man to take the charge of the Norwalk
Seminary, Ohio, which was then under Methodist patronage, Mr.
Chaplin was recommended to him as suitable for the place. He went
to Urbana and engaged him. He continued in that institution until
1837, and succeeded very well.

In the year 1834 a Camp Meeting was held near what is now
Clyde, in Northern Ohio. Mr. Chaplin was present. A missionary
sermon was preached. A preacher was carrying a hat to take the
collection, still exhorting as he went. Mr. Chaplin and the other
ministers were on the stand. Mr. Chaplin arose, and holding out an
iron tobacco-box, called to the preacher, who was near the centre of
the congregation : " Brother Sheldon ! I have been a slave to
tobacco. I was formerly a poor drunkard. When I quit my cups, I
thought some stimulant necessary, and retained my tobacco. I do

152 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

not say, I will do without it, but I say, by God's grace I will do with
out it. I here give my tobacco-box to the Missionary Society, and,
if I am enabled to do without, I will give, annually, what I now expend
for tobacco, which is a shilling a week, or six dollars and a quarter a
year. The box was taken and sold to the highest bidder, who kept
it a few minutes and returned it, saying: "There, I don't want this.
I give it to the Missionary Society." It was sold again to the high
est bidder, who was the preacher himself, who has kept it ever since,
making use of it, sometimes, when taking missionary collections. At
the next Annual Conference Mr. Chaplin came to the preacher,
having his countenance much improved, and presented him the six
dollars and a quarter for the Missionary Society. " Well," said the
preacher, "how did you get along without tobacco?" He replied:
" The first day I was lost ; the second, sick ; the third, liked to have
died ; the fourth, got better ; the fifth, still better ; in a week was
hearty as a bear ; and have never enjoyed such health as I have
since." Happy would it be for some others if they would adopt the
same course and adhere to it firmly.

In August, 1834, he was received on trial in the Ohio Confer
ence, and was appointed Principal of the Norvvalk Seminary, in
which he had now been for one year. In due time he was admitted
into full connection, and ordained Deacon and Elder at the proper
periods. After he left the Seminary he served in the following
stations successively, viz., Elyria, Detroit, Tiffin and Maumee City.

In 1842 he was transferred from the North Ohio Conference to
Michigan, and appointed Principal of the branch of the University
located at White Pigeon, a post which he held until death put a
period to all his labors. In this truly responsible position, such was
his catholic spirit, such the judicious management of his school, that,
while he was beloved by his pupils, he acquired the confidence of
the entire community in which he lived, and gave satisfaction to all
parties.

His last illness was a painful one — his sufferings, indeed, were
most intense — yet, grace so sustained him that " patience had its
perfect work." For the most part, his mind seemed to be absorbed
in the contemplation of God ; his continual theme was holiness. He
said to a friend that it was " not enough to perform the external
duties of religion, we must be holy. O that I could see Brother
Steward, and hear him pronounce that word holiness with his wonted
emphasis ! Brother Fuller, we must live holiness." He would some
times say to his beloved wife : '• If God should see fit to raise me

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 153

up to preach again the Everlasting Gospel, my God assisting me, I
will preach it from the heart"

A few hours before he expired, being asked how it as with him,
he replied: " All is well ; all is peace ; all is glory ! I shall soon be
with the dear Redeemer." That "God would convert poor, perish
ing sinners," formed his last prayer.

Soon after his conversion, Mr. Chaplin became a successful
Temperance lecturer. Rev. William H. Raper, late of the Ohio
Conference, in alluding to this fact, says : " In that work he did
great good. His Temperance lectures were, sometimes, like a tem
pest, and scores in the Judicial District where he practiced law were
reclaimed."

He took a deep and abiding interest in the cause of education.
From the very moment he became identified with the Methodist
itinerancy, he did all in his power to elevate the character of our
Western ministry, and promote a love of literature among the
people generally.

"As a preacher, he was eloquent, impressive, energetic. His
eloquence was, emphatically, Ciceronian, strong and terse in style
and clear in logic, with little redundancy of language. When a
lawyer he was successful, and when he became a preacher and
teacher he maintained his success. As a member of Conference,
his brethren often had occasion to avail themselves of his legal
knowledge ; and it is not too much to say that, in matters of com
mon life, as well as in Church polity, he was a safe counselor. He
was cheerful under all the vicissitudes of life — indeed, this was a
most striking characteristic of his character. He was open-hearted,
confiding, and generous, to a fault, ardent in temperament, lively in
conversation, agreeable in manners, a warm friend, a social and
interesting companion, a gentleman, a scholar, and a Christian.
With these qualities, it would have been passing strange if he had
not been esteemed and loved by all who knew him. His dying
words ought to be imprinted on every minister's heart, so that they
should remember and profit by them — ' Live holiness, and preach it
from the heart.'"

As has already been said, Mr. Chaplin possessed a large amount
of humor and wit, and, when he was converted, these elements of his
nature were not destroyed, but sanctified. His sallies of wit and his
anecdotes, instead of being designed to excite the laughter of the silly,
gaping crowd, partook of the intellectual and moral.

He died September I5th, 1846, aged fifty-seven years. When
such a man was to be laid in the grave, the whole community felt

I 54 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the shock, for he was a man for all. But he is taken from the
toils and sufferings of this present world to the enjoyments of the
heavenly.

In the foregoing sketch we have mainly copied the official
memoir, as found in the Minutes for 1847.

One more minister was brought into connection with the work
in Michigan by being appointed Presiding Elder of the Detroit
District in 1838. He had previously labored in Ohio, but now he
became fully identified with Michigan. His first appointment was
to Detroit District, and his last was to Flint District, for a second
term, which he was serving at the time of his death. He did a great
deal of active work for the Church, and had a good capacity for
getting other people to work. He had served more years in the
Presiding Eldership than any other man in Michigan, except Dr.
Pilcher. We will here record the official memoir, as found in the
Minutes for 1868:

" REV. GEORGE SMITH died at his residence in Ann Arbor, May
4th, 1868, aged fifty-nine years. He was born in Hampshire County,
Virginia, but in early life was taken by his parents to Ohio, where
he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. In
1830, at the age of twenty-one, he was licensed as a local preacher,
and joined the Ohio Conference in 1832, and was appointed to
Mount Gilead Circuit. The next year he traveled Dover Circuit.
In 1834 he was ordained Deacon and appointed to Medina Circuit.
In 1835 ne was appointed in charge of Mansfield Circuit. During
this year the Michigan Conference was organized, and Brother Smith,
at its first session, was ordained Elder, and stationed at Richfield
for 1836-7. In 1838 he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Smur, of
Holmes County, Ohio, and the next September, at the third session
of the Michigan Conference, was appointed Presiding Elder of
Detroit District. After filling this appointment four years, he was
Presiding Elder of Marshall District for four years. In 1 846-7 he
had charge of South Albion Circuit; in 1848 of Adrian, and in 1849
of Ann Arbor, and in 1851 of Plymouth Circuit. From 1852 to
1856 he was Presiding Elder of Flint District, and, from 1856 to
to 1860, Presiding Elder of Ann Arbor District. In 1860 he was
appointed to Wayne Circuit, but, from 1861 to 1865, he was again
Presiding Elder of Adrian District. In 1865 he was stationed at
Chelsea, and in 1866 he was again appointed Presiding Elder of
Flint District, which position he held at the time of his death. Thus,
it will be seen that twenty-two out of the thirty-five years of his
ministry, after he was admitted to the Conference, he held the office

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 155

of Presiding Elder. His sound judgment, his comprehensive views,
and his impartial kindness, and the confidence which others reposed
in him, eminently fitted him for the responsible position. In all his
appointments he was successful and useful, and many have been
converted under his ministry. He was a hearty friend of the edu
cational cause and of all the institutions of the Church. Careful,
and rather inclined to be conservative in his views, and charitable
towards all, he devoted himself to execute the ordinances of the
Church, leaving it to others to change or modify its regulations. He
was a member of the General Conference of 1844, and was one
of the very few members of the Northern Conferences who voted
against the action which led the Southern Conferences to secede
from the Church. As a preacher, Brother Smith was eminently
earnest and practical, and thousands of people from all parts of our
State will cherish his memory with deep affection. His last illness
was sudden and protracted, and caused him great suffering, but,
though reluctant, at first, to give up his work, he bore his afflictions
patiently, and, with unfaltering confidence, resigned his spirit into
the arms of his Saviour. He deserves ever to be remembered as
one of the pioneers of civilization and Christianity in the State of
Michigan."

Mr. Smith was a safe and good counselor in the affairs of the
Church, and was very much respected by the people wherever he
had labored. He had acquired a good property, and left his family
in very comfortable circumstances.

56 HISTORY Ui' I'KOTESTAN I'lSM IN MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER VIII.

Detroit — Origin — Growth — Casualties — Periodicals — Commerce — Religious Societies —

Schools — Men.

iHIS city holds so important a place in our annals that it
would be expected that something more than a mere pass
ing notice should be given ; for, for a long time, this was
all there was of Michigan, so far as settlement was con-
kerned. We purpose, therefore, to devote this chapter to
its history, but we can only furnish a summary.
Until one hundred and seventy-six years ago — 1877 — none but
savages inhabited all of this beautiful Peninsula of Michigan. No
foot of civilized man had planted itself, permanently, on this soil.
Only a few adventurous travelers had coasted along its lake shores,
and had camped for a night among its beautiful groves. Its glades
and prairies were unmarked by the plowshare, and its forests were
untouched by the axe of civilization. The deer, the wolf, the bear,
the elk, roamed its forests freely, or were chased only by the savage,
with the rude implements of death. The beaver made his dams
without fear, and played sportively in the accumulated waters. But
the day has come when a change is to be inaugurated. The adven
turers had discovered that there were desirable points for trade with
the savages — the aborigines of this country. These adventurers
were from France, and were incited by a desire for gain, or for fame
as discoverers, and not to find a home for liberty and religious tol
eration. They were all Romanists, and had no desire for either
civil or religious freedom. Neither had they any desire to plant the
standard of a high and noble civilization ; for they readily conformed
to the habits and customs of the wild men of the forest, and were at
once received as their brothers. Among the most desirable of these
points of trade was Detroit, or the strait connecting Lakes St. Clair

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 157

and Erie. The banks along the border of this river, or strait, pre
sented a most enchanting1 appearance, dressed in their native green
and gemmed with beautiful wild flowers. In their primeval state they
were most gorgeously adorned. So beautiful were they that it seemed
almost like a sacrilege to think of disturbing them, and making them
the home of restless, civilized man, or to break their quiet by the hum
of business or the excitements of pleasure.

Mr. Bancroft says : " The country on the Detroit River and
Lake St. Clair was esteemed the loveliest in Canada. Nature had
lavished all her charms — slopes and prairies, plains and noble
forests, fountains and rivers ; the lands, though of different degrees
of fertility, were all productive ; the isles seemed as if scattered by
art to delight the eye ; the lake and river abounded with fish ; the
water was pure as crystal ; the air serene; the genial climate, temper
ate and giving health, charmed the emigrant from Lower Canada."*

Charlevoix, who traveled through this country in 1720, as
quoted by Mr. Lanman, says of Detroit: "It is pretended that this
is the finest part of all Canada ; and, really, if we can judge by
appearances, nature seems to deny it nothing which can contribute
to make a country delightful ; hills, meadows, fields, lofty forests,
rivulets, fountains, rivers, and all of them so excellent in their kind,
and so happily blended as to equal the most romantic wishes. "•)•

So much for the appearance of the country as it presented itself
to the travelers of that early day. At that time all this region was
called Canada.

The present site of the city was considered the most favorable
spot for establishing the trading-post. There had been a small
settlement at "Old Mackinaw "for some time before any was made
at Detroit. Jean Marquette, a Jesuit priest, made a settlement
there in 1670, and built a chapel for the instruction of the Indians.
A few French adventurers had gone to Mackinaw Island. With
this exception, no one had attempted to settle in Michigan until
Detroit was fixed upon as a place for a fort and trading-post.
Indeed, this is to be regarded as the first permanent settlement
in the Northwest. It seemed to be admirably situated for such a
purpose. The indications have proved true, as we shall hereafter
see.

A few more general remarks on the country may be allowed
before we proceed directly to the consideration of the city. "The
history of this region," in the language of one, " exhibits three
distinct and strongly marked epochs. The first may be properly

* History United States, Vol. 3, pp. 194, 195. t History of Michigan.

I 58 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

denominated the romantic, which extends to the year 1760, when
its dominion passed from the hands of the French to the English.
This was the period when the first beams of civilization had scarcely
penetrated its forests, and the paddles of the French fur-traders
swept the lakes, and the boat-songs of the voyageurs awakened the
tribes on their wild and romantic shores.

" The second epoch is the military, which commenced with the
Pontiac War, running down through the successive struggles of the
British, the Indians, and the Americans, to obtain dominion of the
country, and ending with the victory of Commodore Perry, the
defeat of Proctor, the victory of General Harrison and the death of
Tecumseh, the leader of the Anglo-savage conspiracy, on the banks
of the Thames.

" The third may be denominated the enterprising, the hardy, the
mechanical and working period, commencing with the opening of the
country to emigrant settlers, the age of agriculture, commerce, and
manufactures, of harbors, cities, canals, and railroads ; when the
landscapes of the forests were meted out by the compass and chain
of the surveyor; when its lakes and rivers were sounded, and their
capacity to turn the wheel of a mill, or to float a ship, was demon
strated, thus opening up avenues of commerce and industry. Its
wild and savage character has passed away, and given place to
civilization, religion, and commerce, inviting the denizens of over
crowded cities to its broad lakes and beautiful rivers, to its rich mines
and fertile prairies, and promising a rapid and abundant remunera
tion for toil."*

The condition and development of the country has a very im
portant bearing on the condition and growth of the city ; for, in all
liberal or free governments, commerce and trade will seek their
natural channels ; and towns and cities will spring up at the most
convenient points for that commerce and trade. Good harbors on
the lakes, rivers, and ocean shore are regarded as indispensable to
the establishment of a city. It is a marvel to us now how the cities
of antiquity were ever made to thrive, situated, as many of them
were, in the interior of the country, and surrounded by rock-bound
hills and towering mountains. But our city, as we shall see, is most
favorably situated on the eastern border of a most rich and fertile
State, and possessing a harbor, the superior of which does not exist.
From its situation, it only requires time, and the appliances of the
arts of civilization, to rear up a magnificent city, as enduring as time
itself.

* Old Mackinaw, by Strickland, pp. 143, 144.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 59

This leads us now directly to the historical sketch of the City of
Detroit. Where is it ? All know that it is the chief city of the State
of Michigan and located on its eastern border. Yet this does not
exactly answer our question. " The City of Detroit is situated on the
north shore of the Detroit River, or strait, connecting Lakes Erie and
St. Clair. The river is the boundary line between Michigan and Can
ada West. The city is eighteen miles north and east of the head of
Lake Erie, and seven miles west of Lake St. Clair, three hundred
miles west of Buffalo, and five hundred and forty-five from Wash
ington, in latitude 42°, 19', 53", north, and longitude west 82°, 58"
or from Washington west 5°, 56', 12". Difference in time from
Washington, 33', 44"; New York City, 34', 48".

" The history of Detroit is most intimately connected with the
history of the whole Northwest, as its settlement dates among the
first on the American continent. Founded in the strife for sover
eignty between the English and French Governments, it became,
at an early day, a point of central influence, importance and action.
No place in the United States, it has been observed, presents such a
series of events, interesting in themselves, and permanently affect
ing, as they occurred, its progress and prosperity. Five times its flag
has been changed. First the Lily of France floated over its fortress,
then the Red Cross of England, and next the Stripes and Stars of the
United States, and then, again, the Red Cross, and, lastly, the Stripes
and Stars.

" Three different sovereigns have claimed its allegiance, and,
since it has been held by the United States, its Government has been
thrice transferred ; twice it has been besieged by the Indians ;t once
captured in war, and once burned to the ground. Fire has scattered
it — the tomahawk, scalping-knife and war-club have been let loose
upon it, in the hands of an unrelenting, savage foe. It has been the
scene of one surrender, of more than fifty pitched battles, and twelve
horrid massacres.

': The present site of the city was occupied by Indian villages at
the period of the discovery of the country. In 1610 it was first
visited by the French. The whole lake region, from the period of
discovery until 1762, was under the dominion of France, The legiti
mate settlement of the city was in 1701, at which time a fort called
' Ponchartrain ' was erected."*

On the old French maps the River Savoyard is represented
as running through the city, and discharging its waters into the
Detroit River a little east of the Michigan Central Railroad Depot.

* City of Detroit, 1855, p. 3.

I 6O HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

It has long since disappeared. It was formed from the water in the
swampy land — heavily timbered, extending back from the Detroit
River ; it was, simply, the drainage from this timber-belt. As strange
as it may now seem, " it was sometimes a large stream ; and I have
known it necessary to take people living on its margin out of their
windows into a canoe and carry them ashore. This was after long-
continued rains. But our modern subterranean rivers have done
the work for the Savoyard — its glory has departed — it is among the
things that were but are not. It obtained its name from old Peter
Berthelet — the grandfather of those yet among us. He kept a
pottery on the west side of its mouth, near the outlet of the present
grand sewer. He bore the nickname of ' Savoyard ' probably be
cause himself or his ancestors were from Savoy. He always went
by that name. Mrs. Shelden has, in some way. transformed it to
' Xavier,' which it never bore." We are indebted to the late Hon.
B. F. H. Witherell for this quotation. The course of this river was
from the woods in the rear of the town, along by the east line
of Michigan Grand Avenue into Congress Street, and thence along
that street, for some distance, till it made a curve toward the Detroit
River. The bank of Detroit River gradually rose to a ridge, where
Jefferson Avenue is located, and then declined a little, giving direc
tion to the Savoyard. The subsoil, being a stiff clay, occasioned a
great deal of stagnant water in the summer season and a vast
amount of mud in the spring and fall. It is still in the memory of
many yet living that teams were mired on Woodward Avenue. But,
since a thorough system of sewerage has been adopted and carried
out, these evils have been removed, and " The Savoyard " is no more.
We have given so much space to this river because it has been
so completely obliterated that the coming generations would have
entirely forgotten it, if its existence were not fully stated. The loca
tion of this city is considered to be one of the most delightful in the
United States. It is one of the most healthy, too, that can any
where be found. It is well situated for trade and commerce. The
harbor is all that could be desired. The manufactures and mercan
tile establishments are equal to the demands of the country.

Detroit has been a place of resort for the Indians of the North
west for so long a time that "the memory of man runneth not" back
to the beginning ; and it was selected by its founders for its advan
tages for trade among the aborigines. Precisely at what time it was
first visited by any white man we have no means of determining, as
the early traders and adventurous hunters made no records of their
wanderings amid these far-off wilds. It had been visited as early as

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. l6l

1668 — but how much earlier we know not, though it is said to have
been as early as 1610.

When was the city founded ? M. de la Motte Cadillac, a French
adventurer, made application to the French Government for authori
ty and means, in 1700, to establish a fort and settlement at this
point. Through the intervention of M. Ponchartrain, he obtained
what he required, so that, in July, 1701, he arrived here, having with
him about one hundred French adventurers, some fur-traders and
a Catholic priest. He laid out a town, and enclosed it and a fort
with pickets, giving it the name of Fort Ponchartrain, in honor of
his patron, Count Ponchartrain. They addressed themselves, main
ly, to traffic among the Indians. No special effort was made to
cultivate the soil to any considerable extent, though a few pear trees
were planted and some other fruits.

So far separated from other settlements, on the frontier for
many years, Detroit has been the theater of as many perils, stirring
scenes, and disasters, in its progress, as any other city on this conti
nent, and perhaps more. While it was under the undisputed do
minion of the French, with a single exception all was peace. Why
was this ? The facility with which the French could adapt them
selves to the habits and customs of the Indians gave them perfect
immunity among them. They could eat, sleep, sing, dance and hunt
with them — in short, be Indians in everything except color. No
efforts were made, except by a party of strangers, to disturb this
new settlement while it continued under the French dominion; but, as
soon as it passed from their hands to the English, annoyances began.
This refers to those whose residences were in this region. It seemed
at once to become a troubled city.

In 1712 the town of Detroit was attacked by a " party of Otto-
gamies, or Foxes — a nation, passionate and untamable, springing up
into new life from every defeat, and, though reduced in the number of
their warriors, yet present everywhere by their ferocious enterprise
and savage daring" — the town almost fell before the valor of the party.
" Resolving to burn Detroit, they pitched their lodges near the fort,
which Du Buisson, with but twenty Frenchmen, defended. Aware of
their intentions, he summoned his Indian allies from the chase ; and,
about the middle of May, Ottawas, Hurons, Potawatamies, with one
band of the Sacs, Illinois, Menomenies, and even Osages and Mis-
souris, each nation with its ensign, came to his relief. ' Father,' said
they, ' behold ! thy children compass thee around. We will, if need
be, die for our Father — only take care of our wives and children, and
spread a little grass over our bodies to protect them from the flies.'

I 62 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

The warriors of the Fox nation, so far from destroying Detroit, were
themselves besieged, and, at last, compelled to surrender at discre
tion. Those who bore arms were ruthlessly murdered ; the rest
were distributed as slaves among the confederates, to be saved or
massacred at the will of their masters."*

Detroit was given up to the English at the close of the " Old
French War," in 1760, by the terms of the treaty of peace between
the two powers, though the English did not take possession till 1762.
The stiff and uncompliant disposition of the English did not please
the savages; and, smarting under the recollection of the conflicts in
New England, they were ready to embrace any measure that offered
any hope of ridding the country of them. The encroachments of the
English on the wild hunting-grounds of the Indians were very dis
pleasing to them ; and it is not to be wondered at, as they saw they
would have to retire from familiar scenes and the graves of their
ancestors, that they should struggle against it. When they came
into the possession of the Fort and City of Detroit, the natives were
very much chagrined and vexed. They had at this time among them
a man of remarkable ability and daring, who wished to destroy the
English garrison here ; but, like Haman of old, he scorned to lay
hands on it alone, and he entered into — or, rather, originated — a
scheme to destroy all the forts in the West. Pontiac's conspiracy for
the destruction of Detroit, in 1763, is now well known. His object
was not so much the destruction of the town as to destroy the
English ; for, all the time during his siege, the French settlers could
circulate freely, without molestation; their property was safe. His
general plan was to attack all the chain of forts simultaneously, and
he reserved Detroit for himself. Finding he could not succeed by a
direct attack, he resorted to stratagem, and so well was his plan laid
that it would most certainly have succeeded had he not been be
trayed.

There were some of the most tragic scenes enacted in connection
with Pontiac's siege that are recorded of any town on this continent.
His plot was deep-laid, and would have accomplished his purpose
had no one informed the British commander of his intentions. He,
with a number of his principal men went to the fort under the pre
tense of a friendly parley, all armed with short guns, made for the
purpose, concealed under their blankets, while many of his men
were gathered around, engaged, professedly, in play, who were to
rush into the fort at a given signal. But the signal was not given,
because he found the commander prepared for him. When he found

* Bancroft's United States, III., pp. 224, 225.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 63

himself betrayed, with great reluctance he raised the siege and re
tired.

In connection with Pontiac's conspiracy, a most desperate and
bloody battle was fought on the banks of a small creek above the
city, which winds through Elmwood Cemetery, and gives to it the
beauty of its scenery — which battle is said to have given the creek
the significant name of " Bloody Run."

Pontiac, having been foiled in his purposes, and having retired
with his warriors from the neighborhood of the city, the little gar
rison and the few English settlers breathed freely, and business
resumed its usual course.

Detroit remained in the occupancy and possession of the British
until 1796, although, when the peace of the Revolution was con
cluded, in 1783, it was recognized as belonging to the United States.
Why it was so held it is difficult to determine. Probably, if the
United States Government had sent soldiers to occupy the fort and
protect the inhabitants, the British soldiers would have left. Things
were allowed to move slowly along in this locality, without anything,
in particular, to break the even current of events, until the Terri
torial Government of Michigan was provided for by Congress in

1804. General William Hull was appointed Governor, and a Ju
diciary, composed of Augustus B. Woodward, James Griffin and
Francis Bates, who organized a Government at Detroit in July of

1805. The Governor and Judges constituted the Legislative Coun
cil. Detroit was made the seat of Government, as a matter of
course. "In 1807 Judge Bates resigned, and James Witherell was
appointed in his place."

Governor Hull arrived here on the twelfth day of June, 1805,
to find the city a mass of charred ruins ; for the whole town, except
ing one house, was consumed by fire the day before. There were
about one hundred and fifty houses in the town at the time of the fire.
No special effort was made to extinguish the fire, except that the Cath
olic priest, Mr. Dilhet, fell upon his knees and said low mass. The
distress must have been very great, as there were, at least, a hundred
families thus deprived of shelter. Shortly after this catastrophe, an
act of Congress was passed, directing the Governor and Judges to
lay out a new town, including the site of the one destroyed, and ten
thousand acres of adjacent lands were granted. This quantity of
land was granted by the General Government for the city, to assist
in relieving the calamity.

The plan of the new town was drafted by Judge Woodward,
and is very peculiar. The idea seems to have been suggested by a

I 64 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

spider's web. The original plan has been somewhat disturbed by
more modern utilitarianism ; still, some of the old marks are left.
The idea of several wide and airy streets or avenues as the main
ribs in the web, as, also, several parks, was a very good one, and
contributes both to the beauty and healthfulness of the city. The
growth of the city in these early years was very slow, as there was
nothing, in particular, to stimulate immigration, because of its iso
lated position. When this new town was laid out it was at once
incorporated as a city — that is, in 1805. Detroit continued to be
the seat of Government for the Territory, and for the State till 1847,.
when by act of the Legislature the capital was removed to Lansing.
War having been declared by the United States against Great
Britain in 1812, as was to have been expected, Detroit, being situ
ated on the border, was to become the theater of stirring events.
Governor Hull had made preparations for defence, and the army had
been increased until it was supposed it was prepared for any force
that could be brought against it. The British army was concentrated
on the opposite side of the Detroit River, at Windsor and Sandwich.
It was confidently believed that General Hull could successfully cope
with any force that could be brought to bear against him. On the
1 6th day of August, 1812, the battle opened — or, rather, the army of
the British was put in array against Detroit ; but, before a single
gun was fired from the fort, a demand was made for the surrender,
which was ignobly acceded to by the commanding General — Hull —
and, to the surprise and astonishment of all, the British flag was
hoisted on the ramparts. Various conjectures have been indulged
in in regard to the motives which induced him to do so. Some have
charged him with cowardice and others with treachery. It certainly
looks very much like one or the other. We will not attempt to solve
the mystery — for it was, mysterious — but will give what light we can.
It was our good fortune, a few years since, to make the acquaintance
of an old lady of intelligence, who was in the city at the time, then
a young lady, and whose father's house was made the headquarters
of the British commander, and the family had to retire to a small
apartment. This lady subsequently married a British officer, and
often heard them speak of General Hull. She said they always
spoke of him as not being a coward, but that his surrender had its
origin in some other cause. Of course, they did not openly say what
the other cause was. On the day of the surrender, after the British
officers had become settled in her father's house, she overheard one
of the officers say, in relation to the surrender, that " British gold
had done its work." Hull was tried for treason and cowardice ; was

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 65

acquitted on the former and convicted on the latter, and sentenced
to be shot, but was pardoned by the President. The probability is
that vacillation and the want of real courage was the true solution.

The British possession of Detroit was of short duration ; for
the naval battle on Lake Erie, in which Commodore Perry gained a
grand and memorable victory on the loth of September, and the
victory of General Harrison at the Thames, restored the city to the
possession of the United States. " When the American flag was
hauled down by General Hull, in 1812, at the time of the surrender,
James May, Esq., a Colonel of Militia, got possession of it, and kept
it until General Harrison arrived." Though the city passed into the
hands of the British, the flag did not, and the very same flag waved
over it after it was recovered that did so before the surrender.
" Colonel Cass, with a brigade of soldiers, was left for the protection
of the Territory, which they effectually accomplished until the treaty
of peace, concluded at Ghent on the i;th of February, 1815, put an
end to all further hostilities." This introduces a new name to our
notice, one that is, hereafter, to be identified with the interests of
Detroit and to become dear to the people of Michigan — it is that of
Lewis Cass.

According to the census taken by the United States, in 1820,
the whole population of the Territory was found to be only eight
thousand eight hundred and ninety-six. "Detroit contained two hun
dred and fifty houses, and fourteen hundred and fifteen inhabitants
independent of the garrison." An event had occurred, the year
before, which tended to give new life to commerce on the lakes, and
to stimulate immigration ; an event which was but the introduction
to a series which have given character to the whole West, and, indeed,
the influence of the same thing is now felt in every part of the civil-
ilized world — that was, the introduction of steam navigation. The
Walk-in-the-water, the first steamboat that ever floated on Lake
Erie, made its first appearance in Detroit in the spring or summer
of 1819. She was a vessel of small tonnage, but was regarded at
the time as a magnificent affair, and as one of the wonders of the
world. She was so named for an Indian chief, who was associated
with Tecumseh in the War of 1812 on the side of the British against
us. The name seemed to be appropriate, too, as the vessel seemed
to be walking in the water.

Another circumstance, occurring at a little later period, exerted,
perhaps, a still greater influence upon the settlement of Michigan
and the entire Northwest, as, also, on the interests and growth of
Detroit — that was, the opening of the New York and Erie Canal,

I 66 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

or, " Clinton's Big Ditch," as some of the people at that time called
it. This greatly increased the facilities and comforts of travel and
the transportation of goods and merchandise.

The present population of the city is about 1 20,000. According
to the census taken in 1864, the population numbered fifty-three
thousand one hundred and seventy. It has a little more than doubled
its population in the last thirteen years. With the increase of popu
lation and wealth, there has been a great advance in the architecture
and elegance of buildings, as places of business and residences.
There are some very costly and beautiful residences, and there is a
constant advance in this respect.

Detroit is abundantly supplied with periodical literature. There
are two large daily papers, and one smaller, having an extensive cir
culation. The Michigan Farmer is a weekly, devoted to the interests
of agriculture. The Michigan Christian Advocate and the Herald
and Torchlight are weeklies, devoted to religion and literature.
There are numerous small papers devoted to specialties, and papers
in the German language. The Michigan Christian Advocate was
established January ist, 1875, and the Herald and Torchlight, the
Baptist organ, at a much earlier date. Both are well sustained.

The first attempt at publishing a newspaper here was in
1809. Rev. Gabriel Richard, the Roman Catholic priest, published
a paper for a short time, entitled, Michigan Essay or Impartial
Observer. It did not succeed. It was published in French, and, as
the old French inhabitants were not much readers, he could not ob
tain sufficient patronage. In 1817, John P. Sheldon commenced the
publication of the Detroit Gazette, which proved a success, though
that small weekly sheet has been succeeded by the much larger
weeklies and dailies, and the Gazette is known only in history.

Detroit, of course, is the principal point from which the daily
news is distributed throughout the State, and, as such, the periodi
cals of the city will flourish and grow. The periodicals will increase
in number and importance as the population increases.

In regard to the commerce of Detroit, we quote liberally from
one writer :

"Detroit, from its first settlement in 1701, has ranked first as a
commercial point on the Western lakes. A company, styled the
' Company of the Colony of Canada,' was incorporated by the
Colony of Canada at a convention held at Quebec, October 3ist,
1 701, which conferred upon them the right * to trade at Detroit in
beaver and peltries, to the entire exclusion of all private individuals/

" M. de la Motte Cadillac, the first commandant at Detroit, who-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 67

was commissioned by Louis XIV., in a letter to Count Ponchartrain
in 1703, says that his design, in projecting a trading-post here in
1701, was to afford protection to commerce ; since from this point
we can go by canoe to all the nations that are around the lakes ; it
is a door by which we can go in and out to trade with all our allies.
And we find that Charlevoix, a French Jesuit missionary, who visited
this city as early as 1720, speaks of a complaint that the English
merchants sell merchandise to the savages cheaper than the French
do, thereby drawing all the trade to New York.

"In 1787, that patriarch native citizen among us, who was born
just after the close of the Pontiac War, Joseph Campau, Esq., act
ively engaged in mercantile business here, and continued in it for
about forty years. In early times, he annually visited the City of
Montreal, conveying, in birch-bark canoes, cargoes of furs, etc., and
returning with them freighted with goods."

How changed is everything now! Long streets, lined with stores
filled with goods ; railroads and steamers to bring and carry away
the goods and products. Instead of the export of furs, merely, we
now export almost everything that can be thought of — lumber, tim
ber, staves, copper and iron ore, wheat, corn, potatoes, apples, pork,
beef, fish, and the like, in vast quantities. One, in walking the busy
streets now, could hardly imagine that all the exports and imports at
this port had once been conveyed in birch-bark canoes, propelled by
hand, and, of course, coasting along the lake shore. But GO it was.

Various manufactures are carried on here on a liberal scale, and
they are constantly increasing.

As to religious Societies, or Churches, it is not necessary to say
much in this chapter, as that subject lias been thoroughly treated in
the early chapters of this work. Still, a few words may be allowed
here. The Roman Catholic Church was established at the very
origin of the settlement, and has now in its fold a considerable propor
tion of the present population. There are churches for the French,
Irish, Germans, Poles, and English, with various nunneries, sister
hoods, and asylums. They have an immense property in the city.
They are making great efforts to retain all their members, including
immigrants and native-born. Occasionally, they make a convert from
among the Protestants ; but these do not begin to equal the number
they lose by conversion to Protestantism.

Of Protestant Churches, the first in order was the Methodist
Episcopal Church, established in the autumn of 1810, and at the
present time — 1877 — having eight churches, with regular pastors,
and two separate Sunday School chapels ; with all the necessary

I 68 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

appliances for Church work, and with valuable property. The next
in order, nearly contemporaneous in organization, are the Protestant
Episcopal and Presbyterian Churches. The former was organized
November 22d, in 1824, and the latter was instituted as a Church,
January 23d, 1825, though they had had preaching, most of the time,
since June, 1816. The latter now have six churches and some mis
sion Sabbath Schools. The former — the Protestant Episcopal Church
— was fully organized in 1824, and now has five churches, with sev
eral mission chapels. The Baptists range next in order, having been
fully organized in 1827, and now having two principal churches, one
mission among the French, one among the Germans, and some other
mission work. There are two Congregational Churches, doing
good work. The first was organized in 1844. There are some
Churches among the colored people, bearing the name of Methodists,
Baptists, and Episcopalians. There are several other Protestant
denominations, as Lutherans, having several churches ; United Pres
byterians, having one church ; Scotch Presbyterians, having one
church, who have recently changed their name to that of Central
Presbyterian Church, and some others. There is, also, a Unitarian
Church and a Swedenborgian Church.

Among the religious societies doing Christian work may be men
tioned the Young Men's Christian Association, which has become a
permanent fixture in the city, having a good property well fitted up
for religious and benevolent work. Their rooms have become a
great center of attraction. They seem to be doing a noble work.

It may be observed that there was no earnest effort made for
the establishment of Protestantism in this city earlier than 1809. All
visits of Protestant ministers, prior to that time, were only incidental,
and not from any fixed purpose to establish the cause in the city.
But, in 1809, Detroit was placed on the list of appointments of the
New York Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and a minister was appointed to it ; and it has remained in the list
of appointments, and ministers assigned to it ever since, except for
the years 1813 and 1814, during the prevalence of the war, when
ministers could not get here.

The history of education in connection with the City of Detroit
is full of interest, and must not be passed by in silence. In the
organization of the Territorial Government of Michigan, Congress
set apart, or appropriated some valuable lands for the establishment
and maintenance of a university or seminary of learning. The
organization of this university was provided for by a law passed by
the Governor and Judges, who constituted the law-making body at

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 169

that time. Numerous professorships were provided for under the
title of Didaxia, and the institution was opened in 1817. Rev. John
Monteith, who was sent out here as a missionary, the year before,
under commission from "The Board of Missions of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States," was
appointed the president, and professor in several Didaxia, and
Gabriel Richard, a Roman Catholic priest, was associated with him
in charge of the remaining Didaxia.

As might have been expected from the circumstances of the
times, the institution proved a failure, and the university, in its
relation to Detroit, died out in a short time, for, when the State
Government was organized, in 1837, the original location and organ
ization of the university were entirely ignored, a new law for its
organization was passed, and its location was changed to Ann Arbor.
Yet Detroit was not without schools in which the classics were taught
44 The old Academy" still lives in the recollections of some of the
inhabitants of Detroit to the present day, although its obsequies
were attended years ago, and its material remains have long since
disappeared.

Detroit was left, for a number of years, to the ordinary, or com
mon school system, supplemented by various private enterprises,
which did good service, until the present school system of the city
was adopted. The present very efficient system embraces a central
high school, with ward branches as the exigencies may demand, sup
ported by tax to supplement the moneys from the public school fund
from the State ; so that the schools are all free to residents of the
city. They are graded to meet all degrees of intellectual culture,
leaving everyone without excuse. The whole is under the manage
ment of one superintendent, under the control of a school board
elected by the public in each ward of the city. The Central High
School is intended to advance students in the classics and sciences,
so that they may enter the State University, if they choose, on gradu
ation.

It is not to be supposed that this system of education for the
city has attained to its present gigantic proportions without oppo
sition. It has had to struggle, and, indeed, it is not yet entirely free
from struggling. This opposition has arisen from two causes —
penuriousness and religious fanaticism. The penurious were unwil
ling to pay the necessary taxes for buildings with suitable furniture
and apparatus, and pay qualified teachers. The religious fanaticism
is confined, almost entirely, to the Romish Church, they characterizing
them as " Godless schools," because the priests cannot be permitted

I 70 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

to teach their peculiar religious dogmas in them. If the priests were
permitted to visit the schools, and catechise the children, and take a
part of each day to indoctrinate them in their dogmas, all would be
well. Their great object is to break down our school system and
secure a distribution of the school fund, so that they may be assisted
to maintain their sectarian schools. They oppose the use of the
Bible — not that they care so much about the Bible, but to secure the
co-operation of all classes of skeptics to break down the system.
Notwithstanding these oppositions to the system, it has grown strong,
and is destined to go on and prosper in its legitimate work of intel
lectual culture. Notwithstanding the opposition of the Romanists
to the system, they manage to secure a large proportion of the
teachers to be of their " faith and order."

We shall occupy only a small space in the presentation of
sketches of a few men connected with the early history of this city —
of those who gave shaping to its interests and its society. All we
can do is little more than to record their names.

HON. A. B. WOODWARD, one of the first Judges appointed by the
President, was said to be a man of ability and integrity. He had a
peculiarly constituted mind, which was shown in several things. He
was charged with the work of laying out and platting the new city,
after the disastrous fire in 1805, and did that work in a very peculiar
manner. What that plan was, every one who knows anything of the
city knows. It may look fine for a spider's web, but is very incon
venient for a city. The next particular in which that peculiarity
was shown was in the law providing for the organization of the
University of Michigan. He was responsible for the peculiar form
of that law. The professorships were called Didaxia, and many
other peculiarities entered into it. That law was so peculiar that no
notice was taken of it when the State Legislature provided for the re
organization of the University. We are indebted to a correspondent
in Harpers Magazine for the following statement: '• He was a
bachelor — never married. It was often the case that he would buy
a dozen shirts at a time, and, as one of them would become soiled,
he would put on another one over it, and so keep doing until he
would have the whole dozen on at once." This seems hardly credi
ble, but it is given in that Magazine as a veritable fact. When he
gave his approval to the articles of association for the incorporation
of the Methodist Society of Detroit, he stated that his preference was
that there should be but one denomination, according to some plan
which had been adopted in Prussia ; but, as there was nothing con-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 171

trary to the statute in their articles, he signed his approval. He is
said to have been a very good man.

GENERAL LEWIS CASS succeeded General Hull in the Governor
ship of the Territory of Michigan, and in that office did much for
Detroit and for Michigan in general. He was in General Hull's
army, but on the day of the surrender was absent on detached duty,
and was very angry when informed of the surrender. He never
made an open profession of religion, but always gave his support
to the cause. He was one of the signers of the constitution, or
articles of association for the incorporation of " The First Protestant
Society of Detroit," in December, 1821. His wife became a mem
ber of the first Presbyterian Church of Detroit when that Church
was instituted in 1825, and her name appears among the first mem
bers of it. The Governor gave his support to that Church, mainly.
He served as Secretary of War of the United States one term, as
Senator of the United States, and as a Minister to a foreign court.
In all these positions he did honor to the city, State and nation. He
was a very temperate man in his habits, never having used any
ardent spirits in all his life, though he sometimes made a very mod
erate use of wine. He was in the United States Senate at the
time of the repeal of the Missouri Compromise line, so as to allow
slavery to be extended into any of the territory of the United States.
He consented to it reluctantly, but he could not avoid it without
breaking away from the Democratic party, which he was not pre
pared to do. He knew it would, finally, be fatal to his party ; but
the slaveocracy demanded it, and it must be done. The result is
what we have seen — the final abolition of slavery and the displace
ment of his party from power. From correspondence we had with
him while the matter was pending in Congress, we know his con
victions were right; but he could not make up his mind to act
according to them. It is always a sad thing to see a man of such
abilities hesitating to stand up for the oppressed, and stifling his own
convictions of the right. He was a great and noble man, and ought
to have consecrated himself to the Divine service, which he felt and
acknowledged to be his duty. He is deceased.

EUROSTAS P. HASTINGS came to Detroit from the State of New
York in 1824 or 1825, and for the most part, if not the entire of his
life was connected with one of the banks of the city, and stood high
as an accommodating, honest business man. He was a very devo
ted, earnest Christian man, a member of the Presbyterian Church
before he came here. He was one of the forty-nine persons who
composed the first Presbyterian Church of Detroit, when that Church

172 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

was instituted on the 23d day of January, 1825. He was elected
and ordained one of the ruling elders at that time. He labored
very actively in the cause of religion, and has gone to receive his
reward.

HON. B. F. H. WITHERELL was the son of Judge James With-
erell, who was appointed one of the Territorial Judges, by Presi
dent Jefferson, in 1810. The Judge brought his family here in 1810,
but they did not remain because his wife was afraid of so many
Indians. They returned to the East and remained till after the war.
In the meantime B. F. H. had studied law, and had returned here to
reside. He had also made a profession of religion and was a mem
ber of the Methodist Church here as early as 1820. Mr. Witherell
grew to occupy a very important place in the affairs of the city and
State. He was called to occupy the bench of the Circuit Court for
this Judicial Circuit, which position he well filled. He was a Demo
crat in politics, and was honored by his party. He died in 1867.
The younger Judge was a man of good education, an excellent
jurist, and a worthy son of a worthy sire.

HON. WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE was long identified with the inter
ests of the city and of the State. He was a very early settler, of
New England origin. He was a lawyer by profession, and a Whig
in politics, and in this respect was the constant antagonist of Gen
eral Cass. He was once elected and served as Governor of the
State ; and filled other and important offices. He met and fulfilled
the responsibilities of his official positions to the entire satisfaction
•of those who agreed with him in politics. He was a supporter of
the Christian religion, and an adherent of the Presbyterian Church ;
but, like too many men in public life, neglected the vital experience
•of that religion in which he believed and which he supported. It
does seem strange that such men do not more thoroughly realize
their responsibility to God and humanity, to submit their hearts
and lives to the Divine service. Certainly, their official and public
positions do not lessen, but they do increase their responsibility.
Position is a source of power, and that power is to be exerted for
the purity and elevation of humanity. Christianity, in its experience
and practice, is the purifying and elevating agency. They, then, are
obligated to do what they can to promote it to the greatest possible
extent. Mr. Woodbridge had accumulated quite a fortune — very
largely from the increase in the value of his lands by the growth of
the city. He owned a large farm just adjoining the city, which has
now all become included in it, and furnished many desirable building

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 173

places. His name is perpetuated in the name of one of the streets
of the city.

HON. JAMES WITHERELL. The following sketch of the life of the
elder Judge Witherell, written by the late Bishop Edward Thomson,
D. D., will be read with interest, and is worthy of a place in our
History: "One of the earliest contributions to the Detroit Methodist
Church was the family of Judge Witherell, and one of my first pas
toral visits was made at his house. Of Puritan stock, a native of
Mansfield, Massachusetts, he commenced life, in 1775, by entering
the army at the age of sixteen ; and, having obtained a commission
in the Massachusetts line, he continued in the service till the army
was disbanded. He subsequently studied and practiced successfully
the professions of medicine and law; and, in 1808, while filling a seat
in Congress as a Representative from Vermont, he was appointed
by Mr. Jefferson a United States Judge in Michigan. Being in
the Territory during the War of 1812, he entered the field again as
colonel of a regiment. On the capitulation of Hull, he disbanded
his soldiers, but was himself made a prisoner of war. He was, how
ever, exchanged, and permitted to resume his seat on the Bench.
* * * He had a kind heart and a strong mind, a fine vein of
humor and a vast store of anecdotes.

"Although not a member of the Church, he was a believer in its
creed, an admirer of its discipline, and a reader of its literature, par
ticularly of the writings of Adam Clarke. He read the Scriptures
daily, and devoted some time to silent, but, we trust, fervent devo
tion. He often dwelt with delight upon the fifty-fifth chapter of
Isaiah. With him, as with most men, the appetite for Divine truth
increased as he drew near the grave. On one occasion, while his
companion was reading to him an interesting item of intelligence,
she complained that her eyes were failing. ' Save them, then, to
read the Bible/ said he. He renounced all other refuge but the
Cross. What a pity that men who take evangelical views do not
profess them publicly, and before they come to die, and especially
when their position in society gives them commanding influence ! A
clause in a will, a dying or public confession made at the last, cannot
atone for a life spent out of the Church. At Judge Witherell's
death — January Qth, 1838 — the Michigan Legislature, as well as the
Bar of the Supreme Court, passed resolutions of respect to his
memory, and attended his funeral.

" It was my duty to preach on the occasion, and it will afford an
insight into the Judge's character to remark that, when I called on his
family for materials for a sketch of his life and character, the only docu-

I 74 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ment that they could find was the following, which was his whole auto
biography: 'At the age of sixteen, I joined the Revolutionary army,
and stood sentry at Boston Neck. On the evacuation of Boston by
the British army, I marched to New York. I was wounded severely
at White Plains ; marched to Rhode Island ; thence to Saratoga ;
thence to Valley Forge, in Pennsylvania, where I kept a four days'
fast; thence to Monmouth, and subsequently to Fishkill, Newburg,
and West Point, where, on the igth of April, 1873, the Revolutionary
army was disbanded.'" This ends the Bishop's account of the Judge;
but we wish to add our concurrence in his sentiments in regard to
the neglect of such men to identify themselves openly with the cause
of Christ. It is a mystery to us how such men can hope to find
acceptance at the last, or how they can reconcile it with their obliga
tions to poor, fallen, suffering humanity, all around them, calling for
the help of their example to enable them to rise.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 175

CHAPTER IX.

Preliminary — Michigan Conference — Protestant Episcopal Diocese — Indian Missions — Detroit —
J. B. Finley — J. A. Baughman — Curtis Goddard — James Gilruth — Bishop Thomson — Arza
Brown — Progress of the Churches — Congress Street Church — Dr. Duffield-Phelps — Noah M.
Wells— W. H. Collins.

E now enter upon the fourth period of our History — the
organization of the Michigan Conference — and the last
that we shall designate as such. In this we shall have to

take a little more extended and free range. The period

' c^K° 'Pr°Perly begins with 1836; but we have to retrospect
some, and we shall, also, anticipate some things, so as not
to break the connection. There can be no reasonable objection to
either of these.

It, perhaps, will be remembered that by act of the General
Conference, in May, 1836, the Michigan Conference was created —
but it also embraced the northern part of Ohio. In 1840, the Ohio
part was taken off, and Michigan alone constituted a Conference.
In 1856, the Michigan Conference was divided, and the Detroit
Conference was created, so that, at this present writing, we have two
Annual Conferences in this State, besides the Michigan District of
the Central German Conference.

It may be considered a singular fact that the creation of the
Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
was contemporaneous with the organization of the State Govern
ment — for it was in 1836 that the State Constitution was framed,
and ratified by the people, and Michigan was released from its
pupilage, and admitted as one of the States of the Union. The
ratification by Congress was not completed till 1837, on account
of a little difficulty about the boundary with Ohio. So, while we
have shown a great increase of Protestantism, there has, also, been
a great increase of the population as well.

176 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

There are three circumstances, or facts, that have contributed
to the growth of the country, worthy of notice: These are the
use of steamboats on the lakes ; the opening of the New York and
Erie Canal ; and a better knowledge of the topography of the coun
try furnished by surveyors and other explorers.

The opening of the great New York and Erie Canal, perhaps,
had a more direct influence on the settlement of this part of the
West than even the steamboating, as it furnished a better and easier
mode of travel to the lake, and furnished the prospect of the easy
transportation of merchandise westward. The idea that the West
was to be the granary of the East had not yet been conceived — but
what would the steamboats and canal have amounted to if there had
not been a country to sustain a large population ? The experiments
of the adventurers, in regard to the salubrity of the climate and the
fertility of the soil — a soil that had been thought to be barren —
showed that large yields, in proportion to expenditure, rewarded the
husbandman, and the climate agreeable. These plains and prairies
were found to be very fertile; and even the marshes, or wet meadows,
were very important to furnish hay for stock. We do not well to sep
arate these facts, and attempt to attach importance to either of them
separately. Consider them jointly, and then we may be able to com
prehend the rapid increase of the population of this Peninsular State.
This rapid increase of population threw a vast responsibility on the
Church and ministry, to see that they were supplied with religious
instruction — the means of grace. How this responsibility has been
met, we shall endeavor to develop in the following pages.

The Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Michigan was organized
this same year — 1836 — and Rev. Samuel A. McCoskrey was elected,
and ordained Bishop, and, at the same time, was to serve as Rector
of St. Paul's Church, in the City of Detroit. St. Paul's at that time,
and until 1852, was located on Woodward Avenue, between Larned
and Congress Streets , but, at this time, they erected a large stone
church at the corner of Congress and Shelby Streets. The Bishop
was a graduate of West Point ; large, straight, and very command
ing in presence, and has labored much to advance the interests of
his Church. The origin and progress of that Church, in different
localities, will be noticed in their appropriate places.

We begin this period with two Districts and part of another ;
for it is to be remembered that the southwest part of the State was
connected with the Indiana Conference, and remained so till 1840.
We have thirty -Jive intinerant ministers and Jive thousand members.
The State had a population of about one hundred thousand, and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 177

rapidly increasing, so that, in 1840, there was a population of two
hundred and twelve thousand. The Circuits were generally large,
though, in a few instances, there had been formed what were called half
stations — that is, the Circuits were so constructed that one minister
could be in the principal village every Sabbath. It is much to be
regretted, however, that we were not more attentive to the centers
of influence. In most of the villages, we were there to supply them
for a long time before any others made any attempt ; but, by our
not supplying them with as much service as we ought to have done,
others entered, and many who were friendly to Methodism, and would
have given their influence to it permanently, were drawn away, be
cause they wanted more ministerial service than we afforded, and so
they were lost to us. In some of these places we have since nearly
recovered what we had lost, but in most of them it is not so, and
we have to occupy a position below that which we might have had,
and ought to have had.

The Michigan Conference having been created, held its first
session in Mansfield, Ohio, in September, 1836, and was presided over
by the venerable and majestic Bishop Soule. He was then in the vigor
of his noble manhood, and preached with wonderful eloquence and
power. The next session was held in Detroit in September, 1837.
The good, sweet-spirited, noble-minded Bishop Roberts presided over
this session. The sessions were held in the session room of the Presby
terian Church, on Woodward Avenue, between Larned and Congress
Streets. The Conference was well entertained, for all denominations
opened their houses for the purpose, and Methodism received much
advantage from it. Other denominations were forced, however re
luctantly, to cultivate a higher respect for them. Some of them had
looked on Rev. Edward Thomson, a man of culture and superior
intellect, who had been stationed here the year before, and was still
in the station — since Bishop Thomson — with great pity, because of
his connection with that ignorant, ranting people, as they regarded
the Methodists to be ; but now they found that he was not alone in
his culture and greatness ; and they were very favorably impressed
with the ability and dignity of the body. Though the Conference
was composed very largely of young men, they were young men of
ability and great promise. The sessions of the Conferences alter
nated between Ohio and Michigan, the fourth session, in September,
1 839, being held in Ann Arbor — Bishop Soule presiding — until 1840,
when, by act of the General Conference, Michigan, alone, was made
to constitute a Conference. According to the Minutes of 1840, there
were four Districts — viz., Detroit, Ann Arbor, Marshall, and Kala-

I 78 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

mazoo — and a Mission District in the Lake Superior country, con
taining seventy-seven ministers and preachers and 1 1,523 members, as
reported to the Conference, which met in Marshall on August I9th,
Bishop Hedding presiding.

In the Minutes of 1840, we have a Mission District, with William
H. Brockway as superintendent, containing three charges in the Lake
Superior region — viz., Sault Ste. Marie, Kewawenon, and Mackinaw
—supplied with six ministers and preachers. Two of these preachers
were Indians, as will be judged by their names — viz., Peter Marks
man and John Kahbage. The Sault Ste. Marie and Kewawenon
Mission appears in our Minutes in 1837 as one charge, and it is
attached to the Detroit District, and, the next year, the same Mission
was attached to the Ann Arbor District, and W. H. Brockway was
the missionary; but, in 1839, the Mission District was created, and
W. H. Brockway was made the superintendent, and was the preacher
in charge of Sault Ste. Marie Mission, with George King as his as
sistant. Kewawenon was made a separate Mission, and left to be
supplied, with the expectation of engaging an Indian preacher. At
the next Conference they reported seventy-seven members and seven
ty-six of these were Indians, which was an increase of only one
Indian over last year. The first report of members among the In
dians of this region was made in 1838, which was forty-two members.
Though in 1837 was the first appearance of this Indian mission work
on our Minutes of appointments, the work had been going on for
some time. Some two or three years before this time, John Sunday,
an Indian preacher from Canada, had visited the Indians of this region,
and preached so effectively that a revival originated among them,
and they desired a missionary to be sent to them, which was done,
with the results named above. Two ministers, or preachers, were
raised up among themselves, to preach the Gospel without the tedi
ous process of an interpreter. This seemed to be a call of Provi
dence on the Church for contributions of men and means to carry
forward the work among the aborigines. God so prospered the
work among them that, in three years, seventy-six native members
were reported among them. This was, certainly, a very encouraging
result for the amount of labor and money expended ; especially so
when we consider the depths of ignorance and vicious degradation
to which they had become subjected. These Missions have been
continued ever since. While on this subject of Indian Missions, we
would say that the Presbyterian Church had established a Mission
among them, at Mackinaw, as early as 1^821, and, perhaps, a little
earlier, and conducted it with zeal. The Baptists, also, had one in the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 79

west part of the Territory in 1830, and, perhaps, earlier, which was
carried forward with a good degree of success. Notwithstanding the
great expenditure of means, men and labor by the different denomi
nations of Christians, while a few, or, even a good many of them,
have become true Christian converts, and have been saved by grace,
the mass of them are Indians still — have not been much civilized
or elevated. This fact gives coloring to a remark, made by Hugh
Miller, that, when a tribe or nation has reached a certain point of
degradation, it is impossible to restore it. Millions of money have
been expended for the Christianization and civilization of the abo
rigines of the American continent, with very little to show for it
Something has been done in the former object, but they have to
be wards of the Church still, and very little progress has been made
in the latter. Sad as it may seem, the indications are that they are
to become extinct. In the meantime, it is well for the Christian
Church to do all that can be done to save as many of them as
possible from the pains of " the second death."

The Christian work in the Lake Superior District is now de
voted, mainly, to the white population, which has become numerous,
as the mining interests have become developed. Although the
Methodists were the first to carry the Gospel into this region, they
are not alone in this noble work, as will be seen from the religious
statistics as here presented : Methodists, 1,356; Protestant Episco
pal, 137, and two parishes not reported; Congregational, 200.

According to our plan, DETROIT must now occupy our attention
for a little while longer. For an account of the origin and growth
of the city, and some of the men connected with it, we refer to the
preceding chapter. It is in its religious, Protestant aspect we must
consider it. Except the record of the original Society, as given in
our first and second periods, the first record we have been able to
find, is an old class-book, prepared by Rev. Alfred Brunson, for an
evening class, bearing date July 5th, 1823. This old book contained,
at the time, twenty-five names, leaving us to infer that there must
have been, at least, fifty or sixty members in the city, as the noon
class was always larger than an evening one. Levi Brown, who was
a Protestant Episcopalian in his predilections and withdrew some
time later than the 4th of July, 1824, as he was present, on that
day, at class, was the leader. He withdrew to assist in the organi
sation of a Church of his own choice, which took place on November
22d, 1824. Although Mr. Brown stood as the class-leader, Jerry
Dean, who was a member of the same class, was the leader in fact.
The same book, at * later date, probably for 1825, contain^ a list

l8o HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of names of members, for the purpose of collecting for ministerial
support. This list contains sixty names, which is, probably, the
number then in Church fellowship. It is much to be regretted that
our Church records were so loosely kept. There was no permanent
book in which all the names were recorded, but those composing
each class were entered in a small book, called a class-book. These
class-books, when they were filled, were thrown aside as matters of
no consequence, and new ones were prepared, in which only the
names of those who were members at the time were entered. They
did not, then, think they were making history, or else the ministers
and class-leaders would have carefully preserved these books. In
that same old book, under date of November 2d, is this entry :
"John Owen joined." We have, already, spoken fully in regard to
Mr. Owen. In the days of this book, the members, generally, at
tended class-meeting very constantly ; as, for instance, in twenty-four
successive weeks, in which class-meetings were held, William Brooks
is marked absent only twice. Indeed, the members then believed
what was true, that they could not prosper well in spiritual things
without this social means of grace.

We must, now, call attention to a sketch of the life and charac
ter of some of the men not before noticed, as connected with the
work in this city. In these sketches, we cannot confine ourselves to
events which have occurred, simply, within this period. We must
both retrospect and anticipate, because we must complete what we
have to say of them at this time.

REV. JAMES B. FINLEY had but a short connection with the work
in Detroit, but it was so important that it is eminently proper that
he should find a place in this record. He was a man of mark in the
Church ; full of labors and good fruits. His life was very thoroughly
devoted to the work of the Christian ministry, in which he was' very
successful. His father was a Presbyterian minister for many years,
but, finally, joined the Methodists.

James B. Finley was born in North Carolina, in the month of
July, 1781. His father had removed from Pennsylvania to the South
to labor as a Christian minister, so that he was not a Southerner by
blood, but by the accident of birth. About two or three years after
the birth of our subject, his father, Robert Finley, removed to Ken
tucky, and was an active worker in the great revivals which pre
vailed in that country at an early day. School advantages were very
limited, but the elder Finley had had a collegiate education, being a
graduate of Princeton College, New Jersey. He, therefore, supplied,
as well as he could, the lack of schools by superintending the educa-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 8 I

tion of his sons; so our subject acquired a considerable knowledge
of the classics, and, at the same time, had the free-and-easy manners
of the backwoods. He was not tied up with the etiquette of the
present time. In spirit he was bold, fearless, intrepid, and prepared
for any emergency.

Mr. Finley was admitted into the Conference, then called the
Western Conference, in 1809, tne very year that William Case was
sent to Detroit. At the time he was appointed to the Lebanon
District, in 1819, he had been in the ministry ten years, and was in
the prime of his manhood. His District extended from the Ohio
River, on the south, to Detroit. On such an extensive District he must
have encountered very great difficulties in making his visits to the
different charges. Michigan was almost entirely cut off from commu
nication with Ohio. The Black Swamp, as the flat country from the
Sandusky River to the Maumee, or Miami of the Lakes, was called,
was without any roads, and the only way of getting through was to
follow Indian trails. The following is his account of his first visit to
Detroit Circuit. The meeting was held on the Maumee River, and
he started from Upper Sandusky. Hear his own words: "It was
late in the fall when I left the white settlements to attend my first
Quarterly Meeting at the Maumee Rapids. There was not a single
habitation of a white man from the old Indian boundary, on the Scioto,
till we reached the Rapids. In this route there were three Indian
settlements — Upper Sandusky, Big Spring, and Sawawatown, on a
branch of the Carrion River. Through this wilderness I urged my
way. I had a dismal journey through the Black Swamp. Two
nights I lay out in the woods, during which time I did not see the
face of a human being. By the help of God, I at length reached my
appointment." * * * * " I was hailed, by preacher and people,
with gladness, as one that bringeth glad tidings to the ends of the
earth. I had the honor of being the first Presiding Elder that set
his foot on the Miami of the Lakes, and had the privilege of holding
the first Quarterly Meeting, love-feast, or sacramental meeting ever
held in this, now, densely populated country." Thus he actively
and courageously pressed through the very trying circumstances in
which he was placed, and showed that he was a man of courage and
pious zeal.

We here transcribe from his auto-biography a full account of
his visit to Detroit and his labors in connection with it, in the spring
of 1821, and his return to Ohio. He says: " In the spring I started
for the purpose of more thoroughly visiting my Detroit charge. The
trip was a very adventurous one. When I arrived at Lower San-

1 82 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

dusky, the summer freshet was at its highest. I traveled alone to
Muscalunge Creek, and the water covered the entire valley, from
hill to hill. Unable to proceed any further, I went back to the town
at Lower Sandusky, and hired a Frenchman to pilot me through to
the rapids of the Maurnee. When he came to the creek, he said it
was impossible for us to get through ; so we returned, and I directed
my course up the river to Fort Ball. Leaving my horse with a friend,
I hired two young Indians to take me to the mouth of the river in a
bark canoe, so that I might, at this point, get on board the steamer
Walk-in-the-water on Friday morning.

" Setting sail in our frail canoe, we darted down the rapid river,
and, when we came to the Sandusky Falls, we sped over them like a
bird. Night overtaking us before we reached the mouth of the river,
we concluded to tarry all night with an old Frenchman by the name
of Poscile, who occupied a miserable shanty on the bank, and lived
principally on muskrats. The place was dreadfully infested with
fleas and mosquitos. My comrades joined in partaking of our
host's hospitalities ; but I was not sufficiently hunger-bitten to eat
muskrats. To protect myself from the foes which swarmed around
me I sat all night on a box. When daylight came we pushed off our
canoe and paddled on. As we reached the bay we found the wind
blowing fresh from land and the waves rolling too high for our little
bark. The bay was five miles wide, and, notwithstandisg the bois
terous weather, the Indians were for going directly across. To this
I objected ; and we finally agreed to take the east side and coast
around. Several times our canoe filled with water, and we had to
run ashore, pull it out, and turn it over — then relaunching, put to sea
again. A more serious disaster befell us when we got within two
hundred yards of the shore at Goat Island. A sudden squall upset
our bark, plunging us all in the deep. Being unable to right up our
vessel without something more substantial than water on which to
rest our leverage, we swam with our boat to the shore. Here we
took our canoe on our shoulders, and carrying it about a mile, we
launched again and re-embarked. We paddled on, battling with the
waves, and finally arrived within -four miles of Portland. Taking my
saddle-bags on my shoulder, I walked to town, almost exhausted for
want of something to eat. Here I stopped at a tavern, and, order
ing a room with a fire, I emptied my saddle-bags, and, spreading their
contents, with my clothes, before it, went to bed and slept till the sun
arose next morning. Getting up, I found my things tolerably well
dried, except my books, and, after taking my breakfast, I got on
board the boat, and arrived at Detroit on Saturday morning, where

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 183

I put up with my old friend Mr. Jeremiah Dean. At this place I
received a letter from brother Kent, informing me of his sickness at
the Rapids, and his inability to be with me. In that letter he in
formed me that he had given out appointments for me every day
during the week, except Saturday and Monday. Thus you see, dear
reader, I had work enough. The weather was excessively hot ; but,
notwithstanding, we commenced our meetings. Having no church,
we worshipped in the Council House, and the Lord was with us of a
truth. Governor Cass, my old friend, treated me with great respect
and hospitality, and also his estimable lady. Indeed, God seemed to
give me favor in the eyes of all the people. The soldiers who were
stationed here treated me with much respect, and many of them
were awakened tinder the preaching. Of all places in the world, a
military station is the most unfavorable to religion ; and hence there
was but little fruit manifested. Several came forward for prayers
and were converted to God. Had not appointments been given
out for me, the meeting could have been kept up all the week to
good advantage. Brother Abbott furnished me a horse, and I start
ed on Tuesday to fill the appointments that had been made. That
day I preached twice, and swam the River Rouge three times. I
then went to two or three places out north and preached as far as
Pontiac. Returning to Detroit, I spent another Sabbath of great in
terest and profit to myself and many others. My soul was much
united to the dear people ; for they seemed to be as sheep without a
shepherd. On Monday I left for Upper Sandusky. When I arrived
at Portland there was no conveyance for me to Lower Sanclusky.
After considerable search I found an Indian, whose horse I hired.
The plan was for me to ride and the Indian to walk or run, as the
case might be. Accordingly we started. The Indian would run on
ahead in a long trot, and then, stopping, he would say, ' Good horse ;
how much you give for him?' I would tell him I did not want to buy.
He would then run on again a mile or two, and, stopping, would ask
the same question. This he continued till, becoming tired of his ques
tions, I told him I had no money. 'You lie!' said he, pointing to my
saddle-bags. Then said he, 'How much you give?' I said 'May be
ten dollars.' Becoming incensed at this, he exclained, 'You rascal!
you Kaintuck! you rascal! You cheat Indian!' Shortly after this we
came within hearing of several camps of Indians. As we advanced
we found them in a drunken spree, singing, dancing and hallooing
as if all bedlam had broke loose. He asked me to turn in here and
get some (lum.' 'No,' said I, 'you come on.' 'No; me go, and quick
come.' As soon as he was gone I cut a stout hickory stick and put

184 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the Indian pony to his best. Soon I heard the Indian yelling behind
me ; but he was not able to overtake me till I reached Lower San-
dusky. When he came up he commenced abusing me and charging
me with a disposition to run off with his horse. I told him he must
stop his abuse, as I would have no more of it. 'Did I not give one
dollar for the use of your horse?' 'Yes/ 'Well,' said I, 'here is a
half-dollar besides, to get your dinner with/ At this he turned his
tune, and said, 'You good man ; you no Kaintuck ; you my friend/"

After some unimportant matter he says : " This was one of the
best years of my itinerant life. A petition was sent this year to the
bishops for me to be stationed at Detroit. This petition was signed
by Governor Cass, the Messrs. Hunt, and principal citizens, In the
petition they pledged themselves to pay all expenses, and support
me, besides building a church. It was confidently believed by them,
that their prayer would be heard ; but Bishop McKendree thought
the Indian mission of more consequence than Detroit, or any other
place that might want me. Bishop Roberts was in favor of sending
me to Detroit, and the matter continued in suspense till late in the
Conference. My own judgment and feelings led me to Detroit, be
cause I believed that at that time all the English inhabitants of the
place would have joined the Church. But the senior bishop pre
vailed, and I was sent among the Indians/' This shows that his visit
to Detroit and the adjacent country was very highly appreciated,
especially so by the city. As stated above, he was sent to the Indian
mission at Upper Sandusky, instead of being sent to Detroit. This
was certainly a great mistake, so far as the interests of religion, and
of Methodism in this city were concerned. It is true that all he an
ticipated might not have been realized, but no doubt he would have
been a great blessing to the city.

Mr. Finley was appointed to the Lebanon District again in
1822, which still included Detroit. The Sandusky District was
created in 1824, and made to include Detrqit, and Mr. Finley was
appointed to it. He and Mr. Strange had alternated in charge of
Lebanon District, and in charge of Detroit. We have no account
of Mr. Stange having ever visited Detroit more than once. Mr.
Finley was, then, the appointed Presiding Elder over Detroit for
1820, 1822, 1824, three years, but not consecutively ; but we have
no account of his having visited Detroit, except for the first year.
It is to be remembered that the appointment was made in August
or September of the year named.

It is not necessary for us to follow Mr. Finley through his long,
eventful, laborious, and very useful ministerial life. He was honored

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. . 185

by his Conference by being elected a delegate to the General Con
ference for many terms. He was a grand good man, impelled by
the love of Christ to very arduous labors for the salvation of men.
He died full of days, in Christian triumph, and was greatly lamen
ted by multitudes in the Church who had been greatly benefited by
his ministerial labors. He stood deservedly high in the councils of
the Church, as of sound judgment and loyalty to the interests of
the Church. The memorial of his name is " like ointment poured
forth."

The first relation of REV. JOHN A. BAUGHMAN to Detroit and to
Michigan Methodism, and Protestantism, was when he was appoint
ed to Detroit Circuit in 1825. This, however, only brought him into
connection with the city in name, for if he preached in Detroit at all
it was only incidentally. His Circuit embraced all the accessible set
tlements in Michigan, outside of the city. It was a very laborious
Circuit, for he went up as far as Mount Clemens and Pontiac, and as
far out as Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, and south to Monroe, and west
of that as far as to Blissfield and Tecumseh ; there was no Adrian
then. This general outline will give some idea of the labor and
travel required of him in his Circuit. The Circuit was called Detroit
simply because there was no other place which had assumed sufficient
importance to be recognized as forming the head of a Circuit.

Mr. Baughman's real connection with Detroit commenced when
he was stationed here in 1845. He remained in the station for two
years. He then became Agent of the American Bible Society for
four years, and in 1852 was appointed Presiding Elder of Detroit
District, which position he filled for two years. He never removed
his residence from Detroit, after he was stationed here in 1845.

Mr. Baughman died in Detroit, March ist., 1868, aged 65 years
and seven months. He was born in Hereford County, Md., but re
moved to Ohio in his boyhood. He was converted at the age of
nineteen years and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He
was admitted, on trial, by the Ohio Conference in 1823, and from
that time to the year of his death was an active, energetic, and suc
cessful preacher of the Gospel. The only partial interruption being
that he sustained a supernumerary relation in 1839. The following
is the historical and appreciative memoir found in the Minutes for
1868:

Mr. Baughman " labored twelve years in Ohio, and thirty-two
years in Michigan. He was emphatically a pioneer preacher in both
States, being in many places the first man to preach the Gospel to
the people. His first two years in the ministry — -1823 and 1824 —

1 86 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

were spent successively at Piqua and Oxford, Ohio. He then visited
the far-off wilderness of Michigan, and traveled the Detroit Circuit
in 1825-6, and, the next year, Monroe Circuit. These two Circuits,
at that time, embraced whole counties, almost entirely without roads,
and a few scattered settlements at great distances from each other,
and many of the places he could visit but once or twice during the
whole year. The next year — 1827-8 — he was stationed at Cincin
nati, and, subsequently, at Hamilton, Greenville, Eaton, Milford,
Union, White Oak, and Lebanon. In 1838, he was transferred to
the Michigan Conference, and stationed at Monroe. His appoint
ments in that Conference have been as follows : Tecumseh, Ann
Arbor, Adrian, Dexter, First Church at Detroit, Agent of "the Ameri
can Bible Society, four years, Presiding Elder of Detroit District, two
years, Agent of the Conference Tract Society, one year, Walnut
Street, Detroit, Mount Clemens and Lee Chapel, Birmingham,
Walnut Street again, and French Mission, Flint, Hudson, Adrian
again, Clifton, Hancock, Houghton, and Lexington. He received
forty-three appointments from the Bishop, and never failed heartily
to do the work assigned him.

" He was a man of extraordinary physical strength ; with a loud
voice, a cheerful temper, and untiring industry. He was a warm
hearted Methodist minister, of strong faith, and greatly beloved by
all, both children and adults. He was at home in the city or in the
country, in family worship and pastoral visiting, or in the great
Camp Meeting. He attended every session of the Conference, and,
though he spoke but seldom, he was always listened to with atten
tion, and his counsel had great weight. He was a member of the
General Conference of 1844, and correctly represented the senti
ments of his Conference in that great struggle.

"Brother Baughman labored in many revivals of religion during
his long ministry, both on his own charges, and with his brother
ministers. He was an earnest evangelist. In the prime of his
strength, no man, perhaps, surpassed him in efficiency. For a short
time during his ministry, he was embarrassed with business difficul
ties, in which he was involved by others, but nothing could divert him
from the great work of his life.

"At 'the last session of this Conference, though, seemingly, in
good health, he asked for a superannuated relation, stating that the
fatigues of regular work wearied him, but expressing his intention
still to labor for his Master, and hoping, after a year or two, to
resume an efficient relation. He resided in Detroit, and, with his
accustomed energy, aided the Presiding Elder and others, and was

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 187

ready to respond to every call for assistance, within his power, His
last sermon was on February i6th, 1868, in the Jefferson Avenue
church, Detroit, on ' Faith, Hope and Charity.' He preached with
even unusual fervor, and the power of the Holy Spirit was with him.
Unable to preach in the evening of the same day, he was feeble
afterwards, but not alarmingly so, till in the night of March ist,
without warning, he fell asleep in Jesus. He left no dying testi
mony, save that noblest and best — the history of his long life spent
in the service of his Redeemer.

" Brother Baughman needs from us no eulogy. His labors will
never be forgotten. As an advocate of abstinence from intoxicating
drink, as an agent of the Bible Society, and as a preacher of the
Gospel, he was known all over the State, and no man in it, perhaps,
has contributed more to its genuine and solid prosperity. His ex
clamation, like ours, would be, * To God, alone, be all the glory.' '

REV. CURTIS GODDARD was appointed Presiding Elder of Detroit
District in 1829, and remained in charge of it for three years. He
was a very sweet-spirited man, a devout Christian, and a very good
preacher. His sermons were plain, and addressed to the heart, as
well as to the intellect. He was a very kind and diligent superin
tendent of the work committed to his charge. He was elected
by the Ohio Conference as a delegate to the General Conference
of 1832, which met at Philadelphia. Mr. Goddard was admitted on
trial in the Ohio Conference in 1814, and located in 1834, having
been just twenty years in the ministry. He was born in Connecti
cut, but emigrated to Ohio in early youth. He had not married up
to the time he desisted from the active ministry, and he located
from a sense of duty to his parents, who were very aged, and needed
his care. Having located, or dissolved his connection with the Con
ference, he is lost to our sight, and we have very few materials from
which to construct an appreciative notice of his life and character.
The most we know of him is from having been two years under
him as Presiding Elder. The remembrance of these years is very
precious. He was useful as a minister. We have learned the fact
of his decease, but have not been able to ascertain the date or any
of the circumstances.

One of the largest, and, yet, one of the most supple men we
ever knew, was REV. JAMES GILRUTH, who was appointed Presiding
Elder of Detroit District at the session of the Ohio Conference
which met in Dayton, Ohio, September igth, 1832. The District
had been diminished a little in its limits by attaching the southwest
corner of Michigan to the Indiana Conference ; but the number of

I 88 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Charges to be looked after was increased. In consequence of his great
weight, Mr. Gilruth found it necessary, on his long routes and bad
roads, to have two horses. He would ride one for a time, and allow
the other to follow, and then he would change. There was but a
very small portion of his route where he could go with a wagon or
carriage, and so, to travel it, it was necessary for him to have his
two large horses. He had the appearance of being a very stern
and ungenial man — but whoever would so judge of him would be
mistaken. We were in his District for three years, and were much
in his company, and always found him to be one of the most sociable
.and genial men we ever knew. He was a very conscientious man
in all he did. As a preacher, he was plain in language, but, often,
deep in thought and energetic in manner. He never shunned to
•declare what he conceived to be the whole Gospel of Christ. He
was a faithful but kind disciplinarian. He continued on the Detroit
District for four years. The last year of his service on it, the
District was still more reduced by the creation of the Ann Arbor
District, so that he was confined to the territory east of Ann Arbor.
His services on the District, and in Michigan, terminated with the
Conference of September, 1836. At this Conference, he located for
the purpose of establishing a community with all things in common;
but, finding that human nature was still selfish, he became disgusted
with the enterprise, and returned to the ministry after one year. He
joined the Ohio Conference, in which he labored for a few years, and
then went west, being transferred to the Iowa Conference, and set
tled his family not far from Davenport. Here he spent his last years
in great tranquillity, preaching occasionally, and always to the satis
faction of the people. He deceased in 1873.

Mr. Gilruth was admitted into the traveling connection by the
•Ohio Conference in 1819, so he had been in the ministry thirteen
years when he was appointed to Detroit District. He was born and
brought up in the valley of the Ohio River, and had but few scholas
tic advantages ; but, such was his ability to acquire knowledge, and
such his diligence in seeking it, that very few errors could be detected
in his use of language. He was very plain in his dress, and, possi
bly, went to an extreme in this respect. His coming to the Detroit
District was not his first visit to Michigan, although it was the first
in the character of a Christian and minister of the Gospel ; for he
was here as a soldier in the War of 1812. As a soldier, he was
true, and ever ready to obey orders. The same principle of true-
ness he carried into his Christian and ministerial life. He was one
of God's noblemen. There is no doubt of his having gone to receive

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 189

a crown of life ; it will not be a starless crown, for, by his diligence
and Christian labor, continued for so many years, he was the means
of turning many from darkness to light — from sin to holiness.
He has gone ; but he lives in those who have been saved from sin
through his efforts. So, it may be said of him as of Abel, in his
faith and labor, "by it he being dead yet speaketh." He had a
deep religious experience, and preached holiness with great effect,
and lived according to the doctrines he taught.

