Pioneers of Bean Creek Country, Lenawee Co, Michigan; James J. Hagaoam; published by Jas. M. Scarritt, Hudson, MI, 1876 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Teeter ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Page 81 himself out of the way before his friends found it out. Or. Wirts and William H. Johnson found themselves short of a large sum of money, with only.a lot of.timber to show for It. To prevent an entire loss, It was resolved to build the mill on a reduced scale, and run it by steam alone. It had been intended to use both water and steam power. Accordingly the mill was raised on the railroad ground directly east of Wood street. It was finished and run several years, generally, it is thought, at a loss to the operators. At last the frame was sold to Edwin M. Hulburd, who took it down and piled the timber by his mill, with the intention of building a large addition thereto, but the project was abandoned. THE HULBURD MILL.--In the meantime old uncle Simeon Van Akin became the owner of the water power, and converted the saw mi II into a grist mill, but before it had been operated long, Brearley and Hulburd became the owners. They made several additions to it to increase its capacity, and were opening a good business, when the war began. Brearley about that time sold his interest in the mill to Mr. Hulburd, who proposed, as above stated, to enlarge it, but before the work was begun he accepted a Captain's commission in the 18th regiment of Michigan infantry, and was absent from his business until the close of the war. When he returned he found himself unable to make the enlargement. The old building needed repairing, and there was a new dam to be built. These necessary repairs added to his embarrassment, and finally in the spring of 1875 he deeded the property to the mortgagees, who sold it to its present proprietors, Tucker and Wiggins. THE STOCK STORE.--About the year 1853 the farmers became dissatisfied with the course of trade, and thought they could manage their own business without the aid of middle-men. So a company was organized for mercantile and forwarding purposes. The project was to start a store, in charge of an agent, at which store r the stockholders were to purchase goods at ten per cent. advance on New York cost, and others should pay a larger, but at the same time a reasonable profit. Their produce was to be forwarded to New York, sold by a commission house, and the farmer was to receive the whole price, less the cost of transportation and sale. The stock was subscribed, Mr. Edwin F. Wells employed as agent, and a store opened. Prices did come down, of course, and the merchants found their best customers leaving them. They tried to brave the storm by furnishing goods at reduced rates, but they found that a ruinous business, and H. M. Boies & Brother offered to sell their stock to the association. The offer was accepted, and the stock store moved into the corner store building. Here they carried on business for a while, until it became evident that there was fault in the management, for applications for payment of bills began to be made directly to stockholders. An investigation was had, and it was found that the institution was bankrupt. The stockholders must now put their hands in their own pockets to make up the losses, but they resolved to stop that leak, and sold the institution out. THE SPOKE FACTORY.--In 1852 or .53, Mr. Alexander M. Ocobock built a two-story wood building, on the site of the present spoke factory, for the purpose of manufacturing wagons. From manufacturing his own spokes, hubs and felloes, he got to manufacturing for shipment, and afterwards a Mr. Munson became associated with him. Soon afterwards the building burned down. Mr. Ocobock retired from the business, but Munson undertook to rebuild on a more extensive scale. Samuel DeGolyer came here and joined Munson in the enterprise. Munson became involved, and through some management he retired, and Samuel DeGolyer managed the business as agent, his New York brother ostensibly owning the business. DeGolyer was a patriotic man; the first tap of the recruiting drum fired him for action. He went into the army in command of company F, 4th Michigan infantry, and James DeGolyer took his place. Soon afterwards the business name was James DeGolyer & Co., Samuel's widow (for he had died of a wound received at Vicksburg), being the company. In the spring of 1876, Mr. William A. Whitney (who had married the Page 82 widow DeGolyer and had been managing her interest), bought out James DeGolyer, and now the business firm was Whitney & Co. Until the financial panic of 1873 the factory was doing a good business. Since then it has sympathized with the general depression in manufacturing interests. THE TANNERY was for several years one of the business institutions of the town. It was owned and operated by Samuel Eddy, but it is believed never was a paying institution. The business ventures originating since 1860 do not properly belong to our theme, and, with one or two exceptions, will not at this time be noticed. NEWSPAPERS. The first attempt at journalism in the township and village of Hudson was made by William H. Bolsby, on the 9th day of July, 1853. The paper was called the Hudson