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Memoirs of Outstanding Ministers of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church
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Memoirs of Outstanding Ministers of the Michigan
Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church1
By Charles Bragg2
Memoirs of Methodist Protestant ministers of the Gospel written by Charles Bragg at the request of
Ronald Brunger, President of the Detroit Conference Historical Society. Much of the information given
here is based on research in minutes of the Detroit Annual Conference of 1941 and the published
journals of the Michigan and West Michigan Annual Conferences of the Methodist Protestant Church.3
According to Bassett’s history of the Methodist Protestant Church, there were five men designated from
the Ohio Conference in 1842 [to become members of the new Michigan Conference]. Their names are
as follows: Jeremiah T. Pratt, Elisha Hall, Laban Smith, George B. Wooster, and Beniah Bayn.4 Memoirs
of three of these men can be traced below: J.T. Pratt, Laban Smith, and Beniah Bayn.
[Elisha Hall served the Conference for only two years, 1842-1844, with both appointments being in
Jackson County. He is probably the same Elisha Hall who was listed as a clergyman in the 1850 and
1860 censuses of Leoni in Jackson County. He was born in 1798 in Massachusetts and died in 1877 in
Hancock County, Illinois. Little is known of George B. Wooster, who served appointments in the Michigan
Conference during its first five years, departing in 1847. He does not appear in the 1850 census of
Michigan.]
1
The Archives of the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church holds two different drafts of
this document in Box 1 of the Charles Bragg Papers, written in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Conference Archivist Rebecca McNitt and Commission on Archives and History member William McNitt
produced this edited copy from those drafts and rearranged the sketches in alphabetical order to facilitate
research. Corrections and additions based on archives holdings and other resources are shown in
brackets. Although Bragg gave citations to a few of the journal memoirs he consulted, we added many
more footnotes showing the location of memoirs (which usually provide more information than the Bragg
sketches).
2 For biographical information about Rev. Bragg, see his typed autobiography in Box 1 of the Charles
Bragg Papers or his memoir in The Official Journal and Minutes Detroit Annual Conference of the
Methodist Church, 1967, p. 1402.]
3 The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1941 includes lists of deceased clergy from the Michigan and West Michigan Conferences of the
Methodist Protestant Church on pages 350-353. Rev. Bragg used them extensively in creating this
document, but the Archives staff is aware of numerous errors in these lists, especially for the early years.
The Archives holds sets of the published journals of the Michigan and West Michigan Conferences of the
Methodist Protestant Church and also volumes of handwritten minutes for the years before the
Conferences began publishing the journals.
4 Bassett, Ancel H. A Concise History of the Methodist Protestant Church from Its Origin. (Pittsburgh:
William McCracken, 1887), p. 161.
Ambrose Abbott
Ambrose Abbott [was born in 1805,] served seven years; he joined in 1871 and died in 1878. [He was
President of the Conference 1873-1876 and served as pastor at Hillsdale, Concord, and Comstock.]5
Lorenzo D. Abbott
L.D. Abbott [was born in 1841,] joined the West Michigan Conference in the year 1883 [1875] and served
the following charges: [North Jackson, Onondaga, Rice Creek, Haw Patch, Hickory Corners, and] Assyria,
eight years. Then he was elected President of the Conference in 1884 and 1885. After serving as
President of the Conference, he was appointed to the Grovenberg church, [served another term as
President, 1887-1888], then Hillsdale, Rice Creek, [Dimondale and Eaton Rapids, North Jackson, and
Hillsdale]. Because of failing health, he superannuated in the year 1900 [1899] and passed to his reward
in the year 1916 [1917], thus he served the Conference thirty-nine [forty-two] years.
Alexander Acheson
Alexander Acheson [was born in 1801,] joined the Conference in 1853 and served thirteen years. In
1858, he was delegate from the West Michigan Conference to the General Conference held at
Springfield, Ohio from November 10th to 16th.6 He was a delegate to the General Conference held at
Cincinnati from November 5th to 12th, 1862.7 He was also President of the West Michigan Conference
for one year, elected at the 1860 Conference held at Hickory Corners [actually he was elected President
in 1861 at the Wet Prairie Conference; he also served as minister at Barry, Rice Creek, Hickory Corners,
and Kalamazoo]. He died in 1868 [1866].
Henry C. Ayers
Henry C. Ayers [was born in 1836 and] served the Conference for two years [as minister in Sanilac and
Brant]. He died in the year 1882 [1881].
Beniah Bayn
Beniah Bayn was one of the ministers from the Ohio Conference that organized the Michigan Conference
in 1842. [He was born in 1814.] His pastorates were mostly in the western Michigan area. He was
5
Minutes of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1877-1887, in Box 1 of
the Records of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, Archives of the
Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, p. 50.
6 Drinkhouse, Edward J. History of the Methodist Reform. (Board of Publication of the Methodist
Protestant Church, 1899), vol. 2, p. 434.
7 Drinkhouse, vol. 2, p. 450.
elected President of the West Michigan Conference, held at Hickory Corners on September 25, 1860. He
was reported to be well-versed in organizing his congregation, thus making the church stronger wherever
he served. He served the church for thirty-years and passed away in the year 1875 [1871].8
John J. Beatty
John J. Beatty [was born in 1864,] joined the Conference in 1890 and served the following charges: Peck
(1890), Goodland (1891-92), Franklin (1892-1897), and Livingston (1898-1901). He was a good servant
of Jesus Christ and was Secretary of the Conference when he died August 12, 1902.9
Ernest A. Benedict
A very active ministry was brought to a close on January 6, 1946 at the Grayling Methodist parsonage,
where Ernest Benedict had served as pastor for the past two years. [He was born in 1891.] For thirty
years, Ernest Benedict had held the Christian ministry as a sacred trust and had given faithful and
efficient service to his Lord and his church. Twenty-one of the years had been spent in two long
pastorates: twelve on the Owosso Circuit and nine at Fostoria. From 1933 to 1935, he was President of
the Conference. He was also Secretary of the Conference for several years and gave valuable
assistance during the merging of the Conferences after Methodist Union. Funeral services were
conducted at Michelson Memorial Church in Grayling and at Fostoria, with Dr. Frank Field and Rev. E.
Ray Willson respectively in charge. Several of the ministers of the former Methodist Protestant Church
were present and acted as guard of honor. Interment was at the Watertown Cemetery near Fostoria,
Michigan.10
William Bentley
William Bentley [was born in 1810,] joined the West Michigan Conference in the year 1858 and served
the Conference as its President in the year of 1864 [1865]. He came to the Conference with credentials
from the Methodist Episcopal Church. After serving the Conference as President, he was stationed at
Concord, where a most unfortunate circumstance happened. He was waylaid by a hooded mob, who
were in a drunken condition, and beaten because of preaching the gospel, left unconscious, and when he
recovered consciousness, he was standing near his barn and a wagon was backed against him, crushing
his body so badly that he was unable to perform his ministerial duties for the rest of his life. From 1866 to
8
Minutes of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1858-1876, in Box 1 of
the Records of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, Archives of the
Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.
9 Minutes of the Sixty-First Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1902, pp. 16-17.
10 The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1946, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 625-626.
June 27, 1894, he was placed on the superannuated list. He was highly respected by all who knew him.
It could be said of him that he was a martyr for the Gospel of Christ.11
Colburn B. Blake
C.B. Blake served Conference one year, dying 1843. C. Blake was a charter member, serving the
Conference for thirty-five years and dying in 1878. [These two sentences appear separately in Bragg’s
narrative but probably refer to the same individual. Most journal listings show him as a Superannuated
(retired) or Supernumerary (limited duty) preacher, but he served at Grass Lake and Barry and for one
year as an evangelist. He was born in 1788 and died in 1878, not 1843.]12
Lucius D. Boynton
L.D. Boynton [was born in 1846 and] served the Conference for two years, coming to us with credentials
from the Baptist church. He served the North Branch Circuit till 1916 [and died the following year].
Amos Bradshaw
Amos Bradshaw served the Conference for twenty-five years and died in 1885. Serving as Conference
Missionary, he was instrumental in organizing several classes where churches were built and maintained
to this day. Said churches are Birch Run, Fostoria, Columbiaville, and many others throughout the
Conference. [He was active between 1861 and 1876 and retired after that. He died in 1886.]
Archabald Levi Bragg
Archabald Levi Bragg was born August 25, 1872, the son of Levi and Caroline Bragg, in the township of
Dundee, at the end of Cake Road. He was educated in the public schools of Dundee and Deerfield High
School. In his early life, he was interested in music and taught a class, traveling by horse and buggy from
one scholar’s home to the other, giving lessons on the piano and organ. In March 1892 [March 2, 1894],
he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Friedt, the daughter of James and Louisa Friedt, of the South
Raisin community, and began farming. Two sons and one daughter were born, the daughter Mildred is
deceased, and Clyde and Elmore survive and live at Jerome, Idaho.
He was successful with the feeding of lambs and beef cattle, which was just beginning to be practiced by
farmers at that time. In the year 1903, he was a delegate to the Michigan Conference of the Methodist
11
Minutes of the Thirty-Sixth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1894, p. 30.
12 Minutes of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1877-1887, in Box 1 of
the Records of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, Archives of the
Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Protestant Church held at Clio, Michigan, for the Wellsville Circuit, and in the year 1904, he sold his stock
and tools and moved into the town of Deerfield, having purchased a home in that town, and began
working for the Deerfield Grain and Elevator Company, but all this time he was greatly moved regarding
the call to the Christian ministry, and in the year 1907, at the Conference held at the Main Street
Methodist Protestant Church in Lansing, he united with the Conference and was called by the Wellsville
Circuit to be their pastor, remaining there for four years. He endeared himself to the good people of the
three churches: Wellsville, South Riga, and Logan Valley. This Circuit had granted him a Local
Preachers’ License, several years before he entered the active ministry. In the year 1910, on account of
his health, he very reluctantly transferred by appointment to the Dimondale church, and in the Spring of
1912, on account of lung trouble, he resigned from the Dimondale charge and moved to Jerome, Idaho
on the advice of his doctor for his health, thinking that a change of climate might help him. After moving
to Idaho and taking up a land grant from the Government, he started a mission in Jerome, Idaho, and that
mission is the result of the Methodist Church in that town at the present time. He was extremely spiritual
in his life, a very earnest preacher, strictly evangelistic, and many souls were born of the Spirit under his
ministry, wherever he served. On April 3, 1917, he yielded to the dreadful disease with the name of his
Christ upon his lips, he passed to this reward in a very peaceful manner. Burial was in the Jerome, Idaho
Cemetery. [He was the brother of Rev. Charles Bragg, the compiler of these biographical sketches.]
F. Brewer
F. Brewer served the Conference for five years and died in 1882. [He may possibly be Rev. Franklin L.
Brewer, who died March 12, 1882 and is buried in Caswell Cemetery, Kimball, St. Clair County,
Michigan.]
John Frank Broughton
J.F. Broughton [was born in 1859,] served just one month and died October 16, 1889. He was an
evangelist who traveled throughout Michigan in various churches of different faiths - Presbyterian and
Methodist Episcopal churches. Desiring to retire, he took work with the Conference, and was stricken
within a month after the end of said Conference.
Elias M. Butler
E.M. Butler [was born in 1851,] joined the Conference in the year 1887 and served the following
churches: Atlas (1887-88), Goodland (1889-90), Columbiaville (1891), Dryden and Attica (1892-94), and
Lapeer (1895). Under his pastorate, that year the Liberty Street Methodist Protestant Church (now home
of the radio station WMPC) was built. In 1896, he retired on account of poor health, took his residence in
Lapeer and died in 1897.13
13
Minutes of the Fifty-sixth Session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1897, p. 25
Alva Byers
Alva Byers died in 1911, no account is given in minutes of the Conference. Rev. Fred A. Perry was
President of the Conference in 1911 and no mention is made of Byers in his report to the Conference.
[He was born in 1832, joined the Conference in 1869, and served as Conference Evangelist, Home
Missionary, and minister at Rice Creek, Van Buren, Walkerton, Haw Patch, LaPorte, Assyria, Eaton
Rapids, and North Jackson.]
Dr. Francis H. Chase
Rev. Dr. F.H. Chase, M.D., of Kalamazoo joined the West Michigan Conference in the year 1862. He
[was born in 1819 and] served several charges near Kalamazoo, where he practiced as a physician, as
well as an able minister. He was always a faithful member of the Conference down to the day of his
death, which occurred on March 30, 1899. He served the church faithfully for over forty years. He was
an earnest Christian worker.14
Lester Clark
Rev. Lester Clark served the Conference for almost fifty years from 1869 to 1916. Lester Clark, born in
[1833 in] St. Clair County, Michigan, was a minister of the early pioneer days of the Saginaw Valley. His
labors as an evangelist can be traced from Saginaw and the entire Thumb District of Michigan, south to
Pontiac, and from Flint to Port Huron. He passed away to his reward at the home of his son, Jason, in
the city of Saginaw in February 1916. Rev. Charles Bragg, a former pastor of his at Yale, Michigan
visited him before his death, and he states that he had never seen such great faith as he demonstrated.
He greeted him with these words, “Glory to God, Brother Bragg. I am all packed up and ready to go. I
want you to preach my funeral sermon. From the text Luke 18.8.” Funeral services were at Yale,
Michigan with interment in Yale Cemetery. He had made his home in Yale since he retired from active
service in the year 1907, excepting a few months where he passed away as stated above. He was a
great lover of horses, and specialized in trotting horses, and many of his colts made the tracks in the early
days of his life. He was an old-time preacher of the gospel, and his sermons were delivered in many
sessions of camp meetings in the days of his ministry. He owned a farm south of Yale on the River Road
towards West Brockway and many of the residents throughout the territory will speak of his ministry and
Christian labors, not only in the church of his choice but others.