There is no name connected with our History which carries with
it a sweeter fragrance than that of EDWARD THOMSON, who, accord
ing to the Official Minutes, was stationed in Detroit, in the distribu
tion of ministerial labors, in September, 1836. He remained in this
station for two years. He had then been in the ministry for three
years, having been received into the Ohio Conference in 1833. He
was born in Portsea, England, October I2th, 1810. In 1818 his
parents came to America, stopping in Pennsylvania for two years;
and they settled in Ohio in 1820. He was converted, and joined
the Methodist Episcopal Church in December, 1831. In the
meantime, he had studied and graduated in medicine, and had
settled down for what he considered his life-work — the practice
of medicine. How often God changes our life-plans ! So here,
when he was converted, he soon felt the conviction of duty to give
himself up to the ministry. His career was a brilliant and useful
one. He was six years a pastor, five years in charge of Norwalk
Seminary, in Ohio, where many young men were educated, who
became ministers. He was two years editor of the Ladies' Reposi
tory, fourteen years President of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and
four years editor of the Christian Advocate, at New York. In May,
1864, he was elected and ordained Bishop, which office he filled to
the entire satisfaction of the Church. He died at Wheeling, West
Virginia, March 22d, 1870, while away from home, in the discharge
of his episcopal work. He was small in stature, but large in in
tellect, and was a manly man. He was mainly self-educated, not
having had the advantages of a college graduation, and, yet, he was
a very successful college president. He had thoroughly disciplined
his own mind, and was well qualified to assist others.. As a Christian,,
he knew the virtue of the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse from all
sin, having devoted all his powers to God and His service through
faith in the atonement. We take the following estimate of his
character and his work, as given in the memorial services of the
General Conference of 1872, and found in the journal of that Con
ference :

190 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

" Bishop Thomson was a man of decided convictions and of
deep piety; tender and gentle as a woman, but firm and unwaver
ing as a hero. His reading was extensive and varied ; as a speaker
he was eloquent ; as a writer, he had few equals for aptness of ex
pression and simplicity and beauty of style. In every position — as
pastor, teacher, editor and Bishop — he worked successfully, and more
than met the expectations of the Church. He lived as he died — in
calm and peaceful trust and confidence in God. Living, he was
honored and beloved by all who knew him , dying, he is embalmed
in the memory and affections of the Church/'

REV. ARZA BROWN is a name which must not be overlooked in
connection with Detroit. He was appointed to Detroit station in
1828, and continued in it for two years ; and was then appointed to
Oakland Circuit, which he supplied for one year only. These three
years constituted his term of service in Michigan, but yet it will be
both pleasing and profitable to trace his life and labors through, as
is done in the official memoir, which we shall insert in full. We
have been favored with extracts from his journal, which he kept
covering the time of his labor in Michigan These extracts will be
found to be both profitable and interesting. He says- —

"At the Conference which sat in Chillicothe, Ohio, September
1 8th, 1828, I was appointed to Detroit station. Rev. Zarah H.
Coston was Presiding Elder. With the exception of the last two
years of the war with England, the city had been quite regularly
supplied with Methodist preaching since 1809. Rev. William Case,
of the New York Conference, was the minister in 1809.

"Notwithstanding the city had been so ably and faithfully sup
plied for so many years with Methodist preaching, yet when I enter
ed upon this charge there were but about sixty members in the
Methodist Episcopal Church. This want of success was doubtless
owing, in part, to opposition from the Catholic, Calvinistic and Uni-
versalist churches, the world and the Devil, and partly for the want
of an inviting and commodious house of worship properly located.
For several years the Methodist society had no house of their own
in which to worship God. They generally occupied what was called
the 'Old Council House,' a building used for too great a variety of
purposes, to render it a suitable place in which to worship a God of
purity.

4>In choosing a location for the church, the quite too common
error of those days was repeated here. Instead of locating the
house of worship where the greater number of citizens, without
much labor or inconvenience, could regularly attend divine service,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 1 9!

they placed their new church far out on the commons, with no pave
ments or sidewalks, the streets often during autumn, winter and
spring, wet and muddy. At the same time the Catholic, Presbyterian
and Baptist churches were properly located in the most compactly
settled portions of the city.

"To remedy the evil, in part, I succeeded in laying down a plank
walk, after which, as 'free seats,'and the doctrines and usages of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, were popular with the masses, our
congregations were increasingly large and attentive. The most prom
inent members were Jerry Dean and wife. His name was as 'oint
ment poured forth.' He was leader, steward, trustee and superin
tendent of the Sabbath School. Religion was the first business of
his life. His piety was deep, the cause of Christ lay near his heart,
hence he was always ready for every good word and work, and his
house, like that of Bethany, was a pleasent home for the servants of
Christ. Robert Abbott and wife — he was a 'defender of the faith/
a firm friend and supporter of Methodism, a leader, steward and
trustee. He and his kind wife furnished the first home for the
first Methodist ministers who visited Detroit. Revs. Case, Morey,
Joseph Mitchell, J. B. Finley, and others, of precious memory, often
found a resting-place with this kind family. Henry Dean and wife
— active Christians. Sister Dean was a sweet singer, and delighted
in the cross of Christ. Nathaniel Champ and wife — both pious and
pursuing the even tenor of their way. Philip Warren and wife —
Methodists of the good old stamp. Israel Noble and wife — he was
leader, steward, and trustee ; she was remarkably gifted in prayer
and exhortation. Father and Mother Garrison — old-fashioned Meth
odists. Father and Mother Cook — consistent and persevering Chris
tians ; Methodists of sterling stamp. Brother and Sister Knapp —
he was superintendent of the turnpike running -from Detroit to Ohio;
was a fast friend and supporter of the Church ; she was pious, amia
ble, and an ornament to society. Mother Witherell, wife of Hon. Dr.
Witherell, Secretary of the Territory of Michigan — she was a holy
woman, fervently praying daily for many years for the conversion of
husband and children. Hon. B. F. H. Witherell and wife — he was
a popular lawyer. Sister Witherell was a faithful, devoted Christian
woman, attending, as far as within her power, all the means of grace.

" During the year we were favored with some religious pros
perity. Near its close I was employed as Chaplain for the Legisla
tive Council, and, with the advice of my Presiding Elder, did not
attend Conference, which met in Urbana, September 3d, 1829.* At

* His daughter, Mrs. Isaac Hitt, of Evanston, in a note, says: " This was the only time my dear father was
absent from his Annual Conference from 1824 to iS6i."

192 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

this session of Conference, I was re-appointed to Detroit. The charge
continued. A number were awaked, and converted, and united with
the Methodist Episcopal Church during the year. God poured out
His Holy Spirit, and in copious showers, upon us.

"At one of a series of meetings I was holding, as I was inviting
penitents to the altar for prayer, a young and beautiful French-
Catholic lady came forward, weeping and penitent. As she knelt at
the altar, Mrs. Abbott asked her ' why she had presented herself
there ?' ' I wish to confess to your priest,' she replied, ' and receive
absolution/ So Mrs. Abbott repeated to me this request. I felt
humbled and abashed. Painful, indeed, were the emotions of my
heart. I would fain have hid my face in the dust. A poor sinner
confessing to a sinful man — looking to a frail, erring mortal for
absolution ! I told her she must confess to God, and look to him,
through Christ alone, for pardon and salvation. I exhorted her to
give her heart to God, and to pray with all her heart to the blessed
Jesus.

" Lifting her streaming eyes towards Heaven, she prayed,
'Lord Jesus, have mercy on my poor soul!' The whole assembly
was moved to tears. The altar was crowded, and some precious
souls were added to the Church. The good work continued to
prosper, and my second year in Detroit wound up pleasantly. I
received, as my salary, one hundred dollars each year.

"I left the city Angust ist, 1830, and, on the I2th of August,
was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hyde, at the residence of her
father, Joel Hyde, Esq., Farmington, Trumbull County, Ohio. Rev.
J. Scott was the officiating minister."

This proved to be a very happy marriage, and Mrs. Brown was
and is a very intelligent and educated lady ; and has been very use
ful in the work of God in the Church, in connection with her hus
band while he lived, and now survives him. We continue the ex
tracts:

" OAKLAND CIRCUIT.

" September 8th, 1830, Conference met at Lancaster, Ohio. I
was appointed to Oakland Circuit, Detroit District; Curtis Goddard,
Presiding Elder, and William Sprague, my colleague. From this
Conference we went directly to Farmington, packed our goods,
shipped them, at Fairport, for Detroit ; then, taking leave of be
loved parents and friends, we left in our carriage for our distant
field of labor. A toilsome journey it was, through mud and storm.
After ten days we reached our Circuit. The territory embraced

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 193

within its limits was new; accommodations for man and beast were
limited ; no parsonage — not even a room to be rented.

" Dr. Parke and wife, of precious memory, when we were thus
without shelter, invited us to their hospitable home. They were every
day Christians, ready for every good word and work. May they be
eternally rewarded for their kindness ! After a few weeks, I suc
ceeded in obtaining a room in a house in Auburn. This house was
weather-boarded, but not ceiled. A partition of rough boards di
vided the rooms. It was a cold house in a cold climate ; and in this
small, cold room we spent the cold winter of i83<>-3i. But we were,
in this manner of living, sharing the privations incident to this new
country with our dear friends, who were ever ready to extend to us
acts of kindness, which will never be forgotten.

" Now and then I borrowed a team, and, axe in hand, would go
to the forest, chop, load, and draw home my own firewood, and,
then, prepare it for our use. Early in the spring, I was so fortunate
as to obtain a larger and more comfortable room in Bloomfield, and
thither we removed. Here our daughter Mary was born, and here
we resided until the close of the year.

"This Circuit embraced the villages of Mount Clemens, Utica,
Romeo, Troy, Auburn, Bloomfield, Farmington, &c., and a large
number of sparsely settled neighborhoods. The following were
some of the most prominent and active members of the charge,
viz :

" Rev. Abel Warren and wife — he was a popular local preacher,
universally beloved and respected ; she was a truly pious woman,
and active in the cause of Christ. Rev. Laban Smith and wife.
They were living in a village called Sodom, settled principally by
Universalians, two or three of whom were preachers, and they all
seemed to vie with each other in persecuting the Methoc:it Church;
and Brother and Sister Smith, like Lot of old, were vexed by their
ungodly conversation, doctrine and practice. But they continued
steadfast in the faith, daily witnessing a good profession.

" Once, while preaching in this neighborhood upon the certainty
of the doctrine of eternal punishment, as I concluded my discourse,
a Scotchman in the congregation arose, and, addressing a Univer-
salist preacher present, said, in his broad accent: 'You musn't try,
any more, to put out the lake of eternal fire, for, if you do, Mr.
Brun will drop a cou'l in it, and set it on fire again!'

" On this Circuit there were Brother and Sister Beach, Brother
and Sister Parker, Brother and Sister Gould, Brother and Sister
Holland, Brother and Sister Downer, and, besides these, there were

194 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

others, faithful, official members — consistent professors, waymarks
to Heaven, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

" We held two Camp Meetings this year, and, notwithstanding
we were opposed by rowdies of the baser sort, the power of God
was gloriously displayed in the awakening and conversion of very
many precious souls.

" At one of these meetings, on a dark night, a number of very
wicked young men were congregated together near the encamp
ment, and, by their profanity and noisy revelry, were disturbing the
meeting. Brother Elijah H. Pilcher, who was there, young and
sprightly, borrowed a hat and coat of a farmer — completely dis
guising himself in this suit, and assuming a swaggering manner, he
joined the rowdy crowd, and, while they were concocting their
fiendish plans, he seemed to acquiesce. After a short time, he pro
posed that one of their number should preach a sermon and meet
class, * as the Methodists do,' to which they all agreed. But, who
was to preach ? One after another refused. At length he consent
ed, provided that each and all of them would pledge their sacred
honor that they would sit quietly, and make no disturbance during
sermon and class, to which they all consented. After binding them
as with the solemnity of an oath, he read his text, and, from the
commencement of his discourse, he waxed warmer and warmer
until its close. Soon after the opening of the sermon, one of the
young men straightened up and said, ' Now, it is not fair to deceive
us in that way.' ' Hush ! hush !' said Pilcher. ' Remember, you
promised, on the honor of a man, you would make no disturbance
till I close my sermon and class.' After this appeal to their honor,
and, realizing that they were ' sold,' they remained quiet, and, before
the close of the class-meeting, nearly all of the company were on
their knees, praying for pardon, and, before the next morning sev
eral of them were happily converted to God.

" There was in attendance at one of these Camp Meetings, a
Baptist gentleman, who, for many years, had delighted in criticising
his Methodist neighbors on account of their noisy meetings, their
shouting, and their sometimes falling, like men slain in battle, under
the influence of the presence and power of God. Under a search
ing sermon, preached at 1 1 o'clock A. M., Sabbath, this brother
was smitten by the Holy Spirit, and fell prostrate upon the
ground. His Baptist friends gathered around him, overwhelmed
with grief and fear, while the hearts of his Methodist friends were
thrilled with holy delight. After he had lain upon the ground for
some time, I pressed through the crowd, and was standing by his

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 195

side as he opened his eyes. Seeing me, he said, ' Brother Brown,
what shall I do? I feel as though I wanted to shout, Glory!' I re
plied, ' If Joshua says shout, you may shout as loud as you please/
And he did shout, with all his heart and strength. But, at his first
shout of * Glory !' his Baptist friends forsook him and fled.

" Another Conference year closed. The Lord had been with
us to bless. My salary, this year, was one hundred and eighty
dollars."

Thus far his journal goes. We have given these long extracts
simply because they are interesting and valuable ; but we must now
content ourself by introducing the memoir found in the Minutes of
the Conference for 1869.

"REV. ARZA BROWN was born in Hampton, Massachusetts,
August 1 3th, 1792. His religious impressions began at a very early
period of his life, and, so thorough were the operations of the Spirit
on his heart that he ever cherished the belief that he had experi
enced the renewing power of Divine grace. In 1805, his father and
family moved to Plattsburg, New York, where, amidst the absence
of moral and religious privileges, and the temptations of a compara
tively new country, young Arza relapsed into the neglect of duty,
and wandered from God. Subsequently, in 1816, the Holy Spirit
revisited his heart, and, at a prayer-meeting, January i9th, 1817, he
was re-assured of pardon and Divine acceptance. This work was
so thorough, pervading his entire nature, and developing in the
actions of his life, that a glorious revival ensued, resulting in the
conversion of a number of souls, who were formed into a class, of
which Arza was appointed leader. Such was his growth in grace,
and so clearly was the indication of the great Head of the Church
of his call to a higher and wider field of usefulness, that he was
soon licensed, first, as an exhorter, and, subsequently, as a local
preacher. In the meantime, in 1819, he moved to Sandusky City,
Ohio, and then to Licking County, Ohio.

"In 1822, convinced that it was the privilege of the believer to
enjoy a richer baptism of the Spirit, even to ' know the love of
Christ, which passeth knowledge, and be filled with the fullness of
God,' he earnestly sought the attainment of that blessing, and be
came the happy recipient of a living witness of the truth, 'The blood
of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth from all sin.' Under this Divine
influence he entered his life-work, first, as a local preacher, and,
subsequently, September 2d, 1824, he was received on trial in the
Ohio Conference. During the early part of his ministry, he enjoyed
the society of Jacob Young and Russel Bigelow, as Presiding Elders,

196 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

by whose wise counsels and holy lives he profited greatly. His itin
erant ministry began on Zanesville Circuit, and his subsequent fields
of labor were the following: 1825, Straight Creek Circuit; 1826-7,
Sandusky Circuit; 1828-9, Detroit Station, Michigan, then in the
bounds of the Ohio Conference. Of the high estimate in which
Brother Brown was held while stationed in Detroit, it is sufficient
to remark that, unsought on his part, he was elected Chaplain of the
Territorial Legislature, then in session in that city. August I2th,
1830, he was married, by Rev. J. Scott, to Miss Mary, daughter of
Joel Hyde, of Farmington, Trumbull County, Ohio, a lady emi
nently qualified, by mental culture and grace, for the position of
minister's wife. For nearly thirty-nine years, the now bereaved wife
contributed, by her wise counsels, faithfulness, and purity of life, to
the successful ministerial efforts of her husband.

" Brother Brown's itinerant career covered a large extent of
territory, as will be manifest, not only from a survey of the appoint
ments mentioned above, but more particularly from those which
follow, namely: 1830, Oakland Circuit, Detroit district; 1831, Co
lumbus Circuit, Ohio ; 1832, Dayton station ; 1833-4, Piqua ; 1835,
Xenia; 1836-7, Marietta; 1838-9, Athens ; 1840, Chillicothe ; 1841,
West Union Circuit; 1842, Greenfield; 1843, Frankfort Circuit;
1844, Parkersburg, Va.; 1845, Barlow Circuit, Ohio; 1846-7, Ham
ilton; 1848-9, Christie Chapel, Cincinnati ; 1850-1, South Charles
ton; 1852, North Bend Circuit; 1853-4, Lockland Circuit; 1855,
Raper Chapel, Cincinnati. He was elected a member of the dele
gation of the Cincinnati Conference to the General Conference
which sat in Indianapolis, May, 1856. For thirty-one consecutive
years he sustained an effective relation in the ministry, but, pros
trated by protracted illness and infirmity, he was finally compelled to
request the Conference, at its session in Ripley, Ohio, October ist,
1856, to grant him a superannuated relation, which he sustained the
balance of his life. From this period (1856) the pen of an intimate
and long-tried friend has faithfully sketched the remainder of his
labors with a thrillingly joyful narrative of the closing scene of his
earthly pilgrimage: 'In 1858, he removed to Chicago, and settled in
the West Division, on West Indiana Street. He served by appoint
ment of the Presiding Elder, West Indiana Street for three years
with great usefulness. In 1863 he and his wife were appointed as
delegates, by the Christian Commission, to labor among the soldiers
in the army. They went first to Nashville, Tennessee. In 1864,
he was authorized to open a branch of the Christian Commission in
Natchez, and for two years and a half labored among the soldiers in

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 97

the camps and hospitals, and then among the freedmen in Natchez,
Vicksburg and Baton Rouge. In the spring of 1868, he greatly
enjoyed the company of many of his old companions whom he met
during the session of the General Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
In the fall of 1868, he went South again, and spent some time in labor
in New Orleans. In January last he and his wife left New Orleans
and went to the St. Mary's Parish, on the Teche, and labored in the
Orphans' Home. Here he was able to do but little. He had a set
tled conviction, from the first attack, that he would never recover,
and greatly desired to return to his home in Chicago to die. He
was conveyed on his bed from the Orphans' Home to the boat by
four colored men who loved him dearly. Carried by strangers from
the boat to the cars, he found his way home. Shortly after his
arrival home, he, feeling that his time was short, asked to have a
number of the ministers invited, that he might with them once more
celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Bishop Thomson
conducted this service. For eight months he was not able to help
himself in the least, and yet from his lips escaped no complaint. He
rejoiced continually in the Lord, even in the midst of the greatest
agony. He had asked an old friend, whom he had known since
1825, to be with him in his last hour, to close his eyes and comfort
his family. This friend watched with him during the last night, and
whenever the name of Jesus or heaven was mentioned his face
would light up, and he would exclaim, 'Precious Jesus! Glorious
heaven!' Towards morning his daughter said, 'Father, do you feel
you are going?' He answered, 'Not now, but I shall go very soon;'
and then continued: 'The Blessed Savour said, If I go away, I will
come again and receive you to myself; that where I am there ye
may be also. O how blessed it will be to be with Christ! to see him
as he is, and more blessed to be like him!' He then added, 'I am
all ready, waiting the descent of the chariot of the Lord, to go home
to heaven.' He lingered until noon. He and his wife had often
talked about the possibility of seeing Jesus before the soul left the
body, and she asked him in some way, when first he saw the Saviour,
if he did so before he left the body, to let her know. Just before
the last, as he was reclining upon his pillow, with eyes closed, he ex
claimed, with a full voice, 'Life! Life!' and his spirit departed. May
it not be that this was the signal given when first he saw, with un
veiled vision, the blessed Jesus ? Thus died Rev. Arza Brown, in
the sventy-seventh year of his age, the fifty-third of his Christian life,
and the forty-fifth of his ministry. As a preacher, he was eminently
practical and useful. He was loving and gentle in his life, kind and

198 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

affectionate in his family. His whole life was a pure commentary
upon the Gospel he so loved to preach.' Appropriate funeral ser
vices were observed at the Indiana Street Church, Chicago, Illinois,
Monday, August 2d, 1869, and thence he was borne to his final rest
ing-place, his body sleeping in Jesus, and awaiting the resurrection
morn. Precious is the memory of the departed who sleep in Jesus."
Thus closed the life and labors of a very good and useful minister
of the Gospel of the blessed Saviour.

After this long digression, we will return to the line of our
History, and further trace the progress of the Protestant Churches
in the city. We closed our account of the Methodist Church with
the session of the Conference in 1837. Nothing special occurred,
calling for any particular notice, till 1843. At the session of the
Conference this year, it was determined to appoint two ministers,
with the view of organizing a second Church. The second Society
was organized shortly after the Conference, in which William Phelps,
a local preacher, and L. L. Farnsworth, both still residing in Detroit,
and William Scott, now of St. Clair, were leading spirits, and made
the sacrifice of their pleasant Church associations to promote the
enterprise, and were active laborers.

By the way, William Phelps became the first superintendent of
the Sabbath School of this new organization, and continued to act
successfully in that capacity for several years. He came to this
work with some experience, as he had been superintendent of the
First, or Woodward Avenue Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School,
for a period of time in which Mr. Owen had resigned. Mr. Phelps
commenced business in the City of Detroit, when but a young man,.
on a small capital, in groceries and confectioneries; but, for a num
ber of years past, he has been engaged in a wholesale, or jobbing
business in groceries, and has attained to a good degree of wealth.
He professed faith in Christ, and united with the Methodist Church
in Detroit, in 1836, under the labors of the late Bishop Thomson.

When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he entered the
army in connection with the Paymaster's department, with the rank
of Major. In that department he did good service to his country
and credit to himself, and was promoted to the rank of ColoneL
He has, also, mingled somewhat in politics, having served as Alder
man in his ward for two terms ; been a member of the State Legis
lature, and an active member of State and other conventions. In all
these positions, he has endeavored to carry his religion with him.
He was licensed as a local preacher in 1843, an(i m due time was
Ordained Deacon, and Elder, and has ever been ready, wherever he

CENTRAL M. E. CHURCH, DETROIT.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. I 99

has been, to supply any lack of ministerial service. He is an active
man, and has carried his activity into religious work.

There were some noble women, also, who identified themselves
with the new branch. It was difficult to find a suitable and inviting
place in which to worship. But they struggled on. The next year —
that is, in 1844 — the second Church appears among the appointments
in the Minutes, with Ransom R. Richards as preacher in charge. The
growth of this Society was slow, at first, for the want of a proper place
to hold services. The United States Court room was secured for a
time, then the State House. Mr. Richards was not content with such
accommodations ; but, assisted by the brethren, he secured a lot on
the corner of Congress and Randolph Streets, on which a brick
church, of respectable dimensions, was erected and dedicated in
1846. This new church prospered well for years, but, in 1863, the
building was consumed by fire, and, instead of rebuilding on the same
ground, they determined to sell and build elsewhere ; and, in cast
ing about, they secured lots on the corner of Woodward and Adams
Avenues, which led to the consolidation of the Woodward Avenue
and Congress Street Societies, under the ecclesiastical name of the
Central Methodist Episcopal Church, and to the erection of that
magnificent building known by that name. This church was com
pleted and dedicated in 1868.

The church building erected in 1834 by the First Church, having
become too small, they erected a new church on the corner of Wood
ward Avenue and State Street, in 1848-9, which they occupied until
the Central was erected, as above. In the spring of 1849, tne wooden
building on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Congress Street
was removed to the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Fourth Street,
and a new Society was organized, so that, in 1849, three charges
appear in the Minutes. This Lafayette Avenue Church, having be
come too small, the Society erected a fine brick church on the corner
of Howard and Fourth Streets, dedicated in 1875, the name of which
was changed to that of the Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church.
Other Societies, both English and German, were organized, and
churches built; so that, in 1876, there were eight churches, with
ministers stationed in charge of them, besides some Sunday School
chapels. Concerning the work among the Germans, we purpose to
speak in the concluding chapter.

A Methodist Mission for the benefit of the French population
was established in 1851, and continued for about fifteen or sixteen
years, and then was discontinued. Good had been done — some had
been converted, and added to the Church, who were steadfast in the

2OO HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

faith — but the success did not seem to warrant the continuance of the
Mission.

The Protestant Episcopal Church has, in the meantime, so in
creased, that they have ten parishes supplied with services, and they
are making large efforts to advance in their influence in the city.
They have four costly edifices and several smaller ones.

The Presbyterian Church, from the one church on Woodward
Avenue, has increased to five congregations, with large and elegant
houses of worship, and are ably supplied with ministers, and two
Mission Churches. These churches are well distributed for exerting
an influence in the city. In addition to these, a United Presbyterian
Church was organized in 1853, which has prospered well, and, prob
ably, in time, will be united with the others.

We here introduce to notice one whose name has been familiar
to the Michigan public for many years — for who has not heard of
Rev. NOAH M. WELLS, who is now ninety-five years old, in the
enjoyment of health and the comforts of the religion of the Lord and
Saviour? We take great pleasure in inserting here a brief bio
graphical sketch of him. We regret that we cannot furnish a more
extended one, as there must have been many interesting incidents
connected with so long a ministerial career. We are indebted to
Rev. Dr. Mattoon, of Monroe, for furnishing for our use a skeleton
auto-biography deposited with him, in manuscript, and from which
we gather the following items : He was born at Bemish Heights,
Saratoga County, New York, July 8th, 1772. His parents were not
professors of religion, still, they had him baptized in the Protestant
Episcopal Church, in the fourteenth year of his age, in New Leba
non, New York, whither they had removed. Here he fell among
1 some Universalists, and, for a time, professed that faith. But, when
he was about twenty-one years of age, there was a very gracious
revival of religion in the place, through the influence of which he
was brought to the Saviour. Shortly after his conversion, he felt
deeply impressed with a sense of obligation to preach the Gospel.
Against this, impression he revolted for a time, but, finally, concluded
that it was best to obey God. He, however, found a great difficulty
in his way, that was, he had but a limited education, and felt him
self too poor to go to college. His parents, in the meantime, had
become Christians, and encouraged him to carry out his convictions
of duty, though they were too poor to assist him in it, having lost
their property, through the dishonesty of others. But, when he
resolved to do his duty, the Lord seemed to raise up friends for him,
so that he was enabled to graduate, in due time, from Union Col-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2OI

lege. He then prosecuted his theological studies, and graduated,
and entered on the pastorate. In the first year of his ministry, he
had a very gracious revival, and added seventy-seven persons to the
Church on one communion day. He remained in this Church about
two years, and went away, much to the regret of the congregation.

He next went to Brownsville, New York. Here he found an
irreligious people, without any kind of religious organization. A
place of worship was provided. In the midst of his first sermon,
some ladies came in, when all the gentlemen arose and bowed to
them. At the close of his sermon he told them that a place of wor
ship was not a drawing-room, and that the etiquette of the latter
was not appropriate to the solemnities of Divine worship. After a
few Sabbaths, he determined to leave them, in discouragement.
When he informed them of it, the men pressed him to stay, and the
women gathered around him, and, with tears, begged him not to
leave them. Being so pressed, he consented to remain for some
time longer. Soon after a small Church was organized, which was
increased to one hundred and seventy-five members before he left,
and they erected a commodious and tasty house of worship. This
was a very wonderful work for such a place and time.

Mr. Wells came to Detroit in June, 1825. He says he found
Presbyterian members, but no Church or organization. There was
what was called the " First Presbyterian Church of Detroit. But,
he says, " it was neither Congregational nor Presbyterian." So, after
consultation, they concluded to begin de novo, and organized a Pres
byterian Church with thirty-six members, which, he says, " was the
first Presbyterian Church in Michigan." This statement of Mr.
Wells does not exactly agree with the published Manual of the
" First Presbyterian Church/' which claims that the Church was or
ganized in January, 1825, and that there were forty-nine members
constituting it. We conclude that Mr. Wells is right — that January
was mistaken for June by the copyist for the Manual, and that the
excess of persons were members, the exact time of whose joining
was not recorded, and they were supposed to have been original
members by the compiler, as was the case with some of the persons
whose names are attached to the articles of association of the " First
Protestant Society of Detroit," for some of them were not residents
of Detroit at the time of the organization, but attached their names
subsequently. It was also claimed that there was a Presbyterian
Church organized at Monroe, in 1820, and Mackinaw, in 1823. But
we are not concerned to reconcile these claims. He became the
pastor of the new Church, and continued as such for about eleven

2O2 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

years. He was succeeded by Rev. John P. Cleveland, for a few
years, and he, again, by Rev. George Duffield, D. D. His health
having failed, Mr. Wells went into secular business for a time. He
taught in the branch of the Michigan University at Niles for a few
years. After this, he was appointed a chaplain in the army, and was
stationed at Prairie du Chien. He labored for nearly two years at
Galena, Illinois, with much success, and then returned East, and sup
plied the Church at Maumee City, Ohio, for a short season.

We next find him employed by the "Western Seaman's Friend
Society," and taking charge of the Bethel work and interests at
Detroit. He continued in this work, with success, for six years.
Now, being far advanced in years, and feeling the weight of those
years pressing upon him, he determined to give up any further
active work in the ministry, and retired to the township of Erie, in
Monroe County, Michigan, and resides with a son. He has not been
without his afflictions and bereavements ; for he has buried three
wives — most estimable women they were, too — and one daughter.
But, in all these things, he has always found the Lord and Saviour a
present help.

Father Wells has been rather a remarkable man. Few attain
to his present age — ninety-five years. He is cheerful and happy,
waiting patiently for the coming of his Lord. He has done a great
amount of work for the Christian cause in connection with the Pres
byterian Church. He was decided in his attachment to his own
Church, without bigotry. He was not brilliant, but sound in intel
lect. He was laborious in study. He commenced his ministry by
writing and memorizing two sermons every week, which he found to
be too heavy for him, as any man will who undertakes it. He is
worthy of commendation for his efforts to secure a thorough educa
tion. He was not converted until he was twenty-one years of age,
and then, for a time, he struggled against his convictions of duty,
so that he must have been, at least, twenty-two before he began
to make his preparations for college, but yet he did so, and took a
regular course in college, and in the Theological Seminary, and so
fitted himself for his work.

Mr. Wells was succeeded, in the First Presbyterian Church
in Detroit, by Rev. John P. Cleveland, who continued as pastor
until 1838, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. GEORGE
DUFFIELD, who, having received the unanimous call of the Church,
resigned his position in the City of New York, and came to Detroit.
He commenced his labors in this city on the first of October, 1838,
and, on the 1 1 th day of December, in the same year, he was in-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2O3

stalled pastor by the Presbytery of Detroit. Dr. Duffield con
tinued his relation to this Church until 1868, making a pastorate
of the same Church for thirty years, and was much beloved by his
people.

In 1865, Dr. Duffield's health becoming somewhat impaired
he desired to have some relief in his arduous labors, and, at his
request, an associate was called. " He, however, continued in the
full exercise of his pastorate, preaching half a day, each Sabbath,
until his death, which occurred on the 26th day of June, 1868."

Dr. Duffield was a man of untiring industry and perseverance
in study, and made very thorough preparation for the pulpit. He,
also, was a great friend to educational institutions, and filled the
office of Regent of the University of Michigan for many years, he
having been one of the original Board appointed under the law of
the State for the organization of that institution, in 1837.

In the latter part of his life, especially, he became very deeply
devoted to the cause of Christ, and very catholic in spirit. He was
much interested in the work of the Young Men's Christian Associ
ation. The last work that he did was in connection with that body.
We quote from the Manual of the Church :

" He died with his harness on. While addressing the Young
Men's Christian International Convention, just then assembled in
Detroit, in words of welcome from the Churches of the city, he was
stricken down, and carried home by his friends to die. He was
buried from the church, on the Sabbath succeeding his death.

" What a glorious death ! How fitting for this eminent servant
of God to be thus translated from the Church on earth to the
Church triumphant in Heaven."

The Baptist Church has multiplied, and divided, and there are,
now, two English-speaking Churches, having elegant and commodi
ous places of worship, and one German and one French. The last
two are small, and have not yet supplied themselves with com
modious churches. There is, also, one Church among the colored
people.

There are two Methodist Episcopal Churches among the col
ored population, each having a house of worship, but they are not
under the control and management of the white Church. Still, they
are identified with them, and are to be enumerated with Episcopal
Methodists. They are doing a good work among their own people.

Having run over the general history, it is well to call attention
to some special occasions. The Annual Conference met here, for a
second time, in 1845 \ Bishop Janes presided. This was the longest

204 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

and most tedious session which has ever occurred in Michigan. It
did not adjourn till near midnight on Friday of the second week.
There were several causes for this; Bishop Janes was young, and
had had little experience in presiding at Conferences, having been
elected to the Episcopal office the year before ; and there was
an unusual number of trials among the preachers. Bishop Janes
preached on the Sabbath, to the great delight of the people. There
has never been a greater season of revival in the Methodist Church
than in 1856-7, under the labors of F. A. Blades, stationed here then.
A very large number were added to the Church.

According to the statistics of the different leading denomina
tions in the city, for the year 1876, they stand as follows, viz : —
Methodist Episcopal, 1,900 members — colored 334, total 2,234;
Protestant Episcopal, 2,397; Presbyterian, 2,022; Baptist, 1,179;
Congregational, 670 ; United Presbyterians, 350.

There is another minister whose relations to the work in Detroit
was such as to warrant the introduction of his memoir in this con
nection. He was stationed in the Woodward Avenue Methodist
Episcopal Church, in 1852, and remained for two years, that being
the disciplinary limit at that time ; and then was appointed Presiding
Elder of that District, and died just a few weeks before his term of
four years expired. He was a very strong and healthy-appearing
man, and would have been readily selected as one who would be
likely to live long and endure much hard labor. But how soon the
fairest prospects may be laid low ! In the prime of life, and in all
the vigor of a noble manhood, he is cut down, What an admonition
to be always ready, having our work faithfully and well done, for the
night cometh in which no man can work ! The following is the offi
cial memoir as found in the Minutes for 1858 :

"REV. WELLINGTON H. COLLINS, late Presiding Elder of Detroit
District, was born, May, 1816, in Walcott, Wayne County, New
York. In 1830 he emigrated to this State with his father, the year
before the rest of the family, and settled in Washtenaw County.

"He embraced religion at a Camp Meeting held in Washtenaw
County in 1835. Soon after his conversion to God he turned his
attention to a preparation for the work of the Christian ministry.
Such was his success and his promise of usefulness that, in 1837, he
was employed by the Presiding Elder to fill a vacancy in Farming-
ion Circuit. At the close of this year he was recommended by the
Quarterly Conference of Farmington Circuit as a proper person to
be received into the Michigan Annual Conference on probation.

" The Michigan Conference then embraced the north part of

REV. WELLINGTON H. COLLINS.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 205

the State of Ohio and all of Michigan. His first appointment from
the Conference was to the Dearborn Circuit, which at that time em
braced what is now known as the Wayne, Trenton and Flat Rock
charges. Here he labored with great acceptance and usefulness, as
many of the older members of the Church still remain to testify.

" At the close of this year, at the Conference, he was stationed
at Defiance, Northern Ohio. The May following, at the General
Conference held in Baltimore, the Michigan Conference was divided,
and the North Ohio was set off, which left Brother Collins in the
North Ohio Conference. But, by arrangement, he was permitted to
fall into the Michigan Conference, and at the close of this year he
was ordained Deacon by Bishop Hedding, at Marshall, in 1840, and
admitted into full connection in the Conference. His next field of
labor was Medina, in the south part of this State, where he remained
two years. Having now completed his four years' course of Con
ference study, and approved himself to the Church and his brethren,
he was ordained Elder by Bishop Morris, at Adrian, in 1842. He
was married in September of this year.

" His next charge was Edwardsburg, thence he removed to
Niles. From Niles he was removed to Albion ; from Albion he was
transferred to Dexter. His next field of labor was Northville. He
was removed from this field of labor and placed upon the Ann
Arbor District, where he remained three years, greatly to the satis
faction of his brethren upon the District, and the edification of the
Church.

" At the Niles Conference he was appointed to the charge of
the Woodward Avenue Church, Detroit. At the close of his consti
tutional term here he was placed upon the Detroit District, where
four weeks more would have completed four years of service upon
this District, and his seventh year of service as Presiding Elder.

"He has twice represented his brethren in the General Confer
ence; first in Boston, in 1852, and lastly at Indianapolis, in 1856. In
all of these several fields of labor, and several positions in the
Church, it is not too much to say that he acquitted himself as a min
ister of Christ.

" His memory is too fresh and too sacred for us not to feel that
our loss is no ordinary loss, Hence our grief is no ordinary grief.
His was a life that will bear examining, and in his singular devotion
to God and His work, imitating. His character is a character to
study. It is but truthful to say ' a great man has fallen in Israel/
Possibly, the acquaintance of an hour might not detect that greatness
in the retiring mien of the deceased. But as acquaintance length-

2O6 HISTORY OF PROTEST ANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ened, and afforded opportunity to observe him in the discharge of
the duties of his place, and there to mark the maturity of his judg
ment, the firmness of his purpose, his indomitable perseverance, the
mind was not long in being impressed with the conviction, this is
no ordinary man. The feature of his character, to be ever devlop-
ing some new peculiarity, and unfolding some hidden mine of wealth,
is probably one thing that so endeared him to his brethren, and
made \$& friends fast friends. It required an acquaintance and an
intimacy of years to know him well.

*' His habit of thought was peculiarly his own, as well as his
style of expression. On the introduction of any question involving
the relations and obligations of men, while many were occupying
themsevles with a few facts that possibly might be distorted or miti
gated by circumstances, and were seeking to base action on these,
his mind seemed carefully to survey the field around him, and then
go back to first principles, and the simple question with him was, * Is
it right?'

" Probably no man more conscientiously resolved all the ques
tions of life into this simple formula than he. Fixed here, he was
immovable. Neither the frowns of power, nor the allurements of
gain, or honor, or distinction among men, had any power to move
him. It was here that he was liable to be misunderstood by those
having only a public or passing acquaintance with him, and this peculi
arity of his character be construed into a willful persistence, when it
was simply his soul clinging to his conscious conviction of right.
The world was comparatively but little in sympathy with him in his
habits of thought and processes of reasoning, requiring, as it did, so
much mental vigor, patience, and research. At times it was irksome
for him to attempt to popularize his views, and to address himself to
those who were unwilling to toil in the mine of thought themselves,
or patiently listen to the elaboration of thought that it had cost labor
to evolve, and would cost labor to digest. But when he sat down
with a few friends to discuss any great question, or canvass any new
field of thought, it was truly amazing to see the change that came
over him. His reserve was thrown off, his eye kindled, his counte
nance brightened up, the enginery of his mind seemed to work with
ease and grace, while his utterance was clear, forcible, and senten
tious. In debate he was at home, and had his marked peculiarities.
Relying on his own convictions of right, his attempt was to over
whelm his opponent with the power of that truth that swayed and
governed his own action. At times he reached this climax in the
pulpit. At such times his efforts were those of a master. Never

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ordinary in his pulpit efforts, here he excelled. These rare powers
made him always the valuable and reliable counselor. Here was pre
eminently his field ; and such were the breadth of his views, the
logical correctness of his conclusions, associated with his settled de
termination for the right, that his counsel and advice seemed clothed
with authority.

"In his Church sympathies and prejudices he was decidedly
Methodistic — this was not of caprice, but of conviction and judg
ment. Still, no man was more largely catholic in his feelings. His
heart always rejoiced, nor was he slack in expressing his joy at the
success of his brethren in other branches of the Christian Church,
He had a kind word, and a ' God speed you,' for his brethren in the
Christian ministry everywhere. In them he recognized fellow-labor
ers in the Master's vineyard, and his heart dilated with joy as he saw
them gathering sheaves for the Master. He was no bigot. His life
was a life of activity, of toil and of usefulness. The ministry was to
him no sinecure, or place of ease and indulgence. His life illustra
ted the motto, * Work here and rest in Heaven.' He was emphati
cally a man of one work. He earnestly devoted to the work of the
Christian ministry all the power with which God had endowed him.
He seemed to realize in its fullest sense that

' 'Tis not a cause of small import

The pastor's care demands,
But what might fill an angel's heart,

And fill'd a Saviour's hands.'

" Nor was his labor in vain it the Lord ; the world felt his power,
and eternity shall reveal the fruits of his labor. Life's labor done,
he rests at last.

" Afflictive, indeed are the circumstances that gather around the
scene of his last suffering. He had been indisposed for some two
weeks, yet persistently, against the advice of friends, he pursued his
work with brave fidelity, by his actions saying, ' Wist ye not I must
be about my Father's business ?' until Tuesday, July 2Oth, he re
mained at home. Wednesday he was confined to his bed, where,
with varying symptoms of improvement and decline, he continued
until Friday morning, August 6th. There seemed a marked im
provement, which continued until about 4 o'clock on Monday morn
ing, when he was seized with a chill and paralysis, from which he
never recovered. By the paralysis he was deprived of the power of
speech. Hence no dying farewell to his loved family, as they stood
weeping around him ; or message of love to his brethren in the min-

2O8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

istry. In this state he lingered until Wednesday, August 1 1 th, when,
at a quarter before 1 2 M., he closed his suffering and life.

" Although there is no dying message to his brethren or strick
en family, from the scene of his suffering, yet in the monument of a
consistent Christian life, and twenty years' devotion to the work of
the Christian ministry, it is true, ' being dead, he yet speaketh.' His
life needed not the appendix, in the words of the dying hour, to give
his brethren and friends assurance of his happy exit from the scenes
of time to the glories of the upper sanctuaAy. " May his mantle fall
upon his brethren, and the Master give them grace to follow him as
he followed Christ."

Mr. Collins was a man of settled purposes, and emphatically
of one work. Had he lived, he would undoubtedly have been
a great power in the councils of the Church. But Cod's ways are
not as our ways, neither are His thoughts as our thoughts, and we
must bow to His dispensations.

We here furnish the statistics of the principal denominations of
Protestants for the County of Wayne, as gathered from their own
reports. We should have been pleased to have given the amount
of Church property, and the Sunday School statistics, and should
have done so only some of them had made no report of either of
these items. We give them in the order in which the Churches
were first instituted. Methodist Episcopal, 3,695 ; Protestant Epis
copal, 2,475 ; Presbyterian, i ,843 ; Baptist, 1,579; Congregational,
973-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 209

CHAPTER X.

MONROE — Methodist Society — Mary Harvey — Raisin River — Presbyterian Church — First Church
— Methodist Church reorganized — Kent Asks for a Home — Mrs. Harvey — Baughman —
Walker — Garwood Converted — Walker Returned — Dr. Adams Becomes Roman Catholic —
Memoir of Walker — Revival — Methodist Society in City — Memoir of Garwood — J. W. Fin-
ley — Church Built — Protestant Episcopals — Baptists — German Lutherans — J. F. Davidson —
Numbers — ST. CLAIR — Old Class Paper — John K. Smith — Subscription for Church — House
not Finished — James T, Donahoo — Reasons for Slow Growth — S. A. Latta — A Night on the
Lake — Why Methodist Preachers Sent — Other Churches — Numbers — Growth of Country —
ANN ARBOR — First Preaching — Presbyterian Church Organized — First Methodist Society —
Circuits — Members — First Methodist Prayer Meeting— Sarah J. Brown — Arrangement of
Circuits — Accessions — Name of Circuit — Colclazer and Pilcher — Maria Maynard — No defec
tion —Revival 1837~'38 —Church Built — Pilcher —Progress— Presbyterian— Protestant
Episcopal — Baptist — Congregational — Statistics — J. D. Collins — University — Dr. Cocker — Dr.
Haven — TECUMSEH — First Preachers — Society Formed — Names — Joseph Bangs — Wheeler
— Crois — Silliman — Quarterly Meeting — Rev. A. Darwin — Presbyterian Church Organized —
Revival — Protestant Episcopal — Baptist — Controversy — Remarkable Conversion — Statistics.

jN the order of appointments, the next on our list, after Detroit
is Monroe. MONROE was platted, as a village, April 25th, 1818.
Previous to this time the locality was known as French Town.
The village was incorporated as a city by the Legislature of the
''State, March 22d, 1837. But it is not our purpose to write the
secular history of the city or county, although we have abundant
material for that purpose, gathered with much care, labor and
expense. It is its religious history with which we purpose to deal.
As in the case of all the French settlements, the Romish Church
was established contemporaneously with the settlement, and it has
always held a wide sway. We, however, are only concerned with
Bible, or Protestant Christianity; for, whatever charity we may have
for individuals of that community, we can but regard it as a system

210 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of paganism, having just enough of the Christian element in it to
give it a semblance of Christianity — enough so that, if individuals
will take the pains to search out the Christian elements, and sepa
rate them from the mass of pagan rites and ceremonies and super
stitions, they may believe in Christ with a saving faith. This, how
ever, is what we fear the multitudes do not do.

The Gospel, in >the form of Protestantism, was first introduced
here by Rev. William Mitchell, a minister of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, who was on the Detroit Circuit, having received his
appointment to that work in the autumn of 1810. He received his
appointment to Detroit from the Western Conference, at the same
time that Rev. Ninian Holmes was appointed from the Genesee
Conference. He extended his labors to the few English settlers
scattered along the River Raisin, and, such was the religious influ
ence he had over them, that, early in 181 1, he organized a Methodist
Episcopal Society, or Church, consisting of about twenty-three mem
bers. This Society continued to exist, and was supplied by Rev.
Ninian Holmes, until the ravages of the War of 1812 scattered
them all, and the Church was broken up ; but it was reorganized, in
the spring of 1821, by Rev. John P. Kent, who was then traveling
Detroit Circuit. The reorganized Church consisted of the following
persons, viz : Samuel Choat, Elizabeth Choat, Isaac B. Parker, Mary
Parker, Lyman Harvey, Sarah Harvey (the late Mrs. Rev. John A.
Baughman), Mary Harvey, Seth Choat, Ethel Choat, Abigail Ctwat,
and Philura West. There were eleven in all. Samuel Choat, who
was the father of the family of Choats, was appointed the class-leader.
Of all these only one now remains at Monroe, Mrs. Mary Harvey,
wife of Captain Luther Harvey ; she is still a member of the Church
in the city. Mrs. Harvey was a daughter of Samuel Choat ; was
born in Canada, and was baptized by Rev. Mr. Sensiman, a Mora
vian missionary, who was associated with Heckewelder in his labors
and sufferings among the Indians in Ohio and Michigan. In conse
quence of bitter persecutions in Ohio, the Christian Indians, with
their missionaries, Heckewelder and Sensiman, came to Michigan
and spent the winter of 1779-80, enduring vast sufferings. After
this, Sensiman went to Canada to reside. Mrs. Harvey became a
Christian, when she was very young, and joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church in Canada. The family subsequently removed to
Michigan, and constituted the principal part of the Church here, as
reorganized by Mr. Kent.

At the time of which we are now writing, the Society worshiped,
for the most part, about two miles out of the village, although the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2 1 1

ministers preached in the village. The Church did not secure a
permanent footing in the village until February, 1832, when a revival
occurred under the labors of Rev. James W. Finley, who was then
on the Circuit, and was assisted by Rev. Henry Colclazer, then sta
tioned in Detroit. It will be seen, from these facts, that the Method
ists were the pioneers of Protestantism in this part of the country,
although, after the war, the Presbyterian Church was instituted be
fore the reorganization of the Methodist Church, by a few months —
although this is disputed by some of their own authorities. But the
Methodist ministers were here, and doing what they could.

The Society organized before the War of 1812 was entirely
scattered by that event, as it was most bloody and ruthless in this
locality. But those days of blood and disaster have passed away,
we hope never to return again to this locality. Sturgeon River was
changed in name to the Raisin because of the vast quantities of
grapes to be found along its banks, although sturgeon still abound.
When the cloud of war had cleared away, the few inhabitants who
had escaped from the slaughter began to enter upon their peaceful
employments, and emigration was again directed hither. The storm
had passed, and the time of the singing of birds had come, and the
thoughts of the people were directed towards the services of religion
as a source of comfort and elevation.

The Presbyterian Church, it is said, was organized on the I3th
day of January, 1820, under the labors of Rev. Moses Hunter, as
sisted by Rev. John Monteith, who was minister in Detroit. The
Society embraced all the Protestant professors of religion belonging
in the village and adjacent country. The articles of faith were so
constructed as to admit of almost any one subscribing to them. This
Church has always, since that day, maintained a strong hold on the
public mind, and, by this same liberality of religious faith, have secured
to membership many who were Methodists in sentiment. Many of
the members have become wealthy. They built the first Protestant
house of worship in this city and county, which was done in 1831. It
was a small brick building.

The Methodist Church was reorganized, in the early part of
1821, by Rev. John P. Kent, as before stated, who was appointed to
Detroit Circuit in 1820. The place of meeting, for the most part,
was a little above the city, though Mr. Kent preached in the Court
House a part of the time. Although the articles of faith of the
sister Church were so liberal as to take in almost any one, they did
not care to encourage any other denomination. When Mr. Kent
first came to Monroe, and preached in the Court House, at the close

2 I 2 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of the service he stated that he was a stranger, and was appointed
to preach on the Circuit, and he would be glad if some of them
would offer him a place of entertainment. The congregation all
passed out without any one giving him such invitation. But Mrs.
Harvey, a widow lady, living a little out of the village, invited him to
go to her house. The invitation was accepted. She was a member
of the newly organized Presbyterian Church. The officers of that
Church, having a great care for the interests of their widowed sister,
appointed a committee, who waited on her, a few days after, and re
monstrated with her for affording him shelter, stating that she would
be ruined by it, they thought. But she thought otherwise. This
was at a time when hay was very scarce, and they urged that his
hc«rse would consume her hay to her ruin. But she disregarded the
remonstrance, and invited him to make his home at her house when
ever he had spare time, which he did, and she was not injured by it ;
for her hay, like the widow's meal, held out, as she told them it
would. The good lady thought, as he was a man of God, and worthy
of kind offices, she would continue to make him welcome at her
house. She was rewarded in the conversion of a gay and thought
less daughter. A better feeling now exists.

Monroe was made the head of a Circuit, that is, appears in the
minutes of appointments of the ministers, first in 1826, and Rev.
John A. Baughman was appointed to it. He was then a young
man, full of ardent zeal for his Master's work. The Circuit then
embraced all the settlements in Michigan south and west of Detroit,
and extended into Ohio. It required strong nerves and warm zeal
to travel it. But it was done, and the scattered settlements were
visited and supplied with the Word of Life. Mr. Baughman was
succeeded, in 1827, by Rev. George W. Walker, who labored for
two successive years on this Circuit. Mr. Walker was a convert
from Romanism ; was a man of a strong and vigorous mind, and
had a large and healthy frame. He was well suited to the work,
and labored with a good degree of success, but did not organize any
Society in the village. This was an error ; the country members
ought to have come to the village, and kept their organization in the
town.

MR. JOSEPH C GARWOOD was converted through Mr. Walker's
instrumentality, during the first year of his labor, but united with
the Presbyterian Church, stating, at the same time, that he did not
believe in their doctrines, and that, if there should be a Methodist
Society organized in the village, he would wish to unite with it. At
this time, through a mistaken policy, the Methodist Society held their

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2 I 3

Society meetings about two miles out of the village, because the
principal part of the members resided in that neighborhood, and were
well accommodated by that arrangement ; they had not learned the
importance of concentrating their forces where the greatest number
of people could be congregated.

Mr. Walker was returned to Monroe for a second year, with the
full expectation that his labors would be confined to the village ; for,
towards the close of the previous year, a Dr. Adams, who was a
member of the Methodist Church, had settled at Monroe, and was
very desirous to have Mr. Walker returned, and to have it made
into a Station, pledging himself for large things towards his support
The arrangements were made for a Station, and Mr. Walker was
returned. The Conference then, as it did until 1837, met in Ohio,
and Mr. Walker was absent for several weeks, during which time
Dr. Adams went over to the Romish Church, so, when he returned, he
found the plans had all been deranged. What influenced the Doctor
to take that step we will leave the readers to determine for them
selves, and content ourself by saying that a very large proportion of
the village and the surrounding country were of that faith. Patron
age is necessary for a physician's prosperity. In consequence of this
change it became necessary for Mr. Walker to take in the Circuit,
and postpone the establishment of the Church in the village. He
served the Circuit faithfully and well, performing great labor, and
enduring much privation, exposure and suffering for the sake of the
cause. He was a man of a sound and deep Christian experience —
confiding in the atonement — and of much resolute perseverance.

We will take occasion, just here, to incorporate a little fuller
notice of the experience and life of Mr. Walker, which we think will
be quite acceptable. He was born in Maryland, November 26th,
1804. His father being a Roman Catholic, he was baptized in that
Church in his infancy, and was educated in that faith. His parents,
with him, emigrated to Ohio in 1810. Here, more out of curiosity
than for any other reason, his father purchased a Bible, which was
read, at first, in the same spirit of curiosity, and which resulted in the
conversion of his father, then of his mother, and, finally, of the whole
family. George was converted while young, and attached himself
to the Methodist Church, and entered the itinerant ministry in 1826.
He died in 1856, having been just thirty years in the active work of
the Christian ministry. In relation to his labors in this country, the
Official Minutes hold the following language : " Soon after his en
trance into the ministry, he was sent by the authorities of the Church
to Michigan. Two years he spent in that new and distant Territory,

2 1 4 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

exposed to numberless perils and privations. The West has not,
perhaps, opened a harder field of labor for an itinerant than Michi
gan at that period. But no swollen river, no dismal swamp, or
dangerous fen could daunt the lion-heart that beat in the bosom of
George W. Walker. He fulfilled his mission, and returned to Ohio."
He was a laborious and useful man — a man of more than ordinary
talents, and he commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew
him ; and those who knew him best esteemed him most highly. He
was honored by his conference with a seat in the General Conference
for several sessions, and he occupied some of the most important
Stations in the Ohio and Cincinnati Conferences.

One so devoted to his Master's work, as was Mr. Walker, might
be expected to find Divine consolation when he should be called to
contend with the rising waters of death ; so, in his last sickness, he
found religion to be a delightful support. He often adopted this
prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O God!" frequently adding that
sweet stanza,

" Take my poor heart, and let it be
Forever closed to all but Thee;
Seal Thou my breast, and let me wear
That pledge of love forever there."

He died, in great peace, in the fifty-second year of his age.

There was a regular succession of ministers, without any special
change in the aspect of things in the village — now city — of Monroe,
until in February, 1832, when, under the labors of James W. Finley,
assisted by Rev. H. Colclazer, then of Detroit, a very precious,
though not very extensive revival occurred, and the Society became
firmly established in the village. Several persons had settled here
during the fall and winter, who were Methodists, and desired to be
recognized as members of this Church. Now, Mr. Joseph C. Garwood
immediately united with this Church, according to his declared pur
pose, at the time he united with the Presbyterian Church, about three
years before. We add here a brief memoir of him.

Mr. Garwood was a very quiet and unpretentious mechanic, but
a man of good sound sense and consistent piety. By industry at the
anvil and good economy he acquired a handsome property, and
became, pecuniarly, a very important factor in the Church. He was
a faithful Christian, attending very constantly on the social meetings
of the Church, and contributing of his influence for the advancement
of the cause. He died of the cholera, July I2th, 1854, and has gone
to receive his rest in Heaven. He was a faithful mechanic and
Christian, but has been called by the Great Master from the labors

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 215

of earth to the refreshments of the Heavenly Home. The accession
of Mr. Garwood to the Church at this time, he being a permanent
citizen, may be regarded as the real beginning of the permanent
establishment of the Methodist Church in the place. Most of the
other men, who helped to compose the Church here, were rather
migratory, and did not add very much to their ability to maintain
the Gospel. They were willing enough to sustain the interests of
the Church, but they were poor as well as migratory. They did what
they could, but he could do and did more than they. When Mr.
Garwood deceased, he left a wife and eight children, three sons and
five daughters. One of the daughters has since become the wife of a
missionary, and has gone to Peking, China.

At the time James W. Finley was sent to this Circuit — 1830 —
it extended from Defiance, in Ohio, to Tecumseh and Adrian, requir
ing vast labor and exposure to accomplish the rounds on it, but he
persevered, for two years, through all difficulties — though the Circuit
was much diminished the second year. He was a man of a thorough
Christian experience, and he was fired with an ardent zeal for the sal
vation of the people. These elements in his character led him to brave
the most formidable difficulties, to perform his assigned work. In a
Circuit so extensive as his was the first year, one break in the chain
of appointments must occasion several, hence, whatever might be
the condition of the unbridged streams, he felt he must go. On one
occasion, being at Fort Defiance, and having his chain of appoint
ments, extending off into Michigan, to meet, he determined to go,
notwithstanding the Auglaze River, which he had to cross, was high
and the ice very unsafe to cross on, he set forward on horseback ;
but, before he reached the opposite shore, the ice gave way, and let
them both into. the deep water, where they remained for two hours
or more, struggling for life, until both nearly perished with cold.
When he finally reached the shore, there was no human habitation
near, where he could find shelter. Wet and cold, as he was, he had
to set out on an Indian trail. After some time he came to a Potta-
watamie wigwam, where the squaw afforded him such help and com
fort as she could. He and his horse must have perished had it not
been for this kind relief. These exposures and labors were too much
for his physical condition, and, towards the close of his second year,
his health failed. He went into Ohio and then into Kentucky, but
never fully recovered from the shock of these years.

REV. JAMES W. FINLEY, nephew of Rev. James B. Finley, was
born in Ohio, December 24th, 1800. He was converted to God
while young, and, in the twenty-second year of his age, he gave him-

2 I 6 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

self up fully to the work of the ministry. He was possessed of very
respectable preaching abilities and of such amiability of character as
to endear him to all who knew him. His intense and extensive
labors prostrated him, and brought him to his grave prematurely.
He died in June, 1838. In regard to the closing period of his life,
we find the following notes in the Official Minutes : " In the midst of
great sufferings, God sustained him ; and, when gasping for breath,
he would say, 'What peace I feel!' To his weeping mother and
family he exclaimed, just as he expired, ' Oh! how precious the Lord
is to my soul ! Glory! Glory!' ' He has gone, but his works fol
low him.

Mr. Finley was succeeded, in 1832, by Elijah H. Pilcher and
Einathan C. Gavit, and it was still a four-week's Circuit, and they
preached in Monroe only every other Sabbath. They occupied the
Court House still. The next year, that is, in the autumn of 1833,
the extent of the field was diminished, and it was so arranged as to
have preaching in Monroe every Sabbath, and E. H. Pilcher and
William Sprague were appointed to it. They were both single, and,
in order to carry out the plan of supply, they hired a room in the
Court House, at their own charges, and lodged there when in the
village, there being no place among the members where they could
find a home. This plan they carried out for one half of the year.
The Lord revived His work to some extent, and a considerable
accession of strength to the Church occurred. During this year
preliminary steps were taken towards building a church. Trustees
were appointed, and a religious incorporation was created, and
a lot contracted for, and an interest on the subject created ; but
the Church was not built, or completed, until 1838, under the min
istry of James F. Davidson, who was in the Station, for it had been
created a Station, and under his labors a very precious revival of
religion occurred, which added considerable strength to the Church
In the meantime, several Methodist families had settled here, as Hon
Ira Mayhew, Julius D. Morton, and some other families.

The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1831. Rev,
John O'Brien made the following entry in the Parish Register: "I
took charge of Trinity Church, Monroe, Michigan, in December,
1831, at which period there were only three persons who could be
considered communicants." It was then, and continued to be for
several years after, a Mission Station. They erected a small, neat
church in 1832. They have increased, and now have a fine stone
church.

A small Baptist Church was organized in 1833, but was dis-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2 I 7

banded in a few years. They, however, have reorganized, but, for
some reason, have not become strong. A German Lutheran Church
was established for the benefit of the large number of Germans who
had settled here, and they have increased so that a second church
has been established.

It is proper to introduce a brief notice of one living minister,
who was connected with the work in this city, and, though he has
supplied many appointments, and has had many revivals, there seems
to us to be no place more appropriate to introduce him than this.
We refer to Rev. JAMES F. DAVIDSON, than whom there is no man
who has been more faithful and true to his work, never having failed
to respond to his name at roll-call at Conference since he first
entered the itinerancy in 1831, and never having failed to take and
supply an appointment since that time ; and to-day appears as vigor
ous and able to work in the ministry as he ever was.

Mr. Davidson was descended from Irish parents, and was born
on the ocean, on the passage over, in 1810. His father settled in
Ohio, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, where our subject was brought up.
He was converted to God in his youth, and joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Feeling himself called to the work of the minis
try, he was admitted to the Ohio Conference, on trial, in 1831, and
was appointed to the Oxford Circuit, in the Miami District, in Ohio.
The next year, 1832, he was appointed to Tecumseh Circuit, in
Michigan. He has remained in Michigan ever since, filling Circuits,
Stations, and Districts. He was appointed to Monroe Station in
September, 1836, and continued for two years. It was during this
time that he had the revival before mentioned. At the end of his
term, he reported one hundred and twelve members for the city. This
was the first report for the city as separated from the Circuit. The
next year, that is, 1838, he was appointed to Coldwater Circuit, on
which he had a very gracious revival, and many members were added
to the Church in the Village of Coldwater. In 1841, he was appointed
Presiding Elder of the Kalamazoo District, which he worked efficient
ly for four years. He has always been a man of industry in his work,
and has been the means of bringing great numbers of people into
Church. He has served the Church for forty-six consecutive years,
without any interruption for any cause, and bids fair to continue so
for many years to come.

The Presbyterian Church has become very numerous, having a
fine and valuable Church property; and the Methodist Church has
built, on the same old lot, a large and very beautiful Church, with all

2l8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the conveniences and appliances for Sabbath School and other Church
work.

The English-speaking denominations are numerically, according
to the reports for 1876, as follows: Presbyterians, 262; Protestant
Episcopalians, 85; Methodists, 160; Baptists, 98.

ST. CLAIR is the next place to be considered as it appears on
our Minutes of the Conferences. It was first placed in the list of
appointments in 1824, and was supplied from the Genesee Confer
ence this year. The Canada Conference was created by authority
of the General Conference of 1824, and St. Clair was included in
that Conference for 1825, but, in 1826, it was included in the Ohio
Conference, and was called a Mission. It surely could not have re
ceived much support from the Missionary Society. As it was used
at this date, the name did not signify any particular locality, but the
country watered by that noble river. The principal points in the
Circuit was the settlement opposite the upper end of Walpole Island,
known then as Point de Chaine, but since known as Algonac.
There was a small settlement at Belle River, now known as Marine
City, and one, a little farther up, at Pine River, where the City of St.
Clair now stands, and another, still farther up, at Black River, now
the City of Port Huron.

Although this is the first appearance of the name in our
Minutes, it was not the beginning of the work, as it had been visited
as early as 1817, and continued to be visited by ministers, occasion
ally, from that time forward, both from Canada and from the Detroit
Circuit, and classes were organized. We have been furnished with
an exact copy of a class-paper, which bears date December 2Oth,
1824, which has the following on one side, and the names of the mem
bers on the other: " Class-paper for the 2d class on the St. Clair
river. John K. Smith, Leader. Wm. Griffes, Jr., Preacher." This
shows the method of keeping our Church records, in most Circuits,
in those days. The class-paper, above-referred to, contains the fol
lowing names, viz : John K. Smith, leader ; Charlotte Smith, Charles
Phillips, Derutia Phillips, Catherine Harrow, George Harrow, Mary
Grummond, Jacob G. Streite, Sarah Robeson, Rachel Ward ; and
then, near the bottom, separated from the rest, is this, included in
brackets, " Colored, Harry Sanders." There are eleven members at
that date. How long the Society had existed, prior to this date, we
have not been able to ascertain ; but it had existed ; for on the paper
it shows that a class-meeting was held on the i Qth of December, and
the attendance of the members is marked, and several of the mem
bers are marked as absent, which would not have been the case if the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 219

Society, or Church, had been first organized on that day. The So
ciety was located at what is now Algonac.

Mr. Smith was the most prominent man in the community at
that time and for many years after. It was our pleasure to make
his acquaintance, first, in February, when we attended Quarterly
Meeting there in company with Rev. James Gilruth, who was the
Presiding Elder. That acquaintance was renewed in 1842, when we
were appointed in charge of Detroit District, which still included
this part of the country. We found him to be a man of ability and
piety, and a decided Methodist. He was a very worthy Christian
gentleman. He died in peace, after having served the Church faith
fully, for many years, as class-leader and trustee and Circuit steward.

We have also in our possession a copy of a subscription-paper
for building a church at this place. The paper and the subscriptions
are interesting. The paper runs thus :

" We, the undersigned, do agree to pay to a committee that
may be appointed by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the sums by
us subscribed, for the purpose of building a Methodist meeting
house at or near Point de Chaine, to be paid wrhen called upon.
January loth, A. D., 1830." The subscription ranges from one
dollar up to twenty, except a few items of shingles and lumber, de
scribed by the amount and not by the price. We find these two
items, which are interesting as showing the spirit of the times, viz :
"Laura Graham, $1.25, in sewing. Lucretia Peer, $1.25, in short
stockings. Paid/' There is one subscription of fifty cents, which is
the only one below one dollar.

The house was erected and enclosed, but never finished. They
managed the best they could with it for about twelve years, when a
new one was built and finished, and was dedicated in 1843. Mr.
Smith managed the financial part of the matter in both cases. This
last was enlarged, and finally substituted by a larger and more val
uable one.

Rev. James T. Donahoo was appointed to St. Clair, in 1826,
from the Ohio Conference. He found everything in a disorganized
state, as it had been left without a supply the previous year, and
there was no return of members, neither was there any plan fur
nished him. He had to search out the places, and organize every
thing. He attended to his work faithfully, and, at the next Confer
ence he reported thirty members. How many members he had to
begin with we have no means of knowing, and, consequently, we
have no means of determining the progress of the work this year.
The Circuit, embracing all the coast settlements, continued to be

220 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

known by this name until 1838, when it was diminished in extent by
the creation of the Port Huron Circuit, and the name was changed
to Palmer for a few years. It has since been trimmed down, so that
the charge of that name is confined to the City of St. Clair.

We here furnish a few facts relating to Rev. James T. Donahoo.
He was admitted into the traveling connection by the Ohio Confer
ence in 1821, consequently he had considerable experience at this
time. He was a man of respectable talents and good social habits,
sprinkled a little with oddity and Irish wit — for he was of Irish de
scent, and possessed, to some considerable extent, the proverbial
loquacity. He labored in Michigan only this one year, and returned
to Ohio. He continued in the itinerant work until 1848, when he
located.

Although St. Clair appears in the Minutes of appointments from
and after 1 824, the number of members increased very slowly, so that,
in 1840, there were only one hundred and seventy-eight members
reported for all this country. There were two reasons for this slow
growth ; one was found in the face of the country. Back from the
river the land was level, and not well adapted to agriculture, so the
settlements progressed slowly. The other reason was in the char
acter and occupation of the people. They were mostly poor, and
not disposed to religion, and were occupied in lumbering, fishing,
boating and hunting — employments not conducive to piety specially.
Societies had been established at Algonac, Newport, now Marine
City, at St. Clair, sometimes called Palmer, and at Port Huron, but
they were all feeble, and found it very difficult to support ministers.

St. Clair, at the Conference of 1827, was left to be supplied.
The supposition is, the Presiding Elder found some local preacher
who could do the work that year, or, possibly, no one was found to
fill it, as there was no report of members at the next Conference.
But the next year, that is, at the Conference of 1828 — Elias Pattee,
a very zealous pioneer, was appointed to it, and reported forty-nine
members at the end of the year. Mr. Pattee was succeeded, in 1829,
by Samuel A. Latta, who reported ninety-five membess at the Con
ference of 1830. This field was so separated from the other settled
portions of the country that it was a kind of exile to go to it, and it
required men of faith and courage to go to it and work it; but such
men were found, still it was too much to ask them to do this kind of
work for more than one year at a time.

We will take the liberty to introduce here a brief notice of Mr.
Latta and an incident connected with this work. Rev. Samuel A.
Latta was a healthy, stout, energetic man, and did his work well

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 221

He was a physician by profession, and left that for the ministry,
under the impression that he was called of God to this work. He
was admitted to the Ohio Conference in 1829, and this was his first
appointment. It was a pretty hard experience to begin with. He
was a man of talents, and capable of wielding a strong influence for
the cause of religion. His labors, after leaving Michigan, having
remained here but one year, were mostly in the vicinity of Cincin
nati, Ohio. In the division of the Church, and the organization of
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, growing out of the question
of slavery, he sympathized with the South, and united with that
Church in 1846. He has since died.

The following, taken from the Ladies' Repository for 1844,
written by Rev. Bishop Hamline, from the facts as related to him by
Dr. Latta, the young man referred to, will be read with great inter
est in this connection, as giving a good description of some of the
difficulties encountered in preaching the Gospel along the St. Clair
River.

A NIGHT ON THE LAKE.

" Perils await thee hour by hour —
Tempt not the deep alone."

In 1829, a young man just then admitted into the Ohio Confer
ence, was appointed to a domestic mission, which embraced the
borders of civilization in the northern part of Michigan Territory,
In such a climate where deep snow and extreme cold are com
panions of all the winter months, it was a severe service to travel
amongst the few new settlers, whose rude log cabins were thinly
scattered over an extensive forest region. These frequent and
formidable obstacles interrupted the traveler in his progress. Many
creeks and rivers were to be crossed, and at that time bridges were
very rare. Our young missionary had a vigorous constitution, great
muscular energy, and a purpose of soul in his Master's service which
led him to look at the labors and exposures of his appointed field
with a good degree of resolute composure.

He accomplished the service assigned him to the satisfaction of
all concerned ; but, at that early date, his physical condition, strong
as it was, suffered a blow from which it never recovered. He con
tinued for several years, under much embarrassment from feeble
health, to occupy more pleasant fields of labor, until, at the early age
of thirty-five, he was compelled to take his station amongst the
superannuated, without the least prospect of being restored to active
work.

222 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Amongst the trials of that year, several of which, as we have
heard him state them, would compare with the experiences of our
venerable fathers in the primitive days of Methodism, we select the
following, which is romantic in its features, and threatened a tragic
consummation. Its moral purpose is to illustrate, convincingly, the
care of Providence over blind, helpless and distressed mortals.

The field of this young man's labors bordered on Lake St. Clair.
His rides extended northward, also, on the American shore of the
strait which connects that smaller body of water with Lake Huron.
Some time during the year he had occasion to sail down the former
lake, along its western shore. As he was going aboard the schooner
in which he had taken passage, some of his acquaintances asked
permission to place under his protection three ladies who were bound
for the same point. They set sail. Toward evening the captain of
the vessel resolved to " lie to " during the night. He chose to
anchor off the mouth of Clinton River, about a mile distant from the
shore.

The passengers, of whom there were several, noticed a dark
cloud resting on the horizon ; and, from all observable portents, they
were led to expect a severe thunder-gust. Deeming the position of
the vessel unfavorable to endure a heavy blow, they became solicit
ous to get on shore. A short distance above the mouth of the river,
on its banks, was a comfortable inn. It was finally determined to
employ one of the schooner's hands to row them into the estuary,
and land them near the tavern. The boat was accordingly lowered ;
but several boorish gentlemen^ who had no ladies in their company
to care for, ungallantly leaped in till it was fully laden, and secured
the first trip, leaving the missionary, Mr. L[atta], and the ladies with
two strange gentlemen, to take their chance afterward.

Before the return of the boat it began to be quite dark; and
Mr. L[atta] became somewhat anxious lest the waterman, a garrulous
Frenchman, should not be able to strike the mouth of the river. He
was assured, however, with Galic volubility and positiveness, that
there was no difficulty. Taking counsel of their fears, as the threat
ening cloud now spread over the heavens, and the lightning began
to play on the surface of the lake, they trusted themselves to his
pilotage, and launched forth.

Thick dadkness shut in upon them suddenly. The Frenchman
rowed with might and main, as was supposed, towards the shore.
But when it was certain that he must have run the skiff far enough
to have reached the landing place, there were yet no tokens of land.
The whole company became uneasy, and hurriedly inquired if he

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 22J

was not wrong ; but he assured and re-assured them that he must
be right, and resolutely propelled the boat so much the faster to
convince them and himself that they were safe. Mr. L[atta] finally
warned him that the water was certainly getting deeper. Upon this*
after considering a little, the pilot himself became alarmed, and
finally announced that they were lost.

Lost! What a sound was that in the circumstances which sur
rounded them ! At first they could not realize their condition. But
the quick-thoughted missionary soon perceived the imminency, or at
least the extent of their exposure. He recollected that when they
dropped off from the vessel a light shone from the window of the
tavern, which he supposed would be the pilot's guide toward the
estuary. But now — whether by moving a lamp, or closing a blind,
or whether (which was probable enough) by the intervention of a
bluff, or a forest — no light could any longer be seen. In consider
ing the probability of missing their course, if they had bethought
themselves to secure a stationary light on the deck of the schooner,
to guide their return in case of such misadventure, all would have
been well. But they had forgotten that, and were forlorn of such
comforting resorts.

[So the sinner, in the midst of probationary means, urged by
friends, warned by Providence, and drawn by the Holy Spirit, too
often declines a preparation for the voyage. While near the cross,
and at liberty to apply its cleansing blood, and set up in his soul the
light of devotion enkindled there by the ever-blessed Spirit, he dis
regards the necessity of this wise provision. In the midst of this
forgetfulness death overtakes him. Stretched helpless on his uneasy
couch, he begins at length to look around. This is to him a new
point of observation ; and, O how it changes the aspects of sur
rounding scenes ! He is now on the ocean's shore. Its waters are
seen to be a boundless waste, and its surface, vexed by the fury of
the untempered storm, presents a scene most appalling to the soul.
Just launching forth on this sea of terrors, night closes in upon him.
The heavens are vailed in gathering clouds, which seem blended with
sin-avenging wrath! It is the wrath of dread Omnipotence pro
voked by years of crucifying scorn poured upon the long-suffering
Redeemer of mankind. He feels that it must be unrelenting wrath,
because it falls on an unrepenting victim. He looks once more
towards the cross ; but it recedes. No star of hope remains. He
exclaims, in husky tones, " There is no helpT At length his voice is
hushed, and his eyes are fixed in staring ghastliness. While the
signals of distress are 'hung out on every feature, expiring tremors

224 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

seize his frame — he groans despair, and dies. All else is

Let us fancy now, as nearly as we are able, the condition of the
missionary and his charge. The clouds had, by this time, spread
over the zenith, and covered the face of the heavens. The wind was
tempestuous. The short, broken billows of the lake began to toss
themselves angrily into every shape of danger. The livid lightning
ever and anon turned the thick darkness into a momentary blaze,
which, instead of revealing, as they hoped it might, the ship or the
shore, only gave them a glance of the surrounding terrors, and im
pressed on them more deeply than the boldest imagination could
have done, the appalling horror of their state. The rain fell in tor
rents, and a conflict seemed to transpire, in which the elements above
strove fiercely and wildly with the elements beneath. Then, truly,
"deep called unto deep at the noise of His water-spouts." One thing
only could be added to increase the terror of the scene, and that was
not long wanting. The Frenchman proved to be a most profane
wretch; and though he might have been, at first, somewhat cowered
by the discovery of his novel and sad condition, yet, gathering either
courage or despair, as the perils thickened around them, he began to
utter horrid oaths and imprecations, and, thenceforward became
furious and flagitious in his blasphemies in proportion as the dangers
multiplied. This is a picture of the hardening influence of sin. Pro-
crastinators often encourage themselves with the hope of being
urged to Christ by the near approach of death. Such an one re
cently died in this vicinity [Cincinnati], uttering this, among several
death-bed imprecations, " I feel as though I could curse Jesiis Christ
from His throne"

It soon became necessary to point the boat's bow so as to cross,
if possible, the fitful waves, and propel her, in some direction, amidst
the raging of the storm. The glare of the lightning, therefore, be
came of great importance ; for it enabled the poor Frenchman, whose
task was now a serious one, to hold the slender craft to what he
judged the safest point. It employed his utmost skill and energy to
avoid the troughs of the sea, and to move forward so as to reduce the
chances of swamping, in which they were, every moment, in great
danger. This wicked man labored incessantly at the oar for four
weary hours, more or less, and all that time none could form the least
conjecture which way they were sailing, whether parallel with the
shore, inclining towards it, or (as they ultimately judged most proba
ble) out into the stormy bosom of the lake. At length, after suffering
no little apprehension on his own account, as well as for his fellow-
passengers (and, most of all, for those affrighted females who had

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 225

been committed to his protection, and whom it became his duty to
encourage by suggestions which scarcely sustained his own hope of
deliverance) Mr. L. insisted that an attempt must be made to change
their course. They had sailed far enough, as he believed, to prove
that they were not approaching the shore at an inclination which
promised them relief; and, although the danger of "coming about"
was extreme, he urged it as affording the only chance of escape.
After much demurring, the effort was made. By the mercy of Provi
dence it succeeded. They endeavored, on their new tack, not ex
actly to reverse their former course, but, diverging from it as far as
the running waves would permit, they called into requisition all the
strength that remained in the now exhausted oarsman, and pushed
ahead.

About midnight they perceived, from the tokens of shallow
water, that they must be nearing land ; and not long afterwards the
suffering females, drenched in the rain and spray, almost senseless
through fear, were conveyed, in a helpless condition, to the shore,
which they reached five miles below the mouth of the river, where
the schooner was at anchor. The gentlemen themselves, who in
turns engaged in unlading the boat of the water she took from
the dashing of the waves, were far enough from suffering no ex
haustion, yet, unlike the ladies, they were able to stand and walk.
On calculating, as nearly as they could, the courses they sailed
and the time they were lost, the conclusion was, the boat had
pushed out seven or eight miles from the shore. Reviewing all
the circumstances, it appeared to them a special providence that
the skiff had not only been kept adrift, but, (what was still more
admirable), that in the tossings and alarms of so dark and stormy
a night, none so far lost their presence of mind as to miss their
hold, and plunge into the sea.

The next day these sufferers were restored to the comforts
and fellowships of life, but were soon separated, to meet, if not
before, at the judgment seat of Christ, where the blasphemous
Frenchman, the two strangers, the suffering females, and the mis
sionary who strove to cheer and comfort them in danger, all merci
fully preserved by an interposing Providence, will appear, to
render their last account, and receive their final doom.

We will add that Mr. L. closed this narrative in some such
words as the following : " Even to this late hour, as often as mem
ory wanders back to that night of raging tempests, and dwells
upon its scenes of unimaginable horror, my heart sinks within me,
and my blood seems almost to curdle in my veins."

226 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

How significant are the following familiar lines in connection
with the narrative :

" Once on the raging seas I rode,

The storm was loud — the night was dark,
The ocean yawned — and rudely blow'd

The wind, that toss'd my found'ring bark ;
Deep horror then my vitals froze.

Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem ;
When suddenly a star arose —

It was the star of Bethlehem.

" It was my guide, my light, my all —

It bade my dark forbodings cease ;
And through the storm and danger's thrall,

It led me to the port of peace.
Now safely moor'd, my perils o'er,

I'll sing, first in night's diadem,
Forever and forever more,

The star— the star of Bethlehem."

We have given the foregoing article in full because it is both
interesting and profitable to read.