Sentinel, and Mr. Montgomery was both editor and proprietor. About the beginning of the next year, Canniff & Montgomery became the proprietors of the Sentinel, and Andrew C. Mercer editor. In November Mr. Canniff appeared as editor and proprietor, Joseph G. Davenport publisher, and in December, Davenport became editor and proprietor. The paper was soon after consolidated with the Michigan Republican, and was published for a short time at Adrian by one Hobart, proprietor. On the 13th day of September 1855, a new paper appeared. It was called the Hudson Courier, and was published by a company, as follows: H. M. Boies, W. H. Johnson, Enos Canniff, Benjamin Turner, A. C. Mercer, L. G. Hall and Alonzo Palmer. A. C. Mercer was editor. August 15th, 1857, still another new paper appeared, the Saturday Evening News, E. Wolverton editor and proprietor. This paper was succeeded, March 26th, 1858, by the Hudson Gazette, W.T.B. Schermerhorn editor and proprietor. The Gazette has continued for eighteen years under one management, and has been an able village paper. It was printed first as a neutral sheet, then as an independent. Although for several years it was thought its independency leaned, it adhered to that motto until the summer of 1876, when it came out squarely for the Democracy. It has always been an able paper, and for many years it was the pet of all Hudson households, no matter what the shade of their political opinion was. Late in 1862 Titus Babcock started a Republican newspaper in the village of Hudson, which he named the Herald. He continued to run the paper until in 1865 he was succeeded by Russel D. Babcock and Daniel Russell; they were in turn succeeded by A. H. Pattee, who changed the name to Transcript, and he, in the spring of 1868, by Laird & Penfield, who again changed the name to Post. Chauncey W. Stevens succeeded to the management of the paper sometime in the year 1869, A. H. Pattee in 1870, and James M. Scarritt in the spring of 1872. During the latter part of the ownership of Pattee, Dr. Andrews was editor and manager. When Mr. Scarritt assumed the management, in the spring of 1872, he found less than two hundred paying subscribers, and that the office had no reputation for job work and but little material to do job work with. The only press that could be used was a Washington. Scarcely anyone would subscribe for the paper,-- its several changes had invariably been to the pecuniary loss of its subscribers, and they would trust it no more. A few would trust it for three months, and a few reckless persons for six months, but none longer. It was harder business than starting a new paper that would have a reputation to make; this had one reputation to obliterate and another to make. The first year's business showed a loss of Page 83 about eight hundred dollars; the second scarcely paid, but a reputation had been made, and thenceforward the progress has been steady and constant. Instead of less than two hundred subscribers it has (Sept. 15, 1876,) one thousand five hundred and sixty. In place of the one Washington press, the office has a power newspaper press and a power jobber, driven by steam, and a better supply of material than is found in many inland city offices. As a business manager, Mr. Scarritt has but few equals. Although Hudson now has but two papers, the time was that it had three as neat papers as are published anywhere. Immediately after the Rev. Jesse T. Webster assumed the duties of rector of Trinity church, Hudson, he commenced the publication of the Record, a monthly parish newspaper, as an aid in parish work. This paper he enlarged and improved until, under a change of name, it became the organ, first of one, then of two dioceses. It was a beautifu] and able religious journal, and was printed at the office of the Hudson Post until some time after the editor's removal to Detroit, when it was removed thither. CRIME. Although, perhaps, Hudson has had her full share of petty crime, she has had but one murder (an infant) , and but one suicide, and of the other crimes that shock communities it has had on]y one,-- the robbery of the People's Bank, in 1864. William W. Treadwell was the son of Urias Treadwell, and was born and brought up on a farm in the township of Pittsford. He attended such schools as Hudson and Pittsford then enjoyed, and afterwards graduated in a business course in an Ohio institution. After his return to Hudson he clerked it for a while in a dry goods store, and then for a short time was in the dry goods trade with William W. Palmer. After leaving Palmer he asked and obtained permission to assist in the People's Bank, then owned by the Hon John M. Osborn, without salary, just to learn the business. He was apt, punctual and faithful, and mastered the business rapidly. At length he became a partner in the bank, and finally, in 1859, Osborn sold his interest in the bank to Urias and William W. Treadwell. In 1862, he married Mary E. Hester, of Huron county, Ohio, and a little while before the robbery, became sole proprietor of the bank, his father allowing the use of his name to assist his son. In stature William was considerable below the average height, slender in form, and had a very dark complexion. He had by his pleasant ways and obliging disposition