William Henry Clark
Rev. Henry Clark, for thirty years minister of the Methodist Protestant Church and for the last fourteen
years a pastor of the Birch Run church, [was born in 1881 and] died February 5, 1953. He was a forceful
speaker and was loved by all of his people wherever he was pastor. One of the principal factors of his
14
Minutes of the Forty-first Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant church,
1899, p. 32.
ministry is that during the thirty years he only served five charges: Bradley, Cass River, Columbiaville,
Caro, and Birch Run. He will always be remembered as a loyal pastor and a truly good preacher.
Funeral services were February 9, 1953 at Birch Run with E. Ray Willson of Port Huron and Rev. Frank
Hemingway. The funeral was officiated by Rev. Alfred Landon, D.D. and interment was at Almer
Cemetery in Caro with Rev. Joseph Dibley in charge.15
Joseph Coates
Joseph Coates [was born in 1826,] served the Conference for three years and died in January 1873.
William H. Cole
Rev. W.H. Cole, Canadian born [in 1862] of Irish descent, and Mrs. Mary Cole, his helpmate in life, were
very kind congenial people. To be in their home was a real treat to the young ministers of the
Conference, who were welcomed by this genial pastor of the charge wherever they served. No children
were born to them. His ministry was from 1887 to 1918. He held pastorates at the following charges:
Bad Axe, Goodland, Capac and Berlin, Union, Clio, Marathon, Columbiaville, Lapeer, Flint, Conference at
Large, employed by Methodist Episcopal ministers and Presbyterians as evangelist, a vocation he filled
with intelligence and success, the Fostoria pastorate again in 1904, Yale, Columbiaville, and Capac in
1911, building the church there that year. He served as Conference President from 1912 to 1913 [1914].
From 1914 to 1915, he left without appointment to recuperate for his health. He was appointed to Flint
First Church in 1916. At the Conference of 1917, he did not take work on account of his health, and on
March 14th, he passed away at Tampa, Florida of an acute heart attack. On March 18, 1918 funeral
services were held in the city of Flint, with Rev. H.J. Hascott and Christopher England bringing messages
of comfort to the bereaved. Rev. Cole was a well-informed minister, and an eloquent speaker, having
fluent command of the English language. Pallbearers were Rev. J.W. Saxbe, J.H. Reilly, George Green,
H.L. Watkins, Joseph Dibley, and Charles Bragg. Interment was in Flint Cemetery.
He was the first man of the Conference to own and drive an automobile in the year 1907 at Capac. He
was a man of great business ability, a fine man as well as a preacher, at one time he ran a store in
Fenton, Michigan with great success, and he owned several pieces of property throughout Michigan,
dealing successfully in real estate.
Horace N. Cook
Rev. H.N. Cook [was born in 1811 and] came from the Onondaga Conference to the West Michigan
Conference in the year 1882. At the time of his death [in 1888], he sustained a home missionary relation
to the Conference. He was a man of pure Christian integrity, a clear theologian, a man respected by all
15
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1953, Vol. XXIX, No. 2, pp. 458-459.
who knew him. He served the West Michigan Conference for five and a half years. He died at
Herrington, Kansas at the age of 74.16
William Coombs
William Coombs was born near Battle Creek, Michigan on December 3, 1866. He was one of the
outstanding spiritual leaders of the Michigan Conference, a man of great faith. His pastorates were at
Wells, Davisburg, Lum, and Otter Lake. He was forced to take retired relations on account of his voice
failing him and spent his last days at his home in Midland Park; when the sessions of the assembly and
Conference convened you would find him on the front seat, ready with his hearty “Amen” and “Glory to
God” when some point in the speaker’s sermon would touch his heart. He passed to his reward in the
year 1943. His funeral services were held at the Fostoria church with Rev. Ernest Benedict preaching the
sermon. He was laid to rest in the West Deerfield Cemetery.17
William Cope
Rev. William Cope [was born in 1815 and] joined the Michigan Annual Conference in the year of 1874 at
the Burton church (C.S. Green, President). His first charge was Davisburg, second, Clio, and third, Flint
River. On August 2, 1881, he was elected President of the Conference, which was held in the
Columbiaville church, and for the second year he was elected President at the Dansville Methodist
Protestant Church on August 16, 1882. He served the church faithfully for eighteen years and passed
away at his home in Clio on February 8, 1892. He was interred in the Clio Cemetery.18
William A. Corkle
W.A. Corkle [was born in 1853, received on transfer from the Indiana Conference,] served three months
[at Otter Lake and Fostoria] and died in 1906.19
Charles D. Covil
C.D. Covil was born in New York State in 1820, joined the Conference in 1855, was ordained in 1858,
and traveled largely throughout the Conference as an evangelist, one of the oldest and most faithful
16
Minutes of the Thirtieth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1888, p. 37.
17 Minutes of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Church, 1943, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 133-134
18 Minutes of the Fifty-first Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1892,
pp. 26-27.
19 Minutes of the Sixty-fifth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1906, p. 29.
heralds of the Cross of Christ. A warm-hearted friend of all who knew him, he was a forceful speaker and
a good singer. There will never be another Brother Covil. He served the Conference for twenty-four
years and died in 1880. [He served churches at Flint, Marathon, Hadley, White Lake, Almont, Union,
Dryden, Cass River, St. Clair, Flint, and Fremont.]20
David S. Cramer
He [was born in 1833 and] united with the Conference in 1864. While he served many charges, he lived
on his farm near Flint, Michigan. There he reared a splendid family. The most of his ministerial work,
however, was spent on the charge where his farm was located, giving great assistance to the pastor. His
life was one of deep piety. He served the Conference for forty-three years and died in 1907.21
Jesse M. Crandall
There is no record that could be obtained as to the place of birth or his marriage to Mrs. Crandall [he was
born August 18, 1841 at La Fargeville, Jefferson County, New York, and married Susan M. Harrington on
June 25, 1869 at Byron, Shiawassee County, Michigan]. The writer was very intimately acquainted with
Mrs. and Rev. Crandall, having entertained them in the parsonage at Goodland when pastor there, and in
conversations with Brother Crandall, we know that he spent his early life after their marriage teaching
school throughout Shiawassee County from 1871 to 1877, when he united with the Conference at
Brockway Center (Yale). His first pastorate was Union Circuit, then Goodland (1878-79, when the
Goodland church was built (i.e.) West Goodland church), Flint River (1880-81), St. Clair (1882), Shelby
(1883-1885), Brockway (1886-1888), Union (1889-1990), Monroe Circuit (1891), Clio (1892-1893),
Marathon (1894-1896, Columbiaville church struck by lightning and burned; new church now standing in
Columbiaville, built 1897), Greenwood (1898-1899), Grant Circuit (1899-1900), St. Clair (1901-1903),
Smiths Creek (1904), Prairie (1905-1906), Cass River (1907-1909), without appointment (1910). He
superannuated in 1911, but was appointed pastor at Three Rivers (1912-1917) and Flint (1920). He then
retired and lived in his home at Three Rivers, a highly respected citizen, and member of the Three Rivers
church. Mrs. Crandall was called to her reward in the year 1931 and Brother Crandall followed her in the
year 1933. Wherever they served, their lives were a bit of sunshine. He was a well-educated man, a
very interesting speaker, a good organizer, leaving his charge in better condition materially, and
spiritually, than when he moved to it.
20
Minutes of the Thirty-ninth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1880, p. 34.
21 Minutes of the Sixty-sixth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1907, p.34.
Henry H. Crawford
H. H. Crawford [was born in 1824,] served for five years and died February 10, 1876.22
Robert Harley Cunningham
Robert Cunningham was born April 3, 1878 in Edinburgh, Scotland and came to this country in the year
1904 by way of Canada. He joined the Methodist Protestant Conference in 1907 and was appointed to
the Grayling church, received ordination, and served the following churches: Mayville, Grant, Disco,
Barryville, Otter Lake, Newberg, Brant, Genesee, and Smiths Creek. He was united in marriage to Miss
Mabel Gary, daughter of Rev. Charles Gary, who preceded him in death in the year 1933. Rev.
Cunningham retired in 1937 because of failing vision and made his residence at Marlette, Michigan. He
later took up his residence and lived with his daughter Mrs. Cecil Dawson on a farm north of Marlette,
where after a brief illness he passed away on Sunday, June 2, 1946. Funeral services were held at
Marlette Methodist Church, with Rev. Kenneth Burgess and Gordon Phillips, District Superintendent of
the Port Huron District, and pallbearer ministers of the District. Interment was at Gagetown.23 This
comment is by the writer, who knew Brother Cunningham as his President, also as his pastor at Marlette,
from 1940 to 1942. He was a man of deep spiritual insight and Christian principles.
A.G. Dake
A.G. Dake served five years and died July 31, 1872.
George W. Davis
G. W. Davis [was born in 1814,] served the Conference for twenty-one years and died in 1879. [He was
only active between 1857 and 1866 and is listed as superannuated (retired) after that time.]
Ashford Diamond
A. Diamond [was born in 1825,] served the Conference for six years and died May 9, 1875.
22
Minutes of the Thirty-Fifth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1876, p.22.
23 Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, 1946,
Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 629.
William Dunning
William Dunning [was born in 1818,] joined the Conference in 1863, served seven years, and died in
1871.
Oliver Earls/Earl
Oliver Earls, M.D. was one of the charter members of the Conference in 1842. [He was born in 1792.]
He was a forceful preacher, as well as a good physician, serving the Conference in the capacity of
minister, pastor, and physician, healing the body as well as the sin sick soul for twenty-two years. These
years were trying times for the church. He died June 1864.24
William Ekins
William Ekins [was born in 1815,] served the Conference for twelve years and died May 21, 1891.25
Clarence L. Ellis
Clarence L. Ellis [was born in 1852 and] united with the West Michigan Conference at the 1887
conference held at Ainger church on September 20th (L.D. Abbott, President). His first charge was
Dimondale, the church from which he received his recommendation. He served the Conference fortyseven years, as pastor of the following charges: North Jackson, LaPorte, and Flowerfield. At Flowerfield,
his first wife and mother of his only child, Mary A. Fassett, who died November 1, 1894. The daughter,
Miss Grace Ellis, became the wife of Reverend Charles Perry, whose memoir is included in this history.
Newberg was his next charge, and here he was Secretary of the Conference, and at the Conference of
1899, he was elected President of the West Michigan Conference. During this period, he again married.
Three Rivers was his appointment after serving as President for five years, serving this charge 1904 to
1911, then Capac, Columbiaville, Capac (1916 to 1919), and Lum in 1920. During this pastorate, on May
22, 1922, Mrs. Hattie Lee Kedney Ellis, the mother of Zoah Ellis and Mrs. Alma Blue of the Methodist
church of Columbiaville, passed away. Brother Ellis remained as pastor of the Lum church till August
1923 when he retired from active service, living in Lansing for a while with his daughter from his first wife,
then uniting in marriage for the third time to Mrs. Florence A. Ogle of Marlette, and living at Marlette till
going to his reward August 8, 1934. Services were held in Marlette, and at the Main Street Methodist
Church, where he was instrumental with others in establishing the church, which still exists. Interment
was in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Lansing. He was one of the pioneers of the Midland Park Assembly grounds
which was under the supervision of the Conference till after Methodist Union. He was President of the
Assembly, also Secretary of the same and Trustee for many years. It would have grieved his heart to
have witnessed the betrayal of his brethren because they did not accept Methodist Union, and by their
24
Minutes of the Twenty-Second Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1864, p. 14.
25 Minutes of the Fiftieth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1891,
pp. 21-22.
zeal to overthrow Methodist control, these grounds were turned over to a receiver and sold to another
group. He was a conscientious Christian minister of the Gospel and made friends wherever his pastorate
was assigned.
Christopher England
C.E. England, as he was commonly called, was born in the township of Morris, Huron County, Ontario,
Canada on November 15, 1853, the first white child born in the county. He was the son of Joseph and
Jane Van Orman England. Both parents were Irish born, emigrating from Ireland to Canada. Their home
was primitive, with two rooms, a large living room with a stone fireplace, the meager furnishings of a
frontier home. Those early boyhood years were filled with hard work. He was the first son of a family of
nine children, two sons and seven daughters. This family moved to Tuscola County, Michigan when
Christopher was in his teens, settling on a farm of one hundred sixty acres near the Sutton Methodist
Protestant Church. Here he was converted under the preaching of Rev. John Currier; his age at the time
was around twenty years. His educational background was not above the fourth grade, but his
knowledge of the Holy Scriptures was well versed in that during his sixty years he had great command of
the English language to the extent of preaching to thousands the unsearchable riches of Christ and many
pointed to his ministry as the means of their salvation.
In his early teens, he was employed as a well driller, and also worked on a steam vessel on the Saginaw
River as fireman. He learned the harness makers’ trade, and in later years established a large business
in the city of Lapeer, selling and manufacturing harnesses until the automobile came in use. Then he and
his sons, Jay and Wesley who worked with him, changed their business over to automobile accessories.
He was married to Miss Ella Larue, and they were appointed to their first pastorate at Prairie Mission.