The circumstances which led to sending a Methodist missionary
to the St. Clair country, in 1826, were these : Presbyterian mission
aries had been sent there, from time to time, who had had little suc
cess among the people, and the appointment having been left by
the Canada Conference, some gentlemen on the river having had
some information in regard to the influence of Methodism in reform
ing men, wrote to Rev. William Simmons, stationed at Detroit, and
having charge of Detroit District, requesting a Methodist preacher
to be sent to them, and pledging fifty dollars towards his support.
The gentlemen, whose names Mr. Simmons is not now able to
recall, stated that they had received a favorable impression with
regard to the influence of Methodist preachers, and stated that
their Sabbaths were spent in horse-racing, drinking, gambling, and
other demoralizing practices ; and that they felt an interest in the
religious welfare of the people. The letters were laid before the
Bishop at the Conference in 1826; fifty dollars were appropri
ated from the Missionary Society, and Rev. James T. Donahoo
was sent, as before stated, who labored, and gathered a few mem
bers. The people said to those in authority in the Church that he
accomplished more in one year, at a cost of only fifty dollars to
the Missionary Society, than the Presbyterian ministers had done
in the same region, at an expense of twelve thoiisand dollars. Mr.
Simmons states that he was told this on what he considered good
authority. This application to Mr. Simmons fora preacher was made

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 22/

in the summer of 1826. It is no wonder that even irreligious men
often desire to have religious services in the place where they reside,
as a matter of self-protection, for there is such a reforming power in
the Gospel of Christ that even those who do not become experi
mental Christians are elevated and improved by it. The statement
of those gentlemen as to the character and practices of the people,
furnishes a reason for the slow progress of the Church in this region.
But, notwithstanding the difficulties, the Church made progress, and
triumphed over many obstacles.

We state with pleasure that other denominations have estab
lished Churches at all the chief points along the river, as Presbyteri
ans, Baptists, Congregationalists, though the last, according to a plan
of union, were included in Presbyterian Churches, until 1842, and
Protestant Episcopalians.

In what was originally St. Clair Circuit, there are now thirteen
charges — Methodists — supplied with ministers, embracing i ,600 mem
bers, having fine and valuable churches. The Presbyterians, finally,
all became Congregationalists, and they number 385 members.
The Protestant Episcopalians number 141, exclusive of Port Huron,
which was organized in 1840, and probably, numbers about 100
members at the present time. The Baptists number 296 members.
These numbers are taken from the statistical reports for 1876.

In the meantime there has been a great change in the country.
The forests have been cleared away; roads have been made and
improved; railroads have been constructed; farms have been opened
and cultivated ; the rude log house has given place to frame and
brick; school-houses have been erected and occupied, and Christian
civilization has been advanced ; villages have been created and two
flourishing cities have grown up, where, then, there were only the lum
berman's rude camps. It is pleasant to contemplate that Christianity
has kept pace, at least, with the increase of population. The power
of Christianity is felt and acknowledged.

Ann Arbor has assumed such importance that it will justify a
brief history or sketch of the place before writing its religious his
tory. ANN ARBOR — what is it, and where is it? It is the county
seat of Washtenaw County, situated on the Huron River, about forty
miles west from Detroit. It is an incorporated city and the seat of
the Michigan University. It is well laid out, and tastefully and
beautifully ornamented with trees, shrubs, and gardens. It is a most
beautiful, healthful, and inviting town, surrounded by a rich and well
cultivated farming country. But it is not purposed now to write
any more of its topography and history than is necessary to give a

228 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

general idea of the place. The first location or purchase of land
from the General Government was made in February, 1824, by John
Allen, Esq. He associated with him Mr. Walker Rumsey. They
brought their families here the same year. They immediately laid
out a village, and, in honor of their wives, they named it Ann Arbor
— for Mrs. Allen's name was Ann, and Mrs. Rumsey's was Mary
Ann. The Arbor part of the name was suggested by the beautiful
grove of burr oaks which stood upon the spot. Some of the oaks
still remain as ornaments and witnesses of the past. Christianity
was early introduced, or, rather, in its services it nearly came with
the people, for the first settlers had hardly become established in
their new and rude habitations before the minister of the Lord Jesus
presented himself, and offered them the Bread of Life.

Rev. John A. Baughman, then in his youth and the vigor of his
Christian ministry, was appointed to Detroit Circuit, which embraced
all the settlements in Michigan outside of the city, in 1825. Some
time in November of that year he visited Ann Arbor, and stopped
with Colonel Allen, father of John Allen, Esq., lately come from
Virginia, and preached in his house. The family were not Meth
odists, but they received the messenger of peace with all gladness,
and entertained him hospitably. He remained several days, and
preached every evening. This was the first introduction of religious
services into this place. The Circuit was so extensive that he could
not make this place a regular appointmentment, especially as there
were no members of the Methodist Church residing here. In the
spring of 1826, Rev. William Simmons, who was stationed in Detroit,
and had charge of Detroit District, visited Ann Arbor, and preached
for them. After the visit of Mr. Baughman, reading meetings were
established as a substitute for preaching, until they could secure the
services of the living minister, which they did in 1826.

The first Christian Church organized in Ann Arbor was Pres
byterian. It was constituted, August 2ist, 1826, by Rev. Noah M.
Wells acting as Moderator, and Rev. Ira Dunning, acting as Secre
tary. It consisted, at the time, of seventeen members. Rev. William
Page, a Presbyterian minister, who had come here to reside, not
intending to devote himself entirely to the ministry, was employed
as their first minister, as a stated supply.

In the. spring of 1827, a Mr. Brown, who had two daughters —
young ladies, who were Methodists, settled here. On their way out
from Detroit, these young ladies found a newspaper containing a
notice of a Camp Meeting, signed by Z. H. Coston, Presiding Elder,
which was to be held in the vicinity of Detroit. They immediately

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 2 29

addressed a note to Mr. Coston requesting him to send some one to
preach and organize a Methodist Society or Church. In compliance
with this request, Mr. Coston directed Mr. Baughman, who was in
charge of Monroe Citcuit, to visit Ann Arbor again, and if practica
ble to organize a Society, and to supply them with preaching. Mr.
Baughman came, and on the 2Qth day of July, 1827, organized a
Society consisting of Eber White, Harvey Kinney, Hannah B.
Brown, Rebecca G. Brown and Calvin Smith. Mr. Smith was only
a transient person, but gave his name to help form the class, and
never met with them but once after that day. This was a small be
ginning, still it was equal to the first Methodist Society formed on
this continent, and God was in the movement. This place was made
an appointment in the Monroe Circuit for the first half of the next
year, beginning in September, 1827, and George W. Walker was
the preacher, but for the last half of the year, it was included in
Detroit Circuit, John Janes was the preacher. But in 1828 a new
Circuit was organized called Huron, which included Ann Arbor, and
it so continued for the next year. Not one of these original mem
bers now remains here. Eber White was the last one. He resided
on a farm just a little west of the village, and occupied the same
farm till his death, which occurred but recently. He was a very
quiet, good man. Harvey Kinney was a young man in the family
of Esquire Brown, and did not remain long. Hannah B. Brown, a
young lady of deep and earnest piety, of a strong and well cultiva
ted mind, in a little over a year united her fortunes and labors with
Rev. John Janes. Soon after her marriage with Mr. Janes she re
moved with her husband to Ohio, and shared with him for many
years, the privations and responsibilities of an itinerant life. Well
was she qualified for the post, and well and faithfully did she per
form her part while he lived, and survived him, still to do good and
bless the Church for several years.

Mrs. Janes was converted at her home in the State of New
York, in 1825, and immediately connected herself with the Method
ist Church. She did this at a time when it required some courage to
do so. Her father was a professed Universalist, and her mother
was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a very good woman.
She was glad to have her daughter pious, and was not very particu
lar as to what Church she should be united with. The young lady
herself was very decided in her Methodistic predilections. The
Methodist doctrines and usages pleased her ; especially the doctrine
of entire consecration and holiness. She very beautifully exempli-

230 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

fied in her life, " the beauty of holiness," and by her life as well as
by her words, commended it to others.

Rebecca G. Brown, a younger sister, was a young lady of much
more than ordinary intellectual ability, and had enjoyed good advan
tages for mental culture, for the times. These cultivated powers
she consecrated to God on the altar of religion under the Method^
istic form. She was brought to experience the renewing grace of
God at a meeting near Middleport, New York, in 1826. She conse
crated her whole soul to the work, and shortly after her conversion,,
she found by happy experience, that " the blood of Jesus Christ
cleanseth from all sin," and like her sister, became a strong advo
cate for Christian purity. Under the influence of such an experi
ence she became a very active and useful member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. She felt herself fully identified with the interests
and fortunes of the Church. The class and prayer meetings were
her delight, and to labor in the Sabbath School afforded food to her
soul. Her activity occasionally provoked the censure of the inactive,
because it was a standing reproof to them. When in the congrega
tion her very presence was an inspiration to the minister, because
she was such an attentive and interested hearer, and because her
soul was so absorbed in fervent prayer for the success of the
Word. She had engaged herself to share the fortunes and trials of
a young and active itinerant preacher — Rev. L. D. Whitney — but
before the nuptials were celebrated, she was stricken down by the
hand of death — was called by her Heavenly Father from labor
to reward. She died in great peace and holy triumph, May 8th,
1834. Her dust sleeps in the cemetery at Ann Arbor.

The first Methodist prayer meeting here was held very soon
after the organization of the Church in 1827 Harvey Kinney,
Hannah B. Brown, Rebecca G. Brown, and Lemuel Brown a lad
about twelve years of age and a brother of the two sisters, and not
then a professor of religion, but since a member and local preacher,
were the only persons present. The second was attended by about
the same number of persons. But these young persons were deci
ded, though not bigoted Methodists, advocating with calm dignity,
the duty of Christians to love God with all their hearts, and so per
severed in their work that God gave them success. Sarah J. Brown,
another of the same family, was the first person converted here
through Methodist labors, and the first person who joined the Church
on trial. She joined the Church on trial, in February, 1828, and ex
perienced an evidence of pardon in May, following. She, probably,
was the first person converted in the town and the first to join a

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 231

Church on profession of faith. She became very active and devoted
in the cause. Having a ready flow of language, she generally took
an active part in social meetings. She was never possessed of very
robust health, but her health so failed that she was for many years
confined to her bed, and lingered as a monument of God's abound
ing grace. She was confined to her room, and mostly to her bed for
twenty years, but all this time she rejoiced in God and suffered with
out a murmur.

The Circuit was so arranged in 1827, as to supply preaching
here once in two weeks on the Sabbath ; and continued so till 1833,
when it was made into what was called a half station. A part of the
time it was supplied with only one and a part of the time with two
preachers. When it was made a half station it was supplied with
two preachers, and it was so arranged that one of them should be in
the village every Sabbath, that is, they rotated so as that one of
them should be here two successive Sabbaths, and the other for the
same length of time. This arrangement continued for two years,
when it was made a full station.

The Society received considerable accession of strength in the
spring of 1828, by the coming in of Christopher Gee and his family,
he himself and six of his family were members of the Church. In the
autumn of the same year, Dr. Benjamin H. Packard settled here, he
and his wife being active members. Not far from the same time
David Page and a daughter, being active workers, united by letter.
These were further strengthened soon after by Ezra Maynard and
wife, and a few others whose names do not appear. Mr. Maynard
and wife had been members of the Presbyterian Church at the East,
but chose now to identify themselves with Methodism. Mr. Page was
father of Rev. William Page, the Presbyterian minister here at the
time, but he was a decided Methodist and was soon appointed class-
leader, an office which he had long held in Vermont. He was of
great value to the Church at this time. All the individuals named
above as having been added to the Church at this period have gone
to reap their reward for their works of faith and labors of love.
For the year 1828, it was supplied by Benjamin Cooper, a very quiet
and sweet-spirited man, who did little else than to organize the Cir
cuit and put it in form. At the Conference in September, 1829, L.
B. Gurley, now of the North Ohio Conference, was appointed to
Huron Circuit. During the winter of 1829-30, he had a revival in
Ann Arbor, which resulted in adding considerable strength to the
Society. Mr. Gurley was a man of power both in the pulpit and in
his social habits. Among the persons converted at this revival was

232 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

a lad about fourteen years of age — very interesting, and who was as
firm and decided a Christian as anyone of mature years. Great
hopes were entertained that he would become a useful laborer in the
Church, but the Head of the Church was pleased to take him home
early, for William Barr died in great peace in December, 1831. Mr.
Gurley remained only one year. A strong effort had been made to
secure a man of some age from the Genesee Conference to be
transferred, but the effort failed, for, though the man had given some
encouragement that he would come, he finally declined and they had
to be content with the young men sent from Ohio.

At the Conference in September, 1830, the name was changed
and Ann Arbor appears on the list of appointments for the first time.
Henry Colclazer and Elijah H. Flicker, the former only twenty-one
years of age and the latter much younger, were appointed to it
They felt that they were supplied with boys indeed. But, if they
were young, they had zeal, and filled the appointments, and had
some revival and accessions to the Church. How well they per
formed their work is not for us to say, as they are both still living,
and in the effective work, the former in the Wilmington Conference,
and the latter in the Detroit Conference, having always remained in
Michigan. There were some very valuable accessions to the Church
this year. Among these was Maria Maynard, a young lady of fine
mind and well cultivated, who became very useful in the Church.
She experienced very strong convictions for sin at a quarterly meet
ing held in Ann Arbor, where she resided, in the early part of the
year, but did not then obtain salvation from sin. A few days after
this the junior preacher called at the residence of a married sister,
where she happened to be visiting ; and after some conversation with
them on the subject of a religious experience, he prayed with them
before leaving. During the prayer she was brought into the light
and liberty of the Gospel. She united with the Church, January 2d,
1831. She lived happily and usefully, and died in Christian triumph,
some years after.

One thing is very agreeable to notice, that is, down to the
present period no disastrous circumstance has ever happened to this
Church. They have had their perplexities, but no great division or
rupture has been occasioned in the process of administering Christian
discipline. Its course has been steadily onward — regularly progress
ive. It is well to observe that, from the time the name appears on
our Minutes, there has been a regular circumscribing of the bounda
ries of the charge, until it came to embrace only the village in 1835.
Ann Arbor had acquired so much notoriety and Methodistic im-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 233

portance as to be made the head of a District in 1835, and Henry
Colclazer was appointed in charge of it. Until this time it had been
included in Detroit District.

Various seasons of revival have been enjoyed, from which much
good has resulted. But, perhaps, at no time has there been so ex
tensive a work, in proportion to the population, and productive of so
much good, as the one which occurred in 1837-8, beginning in Decem
ber, 1837, and running on through the year. One hundred and eigh
teen, in all, united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a large
number with the Presbyterian Church. The revival was productive of
a vast amount of good. The good did not consist, altogether, in the
number of persons who were converted, reclaimed, and brought into
the Church, though that was great, but partly in the persons converted.
Judson D.Collins, a small lad, who afterwards became our first mission
ary to China, of whom a full sketch will be given below, Isaac F. Collins,
late a member of the Kansas Conference, now deceased, were con
verted at this time. Walter D. Collins, who became an active and
successful missionary among the Indians and in Texas, for a number
of years, was reclaimed, he having been converted, a few years be
fore, but, trying to live out of the Church, lost his piety. These
three brothers united with the Church in Ann Arbor in the month
of March, 1838, and have since died in holy triumph. We would not
arrogate to ourselves the whole of the credit of this revival ; for,
though it commenced in the Methodist Church, it was transferred to
the Presbyterian Church, and carried on as a union work. They had
just completed their church, and, in connection with the dedication,
they had engaged a Mr. Parker, an evangelist, to labor for a time.
The Methodists cheerfully joined with them in the work, as their
place of worship was much the largest. Mr. Pilcher went heartily
into the work, and, when the union was closed, he held meetings, for
a short time, in his own church, and carried with him a large pro
portion of the converts. The Presbyterians had a valuable acces
sion. Mr. Parker had one peculiarity in his instructions to seekers,
which Mr. Pilcher found it necessary, in a quiet way, to counter
act, that was, he required them to say that they were willing to be
damned — that they felt so when they submitted themselves to Christ
It seemed absurd that a man who was anxious to be saved should be
willing to be damned.

The building of a church was found to be a desideratum for sev
eral years, but was not undertaken until in the spring of 1837, under
the labors of Rev. Peter Sharp. Some preparations for the work
had been previously made. The basement of the church was made

234 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ready for use in November, 1837, and its occupancy was followed by
the glorious revival before mentioned. The body of this church was
not finished until in the summer of 1839, under the labors of Rev.
Elijah Crane. This year the Michigan Conference held its session
here for the first time. The dedication services were performed on
the first day of the session, in the afternoon. The sermon was
preached by Jonathan E. Chaplin, since deceased. The majestic and
venerable Bishop Soule attended this Conference, and was invited to
attend the dedicatory services. As he was on his way to the church,
Rev. Henry Colclazer, Presiding Elder of the District, said to him,
" Bishop ! Perhaps I ought to say to you that the choir have taken
great pains to prepare music for the occasion, and will have one or
two instruments to assist them." As quick as the Bishop heard that,
he whirled on his heel, saying, "Go on, brethren, and dedicate your
church. I will have nothing to do with it." This is the same Bishop
Soule, who, a few years after, could affiliate with the South on the
subject of slavery, and give his influence to a division of the Church.
He could strain at this gnat and swallow that camel. This session
of the Conference was of great interest to our cause. Bishop Soule
preached a most eloquent and powerful sermon on Sabbath morning.
William L. Harris, now Bishop, was admitted into full connection,
and ordained Deacon, at this Conference, and so was Lorenzo Davis,
the second Michigan convert who had entered our ministry.

Ann Arbor was made a station in 1835, an<^ Thomas Wiley
was appointed to it. His health was not very firm at the time, but
soon began to decline and he died on the 4th of April, 1836, in the
thirtieth year of his age, beloved in the Church, and respected by all.
During his sickness when asked as to his state, his uniform answer
was " Peace." He had not been quite five years in the ministry hav
ing been admitted into the Ohio Conference in September, 1831.
Mr. Wiley having died, Rev. Goodwin Stoddard, a superanuated
member of the Oneida Conference was employed by the Presiding
Elder to fill the remainder of the year. The number of members
returned this year was 136. Hitherto, this place had been connected
with country appointments, and this is the first report of members
for the village alone.

At the Conference in September, 1836, Peter Sharp was ap
pointed to this charge. Mr. Sharp is still living. He was succeeded
in September, 1837, by Elijah H. Pilcher. He remained but one
year, having been appointed Presiding Elder of Marshall District,
and in September, 1838, Elijah Crane was appointed, and remained
two years, and he was succeeded, in 1840, by Jonathan Hudson.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 235

Both of these last were good, pious men, and rendered effective
service, and are both dead.

It is not important to follow minutely the fortunes and labors of
this Church. Suffice it to say, they have labored much — have had
many seasons of revival, have now a very large and beautiful church,
corresponding with the growth of the city — for it is now a city —
and the demands of the great State University located within the
city. The present numbers will be furnished below. There is also
a German Methodist Episcopal Church, included in the statistics
below at 85.

We have already said thata Presbyterian Church was organized
in 1826. They, in a short time, erected a small frame church, being
the first Protestant church built west of Wayne County. That gave
way to a larger and more elegant one, dedicated January or February,
1838, and that, again, has been superseded by a large, commodious,
and beautifully finished one. The Society has advanced in numbers
and wealth.

The Protestant Episcopal Parish was organized in 1827, and
has worked and grown. They are now occupying the second church,
which is a valuable stone structure, and they are commanding a wide
influence in the city.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1832, and now have a
good, though not elegant house of worship. They have, more re
cently, organized a second church, which is very small.

The Congregational Church was not organized until March,
1847, the Congretional members, prior to that time, having been
absorbed in the Presbyterian Church. But, at this time, there were
some difficulties in the administration of Church discipline, which
made a favorable opportunity for them to separate, and they availed
themselves of it. They are now occupying the second church which
they have erected. This is a costly stone structure, beautifully lo
cated in front of the University Campus.

The statistics of the different Churches we now furnish from
the reports as given in for 1876. We give them in the order of
organization : Presbyterians, 342 ; Methodist Episcopals, 700 ; Pro
testant Episcopals, 228 ; Baptists, 264 ; Congregationalists, 263 ;
African Methodist Episcopals, 59.

It is right to take into the account that these Churches all have
their Sabbath Schools corresponding, somewhat, with their member
ship, in estimating the amount of Church work which they are ac
complishing. What an army of children and youth, for a city of this
size, are being trained every Sabbath !

236 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

We here insert the official memoir of one who was converted at
Ann Arbor, and whose whole religious life was, in fact, connected
with this place, although he went to a foreign land. Because of the
importance of his work, we shall be justified in transcribing the
whole of it, though it is long.

"JrosoN DWIGHT COLLINS, Superintendent of the China Mission,
was born in the town of Rose, Wayne County, N. Y., and came to
Michigan when eight years of age. He was blessed with an early
religious education, which secured his youth from vicious habits, and
eventuated in his conversion, under the Gospel ministrations of Rev.
E. H. Pilcher, at the age of fourteen, when he united with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. Love of learning seemed to be an inherent
principle of his nature, and manifested itself in persevering, success
ful efforts to obtain a sound collegiate education. He entered the
Michigan University at its first organization, in 1841, and graduated,
with high honors, with its first class, in 1845. In college he main
tained his Christian integrity, and, by his uniform piety, his well-
governed life, and consistent efforts to promote the interests of
religion, commanded the respect and excited the admiration of his
friends and associates. He labored efficiently as Bible distributor,
Sabbath School superintendent, class-leader, exhorter, and local
preacher. On his graduation, he was appointed a teacher in the
Wesleyan Seminary, at Albion, for one year. He was received on
trial in the Michigan Conference in September, 1846, and at this
Conference he was appointed to Tompkins Circuit, with the expecta
tion of receiving an appointment as missionary to China, which he
did in the spring of 1847, when he immediately set out for the field
of his future labors, where he arrived in August of the same year.
During three years and nine months, which comprised the time of
his stay in China, he devoted himself to his work with a zeal and
earnestness that knew no limits but his ability and strength. But
his robust and vigorous constitution yielded to the unfriendly in
fluences of the climate, and a severe attack of disease brought him
nigh to the grave, so that, when the state of his health permitted it,
in accordance with medical advice, he returned to his native land —
to regain his health, as he fondly hoped, for the prosecution of his
work in that great empire of idolatry, but, alas! to suffer and die.
He reached Michigan in time to visit his brethren of the Conference
at the session of 1851, when the entire change wrought in his ap
pearance, the emaciated look, above all the joy and tenderness with
which he greeted them, melted them to tears. For eight months he
patiently suffered the will of God, though his grief at the thought

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 237

that he would no more return to China to prosecute his missionary
labors, was more painful than the prospect of death, and, in May,
1852, at his father's house in Lyndon, Washtenaw County, Michigan,
surrounded by his friends, and amid the sweet associations of homer
he quietly passed away from the scenes and toils of earth to the
infinite rewards and felicities of Heaven, at the early age of twenty-
eight.

" Brother Collins was a man strong both in his bodily and
mental constitution. This self-preparation for life's earnest work
included physical as well as intellectual training. His understanding
was clear, sound, powerful, though not rapid in its action. His re
flective faculties were searching and comprehensive, ever reaching
after principles, and tracing out their connections. His conversational
powers eminently qualified him for imparting knowledge, indicating
in their action logical thought and accurate perceptions, rather than
descriptive fancies and rhetorical abilities. His speech was instruct
ive rather than amusing, his language argumentative rather than
eloquent. The entire structure of his mind was Saxon and philo
sophic, positive in its qualities, and high-toned in its sentiments. His
capacities, in a word, were those of thought, of reason, of energy, of
action.

" Brother Collins' religious character was of the highest order,
combining the noblest principles with the purest affections. His
was a manly, cheerful piety, an unwavering integrity of purpose, a
lofty aim and one of action, harmonious attributes of excellence, ele
vated conceptions of duty, a heart fixed upon the CROSS, and a life
radiant with purity. His Christian love was rich in its elements,
essentially missionary in its character, intense and regular in its
action ; and his Christian faith was simple and majestic, allying his
existence in blissful fellowship with the infinite existence of JEHOVAH-
JESUS. His goodness of heart was truly great, and fruitful of all
active virtues. In him was not only a brave, rational perception, but,
also, a real consciousness of the ' beauty of holiness.1

"As a man, he was manly; as a Christian, he was Christ-like;
as a minister, though youthful, he possessed elements of great ability
and usefulness, and, as a missionary, he was a model. Having a
stout physical frame, a richly endowed, well balanced mind, and a
temperament susceptible of warm and high emotions, yet singularly
free from rashness and excitement, had he lived to develop his
mind and character in the missionary work, he would have been a
star of the first magnitude in the dark heavens of China. Years
before our Church established her mission there, while prosecuting

238 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

his collegiate studies, he pursued a course of reading on China, pre
paratory to a whole life of missionary labor among its benighted
millions, and his mind had no rest until it was actually surrounded
by their darkness and misery. No temporary impulse led him
thither, no transient, fervid feelings urged him to a life of toil in that
distant land, but a permanent conviction of duty possessed his mind,
one great idea of supreme service to Christ controlled his whole
existence, and carried all his thoughts, all his affections, all his im
pulses to that extensive territory of heathenism, and his martyr-like
attachments to his work were only loosened by death — to be trans
ferred from the Cross to a crown of righteousness. In the very
embraces of death, when Heaven was opening its glories upon his
mind, his heart was with his brethren in the vast field of missions
— he preferred to die where he so earnestly desired to live. As a mis
sionary, then, we embalm and cherish his memory in our holiest
recollections of human character and excellence. While the truth
and love of Christ dwell within us, in our heart of hearts we will
remember thee, JUDSON DWIGHT COLLINS. Thy name shall not
perish, and thy beloved China shall be redeemed! Thanks to the
INFINITE for the legacy of thy character and example to the Michi
gan Conference."

The foregoing tribute, written by T. C. Gardner, D. D., is but
just and true, and we will add that our Church had no thought of
establishing a mission in China, until, by his persistent applications
to the Missionary Secretary, Dr. Dubin, it was thought to be a
providential opening. He said that he must go, God had called him
to it, and, if the Church would not send him, he would go, if he had
to work his way as a common sailor. Still, he was willing to wait a
proper time for the action of the Church ; and his desire was accom
plished. China is not forgotten by us, for two members of the Detroit
Conference and one of the Michigan are there now.

The blessed and glorious work of Christianization, which is now
making such glorious progress in China, is traceable back to that
blessed revival in Ann Arbor in the winter of 1837-8. God called
that young man, then converted, to go, in His name, and begin that
work. It may be regarded as a singular fact that a son of Mr.
Collins' spiritual father, in after years, should have felt himself called
of God to go to that same empire as a missionary, and Leander W.
Pilcher, who received a part of his education, also, at the Michigan
University, son of Dr. E. H. Pilcher, is now laboring successfully at
Peking, the capital of the empire. It is honor enough and compen
sation enough for a whole lifetime of ministerial labor to have raised

E. O. HAVEN, D.D., LL.D.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 239

up two such missionaries for the redemption of China. What more
grand and sublime in human life than to see a young man, such as
Mr. Collins was, forsaking all the dear associations of country and
home, to devote himself to the redemption of a fallen, idolatrous
nation! What an honor to the Church in Ann Arbor to have fur
nished such a young man, converted to God and educated among
them!

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN holds so important a relation to
Ann Arbor and the State, that it deserves a little special notice. It
was located at Ann Arbor in 1837, and as soon thereafter as prac
ticable was opened for students, and graduated the first class in
1845. There was no regular President or Chancellor elected until
in 1852, when Rev. H. P. TAPPAN, D.D., LL.D., a man of very com
manding mien, of large and vigorous intellect, of broad culture and
profound scholarship, was unanimously elected to that post by the
Board of Regents, and entered on the duties of his office. Being a
man of large ideas, he at once set himself at work to enlarge the
influence of the University, and so far succeeded, that during his
term of eleven years, the University of Michigan took rank as
the fourth Institution in the United States — a rank it has not lost ;
as his successors have not only sustained, but increased its reputa
tion. He was succeeded by Dr. E. O. HAVEN in 1863, of whom a
sketch is given below — who resigned in 18^69. A period followed in
which Prof. H. S. Freeze was acting President, and then Dr. JAMES
B. ANGELL was elected to the office, and who still holds the position.
The Department of Medicine was early established, and that was in
due time followed by the Department of Law. This Institution
possesses as many advantages for a thorough educational training
as any in the United States. Dr. B. F. COCKER, one of the most
remarkable men, intellectually, of the present age, is in charge of the
Department of Philosophy, and is deservedly very popular with the
students, and is exerting a very wide influence. He is the author
of " Christianity and Greek Philosophy," and some volumes of very
valuable and interesting lectures.

REV. E. O. HAVEN, D. D., LL. D., came to the State of Michi
gan in 1853. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1820, of Methodist
parents, and early converted, his precocity in scholarship led to his
college education and he graduated at the Wesleyan University in
1842, at the age of twenty-one. He resigned the principalship of
Armenia Seminary in 1848, and spent five years in the New York
Conference. Even thus early in the ministry he obtained great
popularity, and was in constant demand for dedications and anniver-

240 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

sary addresses, and other special occasions. It was understood that
the Regents of the University of Michigan were desirous of obtain
ing a Methodist Professor, and many of various denominations, in
New York, recommended the election of Mr. Haven. He entered
upon a professorship in 1853 and remained only till 1856. During
these years, in addition to his faithful work as a Professor, he be
came known almost all over the State, by his sermons, lectures and
writings. Among other things, he attended the State Political Con
vention in 1854, at Jackson, where the Republican party was named;
and being called out, made an eloquent speech against the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise, which was widely commented upon. As
all the Regents were Democrats at that time, the party press urged
that Professor Haven be at once dismissed, but the attempt was not
made.

He left Michigan to take the Editorship- of Zioiis Herald in
Boston, Massachusetts, which place he held till 1863. During these
six years the variety of his duties and honors was remarkable. Be
sides the charge of the paper, he supplied feeble Churches as pastor,
lectured, acted as a member of the State Board of Education, and
was twice elected to the State Senate, and was, perhaps, the most
widely known representative of his denomination in New England.

In 1863 the University of Michigan passed through its severest
trial. Rev. Dr. H. P. Tappan, its first President, having served
eleven years in that office, was much admired by many, and was bit
terly opposed by others. An irreconcilable contest sprung up be
tween him and the Board of Regents, and his place was declared
vacant. At once the Regents, seeking a successor, thought of Dr.
Haven, and unanimously elected him, and informed him of the fact
by telegraph. Fortunately, as he afterwards said, he knew nothing
of the facts, but supposed that Dr. Tappan had resigned, as he had
often talked of doing, and that the Regents had, after proper delib
eration, called him to this high and difficult post. He accepted by
telegraph. Immediately after, meetings of the citizens of Ann
Arbor and Detroit, and of the students, and of the Alumni, were
called, all of whom protested against the departure of Dr. Tappan,
and some of them formally requested Dr. Haven to withdraw his
acceptance. He learned from the Regents that, if he withdrew, Dr.
Tappan would not be reinstated, and he determined to abide by his
first decision. He said he had no regard for the honor, but some
body must hold the office, and he was willing to try it at least six
months, till a new Board of Regents entered upon their office. Al
ready four other universities had offered him a presidency, and he

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 24!

was not anxious for himself whether he should succeed or should fail.
Besides, a majority of the Faculties — some of them his old associates
— anxiously asked him to accept the office.

Those only who were near the scenes could imagine the diffi
culties of his position for the first year. They will, probably, never
be described, unless by himself. But in every struggle he seemed
to gain an advantage. The new Board assembled, and, in spite of
his offer to resign, and to sustain their action if they should accept it,
they, at first, with only one dissenting vote, resolved to re-elect him,
and, finally, unanimously resolved to sustain his administration. The
very first year the University had more students than ever before,
and, before the six years of his administration closed, the University
reached nearly double the number of students, and double the income
it had when he accepted the Presidency. Previous to that the State
had never really aided the institution by money, except in an indirect
way, and to a small extent. President Haven spent much time with
every successive Legislature, and prevailed upon them to initiate the
practice of granting pecuniary assistance to the University.

While in Michigan, Dr. Haven preached much every year,
giving, at least, one course of Sunday afternoon lectures to the
students, which were always largely attended. One of these courses
of lectures constitutes the volume entitled, "The Pillars of Truth, or,
Lectures on the Decalogue." His "Young Man Advised, or, Con
firmations of the Bible from Philosophy and History," was published,
also, while he resided in Michigan. His " Rhetoric, a Text-Book for
Schools and Colleges," was founded on lectures given in the Uni
versity.

He was prevailed upon to leave Ann Arbor to take charge of
the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois, by the urgent
solicitation of the trustees of that university. During his three
years Presidency over that institution he had his accustomed popu
larity and success. A Medical Department was added, a Woman's
College established, and the institution assumed the proportions of a
University. In 1872, Dr. Haven represented the Detroit Confer
ence, as he did in 1868, in the General Conference, and he was
unanimously elected Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Edu
cation of the Methodist Episcopal Church — the first time such an
officer was elected by the General Conference. In 1874, he accept
ed the Chancellorship of Syracuse University, in Syracuse, New York.
Though his residence in Michigan, in all, covered only about ten
years, he was widely known, and left an impress on the history,

242 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

especially of the University, that will never be forgotten. His name
became familiar in all homes.

He represented the New England Conference in the General
Conference of 1860, and the Central New York Conference in the
General Conference of 1876. He was chairman of the committee
that reported in favor of lay representation, and the adoption of the
report carried that measure. He was also chairman of the Commit
tee of Revision in 1872, and of Education in 1876. He was appoint
ed by the Bishop, pursuant to authority given by the General Confer
ence, a representative delegate to the British Wesleyan Conference
of 1878, in which relation he will, undoubtedly, do great credit to his
country and his Church.

Dr. Haven is a devout and earnest Christian, a genial com
panion, and a good friend. He possesses excellent executive abili
ties, as shown in his great success as President of Univerities. As a
minister of the Gospel, he is clear in expression, refined in diction,
lucid in thought, and eloquent in language and manner. He has
shown himself to be worthy of the fullest confidence and the highest
esteem of the whole Church.

REV. BENJAMIN F. COCKER, D. D., Ph. D., who was elected to
the chair of Philosophy in the University of Michigan, in the autumn
of 1869, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1829. Of pious parent
age, he became a Christian in his youth. When but a young man,
he went to Australia, and entered into trade and business for a few
years. He came to America and to Michigan in the spring of 1857.
That autumn he was admitted to the Detroit Conference, on trial,
and, in 1859, was admitted to full membership in the Conference.
The following are the pastoral charges he has served with distin
guished ability, viz. : Palmyra, Adrian for two terms, Ypsilanti, and
Ann Arbor for two terms. At the Conference, in 1869, he was
appointed to the Central Church, Detroit ; but, having been elected
to his position in the University immediately after the session of
the Conference, a position which he accepted with the consent and
advice of his brethren, consequently he did not supply the pastoral
charge. Dr. Cocker has shown great ability, not, simply, in his high
popularity in the professor's chair and in the pulpit, but in his
authorship. His first effort was in the preparation of a chart of
the Greek verb. This is one of the most complete and perfect
things of the kind ever prepared. This was followed by valuable
and able articles in Reviews. His " Christianity and Greek Philoso
phy" is a most valuable and interesting work. His " Theistic Con
ception of the World" is a deeply interesting volume. " The Uni-

\(\

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

243

versity Lectures on the Truth of the Christian Religion" is a most
valuable work for young men.

These writings constitute a noble and enduring monument to
his name. All this work has been accomplished, and this distinction
attained, in a constant struggle with ill health. His indomitable will
has triumphed over disease.

244 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER XI.

TECUMSEH— First Preachers — Society Formed— Names— Joseph Bangs— Wheeler— Cross— Sill*,
man — Quarterly Meeting — Rev. A. Darwin — Presbyterian Church Organized — Revival — Pro
testant Episcopal — Baptist — Controversy — Remarkable Conversion — Statistics — YPSILANTI —
First Preacher — First Society — Second Preacher — The Grove — Toils — Early Ministers — Elias
Pattee — J. A. Baughman — 1830 — Two Young Men — Ira M. Weed — Minister raised up —
Circuit— Station— First Quarterly Meeting — Present State — Presbyterian Church— Protestant
Episcopal — Baptist — Statistics — K ALAMAZOO — First Missionaries — Society Organized —
Names — Other Churches — Extent of Circuit — First Camp Meeting — Circuit Curtailed
— New Societies — Poor — New Members — Walter — Swayzee — Advance — Special Attention —
Church Begun — R. R. Richards Retained a Third Year — Station — Entertains Conferenco
1848 — Secret Societies — Bishop Janes' Sermon — No Disaster — Mrs. Davidson — W. C. Comfort-
— Statistics — J. Ecanbrack— Robe — NiLES-Coston Visits-Felton Organizes Society — Appears
in the List — Station — Conference Session — Incidents — Work in the Country — Biographical —
G. M. Besswick — B. Cooper — Williams — Dissension — Other Denominations — Statistics —
ROMEO — Methodist Society — Congregational — Baptist — Original Members — Revival — Addi
tions — Church — Numbers — Name Appears — District — Revival Incidents — Southwell — Abel
Warren— R. R. Richards— Others— Mrs. Pilcher— Sabbath School— Statistics— SAGINAW —
Missions — Discouragements — Numbers — Conference Sessions — Other Churches — Biographical
— B. Frazee— W. II. Brockway— O. F. North— C. Babcock— J. Hudson— Summary— COLD-
WATER — Statistics — Jas. Fisk — MARSHALL — Population — Rivals — Religious Services —
Methodist Society Organized — Sidney Ketchum — Katherine Ketchum — Randall Hobart —
First Love Feast and Sacrament — Increase — Revival — B. Sabin — Appears in Minutes — Dis
trict — Conference — Bishop Hedding's Sermon — Second Conference — Supplies — Review —
Presbyterian — Cholera — Other Churches — Spread — A. M. Phelps Incorporated — Educational.

^ECUMSEH appears in our list at the Conference in Sep
tember, 1831, through error, but, having- been introduced, it
has been continued, and regularly supplied. It is situated in
the midst of a beautiful and fertile country, on the north
branch of the River Raisin, about thirty miles west of Lake
Erie. It is a beautiful and flourishing village. It possesses
the advantages of mill power both on the Raisin and Evans' Creek,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 245

which form a junction at this point. The creek bears that name in
honor of Musgrove Evans, the first settler here. This first settle
ment was made in June, 1824, and for some time it was the most
prominent and important village in the county, as it was the first
location made in the limits of the County of Lenawee. We have
now to deal, principally, with its religious history, and not secular.

Rev. Noah M. Wells, a Presbyterian minister, who was exploring
the country in the summer of 1825, came here and spent a Sabbath,
and preached one sermon. Rev. John A. Baughman, was the first
minister who made this a regular appointment; this he did in 1826.
It was included in Monroe Circuit. Mr. Baughman was succeeded
on the Monroe Circuit by Rev. George W. Walker, in September,
1827, who continued the appointment at Tecumseh, and organized a
Methodist Society, or Church, in January, 1828, consisting of Josiah
Wheeler and wife, Margarette Cross, Betsey Silliman, Mary Bangs,
Mary Woodard, Isaac Bangs and wife, and three others whose
names cannot be recovered. Josiah Wheeler was appointed the
class-leader. He was a very good and earnest Christian man. Mr.
Walker continued for two years, and was succeeded by Jacob Hill,
and he by James W. Finley, in 1830, and at the close of his term, that
is, in September, 1831, Tecumseh Circuit was created, taking a part
of Monroe and a part of Ann Arbor Circuits, and taking in new
territory on the west and north. Elijah H. Pilcher and Ezekiel S.
Gavit were assigned to the new Circuit, the geography of which has
already been given.

The Methodist Society here, soon after its organization, was
greatly favored by the addition of Rev. Joseph Bangs, a very useful
local preacher and brother of the celebrated Nathan Bangs, D. D.
He immigrated to this place in the autumn of 1828. He was a man
of a thorough Christian experience, and insisted very strongly on
the possession of deep piety of heart. He was born in Bridgeport,
Connecticut. He was converted to God through the instrumentality
of his brother Nathan, who had been led to the Saviour while teach
ing school in Canada. Immediately after his conversion, he wrote
his brother Joseph an account of his experience, occupying several
sheets of paper. While reading this, Joseph was awakened to a
sense of his sins and a need of a Saviour, and was soon after con
verted ; whereupon he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, in
which he continued a faithful and honored member and laborer till
his death, which occurred January 7th, 1848, aged seventy-two years,
and having been a local preacher for forty-five years. He was licensed
to preach as a local preacher in the latter part of the year 1802.

246 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

He never became connected with the Conference, but continued to
work at his trade as a blacksmith and at farming, and preached as
the occasion offered, which was quite frequent. Everybody liked to
hear "Father Bangs" preach. He was universally esteemed in the
community. While he was decided in his views of Methodistic
doctrines and discipline, he was friendly with and charitable to all
others. The doctrine of Christian purity or sanctification was his great
theme in preaching, although he never said much on the subject as
connected with his own experience, except in the following modest
terms : " I love God with all my heart ; the love of God casts out
all fear, that has torment; I know the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth
from all sin." These terms express " the fullness of the blessing of
the Gospel of Peace." At what precise time he entered into this
experience, we have not been able to ascertain, but, probably, it was
shortly after his conversion. His last sickness was very brief, and his
mind was clear to the last. One says, " He was not as triumphant
as some, but he was as peaceful as the close of a summer's day."
His physician, who was somewhat skeptical as to experimental re
ligion, and who had often heard him express his confidence of future
bliss, when he told him there was no hope of his recovery, asked him
how he felt about the future. "Doctor," said he, " I have not neg
lected that matter till this time. That [a preparation for the future
life] was attended to long ago, and I have no fears." As he uttered
this, a smile of joy lighted up his countenance, as if he already tasted
the joys of heaven.

Mr. Bangs was a good and useful man, possessed of respectable
preaching talents and a good share of ready wit. Many interesting
anecdotes of this latter feature in his character might be given, but
we will content ourself with the following one : The Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, having preached in Tecumseh, and Mr.
Bangs being present, was introduced to him as a Methodist preacher,
and, having expressed his kindly feelings towards that Church, the
Bishop remarked, "You ought to feel well towards us, and respect
us, as Mr. Wesley was always one of us, and he was your founder.
" Yes" said Mr. Bangs, "and you ought to think much of us, as you
are indebted to him, under God, for all the religious life you have in
your Church." So the matter ended.

It is proper here to say a few words in regard to the members
of the original Society, as they, except one, have now passed away,
or, at least, are not members of this Society. Josiah Wheeler was
a small and somewhat eccentric man, but very pious and active as a
Christian. Margarette Cross was a noble-looking and a noble-spir-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 247

ited woman, a true lady, from Ireland. She had been converted in her
youth, and was well acquainted with Rev. John Wesley. She was
now a widow. Her husband was a local preacher in Ireland under
Mr. Wesley, and they had entertained him at their house. She was
a woman oi sound and consistent piety, always delighting to con
verse on religious experience. She was a very intelligent woman,
and has gone to join the society of the blest above. Betsey Silliman
was a maiden lady, and sister to Mrs. Rev. Joseph Bangs, and was a
very active and faithful Christian. She married late in life. Before
she died she made a will, from which the Superannuated Preachers'
Aid Society of the Detroit Annual Conference realized about twelve
hundred dollars. Her married name was Betsey Young. Mary
Bangs was the wife of Alanson Bangs, a son of Joseph Bangs, and
is, or was recently residing at Tecumseh. Of Mrs. Woodard, as of
others, we have not been able to obtain any certain information.
Isaac Bangs was another son of Joseph Bangs, and opened his house
for services. The Saturday services of a Quarterly Meeting in No
vember, 1830, which we attended, were held in his house. This small
Society advanced in numbers both by letter and by conversions, but
we cannot say how many members there were in the village at any
time before it was made a Station.

The first Quarterly Meeting was held here in the summer of
1829, by Z. H. Coston, Presiding Elder, and the next by Curtis
Goddard, Presiding Elder, and James W. Finley, preacher, in No
vember, 1830. The love-feast in connection with the first Quarterly
Meeting was not numerously attended, but was one of peculiar
interest. Those who had come into the country from the East had
expected to be deprived of such privileges for years, but, being
supplied with them so soon, their hearts overflowed with gratitude
to God for them. This gratitude burst forth in songs and expres
sions of thanksgiving.

Rev. Alanson Darwin, of the Presbyterian Church, visited Te
cumseh in the fall of 1826, and preached, but did not settle here
until September, 1827. Under his ministry, a Presbyterian Society,
that is, a legal corporation, was formed in October of that year, but
the Church was not organized until April 6th, 1828. The Church,
at its organization, consisted of ten members, as follows : John
Huyck and wife, William F. Finch and wife, Milla Ketchum, Euphemia
Hillock, Emelia Holbrook, Maria Hixon, Mary Darwin, and Mary
Metcalf. Mr. Darwin became their supply, and died here.

Various changes have taken place in this Society and in the
pastorate, as in the other Churches. Rev. Mr. Darwin the first

248 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

minister of the Presbyterian Church, died December I5th, 1831,
aged 48 years. He was a very good man, and had a sound, genuine
religious experience, but was not very popular as a preacher, as he
was rather slow of speech. An extensive revival, for the number
of the inhabitants, took place here, the season before his death, in
which he labored efficiently. Rev. Joseph Bangs, joined with him in
the labor, and was the most effiicient instrument in it. Over thirty
joined the Presbyterian Church in one day. The Methodists also
shared largely in the fruits of the revival.

Rev. Mr. Lyster, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, first rep
resented that Church in this place, and organized a Church in 1832.
The corner-stone of their church edifice was laid October loth, 1833.
This was the first church erected in the place. The parish was called
St. Peters. They have not made very rapid progress, as they occu
py the same church to this day.

The Baptist Church was organized April loth, 1830, consisting
of twenty-seven members, and now they have a good church prop
erty. They have been supplied with able ministers.

For the most part a very harmonious feeling has existed be
tween the different denominations in this place, but there was one
exception to this. In 1834, Rev. Thomas Wiley, of the Methodist
Church, was in charge of this Circuit, and a Rev. Mr. Wells — not
Noah M. Wells — supplied the Presbyterian Church. The latter gen
tleman pushed forward the peculiar dogmas of Calvinism in such a
manner as to lead Mr. Wiley to preach against his views, and the
matter was carried to such an extent that Mr. Wells gave him a
challenge for a public discussion, which was accepted by Mr. Wiley.
The day was set ; the judges were appointed ; the preliminaries
were settled ; and these theological gladiators entered the arena.
The contest lasted for about two days, and excited a good deal of
interest. Having occupied their allotted time in their alternate
passes, the question was given to the judges to render their decision.
The judges very prudently took time to deliberate, and so far as we
know are deliberating still, for they have never yet found it practica
ble to promulgate their decision. However, it was conceded by some
of Mr. Wells' own friends, that Mr. Wiley had the weight of the
argument on his side, but they remained Calvinists still, for they
attributed the failure not to die weakness of the cause, but to the
weakness of their advocate. That is about the effect such contro
versies generally have on the public mind.

One of the most remarkable conversions that ever took place
in this vicinity was that of Peter Davidson, now deceased. R. R.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

249

Richards was on this Circuit in 1837-38, and during the winter held
a series of meetings in a school house at which there was much in
terest and many were converted. Mr. Davidson was desired to at
tend, but he refused. He became so angry at Mr. Richards for
holding the meetings that he threatened to flog him ; but before he
got ready to do this, the Spirit of God got such a deep hold on him
that he felt this was his last chance for salvation. He had been a
very wicked man. He submitted and was very powerfully converted,
and became a very zealous Christian. It seemed as if he could not
do too much for Mr. Richards.

The different denominations, according to the reports of 1876,
stand as follows :

Methodist Episcopal., 260

Presbyterian 375

Protestant Episcopal 104

Baptist 167

passing the belt of low and
the city. Still Mr. Woodruff
the feat, clearing a track for

They all have pleasant, and some of them elegant churches and
are in a condition to do good Church work.

About thirty miles west from Detroit, on the line of the Michi
gan Central Railroad, and located on both sides of the River Huron,
is situated the beautiful City of YPSILANTI. It is the location of the
State Normal School, and boasts of one of the best union, or graded
schools in the State. Ypsilanti is only the successor of Woodruff's
Grove, which was near by, and as the settlement was first called.
The settlement of the country west from Detroit was very slow at
first, because of the difficulties of
densely timbered land surrounding
and a few others had accomplished

their wagons through a dense forest and black-ash swales, and had
made a settlement here. They needed the Gospel and ought to be
furnished with the ministry of the Word.

When and by whom was the Gospel of the blessed Saviour
first preached in Ypsilanti ? In the autumn of 1824, Rev. Elias
Pattee and B. O. Plympton, then members of the Ohio Conference,
were appointed to the Detroit Circuit. This was the only Circuit in
the Territory of Michigan at that time. It embraced all the settle
ments, except on the St. Clair, as far as their time and strength
would allow them to visit them. Mr. Pattee, that indefatigable min
ister, was not content with the plan of the Circuit as he received it
— he was on the lookout for new places, and, as fast as he could
hear of any new settlement having been begun, he visited it. In
pursuance of this policy, as soon as the settlers here had erected
their shanties, Elias Pattee extended his Circuit — came to them and

250 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

preached the Word of Life — the blessed Gospel of Peace. This was
in the month of May, 1825. He established a regular appointment, and
organized a Methodist Church. This was the first regular religious
service established in Washtenaw County. It was our good fortune
to have been somewhat acquainted with some of the original members
of the first Church organized in Washtenaw County, as the Phillipses,
Phineas Silsby, and some others. We were also well acquainted with
Elias Pattee, and have had the story of his first visit to Woodruff's
Grove, or Ypsilanti, from his own lips. None of these original mem
bers now reside here, if any of them are living. Mr. Pattee was suc
ceeded the next year, that is, in the autumn of 1825, by that earnest,
active and very effective preacher, John A. Baughman, who extended
his visits to Ann Arbor, where a settlement had recently been begun.
The services were first held in private houses, then in school-houses,
and then they built a small brick church down on the flat, on the
northeast side of the river, which, in a few years, gave place to a
larger frame one on the other side of the river. In the meantime,
the Society had been greatly strengthened by Eleazer Smith and
family, Justus Norris, Dr. Town and others.

We now turn back, in thought, to the time of the first sermon,
and stand in the midst of the oaks of the grove, and hear them
murmur: "What sound is this, so strange and new to us! These
words carry in them civilization, progress, the extinction of the red
man, the displacement of the natural forests and groves. They
presage our dissolution ; the woodman's axe will not spare us ; we
must be made subservient to the interests and pleasures of the white
man, as we have furnished the cooling shade for the aborigines. But
it is high honor to have heard these words, so full of life and comfort
to the human race. The coming generations will forget us and our
murmurs of praise to our Maker; but we will not complain, for he
is best who best performs the work assigned him — the behests of
Heaven." Oaks may have voices, if we know how to interpret them.
The old oaks are gone, and those who first settled among them are
gone also, and a new generation of men and things has taken their
places.

The Methodist Society was organized in the summer of 1825.
When we say this, it suggests the fact of great labor, toil, and suf
fering on the part of the ministers, for they had to find their way by
blazed trees through the low lands and swamps. The nearest
appointment was on the Rouge, about five miles out from Detroit.
So the minister not only had to find his way out here, but he had to
travel over the same bad road to return the next day. It is very

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 25!

difficult for those now residing here, and enjoying the privileges of
the beautiful City of Ypsilanti, to form any just conception of the
difficulties of a time when there was dense forest between it and
Detroit ; but so it was at the time of which we write. It was a little
improved when we first came to Ypsilanti, direct from the mountains
of West Virginia, in 1830. These things furnish but a faint idea of
what difficulties the minister had to grapple with, in order to supply
the Gospel to these few settlers in the wilderness. If he could have
settled down and remained, after he once arrived, it would not have
been quite so bad, but he was an itinerant, and had to retrace his
steps, and come again. He must repeat his visits, and pass through
the same difficulties, time after time. It required no little fortitude,
as well as grace, to do this work. But men were found, having a
sufficient amount of both, to do it.

Among the early ministers, we must not forget to mention Elias
Pattee, the first, and John A. Baughman, the second, who visited this
place to preach. These were as unlike as two men could well be,
except in one thing, that was zeal — a zeal which carried them through
all difficulties, and which impelled them to labor with great ardor.
Pattee was tall, bony, coarse-featured, and well advanced in years,
with very limited scholastic advantages, and without polish in the
pulpit or out of it. Baughman was young, handsome, sleek, polished
and educated, though not a classic, and refined in character and
manners. The desire to save souls was to them both as a consuming
fire. Pattee came here from Canada, and Baughman was from south
ern Ohio. Pattee would travel on a Circuit as long as he could get
anything to live on, and then he would stop, and go to work and earn
money, and would take the Circuit again. So he labored in the min
istry, not for the money but for the salvation of lost sinners.

Mr. Pattee was born in Vermont, September nth, 1784, and
died in Iowa, November 5th, 1860. He experienced converting grace
in the State of New York, in 1 807, and six months after was licensed
to preach, and joined the New York Conference. In company with
C. Hulbert, a brother-in-law, and their wives, he went into Canada
as a missionary. He was appointed to Bay Quinte Circuit, and Mr.
Hulbert to Oswegotchie. The wives rode on horseback, and the
men traveled on foot. It was a long and tedious journey, but they
reached their destination, and performed their work with good
success. After some years of labor in Canada, Mr. Pattee became
connected with the Ohio Conference, and was a member of that
Conference at the time when he was appointed to Detroit, and
during this year visited Ypsilanti. He located in 1838,50 that he

252 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

was not a member of the Conference at the time of his death. He
was a very good, Christian man, and always true to the Church,
We find the following notice in Connable's " Genesee Conference,"
and copy it entire. He "commenced his itinerant career in 1807.
He was large of stature, commanding in personal appearance, dress
ing in breeches, stockings and shoe-buckles, which costume, with his
graceful, natural attitudes, set off his portly, symmetrical figure to
great advantage ; strong in lungs and voice, and, although dignified,
zealous and emotional. He was regarded by the simple people of
those days as a very powerful preacher. An authentic incident will
illustrate this matter. An old Dutch brother, being interrogated as
to the character of a Camp Meeting from which he had recently re
turned, said, ' It was a poor, tet, tull time, and no goot was tone till tat
pig Petty come ; but mit his pig fist he did kill te teivil so tet as a nit,
and ten te work proke out.' The Methodists of that day were fond
of the demonstrative." This was in his early ministry. His zeal
continued, and his voice, even in family devotions, sometimes sound
ed like a trumpet. He did much good in his day. His great labors
and excessive use of his lung power put him on the superannuated
list at a comparatively early day. He had sufficient native talent to
have made him one of the very first preachers in the denomination,
if he had had proper scholastic training.

The next in order — Mr. Baughman — was born in Hereford
County, Maryland, but removed to Ohio while quite young, where,
at the age of nineteen years, he was converted, and joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church. He joined the Ohio Conference in
1823. He labored, in all, twelve years in Ohio and thirty-two years
in Michigan. Mr. Baughman was a man of great eloquence and
power in the pulpit, and of untiring zeal ; somewhat verbose in style,
yet convincing in argument, and successful in his work.

The changes which have taken place in Ypsilanti, even since
our time, are very wonderful. In the first week in October, 1830,
two young men, well dressed, well mounted on horseback, carrying
all their wardrobe and library in their saddle-bags, might have been
seen, towards evening, riding into the new and scattered village of
Ypsilanti, and inquiring for Eleazer Smith, with whom they expected
to find entertainment, and from whom, when found, they received
a cordial welcome. These young men had come, one from central
Ohio and the other from the mountains of West Virginia, having
been appointed together to Ann Arbor Circuit, which included
Ypsilanti. They came around once in four weeks each, supplying
preaching at Ypsilanti once in two weeks regularly. They were

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 25$

Henry Colclazer and Elijah H. Pilcher, both of whom are still living
and in the effective ministry. They were the only ministers who
rendered regular services here at the time. There was, and had
been occasional Presbyterian preaching, but, as yet, there was no
Church organized of that faith. Rev. Ira M. Weed, a young Pres
byterian minister, fresh from the Theological Seminary, came a few
months after Colclazer and Pilcher, and established himself here,
and, shortly after, organized a small Church, which has since become
a very strong one. The Methodists, in their zeal to supply all the
country, did not concentrate as much effort here as would have been
desirable.

It seems like a very strange thing, and yet it is true, that up to
this time, 1837, but two ministers had been raised up from converts in
Michigan, so the third Methodist minister, who was converted in
this State, was from this place. All prior to them were converted
elsewhere and sent into Michigan to supply the work. This was
Lorenzo Davis, who had been residing in Ypsilanti for some time as
a clerk, in the employ of Mr. Mark Norris, merchant. He joined
the Conference in 1837, and continued in the ministry fora number
of years and then located. He was in the work for seven years,
and located in 1844.

Ypsilanti appears in our Minutes as the head of a Circuit in
1831, and in 1837 was m^de a Station. In 1839, the first year that
the members for the village were reported separately, there were
144, which were increased so that in 1840 we had 155 members.

The first Quarterly Meeting of which we have any knowledge
as having been held here, was in the spring of 1831, Curtis Goddard,
Presiding Elder, and H. Colclazer and E. H. Pilcher, preachers. It
was a time of much interest, and people came long distances to at
tend it.

The Methodists now have a fine church and a most elegant par
sonage — a very large and prosperous Sabbath School. The Annual
Conference has been well entertained there at different times. The
little one, in a half century and a little more, has become a mighty one,
developing much vigor and healthful Christian strength.

Mr. Noah M. Wells, of the Presbyterian Church, preached here
occassionally, but they had no regular preaching till in the autumn of
1830, when Mr. Weed came. A Presbyterian Church was instituted in
July, 1829, informally, without Ruling Elders, by Rev. Wm. Page, of
Ann Arbor. In October, 1829, Rev. Wm. Jones was sent out to this
country as a missionary and he devoted his attention to the temper
ance reform, specially, for some time in Ypsilanti. Mr. Weed con-

254 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

tinued to labor among them as stated supply until in the autumn of
1834, when he was formally installed as pastor. This Church has
labored, prospered — succeeded, and have a large membership with
an elegant house of worship.

Protestant Episcopal services were occasionally conducted by lay
readers and ministers from 1828, but no formal organization was
effected until in 1830. They too have a valuable brick church.

The Baptist Church was rather slow in organizing in this village,
now city, so they did not organize till in October, 1836. They also
have a comfortable house of worship.

The statistics of the Churches, according to the reports for 1876,
stand as follows :

Methodist Episcopal 474 Protestant Episcopal 183

Presbyterian 455 Baptist 447

The population of the city, which was chartered in 1858, was in
1874, 5,211.

KALAMAZOO, the county-seat of Kalamazoo County, was first
settled in 1829, or, rather, Mr. Titus Bronson located or purchased
the land of the General Government that year, and at once built
a log cabin. This village is beautifully situated on a burr-oak plain,
and is sufficiently elevated to be very pleasant. The beauty of the
situation, with the advantages of water-power, for it is on the Kala
mazoo River, soon attracted the attention of others, and Mr. Bronson
was not long left in his solitary glory, for, in the rush of emigration
westward, this location secured attention, and the settlement in
creased rapidly. It was early selected by the Baptist Church as the
location of their denominational college and Theological Institute.
The educational advantages have become very excellent, and it is a
desirable place for residence. The State Asylum for the Insane is
located here, and the Kalamazoo College is an object of interest.
But it is not our purpose to do anything more in this direction than
simply to furnish an idea of this locality; not to write its history.

The introduction and progress of Methodism — of Protestantism
generally — is that with which we have to do specially. In 1830,
Kalamazoo was included in the St. Joseph Mission, that being the
name of the charge which included all this southwestern quarter of
Michigan. But, in 1831, Kalamazoo Mission appears in our Minutes,
with Erastus Felton as the missionary. The Circuit was thus named,
probably, from the name of the river or the county, as the village of
Kalamazoo was, at that time, called Bronson, in honor of the eccen
tric man who had made the first effort at a settlement. The most of
the labors of the missionary were bestowed on the settlements on

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 255

the prairies situated on the south and west of this. Still, he did what
he could for the few people here. No Society was formed at this
immediate settlement during this year, but he returned thiriy mem
bers for the Circuit at the next Conference.

At the next session of the Conference, that is, in September,
1832, James T. Robe was appointed to this Circuit. He continued
to preach here, but did not organize a Society during this year. He
was succeeded by Rev. Richard C. Meek, in 1833, who organized a
Society in the fall of that year, or in the spring of 1834, consisting
of the following persons, as well as we have been able to ascertain,
viz : Harrison Coleman, leader ; Elizabeth Coleman, Julia Coleman,
E. A. Coleman, Fanny Coleman, George Patterson, Rebecca Patter
son, and Hannah Wood. The Society was much increased during
the next year. This was the first organization of a Christian Church
in this beautiful town. This, in due time, has been followed by the
organization of a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Protestant Episcopal,
and a Congregational Church, each of which has a commodious
house of worship.

Mr. Robe's Circuit spread all over the country, wherever
there was a settlement springing up, and reached as far as Alle-
gan. At the end of his year he returned one hundred and fifty-
six members for the Circuit. But it is to be remembered, it took in
a wide range of country, Niles and Allegan being included in it.
This part of Michigan was included in the Indiana Conference from
1832 to 1840. James Armstrong, a man of great power in the pulpit,
was the first Presiding Elder. The first Camp Meeting held in this
part of the country was held under the presidency of James Arm
strong and James T. Robe, on Big Prairie Ronde, beginning August
24th, 1833. It was a time of very great religious interest. In the
autumn of 1833, Richard C. Meek, a young, unmarried man, was
appointed to this charge. He still extended the bounds of the
Circuit as new settlements were formed, and that was very fre
quently, as there was a wonderful tide of immigration, and he had
no thought of concentrating labor at any point. He returned two
hundred and fifteen members, but we have no means of determining
what proportion of these belonged to the village Society.

Rev. James T. Robe was appointed to this charge, for the sec
ond time, in the autumn of 1834, and one more Circuit had been
created in this part of Michigan, so that his labors were curtailed on
the southwest, but all the northwest was before him. Kalamazoo, at
the end of this year, only shows one hundred and twenty members,
and yet the cause had advanced. Mr. Robe had formed Societies at

256 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the following places in this county during the year, viz : Genesee
Prairie. Judge Harrison's, East Prairie, Comstock, Indian Fields, and
Climax ; but, by the division of the Circuit, the members reported
are fewer than last year. Thus, from year to year, this place appears
in the Minutes of the appointments, and men are assigned to it; but
it is impossible for the present inhabitants to appreciate the priva
tions and sufferings these ministers endured to lay the foundations
for the privileges and advantages they now enjoy.

In 1839, we find two men assigned to this charge ; but it was a
four weeks Circuit, and Kalamazoo was supplied with Methodist
preaching only once in two weeks. In the meantime, ministers of
other denominations had come in, and were supplying services in
their forms, and the people were not so anxious for Methodist
preaching as they had been when there was no other. The Society
was small and poor, and had to worship in a school-house. They,
however, were much strengthened, this year, by the accession of two
families by the names of Walter and Swayzee, who had considerable
pecuniary ability, and several members of the families were members
of the Church. They at once identified themselves with the poor
and feeble Society, as they were in duty bound to do, without stop
ping to inquire how it might affect their respectability. Some of
the would-be aristocrats wondered that people of their means and
standing would be Methodists in this place. They, however, did
not regard this, and went steadily on in their adherence to the
Church of their choice, considering that, if it was not respectable, it
was their duty to make it so if they could.

Mr. Walter, in his old age, became carried away with Sweden-
borgianism, and withdrew from the Church, but his wife and children
remained firm to the cause. Mr. Swayzee continued steadfast in
the faith and in his attachment to the Church as long as he lived,
and was a useful man in it. He died, in great peace, in the summer
of 1850. He was much lamented when he was removed to the
Church above.

No effort was made to concentrate labor in the village until
1840, when R. R. Richards and R. H. Cook were appointed to this
work. It was now determined to hold services here every Sabbath.
It was constituted a half Station, that is, though the preachers alter
nated, one of them was to preach in the village every Sabbath. This
was a move in the right direction, for no considerable success can
attend labors only once in two weeks in a village, especially if there
are other denominations existing, as there were in this case. This,

FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, KALAMAZOO.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 257

then, is a step in advance — looking to concentration — a step from
which there has been no receding.

The next year, that is, in 1841, the appointments stand as fol
lows : James F. Davidson, Presiding Elder ; R. R. Richards and E.
L. Kellogg, preachers. During the preceding winter, Mr. Richards
had bestowed considerable labor on the Church in the village, and
held a series of meetings, which were attended with some degree of
success, but still the Church did not have any great accession of
strength, but they carefully husbanded all they had previously gained.
The Presiding Elder of the District, which was now called Kalama-
zoo, located himself in this village, which added a little to the interest
of the Church, as he could give some attention to it — more than if
he were residing somewhere else.

Some effort was now begun towards building a church — a thing
that was very much needed — indeed, it was essential to the prosper
ity of the cause. This effort was successful after a little time. But
the advantage the Methodists had in being the pioneer Church had
been so long neglected that it was found to be very difficult to re
cover what had been lost. Mr. Richards had done such good service
for the two years he had been on this Circuit, that they were very
desirous to retain his services in the village for another year, if pos
sible. A little pardonable strategy was resorted to for this purpose.
His health was not very good, so that it was doubtful whether he
could do full work on a Circuit. Advantage was taken of this to
place him on the supernumerary list, and he was attached to the
Kalamazoo Circuit as such, with the understanding between the
Presiding Elder and the people that he was to supply the village
work, which he did to good advantage. The Circuit was now pretty
well narrowed down, but still they returned at the Conference for
1843, three hundred and forty -four members ; probably, however, less
than one hundred of these belonged in the village.

In 1 844, the charge was narrowed down to what might be called
a Station, although the ministerial labor was not confined, entirely,
to the village, but yet this was the chief point of his labor. The
returns at the end of this year show one hundred members. This
may be regarded as the strength of the village Society at this time,
for the appointments out were in such proximity to the village as
that they ought to have formed a part of the village congregation.
The Methodist people have been very slow to learn the value of
concentration, and so have lost a part of their strength by dividing
up into small congregations. The cause advances a little every
year.

258 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

The Society, in 1847, had become sufficiently numerous to think
they could entertain the session of the Annual Conference, and an
invitation was extended to that body to hold its next session in this
place. Accordingly, the Annual Conference held its session here in
1848, Bishop Janes presiding, and it was magnificently entertained.
On some accounts this was a memorable Conference, and deserves
a little notice. Early in this session, a committee was appointed on
the subject of secret Societies, so called. That committee made a
report which prohibited the members of the body from joining or
meeting with any secret society. This included Sons of Temper
ance, Odd Fellows and Free Masons. This report was adopted
without discussion, those who were members of such societies choos
ing, at that time, to let the opponents go as far as they pleased. It
had been agreed on, beforehand, among the members of the Con
ference who belonged to any of these societies, that, if the report
should be adopted, one of their number should call a meeting of
them all. Accordingly, when the time came for giving out notices, he
announced that there would be a meeting of all the members of
secret societies at the Odd Fellows' Hall, that afternoon, for con
sultation. They met, and drew up a protest against the action,
denying the right of the Conference to interfere in that way, and
declining to submit to such action. This protest was signed by them
all, not a very formidable body as to numbers, to be sure. This was
put into the hands, of the Secretary of the Conference, to be pre
sented to the Conference, and to ask that it might be spread on the
journal at the proper time.

When it was understood that this course had been agreed on,
some who had been forward in the matter, and had voted with the
majority on the adoption of the report, promised that, if it would be
withheld, they would move a reconsideration of the vote by which it
had been adopted, and have it laid on the table. This was so far
satisfactory that the protest was kept back, waiting for this promised
action. But the last session had come — an evening session for the
purpose of receiving the appointments — and the time was passing
on, the business was completed, and no motion of reconsideration
was made. The Secretary arose in his place, and announced to the
Bishop that he had a paper to present, and proceeded to read the
protest, and moved that it might be spread on the journal. This
opened the discussion, which lasted till near midnight, and which re
sulted in the consideration of the former vote, and laying the report
on the table. This is the only real discussion that has ever been
had on this subject in the Conferences in Michigan. Every minister

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 259

has his own opinion on this question, and so have the members, and
the Conference has made no further effort to control the matter.
This session very greatly promoted the cause of Methodism in this
place. Bishop Janes preached on the Sabbath with wonderful power
and eloquence. He said we should neither wear out nor rust out,
but burn out in our work. Bishop Scott was then here, represent
ing the Book Concern at New York, and gave great satisfaction.
The visits of such men among us at that time left a very favorable
impression on the public mind.

There are no very remarkable incidents to be recorded in con
nection with this charge; only, it may be well to say that the prog
ress of the Church has not been without the usual trials and inter
ruptions. It has met with its reverses, and yet there have not been
any very strongly marked defections, nor any very peculiar minis
terial latches or misconduct to bring a reproach on the cause. It
is an interesting fact to know that, with all the liabilities of human
nature to be drawn away from the right, we do not have to record any
special defection in our Church at this place. Few members have
been expelled, but several have been peacefully transferred, in tri
umph, to join the Church of the First-born in Heaven. Among
those to be placed in this list is Mrs. Louisa Davidson, wife of Rev.
James F. Davidson, who, at the time, was Presiding Elder of the
District. She was a woman of a good mind, and possessed a meek
and quiet spirit. She bore her sickness with much Christian resig
nation, and niet death in triumph in the spring of 1845. $ne had
buried four children, and left one living, but she, too, has gone to
meet her mother above ; so that Rev. Mr. Davidson now has a wife
and five children who have passed on and are waiting for him in
the Paradise of God.

Among the ministers who have labored here and have died, we
may name WILLIAM C. COMFORT, a very devout and earnest and
intelligent Christian. He joined the itinerant ranks in 1842, and
labored very usefully and successfully in this work for many years,
and his dust quietly sleeps in the cemetery here, awaiting the resur
rection of the just.

We ought not to dismisss this place without furnishing a state
ment of the denominational numerical condition according to the
reports for 1876. They stand thus:

Methodist Episcopal 546 Protestant Episcopal 313

Presbyterian." 325

Congregational 448

Baptist 4*

We introduce one Qtjier name in this connection, because he

26O HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

was the Presiding Elder of the Kalamazoo District for one term.
He was a short, thick, and venerable-appearing man — a man of very
lively temperament and warm sympathy in all his religious exercises.
He was very successful in turning sinners to God — seldom failed of
having his charge in a blaze of revival. His early ministry was in
connection with the Oneida Conference, and it was only in his later
years that he served in Michigan. We here introduce the official
memoir, as found in the Minutes for the year 1852.

" REV. JOHN ERCANBRACK died at his residence in Bronson,
Michigan, March 7th, 1852, aged sixty-one years and eleven months.

" He was converted to God in early life, and joined the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. He entered the Christian ministry in 1817,
and continued in the same until death.

" In his various fields of labor, and in the different stations
which he occupied in the Church of God, he acquitted himself hon
orably and usefully; and his name is as ointment poured forth. Few
men in western Michigan have been more beloved than this venera
ble Father in Israel. He emphatically loved to preach the Gospel.
He died in peace aud holy triumph''

This is a brief, but a very expressive memoir. His labors were
all in the western half of the State. He served one term, of four
years, on Kalamazoo District.

We take the liberty of introducing, now, a brief notice of one
who was connected with this place in the beginning, ai\d to whom we
have been indebted for much information of the early history of re
ligious work in this part of the State, and whose charge once included
all the settlements north of the St. Joseph River and west of Battle
Creek. He visited the first settlements in Allegan County, and
opened the way for the labors of William Todd, deceased, and F.
Gage, who still lives to labor. Many will be pleased to find an
engraving of this early pioneer, which we have great satisfaction in
presenting.

REV. JAMES T. ROBE was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey,
April 1 2th, 1807, but removed with his father's family to Cumber
land County, Pennsylvania, in 1809. He was brought to an expe
rience of the renewing power of Divine grace, and joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church, when about fourteen years of age.
He removed thence to the State of Indiana in 1830. There he was
licensed to preach, and joined the Conference, in 1831, and was
appointed as junior preacher on Wayne Circuit, Wayne County,
Indiana. In the fall of 1832, he was appointed to the Kalamazoo
Mission, as before noticed.

tf'

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 263

Mr. Robe was the first minister of any denomination who
preached in Kalamazoo. It was then called Bronson, after the
proprietor, Mr. Titus Bronson, in whose house he preached. In
the winter of 1832-3, he had a very blessed revival on Prairie
Ronde, and, in the winter of 1834, he had a good work in Kala
mazoo, in which several precious souls were converted and added
to the Lord.

Mr. Robe has lived to see Kalamazoo grow from a few shanties
to be the largest village, it is said, in the world ; for, while other
places of even less population have taken on city government and
city airs, this has been content to be a village. We may say, in
passing, that it is one of the most beautiful and thriving places in
all the country, and is surrounded by a farming country of unsur
passed beauty and fertility. He has the proud satisfaction of having
laid the foundation of its religious prosperity, though now laid aside
from the active ministerial work by reason of age and infirmity —
infirmity superinduced, no doubt, by his pioneer labors, and he now
resides in Kalamazoo. He has lived to see the little Society he or
ganized grow to the number of 560 members, and have a Church
worth $50,000, free from all debt. This is only one branch of the
Christian Church which has sprung up ; for there is no town in the
West better supplied with Churches whose courts are better filled
with attentive listeners on each Sabbath day. Mr. Robe is a de
voted Christian man, and has been an able, efficient and useful min
ister.

Among the new appointments appearing in our list, in the year
1836, is NILES, a town situated on the St. Joseph River at the point
where the Michigan Central Railroad crosses that river, and is the
principal town in Berrien County. It is sufficiently varied, with hill
and dale — with depressions and elevations — to give it a very pleasing
variety to the eye. It has a population of about five thousand. It
is but a few years, comparatively, since this was a hunting-ground
for the wild Indians. How applicable are the following strains :

" Art hovering o'er thy once wild home,

Poor old man's spirit, now
Where thy free nature loved to roam

Like bird from bough to bough !
' Who mourns for Logan T Oh, not one !

Ah ! brave and stalwart chief,
'Twas phrenzy to thy soul that none

O'er thee should bow in grief."

The red men have passed away — they have gone, and the works
of art are reared where they roamed so free. We have no laments

264 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

for the changes which have taken place, only that the aboriginal oc
cupants have been so nearly extinct. It is fitting that the arts and
advantages of a Christian civilization should take the place of the
savage state. Wrongs may have been perpetrated on them in bring
ing about this change, because all men are not governed by the law
of right, but the change itself is right. It is manifest that Providence
never intended these fertile lands to remain mere hunting-grounds
for savages.

Niles was laid out as a village, as recorded in the Register's
office of Lenawee County in 1829, and settled, mostly, by people
from Ohio and Virginia. The first footsteps of the first settlers had
scarcely become cold before the ministers of the new and everlasting
covenant were found among them, with their messages of love and
mercy, warning the ungodly and encouraging the pious. The peda
gogue soon followed, to assist in intellectual culture.

In May, 1829, Rev. Zarah H. Coston, who was then Presiding
Elder of Detroit District, made a trip into this part of the country,
visiting all the settlements, and came as far as Niles. He preached
in the house of a Friend Quaker a few times — found a few members
of the Methodist Church scattered here and there in the wilderness,
but did not organize a Church, because he did not, then, find any
one suitable for class-leader. He, however, made arrangements to
have a preacher sent into this part of the country, who came on in
the autumn, and gathered up the scattered sheep. It was included
in the St. Joseph Mission, and Erastus Felton was the preacher. He
organized a small Society in the spring of 1830. The beginning was
very feeble, and, being visited only once in four weeks, they did not
grow very rapidly.

The power of the Gospel has been seen in its renewing influence
in this community, and gracious manifestations have been enjoyed —
seasons of precious revival. A goodly company have already been
gathered home, to sing before the Throne the " song of Moses and
the Lamb," while others are left to labor and rejoice below. The
few have expanded into a numerous and flourishing Society, and
they have a large and beautiful church in which to worship.

Niles appeared, first, in the list of the appointments of the
preachers in 1836, with Thomas P. McCool as preacher; it was
then in the bounds of the Indiana Conference. The Circuit then,
and for several years after, was quite extensive, but, with the growth
of the surrounding country and the increase of the town, it was
narrowed down, till it came to be a Station in 1843, with Ransom R.
Richards as the stationed preacher. At the end of this year they

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 265

numbered one hundred and ten members. This is the first report
we have for the village alone. It became the head of the District in
1860, which is now ably filled by James W. Robinson.

The town had become sufficiently large and the Church suffi
ciently numerous to warrant inviting the Michigan Conference to
hold its session here in 1852. It was so held that year. Bishop
Scott presided. The session was one of mournful interest, as two
of the members had died during the year. Rev. John Ercanbrack
and Judson D. Collins had been called from labor to the refresh
ments on high by the Master of Assemblies, and a funeral sermon
was preached for each ; for the first by Rev. John A. Baughman,
and for the second by Rev. C. T. Hinman. The latter was pub
lished. The session of the Conference was profitable for our cause
in the town.

The following incident, which occurred here, though in no way
connected with Protestantism, will be tolerated by all, and read with
interest by some, as showing that no reliance can be placed in clair
voyance. The circumstance, at the time it occurred, created a good
deal of stir in the community for some weeks, and was thought to be
rather a serious affair. The substance of it was this : A farmer came
in from the country, a few miles, with his team, and put up at a hotel;
and suddenly disappeared, leaving his team, no one knowing how or
why he had disappeared. Suspicions of foul play — murder and rob
bery — soon became rife, and, on examination of the premises, it was
thought signs of violence and of his death were found, but not
enough to warrant the arrest of any one. As no satisfactory clew
to the whereabouts of the man could be found, resort was had to
mesmeric clairvoyance. Now, it was reduced to a certainty that
the man had been murdered, and his body thrown into the river.
Forthwith, the people gathered at the designated place, and dragged
the river, without finding the body, but the clairvoyant persisted
in saying that he was there, and at a certain place, but a little
deeper than they had reached. A new search was made, with no
more success, and the matter »was given up — he was lost irrecov
erably. Things passed on in this way for about three weeks, when
the man appeared among them, as suddenly as he had disappeared,
alive and well. He had been East, somehere, visiting some of
his friends, and now returned to find himself mourned for as dead.
He had gone off, in that way either from a freak of eccentricity or
from a fit of insanity. He was entirely reticent on the subject, and
gave no explanation of the matter.

