Griffith Church History, Eaton County, Eaton County, Michigan Copyright © 2000 by Sherri VanWyke. This copy contributed for use in the MIGenWeb Archives. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ This file is located at http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/eaton/eatonrapids/history/g61302.txt _______________________________________________________ GRIFFITH CHURCH HISTORY Written by D. B. Pierce near 1890 transcribed by Sherri VanWyke April 17, 2000 To write a correct history of this society from its early starting point in 1836 to the present time would seemingly take quite a length of time so when I tell you that only two or three weeks time could be given to looking up of the few items which have been able to find and with but very little record to refer to, you will not be disappointed if I can not give you, but will try, and present to you as best I may the few items which I have been able to learn from those that can remember ( and there are only a few left) the efforts of the early settlers to establish and maintain religious worship. The first meeting of which we can learn were held in Stephen Reynolds house sometime in 1836. Preaching by local preachers, and there were three of these with their families at one time living in the house with Mr. Reynolds. Their names were William Crane, Truman Barr and one ____ Turner had preaching service nearly every Sunday. I have been told that a man by the name Marvin (whose wife was a sister to Mrs. William Crane and Mrs. William Cowen) preached occasionally. I am told that as many as thirty-two living souls found a lodging place at Mr. Reynolds at one time, it seems that have been a ‘home’ to all. As near as can be learned the first Michigan Conference held at Mansfield, Ohio in September 1836, sent a missionary by the name of Kinnear into this part of Michigan. He had a preaching point at or near what is not called Dean’s Corner. Mr. Stephen Reynolds went to hear him and invite him to preach at his house, which he did soon after. September 6, 1837 Conference met in Detroit, Michigan and sent a missionary by the name of Jackson who came on with family and lived in house with the Blodgett’s where there were already three families living. People must have been very good in those days and taken up very little room. This Missionary held meetings in different dwelling houses around this part of the mission, once in two weeks alternation with Grand Rapids holding meetings at intermediate points during the week and traveling the entire distance on foot. In September 1838 conference in session at Tiffin, Ohio sent a preacher by the name of Thomas and in the following month, October 7, 1838, a class was formed at Stephen Reynolds with membership as follows: Stephen Reynolds and wife William Crane and wife William Cowan and wife Daniel Griffith and wife Wesley Cowan and wife Stephen Farnum and wife about the same time a class was started at Truman Barr’s consisting of : Truman Barr and wife Luther Blodgett and wife Tyler Blodgett and wife Abigail Blodgett No doubt there were others, but who they were I have been unable to learn. These two classes soon after united and formed one class, the only surviving member of the first classes that I hear of, if Miss Elicta Blodgett, the then wife of Tyler Blodgett and she is now very sick from the effects of the grippe. In March 1838 Truman Fuller came to his present home from near Purma, bringing a letter and uniting with the Griffith Class. Others joined soon after, among them were John(a) then Snyder and wife, and Mrs. G. Y. Cowan in 1840. Meetings were held in a school house near where the Griffith schoolhouse now stands. In September of 1838 Conference then in session at Ann Arbor sent Isaac Bennett as a missionary. The mission included next half of Ingham and all of Eaton County (except Bellevue) and a part of Jackson. The first Quarterly meeting that anyone remembers was held in Charles Bockoven house. Mr. Fuller says ‘We had lively meetings in those days’. (The presiding Elder Mr. Rice things there was one name Hickay). In March 1840 Rev. Isaac Bennett went to Eaton Rapids and organized a Methodist Episcopal Class there, and the last one of that number, Aunt Elsie Rogers, died about a year and a half ago. In the fall of 1840 the Eaton Mission was formed including Eaton County. This District, at that time, was called Marshall District and included the counties of Calhoune, Jackson, Eaton and Ingham, with a membership of 1555 and E. H. Pilcher as P.E. In 1845 Eaton Rapids and that part of the Mission lying South in Jackson County was formed into a circuit and called Tompkins Circuit with W. E. Bigelow as preacher in charge. At the first quarterly meeting held on this charge a collection was taken to pay P.E. and Preacher in charge, the collection was $2.80, giving each $1.40. In 1853 Isaac Bennett, again preacher in charge, it was thought best to make an effort to raise money to build a meetinghouse that they might have a more convenient place for worship. The effort was a success and in February 1855 the building known as Griffith Church was dedicated. Elder Camburn, preacher in charge. The presiding Elders name not learned. Trustees: Christopher Reasoner, Thomas Cowan, Jonathan Snyder, Plinn Griffith, Ann H. Wheeler, Francis Champlin, Stephen Farnum, Alver Leighton Building Committee: James H. Wheeler, Plinn Griffith, and Stephen Farnum In the year 1856 at the fourth quarterly conference it was decided to divide the circuit and make Eaton Rapids a Station leaving what was afterwards called Parma Circuit consisting of Parma, North Parma, or Campbell Pope, and Griffith Classes again taking the name of Tompkins charge or circuit. Our present Pastor Yelmer being the 18th since dedication. Since that time no important charges have taken place, except that the membership, which is has always been removals by death and by letter and additions by letter and conversions, though I fear the latter hardly keeps pace with the former. Our leader tells me that he has 47 names on the class book in full connection and quite a number on probation. As to our Sabbath School , no definite date has been giving but I am told that bible lessons were taught in a Sabbath School in a very early day. We have at present an attendance of from 40 to 50, and our teachers, I am happy to say, spare no pains in trying to make the lessons interesting and instructive. The class leaders of the Griffith Church have been: Stephen Reynolds Richard Hadley William Cowan Leyman Jacox Plinn Griffith Mr. Wilson Henry Pendall Adelbert McAllister Marshall Griffith Fred Clay George Y. Cowan DATE PREACHER IN CHARGE PRESIDING ELDER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1840 - 1841 Isaac Bennett E. H. Pilcher 1841 - 1842 Levi Warrner E. H. Pilcher 1842 - 1843 C. H. Stringham George Smith 1843 - 1844 David Knox 1844 - 1845 Henry Chapman George Smith 1845 - 1846 William E. Bigelow 1846 - 1847 Hiram Saro A. M. Fitch Co-PC: J. D. Collins 1847 - 1848 N. Abbott A. M. Fitch Co-PC: J. S. Sutton 1848 - 1849 R. C. Meeks - 1st quarter A. M. Fitch Amos Wakefield and G. T. Root (J.P.) - 3rd quarter 1849 - 1850 Samuel Bessy A. M. Fitch 1850 - 1851 Samuel Bessy A. M. Fitch JP: J. Summerfield 1851 - 1852 O. D. White JP’s: D. H. Pierce and E. Hayden 1852 - 1853 Isaac Bennett and A. M. Pike Resin Sapp JP: W. H. Perrine Transcribed from a typed report found in the historical files kept by Mrs. Effie Fuller. No original document is found. C:\windows\TEMP\1890.rtf