Mrs. England was a woman with a deep spiritual experience and became a wonderful helpmate for him in
all his ministry. To this union were born Wesley, Jay, Tressie, and Katherine.
He was Treasurer of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church for twenty-four
years and his longest pastorate was at Lapeer, where he served as pastor for nine years. Hundreds of
weddings were performed by him, as well as funeral services. The activity of his ministry is seen covering
the history of the Methodist Protestant Church in Michigan and on the Conference minutes roll of
membership, extending from New River (now Huron City, nationally famous because of Dr. William Lyon
Phelps’ Sunday afternoon ministry) on the north, to Warren, a suburb of Detroit, formerly a part of Disco
Circuit on the South, and from Greenwood, near Port Huron on the east, and Yale and West Brockway, to
Plainfield and Unadilla on the west near Jackson, as well as covering many interesting points, at his
winter home in Florida, where he was kept busy by ministers who were desirous of his spiritual
messages, and at Lapeer where he had his longest pastorate during his active ministry. He preached his
morning worship broadcast over radio station WMPC until near the time of his death at the age of eightyfive, in the year 1938. Rev. F.S. Hemingway, his pastor for twenty years, preached his funeral sermon
and he was laid to rest in the Lapeer Cemetery.26
26
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church
Including the Official Journal of the former Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
1939, pp. 74-75.
N. S. Fairchild/Fairchilds
N. S. Fairchilds served thirty-two years and died in 1871 [1876]. He was one of the pioneers of the
Conference, joining in 1844. He was instrumental in the organization of churches during the early years
of the Conference, a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.
Arthur Bertram Fockler
Arthur Fockler was born near Deckerville in Sanilac County on May 14, 1884, the son of William and
Theresa Fockler. He was recommended to the Annual Conference by the Dimondale Circuit in the year
1919 and began his ministry at North Branch. He was ordained in 1925 and during his career served
Columbiaville, Genesee, Porter and Wakelee, Ingham Circuit, and Fostoria. He was evangelistic in his
preaching and a good minister of Jesus Christ. He was instrumental in persuading many young men to
enter the ministry and served the church efficiently. He was a friend of young and old alike. He died
November 18, 1949. Funeral services were held at Fostoria and Millville, with E. Ray Willson and Rev.
Alfred Landon delivering messages. Interment was in Dimondale Cemetery.27
Alexander E. Fox
Alexander E. Fox [was born in 1835 and] served the Conference for forty years, serving the following
charges: Flint River, Montrose, Sanilac, Prairie, Cass City, [Macomb, Bad Axe, Fremont, Davisburg.
Saginaw (South End), and Flint]. He retired from active ministry and resided at Clio, where he was a
great help to the pastors of the church. He died in 1911, interment was at Clio Cemetery.
N. A. Frazer
N. A. Frazer served the Conference for two years and died December 2, 1868.
Edward Fulkerson
E. Fulkerson [was born in 1808 and] joined the Conference in 1844. He must have been one of the early
members of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, which was organized in 1842.
He served the Conference for eighteen years and died in 1861 [January 16, 1862].
27
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference, 1950, Vol. XXVIII, No. 3,
pp. 689-690.
Ancil C. Fuller
Rev. A.C. Fuller, like Jared Warner and others we might mention, was one of the hard-working faithful
ministers of the gospel of Christ in the early days of Methodist Protestant history. [He was born in 1832.]
He served Livingston, Elsie, Flint, Vienna, St. Clair, Saginaw, Fairgrove, Cass River, Grant, Clio, Shelby,
Franklin, Otter Lake, and Atlas mission. He served as Conference President for three years [1879-1881
and 1891-1892]. Rev. Fuller superannuated in 1906 and spent his last years at his home in Clio among
many friends he had made in the past, as pastor and citizen. His life was very strenuous in those days of
the horse and buggy, as well as the saddle. He was a delegate to the General Conference held at the
Liberty Street Methodist Protestant Church, Baltimore, Maryland in the year 1884. Michigan was entitled
to two delegates at this Conference, the other was Rev. George B. McElroy, President of Adrian College.
Doctor McElroy was a member of the Michigan Conference. The laymen at this Conference were A.A.
Rust and J.S. Duffe of Franklin church. Rev. Fuller’s educational background was limited, but his
knowledge of the scriptures was said to be perfect. He had great command of the English language,
obtaining it through the reading of the Word of God. He was well informed and it can be said of him that
he was one of the outstanding ministers of the Gospel of his time, having had the privileges of the pulpit,
not only in the church of his choice, but churches of other faiths as well, and upon such occasion as they
presented themselves to him, he was very acceptable to his audience. Truly he was one of God’s
noblemen. He was called to his reward in the year of 1912, having served the Conference from 1858 to
1912, fifty-four years. He was pastor of twenty-nine different appointments, besides being a field man for
Adrian College one year.28
J. Clinton Gibson
J.C. Gibson joined in 1861, served eight years, and died in 1869.
John Gillam
John Gillam [was born in 1827,] served the Conference for seventeen years and died in 1897 [February
15, 1895.].29
Lewis W. Graves
L.W. Graves [was born in 1856,] served four years and died in 1907 [He served closer to eight years and
died on November 16, 1911.].
28
Minutes of the Seventy-Second Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1913, p. 28.
29 Minutes of the Fifty-sixth Session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1897, p. 24.
Charles W. Gray
Rev. Charles W. Gray, brother of John W. Gray, was born [in 1856] on the Gray homestead, one mile
west and two miles south of the village of Dryden, Lapeer County. He was the son of Rev. John Gray, a
Methodist Episcopal minister, deceased December 10, 1882. He united with the Conference in the year
of 1891, at Saginaw. He served at Wellsville, Prairie, Otter Lake, Three Rivers, and Wells. His health
failed him, and he retired from active service, taking superannuated relations at the Conference of 1920,
which relations he sustained till his death which occurred on April 15, 1937. In his early days of activity,
he was a genial individual, always ready for a pleasant joke with those of his brethren in the ministry; and
always of a serious mind when occupying the pulpit.
John W. Gray
Rev. John W. Gray, D.D. was born in Dryden, Lapeer County, on August 11, 1853, the son of a Methodist
Episcopal minister, the Rev. John Gray, who died December 10, 1882. Rev. J.W. Gray was united in
marriage to Miss Ida Caroline Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Smith, who lived on a farm near
Dryden village, in the year 1879. To them were born two sons, Floyd William (deceased at his home in
Columbus, Ohio, leaving two sons: John, a teacher in Toledo schools, and George, general manager of a
TV station Dayton, Ohio) and J.S. Gray, editor of the Monroe Evening News, the father of three children
(Gratten, assistant to his father on the News staff, Mrs. David Hawley of Warsaw, Missouri, and
Whitmore, an attorney in New York City).
Rev. Gray joined the Michigan Conference in the year 1876, among his first pastorates before entering
Adrian College in 1879 were Capac and Yale. During the four-year course, he became very popular with
the students, and also with the faculty. With the help of Mrs. Gray keeping boarders during the four years
and cooperating at various tasks, he graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree in the class of 1883, and for
one year served the Richfield church, and for five years as pastor of the church at Clio. In 1889, he
became Principal of La Harpe Seminary in La Harpe, Illinois; after which he again became pastor of Clio
in 1895, after serving the Seminary six years. In the year 1900, he was elected President of the Michigan
Conference, serving in the capacity for five years being elected unanimously each time. At the expiration
of the office as President, he was appointed Dean of Theology and Professor of Theology and Philosophy
at Adrian College, serving six years in this capacity. After that he was elected unanimously as
Commissioner of Schools in Lenawee County. As a pastor, he was beloved by all his congregation, as
well as members of other churches where he served, being a genial favorite with the entire community, a
great preacher, an orator, full of pleasant witticism, which was never used to the embarrassment of
others. He was very popular as an orator, being called upon for commencement addresses. To know
him was to love him. He was on the Board of Examiners for the Conference and was very kind and
considerate with the young men who entered the Conference, being ready to help them in every way
possible.
He passed to his reward on June 22, 1914 after delivering a commencement address for the Class of
1914 at Clio High School. The funeral services were held from his home in Adrian, conducted by his
pastor, F.A. Perry, D.D. and B.W. Anthony, President of Adrian College.30
Oliver Gregory
Oliver Gregory served the Conference for five years and died in March 1874.
Warren C. Griffith
Warren C. Griffith [was born in 1802 and] served the Conference for eighteen years; he joined in 1854
and died in 1872. [His name does not appear in conference journals before 1865.]
Volney H. Gustin
Volney Gustin [was born in 1836,] had two years of service and died in 1863 [He died in 1864 as a
prisoner while serving in the army during the Civil War].
Silas F. Hale
Rev. S.F. Hale was one of the oldest members of the Michigan Conference, uniting in the year 1858, and
transferring to the West Michigan Conference when it was organized in the year 1858 at Rice Creek. He
became that Conference’s first President and was elected the second time in the year of 1862 at Haw
Patch, and again in the years of 1868 and 1869. He was active and energetic, a good sermonizer, and
had excellent executive ability. At the expiration of his last term as President of the Conference, he
retired from active service. He [was born in 1825 and] died July 15, 1898. He held a keen interest in the
church and Conference of his choice till the very last.31
Willis C. Harger
Willis C. Harger was born [in 1858] near Kings Mills in Lapeer County. He married Miss Ida Wilder of
Thornville and no children were born to them. He united with the Michigan Conference in the year 1890
30
Minutes of the Seventy-third Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1914, p. 49.
31 Minutes of the Fortieth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1898, p. 36.
at Capac and was appointed to the Prairie Mission church the same year, where he remained as the
pastor till 1893. He also served at Grant (1894-1897) and Capac (1898-1905). He built the first church
and the parsonage at Capac during his ministry there. He was then elected President of the Conference,
serving in that capacity till 1910. Afterwards, he served as pastor of Lansing church (1912), as Field Man
for Adrian College (1913), Detroit First Church (1914). From 1915 [1916] to 1916 [1918], he was again
President of the Conference. In January of 1918, he was stricken with diabetes and forced to give up his
ministry. He passed to his reward on January 2nd. Although suffering very much, he maintained his
interest in the Conference he loved till the very last. Interment was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in the city of
Detroit. He was instrumental in the organization of what was called Harger Memorial Church in the city of
Detroit. He was considered as a wise counselor and a fine leader of his ministers during his tenure of
office as President of the Conference.
Fred E. Hart
One of the most energetic ministers of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, Rev. Hart was evangelistic in his preaching and accomplished the conversion of many souls
during the forty years of his ministry. After an illness of several months, he yielded to the dreadful
disease of cancer of the throat at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he had been a patient
for five days on August 17, 1950. He [was born in 1883,] joined the Conference in 1910 and served the
following charges: LaGrange (Indiana), Flowerfield, Prairie, Hickory Corners, Riley Center, Columbiaville,
Caro, Frederic, Wellsville, Marlette, Flint, New Lothrop, Detroit, Pinconning, and Owendale. Rev. Hart
retired in 1950 and moved to his home at Midland Park. Funeral services were held at the Oxford
Methodist Church where his son, Ellis Hart, was pastor, Rev. Joseph Dibley delivering the message,
assisted by Rev. E.R. Willson D.D., W.H. Clark, and F.S. Hemingway of Lapeer. Interment was at Attica,
Michigan. He married Ella Loyd on March 9, 1904 and together they successfully raised a family of nine
children, two of whom are ministers of the Gospel, doing successful work as members of the Detroit
Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, Rev. Ellis Hart and Paul Hart. Of the rest of their daughters
and sons, you will find them interested in religious work and members of churches in the community
where they reside.32
Austin B. Hathaway
Rev. Austin B. Hathaway was born November 6, 1836 near Pontiac, Michigan and died September 7,
1913. His parents died while he was an infant and he was brought up in the home of a well-known
Pontiac judge. A salesman and farmer, he struggled against the call to the ministry and it was not until
1873, when he was thirty-eight years of age, that he offered himself to the Michigan Conference for work
as a supply, to be employed by the president. He was ordained an elder on August 27, 1876 and served
the following charges: Davisburg, Fairgrove, Conway, Marathon and Brockway Center, later Yale. These
appointments covered a span of some eleven years, when failing health compelled retirement and
superannuation. The last thirty-one years of his life were spent in Clio, where he was held in the highest
esteem as a good neighbor, loyal to his church, firm in his convictions and always a conscientious
32
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference, 1951, Vol, XXVII, No. 4, p.
963.
Christian gentleman. The years in Clio found him always ready when possible to respond to invitations to
preach, to assist in quarterly meetings, share in revival services, and to help brother pastors in other
ways. A son-in-law, Dr. Chandler W. Stephenson, wrote, “He was kind, generous, and affectionate. He
tried to live his profession and those who knew him best loved him most. His entire family and many
warm friends are glad to have known such a man, and to have called him by the endearing names of
father, brother, or friend. We rejoice in the beautiful life and the triumphant passing on.”33
James Heath
James Heath had three years of service; he died June 10, 1862.
William C. Helmbold
William C. Helmbold was born at Daleville, Pennsylvania on December 24, 1870, the son of Joseph
Kimmerer Helmbold and his wife, Henrietta Elizabeth Helmbold. He was united in marriage to Mildred
Clark, by Rev. H.V. Clark, brother of Mrs. Helmbold, on June 28, 1899 at Ransom, Michigan. While
delivering an address at a District meeting held in the Methodist Protestant Church at Jeddo on the
Baptism of the Holy Spirit, he was stricken with a heart attack and fell to the floor unconscious. At the
time of his death on December 12, 1927, he was serving the Methodist Episcopal churches of Applegate
Charge under the supervision of D.C. Littlejohn, District Superintendent of the Port Huron District. The
services were held at Applegate with Rev. D.C. Littlejohn in charge, assisted by ministers of the Michigan
Conference. Burial was in the Washington Cemetery at Croswell, Michigan.