There is another incident, having a more intimate connection with

266 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Methodism, which we will narrate as it was related to us, and which
will show how some people are influenced in their selection of
Church relations. A young man, just from the East, settled himself
down in this village, and opened a law office. He was not a profes
sor of religion, but his mother was a Methodist, and he had always
attended that Church ; so, when he came here, as was right, he did
not stop to inquire which was the most popular Church in the place,
but commenced at once to attend this Church. After a few weeks,
a young man came into his office, and, after some other conversation,
inquired of him where he attended Church. He frankly said he at
tend the Methodist Church. " But," said the young man, "that is
not the popular Church here, and it perhaps would be for your in
terest to attend somewhere else." " Well," said the lawyer, " where

do yoit, attend?" "Oh! I go to the Church, that is the popular

Church here." " But," said the lawyer, "do you believe the doctrines
of that Church?" "I don't know," said he, "for I don't know what
they are." The lawyer then gave him a synopsis of the doctrines
of that popular Church, and asked him if he believed them. " Oh !
no," said the young man, " but that is the popular Church." Then
the lawyer gave him a summary of the doctrines of the Methodist
Church, and asked him what he thought of them. He said they
were right, and he could believe in such doctrines. "Well," said the
lawyer " I'll tell you what we'll do, then ; you and I will go to the
Methodist Church, and make that the popular one, if we can." The
lawyer continued to attend as before.

Niles being the principal town in the County of Berrien, it is
suitable to furnish a general idea of Protestantism in the county
under this head. It is not necessary to tell how the itinerants hap
pened to visit each particular locality. Suffice it to say that their
ears and hearts were open to all calls, and they were ready, as far as
possible, to attend to them, and Societies were organized by Rev.
James T. Robe and others ; and there are now several Stations and
Circuits. Niles was not known in the Minutes of the appointments
earlier than 1836. Prior to that time it was included either in St.
Joseph or Cassopolis Circuits. Other Churches, in their order, have
been established in all parts of the county.

Niles, of course, has been regularly supplied with ministerial
workmen. Many of them are still living, and some of them have
departed, and it might be interesting to insert here a biographical
sketch of all those who have departed to their reward ; but most of
them will be mentioned in other connections, so we shall content

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 267

ourselves with introducing a brief memoir of three of the early
pioneer men.

REV. GEORGE M. BESWICK, who was appointed to this Circuit
in 1832, and traveled it for one year, was born in the State of
Kentucky, October nth, 1811. His father was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and settled in Indiana in 1815. George
was early impressed with the necessity and importance of religion,
and was converted in the fourteenth year of his age, and immediate
ly united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was licensed to
exhort in the sixteenth year of his age, and to preach at eighteen,
and was admitted, on trial, in the Indiana Conference in his twen
tieth year, and appointed to a Circuit. He has filled some of the most
important appointments in his Conference, as Circuit and stationed
preacher and as Presiding Elder, and was a delegate to the General
Conference of 1852. At the time of his death, he was Presiding
Elder of one of the most important Districts in his Conference.
Having nearly completed his third round on the District, he was at
tacked with typhoid fever, in a very malignant form. Early in the
disease his brain became involved, and he was delirious most of the
time. He had his lucid moments, however, and these intervals were
improved in rejoicing, exhorting his friends, and comforting his
family.

In Mr. Beswick, the virtues which constitute a Christian gentle
man were harmoniously blended. He was a talented — a bold and
original thinker. His motto, firmly adhered to, was to fear God and
do right, no matter what the consequences might be. He had a
sound, pure, Christian experience, and was a very useful minister.
He fell asleep in Jesus in the spring of 1854. In this sketch we have
very closely followed the Minutes.

We have now to introduce to the reader a tall, lank, pleasant-
visaged man, who was appointed to this Circuit in 1832; one who
belonged to the son-of-consolation class, whom everybody would
esteem for his mild goodness, and would respect for his evident sin
cerity ; one who always wore the old-fashioned, round-breasted coat,
and who would be taken, at first sight, for a Methodist preacher of
the olden time ; not that there is any virtue in the cut of a coat, but,
for many years after the fashion changed, and other men wore coats
cut in another style, the Methodist preachers adhered to this fashion
of Continental times, and some of them, with just as much sincerity
as that Quarterly Conference in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, who voted
that " they would do all they could to put down the ungodly practice
of wearing suspenders," would have voted to put down the ungodly

268 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

practice of wearing coats of any other cut. The ministers of this de
nomination were distinguished in this way for a long time. The sub
ject of this sketch held on to the faith and practice of the fathers in
this respect. The following is the memoir, taken from the Official
Minutes of the Ohio Conference, to which he belonged, for the year
1846:

41 REV. BENJAMIN COOPER died at his residence, in Hancock Coun
ty, Indiana, May I3th, 1846. He was born in Perry County, Ohio,
June 3d, 1802, to which place his parents had removed a short
time before his birth. His parents were pious members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Amongst all the disadvantages of
a new settlement, his father, Joseph Cooper, succeeeded in bestow
ing upon his children a religious education. Benjamin was a bright
example of early piety. Being given to studious habits, he acquired
a good English education. When a young man, his sober deport
ment would have done honor to one of gray hairs. He loved the
society of the aged and the upright rather than that of the young
and frivolous. In a word, he dared to be singular in order to be
wise and good. He had a great amount of retiring modesty, per
haps to a fault ; for, when God called him to the work of the minis
try, had not his brethren pushed him out, he would, no doubt, have
hid his useful talents ' in a napkin.' But the Church, which is as
good, and, perhaps, a better judge of a young man's gifts than him
self, gave this young man license to preach, and recommended him
to the Ohio Annual Conference, to be received on trial as a travel
ing preacher. In 1827, he was admitted on trial, and appointed to
Mansfield; in 1828, Pickaway; 1829, to Huron [Michigan] ; 1830,
St. Clair; 1831, St. Joseph [which included Miles]; 1832, Brush
Creek; 1833, Bainbridge ; 1834 and 1835, Rushville ; an^ in 1836
was superannuated.

*' He traveled all these Circuits with honor to himself and use
fulness to the Church ; for, at all times and in all places, he breathed
the spirit of the Gospel he preached, and discharged the duties it
enjoined. No man, in his proper mind, could spend an hour in his
society without being benefitted; for in his life he had a living com
ment on the Gospel of Christ. But the Being, Whose ways ' are
past finding out/ permitted this good man to lose his health in the
midst of his usefulness. He, therefore, asked and obtained a super
annuated relation to his Conference, in 1836. In this relation he
spent the balance of his life ; but, judging it best for himself and
family, he sold his patrimonial inheritance in this State, and moved
to Indiana, where he continued to preach, as his health would permit.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 269

until the Lord and Master came to call him home. When approach
ing the valley of the shadow of death, he said : ' My confidence is
firm. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. He saves
me ; saves me from all sin ; saves me now/ To a young minister
he said, ' Go, young man, and preach Jesus to a lost world.' Then,
lifting his eyes to Heaven, and his countenance beaming with un
earthly grandeur, he said: ' O Death, where is thy sting?' He has,
doubtless, joined the General Assembly and Church of the First
born.

" Brother Cooper was a man of sound mind, his preaching tal
ents were respectably good, his deportment was sober and dignified,
and his spirit was as sweet as a newly blown flower."

There is something grand and beautiful in the experience and
course of life of such a man as this. He not only shows himself
to be sincere, but, by the sweet serenity of his life, shows that his
religion accomplishes what it purposes — it makes him pure and
happy. To see a man lay aside the selfishness which adheres so
strongly to our natures — sacrifice the pleasures of home and the
hope of worldly gain and of worldly honor — devote himself, unceas
ingly, as long as his physical energies hold out, to the moral refor
mation and elevation of his fellow-men, is most sublime ; it is more —
it is noble, God-like. But this was what Mr. Cooper did, and what
every faithful minister does when he becomes an itinerant, and de
votes himself, perseveringly, to his ministerial duties and work. The
same nobility and God-likeness attaches to every faithful Gospel
minister of any denomination.

One other case will be introduced here because Niles and
Kalamazoo, each for one year, were the only appointments he ever
supplied in Michigan. The rest of his itinerant life was spent in
Indiana. He was appointed to Niles in the autumn of 1837. The
memoir is taken from the Minutes of the Indiana Conference for
1841.

" REV. SANFORD S. WILLIAMS was born of religious parents, in
Hamilton County, Ohio, where he was religiously brought up, called
to the ministry, and finished his earthly sufferings. The precise date
of his birth cannot be ascertained. In the year 1834, he was licensed
to preach the Gospel, and admitted, on trial, in the Indiana Confer
ence, at its session in Centerville, the ensuing autumn. His first
appointment was to the charge of Versailles Circuit, where he la
bored with acceptability and usefulness. After this he traveled,
successively, the Kalamazoo Mission, Greenville, Niles, and Vevay
Circuits, and, lastly, Pipe Creek Mission, where he greatly endeared

270 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

himself to his people, and left seals to his ministry. Toward the close
of the year 1840, while zealously engaged in the labors of his Mission,
his health failed him, though he did not retire from the work till the
ensuing session of the Conference, at which time he was compelled by
affliction to ask for, and obtained a superannuated relation. From
Conference he returned to his father's house in Hamilton County,
Ohio, where he continued to suffer, under the ravages of pulmonary
consumption, until May 1841, at which time he finished his course,
and calmly fell asleep in Jesus."

What is more sublime than to see the Christian fall asleep in
Jesus ! Even Stephen, when the shower of stones was falling on
him, fell asleep in Jesus, and furnishes an instance of sublimity not
surpassed by any other. The death-bed scenes of Christians and
Christian ministers, so calm and so glorious as contrasted with the
departure of the sinner conscious of his condition, become occasions
of exceeding interest and encouragement to devotion and holiness.

It is but right to remark here that the course of the Church, in
this place, in its earlier stages, did not always run smoothly. Some
dissensions have existed, especially on the subject of Church music ;
some wishing to have a choir, and others insisting on "lining the
hymns "and having no choir. Sometimes these dissensions ran so high
as to alienate brethren, and retard the operations of the Church for
good. These dissensions, however, have been long since buried, and
at the present time they are enjoying peace and harmony — loving as
brethren, and having favor with the people. It is now a wonder that
there was ever any dissension in any of our Churches on the subject
of choirs, and, even, organs to lead our Church music. It was con
fidently asserted that, if these things were allowed, we should lose
all our spirituality, and that the glory of the Church, as an instru
ment in the conversion of sinners, and the sanctification of believers,
would quickly depart from us. But these predictions have not been
realized, for the Methodist Church has never had more power, in
these respects, than at the present day.

Other denominations were introduced as the increase of popu
lation progressed, and have done their work. There may have been
a little rivalry between the different Churches at times, but yet, they
have, in the main, worked harmoniously, and have accomplished a
glorious work for humanity. It is not specially important to state
the precise time when these different Churches were organized, and,
yet, it would be a matter of some interest to some, and we would
insert these dates only that we have been unable to procure them.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 27!

The different denominations gave in their statistics for 1876 as
below, viz :

Methodists 390

Presbyterians 257

Baptists 214

Protestant Episcopalians 341

In the same year that Niles appears on our Minutes, another
place, in the eastern part of the State, appears for the first time — a
place that is worthy of notice here because of several interesting
incidents connected with it. The very first establishment of Pro
testantism in it was an occasion of very great interest. We mean
Romeo.

ROMEO, a village of considerable notoriety in the northwest part
of the County of Macomb, was settled, in 1823, by Asahel Bailey,
Frederick Hoxey, J. C. Hoxey, Albert Finch and Ebenezer Kitridge,
with their families. These were soon joined by others, making quite
a settlement in a little time. Its growth has not been rapid but
steady and healthy. It was made the location of one of the branches
of the University of Michigan in 1837, and continued to be such as
long as that policy continued, and acquired a considerable literary
fame. The branch of the University was succeeded by the Dickin
son Institute, which yielded to the union school in 1867.

The Methodist ministers, who are always on the alert to find
and supply every new place, were not unmindful of this new town ;
so that, within one year from its origin, a Church was organized.
Rev. Elias Pattee, who was traveling the Detroit Circuit, organized
a Methodist Society here, consisting of Albert Finch and wife, Joseph
Freeman and wife, and James Leslie and wife. Joseph Freeman, then
an aged man, was appointed the class-leader. This was the first
Christian Church organized in this village. This was done in 1824.
No other was formed till in 1829, at which time a Congregational
Church was instituted, consisting also of six members, which, on the
plan of union, became Presbyterian for a time; and a Baptist Church
was organized in 1846, consisting of nine members.

Of the six persons composing the first Christian Church in this
town, not one remains to the present time. All have passed to their
reward on high. Albert Finch and his wife both died in the year
1826 or 1827. They died broken-hearted because their little son
had been stolen from them by the Indians, and carried away.

In the year 1826 there was a very powerful and extensive re
vival — extensive for the population — in this place. Most of the
young people were converted, and joined the Church, and became
useful members of Society. The work commenced under the labors

272 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of Rev. Abel Warren, of precious memory, and it was on this wise :
He had given out the hymn,

"Plunged in a gulf of dark despair,
We wretched sinners lay," &c.

Two daughters of Captain Gad Chamberlain were standing together,
and singing, when they came to the words,

" Oh! for this love, let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,"

the two sisters dropped the book out of which they were singing,
and fell into each other's arms, and most earnestly supplicated for
mercy. The feeling became general. The next evening, at a
prayer-meeting, they both experienced pardoning grace. They both
became ornaments of the Christian cause. One of these sisters
married Rev. William T. Snow, who traveled this Circuit in 1829.
The other married a Presbyterian minister, lived an exemplary
Christian life, and has gone to her great reward, having died happy
in the love of God.

This Church was strengthened, a few years later, by the coming
of the Hoveys, of John A. Tinsman and family, and others, and by
the conversion, in 1839, of James Starkweather, Martin F. South
well and others. They erected a small church in 1839, and the base
ment of it was finished for use in 1842, and the body of the Church
at a later period. In 1855, under the labors of Rev. George Taylor,
the Church was enlarged and improved, at a considerable cost
Again, in 1867, they expended over a thousand dollars in renewing
the basement and in other improvements. In the meantime, a par
sonage had been purchased. Under the ministry of Rev. James S.
Smart, the corner-stone of a new church was laid on the 3Oth of July,
1872. Bishop Haven officiated on the occasion. This church was
beautifully finished, and dedicated the next year.

The little Society planted in 1824 has grown from six to two
hundred and ninety-one in 1876, besides those who have gone out to
strengthen the Church in other places, and those who have gone
over to increase the Church triumphant on the other side of the
flood. Among the latter may be mentioned the original six, John D.
Holland and wife, Martin F. Southwell, Roxana Starkweather, Sarah
Ann Tinsman, Angelica Chamberlain, James Starkweather, Mrs. Rev.
E. H. Pilcher, and many others of whom time would fail us to speak
more particularly, except one.

" Mrs. PHEBE M., wife of Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher, D. D., of
Romeo, died at the parsonage, August 23d, 1866, in the forty-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 273

eighth year of her age. She was the daughter of James Fisk,
Esq., of Coldwater. Sister Pilcher gave herself to the Saviour's
service, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Pen-
field, N. Y., at the age of twelve, and ever maintained her regu
lar standing in the Church. In the winter of 1839 an^ 1840, she
made a perfect consecration of her heart and life to God, and for
nearly twenty-seven years consecutively she enjoyed the evidence
of that perfect love that casteth out all fear. She learned by blessed
experience that Christians may have a perfect trust in God, and that
this brings constant peace. For twenty-four years she endured
without complaint, even gladly, the privations and trials incident to
the itinerant ministry. Many in the respective fields of labor occu
pied during that time, by her husband, will bear witness to the
purity, wisdom and efficiency of her Christian life ; her chief care
was to secure the present favor of God by the prompt discharge of
duty, and all the days of her appointed time to wait until her change
should come. During her last illness, which was protracted and
very painful, in patience she possessed her soul, never murmuring,
calmly saying as she fell asleep, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit/
This was her last voluntary expression. So die none but those who
first reckon themselves dead indeed unto sin. In the domestic and
social relations she was what good natural endowments improved
by education and early purified by grace, combine to make a true
woman, a good wife, mother and friend. A bereaved family all
cherish the hope of meeting her where sin and death are no more."

"JOHN RUSSELL."

She folded her arms across her breast and closed her eyes, just
as if she had gone to sleep. The day before her death she was very
triumphant, and for a long time shouted the praise of God aloud,
so as to be heard all over the house. Her last moments were as a
peaceful sleep, with the smile of heaven on her pale face.

Various seasons of revival have been enjoyed, out of which
valuable men and women have been raised up, and some men for
the work of the ministry. The work has not advanced without its
contests and its repulses — repulses from the apathy of friends, and
some times from the defection of those who ought to have been firm
and reliable ; still the church has grown and become strong.

Romeo was included first in Detroit Circuit, then in Oakland,
next in Mount Clemens, and in 1836, it appears in the list of appoint
ments with Arthur B. Elliott and Larmon Chatfield as preachers.
But the name now represented a large district of country ; indeed
nearly all that is included in a Presiding Elder's District, at the

274 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

present time. By the organization of new charges, the work has
been so narrowed down that it became a Station proper in 1853, and
it had now assumed so much importance, Methodistically, as to give
name to a district; and Romeo District appears in our Minutes, in
that year, and Jonathan Blanchard was the Presiding Elder, who
continued for four years. In the enlargement of Districts in 1876,
Romeo was absorbed in Port Huron, and the name dropped.

This church has been favored with many seasons of revival —
many have been converted and added to the church. During these
seasons some incidents have occurred which may be of some interest
to record. On one occasion a man became so much wrought upon
as to way-lay the minister to ask him to pray for him, that is, as the
church was between his house and the parsonage, he went, at the
close of the meeting, towards the parsonage and waited till the min
ister came along, and hailed him and asked him to pray for him.
The minister took him home with him and talked and prayed with
him — he was converted and afterwards became a minister.

During the winter of 1838-39, when James Shaw and R. R.
Richards were holding a series of meetings in this village, which re
sulted in much good, after some degree of interest had been created,
a few had been forward for prayers, and some had been converted ;
one evening a Mrs. Southwell was among the seekers of religion.
Next morning Mr. Richards heard that Mr. Southwell, her husband,
was very much enraged, and had made a declaration that in case he
called Mrs. Southwell forward for prayers again, he would horse-whip
him. Soon after receiving this information, as he was walking the
street, he heard some one walking behind him with a quick step.

In a moment the person came up with him, and he saw that it
was Mr. Southwell, when the following conversation occurred : —
" Good morning Mr. Southwell." Mr. Southwell, greatly excited,
responded, " Good morning," " Fine morning," said Mr. Richards.
To which, with increased excitement, Mr. Southwell replied, " Yes,"
and immediately added, " You must not call my wife forward for
prayers again ; if you do I will horse- whip you." To this Mr.
Richards simply replied, " I did not speak to your wife about coming
forward. I gave a general invitation, when she came of her own
accord. I shall repeat the invitation to-night, and in case she comes
I should not like to tell her to leave." Mr. Southwell then replied
" Remember what I say ;" and they parted. Mr. Southwell bought
his raw-hide, made preparations to execute his threat, and " nursed
his wrath to keep it warm."

That evening Mr. Richards gave the invitation as usual, and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 275

Mrs. Southwell was again at the altar, deeply distressed on account
of her sins. Next morning, as Mr. Richards was walking the street,
he saw Mr. Southwell making his way across the street after him
with great rapidity. He was soon by his side. When he came up
ivith him, Mr. Richards said, " Good morning, Mr. Southwell ; this is
a lovely morning" — looking, at the same time, how he might ward
off the blow that he expected would be attempted. Mr. Southwell
made no reply to the salutation, but walked on with him for some
distance, and, it is said, he had his whip concealed under his coat.
At length he said, " Mr. Richards, I should like to have you go with
me to my house, and talk with my wife." " I thank you," said Mr.
Richards; "it will afford me great pleasure to do so."

They immediately turned about, and went in the direction of
his house. "Surely," thought Mr. Richards, "the lion has become
changed into the lamb." Mrs. Southwell not being in the parlor
when they arrived, they sat down and conversed together until she
came in, though Mr. Richards thought it not advisable to say any
thing to him, just then, about his own soul. Presently Mrs. South
well came in, whereupon, Mr. Richards, turning to Mr. Southwell,
said, "If it be your pleasure that I should converse with Mrs. South
well, I shall do so, but I do not choose to do so unless it meets with
your approbation. To this he replied, " It is my desire that you
should talk with her." Mr. Richards then conversed freely with the
lady, in his presence, on the subject of salvation, pointing her to the
Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, after which
they engaged in a season of prayer, when he observed that Mr.
Southwell quickly fell upon his knees, doubtless for the first time in
the presence of any human being.

After prayer, Mr. Richards bade them good morning, without
having said a word to him on the subject of religion. But Mr.
Southwell followed him out, when he thought it was time to press the
claims of the Gospel upon him, which he did. He found that, like
Saul, while " breathing out threatening and slaughter," he had been
slain by the Spirit — that he had kept up his opposition to God and
His cause, and his determination to flog Mr. Richards, until about one
o'clock that morning, at which time he came into his house, having
been out till that hour engaged in sawing wood, not from necessity,
but from anger and spite; and frankly confessed to his wife that he
was a sinner, and must be saved by the mercy of God in Christ
Jesus, or be lost forever. He and his wife were soon happily con
verted, and rejoiced in the knowledge of sins forgiven, and joined
the Church.

2j6 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Mr. Southwell lived for several years an ornament to the Church,
filling the offices of trustee, steward, and class-leader with great
fidelity and usefulness ; and, though called, in the discharge of his
duties, to mingle much with the world, having held the office of
Sheriff of the county for some time, he always maintained a close
walk with God, and sustained the purity of the Christian character,
He died, in the full and certain hope of eternal life, in the summer
of 1844.

We here introduce a short memorial notice of some of the
men who have been identified with the work here. Abel Warren
is a name ever dear to those who knew him. He was known all
through this region of country as " Elder Warren." His was a
name that was always pronounced with pleasure, and was a syno
nym for sympathy and kindness — a name that will live in the hearts
of many while they live, and multitudes will come up at the Judg
ment to call him blessed. He was called on to bury the dead, and
marry the living, more frequently than any man in the country during
his time.

ABEL WARREN was born in Hampton, Washington County, New
York, August 3d, 1 789. He was converted to God, and joined the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Covington, Genesee County, New
York, in March, 1817. He came to Michigan, and settled in the
town of Washington or Shelby, in Macomb County, in 1824. He
was licensed to preach at a Quarterly Meeting held in Detroit in
June, 1825, at which time there were not more than fifteen members
of the Church present at the love-feast on Sabbath morning. He
had visited the Territory of Michigan in 1820, and went up as far
as Pontiac, but did not settle here till the date named. He served
the Church for several years as class-leader, during which time he
often felt impressed with a sense of duty to preach. He received
license to exhort four years after his conversion. He was a soldier
in the War of 1812, and was at the battle on Queenston Heights,
and was wounded and taken prisoner. We will give his religious
experience in his own words, as he communicated it to us. He
says:

" With regard to my religious experience, I have to say that
I lived a life of sin until my twenty-ninth year ; but, during that part
of my life, I was often the subject of deep and frequent convictions.
Sometimes I experienced this when thrown among those who were
full of frivolity and wickedness, but more particularly in the hour of
imminent danger. Especially can I call to remembrance the anguish
of mind that seized me when on one occasion it seemed certain that

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 277

I was being doomed to a speedy death by being swept over the
Falls of Niagara. The terrible conviction of my sinfulness — my utter
inability to stand acquitted before the Almighty, pressed upon me.
I was overwhelmed at the thought of the folly and wickedness of
the life I had been living.

"Also, on another occasion, in 1812, when on the Heights of
Queenston, approaching the enemy, and when the carnage of battle
was all around me, my heart was deeply pierced with the arrows of
conviction for sin. As I heard the terrible exclamations of the
wounded and dying, calling upon God to have mercy upon them,
and, for Christ's sake, to save them, and being myself wounded and
a prisoner, I knew not but that myself, also, was soon to appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, it affected me very deeply.

" I continued to be thus convinced of sin, and, yet, striving
against those convictions, until the morning of February 28th, 1817,
when the conflict ended, and I found peace with God. For three
days previous to this, I had labored under mental agony altogether
intolerable, and, on the evening of the 27th, I went to the barn to
pour out my anguish of soul in prayer. On returning to my house,
like Saul of Tarsus, I fell to the ground, and, for ten or fifteen minutes,
lay senseless in the public road. At length I arose, and, on reach
ing the house, I said to my wife, I am lost forever. But I was not left
long in this condition. I fell asleep, and, on waking in the morning,
I found myself at peace with God, and with a heart full of love and
praise." Thus was he brought into the liberty of the sons of God,
which liberty he continued to enjoy for a long life. His religion was
of the cheerful, happy type.

Mr. Warren always felt and manifested a very warm attach
ment to the interests of the Church, and, though no bigot, he always
labored to promote the interests of this branch of the Church. He
was a man of very respectable talents as a preacher, but it was his
warm sympathy which gave him such a strong hold on the affections
of the people. He always had a tear for the afflicted and bereaved,
as well as a word of hearty good cheer for the joyous. He was very-
industrious as a preacher, and very useful, having labored so effect
ively for the revival interests of this village, at one time, that his
name deserves to be embalmed in its records. He was the first
man ever licensed to preach in Michigan. He was a man of sterling
common sense. Being stricken down with paralysis, he was unable
to say but a few words, but his reason was unimpaired. A little
while before his departure — several Christian friends standing near

278 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

his bed — he manifested a desire to have singing and prayer. They
sung the hymn commencing :

"O for an overcoming faith,

To cheer my dying hours;
To triumph o'er approaching Death
And all his frightful powers."

During the singing, an air of holy triumph, utterly beyond the
power of language to describe, sat upon his countenance. He
waved his hand in token of the completeness of his victory. Thus,
on September 5th, 1863 —

" Out of his late home, dark and cold,
He passed to a city, whose streets are gold ;
From the silence that falls upon sin and pain
To the deathless joy of the angel's strain."

Such was the end of one of the noblest and best local preachers
we ever had the privilege of associating with. It was, indeed, a
privilege to be associated with him; he was so full of love to God
and man, and of kindly, good words, that one could hardly be with
him without feeling a strong desire to imitate his Christian virtues, and
to join with him in his Christian work. His memory is like ointment
poured forth.

REV. RANSOM R. RICHARDS, who has already been mentioned in
connection with a revival scene, died, on the I3th of July, 1872, at
Hudson, in this State, in the faith and peace of the Gospel. He
was admitted into the Michigan Conference in September, 1837.
He was a very active and useful preacher — was successful in Cir
cuits, Stations, and Districts as Presiding Elder. Many were con
verted to God, and joined the Church, under his ministry. He did
much for the promotion of the interests of the Church in conducting
revivals, and building churches and parsonages. He was liberal him
self, and succeeded in calling forth the liberality of others for such
enterprises. He died at his post, having preached in his charge on
the second of June, 1872, for the last time. In a month and a week
he died in the midst of his people, mourned and lamented by them
all. He was a true and noble-hearted Christian gentleman, and a
reliable friend. His last days were cheered by the consolations of
that religion which he had so successfully preached to others. Mr.
Richards was a man of commanding, noble bearing, of fine preach
ing abilities, and always true to the interests of the Church, which
never suffered in his hands. He left a wife and one small child —
a son.

It would be interesting, had we space to so devote, to speak of

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 279

Josiah Breakman and others of the noble men who have labored in
this charge — who maintained the faith, fought a good fight, and
finished their course with peace and joy, and have gone to their
heavenly home.

The work of a Church is not always to be determined by the
number included within its fold, for these are constantly changing,
but by the experience and religious character of those under its
care, or, more properly, composing its body, and by the efforts made
to instruct and save the young. Apply these tests to this Church.
At the time of its organization there was no Sabbath School ex
isting, but, for many years past, this work has been actively pros
ecuted, with high success.

According to the last report — for 1876 — there was one school,
having twenty-seven officers and teachers and two hundred scholars,
with all the appliances necessary for the interesting and successful
prosecution of their work. But, in the passing years, this school has
sent out many to be laborers in other parts of the great field of
Christian work, and many have been saved from sin. The Sabbath
School work forms a very interesting feature in its work.

The number of members and probationers, according to the
report for 1876, was two hundred and ninety-one, having a church
valued at $45,000, and a parsonage valued at $1,500. These figures
show a very successful growth. The other churches have been
named, but we here subjoin the statistics for 1876. We place them
in the order of organization.

Methodists 291 | Congregaticmalists 200

Baptists 120.

SAGINAW is a name which represents a large district of country,
known as the Saginaw Valley, in which is included the cities of
Saginaw City, East Saginaw, and Bay City, with a number of vil
lages. These cities and villages have grown up very rapidly, and
have been dependent, mainly, on the manufacture of lumber, and,
for a few years past, the manufacture of salt has been added to
that of lumber. The prosperity of this whole region will fluctuate
according to the state of the lumber and salt market. The agricul
tural capacities, which are not supposed to be very promising, have
not yet been fully developed. Probably, when the lumber material
has been used up, which will not be for many years yet, they will
give their attention more to agriculture. For a long time after the
settlements began in this valley, it was very difficult to reach them,
as the country south was flat and swampy for many miles, but yet
the ministers did penetrate the swamps, and carry the glad tidings

280 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

to the few people settled here, at a very early day in the settlement.
Many important Indian councils and treaties were held here.

In 1832, Saginaw Mission appears in our Minutes, with Brad
ford Frazee as preacher. He made some visits to the valley, but
his labors did not accomplish much; and the prospect of success
was so poor, as compared with the labor and expense, that it was
dropped from the list in the Minutes, and does not appear again
until the Conference of 1835, when it reappears, with William H.
Brockway as the preacher. Mr. Brockway included Flint in his
Circuit, and as many other settlements as he could visit once in
four weeks. The people were poor, and lived mostly in shanties,
and the minister found it very difficult to obtain shelter and enter
tainment for himself and horse. In 1836, Oscar F. North was the
preacher, and, in 1837, Charles Babcock was appointed to this charge.
In 1838, Jonathan Hudson was the minister. He attended to the
Circuit, which still included Flint, for one year But Flint having
assumed more importance than Saginaw, the latter was dropped,
and Flint was substituted for it in the Minutes for 1839. Saginaw
does not again appear till 1848. It now appears to remain. Soci
eties were organized at Saginaw City, East Saginaw, and at Bay
City; and, as these cities have grown, and the Church has acquired
sufficient strength, they have been erected into Stations, and the
villages into Stations and Circuits. For the two years, 1848 and
1849, Andrew Bell was the preacher in charge, and did good service.
William Blades — father of Rev. F. A. Blades, so long and active a
member of the Detroit Conference — a most excellent man, and a
warm-hearted, sympathetic, good preacher, was appointed in charge
in 1850, and served them well for one year. For the next year, 1851,
Carmi C. Olds, a scholarly, excellent man, was appointed, and did
faithful work for one year. Since then, with the growth and de
velopment of the country, the work has regularly expanded, and
been divided, so that, in this valley, we now have sixteen Circuits
and Stations and 1,497 members, with several fine and valuable
churches, and having the necessary appliances for Sabbath Schools
and other Church work.

The Detroit Annual Conference has held two sessions in this
valley. In 1867, it was magnificently entertained in Saginaw City.
In 1872, it was held in East Saginaw, and it was entertained to the
entire gratification of the members of the Conference. Bishop Janes
presided at the first, and Bishop Ames at the second session. These
occasions were of great value to our cause in the valley. This
degree of success has been achieved by much hard toil and many

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 283

sufferings on the part of the ministers who have been charged with
the responsibility of carrying forward the cause.

We must not overlook or ignore the fact that other denomina
tions of Christians are here, and have been from a very early time.
They have their organizations and churches, and are doing a good
Church work, and are worthy of praise for the efforts they are
making to evangelize the people.

It may be expected, doubtless, as it is proper, and may be inter
esting, that we should say a few things in regard to the pioneer
ministers of this valley, although we do not intend any lengthened
biographical sketch.

BRADFORD FRAZEE, whose name appears in connection with this
appointment when it first appears in our Minutes, was a young man
of superior abilities, and he had acquired an excellent education.
He was, indeed, an elegant and eloquent preacher. Still, he did not
accomplish anything of importance in this charge. He remained but
one year. There were some reasons for this want of success. One
of these was to be found in the character of the population, that is,
they were lumbermen — scattered in the woods, attending the mills,
and running logs on the rivers. Men may be good in any morally
lawful business ; but when we separate men, whether young or old,
from the associations and influences of home, they will throw off the
usual restraints of society, and become, comparatively, reckless —
less inclined to goodness. They become comparatively wild and
ungovernable. Mr. Frazee was a man of a good deal of refinement
of tastes and manners, and he found it difficult to adapt himself to
the circumstances, and so to mingle with the lumbermen in their
camps as to secure their confidence and good will. He could not
lodge in their shanties, nor eat muskrats or salt pork with them.

Another reason was to be found in the fact that he devoted a
good deal of time away from his charge in wooing and marrying a
wife. It is lawful for a man to woo and marry, but it may, neverthe
less, interfere with his ministerial success for the time being. There
was philosophy in the Mosaic provision that a man should be exempt
from going to war for one year after his marriage. If the circum
stances of his charge had been such that Mr. Frazee could have
taken his wife on to it, it would have made a considerable difference,
no doubt, but he could not have found any home for her, nor
could he get anything for her support ; he had, therefore, to leave
her with friends in the older settlements, and that divided his time
and attention.

Mr. Frazee continued to labor in connection with the Confer-

284 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ence until 1845, when he located, and went into Kentucky, where
he and his wife both died, near the same time, a few years after.
Having located, there is no official memoir from which we can derive
any information as to the precise time and circumstances of his
death.

WILLIAM H. BROCKWAY, whose name is connected with Sagi-
naw in its next appearance in the Minutes, is still living, and has
resided at Albion, under the shadow of the college, for many years,
has been agent, and trustee, and President of the Board of Trustees
of the college, and labored in various ways for its interests. Mr.
Brockway did not confine himself to the Saginaw Valley, but took in
the nascent village of Flint, and whatever other settlements there
were in Genesee County. He performed the difficult and arduous
labor faithfully for one year, and was relieved, and sent to Ypsilanti
and Huron Mission. He was sent in 1838, to take charge of and
develop the Indian Mission at Sault Ste. Marie and in the Lake
Superior country. He was a very laborious and useful missionary
for several years. For the last few -years his health has been
such that he has had to retire from the active ministerial work, and
his name stands in the list of superannuates in the Michigan Con
ference.

Mr. Brockway was licensed to preach in the spring of 1833, and
in the autumn of the same year wras admitted on trial in the Annual
Conference, and appointed to Huron Mission, which embraced the
country below Ypsilanti, along the river, and extended out to
Dearborn. He included the settlement of Wyandotte Indians near
Flat Rock, where he had taught the Mission school the year before.
He, in due order, was admitted into full connection, and advanced
to the order of Deacon and Elder. He has done much valuable
work.

OSCAR F. NORTH succeeded Mr. Brockway. He was a very
modest young man, and one who did not seem to be very well
adapted to the rough work of a wild, lumbering region. He was a
most estimable man, and did very worthy work in the Conference
for a number of years. He finally located, in 1847, anc^ settled
down at Pontiac, where he occupied a good position in the com
munity, having filled the office of Judge of Probate for some time.
He looked well to the interests of the Church in that place while he
lived. He died in peace and in holy triumph some years ago.

CHARLES BABCOCK, whose name appears as in charge of Sagi
naw in the Minutes for 1837, was admitted on trial in the Confer
ence in 1836; consequently he had been in die work only one year,

ft* £S\0 . C/& ^O^CX/V<^ACCX^r

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 285

and was, at the next Conference, appointed to Waterville, on the
Maumee River, in the edge of Ohio. We do not purpose to trace
his appointments from year to year. He remained in connection
with the Michigan Conference till 1844, when he was transferred to
the Rock River Conference. He continued in the active ministry
in that Conference till 1849, and then located, and disappears from
our record. He was a man of fair preaching ability and a good
degree of zeal. His piety was undoubted, and he had ordinary
success in advancing the cause of true religion.

In 1838, JONATHAN HUDSON, an interesting and promising young
man, just recently from Norwalk Seminary, in Ohio, and of two
years experience in the ministry, was sent to Saginaw. The Circuit
still extended southward, so as to include Flint and the surrounding
country. Mr. Hudson had a very pleasing address, was very social
and genial in his manners, and, for many years occupied a good
position in the Conference, filling some of the first appointments.
He located in 1847, settling down at Trenton, where he entered into
business. When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he went into
the army as chaplain to a regiment of cavalry, and did well. He
died in peace, in the spring of 1876, after a long and painful sick
ness — finally determined to be cancer in the stomach — which he
endured with Christian resignation.

It would be a pleasing task to speak of other men who have
labored in this valley, but we cannot include all, so we have to con
tent ourself with these few notices.

The summary of the different denominations, taken from their
reports for 1876, in this valley, stands thus:

Methodist Episcopal 1,497 Protestant Episcopal 715

Presbyterian ? 667 Baptist 838

Congregational 406.

COLDWATER, which appears in the Minutes of the Conference as
the name of a Circuit in 1835, called a Mission, began to be settled
in the summer of 1831. It was included in Tecumseh Circuit for
one year, and in Calhoun Mission till this time. Mr. Allen Tibbits
and Joseph Hanchett planted themselves on a small prairie, and laid
out a village that summer. The former occupied a rude log house,
which had been erected by some squatter, and the latter built for
himself a more pretentious one, though of logs, for the logs were
larger, and hewecl flat, and the house was a story and a half high.
The next season they were joined by a few more. A store and a
postoffice were established. Shortly after, the county-seat, which had
been located at a place called Branch, a few miles southwest and off

286 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

•

from the main, or Chicago road, was changed to this place. Mr.
Tibbits is living, and still resides in this city, but Mr. Hanchett is
dead, and a memorial notice of him has already been given. From
such a small beginning, it has grown to have, in 1874, a population
of 4,330, and was incorporated as a city in 1861.

The Methodist Society, or Church, was organized in 1832, as
before stated. In 1835 it received a great accession of strength
by the immigration of James Fisk, with a large family, and several
families of Crippens. The place and the Methodist Church had so
increased that the Annual Conference was magnificently entertained
by them in 1844. Bishop Hamline presided, and preached on the
Sabbath with wonderful power and unction. The Church has been
favored with many very powerful revival seasons, and they now have
a beautiful and valuable brick church. It has also given name to a
Presiding Elder's District.

Other Churches have been organized as the population increased
and the exigences seemed to demand, and have erected commodious
houses of worship. The status of the different denominations in
the city is as below, viz :

Methodist Episcopal 476

Presbyterian , 255

Baptist 366

Protestant Episcopal 140

There was a time when the Spiritists were quite numerous, and
had good hopes of carrying the whole place, nearly, or subverting
or supplanting the Churches. But these hopes of theirs and the
fears of some timid Christians have not been realized. The cause
of true piety is constantly on the advance.

We will regard Coldwater as the representative of the County
of Branch, and show what is the strength of the denominations in a
population of 25,726, in 1874, premising that the villages and rural
districts are well cared for by some or all of these denominations,
besides some of the minor ones.

Methodist Episcopal 1,329 Baptist 632

Presbyterian 396 Congregationalist 238

Protestant Episcopal 180.

So much has been said, in other parts of this History, in regard
to this beautiful city, that it is not necessary to say more here. We
will be allowed a memorial notice of one who did much for the
Church in this city at an early day, which we copy from one of the
city papers :

"DiED. — On the nth of August, 1870, in the City of Coldwater,
Michigan, at the residence of his son, JAMES FISK, aged eighty-two
years.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 287

" The deceased was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, August
4th, 1788, of industrious and pious parents, who, in the strict New
England manner, attended to the moral and religious education of
their children. Inheriting an excellent physical constitution, which
became strengthened by an early life of activity and plain living, he
developed into a man of rare physical and moral vigor. While yet
a young man, he left his native State, and removed to Ulster County,
New York, when in June, 1815, he married Miss Eleanor Ransom,
the death of which faithful wife and mother preceded his by about
fourteen years. Although always a believer in the doctrines of the
Christian religion, he did not yield himself up to the Saviour, and
receive pardon and converting grace, until he was about forty years
old, but ever after he appeared to live as one who was 'redeeming
the time.'

"This short but comprehensive record of his early history,
received from members of his family, brings us to the time of his
removal to Coldwater, in 1835 — a pioneer in the settlement of the
country. For thirty-five years he has been a faithful witness for the
Master. The name of 'Father Fisk' — by which he was familiarly
and widely known — had long since become a synonym for religion,
with which his whole soul and body seemed to be permeated.
Although he was a faithful member and founder of the Wesleyan
Church in this city, yet no Church walls or creed could confine his
great heart, so full of love for the Saviour and for lost and per
ishing men ; he was a welcome guest in all the churches. How
often have our souls been borne up to the very gates of Heaven as
we have bowed with him in prayer ! How often have our hearts
said, God certainly hears such prayers / He lived by prayer, and
seemed to be a living example of the injunction, ' Pray without
ceasing.' He was also a man of great faith ; like Abraham, he be
lieved God ; like Stephen, he was full of faith and the Holy Ghost
He was also a zealous worker in the vineyard ; rarely, if ever, for
these many years, has he received and returned the salutations of
the day, even, without speaking a word for Christ, kindly but earn
estly. He ceased not, night or day, to warn the impenitent, and to
entreat them to be reconciled to God. His theology was of a very
practical character ; it was reduced to aphorisms and axioms so well
stated as to need no argument to defend them. He seemed to
enjoy a perpetual revival of religion ; when others were cold and
indifferent, he was awake, and full of earnestness and interest.

" But the prayers of Father Fisk, like those of David, the son
of Jesse, are ended. But they are the inheritance of his children

288 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

and of the Church, and have won a revenue of glory for himself, his
family, the Church, and for many a soul ready to perish. Verily, a
prince and a good man in Israel has fallen. The loss is ours, but to
him an abundant entrance has been ministered, with a 'well done,
good and faithful servant/ into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ."

In the list of new appointments in the Minutes in 1837, MARSHALL
is found. This place is the county-seat of Calhoun County, is pleas
antly located at the confluence of Rice Creek with Kalamazoo River,
about one hundred and five miles west from Detroit, is situated in
the midst of a fertile country, and is inhabited by a very intelligent
and moral population. The first settlement in Calhoun County was
made here in the spring of 1831. Messrs. George and Sidney
Ketchum, two brothers, took up the land, and erected a saw-mill
that spring, but did not bring their families till in August following.
The first settlers were of the first order of society, and gathered
around them a similar class of inhabitants, so that this place has
always held the first rank for morality and intelligence.

Schools, churches, and other evidences of intellectual and moral
advancement are to be found, possessing much healthful vigor. The
population now numbers about 4,700. The growth of this town has
not been quite so rapid as some other places in the State, not
because it does not possess advantages in itself, but because the
county affords so many advantages for building up towns that sev
eral rival villages — and one has even attained to the dignity of a
city — have sprung into active and vigorous life. Still, Marshall
possesses several advantages which must give it an ultimate triumph
over them all. It is the county-seat, and it is the half-way place of
the Michigan Central Railroad, where they have shops for repairs,
and a dining-house, where all their trains stop. This house has been
the admiration of all travelers, and has been justly regarded as one
of the best railway eating establishments in the United States. This
railroad, by the way, is one of the best constructed, and one of the
very best managed roads in the whole country.

We must now pass from this general outline to the religious
history of this city and vicinity. In August, 1831, Rev. Randall
Hobart, a local preacher, arrived here, and, on the I4th of this
month, preached in the log house of Sidney Ketchum, which, by the
way, had neither doors nor windows, and was only partially floored
with split plank. This was the first religious service ever held in
this county. The first families who settled here were Christian

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 289

people, and commenced to have religious services as soon as they
arrived.

At the session of the Ohio Conference in September, 1831, Elijah
H. Pilcherand Ezekiel S. Gavitwere appointed to Tecumseh Circuit,
the bounds of which have been described in connection with Tecumseh
in the general outline, and included this place. About the first of
October of this year, the preacher in charge, Elijah H. Pilcher, came
here and preached, which was the first visit of an itinerant preacher
to the place. He was followed, in two weeks, by his colleague, Mr.
Gavit. On the sixth day of November, Mr. Pilcher organized the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Marshall, which, at the time, consisted
of Randall Hobart, Ruth Hobart, Sidney Ketchum, Katherine KetchumY
Seth Ketchum and Eliza Ketchum; only six. Of these, not one now
remains here. Seth Ketchum, at the time, was a very old man — was
the father of Sidney and Eliza — and soon after passed to the rest
of the Christian. He was not converted till late in life, but became
very devoted and pious. He lived with his son Sidney. Although
he came in at the eleventh hour, he has gone to receive his reward
in Heaven. Sidney Ketchum was a decided and earnest Christian,,
and very much attached to the Methodist doctrines and discipline,
and was a man of large and noble plans for good — for the intel
lectual and religious elevation of those around him. In consequence
of his large plans and undertakings, he became very much embar
rassed in the financial crash of 1836-38, and found it best to change
his residence to New York City for a time ; but the people of
Marshall may say of him, "He hath built us a synagogue;" for, in
1837, at his instance, a stone church, forty-five by fifty feet, of Gothic
architecture, was commenced, the basement of which was completed
for use in 1839. This church cost Mr. Ketchum about six or eight
thousand dollars. At a later period the same work might have been
done for much less money, but this does not lessen the amount that
Mr. Ketchum paid, nor does it diminish the good he intended to do
for the Church. It was a noble conception, although a little in
advance of the times. Mr. Ketchum was born in Northumberland^
New York, January 1797, and died at Marshall, Michigan, September
1 7th, 1862. He was a very good man, and commanded tne respect
of all who knew him.

Katherine Ketchum, wife of Sidney, was a very intelligent,
amiable, refined, and deeply pious lady. She was strongly attached
to the Church of her choice, and was always delighted with its
prosperity. She was always ready to contribute what she could of
influence and money for the advancement of the cause of true

290 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Christianity. She died, in great peace, in 1839, respected and la
mented by all who knew her. In her death, the Church here lost a
firm, valuable, and valued friend. Mrs. Hobart, who was a most
estimable Christian lady, died in great triumph, and passed to her
heavenly rest in about three or four years after coming here.

Rev. Randall Hobart was a local preacher of more than ordinary
ability. He supplied services when the itinerants were not present.
After the death of Mrs. Hobart, he married a second time, and re
moved to California in 1849, where he not only retained his piety,
but was respected as a local preacher. But we have now lost sight
of him.

Eliza Ketchum, a sister of Sidney, withdrew from the Church in
1832, having lost her spiritual life and enjoyment. Thus this origi
nal number has become entirely scattered, but, in the place of these,
the Lord has raised up a host of others to praise His name, some of
whom have gone up to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb on
high, among whom Ambrose M. Phelps may be named, of whose
life and experience a sketch will be furnished at the end of this
article ; but a strong body still remains to labor and succeed.

The first love-feast and communion season ever held in this
county, was at a two days meeting held by E. H. Pilcher, preacher
in charge, assisted by Rev. William Fowler, of the State of New
York, who was an Elder, and consecrated the elements, Mr. Pilcher
being only a Deacon. This meeting was held in the new school-
house, not yet finished, June i6th-i7th, 1832. There were but few
to commune, but they partook of the emblems of the broken body
and shed blood of the Lord and Saviour with great interest. It was
a delightful occasion to these few sheep in the wilderness.

The original six had been strengthened by additions, by letter
and on trial, so that, at the time of Conference, in September, 1832,
there were fifteen members. This was a very large increase consid
ering the circumstances; for the settlement had been almost depopu
lated by the cholera, which had prevailed so fearfully at this place
during the early summer of 1832.

The Church here has been visited with many precious seasons
of revival, by which other denominations have been greatly benefited
as well as the Methodists. One of the most important of these
revivals commenced about the middle of December, 1839. Some
interest had been growing up for some time, and, as the Presiding
Elder was passing through the city to attend a Quarterly Meeting at
Battle Creek, and being strongly solicited to return and preach on
Sabbath evening, he consented to do so. At the close of the sermon,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 29!

being strongly impressed to invite seekers of religion to manifest
themselves, he gave an invitation to such as wanted religion to rise.
Several did so, and such was the interest that a meeting was ap
pointed for the next evening. So it continued, from evening to
evening, for three months, during which time the church was lighted
up every night- but one. It was estimated that not less than one
hundred arid fifty professed conversion, and over one hundred united
with the Methodist Church, on trial.

Rev. Benjamin Sabin, a venerable and most excellent man, was
in charge of the Station, and was assisted much by the Presiding
Elder of the District, E. H. Pilcher, who was induced to adopt the
plan of going to his Quarterly Meetings, and then returning here on
Monday or Tuesday, and remaining as long as he could, and reach
his next appointment. The Church was greatly strengthened by
the revival — several valuable and important accessions were made.
Some of the converts have been transferred to the Church above,
while others are still on their way. Among the active and successful
workers at this time may be mentioned Dr. O. C. Comstock and
wife, Ambrose M. Phelps, Ira Wood and wife, Miss Cornelia Hopkins
— now Mrs. Comfort, of Kalamazoo, and E. G. Squiers.

Marshall appears in the Minutes, for the first time, in 1837.
Previous to this time, except for 1831, as before stated, it was em
braced in Calhoun Mission, taking the name of the county rather
than that of the village. It was made a Station at the Conference
in September, 1839, at which time Battle Creek Circuit, taking the
balance of the county and some of Eaton County was formed, and
was made to appear in our Minutes.

Marshall also gave name to a District in 1838, which name has
been substituted, at a later date, by that of Albion, and that, in 1876,
was swallowed up in the name of Jackson. This was a District in
deed, as it regarded the extent of travel. It included the following
counties, viz: Hillsdale, Branch, Jackson, Calhoun, Ingham, Eaton,
Barry, Ottawa, Kent, Ionia, Clinton, and Shiawassee, with the west
ern half of Genesee, of Washtenaw, of Lenawee, and the eastern
half of Allegan, that is, twelve full counties and a part of four others,
being equivalent to fourteen counties. Such was the newness of the
country and the state of the roads, that the Presiding Elder was
obliged to travel on horseback altogether, and some portions of the
time, to be absent from home for four and five weeks at a time.

The Michigan Annual Conference, having been invited, held its
session here in 1840. The venerable Bishop Hedding presided.
This was a time of interest to the people of this, then, beautiful

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

village. They had not yet completed the body of their church,
but had arranged temporary seats, and the house was very much
crowded with interested hearers on the Sabbath. The venerable
Bishop preached on Sabbath morning with eloquence and great
power, having for his text: Luke, 24th chapter, verses 46, 47 and 48.
We shall never forget one remark, which seemed to thrill the whole
assembly as with a shock of electricity. He had represented the
Saviour as giving his commission to his disciples to go and preach
repentance and remission of sins to all nations, beginning at Jeru
salem, and then said He, " Go out into the streets and tell them all, I
have died for them, and, if you meet my murderers, tell them I died for
them ; if you meet the soldier who pierced my side, tell him I died for
him." This was delivered with his peculiarly dignified pathos ; and the
effect was overwhelming. The Conference was well entertained,
and the session left a fine impression on the public mind.

The Conference met here again in 1846, Bishop Janes pre
siding. Bishop Waugh was also present on the first day of the
session, and dedicated the church on that day. He was on his way
to attend a western Conference, and stopped over for one day only.
The business of the Conference was transacted with a good degree
of dispatch, and it adjourned in good season. The Conference was
held here again in 1859, Bishop Janes presiding.

This charge has been supplied from time to time with some of
the best talent the Conference afforded, and the Church has grown
strong, and is attending to the interest of the children and youth by
keeping a Sabbath School running in excellent order — indeed, they
commenced a Sabbath School at once, and have always maintained
one in a very high state of perfection. They have an excellent stone
church, and a parsonage contiguous to the church. So there is no
good reason why they should not prosper, and have favor in the
eyes of all the people. The only thing for them is to maintain the
true spirit of piety and zeal for the salvation of souls.

Let us now take a brief review of our own Church. We began,
in 1831, with preaching in a private house once in two weeks, and a
membership of only six. Now, in 1876 — forty-five years — we find a
fine church, valued at $16,000, and a parsonage, valued at $2,000;
a station, with services twice every Sabbath ; a flourishing Sabbath
School, and 182 members and probationers. This condition of
things has not been attained without much toil and patient waiting.

Rev. John D. Pearce, a Presbyterian minister, settled here with
his family in the autumn of 1831. He came not as a minister, but
as a man of business, to engage in business, but he commenced

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 293

preaching and holding religious services in his own house after he
arrived, and organized a Presbyterian Church in the summer of
1832, composed of but a few members. But this Church has grown
to be a strong and prosperous one, having a membership of 268.
A Congregational Church was organized in 1869, and now has 79
members.

Marshall was desolated by the ravages of the cholera in 1832.
Mrs. Rev. John D. Pearce, an amiable and valuable lady, was among
the victims of its power. The first victim was a Mr. Hurd, a young
man who had gone to Ann Arbor at the time it was raging in
Detroit, and before it had reached any farther west. At the time Mr.
Hurd was at Ann Arbor, there was much excitement in regard to it,
and the military had been called out to guard the roads from Detroit
to prevent its progress to the village, and many fears were expressed
in relation to it. It was a common topic of conversation at the hotel
at which Mr. Hurd put up. He, to make it appear that he wras free
from any apprehensions in regard to it, took a piece of pie in his
hand, and went around the house, eating a little of it occasionally,
saying, " I've got the cholera ! I've got the cholera !" He started
for home, and, in less than forty hours he was a corpse, having died
of cholera. The scourge passed over Ann Arbor and Jackson, for
the time being, and settled down on Marshall. Was this a visitation
of God upon Mr. Hurd for his folly? or was it brought on by his fears
which he had attempted to keep down by such bravado ? Which
soever it was, the lesson which it suggests is important. This was a
sad time for the few settlers of this new village. It has never since
been visited by that disease.

It is proper here to say that other denominations have con
tributed, and are still contributing their efforts for the moral and re
ligious training and elevation of the people. The Presbyterians,
Protestant Episcopalians, and Baptists all have large and flourishing
Societies, besides several of the smaller denominations, so that,
though we were the first in the field, we have not monopolized it.

From Marshall, as a starting-point, the work of religion has
more than kept pace with the increasing population, so that, in every
new village and neighborhood in the county, a Methodist Society
has been planted, and is now doing its work, to the glory of God.

It is time, now, to bring this sketch to a close, and we will do
so by giving a memorial notice of Ambrose M. Phelps, as before
promised, without which it would be imperfect.

This sainted brother was born at Canandaigua, New York. His
father was a member and leader of the first class formed in the State

294 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of New York, west of Cayuga Bridge. At the age of fifteen, Ambrose
Phelps entered the army as a musician, and was honorably discharged
after five years' service. When twenty-six years of age, he was con
verted to God, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Canan-
daigua. Some eight or nine years of his life were spent in Rochester,
N. Y., where he was a class-leader of uncommon labor and usefulness.
In 1837 he emigrated from the latter place into Marshall, from which
period, to the close of his life, March 8th, 1853, he was, indeed, a pillar
in the Church of God. He was either class-leader or exhorter or, both,
for more than twenty years. His public performances, replete with
clearness and moral power, were always accompanied with the out-
gushings of a warm and sanctified heart. He never failed to make
his mark where duty called him to labor. Eternity alone can disclose
the saving results of his faithfulness.

Toward the close of his life he joined the Masonic Lodge in
Marshall, and was made at once, and continued until his death, its
chaplain. This circumstance is only mentioned that the following
fact may be better understood. The evening upon which the Lodge
met occurring upon the same evening with a Church meeting, a
brother, not a Mason, moved that the Church meeting be held on
some other evening of the week for the accommodation of Brother
Phelps, who, it was presumed, desired to attend both meetings. For
a few moments, Brother Phelps poured upon his brethren such a
flood of love for them and religion that no doubt was left, if indeed
any ever existed, that Christ and His Church took precedence, with
him, of everything else. He insisted that the change should not be
made — " though," he added, " I love you more for having offered to
do so." The following obituary appeared in the Marshall papers at
the time of his decease:

" DIED. — In this village, on the morning of the 8th, Ambrose
M. Phelps, in the fifty-seventh year of his age.

"The decease of this estimable citizen has made a wide chasm,
not only in his family, but in the Church to which he was attached, and
of which he was an honor. He was born in Canandaigua, Ontario
County, New York. He emigrated into this State in 1837, resided
one or two years in St. Joseph County, and, from the elapse of that
period, he has lived in this village. He was an active and exemplary
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, for depth of piety
and Christian sacrifices and labors, he had no superiors. For months
preceding his decease he had led the devotional exercises of the
African Church of this village, and, indeed, was suddenly seized with
illness, which terminated his life, at that church, one week ago last

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 295

Sabbath. He had a clear and discriminating mind, a warm and
generous heart, and a benevolent sympathy, which enabled him to
look upon and treat every man as his brother, irrespective of color
or condition. His loss to his family is irreparable. His brethren
rejoice, amid their tears, that their brother's conflicts are ended, and
that he is now enjoying, in all its fullness and fruition, ' the rest of
of Heaven,' upon which he was wont rapturously to address them."

We are mainly indebted to Dr. O. C. Comstock, of Marshall,
for this sketch, although we knew him personally.

Marshall was incorporated as a city in 1859, and, according to
the census of 1874, has a population of 4,623, being 302 less than
that of 1870. It is a very interesting and important locality. The
educational interests are very thoroughly promoted and cared for,
although the aspirations and expectations at one time indulged have
never been realized. Marshall College was once chartered, and,
under the leadership of Rev. John P. Cleveland, a preparatory de
partment was opened, and high expectations were indulged that a
college would be established and maintained under the fostering
care and patronage of the Presbyterian Church. The enterprise,
however, was never fully inaugurated, and all the hopes built upon
it have fallen to the ground.

296 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER XII.

ADRIAN — First Preacher — First Church — Additions — J. W. Finley — School-house — Preaching
on Sabbath — Davidson and Wiley — Revival — Nathan Comstock — Aunt Kitty — Appears in
Minutes — Church — Parsonage — F. A. Blades — Revivals — Remarkable Manifestations —
Baptism — Addison J. Comstock — Others — Another Revival — Millerism — S. C. Adams —
Second Church — Difficulties — Opposition — J. A. Kellam — Minister Flogged — Trap — Ira
Bidwell— Milton Foot— Thomas Fox— J. V. Watson— Sabbath Schools— Other Churches—
Work in the County — Numbers — Property — Camp Meeting — Devil's Lake — PONTIAC —
Infidel Club — Mock Baptism — Death of Administrator — D. Ltlloy — First Preacher —
Baughman — Small Societies — Station — Churches — Property — McConnell — Revival — Bad
Policy — Name — Donation Chapel — Defections — Other Churches — Troy — Summary — Jacokea
—Conclusion— Statistics— PORT HURON— Methodist Society Organized— Church Built—
Congregational Church — Protestant Episcopal — Bishop Waugh — Revival — Parsonage —
District — Statistics — German Society — Fish — GRAND RAPIDS — Appears in Minutes — O.
Mitchell — In Ann Arbor District — Marshall District — Frees and Chatfield — Camp Meeting
— Lyons — Wants Met — Jacob Dobbins — Danger — Ionia — Defection — Revivals — Immersion-
ists — Singular Incident — L. Chatfield — A. Staples — Incident — Society Organized — Unsuit
able Appointment — Frees — Review — Bad Policy — Progress — Change of Policy — Progress of
Settlement — Special Attention to the Rapids — Anecdote — Increase — Station — F. A. Blades —
Revival — Second Charge — Numbers — Property — Other Denominations — Atwater — FLINT —
Schools — First Preacher — First Society — Brock way's Account — First Quarterly Meeting —
First Sacrament — Appears in Minutes — Church — W. Blades Licensed — Station — Church
Burned — Second Church — Other Churches — Conference Sessions — Statistics — Rev. W. Blades
—Lee.

appears in our Minutes of appointments first in
1837, and was then an extensive Circuit. Who has not
heard of Adrian ? It is a flourishing city, the county-
seat of Lenawee County, containing a population of
about 10,000. It is well situated, healthy and pleasant;
contains an active, enterprising and intelligent population.
It was founded by Addison J. Comstock, in 1827, and incorporated

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 297

as a city in 1853. Mr. Comstock located his land in 1826, and having
erected his shanty, removed his family into it in 1827. Though a
professed infidel, in the seclusion of the wilderness, the visits of
the ministers of the Cross were cheering to him. A few families
settled here also in 1827. While Mr. Comstock and his associates
were yet living in their rude cabins, Rev. John Janes, a minister of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, came, and preached in the house
of Mr. Noah Norton. This occurred in the autumn of 1827. He
was the first minister of any denomination who visited this place.
The settlement was then so small, and separated so much from
other settlements, that it could not be taken, regularly, into any
Circuit.

Mr. Janes was succeeded, at irregular intervals, by others, until
in the spring of 1830, when Rev. Jacob Hill, a member of the Ohio
Annual Conference, who was supplying Monroe Circuit, made a
regular appointment, coming once in four weeks. He organized the
first Christian Church — a Methodist Episcopal Church — of the place
in the summer of that year, that was, in the summer of 1830. This
Church consisted, at the time of its organization, of the following
persons, viz : William Barrus and wife, Americus Smith, and John
Walworth and wife — only jive. William Barrus was a local preacher
of considerable talent, and Americus Smith a licensed exhorter
of considerable power. These original five have all passed away.
These were reinforced, in September of 1830, by Milton Foot, a
local preacher, Lois Foot, Pharez Sutton, Hannah Sutton, Samuel
Gregory, Ada Gregory, and Altha Spink, all of whom were active
and influential Christians.

At the session of the Ohio Conference in September, 1830,
Rev. James W. Finley was appointed to Monroe Circuit, which in
cluded Adrian, and he made his visits here regularly, once in four
weeks, on a week-day evening. Adrian had not yet assumed much
importance. These visits were made at a great expense of time
and labor ; but these were regarded as nothing when the spiritual
interests of the people were involved. Mr. Finley was a noble-
spirited man, and ardent in his Christian work, "not counting his
life dear unto himself" if he could but win the people to Christ.
He finally fell a martyr to his work. (See Monroe.)

In September, 1831, Tecumseh Circuit is made to appear in
our Minutes, which included Adrian ; but as Adrian was then much
inferior to Tecumseh in population, Adrian had to be put off with a
week-day evening appointment. Elijah H. Pilcher and Ezekiel S.
Gavit were the preachers this year. There being two of them, and

298 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

each coming around once in four weeks, furnished preaching once
in two weeks, but only on a week-day evening. The services con
tinued to be held in private houses until in the winter of 1831-2,
when a frame school-house was built and opened. As soon as this
house was completed, Mr. Pilcher and his colleague occupied it for
preaching. This school-house continued to be occupied for religious
worship until the different denominations erected houses for them
selves. It has since been perverted to the profane purpose of shoe
ing horses.

In the autumn of 1832, Tecumseh Circuit was so changed and
arranged as to supply preaching at Adrian once in two weeks on
the Sabbath. This was an important advance movement. Rev.
James F. Davidson was appointed in charge, with Thomas Wiley as
his colleague. This was the first appearance of Mr. Davidson in
Michigan from Ohio, having been in the ministry one year. Under
the labors of these zealous and indefatigable young men, a very
gracious revival of religion occured in the spring of 1833. Many
in the village and surrounding country were converted, and added
to the Church. This was a very valuable work, and added much
strength to the cause. This work extended to all the settlements
adjacent to the town, and was one of very great interest.

Among those converted at this revival were two persons very
opposite in every respect, and are worthy of notice here. Nathan
Comstock and Catherine Fay. Nathan Comstock was a well educated
and talented man, who had been brought up a Quaker, and was a
birthright member of the Society of Friends. He became deeply
and thoroughly convinced of sin, and of his utter ruin without Christ
as his Saviour. Under the influence of this conviction, he sought
and obtained a clear witness that he was adopted into the Divine
family. It was, indeed, an interesting scene to see this noble-looking
man bowing as a penitent, and pleading for mercy; and still more
interesting to see him rise, with a countenance radiant with joy, to
testify to the love of God in Christ Jesus. He immediately united
himself to the Methodist Church. He was licensed to exhort, and
became a zealous, active and useful member. After a few years, he
returned to the State of New York, where, amongst his old friends
and associates, he maintained a good profession. A single case
like this is a recompense for much labor and toil.

Perhaps the most remarkable case of conversion which occurred
at this time, or even since, was that of Catherine Fay, a widow, lately
from Ireland. She had been educated in the Romish Church, and,
withal, was not able to read. She was a strong Roman Catholic,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 299

and was born in the County of Limerick. In her early youth she
had attended Methodist meetings a few times, and had learned one
of their hymns, which begins —

"And let this feeble body fail."

She came to America in 1823, and to Adrian in 1831. During the
meeting held by Mr. Davidson, as above, an Irishman went to her
house and asked her to attend meeting that evening; to which she
replied that she did not know whether she would or not. He said
she had better, as an Irishman was to preach — Mr. Davidson is
Irish. She went to the meeting, but hid herself behind the door in
the school-house. During the evening, Mr. Davidson, who is a fine
singer, sung the above hymn. This affected her very deeply. When
the invitation was given for persons to come forward to seats pro
vided for seekers of religion, she went, or, at least, she found herself
there without knowing how she got there, her feelings had become
so intense, so overwhelming. She felt she was alone in this world,
and "without God," and without hope. A sense of her guilt came
upon her with great force, and pressed her down with agony and
grief. In her distress, she cried unto the Lord, and he heard her,
and delivered her from all her fears. Before the meeting closed
that night, she felt she was a new creature in Christ Jesus, but did
not receive a clear witness of it until some time after, while attending
a Camp Meeting near Clinton. While there, the evidence became
so clear to her that she never afterwards doubted her conversion.

When she went home from that first meeting, in the school-
house, she was very strongly assailed by the temptation that she had
done wrong, as she was a Catholic, and all her ancestors had been
so before her. Under this influence she fell on her knees before the
Lord and prayed ; which was a very right thing for anyone to do.
Her soul became so earnest that she prayed so loud as to wake up
her son, a small boy, but she prayed on until she found a satisfactory
answer that she had done right. What but the Spirit of God could
have led her to this ? She had often felt convicted for sin and was
often made unhappy by a sense of her guilt. She had not gone to
the priest for a long time, feeling he did not afford her the comfort
she wanted, but now she found what she had long desired in vain,
peace of conscience.

" Aunt Kitty," as she was familiarly called, was in some respects
a very remarkable woman. She was entirely without education —
could not even read, and yet she would pray in social meetings with
very great correctness and propriety ; and would sometimes exhort

3OO HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

with great power and effect. She was very highly respected by the
wealthiest families in the Church. For many years she adorned the
doctrine of God our Saviour, and died in peace but a few years since.
Adrian remained in connection with the Tecumseh Circuit until
September, 1837, when it was made a Station, and John H. Pitezel
was appointed to it. The county-seat had been removed from Te
cumseh to Adrian by act of the Legislature, in 1836, making Adrian
the more important town. Eleazer Thomas appears in our Minutes
as the preacher for 1838, but he did not come to it, having been ar>

¥ Dinted to a charge in the Genesee Conference at the same time,
he Presiding Elder, Henry Colclazer, transferred Oliver Burgess
from Dexter to this place, and he filled out the year, with a fair de
gree of success.

The project of building a church, a thing very much needed,
was set on foot in 1838, but the church was not completed, except
the basement, until ^40. This church, though considered large and
commodious, has given place to a much larger and more imposing
structure, beautifully and tastefully finished. This latter was under
taken and carried through by the enterprise of F. A. Blades, who
was stationed here in 1862, 1863, 1864 — three years — and then was in
charge of the District for three years. A comfortable parsonage was
built in the summer of 1845, under the administration of E. H. Pil-
cher, who was the pastor from 1844 to 1846. This, too, in time, was
displaced by a much larger one, which has since been disposed of.
There have been several seasons of very great revival in con
nection with the labors of this Church. Nearly every year of its
history has been distinguished with gracious manifestations, but some
years have been much more marked than others. Some of these
seasons we will notice. One of these occasions was in the winter
and spring of 1842, under the pastoral labors of Rev. James V. Wat
son. This was a remarkable one, because of the manifestations of
Divine power among the people. Many were prostrated and would
lie for a long time without the power to move, and when they came
to be able to speak, uttered the most joyful expressions. It was not
simply the most excitable persons that were affected in this way, but
all classes irrespective of age or sex. Many were converted and
added to the Church.

There were meetings held in the Baptist Church at the same
time, attended with considerable success, and the minister of that
Church thought it advisable to make the subject of immersion very
prominent by dwelling much on it, ancl insisting strongly that that
was the only baptism. The matter assumed so much importance

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 30 1

that Mr. Watson concluded to preach a sermon on the subject, and
did it in such an effectual way that it put an end to the controversy
for the time being. The spiritual baptism was very wonderful and
glorious, and such as should have stopped all caviling.

There was one case of conversion which occurred during this
revival wrhich is worthy of being recorded with some degree of ex
tension. The subject of it was the original proprietor of the town,
who was educated an orthodox Quaker, his father being a preacher
in that denomination, but the younger man had first become a Uni-
versalist in belief, from which he easily and naturally glided into open
infidelity. He had become a ridiculer — a scoffer at religion, though
he had often been impressed with a sense of his need of it, but these
impressions had as often been thrown off. He was emphatically a
man of business and of the world. With the growth of the town and
of the county at large his property had increased in value until he
was regarded as being worth several hundred thousand dollars. He
had at different times held important positions in the affairs of the
State. He was a member of the Legislature when it was deter
mined to sell out the railroads to companies, and advocated and
sustained that important measure — a measure the wisdom of which
has been fully sustained by the results. He was one of the com
pany which projected and built the first thirty miles of railroad ever
constructed in the West — from Toledo to Adrian — a most valuable
enterprise for this town, and indeed of great value to all the West.

He has not always been successful in business, for in two sev
eral attempts at banking he suffered much loss of property and of
reputation, especially in the last case. He was for some time Presi
dent of the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad Bank, in which he suffered
himself to be drawn on to an over-issue, and to place so much con-
dence in one of the principal stockholders, that when the bank was
threatened with embarassment, he allowed him to take a large
amount of the securities to negotiate in New York, from which the
bank never realized anything, and when the bank failed, though he
had ceased, some time before, to hold any real relation to it, he had
to stand the burden, both pecuniarily and as to reputation. In this
last case, he was the victim, and gave up all his property, and was
so completely crippled that he never recovered in property, but he
had the confidence of the general public as to his integrity and
honesty.

During the progress of the revival under the labors of Mr.
Watson, in the spring of 1842, this gentleman, although he had
studiously avoided attendance at the meetings, became very power-

302 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

fully awakened to a sense of his sinfulness and danger. So dis
turbed were his feelings that he determined to leave the place for a
time, to seek relief in retirement from the scene of action, hoping
that the excitement of the meeting might pass away, and, with that,
quiet be restored to his mind. For that purpose, he took his wife
into a carriage, and drove, that day, about fifty miles into Calhoun
County, under pretense of having business which demanded his
attention. He found no relief in this way ; his feelings became
more and more disquieted as he advanced, and that first night away
an impression came over his soul as if a voice had spoken to his
ear, This is the last call. With this impression on his mind, the next
morning he started, and hastened home ; went to the church that
night, and, as soon as the opportunity was given for penitents to come
forward, he went forward for the prayers of the Church. This kind
of movement was contrary to all his education and former notions
of right and propriety; but he felt that he was a sinner condemned
to death, and must find relief, if possible. He had not been at the
altar of prayer long before he fell prostrate to the floor, and lay, for
some time, insensible to everything around him. When he came to
himself, he began to shout aloud the praises of God through Christ
Jesus as his Saviour. So clear and powerful was the change in him
that all could see it. So clear was the evidence of his pardon and
adoption that we have often heard him say, "Whatever may become
of me, I know that the religion of Christ is true, and that I have
been converted to God." For weeks after his conversion, he could
scarcely give any attention to business. He became a very earnest
and active Christian for many years.

In consequence of his business embarrassments from the failure
of the bank last named, he, under erroneous advice, chose to occupy
a very retired position in relation to the cause of religion. It cer
tainly is a great mistake, when a man fails in business, especially
through the latches of others, to retire from the duties and privileges
of that holy religion which they then specially need. He did not,
by any means, give up his trust in God, nor his private and family
devotions. These he continued to observe as diligently as ever ;
but he did seclude himself, to a large extent, from the associations
and fellowships of the Church. The members of the Church should
not have allowed that. They ought to have taken the more pains
to sympathize with him, being willing to bear a part of a brother's
reproach.

Mr. Addison J. Comstock, of whom we have been speaking, was
a small, unpretending man in his personal appearance, but he had

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 303

a fine intellect and a large, noble heart, and the Lord delivered him
out of all his troubles. In his last years, he came again into closer
union with the Church of his choice. His death, when it came, was
very sudden. On a Sabbath, he had been at church, attended class-
meeting, and testified to the power of God to save, and went home,
rejoicing in God. He sat down in his easy chair, and his wife
stepped out for a moment to look after some refreshments, and
when she returned he was dead, sitting in his chair. To him, the
step from earth to Heaven was a very short one.

There were other valuable conversions and additions to the
Church, some of whom remain steadfast in the faith, while some
have gone back to the " beggarly elements of the world," and some
have been called from " labor to reward" — have been transferred to
the Church above.

The next season of extensive spiritual revival occurred under
the labors of Rev. John A. Baughman, who was stationed here in
September, 1842. He succeeded Mr. Watson. He entered on
his labors with his usual energy and activity. He remained in the
Station till October, 1844, and, during the winter of 1842-43, he had
the pleasure of seeing many profess religion, and unite with the
Church. This revival, though vastly more extensive as to numbers
than the former, was not as permanent among those generally who
professed to be converted, yet, during this revival, several active
young men were converted, who have since entered the ministry.
Among these was Andrew Bell, still a member of the Detroit Con
ference, though he has been on the superannuated list for a number
of years. It will be remembered by some that the country was all
excited by the calculations of a Mr. Miller, of New England, that the
world was to come to an end in 1843. Many, very many, who re
jected the notion, felt it might be so, and it was best to prepare for
it; and, having no higher view of a Christian's experience and life
than simply to get ready to die, when the apprehended danger was
past, they forgot their vows. Under this feeling of apprehension,
they thought it advisable to seek for the consolations of religion.
Multitudes flocked to the Church for refuge at this time. This is a
false view of a religious experience and life. A higher view must
be in the mind — to become holy — to glorify God — to do good — be
fore a genuine experience can be secured. When, then, the time
had passed, and "all things continued as they were before," many
relapsed into their old ways, reminding one of what is said of the
aborigines of one portion of South America, who, when there was
an eclipse of the sun, would bring their offerings, make their vows

304 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of devotion and of a good life, if their god would only spare the
life of the sun, and then, when the eclipse was over, they would re
turn to their old practices, and say their god must be very foolish to
think they had any intention of doing as they promised. This back
sliding was not any fault of Christianity, but occurred in spite of its
teachings. Notwithstanding these drawbacks on the general per
manency of the work, it was still a deep and extensive revival, and
resulted in much permanent good.

Another occasion of special and extensive outpouring of sacred
influence was in the spring of 1856, mainly in the month of March.
The pastor, Rev. A. J. Eldred, had secured the assistance of Rev.
S. C. Adams, an eccentric, yet very good and efficient laborer. He
was a local preacher from western New York. He labored with
great earnestness, laying the truth on the conscience in a very plain
way. The excitement was very intense — the church was crowded
day and night — the whole city became enlisted for and against his
labors. His manner of labor was peculiar, and some people took
great exceptions, and set themselves against the work as conducted
by him. Had it not been for this kind of opposition, the work
would have been much more extensive. As it was, there was over
one hundred united with the Methodist Church, most of whom re
mained faithful.

It is proper here to remark that in the summer of 1851 it was
considered desirable to organize a second Methodist Church here,
which was done wi.th very flattering prospects ; but those prospects
have never been realized. The town has not grown as rapidly as
was anticipated, for one reason, and various others operated to
prevent the success of the enterprise. So, in the spring of 1858,
this second Church disbanded, a part of the members returning to
the old Church, and a part of them remaining outside the fold
altogether.

It is not to be supposed that this Church has always moved on
without any friction any more than others. Church music has been
made the occasion of some unpleasantness ; renting, or selling of
pews, a steeple and bell, have had their times of calling up the feel
ings of the heart. But, with all these, there have been no disastrous
disturbances and no ruptures.

Neither have they always met with the approval of the world ;
if they had, they would not have fulfilled their high mission — they
have had opposition to meet with from the world. While human
nature remains in possession of its present characteristics, "fightings
without and fears within" will be the common lot of the Christian

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 305

Church. It cannot be expected that the enemy of all good will be
inactive while the ministers of the Cross are laboring with zeal and
success to spoil his house. Hence opposition, such as dares to be
made in this country, has sometimes showed itself in this place,
although it has seldom broken out into any considerable degree of
violence. There is one incident, however, which ought to be named ;,
the parties to it we will not name, except the minister.

REV. JAMES A. KELLAM, a man of considerable talent and of zeal
for the cause of Christ, was stationed here in the autumn of 1839.
In the winter, perhaps in January, 1840, he held a series of meetings
in the basement of the church, as the main audience-room was not
yet finished, which resulted in a good degree of success. These
meetings were often disturbed by the rude conduct, developed in
various ways, of several young persons, just budding into manhood
and womanhood. Reproof had been administered to them, gently
and kindly, without any effect. Upon consultation, it was determined
to obtain a list of their names, and to publish them before the con
gregation, if they did not desist after having given them due notice
of the design. Names were taken and notice given ; but the annoy
ance continued. So, at the close of a meeting, the minister read
off a list of the disturbers. This was too much for them to endure
quietly. They must be avenged on the preacher. The next even
ing, as he was going from his house to the church, which stood very
near, just a little before time to begin service, he was attacked by
several young women — perhaps some of them were men in women's
clothes — with rawhides. They evidently designed to flog him well ;
but, being fleet of foot, and not having any relish for that kind of
sport, he soon left them behind. He did not suffer much violence ;
but it was all the same as far as their design was concerned. His
flight was so precipitate that he was not able, positively, to identify any
of them. Some who were believed to be engaged in this affair were
arrested, the next day, and brought before a justice of the peace;
but, as they went directly to a dancing-party, which had evidently
been arranged as a part of the programme, when they were brought
before the court, as he could not positively identify any of them, nor
swear positively as to the hour at which the whipping occurred, they
proved an alibi, and so escaped. The community, however, very
readily fixed their minds on the perpetrators of the outrage.

In a short time after this occurrence, one of the young women,
who was believed to be engaged in this matter, sent a request to the
minister, saying she would like to see him alone about this matter ;
she said she would not state what she knew in relation to it in the

306 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

presence of any one, but she would state it to him alone. He sent
back a message that he would not see her alone, but would see
her only in company with some one else. They did not meet. In
less than nine months that young woman became a mother without
having a husband. Had the minister visited her as she requested,
it can easily be imagined what the result would have been — how the
minister would have been accursed and ruined. No serious disturb
ance has occurred since.

There are many interesting cases, both of men and women, who
have been connected with this Church, which it would be pleasant,
and, perhaps, profitable to introduce ; but, among the laity, we must
content ourself with one in addition to those already named. There
are many which would show the power of grace to purify, save, and
sustain ; however, this additional one must suffice.

IRA BIDWELL, a private member of this Church, has figured so
largely in the financial affairs of this city and the Methodist Church
in it, that we introduce a short sketch of his life. He was regarded
as one of the wealthiest men belonging to the city, and, probably,
during his residence here, he had a larger money income than any
other citizen. He was a man of respectable abilities, having but a
very limited education.

When he was about twenty years of age, his father told him he
might shift for himself, if he chose, or, if he would remain with him a
few years longer, he would try to help him to a piece of land. His
father was poor, and the prospect of help was very unpromising.
He decided to shift for himself then, rather than to wait. He taught
school, for a short time, and acquired seven dollars. His education
was too limited to do much in this line. With these seven dollars,
he determined to build his fortune, which he succeeded in doing
most admirably. With this first acquisition, he went to the City of
Rochester, where he made a small purchase of goods, getting a little
credit, and started out as a hand-peddler through the city. In this
he succeeded well. The next winter he spent mostly at school, to
increase his limited stock of learning. On the opening of spring,
he started out on a rather larger scale of peddling, having purchased
a horse and an old wagon. This he continued for a short time,
and then commenced business in Bergen, New York. Here he
married, and remained one year. From thence he went to Brock-
port for a short period. Then he went again to Rochester, to open
trade, and remained a year or a little more. At one of these busi
ness points, no matter which, he took in a partner. They had a
good business, but when they came to reckon up, settle and divide

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 307

the profits, he had gained nothing, though his partner, as poor as
he at the beginning, was able to build himself a fine house. He
eschewed partnership after that.

While in Rochester, Mr. Bidwell laid the foundation for all his
real prosperity; for it was here that he and his wife both consecrated
themselves to the service of God, and experienced religion, under
the labors of Rev. Glezen Filmore, in 1830, and connected themselves
with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His conversion was clear,
and took place as he was passing from his house to his barn. He
had declared his purpose and desire to be a Christian, but was beset
with an unwillingness to give himself up to Christ ; but now he
yielded all, 'and in a moment was filled with peace. Now, having
become a Christian, he determined to do business on Christian prin
ciples. He started out with these three words for his motto, to
wit, " Honesty, perseverance, economy!' He believed that by observ
ing these three things he should succeed. He included liberal con
tributions for the support of the Gospel and for the benefit of the
deserving poor, under the head of Honesty.

The first eight years of his business life, that is, after he had
married, he gained only $2,200. It was with this sum as a capital
that he came to Adrian in the autumn of 1836. He opened business
here, at first, by selling at auction. Not having obtained a license
as a merchant, as the law then required, the men in trade, being
offended at his interference with their business, had him fined for it
This excited the sympathy of the people in his favor, and proved to
be a great advantage to him in the end. He had not intended to
transfer his whole business here until the next spring, but this affair
determined him to bring all his interests here at once. So he flung
his flag to the breeze, and set out in trade with a full stock of goods,
for the times.

During the first three years he was in business here, he made
a clear profit of twenty-seven thousand dollars, over and above the
support of his family; and, in one of these years, his profit was
eleven thousand dollars. These are small profits as compared with
what he received at a later date. But we are to remember that
$2,200 had gained for him, over and above the expense of his family,
a clear sum of $27,000 in three years, an enormous profit for the
amount invested. His piety has been uniform and constant, and his
attendance on the social means of the Church did not diminish in
consequence of his having increased in wealth.

Like other men who have succeeded in business, he had to meet
with opposition, and by some he was called hard-hearted ; but those

308 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

who knew him intimately, knew that he contributed large amounts
for the benefit of the poor. He did not hand it out indiscriminately,
but he selected his own objects of charity. It is but just to say that
Mrs. Bidwell adopted the same motto with her husband, and well
sustained her part in relation to it. They harmonized perfectly in
this matter. How many an industrious and faithful man has been
rendered bankrupt by the want of economy and perseverance on
the part of his wife ! Mrs. Bidwell died a very triumphant Christian
death, about 1862.

We have introduced this case for two reasons. One is, because
with his coming to this place a new aspect was given to business
here. Goods were sold cheaper, and produce brought a higher
price than before, which gave new life to business, and soon created
the reputation of the town for commerce, which was greatly to the
advantage of the town. The other is to show the connection be
tween a liberal support of the institutions of Christianity and pros
perity in business. We remember very distinctly having heard him
make the following remark to a young man who was hesitating
about renting a pew in the church. The rent was to apply on a
debt on it. "Take care, my boy; there will be a falling off in your
business this year. I have always considered what was given for
the cause of religion as money at interest/' He said he never
accumulated money for the sake of the money itself, but as a means
of doing good. When property came into his hands, he felt himself
bound to take care of it, and not waste it, and to have it at com
mand, as the Lord might make drafts on him for it. This was his
own view of the property which came into his possession. He was
a faithful steward of what was committed to his care, and, yet, with
some there was a doubt as to the correctness of taking as high
interest, as he sometimes did, for money loaned.

In the progress of building the church here, which was com
menced in 1838, the subscription was exhausted before the base
ment was finished, and there appeared to be no prospect of ever
finishing it. At this juncture he came forward, and advanced the
means to finish it, to the amount of three thousand dollars, and took
a mortgage payable in ffieen years. He intended, as he told us
once, to have donated the whole amount, after having received the
interest for three or four years, but some of the members thought
he wished to make a speculation out of the church, and insisted
on having the matter closed up, which was done by selling the
pews. At the sale, he took about twelve hundred dollars worth
of them, so as to extinguish the debt. For these pews, he made

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 3OQ

no effort to collect rent, but allowed people to occupy them as free
seats.

Mr. Bidwell was mortal, and had his defects, still he hoped,
through faith, to prove victorious at last, and gain the eternal rest
provided for the pious in Heaven. For the last ten years of his
life, he resided at St. Paul, Minnesota, to which place he had trans
ferred his business interests. Here he fell asleep in Jesus, as we
trust, in 1876.

REV. MILTON FOOT was one of the early members of this Church,
having come into the country, and identified himself with this So
ciety, in the fall of 1830. He died in the town of Adams, Hillsdale
County, Michigan, November i3th, 1842, aged 53 years. He was
brought to experience the pardoning grace of God in Lock, Cayuga
County, New York, in 1814. Having been taught that a simply
moral life was enough, he was somewhat contented until Mr. Bassett,
the class-leader, had a conversation with him on the subject, and set
up a prayer-meeting in the neighborhood. Three men came ten
miles to attend that prayer-meeting, which was held in a private
house.

Soon after this time, they procured preaching, and held class-
meetings. Mrs. Foot attended, and was converted in the first class-
meeting she had ever attended. She expected her husband would
oppose her, as he had said that he would not live with her if she
became a Methodist. Still, she made up her mind to be a Christian,
and risk the consequences. When she came home, he told her she
need not be afraid to speak her feelings, as he would have stayed
to class if he could have done so. Next Sabbath he attended prayer-
meeting, and was deeply convicted for sin. Towards evening, he
went out from his house, and was gone so long that his wife became
uneasy about him, and went to look for him. She found him by the
roots of a fallen tree, on his face, praying aloud for mercy. She
returned to the house without disturbing him. Soon after this,
he came into the house, praising God with cheerful voice, having
obtained peace through the blood of the Lamb. The next time
the Methodist preacher came there, they both joined the Methodist
Church, and became firmly attached to it. He never wavered in his
attachment to his Church and its institutions. He was conscien
tiously devoted to God and a pious life.

At one time, he was to be absent from home with his family,
for a few months, and a youngerly man wanted to occupy his house
during the time, but he would not consent until he agreed to con
duct family devotions regularly during his absence. He wanted his

310 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

very house to be considered as being consecrated to God's service.

Having seen some persons apparently deprived of their strength
under religious influence, and not being satisfied that it was from the
Spirit of God, he prayed, very earnestly, that, if it was from God, he
might feel the same influence. He was brought to feel the same
thing, and was satisfied. At an early period in his Christian life, he felt
it was his duty to preach, but he refused, or, rather, excused himself
until after he had lost all his property, and was obliged to go to a
new country. He regarded his loss of property as a great blessing to
him, because, if he had continued to prosper, he would have lost his
soul by his refusal to preach. When he went to the new country, he
was very soon accused of being a "Jonah" and the minister gave him
license to exhort, contrary to his wishes, about six years after his
conversion. About one year and a half after this, they gave him
license to preach, which he continued to hold till his death. He also
held the office of steward in the Church for many years. When he
removed from Adrian to Adams, he went into the wilderness, but
he soon gathered the scattered inhabitants at his house for worship;
and his house became a preaching-place for the itinerants, and the
early Quarterly Meetings were occasionally held at his house and
barn.

His last sickness was only about three weeks in duration. He
had had the asthma for about six years, but died of typhoid fever.
For the first ten days of his sickness he was in a comatose state for
most part of the time, but after that he revived and his mind was
clear until about two days before he passed away. At the beginning
of this lucid period he made his will, after which he seemed to think
of nothing earthly, but was constantly talking of the goodness of
God and calling on all around him to praise the Lord. He has
gone to his glorious rest.

Mr. Foot was a man of very respectable abilities, and if he had
given himself up to the work of the ministry at an early period
of his life, he would have ranked high as a preacher. He was very
particular in his observance of the Sabbath, not doing anything on
that day that could be done on another, not even to shave himself.
His piety was sincere and uniform, deep yet cheerful, and depending
only and always upon Christ Jesus the Lord. His comunion was
sweet and glorious.

A sketch of two of the ministers, viz : Thomas Fox and James
V. Watson, who labored here, must close our memorial notices in
connection with this Church.

REV. THOMAS Fox died of pulmonary consumption, in the village

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 311

of Northville, at the residence of his father-in-law, Hon. David Row
land, in July, 1847. He was born May lyth, 1817. His parents
resided on Allen street, New York City, at the time of his birth.
He became the subject of a sound religious experience at eighteen
years of age, and soon joined the Methodist Episcopal Church ; and
subsequently filled the several positions of Sabbath School teacher,
superintendent, class-leader, exhorter, local preacher, and itinerant
preacher. In 1840 he was employed by the Presiding Elder to fill a
charge ; and the next year was admitted on trial in the Michigan
Annual Conference. In 1842 he was appointed to Pontiac Station,
where he labored with great success and usefulness. There was a
very extensive revival in connection with his labors in this place, and
a large accession was made to the Church. Before this time the
Society was very feeble and it was considered quite an experiment
to make it a Station and appoint a single man to it. The venture
was crowned with success and the Church became well established.

At the end of his fourth year in the ministry, his health having
much declined, he retired from the active work for one year ; by this
means he was so far restored that, in 1846, he was appointed to
Adrian Station. The labor and responsibility of this charge were
too much for him. He labored for a short time only, but usefully, be
fore his insideous disease, from some slight exposure, came upon
him with fearful rapidity. " Though frequently urged to do so, he
did not desist from preaching and tear himself away from the people
he so much loved, until he was smitten down helpless upon a sick-bed,
from which he never arose. During his lengthened illness he was
sweetly submissive, patient and triumphant. His soul held unceas
ing and transporting communion with the Saviour — the Word of God
and the voice of prayer became peculiarly sweet and delightful to
him." After having been confined to his house for a long time, and
having lost all hope of being able to do anything more for his peo
ple, he was removed from their midst to the residence of his wife's
father, in the summer. Though he had been lingering long and look
ing for death, almost hourly, that event at last came upon him sud
denly, and he only had time to lisp the name of his wife and Saviour,
and sunk to rest on the bosom of his Saviour.

" Thomas Fox was a young man of deep piety, great frankness,
simplicity and winningness of demeanor. His attainments were re
spectable, and his talents above mediocrity. He was always studious
and acceptable, and highly useful wherever he labored. He stood
among the first of the growing lights of the junior members of the
Conference, who now mourn their loss. But his highest praise is

312 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

that many souls ready to perish, conducted to God through his
instrumentality, rise up to bless his memory."

In person Mr. Fox was small, in manners pleasing, having good
natural powers of mind ; but his greatest source of power was in the
warm sympathy of his heart, which was well regulated by grace.
Had he lived, he undoubtedly would have wielded a great influence
for good in this country of his adoption. He died in the thirtieth
year of his age. He left a wife, but no children, to mourn his
absence.

REV. JAMES V. WATSON, D. D., a man of remarkable versatility
of talent and extraordinary perseverance, died at Chicago, Illinois,
October I7th, 1856, in the forty-second year of his age. His death,
though long anticipated, came suddenly at last. He died at a
quarter before 3 o'clock p. M. of the above day. In the morning,
had dictated an editorial for the Northwestern Christian Advocate,
of which he was editor, and had appointed for his amanuensis to-
come to his room at 4 o'clock p. M. to finish it, but before that hour
had arrived he had gone to the land of rest, where sorrow and
pain are unknown — he had slept the sleep that knows no waking
in this world. He spent an hour in the forenoon in cheerful con
versation with some friends, and spoke with delight of the bright
land beyond the grave — was in a joyous mood, and, at 1 1 o'clock
A. M. he laid down to rest, and fell asleep sweetly — a sleep from
which he never awoke in this world.

Dr. Watson was born in London, England, in 1814 — the pre
cise day cannot be ascertained without referring to the parish
register — he was, there fore, forty-two years old. When but a lad, he
emigrated with his parents to the United States, and, after a brief
stay on the Atlantic coast, he passed on to the West, with which he
became fully identified.

He was led to seek for and obtain the consolations of religion
in 1828, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church immediately,
under the labors of N. B. Griffith and E. G. Wood, who traveled
the Lawrenceburg Circuit, in Indiana, that year. His first Christian
experience was bright and clear — a glorious assurance of the
Divine favor. Soon after his conversion, he felt an impression of
duty to preach, but hope of his success was not very promising;
young, green, awkward in appearance, it was thought to be a
doubtful experiment to give him authority to preach. He received
his first license to exhort, March 24th, 1832, from the hands of Rev.
Joseph Oglesby, and was licensed as a local preacher and recom
mended to the Annual Conference, by the Quarterly Conference of

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 313

Union Circuit, Missouri, August iSth, 1832, and in September of
the same year he was admitted on trial in the Missouri Conference,
and appointed to a Circuit. Thus obscurely he began a race, which
terminated in a hale of glory.

Dr. Watson after a time was transferred to the Indiana Confer
ence and fell into the Michigan Conference by the change of bound
aries, and was stationed in Adrian in 1841. He was a man of in
domitable perseverance. In this particular he was a very extraor
dinary man. For the last twelve years of his life, he looked more
like a walking skeleton than a living man, having suffered incalcula
bly from asthma. No one who had never seen him during a par-
oxism of this disease can form any adequate conception of the inten
sity of his sufferings. At these times the struggle for life was really
fearful, and a less determined will than his would have yielded long
before. But even in the midst of these sufferings his exuberance of
spirits would burst forth. An instance— while residing in Adrian he
and the minister stationed in the city, were visiting at the house of a
mutual friend, soon after he had been suffering from one of these
.agonizing paroxisms — he was just able to be up, but was constantly
gasping for breath. The conversation having turned on the matter
of his suffering, he remarked that he expected to die soon ; and
turning to the minister, he said, he wanted him to preach at his
funeral when he died. " Now, Mac.," said he, " you must put in
your best licks ; I don't want any of your poor, shriveled up things ;
I want your best."

When he was compelled to desist from the pastoral work, as he
was in 1846, he could not think of sinking into obscurity, and ceas
ing to do good, or to exert a moral power for the reformation of
society. Having removed his residence to this city, he commenced
the publication of a periodical — a religious periodical, which he con
tinued to edit and publish under many discouragements until, at the
General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held in
Boston, in May, 1852, he was appointed to the editorship of a new
weekly paper entitled The Northwestern Christian Advocate, to be
published at Chicago, Illinois, which came into actual existence on
the first of January, 1853. Perhaps it is not exactly accurate to say
that he was appointed to that editorial position at that time, but
arrangements were made which resulted in his being so appointed.

Here was now opened before him an ample field for the exer
cise of his fertile imagination, free from any consideration of the
financial question, as that was committed to other hands. He at once
gave a life and spirit to the paper which secured the favor and good

3 1 4 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

will of the patrons. However some might differ from his rhetoric,
his logic or his theology, all admitted that the paper had a spice,
which attracted. So well had he succeeded in this work, that at the
General Conference held in Indianapolis, May, 1856, he was returned
to the same work, in which he continued to the last hour of his life.

Dr. Watson was first a member of the Missouri Conference,
then of the Indiana Conference, and in 1840, by the change of Con
ference boundaries, he became a member of the Michigan Confer
ence, and when the Michigan Conference was divided, and the De
troit Conference was created, in 1856, he became a member of the
latter Conference. His last message to the Detroit Conference was
that, though he was sick, he was determined they should not have a
sickly paper. So it was ; for no one who read the paper would have
supposed that the editor was holding a vigorous contest with death
for the mastery. The editorials were as sprightly — sparkling as
much with wit and sound good humor as if he had been in perfect
health. This is accounted for in two ways ; naturally he was of very
boyant spirits, and in the next place, all his strength of will was
brought to bear to keep up that natural cheerfulness which was well
tempered with grace. Perhaps history does not afford an instance
of greater results from the determination of the will than this. At
no period of his history was this trait in him more fully developed
than during the session of the General Conference of 1856, of which
he was a member. Exceedingly few men with his state of health
would have supposed that they could have left their beds even, but
he went to the seat of the Conference, and nearly every day was in
the Conference room. Many will long remember how they were oc
casionally startled at his shrill " Mr. President," and then at his pale
and haggard countenance, as he occasionally enchained them with
his bursts of genuine eloquence, when some subject of great inter
est was under discussion, The question, "What keeps Mr. Watson
alive," has been asked a thousand times, perhaps, to receive the one
answer, "His will." This exercise of will was not for the sake of life
itself, but for the sake of whatever might be accomplished in this
life.

His social talent was of the highest order — never at a loss for
thoughts, or for words in which to express them. His imagination
was so fruitful that if he 'could not call up incidents in real life to
illustrate his thoughts so as to instruct and even amuse, he could man
ufacture them at will ; and sometimes this very characteristic came
to his relief in difficult places. To illustrate : when he was stationed
at Adrian the Church and congregation were somewhat agitated on

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 3 1 5

the subject of Church music, some being opposed to a choir, and es
pecially to instruments, while others were strongly in favor of both.
He had not expressed himself on that question, but had as yet pre
served his neutrality. A gentleman who was not a member of the
Church, but strongly in favor of the choir and instruments, having
met him in the Postoffice, thought to draw out of him an expres
sion, and after various social converse, and finding him in a pleasant
and communicative mood, asked him how he liked the choir and in
struments. Without seeming to notice the particular question, he
said, " I was preaching in a large town, where Mr. Russel, a concert
singer, was stopping at the time. When I came to a certain point in
the discourse, Mr. Russell, who was sitting in the front of the gal
lery, struck up and sung a verse exactly applicable to the point. It
produced the most thrilling effect I ever saw." He said no more,
but the gentleman was so convulsed with the story, that the question
was passed over without being answered. He made all about him
feel cheerful and pleasant.

His imagination took in a wide range and gave him great power
as a public speaker. On one occasion, in preaching on the resurrec
tion, he painted the rising of the dead — the coming of the little in
fants to the embrace of their mothers — the meeting of friends long
separated, in such a vivid manner that the congregation seemed to
be mingling with the scenes, and mothers who had buried children
were looking as if expecting to embrace them the next moment.
For the want of scholastic training, his tropes and figures were not
always rhetorically correct, but the defects were overlooked, even by
the learned, because of the exuberance of good spirits with which
they were accompanied — his impassioned eloquence.

His early advantages for education were only such as could be
furnished in the log school houses in Indiana,- in his boyhood days,
but he applied himself assiduously in after years. While attending
the common school in his boyhood he performed a feat, rather for
amusement, and to show what he could do, than from any expect
ation of deriving any advantage from it, which- proved to be of im
mense value to him ; that was, to commit the whole of the English
Dictionary to memory. He would have some of his school -fellows
hear him recite ; and to amuse and astonish them he would repeat
page after page of the book without missing a word. This was
what gave him such a great flow of words. In after years, all he
had to do was to wave his wand, and the words would step forth to
do his bidding.

In his nature, he was open, frank, and generous, and was fond

3 I 6 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of such good cheer as was consistent with Christian character. He
was a genial companion, and all who associated with him were
impressed with his remarkable fertility of mental resources. He
received the honorary degree of D. D. from the Indiana Asbury
University, in June, 1856, just a few months before his decease.
Though not a classical scholar, he was worthy of his doctorate.

Perhaps this sketch cannot be better closed than in the language
of the Methodist Quarterly Review for January, 1857, edited by Rev. D.
D. Whedon, D. D., who knew him quite intimately. " Dr. Watson,
in the midst of great infirmities, exhibited rare powers. Without
early scholastic advantages, he rose by the native vigor and brilliancy
of his own mind to an eminence in the pulpit, upon the platform, and
in the editorial chair, which few, with the happiest external aids, have
been able to obtain. He excelled not in the process of regular and
adamantine logic, but saw things with clear-sighted, intuitive sagacity.
He was no thoroughbred metaphysician, and yet he blended a rare
subtlety of perception with that of transparency of imagination, in
which the nicest discriminations of truth are readily detected. He
had never mastered the technical accuracies of language, yet he
handled the powers of the English tongue with a mastery, a range,
and sometimes a creativeness, which, while it needed the pruning
hand of severe criticism, attested the possession of the gifts of
genious, and rendered him possessor of a great popular sway. He
often failed in a purity of taste, and yet seldom is found a more ex
quisite tone of esthetic refinement, or a richer exuberance in the
production of the varied forms of imaginative beauty. Had it
pleased Almighty God to grant him a healthy frame of body, he
had, in the measure of human age, years of great service in him.
Humanity and religion would have drawn large installments from
his ever- willing treasury of powers. Had large physical strength
waited to execute the volitions of his ardent soul, he would have
excelled in wreaking his powers upon the accomplishment of masses
of good. But the living spirit maintained a constant struggle with
the corporal wreck, his attenuated frame fully obeying the rapid
impulses of his soul. His pale features, singularly lighted by the
eye beaming with the intensity of powerful conception, his panting
chest heaving for the breath to pour the vocal conductor of electric
thoughts, were perpetual reminders to his friends of his brief delay,
and momentous to himself to hurry his task before the damp shades
were upon him. How did his triumphant spirit, amidst the parting
fragments of its tenement, pour forth the last products of its glorious
energies! Who that read, for the last few months, the columns of the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 3 1 7

Northwestern Christian Advocate, could have imagined that its
copious flow of rich thought were the last utterances dictated from the
couch of an expiring man? The magnificent strains, ringing through
the wide air, of the dying swan ! They seemed to flow as long as
the heart beat, and stop with its closing collapse. The echoes were
yet rolling while the freed spirit was ascending."

In the department of Sabbath Schools, that most difficult part
of our work, this Church has generally taken an active interest.
They have generally maintained a large and interesting school, and,
at the present writing, they are very prosperous in this department
of Christian work, and are laboring assiduously to fill their mission
to the young.

Although writing a specific history of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, it will not be out of place to record that other Christian
Churches were organized at an early day in the history of the town.
The Churches were organized as follows : Methodist Episcopal,
June, 1830; Baptist, December, 1831 ; Presbyterian, in the fall of
1832; Protestant Episcopal, autumn of 1838; Congregational, in
the summer of 1853. Hence it appears that the Methodists have
a priority of existence by a little more than one year. The mem
bership in 1876 was 510, including probationers, having a church
valued at $50,000, and free from debt. The other denominations
have valuable houses of worship.

We have now furnished a pretty good idea of the origin, pro
gress, and present condition of Protestantism in this city ; and it is
well, from this standpoint, to take a hasty survey of its operations
through the county. We cannot go into the minutiae, but will give a
general statement. The first Christian Church in this county was
organized in January, 1828. It was a Methodist Society, and con
sisted, at the time, of only eleven members. The ministers of this
denomination, in the early settlement of this country, were almost
constantly in the saddle, searching out the new settlers, and calling
them together in their shanties, as soon as a half dozen or more
could be gathered together. They did not wait for them to build
villages, erect school-houses or churches, and then call for them to
occupy them, but they went after the people to call them to be
reconciled to God. This course subjected the men who did so to
many inconveniences and hardships — to much toil and suffering.

From the foregoing facts, it would be expected that they should
gain an extensive influence among the people at large. This ex
pectation is found to be realized from the statistics below. There is
one drawback, that is, while they were extending their labors so far,

31 8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

they did not attend sufficiently to the important points which they
had gained. The villages just springing into life, and ambitious of
a reputation, were not cared for so as to secure permanently the
footing which had been gained ; so that, in some of them, though
we were the first to erect a standard, we have not the strength we
ought to have had, and might have had. Others were allowed to
reap the fruit of our planting. More of the people, probably, were
gathered into the Church upon the whole, for the time being, than
would have been had they pursued a different course, but, by neg
lecting the centers, perhaps, we are not so strong in any one locality
as we might have been. By this activity of our itinerant men — they
were, emphatically, itinerant — nearly every nook and corner of the
county has been supplied with the Gospel.

We now reckon, according to the Minutes for 1876, the follow
ing charges in the County of Lenawee, having the number of mem
bers and probationers attached, viz :

Adrian 510

Tecumsch 160

Clinton and Macon 157

Deerfield 140

Blissfield 151

Palmyra 81

Morenci 404

Medina.., 77

Hudson 1C6

Franklin 1C8

Ridgeway 195

Clayton 125

Tail-field 1S9

Addison 245

Total.., ...2,808

These charges have, in the aggregate, a Church property valued
at $175,200.

The first Camp Meeting held in this county was held near
Clinton, in the summer of 1832, and it was a time of much religious
interest. Camp Meetings have been held since then at different
points, at various intervals, and with varying success. These gather
ings of the people to worship in the groves have generally proved
to be of signal benefit to the church. Two were held in the limits
of this county during the summer of 1857, the fruits of which were
very glorious. There was but little difficulty in preserving good
order at cither of them. These two meetings were not signalized
so much for the number of conversions as for the depth of the
work in the hearts of Christians. The Christians, both ministers and
people, went out from them so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of
holiness that the succeeding winter was characterized by remarkable
revivals.

There is one locality — a beautiful place it is — where a Camp
Meeting was held for several years in succession, and to which the
attention of the people was directed as one of the fixed points of

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 319

this feast of tabernacles, that is, "The Devil's Lake." This is a
singular conjunction of names — "The Devil's Lake" and a Method
ist Camp Meeting! It savors a little of attacking Satan in his very
seat. But, if the evil genius ever presided here, he has been exor
cised ; for the meetings have always been seasons of spiritual inter
est and profit to the Church. There is an Indian tradition in regard
to the origin of this name for this beautiful lake, which we will not
now record.

Statistics for the City of Adrian should not be overlooked.
They are as follows:

Methodist Episcopal 510

Protestan t Episcopal 194

Baptist 353

Presbyterian 298

Congregation al 282.

PONTIAC is one of the oldest settlements in this State, after
leaving the lake and river coast. Mr. Orson Allen settled here in
1819. This was the beginning of the place. It is the seat of justice
for the County of Oakland, is situated on the Clinton River, twenty-
five miles northwest from Detroit, and possesses the advantages of
the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad. The Pontiac Railroad had been
known for many years. This was one of the earliest structures of
the kind in the West, having been completed from Detroit to
Pontiac in the spring of 1843, although it had been commenced as
early as 1835. The city is favored with good water-power, and it
contains a population of nearly 4,000 souls. It is a very interesting
and important town, although it has not fully met the early expecta
tions in regard to its growth.

Christianity, although introduced at an early day — Mr. Allen is
said to have been a member of a Christian Church — has had more
to contend against in this town than in almost any other in this
State. Many of the early settlers were professed infidels, and
carried their opposition to Christianity to a very great extent. It
has been stated, on what seemed to be good authority, that there
was an infidel club, or organization there, yet, the probabilities are
that there were, simply, six or eight men of that cast, who were
drawn together, at the taverns and stores, on the principles of
affinity, and who carried on their opposition as chance or an appe
tite for strong drink happened to draw them together, without any
systematic combination for that purpose. They were the leading
spirits of the town, and were led by spirits, as they were liberal
customers at the bars of the taverns. At some of these times, they
would have mock sacraments and baptisms. On one occasion, they
caught a lad, and baptized him with whisky, in the name of the

320 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The man who officiated on this occa
sion retired to bed that night as well as usual, but was found dead
in his bed next morning. What an awful thought, that one should
go out of the world so suddenly with such a crime on his soul !
These men are all dead now; most of them have died a miserable
death. There was only one exception to this last remark. He was
.a lawyer by profession, and first settled in Macomb County in 1817.
After some time, he removed to Oakland County, and filled several
important offices. He was a man of fine abilities, but, at this early
day, he fell into the same spirit with these infidels, and made himself
wretched as well as those around him. However, at an advanced
age, he became a convert to the Christian faith, and an experimental
Christian. "He died at Fentonville in February, 1858, at the ad
vanced age of eighty-four years, in the full possession of his vigorous
mind, and in the faith of the Christian religion."

The following extracts from a memorandum book kept by him
while in Macomb County, will show some of the difficulties with
which the early settlers had to contend: "1817 — i ax and helve,
$4.00; Oct. 27 — Whiskey (a "necessary of life"), $2.50 per gallon.
1818, Nov. — i Ib. tea, $3.00." These are given only as specimens.
We refer to D. LeRoy, Esq. It is to be regarded as a very ex
traordinary manifestation of Divine mercy that any one of that class
of infidels should ever have been converted to the experience of
pardoning grace. We knew him personally.

Rev. John P. Kent, a Methodist minister, who was appointed to
Detroit Circuit in 1820, established an appointment at Pontiac; so
that, in June, 1821, when James B. Finley, the Presiding Elder, visited
the Circuit, and held a Quarterly Meeting at Detroit, Mr. Kent had
an appointment for him at Pontiac, on a week-day, which he filled.
Mr. Kent does not appear to have formed any Society at this place.
There is no evidence that his successors kept up the appointment —
but it is probable they did not — until Rev. John A. Baughman came
on, who established a regular appointment here. While he was on
the Detroit Circuit, having only to take in all the settlements in
Michigan, with a few in northern Ohio, and being full of zeal for the
cause of religion, he took in this place, also, in 1825. He, however,
did not form any Society in the village that year. The policy of
organizing Societies around the village, instead of concentrating in
it, was adopted, and followed for several years, because the village
was considered a hard place. Indeed, it had a hard name ; so that,
in speaking of persons who had gone bad, for a number of years it
was said that they " had gone to Pontiac." This policy of having

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 321

preaching within a mile or so on each side, was wrong and unwise,,
but so it was; and now we are unable to say precisely at what time
the Church was concentrated at the village. When we traveled the
Circuit, in 1834, we found a very small Society there, and a small
one on each side of it, only a short distance off. This small Society
had to struggle with embarrassments — indeed, had to struggle for
life — until 1843.

In September, 1842, Pcwitiac was made a Station, and Thomas
Fox — a single man and young in the ministry — was appointed in
charge of it. Hitherto, for years, they worshiped in the old court
house — a very inconvenient place ; but now they had undertaken to
build a small but neat church. This church was completed, and
dedicated to the service of Almighty God, by Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher,
the Presiding Elder of Detroit District, January 2Oth, 1843. His
text was, ist Peter, 4th ch., iith v. — "If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God." His effort was to set forth the
cardinal doctrines of the Bible, as believed by the Methodists, and
assured the people that these were the doctrines they might expect
to hear from that pulpit. The occasion was one of great interest,
especially to the Methodist people, as they had so long labored
under great disadvantages for the want of a convenient place in
which to worship. This church, in a few years, became too small,
and they have built a large, beautiful, and commodious one, which
was dedicated by Bishop Simpson, in 1864. This work was com
menced under the ministry of Rev, S. Clements. It is free from
debt. They also have a very good parsonage, free from debt. The
The whole Church property is valued at $27,000.

The interests of this Society had begun to assume an encour
aging aspect in the autumn of 1842 — before the dedication of their
first church. Mrs. C. B. McConnel, wife of one of the merchants
in the village, had attended a Camp Meeting in the summer of that
year, and became anxious for salvation, and seemed disposed to
identify her interests with the fortunes of this Church, which was
very encouraging to the feeble Society. The way now seemed to
be opening for them to prosperity. They were soon after greatly
encouraged ; for, on Christmas day, her husband, a man of a good
deal of influence, attended services in the Court House. After
preaching by the Presiding Elder, the Society tarried to hold class-
meeting, and Mrs. McConnel with them. Mr. McConnel went out,
but soon returned, and took his seat for the class-meeting. He
had never manifested any desire for religion, but now, when the
minister spoke to him, he arose and said, with a good deal of em-

322 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

phasis, "I am determined to be a Christian'' His wife had not made
any profession of a religious experience, though she was now, and
had been for some time, very desirous, and had expressed a desire
for religion. It was not long before they both were converted, and
united with this Church. Their conversion and union with the
Methodist Church produced a profound sensation in the commu
nity. This was the state of affairs at the time when the dedication
occurred. From this time, the work of revival went forward until a
large number were converted and added to the Church. On the
22<d of January and on the 2Qth of March, the Presiding Elder
baptized fifty-nine of the converts. These were adults, and some
of the most influential people in the town. The preacher, Mr. Fox,
was unordained, which was one reason why the Presiding Elder
attended to the baptisms. Since then, this Church has been favored
with many seasons of very precious revival and refreshings from
the presence of the Lord. According to the Minutes for 1876, the
Society now numbers 290 members, besides the number who have
gone from them to benefit the Church in other places, and have
gone to the Church above.

In relation to this place, the same kind of economy had been
adopted which had obtained among the Methodists in many other
places, that is, they contented themselves with making a feeble effort
in the village, because it seemed to be a hard place, and bestowed
their labor, and concentrated their energies, or, rather, scattered
them, in the country round about. Pontiac, although a considerable
and thriving town for a new country, did not even furnish a name
for a Circuit or Station earlier than 1838. At this date, it appears
in the Minutes for the first time, with Rev. Josiah Brakeman as the
preacher ; and, yet, there was no special concentration of force. As
evidence of this scattering of the forces in the country, we find a
church, built of logs, about three miles out of the village, a little to
the north of east. It was known as " Donation Chapel." It was
built in 1828 or 1829, by a Mr. Hathaway and a Mr. Turner, and
presented to the Methodist Episcopal Church by them ; hence its
name. These men were worthy members of the Church, and have
gone to worship in that " house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens." They designed well ; but, had they concentrated their
force in the village, how much better would it have been for the
cause of religion. It is true that a soul in the country is in itself
as valuable as in the village, but Churches need to be planted in
the midst of the people ; besides, all know that the towns and vil
lages have much to do in shaping the character of the country

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 323

round about them. We do not intend, in these remarks, to censure
either the ministers or people, but simply to say that it is a pity that
more importance was not attached to labor in the village. We
know well, however, how difficult it is to concentrate labor in a place
where there were so few members as there were here at an early
day. As late as 1835, when we were on this Circuit — called
Farmington — we had to be contented with preaching once in the
day — on the Sabbath — once in two weeks. But everything is now
changed.

The Church here has met with some reverses and drawbacks,
as well as having a good deal of opposition from the world. One
minister, who was appointed to the Circuit in 1839, about the middle
of the year, became disaffected, joined the Baptists, and then lectured
against the polity of the Church he had left. His colleague, Rev. R.
Sapp, then a young man, answered his lecture so effectually and
completely that he failed to draw away many disciples. Still, this
incident so diverted public attention as to prevent any special ad
vance in the cause for a time. What were the motives which in
fluenced him to this course, we will not now pretend to say. He
was a man of promising talents, and, had he remained true to the
Church, might have held a good and useful position, but, for some
reason, he has not done much for the world since. He quickly sank
into obscurity, and no one speaks the name of Miles Sandford with
any special interest.

Another one, in 1852, adopted and pursued such a course as
that the brethren found it necessary to arrest his character, and to
have his case investigated by the Presiding Elder, according to the
provisions of discipline in such cases. He was suspended from the
ministry until the next Annual Conference, at which time he was
expelled from the ministry and Church. After his suspension, he
joined the Baptist Church, and became a minister among them,
before the final adjudication of his case before the Annual Confer
ence. A third, though he finished the term of his appointment,
joined the Protestant Episcopal Church at the end of the year.
Although he filled his term, and honorably withdrew, any one may
well see that, having determined to leave, he could not labor with
any zeal to build up the Church — a Church which, according to his
new theory, was not a Church at all, and that he was determined to
abandon, and only waited for the time to come when he could do
so honorably to himself. Notwithstanding these defections, the
Church has kept on its way, and has prospered, showing that the
Church is not dependent on one or two or three men. There is a

324 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

most wonderful recuperative energy in the Methodist Church.

Other Christian Churches, as the Baptists, Presbyterians, Con-
gregationalists, and Protestant Episcopalians, have been established,
and have done their work towards the moral and spiritual renova
tion and elevation of this community.

We may now append to this sketch of Pontiac a notice of our
work in this county at large. The township of Troy was the first
point at which a Methodist Society was organized, and that township
has always maintained a good reputation in this respect. Indeed,
some very valuable men have come from revivals in that township,
as Joseph Jennings, Riley C. Crawford, Manasseh Hickey, and some
others, in the ministry, living and dead.

In 1820, we find the introduction of the Gospel, under the
operations of Methodism, into this county, about which time a small
Society was organized. The Society was few and scattered, but the
country has become thickly populated, and religious instruction is
furnished to the people in great abundance.

Among the greatest achievements attained in this county may
be named the building of a large and beautiful brick church at
Birmingham, which was dedicated in the autumn of 1873. Rev.
Robert Bird was stationed there in 1869, with the expectation that
he would secure the building of a church. When he first opened
the subject, everybody considered it perfectly chimerical and absurd.
But he went about it, and persevered until it was done. Our cause
has been wonderfully advanced by it. Nobody but Robert Bird
would have succeeded in such an enterprise under the circumstances.
He was five years about it. He remained in the Station three years,
and the state of the work was such that he could not safely leave it.
He took a supernumerary relation, and remained at the work. The
next year he took the responsibility of not going to his charge to
finish this work. He, by the way, is perhaps the greatest church
builder in the Conference. This church is a perfect gem, and is,
doubtless, the best and most beautiful church edifice on this conti
nent, in a village of the size.

Instead of one or two small Societies, without any Church prop
erty, in 1820, we have, according to the reports at the Conference
of 1876, the following Churches and Stations, with members and
probationers attached, viz :

Pontiac 290

Troy 143

Rochester 35

Oxford 187

Orion.., ... 77

Milford 191

South Lyon 96

Walled Lake 110

Commerce 84

Farmington 103

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 325

*Southfield 43

Birmingham 154

KoyalOak 90

Highland 113

Clarkston 90

Brandon 171

*Lakeville 45

Davisburg 131

Holly 187

Total 2,340

There is an aggregate of Church property valued at $137,400.
These items make an encouraging showing, and yet it is not all that
should have been done.

We ought not to fail to show that Rev. Isaac Ruggles, a Con
gregational minister, settled in Pontiac, in 1824, and operated as
much as he could, and was successful in organizing a small Church
in the town of Farmington, which has always been spoken of as
Presbyterian. We cannot say definitely which form of organization
it took. They had built a small church as early as 1830. At the
time of the specially blessed revival under the labors of Rev.
William T. Snow, of the Methodist Church, that Society was supplied
by a young man named Bridgman, who had never seen anything of
the kind and did not know what to make of it. Mr. Ruggles may,
therefore, be regarded as the father of Presbyterianism in Oakland
County. He always lived in this county, but removed for the latter
part of his life into the township of Farmington.

We conclude this article, remarking that there have been many
precious seasons of revival in this city and accessions to the Church,
but in the changing population, many of the converts have gone else
where, and other communities enjoy the benefit. The Detroit
Annual Conference held its session in Pontiac, in 1859, Bishop Janes
Presiding. It was well entertained and the session was an occasion
of much value to our cause in the city.

The denominations stand, in 1876, as follows: —

In the City. In the County.

Methodist Episcopal. 290 2,340

Baptist 181 568

Presbyterian 124 504

Protestant Episcopal 164 164

Congregational 233 410

We take great pleasure in presenting a sketch of one who has
been stationed in this place.

REV. DANIEL C. JACOKES, D. D., was born in the State of New
York, in 1809, and came to Michigan when but a young man. He
spent several years in Detroit, and was then a member of the First
Presbyterian Church. He studied for the ministry, intending to

* Only so much of these charges as lies in Oakland County.

J

26 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

enter that work in the Presbyterian Church ; but, becoming more
acquainted with the doctrines and discipline of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, he found that his mind and heart were more in
accord with them. He, therefore, changed his Church relationship,
and was duly recommended, and was admitted into the Michigan
Conference in 1840, and has continued in the active work until the
Conference of 1876, when, in consequence of the feeble health of
his wife, he took a supernumerary relation to the Conference. For
several years of his early ministry he was a missionary among the
Indians, and endured all the hardships and inconveniences incident
to such work, which were neither few nor small.

Dr. Jacokes has filled many of the important appointments in
the Conference — as Lafayette street, Detroit; Port Huron ; Dexter;
Pontiac, and Hudson. Hudson was the last charge in which he
labored. He always remained in the same charge the full dis
ciplinary term. He was appointed to the Adrian District In 1868,
and remained on it for four years, discharging the duties of the
office with great activity and fidelity. He was honored by his Con
ference by being elected a delegate to the General Conference,
which met in the City of Baltimore in May, 1876.

Dr. Jacokes has always been a great student and has a very
large library of his own, and is justly entitled to all the honors con
ferred on him by literary institutions, the titles conferred being more
of an honor to the institutions than to him. He is a very worthy
Christian gentleman, and we are very happy to be able to furnish a
portrait of him — of one whose name has become so familiar to the
Michigan public, as being an able minister and a scholar of com
manding attitude.

PORT HURON, a flourishing young city, situated at the outlet of
Lake Huron, or at the head of St. Clair River at the point where
the Black River enters the St. Clair, appears in our Minutes as an
appointment in 1838. Prior to this time it had been included in St.
Clair Circuit. This was made a point of rest and a small settle
ment, by the French, almost as soon as Mackinaw; but no consider
able progress, by way of settlement, was made until a much later
date. The village was surveyed and platted in 1836, and it was
incorporated as a village in 1849, and chartered a city in 1857, and
now contains a population of about 9,000, or nearly that.

The first Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was
organized by Rev. Benjamin Cooper, in 1830; but this became scat
tered, made up as it was of a floating population, but a permanent
organization was made in 1834. Their first house of worship was

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 329

completed in 1844, and dedicated by Rev. E. H. Pilcher. This
house became too small for the Church and community, and they
decided to dispose of this and build a larger one. This first house
was sold to the Roman Catholics, and a new and superior one was
completed and dedicated to Divine service in December, 1856, by
Rev. Thomas C. Gardner. This, again, has been superseded by a
large and elegant brick structure, under the labors of Rev. James
S. Smart, who is noted in Michigan for dedicating churches and
raising money — the basement of which was dedicated by Bishop
Ames, in May, 1875.

The Congregational Church was first organized as a Presby
terian Church, in 1837, by Rev. O. C. Thompson, who served as a
temporary supply, but it was changed into the Congregational form
a few years after. They have an excellent house of worship, and a
lage and flourishing Society. The Protestant Episcopal Church was
planted here in 1839. They have a good house of worship, built
in 1857.

The Detroit Annual Conference held its session here in Sep
tember, 1857, and was nobly entertained by the people. The
venerable Bishop Waugh presided. He preached and exhorted
with the zeal and fire of his youth, giving an example to the mem
bers of the Conference which was felt in its influence by them
throughout the whole year. No one can fully estimate the value
of the active and zealous labors of the venerable and chief men of
the Church, who do not seem to think that their position excuses
them from the active, direct labor for the salvation of souls. This
Conference was a time of great spiritual interest. Some were con
verted during the session, and a glorious revival followed, extending
through the whole year, resulting in the addition of eighty-six as a
neti increase for the year, under the labors of that zealous and faith
ful pastor, Rev. Seth Reed, who still lives and is abundant in labors.
Another result was the erection of an elegant parsonage for the
accommodation of the minister's family.

Port Huron District appears in our Minutes in 1857, and
Manasseh Hickey was the Presiding Elder. So this city has come
to occupy, deservedly, an important place in the operations of
Protestantism in this country. The District, at this time, was no
sinecure, for though the charges were so arranged that nearly all of
them reached to the river and lake, a Presiding Elder could not
visit all his work by steamboat. Oftentimes he had to travel on
foot for miles to reach the place of the Quarterly Meeting. He
had to endure a great deal of inconvenience for lodging places, and

330 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

to put up with much coarse living. These labors and discomforts
were so great and numerous that Mr. Hickey could not endure them
longer than two years ; his health so failed that he had to be
relieved from it, and E. H. Pilcher succeeded him for one year.

The principal evangelical Churches have a good Church pro
perty, and a membership as below, according to the reports for
1876:

Methodist Episcopal 277 I Congregational 283

Protestant Episcopal. .not reported. | Baptist 228

We have said so much in regard to this whole region, under
the head of St. Clair, that it is not necessary to add anything
here on the general subject. There is a Methodist Episcopal
Society among the Germans, embracing quite a membership, but as
it is included in the Marine City Circuit, we are not able to
give the exact number and so do not include them in the number
of members in the city, which would add considerably to the num
ber of the Methodists as given above.

We will conclude what we have to say about Port Huron
by adding that in the winter of 1859-60 there was an extensive
work of grace under the pastorate of Rev. S. Clements, who was
much assisted by E. H. Pilcher, the Presiding Elder. Rev. James
S. Smart was stationed, here in 1873-76, and, under his pastorate,
they erected their large and valuable church, the basement of which
was dedicated, in 1875, by Bishop Ames.

We also take great pleasure in inserting a memorial sketch of
a layman who was one of the lay delegates to the General Confer
ence of 1872 :

" Mr. Henry Fish died at his residence in this City, at 5:30
o'clock Friday evening, May 26, 1876, after an illness of several
weeks, the culmination of a painful disease that had afflicted him
for some years.

" Mr. Fish was well known throughout the State of Michigan,
and respected by all who knew him. In Port Huron he was known
by every one, and although his vigorous advocacy of prohibition
made him some enemies, none could say aught against his character,
while by all the better class of people he was held in the highest
esteem. He was a man of vigorous intellect, of uncompromising
honesty, firm in his adherence to the principles he believed to be
right, generous in support of his Church and all worthy charitable
and educational institutions fostered by it, kind and liberal to the
poor, ready with his influence and his purse to forward all deserving
public enterprises, and in every way an admirable and valuable

H. FISH.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 333

citizen. His death is a serious loss to the city, and to the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which he had been an almost life-long mem
ber, as well as to his family and friends.

" Mr. Fish was born near Montreal, Canada, February 14, 1824,
and was, consequently, a little more than 52 years of age at the
time of his death. His parents were of New England birth, but
removed to Canada at an early day. In the year 1836 the family
came to Michigan, and settled in Macomb County. In 1848 Mr.
Fish removed to Port Huron, where his brother Allen had located
some years before, and the two brothers entered into mercantile
and lumbering business, under the firm name of A. & H. Fish,
which has been maintained to the present time, or nearly thirty
years. He was an excellent business man, and the firm has always
been prosperous.

" Mr. Fish's greatest prominence before the public has been as
an active member of the Prohibition Party. He was earnest and
conscientious in his support of the principle of prohibition, never
swerving from it or proposing any compromise in the hope of
political preferment. In 1870 he was the candidate of the party for
Governor, and again in 1872. He was active in the movement for
the formation of the National Prohibition Party, at an early date.
During the war he acted with the Republican Party.

"Mr. Fish was a member of the Board of Education of this city
for several years, and in that capacity did much to advance the inter
ests of the schools.

"As a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Fish was
scarcely less prominent. He always gave liberally for its support,
and was a constant attendant at all the meetings, leader of the choir,
class leader, and at times, we believe, Superintendent of the Sabbath
School. He was a good speaker, and when addresses were in order
was nearly always called upon. To Mr. Fish, as much, or perhaps
more than any other man, is due the credit of securing the erection
of the new Methodist Church in this city.

" Mr. Fish's family consists only of his wife and one daughter,
Miss Gertrude, an only child. It was a comfort to him, during his
last illness, to know that he would leave them above pecuniary
want, and as his business matters had been put in order, free from
care regarding them.

"Mr. Fish was one of a family of six children, having had four
sisters and one brother. Three sisters had died before him, leaving
Mr. Allen Fish and Mrs. Spalding, both of this city, the only sur
vivors of the family. In their great affliction, his family and relatives

334 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

will have the earnest sympathy of the entire community, who mourn
a good man — a great and noble heart lost to the community and to
the world." — Port Huron Times.

The funeral took place at the family residence on the 28th.
Rev. J. M. Arnold, D. D., of Detroit, officiated, the pastor, Rev. J. S.
Smart, being absent in attendance at the General Conference at
Baltimore. We knew Mr. Fish well, and knew him to be a very
devout and consistent Christian.

GRAND RAPIDS. — We have selected this place as a nucleus
around which to cluster the Protestant History for a large extent of
country, because this is the most important town in what is known
as the Grand River Valley, and because this was the point at which
this Protestant History begins. Grand Rapids Mission appears in
our Minutes for the first time in 1835. Rev. Osband Monnett was
the preacher. No itinerant preacher had, as yet, visited the ground,
but a few adventurers had located themselves at the Rapids and
other points along the river, and among them were a few Method
ists. These had desired a preacher to be sent. Mr. Monnett had
everything to do, as he had no plan of his work ; he had to inquire
out the settlements, and find his way to them as best he could.
The appointment proved to be a very unsuitable one ; for, although
he was a pious, good man, he was timid and bashful, and had
no push about him, so he made but little headway. A few points
were visited, and something of form was given to the work. In
some respects, the next appointment, at the beginning, was more
promising, because the man had more energy of character ; and
things began to look well, when, alas! the sun set in darkness.
They had now extended their labors up and down the river as far as
there were any settlements of sufficient numbers to warrant a visit
from a minister of the Gospel.

Rev. Oren Mitchel, one of the most quiet, good and inoffensive
men ever thrust out into the wilderness to look after the wandering"
sheep, was sent to this field in 1837. He found himself so trammeled
with what had occurred the year before that he could scarcely hold
up his head, and did little more than to furnish the people an ex
ample of piety and true devotion to God. The settlements had so
increased during the year that it was thought best, at the end of the
year, to make two Circuits in the valley. Grand Rapids and all the
valley belonged to Ann Arbor District for the first two years, but
the Presiding Elder, Rev. H. Colclazer, was not able to visit it. For
the year 1837, it was attached to the Flint River District. Rev.
S. P. Shaw was the Presiding Elder, and he was able to make a

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 335

partial visitation of the country, going as far down as Grand Rapids.

In 1838, Marshall District was created, and Elijah H. Pilcher
was appointed to it, and this valley was included in it. In order
to readi Grand Rapids, the Presiding Elder had to travel from
Marshall without any intervening appointments, and, in order to
complete his work in that part, to pass on up the river, to attend
to all the appointments on that route without returning home, and
then, as was the case sometimes, travel from Fentonville, in Genesee
County, to Jackson, without any intervening charges. This kind of
labor, however, only came to him once a quarter, or, rather, from
four to five weeks in each quarter; but the Circuit preachers, though
they had not so extensive a ride, had less time in which to perform
it, and had no relief by being a part of the time in the open country.

In 1838, the country was divided into two charges. James H.
Frees was appointed to Grand Rapids, about whom we have nothing
to say — only, that the cause was not much advanced by him. Larmon
Chatfield was appointed to Lyons Circuit. A Congregational minis
ter had settled at Grand Rapids, but his labors were confined to
that place. There was here and there a Methodist local preacher
who did good service to the people in their destitution of the means
of grace. Mr. Chatfield gave shape and order to the work in Ionia
County and in the northern part of Eaton. In this work he was
greatly assisted by the local preachers and exhorters. The Quarterly
Meetings were times of great interest. The people would travel
from twenty to thirty miles, with ox teams, fording streams, and
plodding through the mud, to attend them. When there, they re
ceived such full and glorious manifestations of love and grace as
made them rejoice that they had attended.

The first Camp Meeting ever held in this valley, was in Ionia
County — E. H. Pilcher Presiding Elder, and L Chatfield, preacher—
in June, 1841. It was a very interesting meeting, though not very
numerously attended, because of the sparseness of the population ;
but order prevailed without any difficulty, so that those who had
the charge of it could retire at night, and rest as quietly as if they
were at their own homes. A goodly number of sinners were con
verted, and it was a time of great refreshing from the Lord. The
Church received a great accession of permanent strength from this
meeting.

The village of Lyons was made a preaching appointment in
1836. A few men of means had established themselves there, and
it was fully expected that it would immediately be a great place.
This expectation, like a great many others which sprung up in

336 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

1836-7, was destined to be disappointed ; for, though this valley is
very fertile, and rich in its minerals and lumber, time was required
for the development of these resources. As the country has ad
vanced, the villages have increased in their population, although
many of the original settlers, not realizing their fond hopes, aban
doned them for other localities. As soon as these people found
themselves settled down here, they desired to hear the Gospel, or,
possibly, they thought it might be more for their credit, and tend to
facilitate the settlement, to have religious services conducted on the
Sabbath. Whatever their motives may have been is no matter now.
They wanted the services, and our ministers were ready to respond
to the call, and the only ones. They were supplied in this way
through the country for many years before any other ministers came
in to establish themselves in these wilds.

It is an interesting fact that, however extensive were their Cir
cuits, or however laborious the work of our ministers, they have
always been ready to respond to such calls, and make arrangements
to supply them. No sacrifice has been too much for them to make,
or labor too severe to be performed, or exposure too intense to be
endured by them to meet the wants of the people. The fact is, there
have not been wanting martyrs to the work, or noble heroes to meet
and brave labors and dangers, among the men to whom has been
assigned the cultivation of this field.

Some of the local preachers were as ready to brave these dan
gers as the itinerants. Rev. Jacob Dobbins, a local preacher, had
settled in the timbered land in the north part of Eaton County,
and on the south side of Grand River, not far from the river. In
stature he was a small man, but in determination a giant. He had
his regular appointments, and attended to them faithfully. On one
occasion, his appointment was on the north side of the river, and the
water was high, the ice running, and it presented a very discour
aging prospect to make a passage across the river even with a good
craft. It was at some distance from any house on either side. The
canoe, in which he expected to make the transit, to his great disap
pointment, was on the other side of the flood. A faint heart would
have quailed and returned, but not so with him. The few people
must not be disappointed. He was not a good swimmer, so that a
passage in that way was out of the question. In casting about to
decide what to do, he found two small logs so situated that he could
roll them into the river, which he did, and lashed them together with
some withes, which he had cut with his knife, so making a raft; then
stripping off his clothes, fastened them around his shoulders, and,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 337

after much labor and suffering from the cold, as it was early spring,
he reached the opposite bank, donned his clothes, and so passed on
to his appointment. What was the motive for all this? Simply, to
preach Jesus and the resurrection to a few people in the wilderness,
without any pecuniary compensation. This is a species of heroism
more grand than the meeting of armies in battle. Mr. Dobbins
afterwards joined the Conference, and labored usefully for many
years. He still lives, but is on the superannuated list.

While on this upper, or, rather, middle portion of the valley, we
may as well finish what we have to say before we float down the
stream. The first settlers at Ionia, the county-seat, were Baptists in
sentiment, and, though they preferred Methodist preaching to none
at all, they did not give any encouragement to the organization of a
Society. The result of this was that, though we ministered to them,
they did not make a Church, and it was some time before our people
acquired any special footing there. Besides this, there was an
instance of defection in a local preacher, living in the vicinity, that
operated unfavorably to us. He was a young man of some talent
and more assurance — of a sour spirit. He had once applied to the
Conference, before he came to this place, to be admitted into the
traveling connection, and was not accepted. Having a very good
opinion of his own abilities, he never recovered from the bad feeling
which this occasioned. He pushed out into this new region, retain
ing his relation to the Church, but, all the while, grumbling and
complaining against the usages and economy of it, till finally he
withdrew from us, and joined the Congregational Church. Upon
the whole, it was a relief when he withdrew from us, as he was oper
ating to the damage of the body more by his complainings while he
retained his membership than out of it. Notwithstanding these dif
ficulties, our cause has finally triumphed, and we now have a strong
footing at that point, as hereafter noted.

Several revivals have occurred at Ionia, taking in their way
several men of position in the community, some of whom had been
avowed infidels. That indefatigable and always successful laborer,
Allen Staples, was appointed in charge of Lyons Circuit, which in
cluded all that portion of country which we may designate as the
middle part of the Grand River Valley, in 1840, and, as was cus
tomary where he labored, the whole country was in a blaze of revi
val. Many were converted and added to the Church. Since that
time, the work has gone on with growing interest, widening in its
extent, and increasing in its power, as the settlements have extended
and increased in population. (See Ionia.)

338 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Some oppositions and some competitions have been encoun
tered, but this valley has been thoroughly Methodized. In 1840 and
1841, a good deal of effort was made in this region by two or three
young preachers of the immersion faith to convert the people to their
belief, but without any very considerable success. This effort led one
of them to deliver a discourse specially on the subject of baptism, in
which he took occasion to comment on the common objection to the
immersion of the three thousand on the day of Pentecost, to wit, the
want of water. "Why/' said he, "that is a very frivolous objection.
There was no difficulty at all ; for the river Jordan runs right along
there by Jerusalem, and furnished plenty of water. There was no diffi
culty at all." This state of things gave rise to the following incident
at a Quarterly Meeting held in the town of Eagle, in May, 1841.
On the Sabbath, during his discourse, the Presiding Elder — E. H.
Pilcher — took occasion to allude to the subject of baptism, and re
ferred to the very oft-repeated objection to infant baptism, that is,
that persons become dissatisfied with it when they come to years of
maturity; and made some remarks in answer to it. Just at that
point in his discourse, Rev. L. Chatfield, who sat in the desk of the
school-house behind him, pulled his coat. The Elder looked around,
when Mr. Chatfield arose, remarking as he did so, "If one be proph
esying, and anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the
first hold his peace." Hearing this, the Elder sat down, and he went
on, "I want to tell an incident which occurred with me once." Said
he: "I was baptizing a few years ago, during which a young lady
came to me, and said she wished me to baptize her. But, said I,
have you not been baptized ? She said she had been immersed in
water, but -she did not consider that baptism, as the Scriptures say
we must be baptized with water." The application was easy. When
he finished this story, he sat down, and the Presiding Elder went on.
with his discourse, just as if no interruption had occurred.

Before leaving this part of the country, we will take the liberty
of providing a brief notice of two men whose names are associated
with the work here, Larmon Chatfield and Allen Staples.

REV. LARMON CHATFIELD was born in Windham, Green County,
in the State of New York, in 1812. His father was a Deacon in
the Presbyterian Church, and the son was thoroughly instructed in
the doctrines of that Church. But, while he was yet a boy, his soul
revolted against the doctrines of Calvinism, and, when he came to
hear the Methodists preach the doctrines of free grace — free salva
tion for all who would receive it — he joyfully accepted the doctrine,
and was converted to God in his early youth; but,not finding the help

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 339<

which he needed, as he expressed it, " he fell from grace." When he
was a young man, he came to Michigan, and settled near Tecumseh.
There, under the preaching of Rev. Joseph Bangs, at the age of
twenty-two years, " he renewed his covenant with God, and joined
the Methodist Episcopal Church."

In the Official Minutes of the Michigan Conference for 1876, it
is said of him: "Always of a religious turn of mind, he thought out
those fundamental doctrines of Christianity for himself, and, 'searching
the Word of God for authority, stored his mind with the truths he
found therein — truths which, in after years, proved their value in his
matchless controversial discourses upon Calvinism, the Doctrine of
Decrees, Reprobation, and the Final Perseverance of the Saints.
He was, emphatically, a doctrinal preacher, who would, in a sermon
of an hour or more, probe to the bottom the fallacies of Calvinism,.
Unitarianism, and Universalism.

" Immediately after joining the Methodist Episcopal Church, he
entered upon the work of the ministry, was licensed as an exhorter,
and took his first work, as a subordinate, in the old Ohio Conference
of 1835, and was sent to Mount Clemens. In 1836, his name ap
pears in the Mansfield Conference Minutes, [that is, in the Minutes
of the Michigan Conference held at Mansfield Ohio], and he was
sent to Plymouth, and there he was married to a Miss Lorimer.
She left his side, in six or eight months, to join the hosts of the
redeemed. In the year 1838, he was sent to Lyons charge, then
embracing the territory now covered by the thriving town of Port
land. Here he assisted at the funeral of Philo Bogue in 1839, an4
two years after, was married to Mrs. Eliza Bogue, by Rev. Allen
Staples,. of blessed memory. Serving two years upon the Lyons
Circuit, he was then appointed Presiding Elder of the Shiawassee
District. Four years of District work, traveling from Grand Rapids
to Saginaw, proved his efficiency, and, at the expiration of his term
here, he was sent, as Presiding Elder, to the Adrian District.

" Here he lived, at Adrian, for three years ; poorly paid, but
laying upon the hearts of the people such grand truths that, far and
near, there remains indelibly fixed in the minds of those who heard
him, profound impressions of the preaching of Larmon Chatfield."

Although his early school advantages were very limited, he was
very accurate in the use of language, and, though he was ignorant
of the technical rules of logic, he understood how to reason logically,
and was a man of great power in the pulpit. He died at Portland,
Ionia County, where he had resided for many years, in August, 1876,.
full of days and good fruits.

340 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

REV. ALLEN STAPLES was a man of very moderate preaching
abilities, if the capacity for analyzing a text and arranging a sermon
be taken as the standard ; but, if the power to reach the heart and
influence the judgment of his hearers be taken as the rule of
determination, he was much above mediocrity — he was superio-
His educational attainments were limited, but they were used to
the best advantage. He was born in Cheshire, Massachusetts, July
1 5th, 1810, and was converted to God when about fifteen years of
.age. Notwithstanding he had to meet with opposition, he soon
joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was licensed to preach
in 1836, and the same year was admitted on trial in the Michigan
Conference. His second appointment — 1837 — was to Bean Creek.
The whole country was so new and sparsely settled that the Circuit
was named after the Creek, and not for any town — but Hudson has
become a large and pleasant town in it since then, and has been
made a Station, having good churches of the different denomina
tions.

His zeal for the conversion and salvation of sinners was so
all-pervading and so all-consuming that he could well adopt the
language of the prophet, " For Zion's sake I will not rest, for Jeru
salem's sake I will not hold my peace." His zeal was so great that
he could not devote his time to reading and study, but he must be
looking after sinners, and laboring with them to bring them to
Christ. Blessed and extensive revivals of religion uniformly attend
ed his labors. By means of such excessive labors, he soon became
worn out, and was for several years on the superannuated list. On
his death-bed, he advised his brethren not to follow his example,
in the excess of his labors, as he believed he had shortened his
days by that means. He seemed always to forget himself, and used
his lungs to their utmost capacity. It is a question, which every
one must settle for himself, whether he could accomplish as much
good in a short life, made short by incessant labors, as in a longer
-one, prolonged by a moderation of zeal. But, perhaps, after all, the
injury to the physical man does not result so much from an earnest
zeal as from an undue straining of the lungs by attempting to speak
when the lungs have become exhausted of air — from the want of a
proper attention to the rules of elocution. If a man will stand erect,
and keep his lungs properly filled with air, he will not fail from earn
est speaking.

Mr. Staples had fixed his residence at Albion, after he became
superannuated, from whence he was called to his heavenly rest

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 341

The following is extracted from the official memoir as found in the
Minutes for 1848:

"Of our departed brother much might be said that would be
greatly to his praise. He had many qualities that adorn their
possessor, and make him the subject of grateful remembrance. He
was modest and unassuming, ever esteeming others better than
himself. Though kind and warm-hearted, he had, nevertheless, a
happy faculty of being familiar with all classes without becoming*
subject to their disrespect. As a Christian, he was eminent. In his
piety, more than in anything else, lay the secret of his usefulness
and influence. Wherever he went, he carried the Saviour with him.
Sanctification, or perfect love, he enjoyed for many years, and, to
the end of his career, it was a prominent item of his conversation
as well as his public ministry. In a word, he had plunged deep into
the ocean of Immanuers love, and had grown in grace as life ad
vanced.

" Brother Staples was not what would be styled a great preacher,
nor did he aim to be — and, yet, if eminent success in bringing sin
ners to God entitles a minister to greatness, he was truly great,
greater than many of more pretensions. He never labored where
there were not more or less revivals of religion during the year, and
frequently hundreds were brought to the Saviour. His zeal for the
salvation of men was proverbial, and, no doubt, he died a martyr to
its excessiveness.

"Brother Staples left this world on the 2ist of October, 1847.
His disease, which had been his ailment from time to time, when
interrupted in the ministry, was pulmonary consumption. During
the last six months of his life, he was an extreme, yet a patient, un
complaining sufferer. His death was triumphant, as his life had been
devoted. May we follow him as he followed Christ."

We will add one incident which will develop his characteristic
zeal with its success. At a Quarterly Meeting, on his second Circuit,
he, with the Presiding Elder, put up at the house of a gentleman
who made no profession of religion. After dinner, on the Sabbath,
the Presiding Elder, being much fatigued, laid down and took a nap,
from which he was aroused by the sound of Mr. Staples' voice.
When he awoke, he found Mr. Staples talking to his host with tears
in his eyes, and exhorting him to seek religion at once, while the
gentleman himself was bathed in tears. Soon after they kneeled for
prayers, and the host was happily converted to God. His zeal led
him out in much personal effort, and his kindly spirit gave him great

342 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

success in securing the confidence and affection of those for whom
he labored.

It is time, now, to return to Grand Rapids, and see what has
been the course of events in the lower part of the valley. It is
proper to say that a small class had been organized at the Rapids
in the summer of 1837, made up of persons who wanted as much
of Church fellowship as they could have. A Baptist man, whose
wife and one son were Methodists, had moved into the place, and
joined, for the time being, and was made the class-leader. The
progress of settlement was retarded by the money panic of 1837,
and this, of course, affected the growth of the Church. Still, a few
were added to the Church. The circumstances looked discouraging
and dark.

We left Rev. James H. Frees in charge, he having been ap
pointed in the fall of 1838. The Circuit then included all the settle
ments below Flat River. The traveling was attended with great
difficulty and almost incredible labor and much suffering, but the
missionary persevered, with no earthly prospect other than some
expectations of receiving one hundred dollars, a part of which only
was received.

This appointment was an unsuitable one for the charge. The
Rapids, though as yet but a small village, was growing in interest
and importance, and contained some very intelligent and well-edu
cated people. They had a good degree of refinement. The preacher
had neither the one nor the other. He was good in his intentions,
but was very ignorant, and had never mingled in refined society.
He could not make any favorable impression "for us in the village,
and but little in the country.

The Presiding Elder, E. H. Pilcher, felt this most painfully
whenever he went there to attend the Quarterly Meetings,' which he
did every quarter. By the way, his predecessors on the District had
not succeeded in getting as far down the river as the Rapids, except
once. He felt, however, that he had no responsibility in the case, as he
had not had anything to do in making the appointment. This year,
as all the preceding ones, was a little worse than a blank, so far as
the village, now City of Grand Rapids, was concerned ; for, though
a small Society had been organized, there was a prejudice against
Methodist ministers created, which it was very difficult, afterwards,
to wipe out. It will not be out of place to give a fuller delineation
of this young man, to whom was entrusted the work of giving shape
and character to Protestantism in that important portion of the
State. He had very little advantage for education, and had never

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 343

mingled in refined society. Nevertheless, he was very communi
cative, and exposed his ignorance on all occasions. He believed
that snakes had feet, and said he had made them protrude them
by exposing them to a hot fire. On one occasion, he was stopping
at the house of an intelligent gentleman, one of whose daughters
was a Methodist, and finding a copy of Shakspeare's Works on
the table, he took it up, and, turning to his host, addressed him
in this way: "Who was Shakspar? I never heard tell of Shakspar
before." Then, taking the book, and turning it over a few minutes,
he observed, " I reckon this would be a good book for me to read,
wouldn't it?" We give these items only as specimens. They might
be multiplied indefinitely. Yet he was sent here to lay the founda
tions of religious Society and of Methodism among an intelligent
people.

In reviewing these first four years, we are astonished that we
have any footing at all in this part of the valley. It can be at
tributed only to two causes ; one is the intrinsic excellency of Meth
odist doctrines and polity; the other is, the the special blessing of
God on the labors of his faithful, trusting servants, who have since
occupied the field.

How strangely we have acted, sometimes, in supplying the new
fields! The prevailing thought often seems to have been that any
body would do for the new country. It is true that people would put
up with services in the destitute places, which would not be tolerated
at all when the country became older and more densely populated.
But when the foundations are to be laid, and shaping and character
are to be given both to society and the Church, it is of the utmost
importance that the very best talent, as well as the best experience
of grace should be selected. As a Church, we have lost immensely
in many portions of this country from such bad policy. This has
arisen not altogether from choice, but partly from the necessity of
the case. The older towns have demanded, and the greater compe
titions have suggested, that our most talented and experienced men
should be appointed to them ; and the inability of the newer places
to support men of families has seemed to shut us up to the neces
sity of appointing young and inexperienced men to them, whatever
may be their prospects of importance.

This whole valley only returned twenty-seven members in 1836.
The next year there was no report, owing to circumstances over
which we prefer to draw a veil. But, in 1838, there were sixty-eight
members returned; and in 1839 we had increased to one hundred
and one; still included in only two Circuits, and two ministers. This

344 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

year may be regarded as the beginning of a vigorous religious life
for this valley. The two Circuits here had been supported, in part,
by the Missionary Society, but it seemed to be time that they should
not only support themselves, but begin to make some return to the
Society from which they had been deriving a part of their life.

The Presiding Elder, E. H. Pilcher, this year — 1839 — having
fully surveyed the ground by personal visitation to all the Quarterly
Meetings on each of the two Circuits, determined, if possible, to
obtain a change of policy, and to secure the appointment of some of
our most talented, active and successful men to that isolated field.
We call this an isolated field because it had so little connection with
any other part of the work. The settlement had followed the water
course almost entirely, and, consequently, there were no good roads
coming in from the south. In many directions there were long
stretches of woods, with scarcely anything worthy of the name of road.
The Presiding Elder regarded this field as a very important one pros-
pectively, and thought it ought to be well supplied and thoroughly
occupied. He, therefore, applied to the Bishop, at the next Confer
ence, for four men, where only two had been employed the year before,
and where only one hundred and one members had been reported,
Grand Rapids having fifty-Jive and Lyons forty-six members. It
seemed to be a desperate venture, but he pledged that, if he would
give him the men he wanted for the Rapids and a good supply for
Lyons, they should be struck off the list of missions at the next Con
ference, because he believed they would be made self-supporting.
His wishes were met eatirely in regard to the Rapids ; the men he
wanted were appointed, and Lyons was well supplied; so that, in the
Minutes for 1839, the appointments stand: Grand Rapids, Ransom
R. Richards, Allen Staples; Lyons, Zebulon C. Brown, Levi Warriner.
These were all indefatigable men and successful ministers. They are
all deceased.

During the winter of 1839-40, there were blessed revival seasons
at several places on each of the charges. They returned 388 mem
bers at the Conference in 1840, making an increase of 287 members
this year, and no missionary appropriation was asked for the next
year. The Presiding Elder had his eye specially on Grand Rapids,
and encouraged the brethren to bestow special attention on that
locality, which they did. He rejoiced to find the labor was not in
vain, for, when he visited the Circuit at the last Quarterly Meeting
before Conference, which was held at the Rapids, he found a large
and interesting congregation, with a good membership, and all in
good heart.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 345

At this Quarterly Meeting the following little incident occurred:
On the Sabbath, at the close of the sermon, the Presiding Elder
called for the public collection, as usual, and made some remarks to
the people to call forth their liberality. There were two young men
sitting together, one of whom remarked to the other that if the Elder
would tell them a good story he would put in a dollar. Without any
knowledge of this remark, the Elder told the following anecdote, or
rather, fact, as illustrating the returns which are often made to those
who give liberally for the support of the cause of religion: "At the
General Conference of 1840, which was held in the City of Baltimore,
one of the delegates from the West, and who had never visited the
City of Washington, set apart a certain sum of money to defray his
expenses in visiting that city, being all that he could spare at that
time for such a purpose ; but, before the day arrived which he had
fixed upon to make the contemplated visit, information came to the
Conference that a hurricane had swept over a certain town, and had
destroyed the Methodist church ; that the Society was poor and
unable to rebuild without assistance ; that a church was essential to
their prosperity; and an appeal was made to the members of the
Conference for aid. This delegate at once determined to forego
the pleasure of making his visit, and contributed that sum for the
benefit of the distressed Church. On the evening the Conference
adjourned, a letter was put into his hand, which, when it was opened,
he found to contain the exact amount he had contributed, and con
taining the request that he would accept of that sum from one who
desired to be holy." This was the story. The young man put in
his dollar On his way home from church he picked up a three-
dollar bill, for which he could find no owner. He said be should
always believe what that Elder said.

Mr. Richards, the preacher in charge at the Rapids, was then
in the fullness of his strength and in the activity of his labor. While
his health endured he was a giant in labor, and Mr. Staples was
even then proverbial for success. Both of these men fully sustained
their reputation in the success they had this year. At the beginning,
they had fifty-five members ; at the end, they reported one hundred
and fifty-one, making a net increase of ninety-six. Lyons Circuit was
increased from forty-six to 237, making an increase of 151. We have
an increase for the valley, then, of 247, making 388 in two Circuits.

Mr. Brown, in charge of Lyons, was a very sound-minded man,
and could attend well to the business of the Circuit, and Mr. War-
riner was an indefatigable laborer for the conversion of sinners. Mr.
Warriner, by his warm and earnest exhortations, could lead them

346 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

penitently to trust in Christ, and Mr. Brown could well and
thoroughly indoctrinate them. By this combination of talent the
work was both advanced and confirmed. In the light and glorious
halo of Christian piety which constantly shone about theseyfr#r men,
all former embarrassments were nearly forgotten by the people.
Their industry and piety laid a good foundation for Christian society
in all this valley.

We have again wandered away from Grand Rapids, and must
now return. The Church in this place has met with various vicissi
tudes and drawbacks, according as the appointments of the preachers
happened to be favorable or unfavorable. Sometimes they were
full of hope, and sometimes nearly in despair. This town was
erected into a Station in 1844, and Andrew M. Fitch was appointed
to it, and remained two years. He found only about fifty members
of the Church in the city, but at the end of his term he returned
one hundred and thirty, having had a net increase of eighty
members in the two years ; but the Society had advanced much
in its position and stability, and in its moral influence in the
community. This may be regarded as the beginning of a vigorous
life to the cause in this city. It has gained a position from which it
will never retreat or recede. For the next four years there were
various successes, and the Society remained nearly stationary. In
1850 Rev. F. A. Blades was appointed to this Station, and supplied
it for two years, during which time the Society diminished three
members, according to the numbers reported. But we cannot always
determine precisely the numbers in a village Society from the pub
lished statistics, simply because sometimes there are small country
classes connected with the village to be visited on a week-day even
ing, or it may be on Sunday afternoon, which, as soon as it becomes
more convenient to visit them from some of the Circuits around, are
lopped off from the village or city Station, greatly to the relief
of the stationed preacher, but making an apparent decrease in
his membership. The facts in this case were that his predecessor
had withdrawn from the Church, and had so managed that he had
taken nearly the whole Church with him. The first service Mr.
Blades held was attended by only about a dozen persons, and before
his term expired he had a full congregation, and restored the mem
bership to the former number, nearly. He had a successful term.
The Society in this city was now in good heart, having gained much
in strength, and were in a fair way to flourish. During the time of
Mr. Blades's ministration, they had enlarged and improved their

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 347

house of worship, and upon the whole had made much permanent
advancement.

In 1852 Rev. Andrew J. Eldred was assigned to this Station and
remained two years. In the winter of his second year of labor there
was a very glorious work of revival, in which it was estimated that
more than three hundred were converted to God, a large portion
of whom united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. This was
an occasion of immense labor and anxiety, but one of glorious
success. The Church interests were greatly advanced by this
revival. A second charge was organized in this city — located on the
west side of the river — in 1855, which has continued to grow and
prosper. According to the Minutes of 1876, we now have four
charges, embracing 770 members and probationers, and a Church
property valued at $107, 200 — with all the appurtenances for the work
of Sabbath Schools appropriate to such a membership. One of the
above charges is among the Germans.

C> ^>

Other denominations are here and in this valley. A Congrega
tional minister settled at Grand Rapids early and gathered a Church
around him, which has grown and increased. The Presbyterians,
the Baptists, and the Protestant Episcopalians, all have their Churches
planted and are doing Church work according to their views of such
work. They each have good and valuable Church property, and are
well situated in the midst of the city. We present the statistics of
the different denominations at one view :

Methodist Episcopals 770

Congregationals 649

Protestant Episcopals 7G7 Baptists 485

Pros by terian s 282

LUMAN R. ATWATER was one of the early settlers in the Grand
River Valley, and is worthy of a little notice. We here present a
small but accurate engraving of him. He was born in Burlington,
Vermont, June 23rd, 1810, and was born of the Spirit in Plattsburg,
New York, January ist, 1832, and joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church on the 8th of the same month. Soon after his conversion
he went South and stopped for some time in Millidgeville, Georgia,
and in December, 1833, was appointed class-leader, which office he
has filled most of the time since. He came to Michigan in May,
1837, and settled in Lyons, Ionia County. Here he was soon ap
pointed class-leader and steward. He immediately opened what he
called a Methodist tavern, that is, he opened his house for the enter
tainment of the itinerant ministers. In this he was greatly blessed and
prospered for seven years.

Mr. Atwater removed to Grand Rapids in May, 1844. Here he

348 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

immediately took all the honors the Church was competent to bestow, •
He has been " Superintendent of the Sabbath School for twenty-five
years; class-leader, steward and trustee to the present time — a ser
vant of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but an heir of heaven."