Brother Helmbold began his ministry at Waverly, Ohio, and served several churches throughout Ohio and
the West Michigan Conference. When the Michigan Conference and the West Michigan Conferences
united in 1905, he was appointed to the Goodland Circuit; he also served North Branch, Franklin,
Wellsville, Brant, Tracy, Gagetown, Brant Circuit, Millville, Plainfield, and Otter Lake, as well as charges in
the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a graduate of Adrian College
with a degree of Bachelor of Arts, a good sermonizer, and made friends wherever he was appointed. He
served on the Board of Examiners of the Michigan Conference for several years. Five children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Helmbold: Mrs. Anna Fisher of Reed City, a teacher in the High School, Robert of
Pittsburgh, also a teacher, Herbert Newton of Flint, Michigan, Joseph K. of Millington, and Gordon of
Millington, Michigan.
Howard John Hescott
Howard Hescott was born in Brantford, Canada on September 25, 1873. He passed to his reward on
March 16, 1948. He was united in marriage to Addie E. Tomkinson, a grand-niece of the Rev. W.D.
Tomkinson, who is mentioned in these memoirs as the organizer and founder of the Michigan Conference
33
Rev. Frank W. Stephenson was the author of this sketch. See also Minutes of the Seventy-third
Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1914, p. 48.
and a Conference President being elected several times both in Michigan and West Michigan
Conferences. Rev. Hescott served Jeddo, Goodland, New Lothrop, and Flint, where in each of the latter
three churches were built under his pastorate. While attending Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati,
he served the Methodist Episcopal Church at Addyston and Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduating, he
returned to Michigan and served the Owosso charge and was Conference Evangelist for two years and
President of the Conference for five years [four years: 1918-1922]. After retiring from the Presidency, he
served the churches in Detroit, both at Harger Memorial and Vandyke Street, serving the latter church for
eleven years, retiring in 1938. Funeral services were held at Augusta, Michigan. Rev. Harold Hoppe of
the Gull Lake Bible Fellowship and the Rev. Frank Hemingway of the Liberty Street Gospel Church in
Lapeer brought messages. Interment was in Day Cemetery near Midland Park, Gull Lake.34
Edwin Hobson
Edwin Hobson served two years in the Conference beginning in 1857. [He died in 1859.]
Joel H. Holmes
Joel Holmes [was born in 1833,] served the Conference for five years; he joined in 1861 and died in 1866
[1868].
Whitney Hough
Whitney Hough [was born in 1827,] served thirteen years and died in 1881.
O.F. Howard
O. F. Howard served thirty-six years; he joined in 1842, the first conference. He died in 1872. [The
earliest printed journal from the West Michigan Conference in 1881 lists him as an honorary member of
the conference and he never served any appointments in the pulpit, so he may have been a very active
member of the laity. He did not die in 1872, as he attended the 1873 annual conference. Could he be
the Orin F. Howard of St. Joseph County, Michigan, who died in 1875?]
Ephraim Howland
Ephraim Howland [was born in 1820,] served two and a half years; died April 1, 1861.
34
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1948, pp. 183-184.
Thomas Howland
Thomas Howland [was born in 1817,] served seven years and died May 31, 1866.35
James E. Hubbell
J.E. Hubbell [sometimes spelled Hubble] joined the Conference in the year 1868 at the conference held at
the Plainfield Methodist Protestant Church on September 28th (William D. Tomkinson, President), and
served the Conference faithfully for thirty years. He [was born in 1834 and] died in 1898. He was elected
President of the Conference in the year 1893, at the Conference held at Yale on August 22nd, and again
at Conference at Capac on August 23, 1894. He was reported to be one of the Conference’s strongest
ministers, having knowledge of the word of God, and presented the riches of grace with spiritual power
and love.36
Homer H. Hulbert
H.H. Hulbert [was born in 1804,] served the conference for twenty-eight years; joined in 1858 and died in
1886. [He was elected as West Michigan Conference President in 1859.]
Lafayette Hutt
L.F. Hutt [was born in 1821,] came to the West Michigan Conference by letter in the year 1868 from the
Michigan Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for twenty-nine years labored faithfully until
his death on January 21, 1897. He was evangelistic in his ministry, a wise counselor for his
Congregation. He was a true advocate for the mutual rights of Methodist Protestantism and a faithful
ambassador of Jesus Christ. It could be said that he was a forerunner, or John the Baptist, of Methodist
Union, a loyal son of John and Charles Wesley. He was very acceptable to our Methodist brethren at that
early day of Methodism in Michigan. He served one year as President of the Conference, elected at
Three Rivers on September 22, 1881.37
35
Minutes of the Twenty-Fifth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1866, pp. 13-14.
36 Minutes of the Fifty-Seventh Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1898, p. 18.
37 Minutes of the Thirty-ninth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1897, p. 34.
Allen Johnson
Allen Johnson [was born in 1826,] served the Conference for nineteen years and died in 1880.38
Harvey H. Johnson
Rev. H.H. Johnson [was born in 1815 and was] the second [thirteenth] President of the Michigan
Conference elected to that office, at Putnam church on October 4, 1854; he served for two years. He was
elected again October 6, 1857 at Davisburg and at Rice Creek on October 5, 1858. Serving the
Conference faithfully for forty-three years, on various charges, he went to his reward in the year 1889
[1890]. For several years he was appointed Conference Missionary and did very efficient work in that
field.
Jerome B. Keith
Rev. J.B. Keith, an old and respected member of the Conference died on Friday, July 23, 1915. He [was
born in 1849,] joined the Conference in 1887 and for fifteen years he served the following charges:
Blissfield, Brant, Gagetown, Fairgrove, Fostoria, Yale, and Prairie. In August 1902, his failing health
compelled him to lay aside his active work. He was a good sermonizer and devoted pastor.39
Russell S. Kellogg
R.S. Kellogg [was born in 1830 and] had four years of service; he died in 1856.
William J. Kennedy
William J. Kennedy [was born in 1882 and] joined the Conference in 1912 with credentials from the
Friends church. [His first appointments were at LaGrange and Assyria.] He then was left without
appointment on account of illnesses of himself and Mrs. Kennedy. His next appointment was Three
Rivers Ninth Street Church where he remained from 1921 to 1932. After Methodist Union in 1940, he
was again appointed pastor of the Three Rivers Ninth Street Church and remained as the pastor till his
death [in 1948]. During his first appointment at Three Rivers, a commodious parsonage was built and
38
Minutes of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1877-1887, in Box 1 of
the Records of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, Archives of the
Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, p. 113.
39 Minutes of the Seventy-fourth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1915, p. 26.
paid for, also needed improvements were made inside the church. He was a good organizer and minister
of the Gospel, leaving many friends in the Conference and at Three Rivers.40
Quintas E. Knight
[He was born in 1851 and died in 1899.] He served several circuits with great success as a faithful and
zealous worker, but because of failing health, he was forced to be left without appointment, much to his
regret, but through all his sufferings, he bore them patiently. After serving for twenty-one years, he
distinguished himself as a growing man among his brother ministers. As a young man, he was faithful,
earnest, and trustful, endearing himself to all who became acquainted with him.41
William H. Knight
William H. Knight [was born in 1786,] joined the Conference in 1853; served seventeen years and died in
1870. [He appears in the 1852 conference journal and did not serve any later appointments.]
John Kost
The career of John Kost extends from 1864 to 1904. [He was born in 1820.] Dr. John Kost of Springfield,
Ohio, received the honorary degree of Master of Arts, citing him as a lecturer in various medical colleges
about chemistry and kindred topics. “They [Adrian College] also set up a chair of chemistry and geology
and elected Dr. Kost to fill it. The Board was very good to him, giving him a LL.D. the next year, with Dr.
John McEldowney making the motion. It was agreed that a cabinet building would be constructed to
house a museum valued at $10,000, which Dr. Kost turned over to the college on several conditions, Dr.
Kost being a Methodist Protestant. Thus, this move was the first to bring the Methodist Protestants into
the interests of Adrian College.”42 His private residence, many thought, was a part of Adrian College.43
“Bro. Kost. was a man of talent, culture, and fine educational attainments; with just pride we looked up to
him as one of the first educators of the land. He did much for our church in upbuilding of it, educationally
and spiritually.”44 Thus we see a great spiritual leader whose activity covers a period of over forty years.
The history of the Wellsville church contains his evangelistic labors which was the beginning of that
church. [He was elected as West Michigan Conference President in 1870, 1871, and 1872.]
40
Minutes of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, 1949, Vol. 31, No. 2, p. 165.
Minutes of the Forty-First Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1899, p. 32.
42 “The Story of a Noble Devotion” Committee, Fanny A. Hay, Ruth E. Cargo, and Harlan Feeman D.D.,
September 1st, 1944, pp. 30-31.
43 “The Story of a Noble Devotion” Committee, Fanny A. Hay, Ruth E. Cargo, and Harlan Feeman D.D.,
September 1st, 1944, p. 42.
44 Minutes of the Forty-Sixth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1904, p. 27.
41
Frank E. Kunsman
Rev. Frank Kunsman was one of the most interesting, careful ministers of the Conference. It can be said
that every charge he served he left it in better condition, both materially and spiritually. [He was born in
1868.] On July 24, 1945, he passed to his reward in the upper and better kingdom and on July 27th,
funeral services were held in the Dryden Methodist Church with Rev. Gordon Phillips, District
Superintendent of the Port Huron District officiating, assisted by Rev. W.H. Clark of Birch Run. Interment
was at Montrose Cemetery. Rev. Kunsman served the Michigan Annual Conference as President from
1923 [1922] to 1928 [1927].45
George H. Lahr
George Lahr [was born in 1855,] united with the Conference in the year of 1917, and died on Thursday,
December 22, 1927. For the past eleven years he had been a faithful laborer for the cause of Christ at
Flowerfield, Assyria, Mayville, and his last charge at Goodland, where he was appointed pastor of West
Goodland, Lum, and East Goodland churches. He was just beginning a good work when he was stricken
with a heart attack. His funeral services were held at the West Goodland church on Saturday, December
24th. The announcement of arrangements of the funeral were made by radio station WMPC Lapeer, and
Rev. Charles Bragg, President of the Conference, had charge, assisted by Rev. F.S. Hemingway of radio
station WMPC Lapeer. The following brethren were present: F.E. Kunsman, H.J. Hescott, R.C. Powell,
J.W. McCue, and F.E. Hart. The body was taken to Lapeer via Grand Trunk to Charlotte, thence to Eaton
Rapids, Michigan for interment, thence by automobile to cemetery, arriving there just as the sun was
setting in the west. The casket was lowered into its last resting place as Rev. Charles Bragg pronounced
the burial service. Returning home that Christmas Eve, the bells in various churches were ringing for the
glorious advent of the birth of the Christ that Rev. G.H. Lahr had proclaimed during the eleven years of
his service in the Conference. Those who knew Brother Lahr could say that he was a good soldier of
Jesus Christ.
Robert C. Lanning
R.C. Lanning was [born in 1820 and died in 1902 and was] elected President of the Michigan Conference
at four [five] different sessions, [first at Prairie Ronde in 1849], first [second] at Prairie Ronde on October
1, 1856, second [third] at Petersburg on October 2, 1863, third [fourth] at Shelby on September 22, 1864,
and fourth [fifth] at Franklin on September 26, 1865, making four [five] years altogether. He was elected
as delegate to two consecutive General Conferences at Springfield, Ohio in 1858 and at Cincinnati, Ohio
in 1862. He served several different prominent works throughout the Conference area. His name does
not appear on the Honor Roll of deceased ministers. [Lanning left the Methodist Protestant Church in
45
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1946, Vol. 2, No. 3, p. 628.
1868 to become a Methodist Episcopal minister in the Detroit Annual Conference. Thus, he is listed on
their roll of deceased ministers.]46
William H. Leach
William H. Leach [was born in 1837,] served one year; joined in 1875; died in 1877 [1876]
William H. Mawhorter
Rev. W.H. Mawhorter [was born in 1844,] served fourteen years; died in 1907.
John W. McCue
John W. McCue, son of Royal and Margaret McCue, was born December 2, 1876, on a farm in
Grovenberg community, Ingham County, Michigan, where he spent his youthful days. At the age of ten,
he was converted, and shortly felt the call to preach, but not until the year 1906 did he obey the call,
joining the Conference in 1907. His first pastorate was at Tracy, Indiana. During his first year, the Rever
Wood church was added to the charge. Later a church was organized at Kingsbury, and a new church
building erected there. In 1912, he was assigned to Hickory Corners and Bunnell. During his four-year
pastorate, a church was built at Hickory Corners. From 1916 to 1921, he was pastor of the Capac
church, liquidating the mortgage indebtedness on that church. In 1921, he was pastor at the First Church
in Flint, liquidating the mortgage indebtedness of that church as well. He became Treasurer and
President of the Flint Ministerial Association and also a member of the Flint Board of Education. From
1930 to 1933, he itinerated through the Conference as President of the same. For the next five years, he
was pastor of the Harger Memorial Church of Detroit. He retired in 1939, after the Uniting Conference at
Kansas City, and took retired supply at Freeport Methodist where he lived on the farm he had purchased.