When the plan for incorporating lay delegation into the General
Conference was adopted, Mr. Atwater was sent as one of the dele
gates to the Electoral Conference in 1871, and was urged very
strongly to allow his name to be used for delegate to the General
Conference, which he firmly declined, but was elected the first
Reserve. At the Electoral Conference of 1875, he was elected the
President of the body. He is a devoted and consistent Christian,
and has the confidence and respect of his brethren. He still resides
at Grand Rapids. We shared and enjoyed the hospitalities of Mr.
Atwater and his good wife, who has gone to her heavenly rest, from
the autumn of 1838 to 1842 while we were on the Marshall District,,
and we found him to be a true man of God.

FLINT is a flourishing young city, having been incorporated as
such in 1855, and contains about 8,000 inhabitants. It is situated
on the Flint River, which here furnishes excellent water power. It
is the seat of justice for Genesee county, and has the advantages of
a good surrounding country. Pine grows in the vicinity in great
abundance, so that pine lumber and shingles form a great part ot its
commerce. The settlement was begun in 1835, a°d increased so
rapidly as to attract considerable attention in 1836. The State
Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and Blind, which has been in suc
cessful operation for a number of years, is located here.

The location is pleasant and healthy, and it will in time be
the chief town in this part of the State. From the very beginning,
attention has been given to education ; for before they had erected
good habitations for themselves, the people provided the shantee
school-house. They were the first in the State to adopt the union,
or graded school system, and have one of the finest public school
buildings in the State. The religious history is that with which we
are more specially concerned at this time.

A small settlement having sprung up at Saginaw in 1834, Rev,
Bradford Frazee was appointed, from the Ohio Conference, as mis
sionary, and on one of his visits there he stopped at Flint and
preached once, in the summer of 1835, which was the first religious
service in that region, of which we have any account. In the autumn
of 1835, Rev. Wm. H. Brockway was appointed to Saginaw Mission,
made Flint a regular appointment, and organized a Society in
July, 1836, consisting of Daniel S. Freeman and wife, James McAlister

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 351

and wife, Benjamin F. Robinson and wife, Mrs. Miller, the mother of
Mrs. McAlister, and John Martin and wife. No leader was ap
pointed at this time, and O. F. North, who succeeded Mr. Brockway
at the Conference in 1836, appointed Daniel S. Freeman leader.
Mr. Brockway states, in regard to the place and work this first year,
as follows : " I think at that time there were not more than four or
five families on the ground now embraced in the city of Flint. I
generally came from Saginaw every third week and preached at
Flint, and also five miles north, at Mt. Morris, then called the 'Cold-
water Settlement.' At Flint my home was generally at the tavern
of Mr. Beach, and my preaching place his little bar-room. During
the summer of 1836, a frame store was built by Messrs. Stage &
Wright, opposite Beach's tavern. When the floor was laid we got
permission to use the upper story, and I preached there once, I
think, in July, 1836; and then and there the first class was organized.
To the best of my remembrance, it consisted of nine persons ; most
of them were from the settlements near Flint. The whole of
Michigan was in one District, and the Rev. James Gilruth was Pre
siding Elder; but he never came further north than Pontiac." This
small Church was soon after strengthened by the addition, by letter,
of Dr. Joel Fairchild and wife, David A. Miller and Margarette
Miller.

Rev. Oscar F. North was appointed, at the Conference in 1836,
to succeed Mr. Brockway. Mr. North's labors were very successful
in the conversion of many, and in additions to the Church. These
seemed like great revivals, and so they were in proportion to the
number of inhabitants. A Quarterly Meeting was held at Flint on
the 1 4th and I5th of January, 1837. The Presiding Elder not being
present, and neither Mr. North, nor Rev. L. D. Whitney, who assisted
him, being in Elders' orders, they could not have the sacrament. This
was the first Quarterly Meeting held here. Another one occurred
on the 3<Dth July, 1837, at which the Presiding Elder, Rev. Wm. Herr,
was present and officiated. This was the first sacramental season
they ever had, and was the first time that Flint was favored by a
visit from a Presiding Elder.

In 1837, Flint River Mission appears in the Minutes of the Con
ference for the first time, with Luther D. Whitney for preacher in
charge, who continued for two years, and was quite successful in ad
vancing the Church.

The first movement towards building a church was in the
autumn of 1839. It. however, was not till 1841 that they secured
the grounds now owned by the Court Street Church, and commenced

35 2 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

the erection of a building*. Rev. F B. Bangs was the preacher in
charge. He was returned to the charge in 1842. During the sum
mer of 1842 the church building was raised and covered. This
building was enlarged, burned down and replaced by a much finer
and better one. A Quarterly Conference held in Flint, June 24thr
1843, E. H. Pilcher, Presiding Elder, and F. B. Bangs, preacher, was
a very important one, from the business done. The trustees re
ported a parsonage completed, with a debt remaining unpaid of only
$62.47-100. The most important thing was that William Blades and
Daniel S. Freeman were licensed to preach. Both these men have
done very effective work as local preachers, and considerable good
work as itinerants. During Mr. Bangs's term the Sunday Schools
received great attention, and the interests of the Church generally
were prosperous.

Flint was made a Station separate from the country in 1847.
Since then the Station has been nobly supplied and has prospered
greatly. There was one dark hour that came to this Church. They
had struggled hard and had erected a church at a cost of $4,000, and
had enlarged and repaired it at a cost of $3,000, and were feeling
that they were now in a condition for work and religious enjoyment,
when 'on Tuesday night, the igth of March, 1861, the church was
discovered to be on fire, and in an hour it was reduced to ashes/with
all its contents, Sunday School library, musical instruments — in short
everything which it contained, as well as the beautiful house, was
consumed. There was no insurance. The fire was undoubtedly the
work of an incendiary, probably incited to this dastardly act by the
liquor men, who considered themselves aggrieved by the activity of
the Methodist Church people in the temperance movement.' From
this disaster originated a new church located on the north side
of the river, called Garland Street Church. So there are now
two Stations in the city of Flint. According to the report in the
Minutes for 1876, there are 683 members and probationers; two
churches and two parsonages, aggregating $42,000 in value, with
Sunday Schools correspondingly prosperous, having all necessary
apparatus and fixtures for success.

The Methodists were not left alone to minister to this people,
but others came in and organized Churches. Rev. Mr. Dudley
organized a Presbyterian Church in 1837, consisting of seven mem
bers. They at first adopted the Congregational form of organiza
tion, but subsequently changed it to the Presbyterian form of
government. The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized
December 25th, 1839; and the Baptist Church was constituted in

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 353

1853, consisting at the time of twelve members. There is also a
Congregational Church organized at a later day. These all have
valuable houses of worship.

The Annual Conference has been entertained here at three dif
ferent times, to wit • In 1855, Bishop Ames presiding; in 1865, Bishop
Clark in the chair; and in 1875, Bishop Harris presiding. The ses
sion each time was in the month of September. The Conference was
grandly entertained, and the sessions were occasions of great inter
est to the Methodist people.

As usual, we subjoin the statistics of the five denominations:

Methodist Episcopal 683

Presbyterian 244

Congregational,

Protestant Episcopal 263

Baptist 329

.186

REV. WILLIAM BLADES has been referred to in these pages be
fore, and now, as we supposed we had finished what we had to say in
regard to Flint, the announcement comes to us that he has been
taken to his reward. This event occurred early in May, 1877, at
Flint, where he had resided for many years. We avail ourself of
the following biographical sketch, which was read at the funeral by
Dr. George W. Fish, whose graceful and appreciative words we
heartily endorse. The sketch was published in the Michigan
Christian Advocate, and is as follows:

" I know not why the tearful, though pleasant, task of pronoun
cing a brief biography of our venerable and beloved friend should
have been assigned to me, unless it be that an uninterrupted friend
ship extending over a period of almost thirty-eight years, and in its
nature not unlike that which existed between David and Jonathan in
the olden time, may be supposed to fit one for such a duty. Very
pleasant hast thou been unto me, my brother ; thy love was wonder
ful, passing the love of ordinary worldly friendship. The earthly life
that has so recently closed has been a very7 plain and simple one. I
am inclined to the opinion that the inventory of his realty — bonds
and mortgages, stocks and cash in bank — will not cover many pages
of 'legal cap;' nor will there be a fierce contest of greedy heirs and
unscrupulous lawyers, about the distribution of an estate. And yet,
I think, to-day, the possesions of Ward, Vanderbilt, Astor and
Stewart combined, shrivel into insignificance beside the dying legacy
left by this good man

" Of what the world calls culture, learning and science, he
claimed no great share ; nevertheless, in the sphere in which God
placed him, he has accomplished more than Tyndal, Spencer, or any
of their compeers. His has been a beautiful, harmonious, Christian

354 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

life. What can be more cheering and desirable than such a life with
such an ending ?

"William Blades was born in Worcester County, Maryland, in
1798. His parents were God-fearing people. His father dying
while he was yet a mere child, the road by which his boyish feet
found their way up to manhood was a rough and rugged one. At
the age of nineteen years he was converted, and joined the Method
ist Episcopal Church, of which he remained a " lively member" for
sixty-one years, and until the Great Bishop transferred him to the
Church triumphant, where he doubtless had a place for him. In his
boyhood he learned the hatter's trade, at which he wrought until he
came to Michigan, when he became a tiller of the soil.

"About fifty-six years ago, in his native State, he married her
who still survives him, and together they have shared the lights and
shadows of an eventful and protracted pilgrimage. From Maryland
he removed with his family to Newark, New Jersey, thence to West
ern New York, and still later, in 1834, to Michigan, and settled in
the town of Grand Blanc, and has resided in this county ever since.
He was elected, and served as magistrate, and also as sheriff of the
county, altogether for a term of ten or twelve years. My recollec
tion of his public services is that he was noted as a peacemaker,
and, consequently, he was not particularly popular with the court
men and lawyers, one of whom declared that 'if the squire went on
in that way much longer, he would dry up the courts altogether, as
he was always advising litigants to settle their disputes between
themselves, and not take them into court,' and that he almost always
succeeded in persuading them to do so. In 1848, he was elected to
the State Legislature, and served during the first session ever held
at the present capital. In all these places of trust and responsibility,
he proved himself worthy and well qualified. The few aged men
and women who were his associates in the olden times, and who still
survive him, will bear me out in saying that as a private citizen and
public servant he has acted well the part assigned him. With very
pronounced political opinions, he merged the partisan in the patriot,
and loved his country with a devotion and constancy that knew no
abatement.

"In 1833, before leaving East Avon, New York, Mr. Blades was
licensed as an exhorter, and on the 24th of June, 1843, tne Quarterly
Conference of this Church voted him a local preacher's license. In
1847, ne was ordained Deacon by Bishop Morris, at Ypsilanti, and
in 1864 he was admitted to Elder's orders, and ordained by Bishop
Baker at the Adrian Conference. He was an efficient and successful

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 355

worker in the itinerant ranks, during which time he traveled Flint,
White Lake, Grand Blanc, Flushing, and Genesee Circuits. When the
infirmities of age and failing health compelled him to retire from the
more active itinerant work, he did effective service in the local ranks,
in which capacity he was known as a most efficient worker — he has
attended more funerals and officiated at more weddings than most
of his ministerial brethren who are in the regular work. And when
unable to preach at all, he has served his brethren in the capacity of
class-leader, which office he filled till a very recent date. And here
allow me to say that, to my mind, Father Blades was one of the best
class-leaders I have ever known. Since this couple, Father and
Mother Blades, commenced life's journey together, they have given
back to the Lord six darling children whom He had lent them for a
time, and now the father has gone to join them in the 'house of many
mansions.' For about two months, our brother had been waiting
patiently and cheerfully for his Master's call. Though a great suf
ferer at times, he had been wonderfully uplifted and sustained. To
those who have visited and conversed with him during those weary
weeks of suffering, it is unnecessary for me to say that the sunshine
of the dear Saviour's countenance has never been obscured by a
single cloud, and we have felt that Father Blades's sick-room was
4 privileged beyond the common walks of virtuous life — quite in the
verge of Heaven.' In reviewing thus hastily such a life, we come
to the conclusion that there is not much over which to mourn. With
a brave heart and honest purpose, he settled in this then western
wilderness, and has lived to see the rude frontier changed to a pros
perous commonwealth. The somewhat heterogenous elements of
our rude pioneer civilization, during his lifetime, have crystalized
into harmonious beauty, and to this result our departed brother has
contributed his full share. His life, extending as it does over a
period of more than three-quarters of a century, rich in historic
memories, affords a beautiful and instructive example to our young
men.

" There is so much to commend, and so little to criticise, that I
venture to hold up the example of my dear brother's life as being as
near a perfect model as poor humanity ever attains. It seems to me
like a beautiful poem, or a bouquet of fragrant summer flowers. As
the father and head of his family, his example is worthy of imitation.
He honored God, and his children have risen up to call him bless
ed. As a citizen, he contributed his full share towards the defence
of virtue, truth and honesty, and towards the condemnation of vice
in every form. As a Christian, and a devoted Churchman, his love

356 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

of the Bible and its Divine Author, and his absolute faith in its
teaching, touched his lips and inspired his heart. It would be a
blessing to this world of ours to have a thousand such men added,
rather than one taken away.

" I will not attempt to offer a word to this circle of numerous
mourners, but leave that duty to be performed by one better quali
fied to do it justice. In the day when the Lord cometh to make up
his jewels, Father Blades will doubtless be there, with a crown and
1 everlasting joy upon his head,' and he will bring a multitude of
redeemed with him, as sheaves gathered by him for the Master.
Such lives are the richest heritage of the Church."

The name of LUTHER LEE, D. D., has long been familiarly
known to the world as a minister of the Gospel, of great power as a
controversalist, as a writer, and as a friend to the slave. In his early
years, he acquired the sobriquet of " The Logical Lee," a name to
which he was justly entitled, and which he still honors.

Luther Lee was born in the State of New York, on the 3Oth
day of November, 1800. From this it will be seen that he is nearly
seventy-eight years old. He was converted, and joined the Method
ist Episcopal Church, in 1820. He was early licensed, but did not
join the itinerant ranks until 1827. When the slavery question
began to agitate the Church, in 1836, Mr. Lee soon took the side of
the oppressed. In 1843, ne to°k a prominent part- in the organiza
tion of a new Methodist Church, which was known as the "True
Wesleyan Methodist Connection in America." The great founda
tion of this new body was anti-slavery. Dr. Lee continued to take
a very active and prominent part in this Church, until in 1867, when
the cause of his separation from his mother Church being removed
by the abolition of slavery in the nation, he, with several others, re
turned, and were received into the Detroit Conference at the ses
sion held in Saginaw City in September, 1867. He has since filled
the Stations of Flint and Ypsilanti, but has now, for the last few
years, been placed on the superannuated list. He resides at Flint,
where he has many friends and admirers, in the enjoyment of the
sweet consolations of grace. Dr. Lee is a very able divine and
writer, and still wields a vigorous pen. He is a very strong advo
cate of total abstinence and a prohibitory liquor law.

LUTHER LEE, D. D.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 357

CHAPTER XIII.

JACKSON — Appears 1839 — County Organized — Judges — Anecdote — Hard Name — Beading Meet
ings — First Sermon — Society Organized — Quarterly Meeting — Martin Flint — Vicissitudes —
Numbers— Sabbath School— Presbyterian Church— Congregational Church— Baptist Church-
Elizabeth Thompson — Difficulties — The County — Camp Meeting — Spring Arbor — Revival —
C. M. Pilcher — Maria Fitzgerald — Charles Brown — Terrible Death — Station — Church Built —
Struggle for Lots — Spencer — Statistics — BATTLE CREEK — Church Organized — Names — Circuit
— Revival Incident — Anecdotes of Bible Distribution — ALBION — College — Preston and Endow
ment — Kevivals — Principals and Presidents — C. F. Stockwell — Dr. Hinman — Organization
of Churches — Quarterly Meeting — Episode — Revival Meetings — Dr. Grant — Dr. Jocelyn —
Fiske— LANSING— Early Preachers— Society Organized— Population— Right Policy— Appears
in Minutes — District — Conference Session — Mrs. Richards — IONIA — Methodist Polity — Mon-
nett— Station— Church First Organized— Z. C. Brown— George Bignell— R. Sapp— Romantic
Incident — Other Churches — Conclusion.

)ACKSON, the county-seat of Jackson County, is situated on
the Grand River, seventy-six miles from Detroit, according
to the railroad survey. It is favored with some water-power,,
but the chief dependence is on steam for manufacturing

purposes. It has become a great railroad center, and has the

ft (^ advantages of the following railroads: Michigan Central;
fi Jackson Branch of the Michigan Southern ; Jackson, Lansing
$ & Saginaw; Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw; The Air Line,,
and Grand River Valley. It is centrally located in the county, and
can never have any considerable competition from villages spring
ing up around it.

The first location of land or purchase from the General Gov
ernment was made — and it was the first in the county — by Mr.
Lemuel Blackman, in the autumn of 1829, which was quickly fol
lowed by entries by Dr. B. H. Packard and Isaiah W. Bennett. In

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

February, 1830, a few shanties were erected, and in the spring,
Mr. Blackman's family, with a few others, came in, and fixed their
abode here. In the spring of 1830, a village was laid out by
Lemuel Blackman, Dr. Benjamin H. Packard, and Isaiah W. Ben
nett, proprietors. The county-seat was fixed here by commission
ers, and confirmed by Governor Cass in February, 1831. The
Fourth of July, 1830, was celebrated, with a great deal of patriotism,
in the midst of the forest trees, as many of them were yet standing.
It is to be regretted that many more of them had not been left
as ornaments to the town. Mr. John Durand, an old gentleman
and the only praying man in the new settlement, officiated as chap-

FIRST M. E, CHURCH, JACKSON.

lain. This Mr. Durand was a Methodist, and a very pious, consist
ent Christian, of a sound mind, but of small capacity for any kind of
public speaking. But his services on this occasion were delightedly
received. He has since died in the quiet and peaceful hope of the
Christian.

The difficulties connected with the first settlement of this place,
and the heroism required to accomplish it, can hardly be appreciated
at this day. The imagination may do something towards it, when it
is remembered that, in 1830, when the first few families settled
here, there were but two or three houses on the road west of Ann
Arbor, so that they were, in fact, pushing out forty miles into the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 359'

wilderness. It is true, the route lay mostly through oak openings^
but these were traversed by many marshes and marshy brooks,
which rendered the passage very difficult. All their provisions, as
well as household goods, had to be conveyed on wagons drawn by
oxen. To the naturally timid, there was even a worse difficulty
than all these in the many Indians who still lingered about these
parts. The name of old Pe-wei-tam, a savage-looking old fellow,
who frequented these parts, was a source of terror to the timid.

But the stakes were driven, the difficulties and dangers were
braved, a town was made, which by the Legislature of the State was
created a city in 1857, and now rejoicing in that title, numbers
about 14,000 inhabitants. The original name was Jacksonburg,
which was considered too long, and the burg was dropped off.

The County of Jackson was organized in the winter of 1833..
The first judges were Dr. Oliver Russ, as presiding judge, and
Samuel Wing and William R. DeLand, associates. Only a few terms
of court were held by these judges before there was a change in the
judicial organization, and Wm. A. Fletcher as Circuit Judge, and
Wm. R. DeLand as associate, were appointed by George B. Porter,
the Governor. The first term of court for this new county was held
on the 3rd day of June, 1834. This is the beginning of the records*
Dr. Samson Stoddard was the County Clerk.

There are some amusing anecdotes told of Judge Russ, which
indicate that he was better qualified to deal out pills — he was a good
doctor — than to preside over a court. All the business of the first
term of his court was transacted in a part of a day. When he was
called on to charge the Grand Jury, he stood with one foot on a round
of the chair before him, and, leaning his elbow down on the back of
it, talked to them for a few minutes in relation to their duties.
He was very desirous to have a bill of indictment found against a
grocer for selling liquor to the Indians, but the Grand Jury found
themselves a little troubled about how to make it out, and referred
the matter to the Judge, who took up the pen and wrote :

JOHN DOE to Jackson County, Dr.,
To selling liquor to Indians §20 00

remarking, " that is a good enough bill."

Whether the man was ever convicted on such an indictment
tradition saith not.

It must be confessed that Jackson obtained a hard name at an
early day of its existence, from which it did not recover for a long
time. So when it was determined that the Penitentiary should be
located here, it was sneeringly remarked that it was only necessary

360 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

to wall in the town to furnish it with fit inmates. It is true there
were some causes which operated to give it this hard name. Many
of the early settlers were poor men, and some of them were men
who had failed in business at the East. They were not able to make
the necessary appropriations and outlay of means to make the place
inviting and healthy. The result was that the stagnant water remain
ing in the unworked streets produced disease and death, and the hab
itations were repulsive. Another thing which operated unfavorably
was that, in the time of the wildcat banks in 1836-38, there were two
banks opened here which ran but a short race. When Commissioner
Felch came around to investigate their affairs — their solvency — he
found in one of them several boxes containing specie, which, upon
examination, were found only to have a layer of specie, beneath
which were nails. No very considerable improvement occurred until
after the Central Railroad was completed to this point, in 1841. This
made some difference in the activities in business. But time was
necessary to wipe out the reproach attached to the town, which now
has been done, and Jackson is considered one of the very interest
ing cities of the Peninsular State.

Soon after the first settlers had seated themselves on the soil,
Mr. Blackman, though not a professor of religion, thought it
too bad that the Sabbath should be spent in idleness without any
kind of religious services. It was determined to call the people to
gether and have a sermon read. The first Sabbath the sermon was
read without any prayer, as there was not a praying man in the
settlement at that time. These reading services were kept up until
they could be supplied with preaching. Some religious men came in
shortly after, so that they had prayers connected with readings, but
it was not till in the fall of 1831 that they could be supplied with
preaching on the Sabbath, and then for a year or two more, only
once in two weeks.

The first sermon ever preached here was by a Baptist minister,
who had come here on business, and preached on a week-day evening
— January 26th, 1831. The preachers on Ann Arbor Circuit having
been solicited to take this place into their Circuit, E. H. Pilcher, the
junior preacher, visited Jackson for the purpose, and preached Janu
ary 27th, 1831, in the evening. This was the second sermon, but it
was the first by any one who came for that purpose, the former one
having been merely incidental to the preacher's private business.
The services were held in a log tavern, kept by Wm. R. Thompson.
Mr. Pilcher was followed, in two weeks, by Rev. Henry Colclazer,
the preacher in charge ; from thenceforward they supplied it regu-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 361

larly once in two weeks, on a week-day, until the Conference. After
the Conference in September, 1831, the Circuit was so arranged as
to give them preaching on the Sabbath, still only once in two weeks.
It was included in Tecumseh Circuit, Elijah H. Pilcher and Ezekiel
S. Gavit, preachers.

In July, 1831, Rev. Henry Colclazer, preacher in charge of Ann
Arbor Circuit, organized a Methodist Society or Church, consisting,
at its first organization, of John Durand and ivife, Ezekiel T. Critchet
and wife, Or in Gregory and wife, and Mrs. Judge DeLand. These
were increased shortly after by several others. Even those who were
members of other churches united, so as to have church privileges,
until a church of their original choice might be organized. The first
Quarterly Meeting, including love-feast and sacrament, was held by
Rev. E. H. Pilcher, assisted by Rev. Elias Pattee, April 14-15, 1832.
The services were held in the sitting-room of the tavern kept by Wm.
R. Thompson, who, by the way, had thrown out the liquor from his
bar some time before. This was a peculiarly interesting occasion,
not because of the numbers, but because of the interest felt by the
pious present, some of whom had been deprived of a communion
season for about two years, and because of the manifestation of
Divine grace. This was the first Communion of the Lord's Table
ever held in this county, or even west of Ann Arbor, in this State.
At this meeting Martin Flint, a young man, was converted and joined
the Church. His was the first case of conversion that had occurred
in the county. He came out clear and strong in his experience in
the love-feast. He became a very consistent and devoted Christian,
and finally fell a martyr to his religion, dying of pulmonary con
sumption a few years after, developed by blows inflicted by a young
man. They were associates, and this young man was so offended at
Flint for being a Christian that he would fall upon him and pound him
with the fists on his back and chest, which blows were never resisted.
If he could ever find him engaged in secret prayer, as he did
occasionslly, he would be sure to fall upon and pound him.
He finally dealt out to him several severe blows on the breast and
stomach with the butt-end of a whip, which developed the disease of
which he died. He died in great peace. The Church had quite an
accession during this year by letter — two families of Thompsons, in
which there was a mother, two sons and their wives, joined in No
vember, 1831,

The Methodist Church here has had to pass through various
changes of prosperity and adversity — seasons of great revival and
dimunition — and now have a beautiful house of worship, valued at

362 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

$75,000, and, according to the report for 1876, 480 members and-
probationers.

The greatest glory of this Church is the Sabbath School, which
has been under the continuous superintendency of J. Henry Pilcher
for about eighteen years, with but one year's intermission. It is
said to be one of the most enthusiastic and successful schools in the
State. As reported in the Minutes of 1876, the school numbered
380 members, which is very large for a town of that size.

As will hereafter be seen, for several years the Methodists had
the entire ground, but, as it was called a hard place, and the minis
ters found very little support, they rather shunned it, and did not
even name the Circuit after it while there was any other place which
could well be substituted for it. In this way, others stepped in, and
furnished the people with a more frequent supply of ministerial
labor, and entered into the harvest the Methodists had prepared,
who did not wake up to the matter until it was too late to recover
all they might have retained.

Rev. John D. Pearce, a Presbyterian minister, who had settled
at Marshall, preached here a few times in 1832, which was the first
preaching by that denomination ; but a Church was not organized
or constituted until the loth of June, 1837, when Rev. Marcus Har
rison organized one consisting of thirteen members. Mr. Harrison
became their pastor, supporting himself, in part, by teaching, and
labored with considerable success. He was originally a Congrega-
tionalist, and so were a portion of the members ; but, as there were
no Churches of that order in the State, according to a certain plan
of union they all united in making it Presbyterian. They continued
such until in 1841, when, some difficulties having arisen in the ad
ministration of Church discipline, and finding it very difficult, as they
thought, to get rid of some disorderly members, a meeting was
called, and, on the 6th day of March, 1841, a Congregational Church
was organized, consisting of fifty-six members, taking the most of
the members of the Presbyterian Church. The few left endeavored
to maintain an existence, until 1846, when they merged themselves
with the Congregational Church, and have so remained. A very
extensive revival occurred in the Church in the spring of 1847, under
the labors of Rev. Mr. Avery, an evangelist, who had been engaged
to assist the pastor, Rev. G. L. Foster. There were estimated to be,
at least, two hundred conversions, most ot whom united with that
Church, but quite a number joined the Methodist Church, under the
pastorate of E. H. Pilcher. Some very hard cases were converted,

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 363

who have remained steadfast, while some relapsed into their old
ways.

The regular, or " Close Communion," Baptist Church, was or
ganized in 1834. The Society was very small, and was supplied then
with only occasional preaching. They have grown, and have a good
house of worship.

The Protestant Episcopal Church was organized in 1837. by
Rev. Mr. Cummings, of Ann Arbor, and Rev. George Fox was the
first Rector. They have a large and commodious house of worship.

We will here introduce to notice a venerable lady, who, though
she did not reside at Jackson at the time of her decease, was one of
the early members in this place, having joined the Church here on
November 2Oth, 1831, by letter. A peculiar interest gathers around
her character from the fact that she was one of the earliest converts
to Methodism in New England. The following sketch is from the
pen of Rev. Henry Colclazer, who knew her well, and was her pastor
at the time of her death.

"MRS. ELIZABETH THOMPSON, the subject of the following bio
graphical sketch, was one of the first persons who espoused the
cause of Methodism in the New England States ; she was one of
those who dared to stand in defense of the truth in the clays of
severe trial and and danger. While her piety recommends her to
all the lovers of Christianity, her connection with the rise of Meth
odism in our own country presents her as an object of esteem and
veneration to all those who look with emotions of pleasure upon the
prevalence of those principles which she embraced at so early a
period.

"She was born in the town of Norwalk, in the State of Connecti
cut, on the 5th of August, 1770. Her father, Mr. William Raymond,
was one of the earliest emigrants to that region. During the Revo
lutionary War he was a seaman, and commanded a merchant vessel,
which was chased by a British ship. After great exertion, he suc
ceeded in saving his life, but had the misfortune to lose his vessel.
His mother was the daughter of Mrs. Hoyt — a widow lady at that
time — whose house was the only one left standing when the British
destroyed the village of Norwalk. Although the subject of this
memoir was but eight or ten years old at the time, yet she retained
a vivid recollection of those scenes of peril and suffering throughout
her life.

"In the year 1788, when our sister was in the eighteenth year
of her age, Boston Mills and Daniel Smith were preaching on the
Circuit, which included Norwalk, under the superintendence of Jesse

364 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Lee, Presiding Elder. After meeting much opposition, Miss Ray
mond succeeded in becoming a regular attendant upon the services
of these men of God. In a short time, her mind became impressed
with the truth, and she resolved to embrace the doctrines of free
grace and full salvation, and it was not long before she gave evi
dence, not only that she had embraced those sentiments theoretically,
but that she had become a subject of the work of grace in the deliv
erance of her soul from sin. Her parents and many of her friends
at this time were members of the Presbyterian Church, and, as would
be supposed, exercised all their authority to bring her over to
the orthodox faith, and threatened her with banishment from their
society if she would not renounce her heretical sentiments. But
all their efforts proved unavailing- ; for, the more she was opposed,
the stronger she became in the faith ; and, in the twentieth year of
her age, she became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and remained, for some time, the only member in the town of
Norwalk, thus giving evidence of a superiority of intellect and a
love for the truth uncommon under such circumstances ; she stood
like an isolated being upon a rock in the midst of the ocean, while
wave after wave dashed in fury around her.

"In 1792, she was united in marriage to Mr. John Thompson,
who had taken an active part in the celebrated Battle of Monmouth.

"After several removals, in 1831, she came to this Territory, in
order to enjoy, during her last days, the society of her children who
are living in and about Ann Arbor. Since her removal to this country,
she has been looked upon by the members of our Church as a relic
of bygone days ; in looking upon her, we insensibly mingled with our
feelings some of that enthusiasm which animates a lover of his country
wrhen he sees standing before him one of the patriots of the Revo
lution; he is but a man, but he venerates the man, because his name
stands united with the most glorious deeds recorded in the annals
of his country. So stood our sister among us, as a monument of
the days of trial, when our fathers laid the foundation of that revival
of religion which has spread so universally throughout our country.

" On the 1 7th of November last, while living with her son, Wm.
R. Thompson, a disease of a pulmonary character, with which she
had been afflicted for some years, came to a crisis, and terminated
her earthly existence on the Sabbath following. Her sun went down
in splendor and triumph.

" Her funeral sermon was preached to the largest congregation
ever assembled in this country, on Sabbath afternoon, the 24th of
NoVember, from a text of her own selection, in Revelations, 'Blessed

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 365

are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ; yea, saith the
Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow
them/ "H. COLCLAZER."

"ANN ARBOR, December 4th, 1833."

Mrs, Thompson was present when Jesse Lee preached his first
sermon in Norwalk, and became interested in his cause at once. He
was refused the use of the church, and he preached under a tree in
the streets. Under this sermon she was convinced of sin, and never
had rest after until she found it through faith in Jesus Christ. She
was a woman of deep and constant piety. We knew her well.

To carry on the work in this place, as in all new places, perse
vering labor was required, Some idea of the labor to be performed,
and the difficulties to be overcome, by the first ministers, in order to
furnish the Word of Life to these people in the wilderness, may be
found in the statement of a few facts. Wrhen Mr. Pitcher, as he was
the first minister who ever visited this place for the purpose of
preaching, first went through from Ann Arbor in January, 1831, there
were but four or five houses on the way between the two places.
The ground was covered with snow, and the path was but dim ; the
marshes were frozen over then, but when they thawed out in the
spring they were found to be very difficult to cross, and sometimes
large circuits had to be made to find a safe crossing place, and then
often the horse would mire down. This lonesome and difficult road
was to be traveled over twice, every visit, on horseback, making a
distance of eighty miles, to preach twice to a few people, as Grass
Lake was supplied at the same time. Yet these trips were regularly
made by Colclazer and Pilcher up to August, 1831. As strange as
it may now seem, Mr. Pilcher, having to go from Jackson to Ann
Arbor in October of that year, and to cross Grand River on the
main street, found the round logs so afloat that his horse got down
among them, so that he had to dismount and manage to extricate him
from the logs, and to make him swim by the end of the bridge.

We may be permitted to relate another incident of travel con
nected with the work of supplying Jackson. On the 28th of Novem
ber, 1831, the weather became suddenly cold, so that in less than
twenty-four hours the ground was frozen solid and the streams par
tially. Mr. Pilcher, preacher in charge, was at Jackson, on his
westward tour. On the 2Qth he set out. When he reached the
Sandstone Creek, which was unbridged, he found it partly frozen over.
In order to cross it the horseman had to go into the creek, and then
pass up its channel about ten rods to reach a place where the marshy
bank could be passed. At this time the creek was nearly frozen

366 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

over. The edges were quite hard, leaving but a narrow space in the
middle — not wide enough for a horse to pass. The creek was about
two rods wide at this place.

What was to be done ? Here now was a difficulty. This creek
must be crossed to reach the preaching place, which was a little more
than a mile distant. Looking about, he found an old handspike, or
small lever, with which he broke the ice next the shore, so as to get
his horse started in, then mounting him, he would strike forward and
break down the ice. When the middle of the stream was reached,
the water was found to be nearly up to the skirts of the saddle, but with
feet and handspike he worked a passage up to the point of egress.
The wind was blowing fearfully cold at the time. Then a new difficulty
met him. The depth of water brought the ice so high that the horse
could not be induced to mount it, and he himself had become so cold
and weary that he could not well use his club at such disadvantage ;
but to go back was contrary to his motto. After beating on the ice
for a while he managed to get his horse by the side of it, so as
to dismount, when he broke it down to better advantage, which
having done he brought the horse up by the side again and
remounted, and now by much coaxing and some threatening, he in
duced the animal to lift his fore feet onto the ice which settled down
under them. After repeated trials in this way, a passage was made
to the shore, and both passed over. It required nearly, or quite,
three hours to work this passage. The work was done, and now a
mile more had to be traveled, over a rough, hubby road, before find
ing shelter. Man and beast were pretty well covered with ice, and
thoroughly chilled.

As Jackson is the chief locality of interest in the county, we
may cluster all the Methodist history around it. As settlements
sprang up at different points, as at Grass Lake, Leoni, Napoleon,
Sandstone, Spring Arbor, Concord and Parma, they were at once
supplied with Methodist preaching, and Societies were organized.
The settlement of this part of the country was so rapid that it kept the
Itinerants constantly on the alert to find the new places for preach
ing. They could not wait for roads to be made, but followed any
kind of trail they could find to pass from one point to another.

The first Camp Meeting held in this county was held in the
edg:> of the town of Pulaski in the summer of 1837. It was a time
of very great interest. The scattered inhabitants gathered together,
and dwelt in tents for a week, and the Lord was with them in power
— many were converted. From this Camp Meeting a revival of
great interest sprung up at Spring Arbor. Here meetings were

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 367

held for about two weeks, with great profit to the cause of Christ.

Spring Arbor is the name of a township in this county, origin
ating in the fact that there are a great many beautiful springs in it.
The first who settled here was a Mr. William Smith, with his wife
and son-in-law (Mr. Swain), and his wife. They came here in 1831,
and settled where the Indians had formerly had a village. The country
was beautiful in its wildness. Mr. Smith, wife, and daughter were
professors of religion of the Christian order. Dr. B. H. Packard, a
Methodist, settled by the side of Mr. Smith in the spring of 1835.
Previous to this time, they had had but occasional preaching, now it
was regularly established, and a Society formed. As this was the
point settled upon at this time for the establishment of a Methodist
Seminary, it attracted a good deal of attention, and high hopes were
entertained of building up a village of importance, and the Circuit
was named Spring Arbor rather than Jackson. These bright visions
of greatness faded away when, in 1837, the project of building a
Seminary was found to be impracticable. But this is wandering
away from the revival, which occurred in August, 1837, following
the Camp Meeting. This was a very valuable revival, and there
were some noble accessions to the Church. There were two cases
of conversion during this revival worthy of notice.

Mr. was a man of a strong and well-educated mind, but

greatly averse to religion — rather skeptical in regard to the truth
of the Bible. He was a large, well-built man, and very much of a
gentleman, except when the subject of religion was introduced to
him. In the course of his advancement to manhood, he had ac
quired a most unreasonable prejudice, and, even, a spirit of rancor
against all Churches. This gentleman became deeply and power
fully awakened to a need of a Saviour. The struggle with him was
a severe one, but short. The stubbornness of his will and the pride
of his heart rose against the convictions of his judgment and his
feelings. His better emotions finally triumphed, and, one evening,
he declared his desire to become a Christian. Earnest and fervent
prayers were offered for him that night. The meeting closed. He
returned home, not to sleep, but to pray. That night, his feelings
became so intense that he sought solitude for prayer. While alone,
pleading, in the agony of his soul for salvation, Jesus appeared to
him as his Saviour in power, and spoke peace to him. His whole
nature was melted and subdued, and formed in the mould of love.
He became, emphatically, as a little child. All was tenderness and
love. The next day his very countenance was radiant with the light
of his soul. Never was man more clearly converted than he. His

368 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

theme was the power of grace. He was a man of such talents and
education, and his conversion so clear and powerful, that great
hopes were entertained of his usefulness in the cause of religion.
These hopes, alas ! were destined to be disappointed. He hesitated
to join the Church ; he gave place to his old prejudices ; he began
to cavil at doctrines and discipline. There was no Church in that
part of the country, at that time, except the Methodist Episcopal, and,
though they had been instrumental in his awakening and conversion,
he set himself to find difficulties and objections in doctrine and dis
cipline, and, finally, he could not satisfy himself with any Church.
He never united with any, but lost his religious life. He became
very disconsolate. Had he united himself at once to the Church,
and entered earnestly on the duties demanded, he would have been
a bright and shining light ; but, alas ! he turned away, and his light
was lost in the darkness.

We now present a case in contrast with this, occurring at the
same meeting. Maria Fitzgerald was a young lady of a strong and
well-cultivated mind, and possessed a very determined will. She
resided about two miles from the place of meeting. Her parents
were good people, and strict Calvinistic Baptists. They had instilled
their Calvinistic views into her mind thoroughly. In her estimation,
any excitement or noise at a religious meeting was very much out
of order, and to shout, when happy, was a shame. One evening,
being at the meeting, she was very powerfully awakened to a sense
of her guilt and need of a Saviour, but resisted all the persuasions
of her friends to manifest a desire for religion. There she sat
during the exercises, exerting all the force of her strong will to
prevent any external manifestations of the emotions of her heart.
The meeting closed for the evening, and she stopped for the night
near by with a cousin, a pious young lady. About day-dawn next
morning, a messenger came for the writer and the family with whom
he stopped, to go over and pray for Maria, as she had not slept any
all night, and was almost in despair. We went as soon as possible.
When we entered the house, we found her sitting, and presenting
as complete a picture of despair as could well be furnished. We
spoke to her, and said, " Maria, do you not think Christ died for
you?" " No, not for me," said she; "he died for others, but not for
me." '• But he died for all — 'he tasted death for every man,' " said
we. " But there is no mercy for me," said she, with a sigh. We
asked, " Do you not desire to be saved through Christ ?" " Yes,"
was her quick and earnest reply. " Then, do you think he would
produce in you that desire if he were not willing to satisfy it ?""

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 369

" No," said she. "Then He is willing to save you" we responded.
After referring to a few of the promises, we had a season of
prayer. She was encouraged to pray for herself, which she did with
much fervor of spirit. We inquired of her, as we were kneeling, if
she could not now trust herself to the Saviour. " I can," she said.
"Then, do you not find light for your soul?" we asked. "A little,"
she replied. " Praise Him for that !" we responded. It was but a
moment more until she was on her feet, shouting, "Glory to God!"
at the top of her voice, so wonderful was the change. In a few days
after she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she
continued a faithful and devoted member until she was removed to
the Church above, which was done by leading her through a linger
ing consumption. She was a very useful Christian. Her sufferings
were endured with Christian fortitude and triumph, and her departure
was in a halo of glory.

Mark the difference in these two cases. The latter did not stop
to cavil at what might not be exactly as she might express it, but
united with the Church and devoted her heart and life to the promo
tion of piety, lived happy, and died triumphantly, having done much
good. The former began to cavil and object, then to condemn, and
refused to join the Church, lost the power of the spirit, and failed to
retain his own piety, and did not promote it in others.

During the months of January and February, 1839, there was
an extensive revival in the town of Concord, in this county, Many
of the young people were converted to God. There was a young
man — Charles Brown — who had made a profession of religion before
coming to Michigan, but had foolishly and wickedly forsaken God,
and had given himself up to the pursuit of vain pleasures. Many
of his young associates were converted to God, who exhorted and
entreated him to return to the Lord at once. His usual reply to all
their kind entreaties was, " I mean to be religious before I die, but
not now. I must attend the dancing parties of this winter first, and
after that I mean to be religious." So the winter passed, and
Charles remained away from the Saviour. Some time in the spring
his mother, a pious woman, entered into conversation with him on
the subject of his salvation, with much sympathy and earnestness. In
the warmth and earnestness of her maternal and Christian feelings,
she said, u Charles, my son, seek the Lord and become religious
now." " Mother," said he, " I mean to become religious ; I do not
mean to die without religion, but I cannot attend to it now ; I am
nearly done sowing my wild oats, and then I will attend to religion."

A few days after this conversation, he attended the raising of a

370 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

mill, and as he was passing around giving some directions, one of
the bents fell and struck him on the head, while the profane oath was
but half uttered upon his lips ; in a moment he was senseless. He
lingered a few hours, and expired without hope in Christ. Here is
an admonition to all who know their duty and postpone attention
to it.

We take the following from the Ladies Repository for January,
1841, which has this foot note: "Obituaries will seldom be admit
ted into the Repository, but the following notice is peculiarly interest
ing, and will be read with great profit by those who admire the
manifestations of Divine grace."

THE CHRISTIAN IN DEATH.

CAROLINE MATILDA, late consort of Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher, of
the Michigan Conference, was the daughter of Doctor Benjamin H.
Packard, and was born in Middleport, Niagara County, New York,
November 21, 1818. She was instructed in the principles of the
Christian religion — her parents having been members of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church for some years before her birth. Caroline
evinced a great aptitude to learn, and an ardent desire for knowl
edge. In the summer of 1828 her parents emigrated to Michigan,
and settled in Ann Arbor. Here she had the advantages of schools
and society, both of which were diligently improved. Indeed, it was
her ardent attention to study that laid the foundation for many of her
subsequent afflictions. Her parents moved to Spring Arbor, Jack
son County, in February, 1835, [where she died.]

Caroline embraced religion in the thirteenth year of her age,
through pastoral labors bestowed on her the day previous to that
event. Her repentance was thorough, and her evidence of pardon
clear. The following is her own account of this great work:

"It was Monday, July 18, 1831, when, for the first time, the light
of God shone into my benighted mind. O, what joy then filled my
heart! All was happiness within, and I felt truly like a new creature.
The consideration that God was reconciled almost overwhelmed my
soul. Strange, indeed, did it seem to me, that God should ever ob
serve one so unworthy. I felt, indeed, that I had been ungrateful to
Him for the Holy Spirit, which had been so often sent to convince
me of my sins — the remembrance of which was grievous to me.
Them I humbly repented before God — I believed that there was effi
cacy in the blood of Christ to take my sins away."

On the 1 5th of August, the same year, she joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which she continued a worthy member until
taken to the Church above. Her piety was uniform, and her attach-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 371

ment to the Church ardent. She was naturally distrustful of herself.
In religion she usually spoke with a good degree of confidence, yet
hesitated to express all her feelings, lest it should appear beyond the
truth.

Her communion with God was deep and clear, as will appear by
the following extracts from a diary she kept for a few years : .

44 February 25, 1834. — I feel that I am in the hands of God. I
am toiling to be directed by Him, for He will do all things for my
good. It fills my soul with joy when I think that, after I have passed
the sorrows of life, I shall see 'those who have come up through great
tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white
through the blood of the Lamb.'

" May 24. — I look forward with a pleasing hope that one day I
shall gaze on the beatific beauties of my King, and swell the notes
of the heavenly choir. Yes, on the other side of Jordan, with the
saints of God, I hope to cast my crown at the feet of my Saviour, and
cry, ' Holy, holy is the Lord of hosts ! ' O, how pleasing is the hope
of the Christian ! He knows that this world is not his abiding home,
but he seeks a city out of sight. He is only a sojourner here, hasten
ing to a land where everlasting spring abides.

' No chilling winds nor pois'nous breath

Can reach that healthful shore;
Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,

Are felt and fear'd no more.'"

Her desire for holiness is sometimes very strongly expressed.
On May 25, 1834, she writes, "I do realize my unworthiness this day
in the sight of God, but I do trust that he is fashioning me after His
own likeness, and humbling me at the foot of the cross. O, that I
might there remain, until the all-cleansing blood of the Saviour shall
be applied to my heart, and wash away all my sins/

' Tis all my hope and all my plea,
For me the Saviour died/

O, for a dedication of my soul and body to the service of God."

In view of a change in her relation in life, she expresses a strong
sense of the responsibilities of a minister's wife ; but in this, as in other
cases, she states that her help is in God, and that if she can but be
the means of saving souls, she is willing to sacrifice all. She feels
that God will always be with her ; and though she may leave the so
ciety of friends. He will be her support. In view of this, under date
of July 19, 1834, she writes as follows : " I must expect to be separ
ated from the friends I love. Yes, we meet and part here below, but

372 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

will soon reach heaven. Glory to God, there is a resting place ! God
will take care of me. I wish to feel a cheerful resignation to His will
in all the dispensations of His providence, and then I shall be happy.
I do rejoice in God."

These extracts are the more valuable as they express her pri
vate feelings — not being designed for the eye even of her intimate
friends, and, indeed, were not seen until after her death.

She was married to Rev. Elijah H. Pilcher, of the Ohio Con
ference, June 4th, 1835. It will be remembered that the Ohio Con
ference included the State of Michigan, until the General Conference
of 1836, when the Michigan Conference was created.

For the last three years of her life she enjoyed much of the
fullness of love divine. Having been brought just to the borders
of the grave several times, she always had strong confidence in God.

On the 25th of August, 1839, she obtained a clear witness of
perfect love — at which time her prospect of health had been fairer
than it had been for a long time previous. But how soon are our
prospects blasted !

On the 5th day of September following, while her husband was
absent at Conference, she was brought down to her bed with dis
ease, from which she never recovered, but continued to suffer until
the 5th of April, being just seven months.

She had a complication of diseases, but suffered with singular
patience. Her father remarked that, though he had practised medi
cine more than twenty-five years, he had not met with a case of such
continued severe suffering, and that he had never witnessed such
patience. During her protracted sickness, she was never heard to
utter the least complaint against the dispensation of Providence.

When her friends remarked, as they frequently did, that her
sufferings were great, her usual reply was that she had great sup
port, sometimes adding that she would willingly suffer more if it
would be for the glory of God. At all times, she spoke of death as
calmly as on any other subject. She was anxious to be useful, and
to have her husband so; hence, she was unwilling that he should
stay from any of his appointments on her account, although the
prospect often was that she would not live until his return. On one
of these occasions, while he was absent, she called for a small Bible,
which had been presented to her by her husband, and, with a pencil,
wrote on a blank leaf, as follows:

"February, 1840. — O heavenly treasure, guide of my youth, my
solace in the hour of affliction, and blessed beacon, which points my
soul to a land where I shall flourish in immortal youth ! I return

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 373

thee to the dear one who has been the partner of my joys and sor
rows, but who will shortly be left to feel that his little boy is mother
less, and he himself is bereft of the companion of his early days.
Then, O then, my dear Elijah, open this book, and read, for your
consolation, of that glorious morn, when the trumpet shall sound, and
we shall be raised incorruptible, to suffer no more. CAROLINE."

This was about six weeks before her death. Her conversations
in reference to her future prospects were interesting. Some of them,
acted down by her friends, are as follows :

February 24th. — (To her husband.) — " This is a scene of con
flict, but I feel that the Almighty arm on which I lean will carry me
safely through."

February 26th. — (To the same.) — "When I pass through the
waters, they shall not overflow me. Deep — deep ! The waters below
appear deep and dark, but the sky above is clear and glorious, and I
shall rise above all. Sometimes I fancy I have been a long sea-
voyage all alone, tossed and driven by the wind and waves ; some
times almost at the port, then driven away again upon the ocean.
Thus I have struggled with wind and tide, but now I feel as if I was
near the port, and every wave carries me nearer.'

March 25. — She asked her mother to get her hymn-book, and
read to her the hymn on the 487^ page, which begins,

" Why should we start and fear to die?"
When she came to the last stanza, which is,

" Jesus can make a dying bed

Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on hia breast I lean my head,

And breathe my life out sweetly there,"

she put her finger on it, and remarked that she realized it all, then
took the book, marked the place, and presented it to her mother as
a token of her love. About the same time, addressing her father,
she said, " God only takes from you what he lent. You have been
a kind father, but I ask one favor. When I have done breathing, I
wish you would see that this wreck be deposited where some of the
family will lie ; have no pomp, but mark the spot with a tree, vine or
shrub — I was always fond of something green — that my little son
may be pointed to the spot." Her son, named Jason Henry, was
then fourteen months old, and was her only child.

April 3. — After many other things, she said : I would willingly
suffer on my three score years and ten if it would be for the glory of
God. I am just ready and waiting. Hallelujah! hallelujah! HAL-

374 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

LELUJAH ! I never expected such a halo of glory. What unfading
glory awaits for me ! Oh, that ineffable glory! it almost bursts this
tenement of clay. My heart is so full ! My head rings every
moment with hallelujah ! No wonder so many have shouted glory
when leaving this world. I feel I have no longer to feel suffering,
but to praise and dwell in His presence forever. Oh, glory ! Never
was language formed full enough to tell what I feel. Where shall
I find words to express it ? I expect to walk the golden streets
above, and to eat of the Tree of Life. My palsied tongue almost
fails me to speak of that which my heart can hardly contain."

During the day of Saturday, the 4th, she said but little, yet was
occasionally heard — amidst the greatest pain — to say, " Hallelujah!"

These are but a few of the expressions of joy which she uttered
during her protracted sufferings. No one who has not been present,
near the closing hour of a Christian's life, can form any idea of such a
scene. Her death was triumphant, as will appear from what follows:
About 3 o'clock A. M., when she felt her life was fast ebbing, she
said she was going, and requested her friends to be called into her
room. As they entered, she said, "It is all raptures untold." At
sunrise her door was opened — there was bright sunshine. Being
told that it was Sabbath morning, she exclaimed, " It is the sweetest
Sabbath morning I ever saw." Awhile after, all being still, she
asked why they were so. On being told that they did not wish to
disturb her, she said, "I want to be shouting. Oh ! if I had strength,
I would shout !" When mention was made, again, of the Sabbath,
she added,

"Sweet Sabbath of eternal rest,
No mortal care shall seize my breast."

In this frame of mind she remained until the spirit returned to
God who gave it. She expired on Sabbath, April 5th, 1840, at one
•o'clock p. M., in the twenty-second year of her age. E.

But we must not go into all the details of each town and the
incidents connected therewith. This county has been very fruitful
in revivals. There are now twelve Circuits and Stations, including
1,939 members, and an aggregate of Church property valued at
$164,600, according to the Minutes for 1876.

Jackson appears in the Minutes of the Conference as a distinct
appointment first in 1839, and in 1843 ^ was made a Station. Prior
to this time it was included in a Circuit with two preachers, though
for several years, it had been so arranged that one of them preached
in Jackson every Sabbath. The importance of the place and the
value ot concentrated labor seems not to have been properly appre-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 375

dated, until others had very nearly crowded the Methodists out.
When they did finally wake up to the fact, alas! it was only to toil and
struggle with great difficulties, fop when Mr. Pilcher was appointed
to the Station in, 1846, the membership had been reduced to only
fifty nominally, and to many less really, and they had bought a lit
tle house, about 20 by 30 feet only, which had belonged to the Pres
byterians. The prospect was very discouraging. But there were a
few men who were personally acquainted with Mr. Pilcher, and who
had asked for him to be stationed there, to which he consented.
During his term of two years the Society was increased to 116 and
the erection of a Church was commenced.

The first Methodist Church here was commenced in 1848, and
finished and dedicated in 1850, by Bishop Hamline, after great labor
and exertion, for, at the time, the Society was very feeble, having but
few persons of any pecuniary ability connected with it. The exer
tion succeeded, however, and they had a very respectable Church.
It was dedicated with a crushing debt on it, which was extinguished by
the indefatigable labors of Rev, S Clements. This Church has
been superseded by one of the most beautiful churches in the State.
They also erected a very nice parsonage on lots which were set
apart for the Church by the original proprietor of this part of the
town, when it was first platted. " And thereby hangs a tale." These
lots once nearly slipped from the hands of the Society. When it
was determined to build a church on another lot, a Mr. Foot set up
a claim to these lots ; on what grounds it is not necessary now to
explain, only that by building elsewhere they had forfeited their right
to them. The Church had had possession of them for some time r
and now gave directions to the stationed minister to exercise acts of
ownership over them, to show that they had not abandoned them.
This he did. But Mr. F. being intent on getting the possession of
them, employed a man to fence them in. The minister had forbidden
the workmen going on, and various delays had occurred in the ac
complishment of this end. Some weeks had passed without anything
being don.e, or the minister giving any particular attention to it. One
Sabbath, as he came out of the house, occupied as a church, he hap
pened to cast his eye in that direction, and observed there was a
fence about two-thirds of the way around the lots. He said to him
self, not to any one else, not even to his wife : " My ax will find
employment in the morning." He concluded a little "muscular
Christianity" might be of service just now. On Monday morning,
immediately after breakfast, he took his ax, went to this fence,
knocked off the boards as carefully as he could, and laid them

376 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

out into the street ; then he cut down a part of the posts and
laid them away. The ground was frozen so that he could not take
them up. While he was doing this work, which he was not willing
to trust to anyone else, the gentleman who had been employed to
build the fence came near enough to recognize who it was that was
engaged in this work of demolition, and then went away without say
ing a word. The next morning the constable waited on the minister
with a warrant in an action of trespass. When the return day came,
the minister, who was himself an attorney, was obliged to be absent,
but appeared by attorney, pleaded the general issue, and obtained an
adjournment for three months. In the meantime he continued to
improve the lots, and to clear them of all property belonging to Mr.
F. Some two days before the day to which the hearing stood ad
journed, he got a man to plow a part of it, as the most ostensible
improvement that could be made, excepting to build a house. While
this plowing was going on, as he was walking the street in full view
of the lots, Mr. Foot met him, and, laughing, reached out his hand
to shake hands, saying as he did so, " Mr. Pilcher, you got up too
soon for me this time. I will withdraw that suit." " Very well," said
Mr. P., " that is what I intended to do, and you may do as you please
about the suit ; I shall beat you if you go on with it." Ever after this
when they met, Mr. Foot was sure to laugh, doubtless thinking of that
action for trespass. Thus by this bold maneuver were these valuable
lots saved to the Church, for there was so much shadow on the title
that if the other claimant had gotten the possession the Church
would never have recovered them. They finally gave two hundred
dollars to quiet the title. The lots were eight rods square, and on a
corner. They sold the corner lot for a good price and built a par
sonage on the other — the most complete house in all its fixtures
then to be found in the State as a parsonage. This parsonage was
finally sold, and its avails applied on the new church.

We here present the statistics of the Churches, having before
given the date of their organizations :

Methodist Episcopal 480

Congregational 464

Baptist 478

Protestant Episcopal 312

BATTLE CREEK — Wa-po-kis-ka — is situated at the confluence of
the Kalamazoo and the Battle Creek rivers, in Calhoun County, about
fourteen miles west from Marshall. The Battle Creek is so much
lower than the Kalamazoo, or rather there is so much fall in the
Kalamazoo at this point, that the latter is turned into the former, by
a race about a mile in length passing through the city, so as to afford
an immense amount of water power. This water power is well

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 377

utilized. It is a very active business place, and is a formidable rival
to Marshall. Operations were not begun here as soon as at Marshall,
but they have been prosecuted with more vigor.

Nothing of any importance was done here earlier than 1836.
Hon. Sands McCamley was one of the earliest settlers. The Merritts
and Harts, of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, were very early
settlers and active men. They quickly looked after the educational
interests, and have always maintained a school of high order.

What gave rise to the name of the Creek is all left to conjecture.
We have taken some pains to ascertain from the Indians the origin
of it, but they, at least those last residing in the county, had no
tradition on the subject. Imagination may supply this lack of infor
mation. We can well conceive of the meeting of hostile tribes or
bands at this locality, far back even in the youth of the peninsula,
when foe stood to foe, hand to hand in bloody conflict, in a long and
desperate struggle for the mastery ; the waters are made red with the
mingling of the crimson life-tide — many noble braves float on its
surface — the forests along its banks were made to resound with the
fearful war-whoop, and finally with the triumphant, savage shout of
victory, by the conquerers. After such a conflict, and such destruc
tion, they might well exclaim " Wa-po-kis-ka" or " Battle Creek."
Some thing of this kind was, probably, the origin of the name of the
Creek, from which the city has taken its name. But now we
may very appropriately adopt the beautiful lines of Mrs. Hemans
and say:

" Come to the land of peace,
Come where the tempest hath no longer sway,
The shadow passes from the soul away —

The sounds of weeping cease.

" Fear hath no dwelling there,
Come to the mingling of repose and love,
Breathed by the silent spirit of the dove,

Through the celestial air."

Although there are a good many of the followers of William
Penn, both orthodox and Hicksite, residing here and hereabouts,
and though the inhabitants are generally very moral and orderly,
and though the panting, trembling fugitive from slavery always
found here a safe retreat, an asylum from his tormenters, the pug
nacious spirit was not always wanting, and some instances of vio
lence and bloodshed have occurred.

The City of Battle Creek, for it was incorporated a City in
1859, according to the census of 1874, contained a population of

37$ HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

5,323, which is a little less than that of 1870. It has the advantage
of two railroads.

As soon as there were a few scattered settlers in this vicinity,
the ministers of Christ sought them out, ministered to them the
Word of Life, and joined in Church fellowship such as desired to be
recognized as Church members. The Methodist Church, which was
the first organized, was formed, in 1835, by Rev. James F. Davidson.
The names of the original members we have not been able to ascer
tain ; but, in 1836, the members were as follows, viz : Festus Hall,
Thomas Hickman, Sally Jane Hickman, Isaac Hickman, Maria Hick-
man, Daniel Clark, Clarinda Clark, Roger Francis, Norman Rugg,.
Julia Rugg, Asa Phelps, Ada Gregory, David Howell, Julia Howell,
Delight Clark, and Altha Spink. This was a small beginning, but
God does not despise the day of small things, neither should we.
This number has been increased, from time to time, till, according
to the Minutes of Battle Creek Station for 1876, they numbered
164 members and probationers, and have Church property valued at
$27,800. Battle Creek first appeared in the Minutes as a Circuit in
1839. The Church has grown with the growth of the community,
and has maintained its work in all departments.

Many precious seasons of revival have been enjoyed by this
Church, and much good work has been accomplished for God's
cause. One incident connected with one of these revival seasons is
worthy to be recorded. There was residing here, at the time re
ferred to, an aged man, who had fought in the battles of his country
for freedom, and, as was often the case with that class of men, he
had contracted a fondness for intoxicating liquors. A part of his
family had already made a profession of religion. This old gentle
man was awakened — finally he was converted, and lived a consistent
Christian life. While he was laboring under the burden of an
awakened conscience, one of his sons, who, by the way, was not a
professor of religion, became very anxious for his conversion, and,
though he could do nothing for him himself, he visited his brother,
who was a class-leader, every day, to ascertain how his father was
getting along, and, in the earnestness of his heart, he said, "James,
do not give father up until he is converted — hold on to him." God
heard the prayer, and the old man was converted and saved from
drunkenness.

As strange as it may seem, that son lived for several years
without seeking religion for himself; but he, too, afterwards sought
the Lord, found favor, and since has died in great triumph. The

HISTOPY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 379

Lord is good to them that seek His face — forgives and adopts them
into His family.

One of the ministers, who was appointed to this charge, took
up the work of visiting every family in three towns, and distributing
Bibles. He met with several interesting incidents, two of which are
here given. Having called at a house a little out of the city, he found
the family to consist of a young man and his wife, just commencing
in the world. He asked him if he would like to buy a Bible. 4t A
Bible?" said the young man, with apparent surprise, " I don't believe
there is a Bible on this street. Indeed, a Bible would be as much out
of place here as a pirate in a prayer-meeting." " Yes, there is a Bible
at the next house back," said the colporteur, in the meantime taking
out and showing his Bibles. " It can't be possible," said he ; " if they
have one, they certainly don't read it." "There is a very neat Bible
for only twenty-five cents," said the Bible man. He replied, "I can't
read a Bible that does not cost more than that." Having learned,
in this way, that he had no Bible, he urged him to buy, but he said
he had no money. The colporteur offered to trust him, but he said
he could not be trusted for a Bible. After a little further colloquy,
the wife, in the meantime, having become interested in the matter,
took a fancy to one of them, so she proposed to use a little money,
which he had given her, for that purpose, if he did not object. He
did not. The bargain was effected, and the Bible left with them.

In order to get the full interest of the following incident, the
reader must conceive himself as having been traveling through the
woods, in which stands a small log cabin, on the side of a slope,
and fronting up the hill ; that between the road and the house
stands a hovel for cattle, nearly in front of the house, so that the
drainage from the hovel flows directly towards the cabin, saluting
the olfactories with its peculiar odor. Having made this external
survey, let us enter. Everything is of a similar character, and we
find an old lady, just from the Green Isle, saluting us with the pecu
liar brogue of her country; then follows the conversation :

"Would you like to buy a Bible," said the man of the satchel.
44 A Bible!" said she, looking with surprise; "and what kind of a
Bible is it ?" " Oh, it is a common Bible, such as is commonly read,"
said he. "And is it a Catholic Bible?" To this he replied, " It is
such a Bible as Catholics sometimes read, and may read with safety."
Not satisfied with this answer, with increased energy she demanded,
"And is it a Protestant Bible?" "It is such as Protestants some
times read, and may read with safety," he replied.

Becoming a little more erect, she exclaimed, with warmth, " In-

380 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

dade, and I jist thinker, that the Bible is a very bad book for ignor
ant people to read; they can't understand it." ''Oh! yes, the Bible
is a very good book, and easy to be understood, and will teach you
the way to Heaven," said the minister. " Indade, and I jist think,
sir, I larnt that a great while ago," she replied. "Oh! well, then, it
will assist you in it, and it is a very good book, and easy to be
understood," said the colporteur. To this she replied, with great
energy, "There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one
THROUGH CHURCH, out of which nobody can be saved." " It is true,"
said he, " The Bible says ' there is one Lord, one faith, and one
baptism/ and it is a very good book." "Why are there so many
religions in the world, then, if the Bible is so easy to be under
stood ?" she asked. "There are various reasons: people fix their
notions without the Bible, and then go to the Bible to try to prove
them; but the Bible is a very good book, and can be understood
without difficulty in all that is necessary to our salvation." When
he had said this, she raised herself to her full height, and, pointing
her finger at him, exclaimed, with very great energy, and prolonging
the words in capitals to a very great length: "Indade, and I jist
think, sir, that neither Y-E, nor A-L-L the likes of ye, have got intel
lects enough to understand the Bible." " Oh, yes!" said the man of
the Bible, ik It is a plain, good book, and easy to be understood."
To this she answered, in full warmth, "Oh! but there are so many
of ye! There are the Methodists, there are the Swaddlers, and the
Divil and all knows how many there are of ye!"

This ended the conversation, excepting that he asked her if she
would read a Bible if he would leave one, and received for an answer
that she would not. but would put it in the fire and burn it up. This
incident shows the true bigotry of Popery, and what would become
of our Bibles if it had the power.

We conclude what we have to say in regard to this city, by
introducing a pen-portrait of one whose face ever appears pleasant,
and whose manner carries a sweet aroma with it ; one who lives in
the memory of many, although several years have elapsed since he
was stationed in the city of Jackson.

REV. HENRY F. SPENCER was born in Leyden, Lewis County, New
York, March 2ist, 1834. He yielded to the claims of the religion
of the Lord and Saviour, experienced renewing grace, and united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Lowville, New York, in 1834,
where he received his first license to exhort. He prepared for col
lege at Fairfield Academy, and entered the M. G. B. Institute at
Concord, New Hampshire, in 1859, graduating in 1862.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 383

During the latter part of his senior year in the Biblical Institute,
he served as supply in the State Street Methodist Episcopal Church
in Watertown, New York, and in the spring joined the Black River
Conference. He was returned to the State Street Church, Water-
town. In 1863, he was appointed to Clayton, New York, where
he remained three years. In the spring of 1866, he was transferred
to the Michigan Conference, and stationed at Lansing. He has rilled
the following appointments, viz : Lansing; Jackson; Division Street,
Grand Rapids ; Kalamazoo ; — and is now in his third year in the last-
named place, having remained the full term of three years at each
field.

Mr. Spencer is a preacher of much more than ordinary power,
and a man of great industry. He has been successful in every place.
The beautiful church at Jackson was erected during his pastorate,
and a heavy debt has been removed from the church at Kalamazoo
since he has been their pastor. The spiritual interests have been
greatly promoted, and many converted and added to the Church
under his ministration.

The Churches of Battle Creek stand as follows, viz:

Methodist Episcopal „ 364

Presbyterian.. 220

Baptists 306

Protestant Episcopal 71

ALBION is near the east edge of Calhoun County, and is located
at the junction of the two principal branches of the Kalamazoo
River. These two streams furnish excellent and abundant water-
power, which is well utilized. This is now a flourishing and inter
esting village. Mr. Tenny Peabody made the first purchase of land
at this point. Marvin Hannah, Jesse Crowell, and W. Warner soon
followed. The village was laid out, or platted, in 1837, by a company
known as the "Albion Land Company," of which Messrs. Crowell
and Warner were members, and the former the principal agent.
This village is very near the center of the State, from east to west,
on the line from Detroit to Lake Michigan. It is on the line of
the Michigan Central Railroad, which is also crossed at this point
by a railroad from Lansing to Jonesville. It possesses many natural
advantages, such as a clear and beautiful stream, furnishing excel
lent hydraulic power ; it is in the rmdst of a healthy country, and
one that is very productive of everything of interest that can be
produced in this climate.

The artificial advantages are by no means indifferent, such as the
railroads, common schools, churches, and last, though not least,
ALBION COLLEGE, under the fostering care of the Methodist Epis
copal Church in Michigan. This institution is the great object of

384 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

attraction to the visitor, as its relative position to the village is such
as to give it a commanding appearance. There are three buildings,
separated from each other by a few rods, standing on an eminence,
at the eastern edge of the village and fronting to the west. The center
building is forty by one hundred feet, four stories high, presenting a
side front, and is surmounted by a small observatory, from which is
presented a splendid view of a wide extent of beautiful, fertile
country. At either end of this is another building, standing distant
as before named, forty by eighty feet, three stories high, presenting
the end to the west. These buildings are of brick, and stuccoed to
resemble granite. They stand on an oblong square, sixteen by twenty
rods, having a lawn in front, twenty by thirty-eight rods, extending
down the side of the eminence towards the village — a lawn which,
when graded and arranged according to design, will present a most
charming and lovely appearance, and furnish a most desirable retreat.
In the rear is a triangular lawn, extending eastward, having its base
on the College square and its apex about thirty rods away. This
lawn is now covered with a beautiful grove of native forest trees,
and may be called " Quercan Lawi" as the trees are oak.

The origin of Albion College is traceable back to 1833. In
the spring of this year Rev. Henry Colclazer, Dr. B. H. Packard, then
residing at Ann Arbor, and Rev. Elijah H. Flicker, in consultation
determined to make an effort to secure the establishment of an insti
tution of learning of a high order in this peninsula. Notice of that
purpose was circulated through the country, and in the summer of
1834 propositions were made by the inhabitants of several localities,
offering as a bonus for its location large and liberal subscriptions in
land and money. These propositions were presented to the Ohio
Annual Conference which then had ecclesiastical jurisdiction over this
country. A committee was appointed by that body to determine the
location, and to apply to the Legislative branch of the Territory for
an act of incorporation. The proposition coming from Spring
Arbor, in the County of Jackson, was accepted and a charter obtained
in March, 1835, fixing the location at an old Indian village in that
town. As it proved, the location was not well selected. Various
obstacles were thrown in the way of commencing operations by
some who professed to be its friends, until its real friends became
disheartened, and were ready to abandon the enterprise. In the
meantime the village of Albion had sprung into life, at least so far
as being laid out on paper could give it life, so that in 1838 a propo
sition was made, accompanied by a large subscription — large for the
population — asking that the location might be changed to that place.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 385

All hope of succeeding at the former location having failed, this
proposition was accepted by the Michigan Annual Conference, and
accordingly a successful application was made to the Legislature in
1839, for an amendment to the charter changing the location to
Albion, and reconstructing the Board of Trustees. This new board
was duly organized and prepared to fulfill the trust committed to
them. In the autumn of 1839, Rev. Loring Grant, a superannuated
preacher of the Genesee Conference, having removed to this place,
was employed as agent by the Board of Trustees, to solicit subscrip
tions and raise funds to erect suitable buildings, in which work he
served actively for some time. A system of scholarships was
adopted at this time, which, though it was the means of raising funds
so as to build the center building, came near ruining the institution
afterwards. The system was to give a certificate of free tuition for
the term of four years to every subscriber of one hundred dollars,
the subscription payable in four equal annual payments; the said
certificate was not available until the whole amount of the individual
subscription was paid. The plan appeared very plausible and fair,
but there was one very important item overlooked at the time, which
was that if the funds raised were used up in building, there would
be no means left to pay instructors, and the institution could not be
carried on.

This system was found afterwards to embarrass the institution
very much, because so many students came on these certificates that
the tuition received did not nearly meet the annual expenses of the
teachers. This plan was thought, subsequently, to have been a great
blunder; perhaps it was. It was an experiment; but this is to be
considered as an extenuation of the guilt of those concerned in the
project, that it appeared to them to be the only means of raising
funds to build, and there appeared to them to be no alternative but
to adopt this plan or have no institution. The plan was adopted,
and, under it the first — the center building — was erected, and the
school opened.

Having raised funds so that it was thought safe to proceed, the
corner stone of the center building was laid in June, 1841, with ap
propriate ceremonies. After the stone, containing various appro
priate articles sealed up in a copper box imbedded in the stone, was
put in its place, by the trustees under the direction of the Master
Mason, the Hon. Henry W. Taylor, then of Marshall, standing on
the stone, delivered a very able and appropriate address. This
stone was placed in the southwest corner of the building. The
Marshall brass band discoursed soul stirring music for the entertain-

386 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ment of the large concourse of people gathered for the occasion.
This was considered a high day for Albion.

The Seminary was made ready, and opened for the reception
of students in November, 1843. Rev. Charles F. Stockwell was
employed as the Principal, assisted by a full corps of teachers. The
first exhibition, which was held in March, 1844, was a grand affair,
an exciting occasion. The decorations of the hall, the music, the
speaking — everything seemed under the influence of enchantment.
It might, possibly, have been regarded as an indifferent affair in an
old country and a long-established institution, but it was, indeed, a
"high day" for this country, which had but so recently been the
home of savage beasts and wild Indians.

A new system of scholarships was inaugurated in 1849, f°r tne
purpose of raising a permanent endowment, and an enlargement of
powers secured, making it a Female College in addition to the Sem
inary, and, again, in 1861, another amendment to the charter was
obtained, giving it simply the name of " Albion College," Wesleyan
Seminary and Female College being dropped out.

The second, or north building, was completed in 1853, but, un
fortunately, it was consumed by fire within one year after its com
pletion and occupancy. It was rebuilt in about one year after. The
third, or south building, was erected in 1857.

This institution has had to struggle with much financial embar
rassment, and the* friends of the enterprise have trembled, some
times, lest it should fail for want of financial support. Errors may
have been committed in the management of its affairs, but this is no
more than has occurred with every institution in the land, whether
State or private.

Notwithstanding these financial struggles, this institution has
gone on steadily, blessing the land by sending out, annually, a large
number of young ladies and gentlemen, well educated and well in
structed in moral principles, who have gone into every part of the
State. Men of wealth could not do a nobler act, for the good of
the State, than to appropriate a portion of that wealth to complete
the endowment of this college — to place it beyond financial want or
fluctuation.

It will be specially interesting to the Christian to know that this
institution has been blessed with many seasons of precious revival
of religion, and many of the students have been happily converted
to God and gone out to bless the Church. A good many young
men who have been educated here have entered the ministry, and
have done and are doing good work for the cause of Christ.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 387

Since the first organization of the Faculty, there have been eight
Principals and Presidents, viz : Rev. Charles F. Stockwell, Rev.
Clark T. Hinman, Hon. Ira Mayhew, Rev. Thomas H. Sinex, Rev.
George B. Jocelyn, Rev. J. L. G. McKeown, Rev. Dr. William B.
Silber, Rev. Dr. L. R. Fiske. The first of these men entered upon his
duties at the opening of the institution in 1843, continued in charge
for two years, when he resigned, and gave his attention to the study
and practice of law. He has since died, and it is proper to insert a
short memorial notice of him.

Rev. Charles F. Stockwell was a graduate of the Wesleyan
University at Middletown, Connecticut. He was a local preacher —
never connected with the Conference. He was a man of good
abilities, well developed, and capable of doing much good. He
acquitted himself well as a teacher and Principal, and maintained the
dignity of a Christian. He married a lady in Albion, and, after he
left the Seminary, addressed himself to the study of law, and was
admitted to the practice. When the tide of emigration set in so
strongly for California, in 1850, he started for that far-famed land of

S)ld, not from a desire for gold so much as from a desire to do good,
e died on the ocean, before he reached that land, and was buried
in the deep. A monument to his memory, with others, stands in the
college grounds.

Rev. Clark T. Hinman was elected to the charge of this insti
tution in September, 1846, and continued until he was elected Presi
dent of the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, in 1853,
having held his relation to the institution for seven years. It was
during his time that the higher position of Female College was
taken, and the new system of scholarships was adopted, which proved
to be no more satisfactory than the former system. It is proper here
to give a full sketch of his life and character, as he has gone to his
long rest. We will make a liberal use of the memoir published in
the Minutes of the Conference for 1855.

REV. CLARK T. HINMAN, D. D., died in Troy, New York, October
2ist, 1854, aged thirty-five years. He was born in Courtland County,
New York, August 3d, 1819, and was distinguished, in early life,
for intelligence above his years. He was converted to God at ten
years of age, and never after doubted his salvation from the power
and guilt of sin, through faith in Jesus Christ. He prepared for
college at Cazenovia Seminary, New York, and graduated at the
Wesleyan University at Middletown, Connecticut, in 1839, at twenty
years of age. He spent a portion of his college life under the
Presidency of the lamented and sainted Dr. Wilbur Fisk. For seven

388 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

years he served as a teacher in the Newberry Seminary, Vermont,
and, subsequently, as Principal, from which position, in 1846, he was
called to the charge of the Wesleyan Seminary at Albion. He now
devoted all his active energies to give elevation and stability to this
institution. His ever-active mind was constantly on the alert for some
means of increasing the importance of the school with which he felt
himself so intimately connected. In 1853, he was elected President
of the Northwestern University, an institution yet to be, and requiring
active labor to bring it into real life. He saw there, as he thought,
an opening to lay the foundation and rear up an institution of
learning to accomplish immense good. Having accepted the ap
pointment there, he resigned his position here, and devoted all his
mental and physical energies to this new work. On this noble and
extensive enterprise, Dr. Hinman set his whole heart, and it is not
at all unlikely that his consuming zeal, ceaseless and untiring labors
in its behalf, by inducing a jaded and over-worked condition of con
stitution, though naturally healthy, and even vigorous, may have
hastened his lamented death. Even while laboring under the dis
ease — the choleric dysentery — which terminated his existence, despite
the remonstrances of friends, he was found pleading the cause of
his favorite interest, and refused to stop while his engagements re
mained unfulfilled, until to proceed farther became, literally, a physi
cal impossibility. Returning East, where he was to meet his family,
he found himself, or, rather, was found at an inn in Troy, by Rev. H.
W. Ransom, who took him to his own house, where, despite all that
kindness and skill could do for him, in a few days he was before the
Throne.

He received license to preach in 1838, the year before he
closed his college course, and was admitted into the traveling con
nection, by the Vermont Conference, shortly after he entered upon
the administration of the Newberry Seminary. In 1846, he was trans
ferred to the Michigan Conference, with which he remained connected
until his death. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from the
Ohio Wesleyan University in 1851. Sadness was wide-spread through
his country when it was announced that he was dead.

That he possessed talents of a high and commanding order, the
high positions he was called to occupy abundantly testify. His great
success in those positions presents him as a rare example of having
diligently improved the talents committed to his trust. In no position
was he placed in which he did not more than equal the hopes of his
friends, and disappoint the wishes of his opponents. He was a ripe
scholar, and emphatically "apt to teach." His sermons were always

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 389

earnest and instructive, and often eloquent. He was truly a Christian
gentleman. His presence brought light into every circle, and he
could adorn any society. Envy of the position and reputation of
another never seemed to have any place in his mind.

"Doctor Hinman lived the life of the righteous, and his end was
peace. Though the last hours of his life were ' dark on this side,' as
reason had failed him, yet were there scintillations through the dark
ness that showed how bright they were on the other side. When
evidently deaf and unconscious to the interrogations of surviving
friends and dear ones, amid his murmurings, ejaculative utterances
were often heard, 4 face to face,' 'all glorious! ' But in the early part
of his short but fatal illness, in anticipation of its probable termina
tion, he said, ' I should love to live for my little family, and to do a
little more good, but the Lord's will be clone, for me to die is gain/
Yes, doubtless, death has been to our dear brother gain ; but no one
who knew him, or who reads this brie/ notice of him, can fail to feel
that the Church had sustained such a loss as she but rarely suffers in
the death of a single son — a son wrhose life was short in years, but
long in noble deeds."

His light was brilliant, and burned with an intensity that soon
consumed itself. Whoever visits the grounds of Albion College will
be attracted at once by a beautiful monument, on three sides of
which are the following inscriptions — on the south side: "In
memory of Rev. Charles F. Stockwell, First Principal of the Wes-
leyan Seminary at Albion. Died, June 3Oth, 1850,^1. 33. 'And
the sea shall give up her dead.' — Rev'' On the west side: "In
memory of Rev. Clark T. Hinman, D. D., First President of the
Wesleyan Seminary and Albion Female Collegiate Institute. Died,
October 2ist, 1854, ^E. 35. ' Behold the Lord doth take away from
Jerusalem the eloquent orator.' — Isaiah'' On the north side : "In
memory of Rev. Judson D. Collins, A. M., First Missionary of the
Methodist Episcopal Church to the Empire of China. Died, May
25th, 1852. ' Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to every
creatu re . ' — Christ. ' '

The blank side of this monument will doubtless be filled with
the name of Rev. George B. Jocelyn, who was the fifth elected
President. After several years he resigned, but after an intermission
•of about three years, was re-elected, and was in service when he died,
February 27th, 1877.

To say that this institution is a model of perfection would be
saying too much, but to say that it has wielded, and is destined to
wield, a powerful moulding influence on the educational develop-

39O HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

ment of the Peninsular State, would only be to say what is already
felt and acknowledged to be true ; more even than this may be said
— if this institution were now to be blotted out of existence
its power would be felt for years to come ; the thousands of students
— for thousands have been in attendance at different times — who have
received educational training within its walls, will make their impress
on society for years to come. In this view, it must be a source of
great pleasure to those who have toiled and contributed of their
money for its establishment, to review the past and to contemplate
the future of this institution. It is much to be regretted that this
College has not yet been fully endowed, so as to be above all embar
rassment. May we not say it will live for many long years as a
memorial to the praise of the men who projected the scheme, and
of the enterprise and zeal of the denomination of Christians, through
whose energy and perseverance it has been erected and maintained?
Their sons and daughters will rise up to call them blessed.

In December, 1870, at a Methodist Convention held at the
College, the question of a more complete and permanent endow
ment was discussed. At this time David Preston, Esq., of
Detroit, proposed that if a certain specified number of men
would subscribe the sum of $50,000 within two years, he would
pledge himself to raise $60,000 more from the people. This money
was to go into the hands of a committee outside of the Board of
Trustees, to be funded, and the interest only to be applied for the
support of the faculty. Both parts of the proposition have been met
within the specified time. Mr. Preston devoted almost his entire
time to this work for one year, and attained the end just a few weeks
before the expiration of the specified limit. It would seem to have
been very providential that the time for raising this money was
limited as it was.

The fifty thousand dollars having been subscribed according to
the terms of the proposition, Mr. Preston addressed himself to the
fulfillment of his part of the engagement. He issued a circular, to
be sent to all the Methodist ministers in the State, dated September
4th, 1872, in which he detailed the circumstances which gave rise to
the proposition, and then adds :

"While this resolution was being discussed, one of the ministers
of the Detroit Conference said if we tooky^y of our best men to
raise the $50,000 from, it would be impossible to raise $50,000 more
from the people. He contended that the $50,000 should be raised
from twenty-Jive or a less number of persons. Up to that moment I
had never thought of making the proposition I did make. I then

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 393

arose and said: 'You may have ten, you may have twenty, you may
have fifty persons to raise $50,000 from, and I will stand with the
people, and not only raise $50,000, but will raise $60,000 from them/
I had faith in the people then, I have faith in the people now. If I
cannot, with the aid of 400 ministers, with the aid of the press, and
with the aid of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit, inspire
confidence enough, and interest and enthusiasm enough in the hearts
and heads of 48,000 or 50,000 men, women and children who have
been washed and redeemed by the blood of Christ, to raise from them
the average of one dollar each for sustaining and enlarging the influ
ence of a Methodist College in Michigan, THEN, and not till then, will
my confidence in the ability and willingness of the Methodist
people of Michigan to give liberally and to give cheerfully, be
abated.

" More than twenty months have elapsed since I made this
pledge. I have not forgotten it. // has been in my mind and in my
heart every day since. I don't want to forget it. I don't expect to
forget it, or to evade it. If God spares my life until the first day of
September, 1873, I expect to see it FULFILLED, I do." On October
8th, he issued a second circular. In these two he detailed his plan,
and asked the co-operation of all the ministers. But he found it
necessary to devote the most of his time to it, and to take the field
and visit most of the important towns and cities in the State.
Wherever he went he inspired the people with a part of his confi
dence and enthusiasm, and in that way large sums were raised. He
had the sympathy and co-operation of most of the ministers, but still
his presence and enthusiasm were necessary to call forth the money.
He succeeded so that at the time limited it was done. It was
accomplished in the right time — just before the terrible financial crash
of 1873 came. Had it been delayed another year, it could not have
been effected. By this $i 10,000, in addition to what endowment they
before had, the College is put on a living basis, and yet it is not the
amount it ought to be, nor is it the sum that the Methodists of
Michigan are able to give to it.

Mr. Preston's success in this enterprise illustrates what a man
of faith in God and faith in the people and prayer may do. Both of
these elements are essential to success where the people are
concerned.

Mr. Preston deserves the warmest gratitude of the Protestant
public for his zeal and success in the accomplishment of this grand
work. This was an addition to a partial endowment, which had be-

394 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

fore been made, but yet further endowment is all important to put
the institution in the financial position it ought to occupy.

In connection with this endowment fund, we must present a
brief notice of the life of the author of it. He is a layman, residing
in Detroit, and his name has become a synonym for benevolence.
Though unpretending in appearance, he has exerted an extensive
influence in the benevolent operations of the Church in this State.
He is the son of a Methodist preacher, and became a Christian in
•early life.

DAVID PRESTON arrived in Detroit on November 4th, 1848.
He was converted, and united with the Methodists in the old church
on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Congress Street, in De
cember, 1848, under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel D. Simonds, now
of California. He commenced business for himself in May, 1852,
by opening a banking-office on a small scale. He confined himself to
a legitimate exchange and banking business, and prospered greatly.
It is a pleasing fact that, though Mr. Preston's business has become
very extensive, he is almost invariably found at the prayer and class
meetings, and is a teacher in the Sunday School. He has also
served as Superintendent. In the beginning of his business life, he
adopted the principle of contributing liberally for the support of the
Church and Christian charity generally. He is a successful hand ai
raising money for Church purposes, partly because he is known to
give liberally himself, and his success in raising the sixty thousand
dollars y as above, has made the name of David Preston a household
word in many families. He was very active and liberal in the
erection of the Central Church, and after that work was completed,
he took hold of the enterprise of building the Simpson Church, in
Detroit. He has a heart in the work of the Lord, and delights to
see that work prosper.

We have, incidentally, stated that President Jocelyn had been
called to his reward, and we shall, hereafter, insert a memorial notice
of his life and death. It was to be expected that the vacancy would
be filled. We take pleasure in inserting a brief sketch of Dr.
Jocelyn's successor — REV. LEWIS R. FISKE, D. D.

At a Camp Meeting on the Coldwater Circuit, held near Union
City, in June, 1842, a young lad, of an excellent and religious family,
was converted to God, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church,
His conversion seemed to create in him a strong desire for a thor
ough education, and to inspire him with a higher ambition for noble
work. Very soon after this, he began to make preparations for
entering the University of Michigan, and graduated in the class of

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN 395

1850. When he had graduated, he thought to stifle the convictions
he had had of a duty to preach the Gospel, and commenced the
study of law; but he was elected Professor of Natural Sciences in
the Wesleyan Seminary at Albion, where he had been a student in
his preparatory course, which he accepted, and which dispelled all
ideas of the law, for his convictions of duty to preach were revived.
After remaining at Albion for some time, he was elected to a chair
in the State Normal School at Ypsilanti. While in this latter insti
tution, he received license to preach, and was admitted into the
Annual Conference on trial. From this place he was transferred to
the State Agricultural College. In this institution he not only sus
tained the reputation he had acquired as an educator, but increased
it. Here he remained for several years, and was, for some time, the
acting President, but he resigned his connection with the college,
and entered into the pastoral work. In 1863, he was stationed in
Jackson, as his first charge. He remained three years and was then
appointed to the Central Church, Detroit. He fulfilled his relation
here for three years, to the great satisfaction of the people. From
this Church he was transferred to Ann Arbor, remained here, also,
the full term of three years, and then was appointed to Ann Arbor
District. At the end of his first year on the District, the Central
Church at Detroit being vacant, his return to that was asked for,
and he was, accordingly, appointed to it for a second time. At
the close of his term here, he was asked for, and stationed at Taber
nacle Church, Detroit. He continued here but one year; for, in.
June, 1877, there being a vacancy in the Presidency of Albion Col
lege, he was unanimously elected to that position, which he accepted.
In the meantime, the degree of Doctor of Divinity had been con
ferred upon him. He was honored by his brethren by being
elected as a delegate to the General Conference of 1872, and
also of 1876. Such is a brief running sketch of the life and labors
of REV. L. R. FISKE, D. D. He has been, and still is, a man of
studious habits, having a pleasant manner, of fine mind, and is every
way worthy of the honors placed upon him, and the confidence
reposed in him. He is emphatically a Michigan man, having come
here when but a small boy.

Some one probably has been asking what connection this sketch
thus far has with the history of Protestantism in this place. The
answer is found in this, that the foundation of Albion College was a
scheme projected and carried into effect by the Methodist Episcopal
Church — it is a Methodist institution — denominational, but not
sectarian — religious, without bigotry — a Protestant College.

396 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

There is nothing peculiar in the introduction and progress of
Protestantism in this place. As soon as there was a sufficient num
ber of people to constitute anything of a congregation, they were
supplied with the ministry of the Word. Rev. Henry Ercanbrack, a
superannuated member of the Oneida Conference, was the first
minister who took up an appointment here. He had settled down
in the neighborhood with the intention of remaining, but after a year
or two he returned east. Rev. John Kinnear, who was traveling the
Spring Arbor Circuit, was the first to make this a regular appoint
ment for preaching, and organized a Methodist Society or Church in
the fall of 1836, consisting of Almon Hcrrick, Lorenzo Herrick,
Thomas W. Pray, Polly Pray, Betsy Montcalm, Noah Phelps, and
Mary Ercanbrack. These seven constituted the first Christian Church
organized at Albion. Mr. Herrick was appointed the class-leader.
The first addition to this number was that of Charles Cobb and Armeda
CM. This was a small beginning, but they were to increase.

Rev. Mr. Taylor, a Baptist minister, settled on a farm near the
town, and organized a Baptist Church at an early day in its history.
This Church did not prosper as much as some of the others, although
the beginning was as promising as with any. They now have a good
Church, and are doing well, with a membership of 1 60.

The Presbyterian Church was constituted shortly after these
two, and was the first to erect a commodious house of worship.
They have advanced, and hold a very good position in the commu
nity, and own a fine church which, singularly enough, stands on the
ground on which the Methodists built their first chapel, they having
changed location when they came to build a good church.

The Protestant Episcopal Church was a little more tardy in its
beginning, although a Church was constituted at an early day. They
were organized in 1840, and now have a house of worship, and a
membership of 66.

The Methodist ministers supplied this appointment with preach
ing as often as they could consistently with their other labors and the
right of other denominations, for they all had to occupy the same
school-house, after one was built. Nothing occurred to excite any
special interest until the time of holding the first Quarterly Meeting
ever held here. This first Quarterly Meeting occurred January iQth
and 2Oth, 1839, George W. Breckenridge and Thomas S. Jackway,
preachers, and E. H. Pilcher, Presiding Elder. This meeting, from
some circumstances connected with it, excited considerable attention.
At the time when the meeting was appointed to be held at this place,
the brethren, who requested that it be done, stated that the different

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 397

denominations occupied the school-house, and the appointments were
so arranged as not to interfere with each other; but they added, that
if the meeting should occur at a time when the Methodists were not
entitled to the use of the house, such was the feeling of friendship
among the several sects that the matter would be arranged satisfac
torily, they had no doubt.

Some four or five weeks prior to the time of the meeting, one
of the stewards called on the pastor of the Baptist Church, Rev. Mr.
Jones, and observed that they were to have a Quarterly Meeting
there some time hence, he did not know exactly the time — perhaps it
might fall on a day when he was entitled to occupy the house, and,
if so, he wished to know if any arrangements could be made by
which the Methodists could occupy It on that day. " O, yes, certainly,"
said he. Here the matter rested until the time of the meeting was
announced, which was two or three weeks in advance of the time of
its occurrence. It was now ascertained that the Methodists had the
occupancy of the house in the forenoon, and Rev. Mr. Jones at one
o'clock p. M. The brother now called on him and asked if the
accommodation could be made, offering him the advantage of the
next Methodist time for morning service, if he desired. " No" said
he, " no such arrangement can be made/' and then added, very
crustily, " the Methodists are always trying to crowd us out." Here
the matter dropped, for the brother did not know what more to do.

When the Presiding Elder arrived on Saturday morning, the
steward informed him of the circumstances, and seemed to be much
distressed that matters stood as they did. The Presiding Elder
simply said, very coolly : " O, well, we'll try and get along with it,
somehow." He, however, determined if there was anything to be
made out of it to turn it to the best account. His plans were soon
laid, but as he was not a talkative man, he said nothing about them.
How far he was justified in what he did is left for each one to judge.
He kept his plans to himself, thinking that secrecy in such a case
was very essential to prompt and effectual execution.

The people gathered at the house for Saturday service, and at
the close the Presiding Elder announced the services for the Sabbath,
making the love-feast to begin half an hour earlier than usual, and
urged the people to be very prompt, " as we shall be straitened for
time, since the Baptist brethren would not arrange the appointment
even for a Quarterly Meeting." He intended, by getting the people
together early, to close the services before the time for the other
brother to have the use of the house. At night the same thing was
repeated. It is but right to observe that the body of the Baptist

39$ HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Church had not been consulted — that they had a Church meeting
that afternoon, and sent word in the evening to the Presiding Elder
that if he could not get along without it, they would give up the
appointment at one o'clock p. M. To this he replied that he could get
along without it. The people were on hand in good time, so that
the preaching began a little before the hour appointed, as the house
was crowded to its utmost capacity, and even Rev. Mr. Jones was
present.

The Presiding Elder preached, and, as he waxed warm on a
particular part of his theme, he remarked that he would like to say
more on it, but he was "straitened for time" and he passed on. At
the close of the sermon, he had to attend to baptism, before the
sacrament, so he said the candidates for the ordinance should come
forward, without delay and without singing, as he was "straitened
for time." The interest in the audience had become intense. At
this point, the Rev. Mr. Jones called out, " How much time do you
want, sir ?" The Presiding Elder replied that he could not tell
exactly, as these services were of such a nature that they could not
be abridged. Everything was done with the greatest promptitude.
As the Presiding Elder was about to dismiss the congregation
before the sacrament, he requested those who intended to retire,
to do so with as much promptitude as they could — it would be re
ceived as a great kindness, as he was u straitened for time." At that,
the Rev. Mr. Jones arose, and said he would recall his appointment
for ten cents. "You need not do so; you shall have the house
before that time," said the Presiding Elder. He then gave a full
explanation of the whole matter. Everything conspired to effect
promptness, and, in this way, the services of the Quarterly Meeting
closed before the time for his meeting; for, although he had recalled
his appointment, the Presiding Elder preferred not to encroach on
his time. This incident created a considerable stir for some time,
and the sympathies of the people were generally on the side of
the Methodists in the matter, so that the Rev. Mr. Jones gave up the
pastoral care of that flock in about three months after. This
circumstance seemed to operate unfavorably to him and the Church,
and turning the tide of feeling more towards the Methodists, proved
to be to their advantage.

In the month of April, 1839, there was a very blessed revival of
religion in this place, from which the Methodist Church derived great
strength. The Presiding Elder took time to devote several days to
pastoral visiting, and preaching every evening, as the Circuit was so
large that the preacher could not give much attention to this par-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 40 1

ticular kind of work. Other Churches were benefited by this work
also. Indeed, there was a revival spirit all through this region of
country, and multitudes were converted and added to the Churches.

As is very often the case in revivals, the subject of baptism
became a topic of considerable conversation and some controversy.
By special request, the Presiding Elder made an appointment on the
9th day of June, 1830, to preach on that particular topic. It was
Sabbath and a lovely day. In anticipation of a large concourse of
people, the friends had prepared seats in a grove, and well it was
they did so, for the school-house would not have held one-quarter
of the people. He preached, traversing the whole controverted field.
At the close of the sermon, he administered the ordinance of baptism
to forty-six persons, and only two of them by immersion. Several
had come with their changes of raiment, prepared for immersion, but
took them away without being used, having been baptized by affu
sion. This ended the controversy on that subject in that part of
the country for the time being and for a long time after.

In the spring of 1840, the Society here erected a small house
of worship, which they designated as their Sabbath School room.
It was located on the east side of the river, a little out of the town,
as it was then built up, but between that and the location of the
Seminary. This little house they occupied just ten years ; for, in
1850, they had erected a large brick church on the other side of
the river, which was dedicated to the worship of God by Bishop
Morris, in September of that year. This church was greatly changed
and beautified, in 1876, under the pastoral labors of Dr. W. H.
Perrine. They have, in 1876, 390 members and a Church property
valued at $i 1,500.

The village of Albion and the Church had so much increased that,
by invitation, the Michigan Conference held its session, in Septem
ber, 1850, in it. The College Chapel was used for the daily busi
ness session. The Conference was well entertained, although the
session was a brief one for those days, having adjourned on Tuesday
morning. Bishop Morris presided.

This Church has passed through the usual vicissitudes of human
society, having had its times of trial and of prosperity, but still it
has held on its way. The Lord has blessed them with good pastors,
and many precious seasons of revival. Albion was made a separate
Station in 1846, and William Mothersill was appointed to it. The
existence of the Seminary and College here has been of very great
service, both to the village and Church.

There have been several very interesting Camp Meetings

402 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

held in this vicinity, which resulted in much good; and the grounds
owned by the District here are very pleasant — even beautiful. One
held in June, 1841, on a ground a little east of the village, was
a time of special manifestation of the Divine power. Many were
converted, and the Church was specially edified. The communion
season, on Monday night, was an occasion of a wonderful display
of Divine glory. There was no sermon, but, after the first altar-full
had communed, as they turned away, so many were prostrated and
helpless, that the service had to be closed. That night, probably
there were one hundred persons who were deprived of their strength,
some of them remaining so for a short time only, and some continu
ing helpless for the whole night. It was a time of very great joy
and gladness.

It will not be displeasing to the student of Protestant History
to introduce, in this place, the memoir of one private member who
belonged to this Church at the time of his demise, though he was
not converted here.

DR. ISAAC GRANT was a venerable man, and, in some respects, a
remarkable one. He was born on April 6th, 1759, in the town of
Litchfield, Connecticut. From the circumstances of his early educa
tion, he was a Calvinist in sentiment in his youth. He had been
taught this dogma, and, in his early days, had never heard it called
in question. After coming to maturity, he studied the profession
of medicine, and gave no particular thought to religious devotions,
although he acknowledged and felt the importance of a religious life.
When he married, although he made no open profession of religion,
nor had attached himself to the Church, for a long time he read the
Scriptures and prayed in his family. His children never knew the
time when he did not attend family devotions, if the frequent duties
of his profession allowed him to be at home at the proper time. All
this was attended to without having any experience of grace as yet
He had settled at a place called Whitney Farm, in Vermont. Here
the Methodist preachers visited him, and put into his hands some of
the standard works against Calvinism. These he read with care,
was thoroughly changed in his sentiments, and embraced the truth
as it is in the Bible and expressed in the Methodist articles of faith.

In 1 798, Rev. Asher Smith, who was in the second year of his
itinerancy, having been appointed to Queen Ann's Circuit, and his
health having failed, came to the town where Dr. Grant resided, and
called on him for professional advice, by which means an acquaint
ance was formed and a friendship grew up. Mr. Smith gave out an
appointment to preach, and, although his health was feeble, he con-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 403

tinued to preach every Sabbath with marked success. Many were
awakened and converted, and the minister was greatly beloved.
When he was about to return to his field of labor — much to the
regret of the people, who were to be left as sheep without a shepherd
— he suggested the propriety of banding themselves together, that
they might mutually help each other's faith. He said one might be
appointed to act as a leader or kind of teacher, while they were
without a preacher. The people looked at each other, and finally
looked at the doctor, who soon remarked that he did not think of
being a Methodist and that to do as the preacher, Mr. Smith, had
proposed would not make them Methodists ; he thought, therefore,
the plan to be a good one. Eighteen or twenty gave in their names ;
whereupon Mr. Smith made out a class-book and gave it to Dr.
Grant, whom he appointed leader, telling him what would be his duty
as a class-leader. When Mr. Smith was about to leave he gave Dr.
Grant a Discipline and a few other Methodist books. As the doctor
never charged a minister anything for professional services, perhaps
Mr. Smith thought he ought to do something in that way for him,
but more probably, however, he wished to show the converts, through
their leader, the real marrow of the Gospel, and that they were
gathered into the Gospel fold under the Methodist banner. The
leader soon saw that they were in the Church, and, as he was always
peculiar for frankness and honesty, he told the class that he had read
and re-read the Discipline, and that there was no use to try to evade
the truth — they were all Methodists according to the rules of the
Church, and, on the whole, he did not regret it.

Soon it was noised all through the country that Dr. Grant had
become a Methodist. It was considered a wonderful piece of con
descension on his part, and it was indeed a remarkable occurrence
at that day and in that country, that a professional man should
become a Methodist. Methodism was such a new and strange thing-
that a man was regarded as losing caste if he became connected
with it. But Dr. Grant had really become a Methodist. Now, having
embraced the truth, he had to set himself to its defense, and this
brought him at once into collision with " the standing order!' Many
a hard contest had he to engage in, but such was his success in them
that it really seemed as if God had raised him up, in that day of
Calvinistic theology, to battle for the truth every day and almost
everywhere. This contest he sustained most nobly.

The precise time of Dr. Grant's conversion to God he could
never determine, but through a period of about forty-three years he
enjoyed an evidence of acceptance with God and witnessed a good

404 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

confession before the world. At the urgent request of the Quarterly
Conference he took license as a local preacher, which he continued
to hold between twenty and thirty years. For most of this period
he held also the offices of class-leader and steward. He was a man
of vigorous and well cultivated mind, and carried a great weight of
influence where he lived. His Christian character was uniform and
consistent. He had two sons, who became itinerant Methodist
preachers, and who accomplished much for the cause of God in the
Methodist Church during the time of their active service — Rev. Isaac
Grant, in the Oneida Conference, now deceased, and Rev. Loring
Grant, of the Genesee Conference, also deceased. The latter of
these was a very prominent actor in the history of Methodism in
Western New York for many years. He lived to a good old age,
and died in peace, having spent a number of years in Michigan, and
was active in building up the College while residing in Albion.

Dr. Grant was living with his son, Rev. Loring Grant, at
Albion, at the time of his death, and had been for some time
before. It was here that we became acquainted with him, and
esteemed him highly. It became our mournful duty to preach his
funeral sermon when he died. He had been a soldier in the War of
the Revolution ; he was a warm-hearted and excellent preacher when
in his prime ; he died in Christian hope and peace, November gth,
1841, in the eighty-third year of his age. Few live so long, and
fewer still fill up their lives with so much uniform usefulness. But
he has gone to receive the reward of the faithful in heaven.

We cannot better close this sketch than by inserting the follow
ing memorial notice of REV. GEORGE B. JOCELYN, D. D. :

" Died at his residence in Albion, Michigan, early in the morning
of the 27th of February, 1877, of inflammation of the lungs, George
Bemis Jocelyn, D. D., the distinguished President of Albion College,
aged fifty-three years and twenty- four days. Born in New Haven,
Connecticut, in 1824, he was early removed by his parents to Cincin
nati, Ohio, in 1826, and from thence to New Albany, Indiana, in 1830.
Here, at the age of fourteen years, he was converted to God, and
joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. License to preach was given
him in the fall of 1843, soon after which he was received on trial in
the Indiana Annual Conference, and appointed, under Peter Guthrie,
to Paoli Circuit. In 1844 he was appointed to Rockport, under George
Walker. His health failing here, and yielding to the advice of his
physicians, he was at the ensuing Conference discontinued at his own
request. In June, 1844, he opened a select school in Vincennes,
Indiana, and in September of the same year was placed in charge of

.HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 405

the Preparatory Department of Vincennes University, which position
he held until September, 1849, when he returned to New Albany and
opened the Methodist College, now De Pauw College — using the
basement of the Centenary Church. In 1853 he was elected
Professor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in Whitewater
College, and in 1855 to the Presidency of the same institution.

"In 1856, his health again failing, he found outdoor employment
in traveling as a general agent for a Western railway company and
the Northwestern University. In June, 1857, he was appointed to
Fifth Street Church, Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1859 to Old Zion
Church, Burlington. In 1861 he was elected President of the Iowa
Wesleyan University, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, serving meanwhile as
pastor of the University and Asbury Chapels.

"In 1864 he was elected President of Albion College, and was
transferred from Iowa to the Detroit Conference. Resigning the
Presidency in 1869, ne was transferred to the Michigan Conference,
and stationed at Division Street, Grand Rapids. In 1871 he was
re-elected as President of the College, which position he continued
to fill until the time of his death. In personal appearance President
Jocelyn bore the impress which nature loves to set upon her favorite
sons, the patent of their nobility. Possessed of large natural endow
ments of brain and heart, and cultured by long-continued literary and
educational pursuits, he stood among the abler and more efficient
educators of the Church.

"As a preacher, in power of thought, perspicuity of style, and
impressiveness of manner, he had but few superiors. The ringing
clearness of his voice, and the ease and naturalness of gesture,
together with his commanding logical vigor and lively play of
imagination, gave to him as an orator, at all times, unusual strength,
and, when the conditions were most favorable, an almost resistless
power.

"As Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy, his rostrum was
a "hill not to be commanded." His lectures upon '-The Evidences'1
will never be forgotten by those who heard them. It was, however,
as President of the College that he performed his most invaluable
service, and achieved his most enduring fame. When he came to
its Presidency, the college was out of money, out of credit, out of
friends, and out of character. Debts, doubts, and dilapidation were
evidently approaching ; dissolution and death were the strong points
in the case. Our endowment of seventy-five thousand dollars having
been squandered, his very first measure was the creation of an
"Endowment Trust Fund Committee" — distinct from the Board of'

406 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Trustees — to be charged with the duty of holding or investing all
(endowment funds, and of paying over to the Board of Trustees only
the semi-annual interest accruing thereon — a measure which instantly
restored confidence, and has ever since constituted the very main
spring of the successive efforts to create and enlarge the endowment
of the College.

"As a monument of this provident sagacity and of his general
executive efficiency, Albion College to-day stands before the world
the best endowed College in Michigan — the best endowed College
in Methodism.

" President Jocelyn was three times elected to the General
Conference — once from the Detroit and twice from the Michigan
Annual Conferences. At his last election he stood at the head of
his delegation. He was also President of the recent National Tem
perance Convention held at Saratoga, New York.

" His last illness, an acute attack of inflammation of the lungs,
in combination with several chronic ailments, was painful in the
extreme, and yet he bore all with the same fortitude which had ever
characterized him in the season of trial. Calmly debating at times
with his physician or friends the doubtful symptoms of his case, at
others in cheerful Christian converse, or in commending his loved
ones to God, steadily, yet fearlessly, he went down to the margin of
the clouded stream, and, wishing all who stood about him 'Good
night,' he quietly passed away.

" His funeral obsequies were largely attended by members of
both the Detroit and Michigan Conferences, by distinguished friends
of the family from abroad, and by an immense concourse of citizens.
Rev. H. M. Joy, a former pastor, Rev. I. Taylor, Presiding Elder
of the District, Dr. Edwards, of the Northwestern, assisted in the
services. Dr. Perrine, long associated with the lamented President
in the College, preaching the memorial discourse from II. Samuel,
3: 38. W. H. P."

LANSING, although a city, was not always so, for, as late as 1847,
the ground on which it stands was a dense forest. The town had
no existence, even in name, prior to the spring of 1847, and then
came into existence only in consequence of the location there of the
seat of government for the State by the Legislature. It is true,
there were a few scattered inhabitants in the country, preaching had
been established among them by the indefatigable Methodist itiner
ants, and a small Society had been formed in that part of the town
which for a long time was known as Lower Town, before the State
Capital was located there. As soon as the location was settled for

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 407

the State Capital, Rev. O. Whitmore, who was then on Mapleton
Circuit made this an appointment, thus being the first minister of
any denomination to establish services here. A Congregational min
ister, by the name of Brown, came here and spent a Sabbath about
the time the commissioners surveyed and platted the town. He
preached, but he did not establish services.

In the summer of 1847, Rev. William C. Comfort, who was
then on Lyons Circuit, went up there and organized a Methodist
Church at that point, although one had been previously formed
down the river a short distance, which has since been concentrated
in the north part of the city. At the session of the Conference in
September, 1847, Lansing was included in Mapleton Circuit, with
Rev. F. A. Blades as preacher in charge, and Rev. James Shaw as
Presiding Elder. The District was named Grand River, and Mr.
Shaw, the Presiding Elder, fixed his residence at Lansing.

It seemed like a very strange thing when the Legislature fixed
on so wild a place for the Capital of the State. It was said to have
been designed by some, who voted for it in the first place, as a joke,
in order to ridicule the idea of removing it from Detroit. But, when
they wished to undo what they had done, they found it to be a "fixed
fact" and no joke. We have nothing to do with the political man
agement to secure this location — whether any men were bribed by
grants of land, as was charged by some disappointed ones, is not
for us to say. It is enough for us to know that the State Capital
was so located ; that a town was laid out, and has been built up so
that, according to the census of 1874, there was a population of
7,445, having Churches of different denominations, and schools of a
high order ; and everything is flourishing.

At the session of the Conference in September, 1848, Lansing
appears in the Minutes of the appointments, having been made a
Station — a wise act, a right policy — and Rev. Ransom R. Richards
was placed in charge of it. Mr. Richards suffered much in his own
health, and still more in the sickness and death of his wife, a most
estimable lady, of whom more will be said hereafter. The next
year, 1849, Rev. R. Sapp was appointed to this very important field.
Mr. Sapp was regarded as a very able minister. It was the right
kind of policy to appoint this class of ministers to such a place as
this, not that the village amounted to much at the time, but because
it was destined to become a central point of influence for the State,
and was prospectively great. Let the foundations of the Church be
well laid at the beginning, and then it will be comparatively easy to
maintain the cause. It was wise, too, to concentrate labor here

408 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

instead of making it only an appointment in a Circuit, as so many
other places were in earlier years. For the next two years, that is,
from September, 1850, to September, 1852, Rev. Oren Whitmore
was appointed in charge, and did most excellent service. It is not
necessary to follow out the annual appointments any further, but we
may simply say that it has been most ably supplied.

Lansing appears in the Minutes first in September, 1848, and
the first report of members was in September, 1849, when there
were seventy reported. Now — in 1876 — according to the Minutes
of Conference, there are two English and one German Stations,
having 451 English and 133 German members, making a total of
584 members, and a property valued at $37,500.

Lansing was included in the Grand River District from 1847 to
1856, but at this latter date the Lansing District was created. By
invitation of the people, the Michigan Conference held its session
here in 1857, and was well entertained. The Church has had the
ordinary conflicts to contend with, but its progress has been steadily
forward.

We have before stated that while Mr. Richards was stationed
at Lansing, his wife, a most amiable, excellent and pious lady, died,
after a long and painful illness, which she endured with most cheer
ful Christian fortitude. It is well, in this place, to give a short sketch
of her life and Christian experience. She had been converted to
God in early life, and had a deep and sound Christian experience —
she knew the " fullness of her Saviour's love." For a good many
years she had given herself up to become subject to the privations
and labors of an itinerant ministers wife. Faithfully and well had
she performed her work, and has gone to receive her crown, which
is doubtless studded with many gems.

MRS. HARRIET RICHARDS was born in Warsaw, New York,
November 4th, 1816; she died in Macomb, Michigan, February 8th,
1849, in the thirty-third year of her age. She sought and found
salvation through faith in Jesus Christ at the age of fourteen years,
and immediately united with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Shortly after her conversion her father emigrated to Michigan, and
settled in Macomb County, where she adorned her Christian profes
sion by a pious and devoted life.

On the 29th day of March, 1839, she was united in marriage to
Rev. R. R. Richards, but a few rods from the spot where, ten years
afterwards, she triumphantly departed this life. She did not possess
a very marked degree of intelligence which would have singled her
out from among her associates, but she possessed a sweetness of

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 409

disposition, and a dignity in all her movements which commanded at
once the love and respect of all who knew her. She had exceedingly
few enemies, and was peculiarly fitted to be a minister's wife. She
endured all the trials incident to her situation as the wife of an
itinerant preacher, without a murmur, regarding it not only her duty
to do, but to suffer the will of God. She was a Christian in the
highest sense of the word; ever ready to do her duty at home and
abroad ; yet she had very humble views of her own attainments in
religion, often remarking, "It will be a wonder of wonders if one so
unworthy as I am ever gets to heaven." While she seldom failed to
speak or pray in the prayer meeting, it was in her closet in private
communion with God that she found her happiest moments. Her
husband had to be absent at his work much of the time, but often on
returning home he had the happy privilege of finding her praising
God aloud, with tears of joy flowing from her eyes, and her face
shining with a divine radiance, like that of Moses when he talked
with God. As she lived, so she died, at peace with God and all His
children.

When she went to Lansing she little expected to survive through
the year, as she saw that death was approaching, but to her he was
robbed of his sting. The only occasion on which she was known to
manifest any unwillingness to depart was when she and her husband
were riding- past the graveyard at Lansing, and observing two or
three newly-made graves among some old logs and brush, she said,
"It hardly seems to me that I can be buried here." When it
became manifest that she could survive but a short time, she was
removed by her husband to the residence of a sister in Macomb
County, that she might be with her relatives in her last moments,
and be buried among her kindred. Soon after her arrival she
requested her friends to procure the materials for her grave clothes,
that she might make them with her own hands. After providing for
her among her relatives, her husband returned to his pastoral charge,
expecting to be informed if there should be any change for the
worse. For some time she seemed to improve, but suddenly grow
ing worse, the message was sent for her husband. He hastened to
her bedside. On reaching the place, he found her evidently near
the close of life, but perfectly composed, and looking up to him with
a sweet smile, she said : " I did not believe the Lord would let me
die till you came," and inquired how he got along in his work. When
she drew near to her end, and it seemed as if she could breathe but
a few times more, on reviving, her husband said, "You seemed almost
gone." She replied, " I thought I could breathe but a few times

410 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

more, but I did not see the chariot." After remaining for some time
with her eyes closed, she opened them, looked all around, and then
upwards, exclaiming-, " A light — a light. You did not see that light.
It was most beautiful." So she came to her end in peace, with the
light of God on her path.

IONIA. — Although we have made a general survey of the Grand
River Valley, under the head of Grand Rapids, we cannot repress the
desire to speak of this place specifically. Ionia is near the Grand
River, about fifty miles above the Rapids, and is the seat of justice
for Ionia County. The settlement, though begun a little earlier, did
not attract much attention until the Land Office for the northwestern
part of Michigan was located there in 1835.

The first settlers, among whom were the Yeoman ses and the
Dexters, were of the Baptist persuasion, but yet they were not sup
plied with preaching of their own faith for some time after the
Methodist itinerants had visited and preached Christ to the people.
When Osband Monnett, a modest, retiring, but very pious young
man, was sent as a missionary to Grand River, he followed the water
course in each direction from the Rapids, searching out the few
settlers scattered through the woods, and came to this place
in 1835.

It may not be out of place to indulge in a few reflections just
here on that part of the Methodist economy which enabled that
Church to supply the Gospel so soon and so faithfully to the settlers
in the new country. The itinerant system of the Methodist Episcopal
Church is peculiarly adapted to the wants of a new country, and to
maintaining religious services in sparsely populated districts. It is
equally adapted to older settlements, even though they can later
supply themselves with the services of a minister. The itinerant, with
a salary fixed by rules, but yet entirely dependent on the people
whom he serves, and at the disposal of the superior officers of his
Church, without a voice in regard to the particular appointment he
is to serve, or in regard to his pay, receives his orders from his
Bishop at the Conference, and takes possession of the field of labor
assigned him with a zeal and devotion worthy of the great cause in
which he is engaged. Like the famous Mississippi postmaster, who
kept the office in his hat and delivered the mail along the shore, the
itinerant, whose waterproof portmanteau contains his wardrobe and
library, is ready for any call, and can draw on that portmanteau in
any emergency. Mounted upon a stout horse, and with heavy riding
whip, Bible and hymn-book in hand, with a single change of clothing
perhaps, and less than a dollar in change in his pocket, he seeks his

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 4! I

field of operations half a thousand miles distant — it may be savage
or civilized, prairie or wilderness, Indian trail or turnpike, it makes
no difference, the chalk-mark of the Bishop is before him; the
success of his enterprise and a good report at Conference now
occupy his attention. His sermons are studied in the saddle, and
brought into consistency by a prior delivery to an audience of trees,
imagined to be people.

This system of training may not produce a very learned minis
try, or often secure the affix of D. D. to the name, but it frequently
produces strong original thinkers and very fine natural orators. The
policy of Conference usually assigns the frontier Districts and Circuits
to the young men, not as a penance exactly, but, perhaps, on the
authority of the New Testament, where two principal characters
commenced their ministerial teaching in the wilderness, or upon the
example of an eminent French missionary, who returned from his
barbarian audiences to astonish all Paris with his eloquence.

This system of an itinerant Gospel ministry prevented many of
our Southern States from relapsing into barbarism ; and to it our
own State is indebted for many, indeed for most of its early religious
privileges, and for its subsequent advantages.

The Territory of Michigan was included in the Ohio Conference
from 1820 until the autumn of 1836, and the Michigan woods became
the dreaded field of the Ohio itinerant, not so much on account of
the woods, to which he was accustomed, as on account of the neces
sity of contact with the Yankee settlers, who, accustomed to the ways
of the world, the Church and the school-house, could frequently in
struct the young parson, in the science of civilization, at least. The
Ohio preachers were, however, usually well received in Michigan,
and they occasionally deemed themselves well repaid for enduring*
Yankee jokes and witticisms by being able to report at Conference
the capture and possession of a rosy-cheeked Yankee maiden, trans
formed into a wife.

In the year 1835, tne Grand River Valley becoming known on
the maps of the Territory, excited attention, and settlers rushed into
it by scores. The Conference wishing to extend its jurisdiction over
it, and to supply the new settlers with the Gospel, despatched young
Monnett, as before mentioned, to gather into the fold the scattered
sheep in this northern wilderness. He was young and modest, was
mounted on a fine Ohio horse, and appeared on his field of labor in
the height of the land excitement, which filled the woods with specu
lators. That fine horse of his, among the Indian ponies, became
the horse of the woods, and was deemed too good an animal for a

412 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

preacher to own. The result was, the horse disappeared in the
night-time. Some one, not having the fear of the preacher before
his eyes, appropriated him to his own use without his owner's con
sent, and Monnett was obliged to travel on foot. In his report at
the Conference, in which the lost horse occupied a conspicuous
place, he consoled himself by saying that, if the horse had not been
stolen, he certainly would have starved to death during the winter,
and it was safer for him to run the risk of possible over-driving in
the hands of a Yankee than certain starvation in the Grand River
woods. If this was not a case of the philosophy of religion, it was
certainly a specimen of religious philosophy. This was a time to
try what kind of stuff the man was made of, and to test his fidelity
to the work to which he had been appointed. He continued faith
fully in the field until his allotted term of service expired.

Methodistically considered, at that time Ionia did not have as
much importance attached to it as Lyons, some six or eight miles
further up the river, because at the latter place a Methodist Society
was formed in the spring of 1836, and, though the itinerants preached
at Ionia, they could not organize a Society, so, when the Grand River
Mission was divided, the upper part of it was called Lyons instead of
Ionia. The latter place does not appear in the list of appointments
until the autumn of 1853. Rev. George Bignell was appointed to it,
and, at the end of the year he returned one hundred and sixty mem
bers. From this time forward it has been continued a station. The
Presiding Elder's District is now called Ionia.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was first organized in Ionia in
1839 by Rev. Zebulon C. Brown, who at the time was in charge of
Lyons Circuit. The Society consisted of only Jive members. Mr.
Brown, who organized this Church, was a man of a very strong in
tellect, and cultivated, but rather slow and moderate in speaking,
and consequently was not very popular among the people generally,
but among men of thought he ranked high, as he well deserved to do.
We once heard him preach on this passage, " God is a spirit." It
was a most close and masterly sermon, showing the spirituality of
God and the necessity of spiritual worship. He possessed a sound
Christian experience, and was truly devoted to God, but his health
was rather feeble, which prevented him from putting forth that active,
energetic labor which the people demanded. He located in 1843,
and settled at Saline, where he adorned the Christian profession by
a consistent and devoted life. He has since died as such a man
would be expected to die — in great peace, giving glory to God
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 413

The minister whose name stands connected with Ionia, when it
first appears in the list of appointments, after having filled several
other Stations, returned to die among this people, to whom he was
very much attached, and who were very much attached to him.

" REV. GEORGE BIGNELL was born in Carlton, New York, January
28th, 1823, and died at Ionia, Michigan, December 3"ist, 1858, of
consumption. At the age of ten years he was powerfully converted
to God, and offered himself to the Church to unite on probation, but
was refused admission on the ground of his being too young. This
refusal had a discouraging influence on his mind, and resulted in his
backsliding. Under the ministry of Rev. D. C. Jacokes, he was
reclaimed, in Oakland County, Michigan, in the eighteenth year of
his age. He soon felt it to be his duty to preach the Gospel, but,
instead of making preparation for that work, he, through timidity of
character, fled from duty, and took refuge in one of the great pine
forests in the northwestern part of Ionia County, hoping to escape
the call of God. An incident occurred here which closed up all
vacillation, and determined his course. While felling trees, in com
pany with his brother and another man, he looked up, and saw a
large pine tree within ten or fifteen feet of him, coming with a mighty
crash. With a scream to his brother, he sprang aside, barely es
caping being crushed into the earth. With a soul already deeply
agitated, the effect of this incident may be imagined. He, on the
spot, pledged himself to his Maker to do his duty, and, in a short
time, he left the forest, returned to his home in Oakland County, and
commenced the preparation necessary to enter upon the work of an
itinerant minister.

"In May, 1846, he was licensed as an exhorter; in 1847, ne was
licensed as a local preacher, and employed by the Presiding Elder
to travel on Farmington Circuit. He was admitted on trial into the
Michigan Conference, at Kalamazoo, in 1848, and appointed to
Talmage Circuit; 1849, to Paris; 1850, he was admitted to full
connection, ordained Deacon by Bishop Morris, and appointed to
Niagara; 1851-2, to Hastings; 1853-4, to Ionia; 1855, to Green
ville, Montcalm County; 1856-7, to Edwardsburg, Cass County,
where, early in the second year, he ceased to work, and went to
Ionia.

"He was pleasing in his address and successful as a minister;
perhaps five hundred were converted under his labors. He was a
man of untiring, quiet zeal, of marked integrity, of one work. His
sickness was long-continued, but through all of it he was graciously,
wonderfully supported. In 1858 he was placed on the superan-

41 4 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

nuated list, and he returned to this place. His death was one of the
most blissful and triumphant. Just before he died, some friends
commenced singing:

" Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er;

" ' Stop! Stop ! ' said he, ' I am done climbing. I am up there.
Sing:

" The promised land from Pisgah's top

I now exult to see;
My hope is full, O, glorious hope!
Of immortality.' "

And so he fell asleep in the arms of Jesus. We acknowledge
ourself indebted mainly to the pen of Rev. R. Sapp, who was
stationed at Ionia at the time, for this sketch.

REV. R. SAPP, who was stationed here in 1858, was one of the
ablest ministers in the Michigan Conference, having occupied some
of the most important positions as stationed minister and as
Presiding Elder. He was honored by his brethren by being elected
as delegate to the General Conference several times. He made a
good record during a ministry of many years, and when he came to
pass the Jordan of death he found himself ready, and passed tri
umphantly over. He had suffered much and long, but endured all
trustingly, "as seeing Him that is invisible." He was Presiding Elder
of Grand Rapids District at the time of his death, which occurred in
the spring of 1872. He was a man truly devoted to the interests of
the Church, and rejoiced in its prosperity. He has left an enduring
name, for he had filled charges in most all parts of the State of
Michigan — though all of his latter years were in the west half of the
State.

We will now return to the first introduction of the Gospel into
Ionia. There is a romantic incident connected with it worth record
ing, to which we now invite attention. We are indebted to one of
the parties concerned for the facts.

Late one afternoon, in 1835, a young man might have been seen
running out from the little village along the Indian trail, eastward, to
meet another who was seen coming on an Indian pony, with a
camp-kettle and other accoutrements dangling by his side. As he
drew near the horseman, he made demonstrations to have him stop,
and when the rider drew up the other cried out, " Are you a Meth
odist?" "Certainly," said the man on the horse. "Then I want you
to come to Deacon Yeomans's to preaching to-night. They are good
people there, but thev won't pray for me. Will you come ? " " Cer-

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 4/5

tainly," answered the horseman, " and you go to all those crowds of
men and tell them there is to be meeting there, and invite them to
come, and they will do it." " But will you be there and help me ? "
asked the footman. " Yes, certainly," was the reply. This was young
Monnett, the missionary, and the man on horseback was Joseph
Brown, then of Ann Arbor. The occasion of all this was that there
were five or six hundred men here waiting the opening of the United
States Land Office, and not being able to find accommodations in
the few log houses while they were waiting for the opening of the
office, which had been delayed a few days for the want of suitable
buildings, they had camped around log heaps. Monnett had passed
around among them inquiring after a Methodist. One group had
sent him to another, until they began to feel a little mischievous over
it, when one, seeing Brown coming at a distance, directed his atten
tion towards him, and remarked to the preacher that " that boy
yonder, coming over the bluff upon an Indian pony, with his camp-
kettle dangling at his saddle, is a real live Methodist." Away he
started, with a countenance betokening the last stages of the "blues."
That which was intended for a joke proved to be true in this instance.
He was a Methodist, and when the young preacher learned the fact,
he said, " I am glad of it ; you must come down and take holt."
" Very well," said Brown, " are there no professors about here ? "
" Yes," said the preacher, "there are a few Baptists, but they won't
pray." " Never mind," said Brown, " we will hold the meeting."
Brown found they had criticised the Ohio preacher in his homespun
pretty thoroughly, which he, having endured well, they engaged as a
body to go and hear him preach. As Brown was about leaving for
tea some two miles distant, Monnett reassured himself by privately
saying to Brown: "You will surely be there?" "Of course/'
said he.

At dusk, on arriving at the Deacon's, Brown found the house
crowded, and many in the yard. " Look here," said the preacher,
" I will sing and open the meeting, and you must exhort and close."
"Very well," said Brown, " but you just open, read a long hymn, and
r line it, as we have no books; then read a long chapter, and make
some remarks upon it ; pay it on to these land sharks, it will do them
good." The meeting proceeded according to programme. The
hymn was lined, and the Grand River woods rang with the chorus
from six hundred voices. After listening to a very fine exhortation
of half an hour, the services were appropriately closed. Brown's
part consisted simply in reading the closing hymn.

What a change has come over this country, and over the people.

4T HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

This was the beginning. The progress has been glorious, and
the end will be triumphant. The present population of the city,
according to the census of 1874, is 3,251, having all the appliances
of a growing and prosperous town.

The different religious denominations established themselves in
due order, and having had their successes, are engaged in the work
of evangelization according to their peculiar views and modes of
work.

According to the Minutes of the Michigan Conference for 1876,
the Methodist Society has a church building valued at $10,000. They
have also given due attention to the Sunday School work, and in this
department they are successful and prosperous, The Annual Con
ference held its session here in September, 1873, and was satisfac
torily entertained. Thirty-seven years have now elapsed since the
Jive were organized into a Church, and that Church has grown to
number three hundred and fifty -eight, besides those who have gone
over the river to their glorious rewrard. Verily, God has been with
this people, and has crowned their labors with success.

ALLEGAN has been mentioned before, but it is desirable to say
a few words more in relation to it. We have already said that Mr.
Robe extended his Circuit into this county in 1832, while he was trav
eling the Kalamazoo Circuit. This was considered as one of the de
sirable portions of country on account of its advantages for lumber
ing. Hon. Flavius Littlejohn and other important personages, settled
at the village bearing the name of the county, laid out a town, and
gathered around them civilizing and elevating influences, such as
religious services and schools. The names of William Todd, now
deceased, and Franklin Gage, still living, are very familiariy associ
ated with the early history of this country as pioneer ministers. As
the country has developed, and the inhabitants have increased,
Churches of the different denominations have been established, and
have exerted their preserving and elevating influence. We are
pleased to record that the early settlers of the town of Allegan were
religious people, and availed themselves of such ministerial services
as they could obtain. How rapidly the country has been settled
may be inferred from the fact that in 1874 the population of this
county was 32,381. This is one of the interesting and valuable
portions of the State. Being one of the Lake counties, it must
always be one of the finest growing ones, and will attract attention.

We take pleasure in presenting, in this connection, a brief
notice of one who feels a deep interest in this region of country, and
who, having recently become office editor of the Michigan Christian

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 417

Advocate, expects to do much valuable work for God and humanity
in that connection.

REV. JAMES H. POTTS was born in Canada, June I2th, 1848.
With his father's family, he moved to Kalamazoo County, Michigan,
and having, by hard study, qualified himself for teaching, he engaged
his first school at the age of sixteen. At the close of the war, having
served as a soldier, he graduated from Mayhew's Business College,
intending to devote his life to mercantile pursuits. While visiting
his early home, however, the memories of his childhood and the
counsels of his deceased mother, so operated upon his mind that, in
January, 1857, he experienced religion, and united with the Church.
Yielding to a long-resisted conviction that he should preach the
Gospel, he was duly licensed, and, while prosecuting his theological
studies, served as a local preacher. In the fall of 1869, he was
married to Miss Alonsa C. Cole, of West Le Roy, Michigan, and
united with the Michigan Conference at its session held at Grand
Rapids in that year. While serving as pastor, he wrote considerably
for the press. In consequence of the loss of hearing, to a large
extent, he found it difficult to do the work of the pastorate, so in
September, 1877, he accepted an editorial position on the Michigan
Christian Advocate, and moved to the City of Detroit.

While in the pastoral work, Mr. Potts did very valuable service,
and retired from it for editorial work, greatly to the regret of the
people with whom he had served, and with much reluctance on his
own part. He now is in a position to speak to thousands of per
sons every week without the embarrassment of an ear-trumpet.
His trumpet will give no uncertain sound. The pen is now to take
the place of the voice. He has a clear mind and a warm, Christian
heart.

41 8 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

CHAPTER XIV.

Task Nearly Finished — German Work — Wesleyans — Other Protestant Churches — Time Elapsed —
Statistics — Comparative Progress — Church Property — Congregational Chnrch — Indian Work
— M. Hickey— Unitarian Notice— Book Depository— J. M. Arnold— " Michigan Christian
Advocate" — " Northwestern Christian Advocate" — Dr. Edwards — Bay View.

IE have now nearly completed our allotted task, and pre
sented an outline history of the progress of Protestant
ism in this Peninsular State, and yet there are a few
items which we could not very well introduce into any
place in the body of the work, which we may present in
this concluding chapter.
A very important work of evangelization among the German
immigrants settled in the City of Detroit, was begun in 1845, by
Rev. John M. Hartman, a Methodist preacher, which has been car
ried forward till there are now in the city two German Methodist
Episcopal Churches doing a good work. The work has extended
to all the towns and cities where there is any considerable German
population, so that there are now in this State 1,608 members and
fifteen ministers connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1841; there was a small defection from the Methodist Epis
copal Church on account of slavery. The controversy had been
going on for several years, but now the defection took shape, and
resulted in the organization of a branch of "The American Wes-
leyan Church" in Michigan. This took a few members and local
preachers, among whom, Marcus Swift, Samuel Bibbins, and Guy
Beckley were the most prominent — all deceased ; but the principal
cause of the separation having been removed by the abolition of
slavery in the nation, a large proportion of the ministers and people
have returned to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The prime
movers of the movement in this State, Marcus Swift and Samuel

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 421

Bibbins, were very good and conscientious men. Mr. Swift died
early after entering on the work of building up this new denomi
nation. Mr. Bibbins, a very devoted Christian man, lived to return
to the Church in 1867, and died in great peace, a member of the
Detroit Conference. He died in May, 1877. Dr. Luther Lee, who
was active in this movement in the East, came to Michigan, and in
1867 returned to the Methodist Episcopal Church, as did Dr. McEl-
downey.

There are small bodies of Protestant Christians in this State
which have not been mentioned particularly, such as the Free Will
Baptists, who were very early in the field, and who are maintaining
a, college at Hillsdale; the Methodists, or, as they are more famili
arly known, Protestant Methodists; the United Brethren, United
Presbyterian, the Dutch Reformed, the Free Methodist, the Wes-
leyan Methodist, and, among the colored people, the African Meth
odist Episcopal Church, the Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, and,
perhaps, there may be one or two others. We have omitted these
because they are so few in any given place that to give sketches of
them would have required too much minuteness of detail, and it has
been impracticable for us to obtain their statistics.

It is now sixty-six years, for which we take account of statistics,
since the first Protestant Church was organized in Michigan, consist
ing, at the time, of only seven members — three men and and four
women. This first Church has always maintained its existence, not
withstanding the disasters of war and other difficulties. Other
Churches were organized in due time and entered on their spiritual
work. We are able to present a summary of the numerical strength
of the principal denominations, giving the date of their first organi
zation, with this remark, that the Congregational Church does not
appear before 1842, although some of the early Churches were
organized on that plan ; yet, by a plan of union with the Presby
terians, they lost their identity till the date given. The ministers are
included in the membership. We show, at the same time, the value
of Church property — that is of Churches and parsonages, and not
including Sabbath School libraries and furnishings :

Date. Members. Value of Property.

Methodist Episcopal 1810 56,100 $3,000,000

Presbyterian 1820 13,348 No report.

Protestant Episcopal 1824 8,969 No report.

Baptist 1827 24,508 No report.

Congregational 1842 13,935 1,076,233

116,860

422 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

It is well now to compare this progress of Protestant commu
nicants with the progress of population. In 1810 the population of
the Territory was 4,762, and only seven Church members or commu
nicants, or one in 680 of the population. According to the census
of 1874, the population had increased to 1,334,300, and the Church
members or communicants have grown to 1 16,860, which would
make about one communicant for every eleven and one-third of the
population. The increase of the population for the last two years
will be fully met by the number of communicants in the minor
denominations not enumerated. We find, then, great reason for hope
for the future of our State in a religious aspect. We have not made
any general statement as to the number of children and youth,
who are every Sabbath engaged in Bible study in the various Church
Sabbath Schools. And there are very many such.

The Roman Catholics, according to their last Ordo Book, claim
to be numerically and influentially, as follows, in the State of Michi
gan, viz.:

Churches, 192; priests, 114; hospitals, 4; orphan asylums, 5 ;
religious institutions, 15; schools, 54; population, 175,000. The
population includes all their adherents of all classes, children as well
as adults, which is about one-eighth of the population of the State.

We certainly have nothing to fear from Romanism if Protestants
are only faithful to themselves, because there is a constant advance
in true Christian power over the increase of population. After all
the croakings and boastings of skeptics of various classes, Christianity
is on the advance. The figures given in relation to the Protestant
Churches show only the actual membership, which is to be multi
plied by 3 for adherents, making 350,250, or one in about three-
eighths of the whole population.

We here present a synoptical history of the Congregational
Church in Michigan, furnished us by the author. We should have
been glad to have done the same thing for other Churches if such
had been furnished us.

"An historical sketch of the Congregational Churches of the State
of Michigan during the century preceding A. D. 1876. Prepared at
the request of the authorities of the State for the Centennial Exhibition
at Philadelphia. By Rev. P. R. Hurd, D. D., Secretary of the General
Association''

Congregationalism, as a system of Church order, is well under
stood. And yet it may not be amiss to state that it consists in
allowing no man, or body of men, "to lord it over God's heritage/'

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 423

but in asserting the essential independence of the local Church, in
connection with a substantial fellowship with all the Churches,,

Congregationalism in the State of Michigan, as in most of the
other States west of the Hudson River, was at first largely merged
into Presbyterianism. Under the famous " Plan of Union " the govern
ment of the Churches was mixed, members belonging to each de
nomination being allowed to enjoy their own preacher from within
the particular Church. And although many of these Churches were
organized under the name and title of Congregational, yet, since
they were subjected to the care of the Presbytery within whose
bounds they happened to be, and since their ministers, though for
the most part from Congregational New England, were also mem
bers of this body, it very naturally turned out that by far the large
majority of them became at length distinctively Presbyterian. Nearly
all the older and stronger Churches of the State, irrespective of
their original organization, are now to be found in that communion.
Traces of the origin of some of them appear in the corporate name
of the ecclesiastical Society with which they are connected. That
name remains to this day Congregational. As might have been
anticipated, some Churches were formed at that early day in the set
tlements which failed to become centers of population or business,
and which, therefore, were either disbanded, or merged in others
which, afterwards formed, promised a greater permanency.

The first Congregational minister that ever visited the new
State of Michigan, and, indeed, it is to be believed, the first minister
of any evangelical denomination, was Rev. David Bacon, of Con
necticut, the father of the present Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., of
New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Bacon arrived at Detroit on the
1 1 th day of September, 1 800, on an exploring expedition for the
establishment of a Mission among the Indians. After spending a
few months in that vicinity, he returned to Connecticut, where he
was ordained and married. Returning the following spring, and
not meeting with the success in the Mission that was anticipated, he
soon retired, and became the founder of the town and Church of
Talmadge, Ohio.

In July, 1824, Rev. Isaac Ruggles came from Connecticut, and
established himself in Pontiac, then an Indian trading-post ; from
which place he radiated in every direction, traveling on foot, preach
ing the Gospel and founding Churches as he found opportunity.
At that time there were very few Church organizations of the affili
ated denominations outside of Detroit, and, so far as can be ascer
tained, no Congregational or Presbyterian minister, except the Rev.

424 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Mr. Ferry, a Presbyterian — the father of the present Senator Ferry
— who was then a missionary to the Indians at Mackinaw.

Previous to 1830, several Churches had been organized, some by
the name of Congregational, and some Presbyterian, the representa
tives of which, together with the six ministers then in the Territory,
composed the Detroit Presbytery. Up to this date, Presbyterianism,
therefore, had everything its own way.

In June, 1831, John D. Pierce arrived in the Territory, under
commission from the American Home Missionary Society. On con
sulting with the Missionary Committee of the Presbytery of Detroit,
as to his future operations, as he was advised to do by the Secretary
of the Society, Mr. Pierce was gravely informed that he would be
expected to connect himself with the Presbytery ; and that it would
be neither desirable nor wise for him to organize distinctively Con
gregational Churches. The reason given for this was the assertion
that, while Congregationalism was well enough for New England,
it was not at all adapted to the new settlements of the West, an
assertion which was so often and so emphatically repeated in those
days, that it came to be believed even in New England itself, and
had much to do in repressing the growth of Congregationalism on
the entire Western field. This advice of the Committee he did not
see fit to take, very logically considering that if this young Church
order had proved itself sufficiently strong for the infant settlements
of New England, it could not be wanting in adaptation to those of
any other region. Mr. Pierce finally settled in Marshall, ancl took
an active part, subsequently, not only in shaping the polity of the
Churches of the State, but also in giving form to that excellent
system of public instruction, with the University at its head, which
is the glory of the Peninsular State.

Previous to 1835, eight Churches were organized, which never
relinquished the Congregational polity, nor lost the Congregational
name, viz: The Church in Rochester was formed in July ist, 1827 ;
in Romeo, August i6th, 1829; in Lima (now extinct), January I7th,
1830; in Pontiac, February 6th, 1831; in Clinton, January iQth,
1833; in Bruce, July 3ist, 1833; in Barry (now extinct), January,

1834-

These Churches, however, either stood alone or were connected
with a Presbytery ; and therefore were not reckoned as belonging to
the denomination, until after 1840, when the first Association and
Conference were formed in the eastern part of the State. In addi
tion to these, the Churches of Marshall, Homer, Richland and
Ypsilanti (1829), were organized Congregational, and remained so

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 425

until, through the pressure of outside influence, they became dis
tinctively Presbyterian. The Church of Battle Creek (1836) was
also organized on the " Plan of Union," and retained that status,
reporting alike to Synod and Association, until, in 1874, by the com
pact of Union adopted by the General Assemblies of the Presby
terian Church, it was obliged to relinquish its mixed character, when
it elected to be numbered with the Presbyterians.

From 1835 to 1840, nineteen other Churches were formed,
which still retain their connection with the denomination. But these
Churches, like those already on the field, were of a limited member
ship, and widely scattered over a vast extent of country; thus
rendering fellowship, if not absolutely impossible, yet extremely
difficult. But they were firm in their adherence to the simple polity
of the Pilgrims, and manfully resisted any attempt to wrest from
them the liberty which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

About this time the inquiry began to be agitated, "What can be
done to draw the scattered Churches closer together in sympathy
and fellowship?" and thus to establish them all the more firmly in the
ways and practices of the Fathers. As the result of this inquiry, the
Eastern Association was formed May i2th, 1840, and the Jackson
Association May lyth, 1842. In the eastern part of the State, an
organization called the Consociation, which afterwards took the name
of the Eastern Conference of the Churches, was also formed.

In the meantime several young men, among whom was Rev. L.
Smith Hobart, Rev. Harvey Hyde, Rev. Henry L. Hammond, and
Rev. Thomas Jones, had come into the State, by whom this inquiry
was taken up, and zealously agitated, until finally, at a meeting of the
Jackson Association, held on the 6th of July, 1842, a call was issued
inviting the Congregational ministers and Churches of Michigan to
convene at Jackson, on Tuesday, the nth of October, at six
o'clock p. M., for the purpose of organizing a General Association
of the State. In response to this call, at the time and place ap
pointed, there were assembled the following ministers and delegates
of the Churches :

Ministers. - - Rev, Sylvester Cochrane, Vermontville ; Rev.
Hiram S. Hamilton, Mt. Clemens ; Rev. Marcus Harrison, Jackson ;
Rev. L. Smith Hobart, Union City ; Rev. Harvey Hyde, Saginaw ;
Rev. Thomas Jones, Grass Lake ; Rev. Jason Park, Sandstone ;
Rev. Ebenezer McDonald, Royal Oak; Rev. Joseph W. Smith,
Grand Blanc ; Rev. John D. Pierce, Marshall.

Delegates from Churches. — A. S. Ames, Milford ; Chester Yale,
Jackson; E. C. Clapp, Litchfield; Jacob Hayward, Leoni; Drusus

426 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Hodges, Leoni ; Jesse Adams, Grass Lake ; L. H. Jones, Grass
Lake ; Stephen Watkins, Grass Lake ; Alpheus Saunders, Union
City ; John N. Stickney, Union City.

After mature deliberation and prayer, these ministers and mes
sengers of the Churches adopted a Confession of Faith, Constitu
tion, and Rules of Procedure, and thus the General Association of
Michigan was fairly ushered into being. From that time to the
present, the denomination has had a recognized existence among
the forces which have been at work in moulding the moral and
religious condition of the State, with a history growing brighter and
still brighter as the years have rolled on.

Just how many Churches of this order there were in the State
at this time, and how many members they contained, it is now im
possible to ascertain. Some attempts at the gathering of statistics
were at once made by the indefatigable Secretary, Rev. L. Smith
Hobart, but they were not very successful. In 1845 there were
reported in connection with the General Association, five (5) Confer
ences, consisting of fifty-three (53) Churches, with a membership of
two thousand one hundred and fourteen (2,1 14). But seven of these
Churches, it should be observed, furnished no report.

In 1855, the number of Conferences had increased to seven (7),
with a total of one hundred and six (106) Churches, seventy-two (72)
ministers, and four thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven (4,987)
members.

In 1860 the number of Conferences remained the same, but the
number of the Churches increased to one hundred and thirty (130),
of the ministers to one hundred and one (101), and of the members
to seven thousand two hundred and fifty-five (7,255).

In 1865 there were nine (9) Conferences with one hundred and
forty-one (141) Churches, one hundred and thirty-one (131) minis
ters, and eight thousand three hundred and seventy-two (8,372)
members.

In 1870 there were still nine (9) Conferences, one hundred and
seventy-four (174) Churches, one hundred and fifty-one (151) minis
ters, and eleven thousand five hundred and forty-one (11,541)
members.

In 1875 tne Conferences had increased to ten (10), the minis
ters to one hundred and seventy-four (174), the Churches to one
hundred and ninety-nine (199), and the members to thirteen thou
sand two hundred and nine (13,209).

It is but quite recently that attempts have been made to ascer
tain the amount of annual offerings made by these Churches to the

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 427

various causes of benevolence, and the reports are as yet very im
perfect. But imperfect as they are, the reports of 1875 present an
array of figures which, considering the infancy and weakness of
most of these Churches, evinces that the spirit of benevolence is by
no means wanting within them. These figures aggregate the sum
of twenty-four thousand four hundred and ten dollars, and ninety-
three cents ($24,41 0.93), while the amount expended for parish pur
poses during the same year was two hundred and twenty-three
thousand two hundred and ninety-one dollars and eighty-seven

cents ($223,291.87).

The estimated value of property held by them is :

1. Houses of worship — Nine hundred and ninety-four thou
sand, seven hundred and thirty-three dollars ($994,733).*

2. Parsonages — Sixty-one thousand dollars ($61,000).

3. Salaries and funds — Fifteen thousand one hundred and
ninety dollars ($15,190).

The Sunday School work has been prosecuted by them, during
their entire history, with unabated vigor. Without attempting to
trace the progress of this work from one period to another, it will
be sufficient to state that, according to the report of 1875, tne
schools connected with the denomination aggregated sixteen thou
sand eight hundred and sixty (16,860) members.

Congregationalism has ever been but a synonym of education.
In its history, the church and the school-house have always stood side
by side, the one esteemed quite as necessary as the other. With it
the old monkish dogma, that ignorance is the mother of devotion,
has found no favor. Its piety has rather been wont to be measured
by the intelligence of its faith. An educated ministry in the pulpit,
and an enlightened people in the pews, are the two great pillars on
which it has been built, and on which alone it can hope to stand. As
a consequence, wherever it has obtained a footing, it has become the
advocate and promoter of all sorts of learning. In this State, it has
been by no means false to its traditional character. From its min
istry the first Superintendent of Public Instruction was furnished.
And in the successful establishment of a Christian College at Olivet,
and the endowment of a Professorship in the Theological Seminary
at Chicago, it has fully vindicated its ancient promise.

These plain facts have been placed on record, in this Centennial
year of our National existence, that it may be known to those who
come after us, from what small beginning, and through what earnest
struggles, this glorious inheritance of a simple, Scriptural Church

*Since the above was written, $20,500 have been reported, making the whole value of Church property reported,
'#1,015,233.

428 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

polity, received from the Pilgrim Fathers, has been handed down to
them.

We have already noticed the work among the Indians of the
Lake Superior country, but it is well now to bestow a little attention
on that work in the Lower Peninsula, as the circumstances of its
introduction were peculiarly interesting. It commenced among a
band, residing at the time in Oakland County, which was known as
the Lakeville band. They had become as degraded as it is possible
for human beings to become, it would seem. They were the terror
of the country around them — drunken, thieving and quarrelsome to
the last degree. In the spring of 1840 or '41, they held a solemn
council to decide on their fate. They felt their degradation most
keenly, but they saw no light for themselves. In this solemn con
clave, they discussed their condition ; that they were in a very low
condition, they could not deny. But what was to be done? After
spending some time over the question, there appeared to be no
hope for them, and the conclusion at which they arrived was that
there was nothing better for them than to procure whisky enough,
and drink themselves to death. In accordance with this resolution,
they procured a quantity of whisky, and commenced the debauch.
Just at this juncture, Rev. Mr. Scott, a missionary among the Indians
in Canada, near Sarnia, appeared on the scene, and proposed to the
Chief to preach the Gospel to them. But the men were too drunk
to hear him then. The Chief begged of the missionary to remain,
and he would try to get his men and women sober enough, in the
course of a day or two, to hear him. He remained. The Chief did
as he proposed ; they came to hear the missionary, and the Gospel
took such effect upon them that every man and woman, except one
man, in a few days, professed to be converted, and the remaining
one, after a time, was converted, and joined the Church. This was
a very sudden transformation of a drunken, savage band into a
Christian people. They adhered firmly and faithfully to their faith
in Christ, and became a sober and orderly people. They required
attention and instruction, so a missionary was sent among them, and
the work extended to other bands in the Lower Peninsula. Rev. D.
C. Jacokes was, for some time, a very laborious and successful
worker among them. He was succeeded in that work by Rev.
Manasseh Hickey, who visited most of the bands ; so the work has
been cared for, and there are now several of these Mission charges
in the Lower Peninsula. Who can doubt the power of Divine grace
to change and save man when such a revolution as this has been
produced ? No merely civilizing agency has ever accomplished such

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 429

a work as this. There has been but very little backsliding among
them.

These Indians, after their conversion, having declined to go
west of the Mississippi, and thus failed to obtain annuities which
would have amounted to several hundred dollars, they were very
poor. We once asked the Chief why he did not go, and take his
band with him. He replied that he was afraid to go, lest, getting
off there among the wicked pagans, and away from the means of
grace, his men would be led away — would backslide, and be lost;
and they would rather be without the money than to run the risk.
We thought that was a noble sacrifice. How very few, even among
enlightened people, are willing to make such a sacrifice for the sake
of being preserved from sin.

We take great pleasure in adding a few words in regard to one
of the two missionaries mentioned above. As he is still living, the
notice will be but: brief.

REV. MANASSEH HICKEY was converted to God in his early
youth in the town of Troy, in Oakland County, Michigan, and, from
the time of his conversion, has been a very earnest and zealous
Christian. Soon after his conversion, he felt himself called to the
work of the Christian ministry. He felt, also, the need of a higher
education, and spent: several years at Albion Seminary in study,
acquiring a considerable knowledge of the classics and of Hebrew.
While a student at Albion, his zeal did not abate, and he was very
useful among the students, as well as in the neghborhoods around
about. He joined the Conference in 1848, and was for several
years in the Indian mission work. He has been very useful in the
ministry, and many have been turned to righteousness by him, who
will appear as stars in the crown of his rejoicing. He has filled
Circuits, Stations and Districts greatly to the advantage and edifica
tion of the Church. In the winter of 1872, while Presiding Elder
of Flint District, he was thrown from a carriage, striking on his
head on the frozen ground, and was senseless for twenty-four hours.
Though he has partially recovered, he has been a great sufferer
ever since, and unable to do effective labor. His heart is still in the
work, and, if his physical condition would allow, he would still glory
in active itinerant labor.

We will be pardoned for quoting the following from an article
from the pen of Rev. C. H. Brigham, a Unitarian minister, formerly
at Ann Arbor, contributed to an Eastern paper in 1866:

" The Methodists are the only denomination in Michigan whose
increase is very marked and rapid. The Presbyterians rather lose

43° HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

than gain ground. The Baptists barely hold their own. The Con-
gregationalists do not grow so fast as the population. The Episco
pal Church is suffering just now from an unfortunate quarrel in its
largest congregation, in which the Bishop is implicated, and which
makes ridiculous the boasted unity of that peaceful communion.
But the Methodists are zealous, united, hopeful and prosperous, to
a degree which amazes even their own preachers and leaders. They
rival, even surpass the Episcopal body in the size and cost of their
churches, in the richness of their decorations, and in the complete
ness of their appointments. In a short time they will have, in all
the cities of Michigan, not only the largest number of worshipers,
but the finest show in worship, and, perhaps, the most real influence.
Church extension, more than Church discipline or dogma, is their
care in this Centenary year. And it is a great help to their cause
that one of their preachers is at the head of the University."

At the General Conference of 1864, which was held in Phila
delphia, provisions were made by which the agents of the Western
Book Concern could establish a Depository in Detroit, so that our
ministers and people could be supplied with Methodist and other
religious books at the same rate as in New York or Chicago.

REV. JOHN M. ARNOLD, D. D., who had been stationed in the
Woodward Avenue and other Churches in the city, was appointed
in charge of it. The establishment has been greatly enlarged, and
the business greatly extended, and though it is not now an official
Depository of the Church, the same advantages are to be obtained
from Arnold & Willyoung, as the firm is now styled. This having
been found a great convenience to Sabbath Schools and others who
wished to replenish their libraries, Mr. Arnold enlarged the idea,
and extended the plan so as to take in religious and Sunday School
books for all denominations of Protestants. He has now added to
this a general assortment of school, literary, historical and scientific
books.

Mr. Arnold is a minister of long standing, having joined the
Conference in 1849, and served as Circuit preacher, been in Stations
and fulfilled the work of a Presiding Elder. Though charged
with many duties, he does a large amount of preaching. He is em
phatically a Michigan man, having been brought up, educated, con
verted to the experience of Divine love, and entered the Christian
ministry here. His is one of the cases, where men break away from
their parental religious or rather denominational training, for his
parents were " Close Communion " Baptists. Mr. Arnold takes special
interest in the Sunday School department of Christian work, and

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 433

has been very successful in that field. Mr. Arnold is a man of ex
tensive reading and good literary acquirements, and is often called
on to fill the pulpits of other denominations. For the last two years
he has been the associate and managing editor of the Michigan
Christian Advocate. Indeed, he has had the principal part of the
work of that paper on his hands, as the editor-in-chief was a pastor,
and had a heavy charge to serve, which demanded his time and at
tention.

THE MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN AD VO CA TK

The importance of a religious newspaper under the fostering
care of the Methodist Church, in this State, which, while it should
be Methodistic in its management, and devoted to the interests of
that denomination, would not be offensively sectarian, had long been
felt. But no one was prepared to undertake its establishment.
Some efforts had been made from time to time to organize a com
pany for that purpose, without success. But in the autumn of 1874,
Rev. Oren Whitmore who was Presiding Elder of Adrian District,
commenced the publication of a small monthly sheet, for the special
benefit of his own District, the idea of which was enlarged by the
co-operation of other Districts, and it assumed the name of the
Michigan Christian Advocate. This was not entirely new, for Rev.
J. V. Watson, many years before, had edited and published a paper
by the same name, for a short time, at Adrian. As the small sheet
originated by Mr. Whitmore did not seem to meet the felt want, the
matter was brought before the Annual Conference, which, by a de
cided vote recommended the publication of a weekly paper. This,
however, did not meet the difficulty in the case, for, who shall do it,
was the ever recurring question. After many conferences of minis
ters and laymen, a stock company was organized according to the
following articles of association :

THE METHODIST PUBLISHING COMPANY.

We, the undersigned, do certify that we do hereby associate to
gether as a body corporate, under and by virtue of the laws of the
State of Michigan, in the manner and for purposes as follows, that
is to say :

I st. The name of this Association is The Methodist Publishing
Company, and the purpose for which it is organized is to print and
publish a religious newspaper entitled the Michigan Christian Advo
cate, and to carry on the business of book and job printing, in con-

434 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN*

nection therewith, and the publication of such other matter as may
be decided upon by said corporation.

2nd. The location and place of business of said Company is at
the City of Detroit.

3rd. The amount of Capital Stock of this Company is ten
thousand dollars, divided into one hundred shares of one hundred
dollars each.

4th. The amount of property, real and personal, which said
Company may hold, shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars.

5th. The first meeting of this Corporation, for the purpose of
completing the organization of the same, the election of officers and
the transaction of any other business, shall be held on the twenty-
third day of December, A. D. 1874, at 2 o'clock p. M., at the office
of Robinson & Flinn, in the City of Detroit.

6th. The names of the Stockholders, with their respective resi
dences, and the number of shares held by each, are as follows, viz :

Names. Residences. No. of Shares.

Oren Whitmore Adrian 5

Alfred F. Bournes « 5

Oren Whitmore " 5

John M. Arnold Detroit 11

George O. Robinson " 5

Mark S. Smith " 5

Christopher R. Mabley " 5

Lewis R. Fiske " 3

Francis A. Blades " 2

Thomas Stalker " 2

W. H. Pearce " 1

Dr. James Stimson " 1

Lewis P. Davis " 1

Elijah H. Pilcher " 2

John W. Kermott " 2

Erasmus D. Allen Morenci 30

George W. Robinson Detroit 1

Charles Ten Winkel " 5

William H. Benton Royal Oak 1

William H. Shier Ann Arbor 1

O. J. Perrin Saginaw City 1

Isaac N. Ellwood Morenci 1

J. B. Atchinson Detroit 1

J. T. R. Brown " 2

J. Owen " ...o 2

Wm. J. McCune " 3

H. Hitchcock " 1

Charles H. Gaston " 1

7th. The term of the existence of this Corporation is thirty
years.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

435

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
twenty-second day of December, A. D. 1874.

(Signed)

OREN WHITMORE,
J. M.ARNOLD,
ALFRED F. BOURNES,
GEO. O. ROBINSON,
CHARLES TEN WINKEL,
H. HITCHCOCK,
W. J. McCuNE,
LEWIS R. FISKE,
C. R. MABLEY,
WEBSTER H. PEARCE
ELIJAH H. PILCHER,
J. W. KERMOTT,
ERASMUS D. ALLEN,
M. S. SMITH,
W. H. BENTON,
«J. B. ATCHINSON,
J. T. R. BROWN,
J. OWEN,
F. A. BLADES,

'Seal/
Seal/
Seal.
Seal.
"Seal."
Seal."
Seal
Seal.
Seal.
Seal.
Seal/
Seal/
Seal.
Seal/
Seal/
Seal/
Seal.
Seal.
[Seal.]

STATE OF MICHIGAN, )
COUNTY OF WAYNE, /

On the twenty-second day of December A. D. 1874, personally
appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said county, the
above named : Oren Whitmore, John M. Arnold, Alfred F. Bournes,
George O. Robinson, Charles Ten Winkel, Lewis R. Fiske, C. R.
Mabley, Webster H. Pearce, Elijah H. Pilcher, J. W. Kermott, Eras
mus D. Allen, and M. S. Smith, personally known to me as the per
sons executing the foregoing instrument, and severally acknowledged
that they executed the same freely, for the purposes therein named.
[SEAL] E. H. FLINN,

Notary Public, Wayne Co., Mich.

The following officers were immediately elected: Elijah
H. Pilcher, D. D., President ; John M. Arnold, D. D., Vice Presi
dent ; George O. Robinson Esq., Secretary and Treasurer. Rev. O.
Whitmore, was appointed Editor, and Rev. L. R. Fiske, D. D., was
shortly after added to the editorial staff. The first number of the
new paper with the old name was issued the first week in January,
1875. Since its first organization a number of changes, both in the
Publishing Company and in the management of the paper, have been
made. The job printing department has been given up entirely,
the whole attention being devoted to the extension and the improve
ment of the paper. Dr. Pilcher having resigned, Dr. Fiske was
elected President and also Editor-in-Chief^ with Dr. J. M. Arnold as

436 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Associate and Business Manager. The editorial staff was made
still more effective by the appointment of a number of correspond
ing editors, from various parts of the State, and the creation of an
office-editorship, of which the Rev. J. H. Potts is the present incum
bent. This new enterprise, which was looked upon by many as a
doubtful experiment, has so well succeeded that it has already at
tained a circulation of over Jive thousand copies, and the last year
yielded a handsome dividend on its paid up stock, and paid twenty-
jive dollars to each of the annual Conferences in the State, for the
benefit of the superannuated preachers. This success is unparalelled
in the history of such enterprises. This patronage has been se
cured without interfering materially with the circulation of other re
ligious periodicals. Very nearly that number of families have a re
ligious paper, who would have had none without it. If the future
management shall be equal to the past, there remains a brilliant
career for this young member of the Advocate family.