In 1950, they sold the farm and moved to their cottage at Midland Park, and on October 18, 1954 he died
after a prolonged illness at Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo.
He was privileged to see many young men enter the Conference ministry, one of whom was Everette
Smith of the Lapeer Methodist Church, who delivered the message at his funeral services, held October
21, 1954 in the church where he was converted at Grovenberg. His pastor, Victor Jones of the Methodist
Church at Hickory Corners assisted, and Doctor Maurice McKean, Superintendent of the Grand Rapids
District, Edward Swadling, Clinton Edgerton, Leo Burch, and James Moore. John Van Puffen of the Gull
Lake Bible Church sang “Good Morning” and “Oh That Will Be Glory For Me”. Mrs. McCue, the former
Louise M. Geisenhaver (married in the year 1906), his companion in ministry, was a loyal worker standing
by his side in all the undertakings of this ministry. This outstanding couple will have many stars in their
46
Journal and Reports of the Forty-seventh Annual Conference of the Detroit Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, 1902, pp. 49-50.
crowns as a memento of their untiring ministry over a period of forty-eight years. Interment was in the
Grovenberg Cemetery.47
James S. McKinley
James McKinley served the Conference for three and a half years. He [was born in 1835 and] died May
9, 1869; very special mention is made in reference to him in minutes of 1869 written by W.H. Bakewell
referring to his death as one of confidence and example of consciousness till his last breath. It will pay
you to read this biographical sketch of a Saint of the Lord.48
John McLucas
John McLucas was born in Malin County, Ireland in the year 1900 and departed this life on July 9, 1956.
He united with the Michigan Conference in 1928, serving the Goodland churches for five years with great
success. He was appointed to Yale church from 1933 to 1937, before taking a leave of absence on
account of his wife’s failing health. Mrs. McLucas passed away in the Fall of 1937. He was loaned to the
Congregational church at Pinckney from 1938 to 1943 and was appointed to the Brighton and Novi
Methodist churches in 1943. Serving these two churches for fourteen years, he and his second wife,
Miss Ruth Pratt of Yale, whom he married in 1938, greatly endeared themselves to the people of these
two churches. Brother McLucas was an untiring worker for the Lord, a good minister of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. He will always be remembered for his genial disposition. Funeral services were conducted
at the Brighton church on July 14th with Rev. Charles Bragg, Rev. R.E. Bachus, and Rev. D.W. Ryan
participating. It was attended by several of the brethren of the Detroit Annual Conference. Interment was
under the auspices of the Masonic Fraternity in the Brighton Cemetery.49
Anson R. McRill
A.R. McRill [was born in 1845,] joined the West Michigan Conference in the year of 1883, and came with
the union of the two Conferences in 1905, at Flint, Michigan (John A. Moray and John W. Gray,
Presidents respectively). He served faithfully for forty-five years, his first charge being that of Prairie
Ronde. He was not permitted to labor actively on account of ill health, but was loyal to the Conference,
and took part in services whenever and wherever his services were wanted when his health permitted
him to do so. He passed away at the home of his daughter in Kalamazoo, on July 8, 1928. He was a
member of the Conference for forty-five years.
47
Minutes of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Church, 1955, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 187-188.
Minutes of the Third Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1869,
pp. 20-22.
49 The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1957, Vol. XXX, No. 2, p. 476.
48
Gallard Mikel
Gallard Mikel [was born in 1851 and] came into the state of Michigan from Montana, where he spent his
early life as a cowboy. After his conversion, he united with the Michigan Conference as a probationer in
the year 1902. His first Conference was at Capac (J.W. Gray was President of the Conference). He
became pastor of [Caro,] the Gagetown Circuit, Wahjamega, [Grant, Mayville, Richfield, and Wells].
Under his administration the Stone church and parsonage at the Caro State Hospital was built and is still
in use by the State. He was of a quiet, reserved nature, a true man of God. After thirty-two years of
service, he passed quietly away to his reward on September 29, 1934, at his farm home near the city of
Caro, where he had retired from active service in the year 1926. Memorial services were held at Midland
Park on August 30, 1935. The eulogy was given by Rev. Fred E. Hart. The benediction was given by
Rev. L.W. Bishop.
Levi Mills
Rev. Levi Mills [was born in 1811 and] died at Rice Creek on December 17, 1887, at the age of seventysix years. He joined the Methodist Protestant Church in his youth, when it was first formed in the city of
Baltimore. At the age of twenty, he became a local preacher in this church and a probationer in the
Maryland Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church. He came to Michigan and settled in Monroe
County, preaching at Petersburg, and formed a society of Methodist Protestants. He united with the
Michigan Conference in the year of 1853 and was dearly loved by the members of the Conference. In the
year 1858, he transferred to the West Michigan Conference. It was this year the Conferences were
divided. No more faithful and devoted member could ever be found in the Conference. He was a good
theologian, a forceful speaker of the Gospel, and an indefatigable laborer. [He was elected as West
Michigan Conference President in 1866 and 1867.] 50
William H. Mitchell
On January 4, 1915, the beginning of the new year, the sad news came to us of the death of Rev. William
H. Mitchell. [He was born in 1880.] His labors were very much appreciated for his careful pulpit
preparation. He served Kinde for six years, New Lothrop for three years, and Leonard for four months.
Brother Mitchell was patient, loving, and true. Those who knew him best loved him most.51
50
Minutes of the Thirtieth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1888, pp. 36-37.
51 Minutes of the Seventy-fourth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1915, pp. 25-26.
Adam Moffat
Rev. Adam Moffat was born in Scotland on July 11, 1846 [1835], the son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Moffat.
He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Manwell Chisholm in the year of 1856. Ten children were born
to this union. The family moved to Montreal, and later to New York State, then back to Trilby and
Sombra, Ontario. Mrs. Moffat passed away in the year 1880 and in the year of 1883, he was remarried to
Miss Mary Forbes, and four children were born to this union. The surviving children are as follows: Melvin
Moffat of California, Lee Moffat of Reese, Michigan, Floyd Moffat of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ward Moffat of
Florida, and Mrs. Eugene Moore, widow of the late Doctor Eugene Moore of Royal Oak, Michigan, and
minister of the Detroit Annual Conference.
Rev. Moffat had only a common education but was a well-read man and a good pastor and minister of the
gospel of Christ. He began his ministry in Canada, and after moving to Michigan, joined the Michigan
Annual Conference at Fairgrove (Samuel Reilly, President). He served the following charges: Ray Center
(Macomb County), the Rea Circuit (Monroe County, 1885-1888), Smiths Creek (St. Clair County),
Fairgrove Circuit (Tuscola County, 1890-1894), Fostoria, Mayville, Stevens Street Church (Saginaw), and
Lum. Early in the nineteen hundreds he retired, and resided at Vassar, where he served as a supply
minister until within two weeks of his death, which occurred on September 19, 1917.52
John A. Moray
John A. Moray was born May 12, 1858 at Seneca Falls, New York. His parents were Israel and Mary
Moray. They were Canadian-born and moved from Seneca Falls to Ohio, where he received higher
education, and hence to Isabella County, Michigan, where he taught school and singing in the evening. It
was in one of these classes, he met Clara Sanderson, and their marriage was August 9, 1885. To them
were born three daughters and four sons, Rachel (Mrs. James Snyder, deceased), Fred, Freeman Esek,
of Lansing, Clarella (wife of D.C. Turbin, retired member of the Detroit Annual Conference), George of
Black Mountain, North Carolina (whose wife Lucy is one of the daughters of Rev. Fred Corbett, deceased
member of the Michigan Conference), John A. (deceased), and Mrs. Helene Beal of Port Huron.
His ministry began in 1884 being a delegate from the Methodist Protestant Church at Winn, he was
appointed as minister of the congregation he represented, followed by Prairie Ronde, Flowerfield (two
different times), Osceola, LaGrange (Indiana), Charlotte, illness caused him to retire for a year,
Dimondale, Brant, Lapeer, Mayville, Wellsville, and Genesee. While at Brant, the Graham School
Community purchased a frame Methodist Episcopal Church building and moved it from the community to
Nelson, and this church is a part of the Hemlock Circuit, at this writing. He fought illness all his life,
retiring at the age of sixty-six, in 1924.
He was a registered optometrist and devoted his talents to the help of his brother ministers, and their
families, also his parishioners, to better sight. This was his delight to help others, all through his life.
In the year 1894, he, with others of the West Michigan Conference, discovered the beautiful spot on Gull
Lake where the Gull Lake Assembly grounds were established, holding different offices: Secretary and
Treasurer. He planned the octagon-shaped Tabernacle, proving to doubtful committeemen that an
52
This sketch was written by Mrs. Eugene Moore.
octagon structure could be built without a center post and be made to stand, and is still standing today,
built in 1902, and today 1960, being occupied by usurpers that call themselves the Gull Lake Bible
Conference. After retirement, he and Mrs. Moray made their home at Midland Park, the place they loved
so much, and had dedicated to the service of God, with others who had helped make it what it is, a spot
of beauty.
He was the last President of the West Michigan Conference [in 1904-1905] and had held the office as
Secretary and Treasurer of this body also. On October 18, 1930 he was called to his reward, to be with
those who had gone on before and Mrs. Moray followed him October 28th, two years later at the home of
her son, Fred, in Lansing. They were laid to rest in the cemetery at Winn, where they first met at the
singing school and his first field of labor.53
Moses L. Morden
M.L. Morden [was born in 1860,] served the Conference for three years and died July 25, 1890.
[Published lists of deceased ministers show his name as Borden and Rev. Bragg used that spelling, but
conference journals from the time he was active show it as Morden.]54
John Wesley Mulholland
Rev. J.W. Mulholland [was born in 1857,] united with the Michigan Conference in 1888, and served for
fifteen years on the following charges: Grant Circuit, Riley Center, and several other churches until failing
health when he retired and settled at his home in Riley Center where he passed away in the year 1930.
He was a faithful minister of the Word of God, and a faithful helper to his pastors on the Riley and Berlin
charge, giving them spiritual aid.
Robert N. Mulholland
Rev. R.N. Mulholland [was born in 1848 and] was President of the Michigan Annual Conference, elected
to this office in the year 1883, at the conference held at Franklin, and again in the year 1884 at the
conference held at Brockway Center (now Yale). He took his letter of standing and united with the Detroit
Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the year 1888, and died at Waterville, Ohio on
October 26, 1933, serving as a servant of the Lord for fifty-six years, having entered the Michigan
Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church in his youth.55
53
Written by Clarella Turbin (Mrs. D.C. Turbin)
Minutes of the Forty-ninth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1890, p. 25
55 The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, 1934, p. 125
54
William F. Oliver
Rev. W.F. Oliver, the son of William and Elizabeth Oliver, was born February 11, 1861 at Port Huron,
Michigan. He united with the Conference held at Fostoria in the year 1895 (M.R. Saigeon, President of
the Conference) and was ordained August 20, 1898 at the Conference held at Mayville (Rev. Fred Traver,
President of the Conference). His first charge was Davisburg, second at Disco, and successive
pastorates as follows: thirteen years at Riley and Berlin (under his pastorate the church and parsonage
were built, the church still stands and the parsonage was destroyed by fire). The beginning of the First
Church at Detroit, Vandyke Street (sold to the Seventh Day Adventists), was started by him during his
pastorate there. After Methodist Union (1939), this church became a part of the Mt. Hope membership.
Membership thus salvaged was due to his careful leadership. It was the desire of his life to see this
project completed, but his health failed, and he passed away to his reward, on December 17, 1919. He
was a man of great faith, very kind and considerate in his dealings with others, loyal to the cause of the
Methodist Protestant Church, and if he had lived would have been a great asset to the cause of Methodist
Union. He was a man so possessed with musical talent, and for years was the musical director of the
services at Midland Park Assembly of the Methodist Protestant Church. He married Miss Ella Agusta
Parsons of Goodells, Michigan, and their family consisted of Arthur, Rev. Clayton Oliver of the Detroit
Annual Conference, Clinton, and one daughter, Velma.
Benjamin F. Paris
B.F. Paris had nine years of service; passed to his reward in 1852.
Gilbert Parmater
No record is given of his years entering the Conference or of his death. [Rev. Bragg spelled his surname
as Parmenter, as did the published roll of honor of deceased ministers. His name appears in journals
from 1879 to 1896 as Parmater, but he mostly served as a local preacher or unstationed minister with just
three Conference appointments (at Concord). He was born in 1821 and died in 1894.]
Charles D. Paxson
C.D. Paxson [was born in 1840 and] served the Conference for forty-four years, going to his reward in
1916 [1917]. He united with the West Michigan Conference in the year 1884, and was one of the many
we know of who were instrumental in the clearing and erection of the Midland Park grounds, now in the
hands of the Baptists and known as the Gull Lake Bible Association. He served the following charges:
Assyria, Charlotte, Van Buren, Rice Creek, and, because of health, he superannuated at his own request
and lived at Midland Park till his death in 1916 [1917]. He was devoted to the cause of Christ, and he, his
wife and daughter were particularly interested in foreign missions, giving of their time and means for the
advancement of the same.
Charles E. Perry
Rev. Charles Perry was born in [1865 in] Ingham County, Michigan and united with the West Michigan
Conference in the year 1891 at Corey, Michigan (W.D. Tomkinson, President). He was appointed to the
following charges: Grovenberg, Hickory Corners, Eaton Rapids, Lansing, Caro, and New Lothrop. In
1908, he was left without a charge at his own request and retired in the year 1911. He died in 1912. He
was well educated in the scriptures and served his churches where he was pastor with great success, a
good minister of Jesus Christ. Mrs. Perry was the daughter of C.L. Ellis, Miss Gracie Ellis. One daughter
was born to them: Mrs. Max Heinig of Midland Park.56
Alva A. Phelps
Alva A. Phelps joined the Michigan Conference in the year 1892. He was born in Indiana, in the town of
Steubenville, on September 3, 1854. His death was November 28, 1934. His father’s name was
Griswold Phelps and his mother’s name was Rozetta Durham Phelps. Griswold Phelps died in
Andersonville and Libby Prison in the year 1862, leaving Alva without a father at the age of eight. His
mother married Greshom Carey in the year of 1863, and they moved to Tuscola County in the year 1864,
near the town of Caro. The parents being hard-pressed in those after war circumstances hired Alva out
at the age of thirteen to a carpenter as an apprentice. He practically earned his own living from the time
he was nine or ten years old. Thus, he became a farmer, carpenter, and a minister of the Gospel. His first
appointment was Lum. In 1892, he was appointed as pastor of Lum Circuit, there were no churches on
the charge. He became pastor of the Lum Circuit three times. His first appointment in 1892 he was able
to see the completion of both churches, Barringer and Lum, as well as the parsonage at Lum. He was an
enthusiastic preacher as well as Mrs. Phelps, who was also a minister of the Gospel, having a license to
preach. Many souls were converted under their ministry, the only other charges this devoted couple
served were Gagetown, where a great work was done for the church, and Wells Charge. He acquired a
very good farm, and in the year 1916, he retired from active ministry, and sold his farm to his son-in-law.
He purchased a home in Caro and supplied various pulpits till the passing of Mrs. Phelps on April 3,
1928, then he lived with his two daughters alternately, till his death. The writer of this memoir can state
that as he knew him, he was always busy for the cause of Christ, a conscientious good minister, and a
dear friend.
Stephen Phillips
S. Phillips died in 1911, no account is given in minutes of the Conference. [He was born in 1821. His
appointments included: LaGrange (Indiana), Charlotte, Union, Hillsdale, North Jackson, Wet Prairie,
Dimondale, Bainbridge, and Bradley. He also served as District Chairman, Conference Missionary, Home
56
Minutes of the Seventy-Second Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1913, p. 28.
Missionary, and Conference Evangelist. His name appears in Conference journals from 1869 to 1911, but
he was a Superannuated (retired) minister after 1896.]
Joseph Pomfret
Joseph Pomfret was [born in 1789 and was] a native of England, emigrating to this country in 1842. In
the Fall of 1845, he united with this Conference and labored with great efficiency and acceptability for
twelve years. On February 2nd [1858?], he was granted superannuated relations which he sustained till
his death on December 5, 1876, aged 92 [87] years. He was an able defender of the doctrines of the
Bible, and wielded the sword of the Spirit with great power until bending under the weight of years, he
was forced to refuse the many requests for his ministry to the various congregations that always enjoyed
his council and spiritual advice. A grand old man of God.57
Jeremiah T. Pratt
J.T. Pratt served one year. Evidently, he helped organize the Michigan Conference. The record shows
he joined in 1842 and died in 1843 [He must have died late in that year, as he was elected President of
the Conference in September 1843]. We assume he came from the Ohio Conference.58
Samuel Reeves
Samuel Reeves joined the Conference in 1856. Born in Haw Patch, Indiana, [in 1833,] he served the
Conference for nearly thirty-three years and was President of the West Michigan Conference for one year
[in 1886-1887]. His longest pastorate was at Newberg, and his last charge was at Charlotte. As a
minister of the Gospel, he was considered faithful and wherever he ministered, he made many friends.
He died at Charlotte on March 4, 1891.59
John H. Reilly
Rev. John H. Reilly was born in Ontario, Canada in 1866 [1862] and departed this life Thursday morning,
August 26, 1938. He served the following churches after uniting with the Conference in 1900 at First
Church in Saginaw (J.W. Gray, President). He was appointed to North Branch (1900), Yale (1901),
Saginaw West Side (1904), Columbiaville (1906), Dimondale (1908), Livingston (1910), Lapeer (1911),
57
Minutes of the Thirty-Sixth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1877, p. 19.
58 Bassett, Ancel H. A Concise History of the Methodist Protestant Church from Its Origin. (Pittsburgh:
William McCracken, 1887), p. 161.
59 Minutes of the Thirty-Third Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1891, p. 39.
Goodells (1919), Fostoria (1920), Hickory Corner (1921), Ainger (1922), and he superannuated in 1923.
He retired and lived at Midland Park till his death and became President of the Midland Park Assembly till
1930, when his health failed him. He resigned at the election of the Assembly Board. He had managed
the grounds for several years and had taken active part in the business of the Park. In his ministry,
during the years of his activity he was considered to be well read in the scriptures, and met with
considerable success, as a pastor.
J.E. Richards
J.E. Richards served the Conference for three years and died in 1897.60
James Riley
James Riley [was born in 1837,] served for seven years; died August 18, 1893.61
Samuel Riley
Samuel Riley was born in Ontario, Canada in 1841. He joined the Conference in 1869 at Pontiac (William
D. Tomkinson, President). He served at Brockway (1866), Watertown (1871), Flint (1872), Berlin (187374), Franklin (1875), Livingston (1876-79), Flint (1880), Grant (1881-82), Marathon Circuit (1883-84),
President of the Conference (1885-88), Clio (1888), Lapeer (1889-1894), and Conference Financial Agent
for the Preacher’s Aid Society (1895-96). He passed to his reward in the year of 1897. He was a welleducated man, having great command of the English language, one of the outstanding ministers of his
time. He was Conference Treasurer for a number of years.62
John Robertson
John Robertson [was born in 1831,] joined the Conference in 1872 and was appointed to the Cass River
Circuit. He was appointed to the Monroe Circuit in 1873. In 1874, he was pastor when the Rea church
was built and dedicated. On account of failing health, he was without an appointment in 1876, but was
appointed to Watertown (now Fostoria) charge. He was appointed to Fremont in 1882 and Mayville in
1892, from there to Fostoria where he remained till his death [in 1904].
60Minutes
of the Fifty-sixth Session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1897, p. 25.
61 Minutes of the Fifty-Second Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1877, p. 19.
62 Minutes of the Fifty-sixth Session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1893, pp. 29-30.
Robert Rutledge
Rev. Robert Rutledge was born in Ontario, Canada in the year 1847. He married Miss Amanda M. Wise
at St. Clair, Michigan. Six sons and one daughter were born to them. Mrs. Rutledge passed away July
15, 1904. Brother Rutledge remained single till his death at eighty-six years of age on September 20,
1933. He joined the Conference at Brockway Center (now Yale) in the year of 1877 (J.F. Kellogg,
Conference President) and served the following charges: Shelby (1877), Dryden (1880), Davisburg
(1881), Burnside (1882), Fremont (1884), Cass River (1890), Flint (1891), Marathon, now Columbiaville
(1893), Capac and Berlin (1897), Monroe Circuit (1898), Goodland (1899), Cass River (1900), and Caro
(1900). He was left without appointment from 1902 to 1905. From 1908 to 1912, he was Conference
Missionary, organizing the church at Caro and supervising the building of the same. He took
supernumerary relations from 1914 till his death.
Brother Rutledge was a strict tither, he practiced it diligently. He possessed one of the best farms in
Saginaw Valley, and kept books for the Lord. He was blessed with abundant crops, an outstanding
preacher of righteousness wherever he was pastor, and whenever an opportunity was given him as a
supply till the day of his death, he was one of God’s stewards. He was elected delegate to the
Seventeenth General Conference of May 15, 1896 at Kansas City.
Mical Rene Saigeon
Mical R. Saigeon was born in Ontario in 1849, coming to Michigan in 1870. In 1878, he was united in
marriage to Miss Hattie Murphy. He joined the church when he was twenty-six years of age and became
a minister of the Michigan Annual Conference in 1884. His itinerancy is as follows: Prairie Mission
(1884), Freemont (1885), Watertown (1886), Union (1887), Monroe Circuit (1889), Livingston (1891),
Monroe Circuit (1893), President of the Conference (1895), Yale (1897), Ingham (1898), Fostoria (1901),
Monroe (1904), Case River (1906), Livingston (1907), Dimondale (1910), Davisburg (1911), Greenwood
(1912), Richfield (1915), Caro (1917), and Hickory Corners (1918). He retired and lived at Lansing with
his adopted daughter, Mrs. Nina Allen, and died on July 12, 1926. On Thursday, July 15th services were
held in the Main Street Methodist Church, with his pastor Rev. Charles Bragg (one of the many men he
was instrumental in securing for the Christian ministry) officiating and short addresses by Rev. R.
Rutledge of Caro, H.J. Hescott of Detroit, and F.E. Kunsman (Conference President) of Port Huron.
Interment was at Deepdale Cemetery, Lansing. Mrs. Saigeon died the following year on January 21,
1928. Charles Bragg (Conference President) officiated the funeral held at Main Street Church on January
23, 1928. Interment was beside her husband at Deepdale Cemetery, Lansing, Michigan.
They will always be remembered by the church constituency where they served in their youth for their
devotion to the cause of Christ and the spiritual welfare of their people. Rev. Saigeon was a man of deep
religious convictions, a logical preacher, and very interesting to listen to. He was a man with a legal mind,
knowing parliamentary law perfectly, he was able to straighten the difficulties in parliamentary procedure
that the brethren of the Conference were at a doubt as to what was right, his decisions settled many
arguments. Many of the active ministers in the Michigan Conference and other places owe their decision
to devote their lives to the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ to this man of God.
Philemon Sampson
P. Sampson [was born in 1773,] joined the West Michigan Conference in 1853, served for fourteen years
and died in 1856. [1868].
John W. Saxbee
Rev. J.W. Saxbee was a native of Canada, born in the province of Ontario [in 1864]. He united in
marriage to his wife, Elizabeth, who was born in the town of North Chesley, Ontario, Canada. Rev.
Saxbee died September 20, 1920 and was buried at Yale, Michigan. Rev. and Mrs. Saxbee were
consistent workers for the cause of Christ. He was a faithful minister of the gospel, joining the
Conference in the year 1894 at Capac (J.E. Hubbell, President), and his first appointment and itinerancy
was as follows: Saginaw East Side (1894), Goodland (1895-96), Goodells (1897), Prairie (1898-99), in
1900 he had no appointment, Burnside (1901-02), Marlette (1903, parsonage built during his pastorate
here), and Ingham (1904-1906, parsonage built here during his pastorate). He took supernumerary
relations in 1907, served at Goodland (1908), Yale (1909-11), no appointment in 1912, Genesee (191314), Van Buren (1915-16), and Saginaw West Side (1917). He left without appointment to regain his
health from 1918 till the time of his death as stated above. He was always busy in the work of the
Kingdom. No children were born to this Christian couple.63
Archie Scott
Rev. Archie Scott was one of thirteen children born to Archibald and Jane Scott. He was born in
Woodstock, Ontario, Canada on November 17, 1857. He came to the United States when he was eleven
years old. He gave his heart to God three years later on Christmas Eve in a little schoolhouse in Macomb
County. Hus Sunday School teacher gave him a small New Testament for Christmas, which he carried in
his pocket to school and read during recess and noon period. He had a good memory and could readily
quote what the Bible said on any subject. While helping F. Traver in revival meetings at the Goodland
church, he met Addie Sisson, and they were married March 17, 1886. To this union were born Jennie
(the wife of the late Lee Van Vleet, who lives in Oxford, Michigan), Ruth (deceased), Blanch (Mrs. George
Springer of Kingston, Michigan), Gladys of Charlotte, Michigan, and Eva, living in Cass City.
Rev. Scott served the following charges: Prairie, Burnside, Fostoria, Leonard, Richfield, Cass River,
Mayville, Lum, North Branch, Rea and Cone, South Raisin, Columbiaville, Leonard for a second time,
Birch Run, and Dimondale. He joined the Conference in 1886, serving faithfully until 1937, when he
retired. After retirement, he lived for a while on his farm near Imlay City, until he sold it and then lived
until June 28, 1941, when he died. Interment was in the Dimondale Cemetery. He was faithful to the
cause of Methodism, entering into the Union with the two Methodist churches. His sincerity cannot be
63
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
Vol. XXIX, No. 2, pp. 469-470 (memoir of Elizabeth Saxbee).
discounted for he was one of God’s faithful ministers of the Gospel and well-versed in Scriptures. [His
name appears in journals from 1887 to 1942, although he retired after 1927.]64
Mrs. Scott lived until July 6, 1953. She was also buried in the Dimondale Cemetery. They were very
efficient in their ministry. He was a forceful gospel preacher, and she was a very accomplished musician
with a rich voice, thus taking her part in the services on the various charges where they served.
J.C. Scott
J.C. Scott served the Conference for thirteen years and died in 1897.65
James G. Seaman
No record is given of his years entering the Conference or of his death. [His name appears in the
Conference journals from 1867 to 1895, but he spent much of that period on the Superannuated (retired)
list and only had eight years of appointments. He was born in 1802 and died in 1895.]66
John Selby
John Selby [was born in 1826,] served the Conference for eleven years and died in January 1872.
James F. Shearer
J.F. Shearer [was born in 1834 and] served the Conference for sixteen years on the following charges:
Antrim (1876), Pine Grove (1877-78), Bradley (1879), Pine Grove (1880)], Prairie (1883-84), Fremont
(1885-87), and on account of failing health left without appointment till death in the year 1899 [1898].67
.