The Northwestern Christian Advocate, although not located in
Michigan, is, nevertheless, the product of Michigan brains. Rev. J.
V. Watson, an eloquent and successful preacher, laid aside by
physical infirmity, from the active work of the ministry, was not
content to be idle. He, therefore, applied himself to religious jour
nalism, on a small scale, in the City of Adrian. But, being a man
of a large heart and sagacity of intellect, he decided that this was
not the locality at which a journal should exist to wield the proper
influence. In casting about, he concluded Chicago was the eye of
the Northwest, and that, in order to control that vast territory, the
key to it must be in that city. He, therefore, proposed that the
General Conference of 1852, which was to meet in Boston, should
provide for the establishment of a member of the Advocate family
at that place. He was in attendance at the seat of the Conference,
but, being a reserve, he took a seat before the close, and urged the
matter in private conversation with delegates, being actively second
ed by E. H. Pilcher, who was a delegate. Provision was then made
for the establishment at Chicago of a depository for books, and for
the publication of such a paper under the control of the Western
Book Concern. Mr. Watson was appointed Editor of the paper, and
the publication was commenced on the ist of January, 1853. This
paper has been very largely patronized in Michigan, though not so
much so as its merits have deserved. For the last thirteen years, a
member of the Detroit Conference has been connected with the edi
torial department of the paper, and that justifies its introduction

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 437

into this History; besides, it has always been outspoken on all ques
tions affecting the interests of Protestantism, and has been a powerful
agent for its promotion in this Peninsula.

ARTHUR EDWARDS, D. D., the present able and deservedly
popular Editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, was born in
Ohio, in 1834, but is, decidedly, a Michigan man. He was brought
up here, though he received his collegiate education at the Ohio
Wesleyan University, under the care of the sainted Bishop Edward
Thompson. While pursuing his college studies, he was converted
to God, and joined the Church. Soon after graduation, he entered
the ministry, and joined the Detroit Conference in 1858. When the
War of the Rebellion broke out, his patriotism led him to enter the
service as chaplain, in which he continued for about three years,
and in 1864 he was appointed Associate Editor of this paper, in which
relation he continued for eight years, doing excellent service. In
1872, he was elected Editor by a large majority, and in 1876 was re-
elected by acclamation. Dr. Edwards is an incisive, facile wrriter,
and thoroughly adapted to editorial work — a man of untiring industry,
possessing iron-like endurance. He makes a superior paper, and
one well worthy of a more extended patronage than it now has. He
has served for a number of years with great acceptability as Secre
tary of the Detroit Conference, and has been sent as a delegate to
the General Conference several times.

BAY VIEW.

With the growth of the country and the increase of wealth
among the people, there is an increasing desire for some place of
resort for the heated term, and yet it is desirable to have such places
as free as possible from the allurements to vice and folly usually found
at watering-places. At the suggestion of Mr. S. O. Knapp, seconded
by Rev. J. H. McCarty, D. D., the Annual Conferences of the Method
ist Episcopal Church in Michigan, at their session in 1875, appointed
a committee, consisting of the following persons: Rev. E. H. Pilcher,
D. D., Rev. Seth Reed, Rev. Robert Bird, and David Preston, for the
Detroit Conference ; Rev. J. H. McCarty, D. D., Rev. W. H. Brock-
way, Rev. A. P. Moors, and S. O. Knapp for the Michigan Confer
ence; with full powers to investigate and settle the question in regard
to such a place of resort within the State. This committee organized,
and examined the various localities suggested. After such examina
tion, they became satisfied that the project was feasible, and, on the
ninth day of November of that year, effected an incorporation, under
the statutes of the State, by adopting the following articles :

438 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISiM IN MICHIGAN.

Articles of Association of the Michigan Camp- Ground Association of the Methodist
Episcopal Church:

STATE OF MICHIGAN, \
COUNTY OF JACKSON, / *

We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we desire and
agree to form an incorporated Association, pursuant to an act of the
Legislature of the State ot Michigan, entitled, "An Act to provide
for the incorporation of Associations, Conventions, Conferences of
religious bodies for literary, religious, or other benevolent purposes.
Approved March 27th, A. D. 1867," and amended by "An Act,
approved February 2d, 1875," under the name of "The Michigan
Camp-Ground Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church," and
do adopt the following articles of Association :

First. The purposes for which this Association is formed are
the securing, developing, establishing and maintaining, within the
State of Michigan, grounds for an annual Camp Meeting and sum
mer residences ; for holding Camp Meetings and religious services
in connection with summer residences, and for the transaction of all
business in connection therewith.

Second. The principal office for the transaction of business,
and at which the annual meetings shall be held, shall be on the
camp ground, unless otherwise directed, or at such other place or
places as the Association or the Board of Trustees may from time
to time direct, except as to the annual meeting, which shall be on the
camp grounds.

Third. The business of this Association, in the intervals of the
meetings of the Association, shall be conducted by a Board of nine
Trustees, and Joseph H. McCarty, of Jackson, Elijah H. Pilcher,
of Detroit, William H. Brockway, of Albion, Seth Reed, of Ann
Arbor, Aaron P. Moors, of Traverse City, Robert Bird, of Roches
ter, Samuel O. Knapp, of Jackson, David Preston, of Detroit, and
D. Burnham Tracy, of Detroit, shall constitute the first Board of
Trustees, and are divided into three classes, in the order in which
their names appear above ; the first class to continue in office for
three years, the second class for two years, the the third class for
one year, or until their successors are elected and accept their trust,
so that one-third will go out of office each year. The full term of
office shall be for three years ; and the election shall be by ballot at
the annual meeting, as fixed by the By-Laws : Provided, always, that
said Trustees shall be members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and a cessation of membership shall vacate the office.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

441

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, this ninth
day of November, A. D. 1875.

JOSEPH H. MCCARTY,
ELIJAH H. PILCHER,
W. H. BROCKWAY,
SETH REED,
AARON P. MOORS,
SAMUEL O. KNAPP,
DAVID PRESTON,
D. BURNHAM TRACY,
JOHN WESLEY KERMOTT,
JOHN M. ARNOLD,
SILAS HEYSER,
JAMES GOULD,
J. HENRY PILCHER,
GEO. O. ROBINSON.

Petoskey, at the head of Little Traverse Bay, was selected as
the place. Over three hundred acres of land, about one mile from
the village, were donated, and the first Camp Meeting was held in
the first week in August, 1866. The place has been named Bay
View. We here present the latest circular of the Association, which
will furnish a clear view of the objects and conditions of the Associ
ation.

" BAY VIEW CAMP GROUND.

"Officers of the Association. — Rev. W. H. Brockway, President;
Rev. J. M. Arnold, First Vice President ; William Phelps, Second
Vice President ; Rev. R. N. McKaig, Third Vice President ; Rev.
Seth Reed, Secretary ; David Preston, Treasurer.

" Triistees. — D. F. Barnes, Grand Rapids; E. H. Pilcher, Detroit ;
William H. Brockway, Albion; S. Reed, Ann Arbor; A. P. Moors,
Traverse City ; R. Bird, Petoskey ; S. O. Knapp, Jackson ;
David Preston, Detroit ; D. B. Tracy, Detroit.

" The Trustees of the Michigan Camp Ground Association of
the Methodist Episcopal Church are now ready to offer to the
public a resort which, it is believed, cannot be surpassed for health-
fulness, accessibility, picturesqueness of scenery and inexpensive-
ness, anywhere in our country. They ask attention to the following
points :

" Location. — Bay View Camp Ground is situated at the head of
Little Traverse Bay, and one mile north of the growing village of
Petoskey. Being alike accessable to the Upper and Lower Peninsula,

442 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

it is in all respects a most desirable point for a summer city. The
land owned by the Association lies on the southeast side of the Bay.
It rises in natural terraces, thus affording any number of most desi
rable building sites. From these sites a delightful view is had of the
lovely Bay as well as of the great Lake Michigan, upon whose
waters the vessels of commerce can be seen plying between Chica
go and the great Eastern cities. The ground has about one mile of
Bay front, along which runs a gravelly beach, admirably adapted for
drives and walks.

" Bay View is in the Mackinaw region of country, being about
twenty-five miles from the Straits and Island of Mackinaw. A
steamer usually plies daily between the Island and Petoskey, and
hence it is in a region which must ever be an attractive summer re
sort for the great Northwest.

" Health. — The Little Traverse region is known to be a Sanitari
um for hay fever, asthma and catarrhal affections. Bilious diseases
and fever and ague are positively unknown here. The climate is
remarkably invigorating, just such as thousands of enfeebled consti
tutions and other thousands of strong but over-worked men and
women need during the hot months of summer. The air is free from
all malaria, as it comes sweeping across a hundred miles or more of
fresh water from the west and northwest. The water is remarkably
clear, and pure as can be found anywhere in the world. The Trav
erse region is not mountainous, yet somewhat broken and varied,
and the scenery is very attractive. In short, the acknowledged health-
fulness of this point was one of the strong reasons, in addition to its
other natural attractions, for its selection as a place of summer resi
dence and religious convocations. Indeed, we are highly pleased
that we can now invite the people of the Northwest to a Sanitarium
equal, if not superior, to those sought at much greater expense along
the Atlantic coast.

''Recreation. — Bay View Camp Ground is surrounded by facilities
for recreation which are simply endless. In its vicinity are several
large inland lakes, some of them from twelve to fifteen miles in
length and from five to seven in width, and which abound in a great
variety of fish, such as rock bass, black bass, pickerel, perch and
white fish. The streams flowing into the lakes abound with the
much coveted speckled trout and grayling. That Little Traverse
Bay, from which the views are so enchanting, whether seen in the
morning or evening sun, will always invite the lovers of the sail and
the oar. Those large, almost unbroken forests, that stretch away

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 443

for many miles, abounding in game, both of the foot and wing, will
afford ample enjoyment to gentlemen who love the rifle.

" Tourists, too, will here find satisfaction. A great variety of at
tractive routes will invite them from this point. At Petoskey they
can take a steamer north for Mackinaw, Marquette, and the Lake
Superior ports ; or east for Cheboygan, Saginaw and Detroit ; or
south and west for Traverse City, Ludington, Grand Rapids, Chica
go and intermediate ports. At Bay View Station they can take train
on the Grand Rapids & Indiana Road southwest to the Grand
Traverse country, which abounds in attractive features ; or south to
Reed City, where they may take the Flint and Pere Marquette
Road either east or west ; or still south to Howard City, where they
can take the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Road to Lansing and
Detroit ; or still further south to Grand Rapids, where so many lines
center tending to all parts of the country.

"A more enjoyable trip, however, will doubtless be to leave
the Camp Ground by stage, four miles to Crooked Lake, thence by
steamer through Crooked Lake, Burt Lake, Indian River, Mullet
Lake, Cheboygan River to Cheboygan, a distance of about forty
miles from Bay View. This route has been opened through since
the location of the ground. At no distant day it will probably be
intersected by the Jackson, Lansing & Saginaw Road, whose north
ern terminus is now at Gaylord, but whose ultimate destination is
Mackinaw. Thus it will be seen that Bay View has a liberal list of
attractions to the pleasure-seeking tourist.

"Arrangements. — The Association has a warranty deed of 330
acres of land, covered with a thrifty growth of hard timber, both
great and small, and on which is a fine stream of beautiful water,
which can be brought into use for drinking and other purposes. A
portion only of this land has as yet been platted, but the platting
has been done in the line of a general plan which shall ultimately
embrace the entire grove. The streets and avenues will be wide
and the lots ample, averaging about one hundred by fifty feet. The
lots will be leased to parties for the purpose of erecting cottages
thereon, the lease to run fifteen years with privilege of renewal, and
subject to an annual rental, at prices varying according to location,
for the first five years from two to ten dollars. Every person leasing
a lot with the view of erecting a cottage will be required to join the
Association, the fee for life membership in which is ten dollars. Those
who do not wish a voice in the Association, but wish simply a lot for
the year, can be accommodated upon their paying the assessment
of from two to ten dollars, according to location, A committee

444 HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

will also designate places for those who wish merely a spot for the
year on which to erect a cloth tent, where the price will be merely
nominal.

" Cottages and Tents. — Bay View has the advantages of being
in a country where timber is plentiful and cheap. Manufacturing
companies in that vicinity have advised the Association that they
will furnish lumber of all kinds, both rough and dressed, for Camp
Meeting purposes, at the lowest possible figures. Their mills have
facilities for all kinds of work, and it is surprising to many how
cheap cottages may be built. Information upon the subject of
building will be furnished by Rev. R. Bird, of Petoskey, or S. O.
Knapp, Esq., of Jackson, Michigan. Those who wish to rent tents
for the season will confer with Colonel William Phelps, of Detroit.

"Entertainment. — The Association contracted for a boarding-
house to be built upon the ground, and which was finished in the
month of July, 1877. It was first made two stories high and 25 by
75 feet on the ground, but constructed with reference to additions,
as the demands should increase, some of which have recently been
made. Its site commands one of the finest views of the water to
be had upon the entire ground. In this hall, good day board is
furnished at the following rates: $5.00 per week; $1.00 per day;
50 cents for single meals.

"Good hotel accommodations will also be found in the village
of Petoskey, at reasonable rates.

" Lodgings will also be furnished for those who do not occupy
cottages. But the lodgings provided by the Association for the
present year will consist simply of bunks and straw. Persons ex
pecting to lodge on the ground, should bring blankets and pillows
with them.

"Limits. — The Bay View Camp Meeting for 1877 will com
mence Tuesday, July 3ist, and will continue one week. It will be in
charge of the Committee on Worship, viz : Rev. D. F. Barnes, Rev.
A. P. Moors, Rev. W. H. Shier.

"A Sunday School Congress will be held on the Bay View
Camp Ground, commencing July 24th, and continuing one week. To
this all Sunday School workers are cordially invited, irrespective of
denominations. It is in charge of the following general committee:
Rev. I. N. Elwood, Port Huron ; Rev. J. B. Atchinson, Detroit ; Rev.
W. W. Washburn, Detroit; Hon. C R. Brown, Port Huron; Mr.
H. Hitchcock, Detroit; Rev. H. M. Joy, Niles ; Rev. W. J. Aldrich,
Jackson ; Rev. Levi Tarr, Big Rapids ; Mr. J. S. Tuttle, Niles ; Mr.
J. H. Pilcher, Jackson.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 445

" Transportation. — All persons desirous of attending the Sunday
School Congress and State Camp Meeting at Bay View can do so
at one fare for the round trip by going over any of the following
lines of railway, viz: Grand Rapids & Indiana; Cincinnati, Hamilton
& Dayton ; Wabash (all points between Toledo and Lafayette) ;
Indianapolis, Pennsylvania & Chicago, (from Indianapolis) ; Pitts
burgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago (from local points in Indiana) ; Michi
gan Central and all its branches (from all points east of and including
Niles, also from Chicago) ; Detroit, Lansing & Northern ; Detroit &
Milwaukee; Flint & Pere Marquette ; Chicago & Lake Huron.

"Tickets will be on sale at their respective offices from July 226.
to August 5th, inclusive. Return limit, August i5th.

"The Grand Rapids & Indiana, Detroit, Lansing & Northern,
Detroit & Milwaukee, Flint & Pere Marquette, (and probably other
connecting lines), will also give the following reduced rates, viz :
two cents per mile each way, from June I5th to August 3Oth, with
return limit, August 3ist. This class of tickets may be extended a
few days if necessary.

"Close connections will be made at Richmond, Fort Wayne,
Kendallville, Sturgis, Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Howard City and
Reed City.

"Two trains daily (except Sunday) will run between Cincinnati
and Petoskey (Bay View Station). Sleeping coaches on night trains."

ERRATA.— On P^ 398> line 18 from the toP* the word "not" should be left out. Also
on same page, line 18 from bottom, in place of the words "ten cents" should be
" one o'clock."

—On page 413, line 9 from bottom, " Niagara" should be " Allegan."
—On page 416, line 4 from bottom should read "finest fruit growing ones/' etc.

ALPHABETICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL LIST

OF THE

ITINERANT PREACHERS

Who have ever been entrusted with work in Michigan ; beginning"

with 1 809, when Detroit first appears in the List,

and ending with 1877.

EXPLANATION.

The figures on the left hand of the name show the date when he became connected with
the Itinerant work in Michigan, and the figures on the right hand show the time when the con'
nection ceased; the letter "I" means that he located or retired from the work ; "cf" that he died;
"tr" that he was transferred to some other field ; " w" that he withdrew from the ministry and
Church. A short location is not regarded, nor a short absence from the State; "ex" means ex
pelled from the connection. We have taken great pains to have this list accurate, and yet there
will probably be some errors in it. The date begins with admittance on trial, and we have made
no distinction between discontinuance and location.

1827
1831
1832

1838

1843
«

1846
1849
1854
1856
1859
1864
1865

M

1868
1869

1872

M

1873

«

1874
1876
1877

.Jr.

1828

1822

Allen, Benjamin

..tr.

1832

it

Armstrong, James, P. E..
Arnold, E

..d.
1

1834
1839

1825

1828

Abbott, Isaac C

/

1872

1830

Allen, Alfred

1832

Abbott Norman

/.

1861

1833

1835

1836

Ay res Aden T ....

/.

1859

M

I

1867

«

1837

I

1872

«

Aldrich, William J

M

Allen, Charles T

«

Austin, Lyman C

d

1874

1838

«

M

...I.

1876

it

Atchinson Jonathan B

1839

(I

U

Allman, William H

M

Armstrong, Edmund V...

1840

Baker, Samuel d.

Brunson, Alfred tr.

Baughman, John A d.

Brown, Arza tr.

Billings. Alvan

Beswick, George M tr.

Brockway, William H

Buckles, A /.

Babcock, Charles tr.

Beers, Hawley B tr.

Burns, David d.

Bennett, Isaac

Breckenridge, George W...tr.

Britain, Flavel I.

Brown, Zebulon C I.

Blowers, Kufus L /.

Brakeman, Josiah d.

Burgess, Oliver tr.

Byron, Joseph I.

Barnes, Dan d.

Blanchard, Jonathan d.

Bradley, George d.

Brown, George W tr.

Bangs, Francis B

1823
1823

1868
1831

1833

1836
1844
1837
1877

1841
1875
1844
1840
1849
1839
1841
1840
1864
1871
1854

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

447

I.

1849

1866 Balls, James

Bigelow William E ...

" Barnes, Leeman

1869

Briar, James

I,

1843
1845

1852
1847

1852

" Blaker, George L

ex

Berry, Ezra

I.

" Brown, Samuel J

Bruce, Caleb A

t#.

" Buddenbaum Henry

tr

1872
1869

1877
1875
1873

Bushy, Joseph (Indian)
Barnum, Nelson

I.

1867 Beckwith, D. T

I

d.

u Bibbins, Samuel

d

Bell Andrew

" Bibbins Elisha

d

Bessey Samuel

1868 Baldwin W W

tr

Bird, Kobert

" Ball, William M

Blades Francis A

" Barrv Edward

Bovnton, Valmore G

" Barrett Wight

Benson William

" Blanchard Samuel G

Brown, Henry N

" Boggs Andrew R

Buchanan, Philander G
Borden, Edmund W

tr.
I.

1852
1S58
1866
1858
1851

*' Borcherding WT

tr»

1870

1869 Bathrick Linus ....

Belnap, Giles N

...,d.

" Bell Francis I

Bignell, George

d.

" Bronson W. A

Blades, William

/.

" Browning, Mark

Boynton, Jeremy

1870 Bennett Isaac jr

... I.

1872
1871

Burnham, John H

w.

1871

" Brass Newman W

.. . I.

Bartlett, Alanson R

" Bray, Nicholas

Bignell, Thomas H

1871 Barnhart, C. L

Barker, Sewel P

/.

1856

" Baskerville, Thomas H.

Bancroft, John O

" Bodmer, J. E

....tr.

1874
1874

Bennett, Loren M

1872 Bettis, Samuel G

/.

Baur, Emil

....tr.

1857

" Bradley, Franklin

Beach, Asahel C

1874 Berry, Joseph F

Brock way, Nelson L

1875 Ttavliss. Jnmps H...

d.

1876

Brockway, Edwin H.. ..

jl " Blood. Alvah G

Bertrams, Gustavus

.. .tr.

1868 |

" Bread v, Robert H

i 1876 Barnes, Joseph A

Birdsall, William

!

" Bready, John A

Braggins, John

I.

1861

1867 i
1868
1861
1862

1877 Bancroft, Edward B
" Berry, James

Barker, Henrv P

.. ..I.

Birth, Sebastian

tr.

" Buel, George A

Black Andrew J

1809 Case William

tr

1816
1829
1832

1846
1833
1868
1876
1838
1838
1846
1858
1844
1847
1845
1862

Bliss, W. C. H

.1.

1826 Coston, Zarah H

tr

Buel, James I

1828 Cooper, Benjamin
1830 Colclazer Henry

tr.

tr

1861

Burnett William Q

1832 Cheney, Robert

/.

Beard. Ecl^ar

d.

1873
1870
1861
1870

1833 Crane, Elijah

rf.

BQment Horace H

I.
I.

i 1835 Chatfield Larmon

d.

Barr Lewis .

1837 Chandler, Daniel M
" Colclazer Jacob

d.

tr.

Betts, George I
Bird Samuel . ..

I.

1838 Chaplin, Jonathan E

d.

Benson Amos

d.

1863
1865
1876

" Collins, Wellington H..
" Cosart, John

d.
I.
L
ex.

Billing James

I

Braun Jacob

tr.

1840 Crippen, Elliott M

Benton William H

" Cook, Remus II

Bourns, Alfred F

1841 Comfort, William C

d.

Ball, I....

tr.

1863
1865
1865
1865

" Crawford, Riley C

Berry Francis \V

I

1843 Cogshall Israel

Boeurs, William A
Blowers, Washington L.
Bacon Elisha D

......d.

" Cowles William F

tr.

1850

1872
1853
1849

1845

1844 Camburn, Myron B
" Campbell, Alexander

d.
/.

Bigelow, Samuel

...I.

1864
1866
1870

" Champion, Thomas J

ex.
I.

Buckley, James M .

. .tr.

Berry Joseph R

tr

" Curtis David A

Barnes D F

1846 Collins, Judson D

d.

1852
1853
*......*

Blanchard B W

I

1869

1847 Collins, Isaac F

tr.

Ball David O

1848 Calkins, Sylvester

Bacon. D. S...,

....i.

1874

1849 Clements, feamuel

448

1849
1850
1851

M

1852

u

1854

1855
u

tt
u
tt
M

1856

1857

«
«

M
II

1858
u

tt

K

1859
M

1860

14
M
M

1861
u

M

K
II

1866

1867
1868
1869

u

1870

u

1871

1872
u

1873

«

H

1874

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Crane, Rufus C

Card, Ira B I.

Carter, Thomas tr.

Chamberlain, James B /.

Cawthorn, John W

Clayson, William I.

Crittenden, Alvin H

Calender, Nicholas tr.

Camburn, Ira H

Chambers, Edmund C

Chase, Benjamin P I.

Carpenter, M. L L

Caster, James H

Chipman, George A /.

Clark, Thomas

Clubine, John

Congdon, Thomas J

Carlton, Henry I.

Corey, Milo I.

Crawford, Isaac /.

Crum, W. W I.

Caster, Elisha E

Cocker, Benjamin F

Coplin, Alanson tr.

Crane, Rufus H tr.

Crippen, John W

Cross, Charles /.

Chapin, George A i.

Caldwell, Hugh tr.

Colby, Harrison /.

Cordon, James R d.

Cramer, Densmore I.

Chick, Charles

Cleveland, Newell d.

Child, James L d.

Campbell, William J

Chase, Oscar F d.

Clark, William J

Curnalia, James H

Church, Charles L

Clark, Benjamin M ex.

Cochran, Isaac C d.

Colby, William M

Calkins, Levi W

Clough, Albert B

Coe, Hiram I.

Cooley, Elias

Crosby, Chauncy R I.

Cowan, John I.

Clemo, William C I.

Cadwell, Jason R

Casler, David

Cole, George L

Coplin, W. M

Carlisle, J. W. H

Cleghorn, Thomas

Cogshall, Wilber I

Carroll, Morton D

Clark, Nathan N

Campbell, John W

Campbell, William M

Craven, Edwi n

Campbell, William R I.

1851

1856
1352

1853
i'857

1855
1856

1856

1862
1859
1869
1857

1866

1872

1858
1858
1870
1859
1876
1859

1862
1874

1863

1865
1868

1867

1870

1872
1869

1875

1874
it

1875
1876

M

1877
1812
1818
1819
1826
1832
1834
1836

1844
M

M

1847
1851

1852
1855

1856
1857

1859
u

1861
1862

1866
u

1867

1869
u

1870
1871

a

1873

u
M

1874

1875

1876
u

1832
1838

1842

1846
a

1851

M

1853

1857
1858
1859
1864
1867

Coates, Frederick

Copp, Richard

Chalis, Dewit C

Cope, Robert L

Callen, Marshall M

Christian, L

Crane, Alfonzo

Densinore, George \V tr.

Davis, A Ipheus tr.

Dixon, Truman tr.

Dpnahoo, James T tr.

Dixon, Andrew I.

Davis, Lorenzo I.

Delaney, Mark /.

Day, Eri H

Dubois, Robert d.

Donelson, Ira W.

Doughtv, Benjamin F

Davis, H. G I.

Donelson, Park S tr.

Dunton, Alfred A

Dobbins, Jacob

Dougherty, Myron A tr.

Dean, Lyman H

Deshetler, Basil L I.

Donnelly, William

Doust, William

Dwelle, Jedediah I.

Dayton, James N

Dunning, William L

Darling, A. A /.

Dorey, James F d.

Deitz, Frederick M

Draper, Gilbert C

Davis, George R

Dunlap, James A

Dunning, W. Edson

Downs, Henry C /.

Deacon, George I.

Draper, James

Davis, Lewis P

Dawe, William

Dodds, Lafayette

Dawe, Edwin

Diverty, James E

Donaldson, George

Dunker, Louis tr.

Daniels, Eugene D

Darling, Marcellus W

Downs, Allison O I.

Elliott, Arthur B /.

Ercanbrack, John d.

Emery, Reuben /.

Eldred, Andrew J

Ercanbrack, Caleb K I.

Earl, Lewis W

Etheridge, N. C I.

Elliott, Joseph (Indian) /.

Edmonds, Lewis M

Edwards, Arthur

Engle, David

Edwards, Timothy I.

Eglers, John C Ir.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

449

Elliott b- C

1857

Evans Henry F

f

1876

Eland' Albert N

1859

Finley, James B. (P. E.)...
Felton Erastus

.tr.
.tr.

1824
1831

tt

1860

Finley James "W

.tr.

1832

1861

Frazee, Bradford >.....

1

1845

1862

Flemming Alanson

I

1846

1863

Frees, James II

.tr.

1839

d

Fitch Andrew M

u

Fox Thomas

d

1847

1866

Fassett Noah

1867

Farnsworth R L

I

1850

Finch. Isaac S

I

1859

1868

Finch Seth B

1857

<«

Finch Edwin

i

1855

u

Fox William .. .

it

1869

Freeman Daniel S

/

1858

1871

Fowler Josiah J

/

1874

1874

Freeman Frederick J

u

Fisher Charles H

n

Fox Daniel O

I

1866

ti

1876

Ferguson, Larmon Pilcher
Frev Theodore S

....

1874

n

1877

Force, I P

u

Frazer Joseph

tt

Frazee Elias W . ...

1810

Friend William

1

1871

1811

Fuller James ]Vt . ...

1815

Fox C. S

1824

Ford William

d

1873

1829

Foster George H

1831

Feidler Gustav H

1834

Field, George H

1835

Freyhofer, Solomon W....

.tr.
1

1875

1874

1838
1839

Floyd John E

1840

.tr.

1832

1841

.tr.

1831

1842

G-ivit Ezekiel S

.tr.

1833

.tr.

1836

1845

Givit Elnathan C

.tr.

1833

M

Gerring Hiram

.tr.

1837

1846

Goodale Osee M

J

1846

ti

Gillet, John K

d

1860

1847

Gage Franklin

1848

..tr.

1854

1849

Gardner Thomas C ...

1851

Granger Thomas B

d

1866

1852

Greensky, Peter (Indian).

..d.

1846

1853
ii

Glass William

f

1852

1854

Grimm C F

f

1849

Goodell Ransom
Gillett Daniel D

..d.

1855

d

u

Greenlaw John B ....

I

1858

1855

Gee Alexander

tt

Glass. John

...I.

1857

1856

Griffin, Lewis J

Gore, Almon I.

Gridley, John J w.

Gee, Luman I.

George Thomas T

Green, Oliver H. P I.

Garlick, Latham M /.

Graham, Adam Y /.

Gulick, Jehiel

Gordon, John M

Gray, Wilson d.

Greensky, Isaac (Indian)....o?.

Gage, Rodney

Gosling, George M

Gray, A. T

Gilbert, George L d.

Goss, JoelB

Green, Nelson

Grundy, Thomas C /.

Graham, John

Gillett, Agustus H

Gibbs, Calvin

Giberson, Daniel W

Gould, Amos M

Griffith, S. N tr.

Glover, John T

Golden, C

Gardiner, Washington

George, William

Greensted Joseph

Holmes, Ninian tr.

Hopkins, Silas tr.

Hickox, Joseph tr.

Hunter, Isaac C tr.

Hill, Jacob /.

Hill, Leonard tr.

Hargrave, Richard (P. E.) tr.

Herr, William tr.

Hudson, Jonathan /.

Hovt, Urius I.

Harrison, James S I.

Hemmingway, George F /.

Hall, Horrace

Haze, William H /.

Hickey, Manasseh

Hartman, John M tr.

Hinman, Clark T d.

Holt, Joseph W

Harris, Level F d.

Hoag, George W

Helwig Charles tr.

Hendrickson, Samuel /.

Harder, Jacob S

Hascall, Erastus R

Harrison, Ferris B I.

Haven Erastus O tr.

Hevener, William M d.

House, Samuel N I.

Hanes, Henry /.

Holdstock, Enoch tr.

Hill,T.S I.

Hutchins, H. C I.

Hertzer, Hermon

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Hollenbeck Isaac L.. .

1857

M

Hazzard, Agustus C.

.tr.

1865

1850

Hemmenway, Francis D
Hicks, Thomas Jr

1858

M

1852

1854

Holbrook, Colburn D

Hoyt, John

1857

Haviland, Daniel S

1859

Hammond, Daniel W

tt

House John

.tr.

1860

Hood, Hiram

Hankinson, Joseph T

1861

Helmker, Adolph .

tr

1865

1804

Hagadorn, Wesley

1866

lloag, Alva L

d.

1870

1867

llorton, Jacob

Hollister, George E

1870

Heitmyer, Clamer F...

1877

1 1 aancl, Hugo .. .

I

1862

1871

Hott, William

L

1871

1873

Harding, Abel W

d.

1876

1875

Hamilton, John

1820

Ilickey, George S.

tr

1«73

1833

Hicks, George S

1835

1838

Haanel, Em;ene
Hall, Horatio N

I.

1873

M

1840

Hamilton S L

U

Ileysett William

I

1873

1841

Hollowell, John W

1844

Hopkins, James H

1845

Plant, Albert N

I

1871

1816

Hall, Daniel

1874

1850

Plildreth, T. F

1851

Hills, John

1854

1856

Hulbert, Albert

I

1873

M

1873

1857

Holt, William B

tr.

1874

«

Hale, Osmer B

M

Hard, Elijah W

. . I.

1874

1858

Hollowell, John W

1862

Holmes. Alexander J

M

Hodge, John J

1866

Hovt, Almon F

1868

Hudson, James L

1809

Hunsberger, Wesley A...

u

Hulin, James

....d

1877

1870

Harper \Villiam

I

1877

1872

Holm, Ephraim S

u

Hathaway, William J...

1873

1874

Idding J T

M

....tr.

1828

1875

Jackson "\Vashington.....

1845

1877

Jackway, Thomas S

...ex.
I.

1844
1839

ii

1817

Jones, Janathan... ......

.1.

1844

1829

1833

Jennings, Joseph

... .d.

1867

1840

Judd, William P

.1.

1857

1842

Jacokes. Thomas H....

1849

Johnston, Peter O «

Johnston, John I.

Johnston, Welcome \V

Jackson, Henry, ( Indian).. ..I.

<7oslin, Thomas J

Johnston, Kohert I.

Johnston, Charles I.

Jahrans, John V tr.

Joy, Henry M

Jekins, William F

Joslin, Harvey I.

Johnston, William J I.

Jones, Joseph d.

Joslin, John S „

Jocelyn, George B d.

Johnston, Isaac

Jordan, Henry D

Jacokes, Charles A

Johns, J. M I.

Johnston, J. Milton

Janes, Frederick N

Jacklin, James E

Kent, John P tr.

Kinnear, John tr.

Kellogg, Erastus I.

King, George d.

Kcllam, James A tr.

Kahbeege, John (Indian).../.

Knox, David /.

Kellogg, Edward L

Kelly, William w.

Kingsley, Calvin tr.

Kellogg, D. 11 /.

Klein, John A tr.

Krehbiel, Jacob tr.

Klumph, Erastns

Kellogg, Jason W I.

Krill, Henry tr.

Kapphakcr, Frederick tr.

Kern, Joseph G /.

Kilpatrick, Jesse

Klepper, John W /.

Kelley, John

Kirby, Beuben I.

Kitzmiller, Samuel

Knappen, Ashburn A

Kimmel, Samuel B

Ketchum, Abijuh E

Kilpatrick, James IT

Kerr, Bichard '.../.

Kratz, Reuben N /.

Kellerman, Charles R

Kerr, Joseph

Krier, Henry tr.

Koch, Charles

Kerredge, J. Mileson

Knapp, Martin W «

Laning, Gideon tr.

Latta, Samuel A tr.

Lawrence, Richard..... /.

Lapham, Samuel /.

Law, Hiram .. d.

Lee, Samuel P ..

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

451

Levington John.....

I

1874
1872

1865

1866
a

a

1867

1868

tt
ti
H

1869
1870
1871
tt

tt

1873
u

1874
it

.1
tt

1875
1877

a

1836
1845
1851
1854

1857
1860
1861

a

1868
1870

1871

1873
1874

1875
1845
1851
1855
1857
1858
1845
1870

a

1871

1873
1877

1823
u

1830
1835
1836
1839

1842
tt

1843
tt

Littlefield Solomon S....

....d.

Lyon, Thomas

...tr.

1861

Lowe George \V

Latham D.i y id R

Lee, George D

Leet, Menzo S

I

1865

Lee, Luther

La Du, Stullum W
Lanning Robert C

*•

1870

Lich H G

tr.

1870

Lyon Georcre M

Leach \Villiam H

..I.

1871
1873
1873

Lee Charles C

. .w.

Locke Charles

Morey Platt B ....

. ..d.

1821
1826
1850
1835
1837
3*838
1839
1837
1863

i'863

1876

Minear Solomon

...tr.

Meek, Richard C

L

McGregor, Duncan
McCool Thomas P .. .

;*

Mitchell Orcn

tr.

Monnett Osband

tr.

Mclntyre Jra

I.

Minnis Adam

L

Marksman, Peter (Indian)....
Mothersill William d.

M^ount, Nathan

d.

McClure, Edward

....I.

1855

Mosher, Curtis

Mason, Octavus ..........

...d.

1850

May, Franklin W

w.

1876

1873
1853
1854
1872

McAlister, Jesse E

..d.

..d.

Measures James

I.

McKnight, William
Mitchell Lewis

....d.

M^urray Charles W

. I.

1857

1858
u

1862
1860
1859

McEwing Albert

I.

Mosher, Jonathan

L

M^adison Granville

I.

McArthy, Robert D

McKibbee, William

....I.

Mills, E.D

....I.

Mason, Wm

McCollister, Charles E...
Mes«more J H

I.
tr.

1861

1860
ci

Miller John W

Maver Andreas

Meritz Henrj7

tr.

1874

l^loors Aron A

McClure, John H

....I.

1873
tt

1876

Mclllwain Jonn A

McCarty, Joseph H

..tr.

Mofiat, Wm. C...

..tr.

Morgan, Josiah G

Mead, A. P tr.

Melitzer, Charles

Mueler, Wilholm tr.

McEldowney, John tr.

May wood, William P d.

Mclntosh John II

Mash, Norman D

May wood, John I.

Mills, Burton S

Mathias, W

McKown, J. L. G tr.

Masters, Levi

Merrill, S. M

Millar, David B

Mount, Geo. L

McAlister, John J

Mathew, D w.

McChesney, Edward

Mathews Scott I.

Misner, Dustin W

Moon, Lewis N

Morton, James H

Mayzolf, J /.

McCoy, Frank M

McFawn, David

North, Oscar F /.

Noble, John C L

Nuhfer, Nicholas tr.

Neier, Daniel tr.

Noble, James R

Nichols, Thomas

Nachrieb, George tr.

Noyes, Selah W w.

Newton, Newel

Ninde, William X

Nagler, F. L tr.

Newton, Albert D

Northrup, Henry C

Nankervis, Henry

Nixon, George

Newton, William E tr.

Osborn, Samuel A d.

Olds, Carmi C

Otis,N.L

Odell, Jeremiah w.

Owen, George W

Owen, T. G tr.

Odin, J, K

Omans, Thomas G

Odell, Daniel J

Osborn, Wm. H

Orwich, J. F

Pattee, Elias I.

Plympton, Billings O tr.

Pilcher, Elijah H tr.

Perkzer, Micah G tr.

Petezell, John H

Parker, Roswell w.

Price, Lorenzo D tr.

Pengelly, Richard

Parker, Jacob E

Penfield, Henry d.

1846
1859

1875

452

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Perry, James I I.

1851
1849

1863

u
tt
ft

1864
1865
1806
1867

1868
u

it

1869
1870

1872

1873
1874
1876
1877
1821
1825
1828
1830
1832

1833
1834

1835

1836

u

u
u

1837

1838

ti
tt

1839

a
U

t.

tl

1840
u

1844

1846
ti

1847
1848
1849
1851
1852
1853

tt

Phelitzer John tr.

Pritchard Benjamin F .

Parsons, W. S /.

1851

Pierce D H I.

1852
1857

Piilmer Geor(re D /

Prindle Elias B

Parker Henry O

Penland \Villiam I

1857
1862

Pratt John M /.

Pardington, Ravnor S

Pu,ttison Holmes A I

1868

Potter Thomas G

PcrriD, Oliver J

Peck Ilonrv C

Pu^h John

Pratt, Byron S /.

Pierce Nathan W

Paddock, William M

Pearce Listen II

Pickard Richard F

1868
1869

Plumb, Edward M

Parker Horace H.. . .

Phillips, Gilbert A

Pullman Henrv

Prouty, William

Pearce Webster H

Potts, James H

Palmer, Horace

Pilcher Leander W

1872

Parsons Daniel W . .

Patterson, George W tr.

1873

Pearce Francis E

1876

Priestlv, John S

Paull, John S

Peirce, Edwin P

Preston, Walter

Parish, Aza G

1877
1877

Pierson, Charles W

Pope, Russel B

Kvan, Henry (P. E ) tr

1820
1828
1834

Runnels, William tr.

Robinson, R. S.. tr

Robe, James T

Richards, Ransom R d

1872
1838
1845
1840
1850
1849

Ridgway, Robert v.

Ransom, Halsey W tr.

Reese Joseph tr.

Roberts, Hiram M w.

Reynolds, Reuben . .w

Russell, John

Rhodes, William

1846

Reed, Seth..

Root, Frederick S

1850

Rothweiler, Jacob tr.

1854

Ramsdell, Stephen L .

Russell, Jesse B

Rork, William W tr.

1867
1863

Rose, William F ..../.

Reuter, George G tr.

Roberts, James

Rolf, Alvin A

Russell, Andrew J

Richards, Andrew J

Richards, John H

Rice, William ex.

Riley, James

Reid, John M

Reid, James W

Ross,J.H

Riley, William

Rogers, Alonzo w.

Robinson, Charles T L

Rork, Martin V ex.

Robinson, James M

Richards, Jonathan E

Rich}, Daniel C

Riddiek, I^aac H

Strange, John (P. E.) tr.

Simmons, William tr.

Snow, William T tr.

Sprague, William /.

Swift, Marcus /.

Sullivan, William M /.

Smith, Newell E I.

Seaborn, Frederick A ex.

Southard, S. F /.

Smith,Lewis I.

Sabin, Peter /.

Sandford, Jarnes D I.

Sharp, Peter /.

Staples, Allen d.

Scotford, John /.

Shaw, James tr.

Shaw, Samuel P. (P. E.)....«r.

Sampson, William H tr.

Sandford, Miles W w.

Smith, George d.

Stanley, George /.

Sabin, Benjamin d.

Sapp, Rezin d.

Sayre, John ex.

Sheldon, R. P /.

Steel, Ebenezer

Steel, Salmon

Shurtlliffe, Gideon J d.

Stringham, Stephen C w,

Seeley, Thomas

Simonds, Samuel D tr.

Shaw, Addison C d.

Spates, Samuel I.

Stock well, Charles F I.

Stambaugh, Martin W ex.

Sutton, Joseph

Seddlemeyer JohnH tr.

Smart, James S

Sommerville, James /.

Stonex, William G w.

Schweinfert, John tr.

Sanborn, Orlando

Seaman, Charles W /.

Sheldon, Barber N K^....l.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

453

1854
tt

1855
1856

tt

it

1857
ti

1858

1859
u

tt

1860
1861

1864
tt

1865
tt

tt

1866

1867
tt

1868

1869
u

1870
tt

1871

1872

1873

1874
1875
1876
1877

1835
1836

Schneider, Peter F

....tr.

1860

1837

Smith, Ira E

I

1855

1840

Smith, John J

1858

1841

Savagje« John R

I

1857

1843

Shank Joseph

d

1867

1844

Sinex, Thomas H . ..

tr

1864

i 1846

Sly, William

I

1857

1847

Sumner, Daniel D..

I

1857

1849

Seeley, Samuel F

I

1858

1850

Smith, Moses J

1852

Stillman, David M

I

1859

1853

Soarls. Braddock

I,

Steel, N. Maffett

1855

Stafford William

I

1863

1857

Stalker, Thomas

1858

1859

Sprague, Jonathan A

tt

Shaw William C

tr

1861

1862

Shier, William H

1864

Stowe, George

1866

Swift, William J

1869

S^ott, James W

.. . I.

1875

1870

Spencer, Thomas J

tt

Springsteen, Archibald
Shepherd Albert

i

1874
1876

1872

1866

1873

S.nith, Elijah A

/.

1867

1874

Schneider, John S

tr

1868

tt

Sonsabaugh, Andrew J..

.. /

1875

tt

Shelling, Charles

... .1

1869

tt

Simpson, Charles

1864

Skinner, Irving H

1839

Smith, B. W

1855

Sparling, II. W

w

1876

1857

Spencer, Henry F

tt

Schwimm, George

tr

1870

a

Sherman, Jonathan

I

1869

i860

Sargent, Francis D

I

1869

1864

Schunk, Frederick
Scott, Marvin J

...tr.

1870

1867

1868

Smith, Henry H

1869

Sparling, John G

1872

Sparling W. H ....

w

1876

1875

Springsteen H ...

I

1870

1827

Stark, John K

1831

Steer, Edward

1832

Shier, Dan E

1835

Silber, William B

I

1874

1836

Saunders Nelson

1837

Sherman Manly H

I

1871

1838

Snyder, Sanford

I

1875

tt

Stinchcomb, William... .

tt

Stedman, Ulysses S

tr

1874

1839

Storrer John

I

1876

tt

Strong, Frederick

tt

1841

tt

Schneider, J

1842

Schweinfurth, George J.

1843

Springsteen, James W...

1844

Strickland, S. C

1845

Triggs, Robert

1846

Thomson, Edward

....tr.

1838

M

Todd, William d.

Thomas. David d.

Taylor, William

Tooker, Theron C /.

Tyler, E. S ex.

Taylor, George

Tappin, Edwin I.

Taylor, Isaac

Taylor, Barton S

Todd, Henry H I.

Tracy, D. Burnham

Thorns, Isaac N tr.

Tuttle, William

Torrey, Augustus W ex.

Triggs,. William M

Ted man, Lucius S

Tuthill, George W

Tanner, James H

Turner, Pinckney L I.

Tarr, Levi

Treadgold, Elight tr.

Thomas, Charles G

Truscott, John M

Tanner, Edward A

Thompson, Henry W

Tallman, I. B

Templeton, John G L

Thomas, James H

Tilden, William L

Treftz, Gottlob

Ulrich, John J L

Van Order, Harvey /„

Yarnum, Joseph B

Vandoozer, Samel P I.

Van Horn, George A

Van Wyck, Abram J /.

Van Antwerp, Charles S

Venning, James

Van Norman, Ephraim

Valentine, Julius S

Vanfleet, James A

Van Every, John M

Van Auken, Chauncy

Walker, George W tr.

WTiley, Thomas d.

Whitney, Luther J) /.

Williams, Sandford S tr.

Wareham, Philip tr.

Wells, Wesley J tr.

Warriner, Levi I.

Wood, Aaron (P. E.) tr.

Worth ington, Henry

Watson, James V d.

Wells, O.S /.

Whitwom, Samuel /.

Woodard, Stephen C

Warner, George W /.

Whitlock, David d.

WTakelin, Thomas

Warren, Frederick W

Whedon, Daniel D tr.

Whitmore, Orin

Westlake, Eli

454

1849

ft

1850

1851
1852
1854

1855

1857
u

u

u

1850

M

1860
1861

1862
it

M

1863

n

u

1865
u

1866

u
u

1867

u

tt
tt

1868
tt

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Wakefield Amos

1868
i

1869
«

tt

u
tt
u

tt

1870

M
ft
tt

tt
ll
tl

1871
tt

tc

1872
tt
tt

1873

tt

H

tt

1874
n

u

tt
u

1876

1877
tt

tt

1841
1849

1856
1863
1867

Westerfelt John II

tr.

1851

1857

White, Grin D W

1

Whitmore, John J

12

1855

i

1857

1856

a

Wilber, Albert D

.tr.

Ward, Rowland

I

Wells H C . ...

. I.

1856

Wightman, B. H

Wilkinson Samuel

I

1861
1858

Watson Charles P .

I.

Way, William C

Weslev John

Wright, Elisha

1

1860

Wheeler Amos C

I.

1861
1873
1865

Wilkinson, Edward

.tr.

West Francis L

..d.

Withey, Jerome B

J

1868

Woodard David C ....

d

1867

Wright Dean &

I

1865

White, Henry S

Ware Wm. H

Wigle, Eli

Withev, James E

Whitcomb, Alonzo

Whitney, George C
Wilsey, Marcenus B

..ex.
.....

1868

1869
1870

Wood Charles D

. I.

Wallace, John F

Warburton, Charles S

..w

1873
».....«

White, James E

. .. .•

Williams, Henry C I

Williams, William T I.

Welsh, W. W tr.

Whitman, Barney H

Wilkinson, Thomas B /.

Wilson, Samuel b

Wilson, Andrew W

Wood, Alvah B ,

Wright, Philip S

Wright, B. F L

Walker, John L

Warns, Anthony fa

Washburn, W. Wallace

Welch, Bollin C

Wheeler, Arthur J

Wilkinson, Thomas

Wunderlich, E tr.

Ward, Duncan M

Weiler, Gustav

Whalen, James E

Weber, Adam tr.

Whiteley, Duke

Woodhams, Ronald

Whalen, Edward I.

Whitwam, Edward A

Wheaton, W. W tr.

Wightman, Oramel E

White, John W

Whitney, Jonathan M

Whitmore, Grin B

Wilcox, Isaac

Williams, John P I.

Wilson, Isaiah

Weeks, George A

Willetts, Oscar F

Wright, Henry W

Young, Ruggles B /.

Young, Erasmus D

York, Lodowick C

Yemans, Charles C I.

York, Frederick E ^..^

1874
1872
1872

1872

1872
1872

1874

1873

1874
1874

1876

1847

1*872

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

455

A LIST OF ALL THE

In making up the alphabetical list, a number of names were
accidentally omitted, much to the regret of the author. These
names are contained in the following list. We have also added
to the list those who came into the conferences in 1878.

1878
1866
1872
1878
1832
1878

1856
1858
1859
1867

1868

Atkinson, John

Barnes, G. S

Bradley, Franklin

Blake, Henry P

Davidson, James F. ...
Daniels, Grosvenor —

Desjardin, Paul

Elder, W. W

Hertzer, C. G

Horst, John

Hood, Hiram

Hayes, Ezra..

Hicks, Henry W

Houghton, Levi L

Haight, George L

Hall, Henry H

Hamilton, James

Henderson, Horatio P.

Hewitt, Shubael P

Hill, Henry J

1860

1876

1868 Hodskiss, Harvey

Howe, Charles H

" Hulbert, Henry H

1869 Hazen, Albert R

1871 Hopkins, James H

1873 Hollenbach, J. W

1878 Holding, C. B

Holmes, Alexander J. ...

i Maveety, Patrick J

Mooney, Warren

Newcomb, George T

1870 Pearman, Elias E

1878 Paddock, Orresta A

" Perrin, Donald A

1873 Sparling, Ellis H

187.8 Sly, W.S

Talmage, Charles H

Terwillegar, Michael D.
1861 j Wortley, Jacob Cap

1875

May 1, 1879.

1844. James V. Watson.

1845-6. John A. Baughman.

1847. Supplied by O. Mason, andE. Crane. P. E.

1£MO n Samuel D. Simonds.

Elijah H. Pilcher.

Wellington H. Collins.

Albert D. Wilbor.

Francis A. Blades.
1858. Samuel Clements.
1859-60- SethReed.
1861-2, John M. Arhold.
1863, James M. Buckley.

1848-

1850-1.

1852-3.

1854-5.

1856-7.

J.L was amalgamated with, Woodward Ave
nue, making the Central Church.
LAFAYETTE STREET — TABERNACLE.

1849. Joseph J. Perry.

1850. Lorenzo D. Pierce.

1851. George Taylor.
1852-3. Manasseh Hickey.
1854-5. William H. Perrine.
1856-7. James F. Davidson*
1858. Robert Bird.
1859-60. Daniel C. Jacokes.
1861. SethReed.

454

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

1849

Wakefield. Amos........

<4

Westerfelt, John H....

tr.

1851

1850

White, Orin D W ..

/.

1857

1851

Warner, Silas P,...

1852

WThitmore John J

d.

1855

1854

«

Williams, Porter

.. . I

1857

u

Wilber, Albert D

tr.

1856

1855

I.

u

u

Webster. James....

1868
1869

Williams, Henry C I. 1874

Williams, William T I. 1872

Welsh, W. W tr. 1872

Whitman, Barney H

Wilkinson, Thomas B I. 1872

Wilson, Samuel S

Wilson, Andrew W

Wood, Alvah B

Wright, Philip S

Wrio-ht Tt V / 1S7Q

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

455

A LIST OF ALL THE

EPISCOPAL METHODIST MINISTERS

Who have been appointed to Detroit, with the date of appointment.

These appointments were all made in the summer

or autumn of the year named.

1809. William Case,

1810. Ninian Holmes, Wm. Mitchell

1811. Ninian Holmes, Silas Hopkins.

1812. George W. Densmore.
1813-14. The War.
1815-16. Joseph Hickox.

1817. Gideon Laning.

1818. Alpheus Davis.

1819. Truman Dixon.

1820. John P. Kent.

1821. Platt B. Morey, who died, and it was sup

plied by John P. Kent,

1822. Alfred Branson, Samuel Baker.

1823. Elias Pattee, Billings O. Plympton.

1824. Elias Pattee, Isaac C. Hunter.

1825. William Simmons.
1826-7. Zarah H. Coston.
1828-9. Arza Brown.
1830. Alvan Billings.
1831-2. Henry Colclazer.
1833-4. Elijah Crane.
1835. William Herr.
1836-7. Edward Thomson.
1838. Jonathan E. Chaplin.
1839-40. Henry Colclazer.

1841. Andrew M. Fitch.

1842. James S. Harrison.

1843. James S. Harrison, Jonathan Blanchard.

WOODWARD AVENUE.

1844. James V. Watson.
1845-6. John A. Baughman.

1847. Supplied by O. Mason, andE. Crane, P. E.

1848-9. Samuel D. Simonds.

1850-1. Elijah H. Pilcher.

1852-3. Wellington H. Collins.

1854-5. Albert D. Wilbor.

1856-7. Francis A. Blades.

1858, Samuel Clements.

1859-60- Seth Eeed.

1861-2, John M. Arnold.

1863. James M. Buckley.

Union of Woodward Avenue and Congress Street,

making
CENTRAL CHURCH.

1864. James M. Buckley.

1865. James M. Buckley, Joseph H. McCartv.

1866. Joseph H. McCarty, Lewis B. Fiske. "
1867-8. Lewis B. Fiske.

1869. Benjamin F. Cocker, but was supplied by

D. D. Buck and G. C. Lyon.
1870-1-2. William X. Ninde.

1870. Charles C. Yemans, Assistant.
1873-4-5. Lewis E. Fiske ; 1873-4, J. B. At-

chinson, Assistant.
1876-7o Wm. X. Ninde.

CONGRESS STREET.

1844-5. Eansom E. Richards.

1846. James F. Davidson.

1847. Harrison Morgan.
1848-50. George Taylor.

1851. JohnEussell.

1852. CarmiC.Olds.

1853. William Mahon.
1854-5. Manasseh Hickey.
1856-7. Andrew J. Eldred.
1858-9. Francis A. Blades.

1860. Franklin W. May.
1861-2. Orlando Sanborn.

1863. James S. Smart.

1864. It was amalgamated with Woodward Ave

nue, making the Central Church.
LAFAYETTE STREET — TABEHNACLE.

1849. Joseph J. Perry.

1850. Lorenzo D. Pierce.

1851. George Taylor.
1852-3. Manasseh Hickey.
1854-5. William H. Perrine.
1856-7. James F. Davidson.
1858. Eobert Bird.
1859-60. Daniel C. Jacokes.

1861. Seth Eeed.

456

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

1862-3-4. Jacob C. Wortley.
1865-6. Orin Whitmore. '
1867-8-9. Elisha E. Caster.
1870-1-2. John McEldowny.
1873^-5. Webster H. Pearce.

1876. Lewis R. Fiske.

1877. Charles T. Allen.

FRENCH MISSION, (discontinued.)
1851-6. Thomas Carter.

CITY MISSION— 6th St.— SIMPSON.

1852. Riley C. Crawford.

1853. Richard McConnelL

1854. Joseph W. Holt.

1855. John A. Baughman.

1856. Manasseh Hickey.

1857. John Levington.

1858. John A. Baughman,

1859. Arthur Edwards.

1860. John Levington.
1861-2. Jason W. Kellogg.

1863. John M. Arnold.

1864. Henry N. Brown.

1865. Silas P. Warner.

1866. Manasseh Hickey.

1867. Squire E. Warren.

1868. William J. Campbell.
1869-70. Thomas J. Josliu.
1871. William II. Shier.
1872-3-4. Thomas Stalker.
1876-6-7. W. W. Washburn.

BEAUBIEN STREET. (German).

1846. Charles llelwig.

1847. John M. Hartman.

1848. Chaales llelwig, Charles Grimm.

1849. Charles Helwig.
1850-51. John A. Kleine.
1852-3. Jacob Rothweiler.
1854-5. Peter Schneider.
1856. Emil Baur.
1857-8. Nicholas Nuhfer.
1859-60. John Schweinfert.
1861-2. George Nachtreib.
1863-4-5. George Renter.
1866. Charles Melitzer.
1857-8-9. George Schweinn.
1870-1. Anton Warns.
1872-3-4. Henry Pullman.
1875-6-7. Charles G. Hertzer.

LAS AXLE A. VENUE — SIXTEENTH STREET.

(German.)

1856. Gustavus Laas.
1857-8. Gustavus Bertrams.
1859-60. William A. Boerns.

1861. Jacob Braun.
1862-3-4. Charles G. Herteer.
1865. Henry Maentz.
1866-7. John S. Schneider.
1868-9. William Borcherding.
1870. A. Meyer.

1871-2-3. Jacob Braim.
1874-5. Henry KrilL

1820.
1821.
1822.

1823.

1876-7. George A. Reuter.

JEFFERSON AVENUE.

1866. Manasseh Hickev.
1867-8-9. Alfred F. Bourns.
1870-1-2. Elisha E. Caster.
1873-4. Alanson R. Bartlett.

1875. James M. Fuller.

1876. Elijah II. Pilcher.

1877. Raynor S. Pardington.

SIXTEENTH STREET.

1872. Henry N. Brown.
1873-4. Lewis P. Davis.
1875. Squire E. Warren.
1876-7. John Russell.

FORT STREET.

1874-5-6. Raynor S. Pardington.
1877. William Q. Burnett.

PRESIDING ELDERS.

Genesee Conference — Upper Canada District
1810-11-12. Henry Ryan.
1815. William Case.
1816-17-18-19. Henry Ryan,

Ohio Conference — Lebanon District,
James B. Finley.
John Strange.
James B. Finley.

Miami District.
John Strange.

Ohio Conference.

1824. James B. Finley. Sandnsky District*

1825. William Simmons. Detroit District,
1826-7-8. Zarah H. Coston.
1829-30-31. Curtis Goddard.
1832-3-4-5. James Gilruth.

Michigan Conference^
1836-7. William Herr.
1838-41. George Smith.
1842-3. Elijah II. Pilcher.
1844-7. Elijah Crane.
1848-51. James Shaw.
1852-3. John A. Baughman.
1854-5. Wellington H. Collins.
Detroit Conference.
1856-7. Wellington H. Coollins.
1858-9. James F. Davidson.
1860-63. Manasseh Hickey.
1864-7. Samuel Clement*.
1868-71. Francis A. Blades.
1872-75. Elijah Pilcher.
1876-7. James M. Fuller.

^GERMAN. (Mich. District).
1854-5. N. Callender.
1856-9. Peter F. Schneider.
1860-3. Nicholas Nuhfer.
1864-7. Clamor F. Heitmeyer.
1868-9. H. G. Lich.
1870-3. E. Wunderlich.
1874-7. Gottlob TrefU.

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN. 457

NOTE.— The City of Detroit was made a Station in 1825, that is, the minister was to con
fine his work to the city ; hence only one name appears until 1843. At this time it was deter
mined to create a new Society, and a second man was appointed. The new organization took the
name of Congress Street. In 1844 the first Society took the name of Woodward Avenue, and these
two worked separately until 1864. when they were united and took the name of Central Church.
In 1849 a third Church was organized called Lafayette Street, which is nowknown as Tabernacle.
A fourth charge was organized in 1852, called City Mission, then Walnut Street, afterwards
Seventh Street, and finally Simpson Church, when they erected their present beautiful house.

The German charges were also uncertain in their names for some time, and finally settled
down on the names now appearing in the Minutes.

The other charges were created in the years named with the names now attached to them,
to wit: Sixteenth Street in September, 1872, and Fort Street in February, 1874.

458

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Abbott, Robert „ .. .. 40

Abbott, Betsey 46

Adams, S. C „ 304

Adams, Dr., becomes Romanist... «.- ~...213

ADRIAN —

Historical.... .... 296

Appears in Minutes 296

First Preachers 297

Church Organized 297

Additions .. 297

School-house 298

Preaching on Sabbath „ 298

Revival— Davidson and Wiley 298

Station 300

Church Erected 300

Parsonage 300

Revival— Watson .. 300

Baptism Discussed 30 1

Revival — Baughman 303

Second Church 304

Difficulties 304

Opposition 305

Sabbath Schools 317

Other Churches 317

Work in the County 317

Statististics for County 318

Property 318

Statistics for City 319

ALBION —

Location 383

History 383

College 383

Endowment 390

Preston 386

Revivals .... 387

Principals and Presidents 387

Churches Organized 396

Quarterly Meeting 396

Revival Meetings 398

Baptism 401

ALLEGAN 416

ANN ARBOR —

District Created 113

Sketch 227

Its Name 228

First Preaching 228

Presbyterian Church 228

Methodist Church 228

Circuits 229

Members .. 229

First Methodist Prayer Meeting 230

Arrangement of Circuits 231

Accessions 231

Name of Circuit ... ... .232

PAGE.

Church Built „ 233

Bishop fcoule ....234

Revival.. .. 233

Station — 234

No Defection 232

Appointments 234

Progress..... .. ......235

Presbyterian „ 235

Protestant Episcopal 235

Baptist 235

Congregational 235

German Methodist 235

Statistics 235

Anecdotes —

Mr. Richard 15

William Case.. 33

HenryRyan 37

Bible Distribution 379

Collection 345

Judge Russ 359

Armstrong, James 255

Arnold, Dr. John M 431

Atwater, Luman R 347

" Aunt Kitty"— Fay 298

Babcock, Charles 284

Bacon, David 12

Baker, Samuel —

On Detroit Circuit 93

Marries and Dies...., 93

Memoir of. ........136

Bangs, Dr. Nathan —

Journey to Detroit 18

Second Visit to Detroit 13

Third Visit— Leaves 13

Memorial of. 25

Bangs, Joseph ..245

Bangs, Francis B 352

BATTLE CREEK —

History 376

Name -...377

Incident of revival ....378

Church Organized .. 378

Names of Members 378

Statistics 383

Circuit 380

Baughman, John A 185, 252

Baughman, Mrs. John A 148

BAY VIEW 437

Bell, Andrew .' 303

Beswick, George M 265

Bidwell,Ira 306

Bignell, George 413

Billings, Alvan .. ......115

Bird, Robert « .... ......324

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

459

Birmingham Church 324

Black Hawk War 125

Blades, William -...353

Blades, Francis A 204, 300, 346

Brick Church-
How Walls put up 98

Never Finished 99

What Became of it 100

Book Depository 430

Brockway, William H 178, 284

Brown, Arza —

In Detroit 190

Oakland Circuit 192

Memorial of. 190

Brown, Hannah B 229

Brown, Eebecca G 230

Brown, Sarah J 230

Brown, Charles, Sudden Death of. 369

Brown, Z. C 345, 412

Brunson, Dr. Alfred —

Detroit Circuit 93

Visits Mount Clemens 136

A Catholic Wants Sins Pardoned 136

Memorial of. 134

Camp Meetings —

In Canada, 1810 21

On the Eouge 91

In Superior, 1831 117

In Bloomfield, 1831 194

" 1832 120

Near Adrian 318

In Grand River Valley 335

In Jackson County 366

Near Albion ' 401

Central Church, Detroit 199

Charges — •

1828 Ill

1829-30 115

1831 132

1832 '. 126

1834 128

Chatfield, Larmon..." 338

Cholera 126

Churches in Detroit Organized—

Methodist 16, 17

Protestant Episcopal 168

Presbyterian 68, 168

Baptist 168

Congregational 168

Church Property 421

Circuits —

Extent of. 94

Geography of. 112

Names of* 112

Enlargement of. 116

Clark, Calvin 132

Clements, Samuel 321

Close of War 56

Cocker, Dr. B. F 242

Colclazer, Henry 115, 232, 300

COLDWATER —

Appears 285

Growth .. .. -....286

Statistics 286

Church Organized. .... „ .. 87

Names . .... 87

Collins, W. H .. 204

Collins, J. D 236

Comfort, William C .. ... 259

Comstock, Nathan 298

Comstock, Hon. A. J 301

Comstock, Dr. O. C 291

Conferences —

Michigan Created „.. « 175

Detroit Created 175

Comparative Progress 422

Conclusion — A Summary 70

Congregational Church.... 422

Congress St. Church 198

Controversy, „ 248

Conversions —

R. Abbott 21

Catholic Woman « 91

Franch Woman 192

A. J. Comstock 301

P. Davidson 248

EliHubbard 117

Cooper, Benjamin 257

Corporation, Detroit —

Organization „..« „ 95

Articles of „„ 95

Corporators « 97

Coston, Z. H.—

In Detroit 110

Visits Southwestern Michigan 113

Crane, Elijah 234

Cross, Margarette 246

Darwin, Alanson „ 217

Davidson. James F. —

In Adrian 298

Preseding Elder 257

Memorial of. 217

Davidson, Mrs. Jas. F 259

Davis, Alpheus —

On Detroit Circuit 69

Memorial of. 81

Davis, Lorenzo 127, 253

Dean, Jerry .. „ 138

DETROIT —

Circuit 13

Circuit in 1822 135

District 108

City— Origin of. .. 11, 156

Growth 157

Attacked by Ottogamies 161

Burned 14

Efforts to Save 14, 15

Casualties 161

New City 15

Savoyard River 159

Pontiac's Siege 162

460

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Periodicals 166

Eeligious Statistics 204

Educational 168

Beligious Societies 167

Young Men's Christian Association 168

Diocese — Protestant Episcopal 176

Dixon, Truman 83

Dobbins, Jacob —

A Local Preacher 336

Crosses Grand Kiver on Baft 336

Donahoo, James T 220

Duffield, Dr. George 202

Edwards, Dr. Arthur 435

Eldred, Andrew J 347

Episode 397

Ercanbrack, John 259

Evangelistic Society 68

Farnsworth, L. L 198

FARMINGTON —

Revival at 116

Finley, Dr. James B.—

First Visit to Detroit Circuit 181

Visits Detroit City 181

Petitioned for * 184

Memorial of. 180

Finley, James W.—

Monroe Circuit 215

Revival 214

Crosses River on Ice 215

Memorial of 215

"Fish, Hon. Henry 330

Fiske, Dr. L. R 394

Fisk, James 286

Fitch, A. M 346

Fitzgerald, Maria 368

Flint, Martin-
Converted 3fil

A Martyr 301

FLINT, City of—

Origin..." 348

Shools 348

Church Organized 348

Brockway's Account 348

Quarterly Meeting 349

Sacrament 349

Appears in Minutes 349

Church Built 350

Station 352

Church Burned 352

Second Church 352

Other Denominations 352

Conference Sessions 353

Statistics 353

Foot, Milton 309

Fox, Thomas 310

Frazee, Bradford^

Saginaw Mission 281

Marries 281

Freeman, Daniel 16

Freeman, Daniel S 352

PAGE.

Frees, James —

On Grand River Circuit 342

Capacities for the Work 342

Friendship Broken 64

Gardner, Dr. Thomas C 329

Garwood, Joseph C. —

Converted 112

Joins Methodist Episcopal Church 214

Memorial of 214

Geography of Circuits 112

German Work 418

Gilruth, James —

Presiding Elder 126

Memorial of 187

Goddard, Curtis 187

GRAND RAPIDS —

Grand River Valley 334

Appears in Minutes 334

In Ann Arbor District 334

In Marshall District 335

Wants Met 335

Defection, Instance of 337

Revivals 337

Unsuitable Appointment 342

Review 343

Bad Policy 343

Progres 344

Change of Policy 344

Settlement Progresses 344

Special Attention to Rapids 344

Increase 345

Station 346

Revivals 34H

Second Charge 347

Statistics 347

Property 347

Other Denomitations 347

Grant, Dr. Isaac — •

Became a Methodist 402

Class-leader 402

Memorial of. 402

Grant, Loring 383, 404

Gurley, L. B 231

Hanchett, Joseph 87

Harmon, Thomas 69

Harvey, Widow —

Invites Kent to a Home 212

Labored with for it 212

Harvey, Mary 210

Hastings, E. P 171

Haven, Dr. E. 0 230

Heroism 17

Hickey, Manasseh 429

Hickox, Joseph — •

Appointed to Detroit 56

Desdription of Detroit 56

Success in Canada 62

Extent of Circuit 50

Journey to Detroit 77

Col James' Order 63

Labors on Circuit 63

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

461

Interviews with Richard 102

Memorial of. 71

Hinman, Dr. C. T.—

At Albion 384

At Northwestern University 388

Memorial of. 387

Hobart, Randall 292

Holmes, Ninian —

Appointed to Detroit 22

Memorial of. 35

Honness, Wyandotte 127

Hopkins, Silas 36

Hudson, Jonathan J85

Hunter, Isaac C. —

Horse abused .^. 101

Appointed to Detroit 101

Memorial of 147

Immersionists 338

Incidents —

Romantic 414

Rowdyism 118

"The Power"— Baptist Brother 194

Scotchman and Hell 193

Revivals at Romeo 272

Clairvoyance 2G5

Church Attndance 205

Singular 118

Interrupting a Preacher 338

Increase —

Of Settlement 90

Of Work 91

Introductory 99

IOXTA—

Church Organized 410

Station 410

Other Churches Ill

Conclusion 411

JACKSON—

Settlement 357

County Organized 359

Judges 359

Hard Name 359

Reading Meetings 360

First Sermon 360

Church Organized 361

First Quarterly Meeting 361

Vicissitudes 361

Sabbath School 362

Numbers 362

Presbyterian 362

Congregational 362

Revival in City 362

Baptist 363

Protestant Episcopal 363

Difficulties of Travel 365

The County 366

Revival in County 366

Appears in Minutes 374

Station 375

! Church Built 375

Statistics ....376

Jacokes, Dr. D. C.—

Admitted 326

Memorial of. 326

Janes, John —

On Detroit Circuit HO

Visits Adrian 297

Is Married HI

Jesuits — Course Accounted for 9

J ocelyn, Dr. George B. —

President Albion College 401

Memorial of 404

KALAMAZOO —

History 254

Appears in Minutes 122

Missionaries to 254

Church Organized 255

Names 255

Other Churches 255

Extent of Circuit 255

Circuit Curtailed 255

New Societios 256

New Members 256

Advance 256

Special Attention 257

Minister for a Third Year 257

Church Begun 257

Station 257

Conference 1848 258

Bishop Janes's Sermon 259

No Disaster 259

Statistics 259

Still a Village 263

Keeler, Mary 116

Kellam, James A 305

Kent, John P. —

Sent to Detroit 89

Holds Camp-meeting 91

Memorial of. 133

Ketchum, Sidney 289

Ketchum, Katherine 289

Lakes —

Superior 178

Devil's 318

Saint Clair, night on 221

Laning, Gideon —

Sent to Detroit 69

Revisits the Country 80

Memorial of. 79

LANSING —

Sketch of. 406

Early Preachers 406

Church Organized 407

Population 407

Right Policy 408

Appears in Minutes 408

District 408

Conference Session 409

Statistics 410

Latta, Dr. Samuel A. —

Sent to Saint Clair 220

Memorial of. 220

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Lee, Dr. Luther 356

LeRoy, D 320

Limbocker, Kev. Mr 1 32

Literary Institutions 230

Log Churches—

On the Rouge 83

History of. 84

<4 Donation Chapel" 131

History of. 322

Lyons 335

Macorab, Sarah 50

McCarty, William 44

McCarty, Maria C 47

McCartv, Dr. J. H 435

McCoiinell, Willard M 321

McCoskry, R't. Kev. Dr. S. A 176

MARSHALL—

Location 288

Population 295

Rivals 288

Religious Services 2 S8

Church Organized l S9

Names 289

Love-feast and Sacrament 1:90

Increase 290

Revival 288

Appears in Minutes 291

District j 291

Conference at 291

Bishop Hedding's Sermon 292

Second Conference 292

Presbyterian Church 292

Cholera 293

Other Churches 293

Incorporated a City 295

Educational ! 295

Maxwell, Major Thompson —

Tn rows Tea in Boston Harbor 120

Soldier of the Revolution 120

Soldier 1812 120

Memorial of 120

Maynard, Maria 232

Methedist Polity 410

Methodist Publishing Company —

Articles of Association 431

First Officers 431

Michigan Christian Advocate 431

Millerism 303

Minister Flogged 305

Ministers Raised up 127

Missions — -

St. Joseph U4

On Lake Superior (Indian) 178

In Lower Peninsula (Indian) 128

Flat Rock (Indian) 127

In Detroit (French) 199

Mitchell, William-
Appointed to Detroit 22

Organizes a Church 16

Memorial of. .. 39

PAGE.

Mitchell, Joseph —

In Detroit 1817 66

Anecdote of Sermon 67

Conversation with Monteith 67

Mitchell, Oren „ 334

Monnett, Osband —

Sent to Grand Rapids 4H

Horse Stolen 412

Mo X ROE —

History of. 209

Methodist Church 210

Methodist Before the War 211

Presbyterian Church 211, 217

First Church Erected 211

Methodist re-Organized 21 1

Revival 214

Pilcher and Sprague 216

Station 216

Church Built 216

Protestant Episcopal 216

Baptist 219

German Lutheran 217

Statistics 218

Montieth, John —

(Vtines to Detroit 60, 64

Organizes a Society 64

Mon-y, Plait B 90

Neglecter, End of a '. 117

New Church 100, 199

NILES—

Sketch of. 263

Coston visits 264

Church Organized 264

Appears in Minutes 263

Station 264

Conference Session 265

Statistics 271

Dissensions .' 270

The Work Around 266

Other Churches 270

Noble, Sally 143

North, O.F LS4

Northwestern C. Advocate 434

Note 87

Offer of Help 99

Other Protestant Churches 421

Owen, Hon. John 139

Palmer, Mrs. Mary A 145

Parke, Dr. Ezra 193

Pattee, Elias—

Sent to Detroit 99

Goes East to Collect Money 99

Memorial of. 251

Pearce, John D 292

Phelps, Ambrose M 293

Phelps, Hon. Col. William 198

Pilcher, Dr. E. H.—

On Ann Arbor Circuit 115, 232

OnTecuinseh 123

Extent of Circuit 123

First round on 123

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

463

Extracts from Journal 123

Going through Woods 124

Keturn to Ann Arbor 124

Blazes the Way 125

Pilcher, Caroline M 372

Pilcher, J. Henry 362

Pilcher, Phebe M 272

Plympton, Billings 0 93

PONTIAC —

Sketch of 319

Infidel Club 319

Mock Baptism 320

Death of Administrator :i20

First Preacher 3i>0

Small Societies 321

Station 321

Churches Built 321

Property 321

Revival 322

Bad Policy 322

Defections 323

Other Churches 324

Summary 324

Statistics 325

PORT HURON —

Sketch of 326

Methodist Society 326

Church Built 326

Congregational 329

Protestant Episcopal 329

Conference Session 329

Bishop Waugh 329

Revival 329

District 329

Statistics 330

German Society 330

Potts, James H...* 416

Preliminary 133, 175

Presbyterian Minister, the first 60

Preston, Hon. David 394

Progress of Churches 200

Prospect 16

Protestant Ministers —

Different from Jesuits 10

Sacrifices to be made 10

Quarterly Meeting, the first 17

Records, Church —

Loosely kept 56

Loss of Class-books 66

Reed, Seth 329

Reflections 58

Remarkable Manifestations —

AtBloomfield 120

At Adrian 300

Retrospect 23, 130

Review 94

Richard, Gabriel 104

Richards, Random R 178

Richards, Mrs. R. R 408

River Raisin 211

Roads and Accommodations... .. 20

Robe, James T 260

Roman Catholics 422

ROMEO —

Settlement 271

Methodist Society 271

Congregational 271

Baptist 271

Original Members 271

Revival 271

Additions 272

Church Built 272

Numbers 272

Name Appears 273

District 274

Sabbath School 279

Statistics 279

Ruggles, Rev. Isaac 325

Ryan, Henry —

Presiding Elder 17

Memorial of 30

Sabbath Schools 128

Sabin, Benjamin 291

bacrament, the first 17

SAINT CLAIR —

Outline of 218

Old Class Paper 218

John K. Smith 218

Subscription for Church 219

House not Finished 219

New Churches 219

Slow Growth 220

Methodist Preacher sent 226

Other Churches 227

Numbers 227

Growth of Country 227

SAGTNATV —

Historical 27£

Missions 280

Discouragements 280

Numbers 280

Conference Sessions 280

Other Churches ..281

Summary 281

Statistics 285

Sapp, R.—

At Pontiac 323

Memorial of. 414

Sawyer, Joseph 36

Secret Societies 258

Settlement, difficulties of. 107

Sheeley, Hon. Alanson 129

Silliman, Betsey 247

Simmons, William 98

Simpson Church 457

Smart, James S 270

Smith, George 154

Southwell, Martin F 276

Spencer, Henry F 382

Spring Arbor 367

Stacy, William 49

Stacy, Betsey 49<

4<H

HISTORY OF PROTESTANTISM IN MICHIGAN.

Staples, Allen 340

Statistics, General Summary 421

Strange, John 93, 137

Struggle for Lots 375

Swayzee, Mr 256

Tabernacle Church 199

Tappan, Dr. Henry P 239

Tecumseh —

Geography of Circuit 123

History 244

First Preachers 245

Church Organized 245

Names 245

Quarterly Meetings 247

Presbyterian 247

Protestant Episcopal 248

Baptist 249

Temperance 129, 131

Territory Organized 14

Thompson, Elizabeth 363

Thomson, Dr. Bishop Edward 189

Tibbitts, Allen 87, 285

Time Elapsed 421

Trap, a 305

Trying case, a 117

Troy 324

Two Ministers Appointed 92

Unitarian notice 429

University of Michigan 168, 239

Visit, a 121

Walker, George W.—

Converted Romanist 213

Appointed to Monroe 212

Returned 213

Memorial of. 213

Walter, Mr 256

Warren, Philip 144

Warren, Abel —

Soldier in 1812 277

Wounded at Queenston Heights 277

Memorial of. 276

Watson, Dr. J. V 208

Weed, Ira M 253

Wells, Noah M.—

First Presbyterian Pastor at Detroit 200

Memorial of. 200

Wesleyans > 418

Whitmore, Oren 408

Williams, Sandford S 209

Witherell, Mrs. Amy 51

Witherell, Hon. Dr.'james 173

Witherell, Hon. B. F. H 172

Work Extending 128

Woodbridge, Hon. William 172

Woodward, Hon. A. B 170

Wyandottes 127

YPSILANTI —

Sketch of Settlement 249

First Preacher 249

First Church 250

Second Preacher 250

The Grove 250

Toils 250

Two Young Men 252

Circuit 253

Station 253

Quarterly Meeting 253

Present State 253

Presbyterian 253

Protestant Episcopal 254

Baptist 254

Statistics 254

Population 254

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