Adam C. Shepherdson
Rev. A.C. Shepherdson [was born in 1824 and] joined the West Michigan Conference in the year of 1867,
serving the Conference faithfully for twenty years. He passed to his reward November 19, 1887 at the
64
Minutes of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, 4th Session, 1942, pp. 10551056.
65 Minutes of the Fifty-sixth Session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1897, p. 24.
66 Minutes of the Thirty-Seventh Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1895, p. 37.
67 Minutes of the Fifty-eighth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1899, p. 19.
age of sixty-five years. He was a useful and good minister of the Lord Jesus Christ and was much loved
and esteemed by the brethren of the Conference. He was unable to do active work for ten years on
account of poor health, caused by slow consumption.68
Delos Short
Born in Otsego County, New York, in 1818 [1823], he united with the Conference in 1869, an earnest
worker for eighteen years. His health failed him, and he was forced to retire. He died in 1887 [1888].69
Henry S. Shrauger
Rev. Henry Shrauger [was born in 1861,] united with the West Michigan Conference in the year 1898 and
was appointed to the Bradley church. He received ordination in 1901. In 1902, he was appointed to
Hickory Corners. In 1906, he became a pioneer, settling on a farm in the Missaukee County River flats of
the Missaukee River, and started or organized the Butterfield Mission, where he became the pastor and
remained there building the Butterfield church till his death in 1937. He was Secretary of the West
Michigan Conference at the time of the union of the two Conferences in 1905 at Flint, Michigan. Rev.
Shrauger was a well-informed minister of the Gospel and endeared himself to the people of Missaukee
County of whatever faith they adhered to.
Melvin Simonds
M. Simonds [was born in 1840,] joined in 1884 and served the West Michigan Conference. He came into
the Michigan Conference with the union of the two Conferences in 1905, and after thirty-one years of
service, he died in 1916 [1917].
William R. Sink
W.R. Sink [was born in 1851,] joined the West Michigan Conference in 1893 and was a faithful servant for
the church for twenty-three years. He died in 1916.
68
Minutes of the Thirtieth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1888, p. 36.
69 Minutes of the Forty-Sixth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1887, p. 23.
Morgan H. Sly
M.H. Sly [was born in 1847,] served one year and died in 1906. [He served in the Conference from 1877
to 1881; transferred out; and then returned to the Conference from 1904 to 1906.]70
Alonzo Smith
Rev. A. Smith came to the West Michigan Conference in 1891, transferring from the Kansas Conference.
He served several charges as pastor. He served the West Michigan Conference as President for three
years, being elected each year from 1896 to 1898. He served very efficiently several different charges
throughout the West Michigan Conference and came in with the union of the two Conferences in the year
1905 at Flint, Michigan (J.W. Gray, D.D. and J.A. Morey, Presidents respectively). He transferred to the
Kansas Conference for eight years and returned to the Conference in 1908. Brother Smith occupied a
position that no other minister occupied, that of Pastor of Midland Park. He was also President of the
Midland Park Assembly for two years. He died in 1913 [he was born in 1844 and died in 1912].71
Laban Smith
Laban Smith’s name appears in connection with the ordination services in the minutes of the Conference
from its beginning in the year 1842 till his death on February 23, 1867, serving the Conference for twentyfive years. [He was born in 1792.] He was among the first Circuit riders of the Conference according to
the Conference minutes of 1867. R.C. Lanning preached his memorial sermon on Friday afternoon of
this Conference, a note at the last page of the Conference Minutes of 1867, reads as follows, “The
obituary of Rev. Laban Smith, should appear in the minutes, but has not been furnished.” [But the
volume containing handwritten minutes in the Archives does include a memoir, presumably received after
the publication of the conference journal.72]
He was called Father Smith, by reason of his being one who organized the Michigan Conference. It is
reported that these men were brothers [Presumably this line refers to Xenophon O. Smith (see below),
but no relationship between the two has been found.].
70
Minutes of the Sixty-fifth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1906, p. 29.
71 Minutes of the Seventy-Second Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1913, p. 28.
72 Minutes of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, 1853-1869, in Box 1 of the
Records of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church, Archives of the Michigan
Conference of the United Methodist Church, pp. 238-239.
Xenophon O. Smith
X.O. Smith [was born in 1824,] served seven years and died in 1866.73
Peter Snyder
Born in Germany [in 1805], Peter Snyder came to this country as a Lutheran. He united with the
Conference in 1856 or 1869 [he first appears in the journals in 1871], serving Goodland, Rea and Cone,
Columbiaville, Attica and Dryden, and the Flint Mission. He was also pastor at Mill Creek (1873),
Marathon (1874-75), and Kimball (1875-77). He was reported to be exceptionally evangelistic in his
preaching and many were added to the church wherever he was pastor. He did great service in the
organization and strengthening of churches in eastern Michigan. A very energetic minister of the Gospel,
his preaching was said to be with broken English, but with humorous statements which stayed with his
hearers, and were handed from generation to generation. He was a good minister of the Conference for
twenty-nine years [He appears in the journal from 1871 to 1880 and died in the latter year].74
Chandler Worth Stephenson
Dr. Stephenson was born at Naperville, Illinois on April 17, 1849 and passed away April 25, 1921. His
father enlisted in the Civil War, was wounded at Vicksburg, honorably discharged, and remained in the
South. Losing his mother when but four, he was practically an orphan at twelve. He lived with friends
near Batavia, Illinois, for seven years, then one year at Yankton, Dakota Territory, and for five years at
Chetopah, Kansas, farming, teaching school and working on the railroad. Matriculating at the University
of Kansas in 1875, he graduated in 1879, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Adrian College
honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity on June 15, 1916. Following his graduation, he came to
Michigan and became principal of Brockway Center (later Yale) schools. Here he met and married Laura
Alice Hathaway on August 14,1881. A week later, he joined the Michigan Conference of the Methodist
Protestant Church and was ordained in August 1883. His first charge was Franklin near Pontiac. Other
charges in Michigan included Saginaw, Lapeer, Adrian, Detroit, and Birch Run. Churches at Tiffin,
Wellsville, and Newcomerstown, Ohio covered six years there. He was president of the Michigan
Conference from 1914 to 1916, following which he accepted retirement and spent his later years in
Lansing.
Dr. Stephenson was a poet and writer of note. Articles, sermons, stories, essays, and poems appeared
in such well-known magazines as The Homiletic Review, Christian Herald, Outlook, Ram’s Horn, and the
denominational weekly, The Methodist Recorder. He was an unusually effective minister, diligent as a
pastor, studious, a man of strong convictions, courageous in their support, and a Christian of sterling
quality of character. To this devoted minister of Christ, every appointment, no matter how small or
73
Minutes of the Twenty-fifth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1866, p. 14-15.
74 Minutes of the Thirty-ninth Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1880, p. 35.
obscure, was a challenge to his highest endeavor. His record in the pastorate was one of achievement
and success.
At the funeral, which was held in the Main Street Church, Lansing, Dr. Harlan L. Feeman, President of
Adrian College, said, “Dr. Stephenson was one of a passing type of American manhood in whose life and
unquenchable thirst for learning struggled against early handicaps. Beset with difficulties that would have
side-tracked a less determined soul, he met them with a challenge and turned the threatening enemies of
his defeat into tokens of victory. The habit of toil with either hand or brain never left him. Matched with
his industry was the spirit of courage that led him to face his task, whether it was one of the pleasant
doing, after the manner of his own taste, or one involving relations where the path of duty led to the
unpleasant. He shirked not to follow the straight path. Linked with his industry and courage there went a
sympathy which was ‘a balm in Gilead’ to hundreds of people in the distresses and trials of human life.”75
John R. Stevenson
J.R. Stevenson [was born in 1819 and] was for many years a member of the Michigan Conference, one of
the early pioneers of Methodist Protestantism in the state. When the West Michigan Conference was
organized, he transferred to the West Michigan Conference. He was elected to the office of President in
the year of 1890 at Dimondale. At the expiration of his official term, he retired from active service, and
when he died August 23, 1898, he had been in active service for over fifty years. He was considered one
of the most informed Old Testament preachers of his time.76
W. W. Stickland
W. Stickland served two and a half years and died in April 1864.77
Edward Swadling
Edward Swadling [was born in 1876,] joined the Michigan Conference in 1922 and served the following
charges: Assyria, Mayville, Caro, Hickory Corners, Livingston [and Columbiaville]. He retired in 1943 and
made his home at Midland Park Gull Lake till his death in 1959 [1958.]. He was a good preacher and
loyal to the Methodist Protestant Church, a firm believer in Methodist Union, and worked for the same in
the midst of friends of his who were opposed to the union of Methodists. To know him was to love him,
75
Written by Rev. Frank W. Stephenson, his son.
Minutes of the Fortieth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1898, p. 36.
77 Minutes of the Twenty-Second Session of the Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1864, p. 14.
76
he was a true friend of man, and wherever he preached he made friends. He was evangelistic in his
ministry; many were added to the church wherever he was pastor.78
Samuel Tamblyn
To know Samuel Tamblyn was to love him. Wherever he was pastor, the people of the community
respected him. In his preaching, he was well-informed regarding the doctrine and word of God. Born in
[1860 in] Cromwell, England, he joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church and served with that church till
1887, when he came to America. Located in Tarrytown [in New York], he worked as a missionary among
the laborers of Croton Lake Aqueduct construction. Later, he united with the Methodist Protestant Church
of North Tarrytown and supplied that pulpit for several months. In 1889, he joined the Michigan
Conference and entered Adrian College under the care of the Ministerial Board of Education. At the end
of the college year, he went to Baldwin, Long Island and accepted a charge in the New York Conference.
In 1914, he returned to Michigan and served Britton, Capac, and Gagetown before retiring in 1937. He
died March 18, 1940. E. Ray Willson conducted the funeral services, assisted by Leo Birch and O.E.
Priest of the Congregational church at Britton. Interment was in the Ridgeway Cemetery.79
William G. Terhune
Rev. William G. Terhune was born in Walsingham Township, Ontario, on April 19, 1846 and died January
3, 1924. At the age of fifteen, he joined the British Wesleyan Church and was licensed to preach in 1869.
In 1885, he came with his family to Michigan and in 1888, became a member of the Michigan Conference
of the Methodist Protestant Church. Among the churches he served were Banner, Davisburg, Burnside,
Montrose, and Frederic, where he served for seventeen years. A close friend and former President of the
Michigan Conference paid Mr. Terhune this tribute: “He was a man who went where the Conference said,
and never held back on account of small salary or hardships to be met. He made friends wherever he
went.” It is said of him that he was well informed regarding the Old Testament and prophecy.80
John M. Thompson
John Thompson served at Stockbridge (1865), Capac (1866), Adrian (1867-68)] on the Monroe Circuit
(1869) [, and Mill Creek (1870-72)]. After ten years of service he was stricken with tuberculosis and as it
was his request always to die with his face towards the foe, active till the very last minute of his life. [He
was born in 1825 and died in 1872.]
78
The Official Journal and Minutes Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, 1959, Vol. XXX,
No. 4, p. 1090.
79 The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
First Session, 1940, pp. 144-145.
80 Rev. Frank W. Stephenson was the author of this sketch.
William D. Tomkinson
William D. Tomkinson was born in Canada [in 1816] and came to the United States, joining the Michigan
Conference in 1853. He was elected President of the East Michigan Conference six different times: first,
October 11, 1859 at Redford, second, September 25, 1860 at Pontiac, third, September 30, 1868 at
Plainfield, fourth, August 11, 1869 at Pontiac, fifth, at Richfield September 6, 1870, and sixth, August 20,
1871 at Plainfield. He was instrumental in the organization of the West Michigan Conference at Rice
Creek on October 8, 1858. He was also President of the West Michigan Conference, being elected to
that office seven times, from September 19, 1876 to September 21, 1881, and again for two consecutive
years September 17, 1888 to September 24, 1890. His ministry covered a period of forty-five years and
can be traced from Frederic, Michigan to the Ohio Line and from Port Huron to Lake Michigan, where
churches were organized under his eloquent and spiritual ministry. He was reputed to be a man of great
executive ability. At the General Conference of 1896, held at Kansas City, on May 15, he was the
delegate from the West Michigan Conference. This was the seventeenth General Conference of the
Church. At this Conference, H.J. Heinz donated ten thousand dollars for the educational institutions of
the church. [Rev. Tomkinson died in 1898.]81
Frederick Traver
Mr. Traver, son of Abram and Esther Traver, was born in Auebeck on March 18, 1845, and departed this
life February 25, 1923. His father’s parents were among the first settlers of Dutchess County, New York.
When fourteen years of age, he accompanied his parents to Ontario. At the age of eighteen, he was
converted and united with the Methodist Church. Shortly after, he married Miss M.J. Tibbets. They came
to Michigan, settling at Riley Center, St. Clair County, where he began the work of his life, the preaching
of the Gospel. In due time, he united with the Methodist Protestant Church and received a
recommendation to the Michigan Conference. Mr. Traver’s zeal, devotion, and ability were quickly
recognized. Ten times he was elected president but consented to serve only seven terms [1888-1891,
1892-1893, and 1897-1900]. Three times, he was a delegate to the General Conference. It was
estimated that over two thousand had been converted under his ministry and that forty-five of the ninetyfive churches in the conference at the time had been dedicated by him. He was buried in the Colfax
cemetery near Bad Axe.82
Bennett Underwood
B. Underwood [was born in 1835,] joined in 1868, served six years, and died in 1874.
81
Minutes of the Fortieth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church,
1898, p. 36.
82 Rev. Frank W. Stephenson was the author of this sketch.
Alva N. Waldo
Rev. A.N. Waldo’s name appears in the minutes of the 1897 West Michigan Conference as a layman
from the Lansing church, at that Conference he was elected to serve on the Stationing Committee.
Again, at the Conference of 1899, he was elected on the Board of Church extension, for a term of four
years. He was chosen Secretary of the Board in 1901 and became a probationer of the West Michigan
Conference in 1903. His first appointment was at Eaton Rapids, he was a representative at this
Conference of the Michigan Anti-Saloon League. He served several appointments, among them was
Stevens Street Church, Saginaw. Mrs. Waldo and her daughter, Miss Bell Waldo, were ardent Missionary
workers in the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Conference. Rev. Waldo was a quiet,
reserved minister, always considerate of the needs of his people. He passed away while fulfilling his last
appointment at Birch Run, early in the year 1919 [his death certificate shows the date as September 23,
1918 and gives his birthdate as August 2, 1857].
Jared Warner
Jared Warner was born in the year 1818 [1817] in the state of Vermont. He united with the Conference in
the year 1850, serving on mission fields till the year 1865, after serving his country in the Civil War, he
was appointed pastor of Marathon (now Fostoria), and Vienna (now Clio, where he built the frame
structure now standing, which was brick veneered under the pastorate of W.H. Cole in the year 1895, and
is being used at present in 1958, by the Methodists, till the new church is built at a new location, the
former Methodist Episcopal Church having been sold to the Baptists). He then served the following
charges: President of the Conference for two years [1872-1874], West Howell, left without appointment
from 1875 to 1877, Davisburg, and Montrose Mission. He superannuated in the year 1882 and went to
his reward in 1897, almost reaching his eightieth year. He was a faithful minister of the gospel. He was
truly a Father in Israel. His wise counselling was always appreciated and readily given. His early
education in theology was in Vermont, his native state. In his last days, his home was in the city of Clio,
Michigan. Interment was in the Clio Cemetery.83
John W. Warner
Rev. John W. Warner [was born in 1836 and] joined the West Michigan Conference in the year of 1882.
He served the following charges: Pittsford, Concord, Comstock, Haw Patch, Three Rivers (now the Ninth
Street Methodist), and Hillsdale. He retired in 1903 and after retirement he made his home in the city of
Holyoke, Colorado for his health and passed away January 30, 1925. He was a faithful minister of the
gospel doing his work well till his health failed him.
83
Minutes of the Fifty-sixth Session of the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1897, p. 24.
Lorenzo A. Warren
A.L. Warren was [born in 1804 and was] one of the charter members of the Conference organized in the
year 1842. He served the Conference on various missions for forty-four years [including Lapeer, Orchard
Lake, Flint, Livingston, Franklin, Redford, Pontiac, Washtenaw, Shiawassee, Vernon, Owosso, and
Argentine] and died in 1886. [His listings in the journals show him either as A. L. Warren or L. A. Warren.]
Howard C. Watkins
Rev. Howard C. Watkins, 54, pastor of the Carleton Methodist churches died December 29th [1958], in
Bradenton, Florida, where he had been vacationing. Mr. Watkins was born January 1, 1904 in Michigan.
After graduating from Michigan State Normal College in 1924, he entered the teaching profession. He
began his work in the ministry in 1931, and served pastorates at Attica, Otter Lake, Whittemore, Mayville,
[Brown City, Hale,] Carsonville, Gaylord, Cass City, Yale, St. Ignace, and Campbell Memorial in Ferndale
before going to Carleton in 1957. Survived by his wife Annette; four sons, Leith of Royal Oak, Weldon of
Hazel Park, Harry of Miami, Florida, and Marvin at home, three daughters, Marylin at home, Mrs. Clegg
Rowley of Gaylord, and Mrs. Richard Falls of Waterford; his father Rev. Harry Watkins of Bradenton, and
three brothers. Funeral services were at Bradenton, his burial was in Florida.84
David M. Weaver
D.M. Weaver [was born in 1832,] served five and a half years and died in 1881. He joined the
Conference in the year 1886 [1875].
Myron H. Wheeler
Myron H. Wheeler [was born in 1816 and] joined the Conference in 1869 [he first appears in the
Conference journal with an appointment in 1872]; he died in 1883 after serving fourteen years.
G. Washington White
W. White [was born in 1833,] served the Conference for seven years, and died September 8, 1891 [His
gravestone says September 29]. He was highly respected by the church at Centerville, St. Joseph
County, in that a monument was erected to his memory in the Centerville Cemetery.85
84
Michigan Christian Advocate, January 15, 1959; also The Official Journal and Minutes Detroit Annual
Conference of the Methodist Church, 1959, Vol. XXX, No. 4, p. 1087.
85 Minutes of the Thirty-Fourth Session of the West Michigan Conference of the Methodist Protestant
Church, 1892, p. 33.
Erastus Williams
Erastus Williams, another charter member, [was born in 1809,] served thirty-seven years and died in
1879. [He only appears in the 1861 journal and was on the unstationed list at that time, so his length of
service may not be as long as stated and a list of honored dead in the 1881 journal shows him as an
“honorary” member of the conference.] Erastus Williams and Joseph Woodman were pioneers of the
Methodist Protestant Church, blazing the trail on horseback, fording rivers and swamps. Their sacrifice
and service cannot be estimated in terms of dollars, they were truly men of God and should be honored.
James J. Willits/Willetts
Rev. J.J. Willits united with the West Michigan Conference in 1896 and was appointed to the Frederic
church. He served the following churches: Crawford Mission, Hickory Corners, Barryville, and Charlotte.
He retired on a farm near Barryville where he spent his last days as an active member of the Barryville
church, serving on the Board acceptably. He was an earnest, consistent Christian minister, and
whenever and wherever he preached he was well accepted as a true minister of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. [He was born in 1863 and died in 1949.]86
Samuel Windrem
Samuel Windrem [was born in 1845 and] served the Conference for twenty-one years on the following
charges: Watertown, his first charge 1884; Union Circuit, 1885-1886; St. Clair, 1887; Fairgrove, 18881889; Owosso Circuit, 1890-1892; Capac and Berlin 1893; Yale, 1894-1895; Ingham Circuit, 1896-1897;
Richfield, 1898-1899; New Lothrop, 1900-1901; Prairie, 1902-1903; and Marlette, 1904. He died in 1905.
Elias Wonderlic
Elias Wonderlic was born in Wales Township, St. Clair County, Michigan on July 29, 1876, the son of
Frederick and Anna Wonderlic. He was united in marriage to Estella Mudge on June 6, 1900 in Goodells,
Michigan, by the Rev. F.E. Kunsman. He was educated in the public schools of St. Clair County and took
a course of studies, as required by the Michigan Annual Conference of the Methodist Protestant Church.
He became a member of the Methodist Protestant Church at Mt. Pleasant, St. Clair County, with his
parents and two brothers, at the age of nineteen years.
He received a definite call to the Christian ministry but did not obey that call till some years later. He held
a local preacher’s license for several years before entering into active ministry. He joined the Michigan
Conference in the year 1915, serving the following churches: Attica from 1915 to 1919 (during this
pastorate, a revival was held at Attica, with Rev. H.J. Hescott, and Charles Bragg, Conference
Evangelists, when many souls were added to the church at its close of three weeks), Leonard from 1919
to 1923, Capac from 1923 to 1931, and Clio from 1931 to February 11, 1934. After preaching at Clio in
86
The Minutes Including the Official Journal of the Detroit Annual Conference of the Methodist Church,
1949, Vol. XXVIII, No. 2, pp. 443-444.
the morning and delivering an address at New Lothrop, returning home at ten o’clock, he was taken with
a severe heart attack, and passed away before any help could be obtained. He was a conscientious
worker for the church, always ready to be of assistance to those who were in need. Funeral services
were held at the Clio church, conducted by Rev. E.A. Benedict and ministers of the Conference, with
interment in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in back of the church of his boyhood days. He was survived by his
wife, Estella, a son, Clair living in Flint, and a daughter, Mrs. Velma Kreeger, of Port Huron, Michigan.87
Joseph Woodman
Joseph Woodman, another charter member, [was born in 1790,] served thirty-seven years and died in
1879. [He is not listed in any Conference journals prior to 1854, so his length of service may not be so
long.] Erastus Williams and Joseph Woodman were pioneers of the Methodist Protestant Church, blazing
the trail on horseback, fording rivers and swamps. Their sacrifice and service cannot be estimated in
terms of dollars, they were truly men of God and should be honored.
87
Written by Mrs. Estella Wonderlic.
Appendix
Created by William H. McNitt
2020
[Charles Bragg apparently based his manuscript on the lists of deceased MP clergy printed in the 1941
Detroit Conference journal. Those lists are quite incomplete as they were totally dependent on the deaths
reported in conference journals. A clergy member who served the conference for only a short time but
died as an active minister was more likely to be included than was a long-retired one who was no longer
in contact with the conference. Thus, many deserving individuals did not get included in Rev. Bragg’s
sketches. Understandably, he also left out many of his contemporaries, especially if they were still living.
Listed below are some prominent Conference members who did not make it into Rev. Bragg’s list, but
could have (and perhaps should have) been included. The Conference Archives has a record of the
appointments of each pastor to pulpits and, in some cases, additional biographical materials.]
Presidents of the Michigan Conference:
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Gay, James – Elected as first President in 1842 and again in 1844
Bamford, Robert – President, 1844-1846
Mack, Wilder B. (1798-1866) – President, 1846-1849 and 1851-1854.
Turner, J. L. – President, 1850-1851
Leach, Joshua (1808-1868) – President, 1861-1863
Clark, Sullivan (1822-1822) – President, 1866-1868
Greene, Cyrus S. (1827-1911) – President, 1874-1875
Kellogg, Joseph F. (1837-1892) – President, 1876-1879
Perry, Fred A. (1873-1950) – President, 1910-1912
Bragg, Charles (1877-1967) – President, 1927-1930
Willlson, E. Ray (1892-1973) – President, 1935-1939
Presidents of the West Michigan Conference:
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Newell, Barnum B. (1825-?) – President, 1863-1865
Goodrich, Charles P. (1839-1901) – President, 1882-1884; Secretary for eleven years
Dodds, Lafayette (1846-1920) – President, 1891-1895
Johnson, Samuel M. – President, 1895-1896
Long-serving clergy:
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Bachus, Richard E. (1882-1958)
Bishop, Luman W. (1874-1965)
Bostwick, Allison M. (1861-1949)
Bradley, William (1830-1902)
Butler, Nathaniel (1850-1932)
Carpenter, William H. (1841-1924)
Clark, Aaron K. (1828-1911)
Clark, Charles B. (1843-1919)
Clark, Daniel B. (1821-1899)
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Cragg, Amos E. (1853-1919)
Crago, Isaac T. (1848-1914)
Crandell, Fred L. (1876-1936)
Dailey, Squire (1834-1916)
Daniels, Marcus C. (1845-1904)
Dibley, Joseph D. (1886-1985)
Earl, David N. (1855-1953)
Eastlake, William J. (1853-1920)
Flint, William H. (1858-1936)
Fuhrman, Jacob A. (1887-1976)
Gifford, Caleb W. (1817-1899)
Gillett, George N. (1862-1940)
Gray, William (1822-1906)
Hackett, John (1840-1933)
Hatt, Arthur Earl (1874-1966)
Hayes, Hollis F. (1902-1992)
Heminger, John W. (1848-1923)
Hemingway, Frank S. (1894-1965)
Hescott, Benjamin C. (1875-1966)
Hillis, Robert (1852-1937)
Howard, Ella M./Ella Howard Wilson (1856-1937)
Johns, Cassius J. (1890-1971)
Jones, Victor E. (1892-1963)
Keightley, Joseph (1837-1894)
Kelley, William (1816-1892)
Kinney, George W. (1853-1925)
Latham, James (1833-1897)
Mann, Jay E. (1886-1964)
May, Sylvester P. (1827-1892)
McClure, John E. (1858-1925)
Miller, Albert E. (1860-1924)
Mills, John J. (1839-1910)
Mollan, Walter (1890-1962)
Morrison, Earl L. (1864-1949)
Nichols, Frank T. (1867-1955)
Nichols, James W. (1835-1899)
Oliver, Clayton (1892-1960)
Ostrander, Ulysses G. (1869-1968)
Ostrander, Wilbur S. (1858-1948)
Parmater, William F. (1833-1902)
Perkins, William F. (1847-1914)
Polglase, Alfred J. (1859-1945)
Powell, Ruel C. (1874-1961)
Prowse, William E. (1867-1948)
Richard, Eli D. (1899-1975)
Ryan, Daniel W. (1884-1967)
Shults, Jacob D. (1835-1911)
Sly, John A. (1838-1915)
Snell, Wilber B. (1865-1923)
Stafford, Davis A. (1878-1950)
Stilson, Oscar R. (1876-1964)
Sutton, Benjamin G. (1865-1927)
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Sweet, William R. (1879-1958)
Turbin, Donald Clarence (1888-1970)
Van Doren, Davis A. (1872-1947)
Warren, Ghouly E. (1874-1943)
Watkins, Harry L. (1880-1964)
Weaver, Milo J. (1864-1932)