made himself very popular among the farmers and business men, and his safe contained large sums of money deposited on account of such friendship. In December, 1863, the treasurers of the townships of Pittsford, Rollin and Hudson commenced to deposit their collections, which, increasing day by day, would be allowed to remain there until February 1st, when the larger part would be withdrawn to pay State and county taxes. It now seems that he had matured a deep scheme of dark villainy, for on the 16th day of January, 1864, he sent letters to all the bankers of Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland and Chicago, enclosing drafts on the Continental Bank, New York, asking for discount, or in plain words, a loan. The bodies of the letters were alike, except as to amount; the address and postscript varied. Here is a samp]e: PEOPLEIS BANK. URIAS TREADWELL, Pres. W. W. TREADWElL, Cash. Hudson, Mich., Jan. 16th, 1864. Dear Sir: --Herewith I enclose my draft on Continental Bank, New York, for $1,000. Please send me proceeds in treasury notes per United States Express. Yours respectfu]]y, W. W. TREADWELL, Cashier. P.S. --Do you keep 5-20 bonds for sale. Page 84 These letters and drafts were dispatched by the mails Saturday, Jan. 16th, and he evidently expected to get returns by Tuesday night. Tuesday morning he went to Adrian and procured of the banks there $4,500. On his return from Adrian he carried in his hand a small black sachel. He went immediately to Mr. Galusha, the express agent, and inquired for money packages, and received seven packages from as many banks. Mr. Galusha remarked, "you are receiving considerable money." "O" said Treadwell, "that is not all I have got," throwing aside the lapel of his overcoat and exhibiting the Adrian packages in the inside pockets thereof. These packages he put into the sachel, and going to the bank threw it under the counter, giving it a careless kick, as though of but little consequence. On Wednesday he received several more packages, but yet the banks had not all responded. He evidently feared to wait longer, and the sequel shows that his fears were well founded. That (Wednesday) night the clerk of the bank (Mr. Webb) and Chester C. Pease spent the evening with some lady friends in the south part of the village, and instead of returning to his boarding place that night, Mr. Webb went out to his father's house, a little south of Lowe's mill. He came into town next morning and proceeded to the bank. The bank building had been burned in the fire of the 3d of January, and temporary quarters had been provided for it in the hardware store near by. Pease saw Webb go towards the bank and started to go in that direction, but he met Webb, ashy pale. "Chet," said he, "there is something wrong; I can't open the safe." "Perhaps," said Pease, "Billy has changed the combination." "No," replied Webb, "he never does that without telling me." So saying, they reached the store. Again and again was trial made without success. At this juncture a New York "runner" came in and said, "Let me try it." He took hold of the knob, and in a few minutes the door swung out on its hinges. But what a discovery! The well-filled safe of the night before was empty--every dollar in currency had flown. "Where is Treadwell?" was the next inquiry; but he could nowhere be found, and then the fact became patent that he had robbed the bank and run away. Then Galusha told of the little black sachel, but it, too, was gone. An examination of the books showed he had taken forty-two thousand dollars in round numbers from the safe, but the money he obtained of the banks did not go into the safe nor onto the books. He said nothing to his clerk of those transactions. To say there was intense excitement conveys but a faint idea of the situation. Money deposited to await investment, the soldiers' earnings, and the widow's mite all were gone. So intense was the excitement that it was almost unsafe for the grief-stricken father to appear upon the streets. A partner of his guilty sone,--only in name, yet so far as the people knew, a real partner,-- he was supposed to be, as he really was in law, answerable for the sums entrusted to the bank. The powers of the law were invoked, and before night a score of suits had been commenced, and the bailiff's voice became familiar as household words to his ears. From all the information afterwards obtained, it appears that after the clerk left the bank Tuesday night, Treadwell returned and transferred the money packages from the safe to his black sachel. About two weeks previous he had sent his wife to her father's house on a visit, and he was for the time being boarding at the Exchange Hotel. About ten o'clock he sauntered into the office, sachel in hand, and, requesting the clerk to call him for the morning train, went to his room. At three o'clock Thursday morning, January 21st, 1864, William W. Treadwell, sachel in hand, wended his way to the depot. He carried with him his father's wealth, the savings of the widow and the fatherless, as well as the thousands of the rich men, but he left behind a crushed and heart-broken father, home and home associations, but above all, and more than all, his honor and his integrity. He Page 85 carried thousands of dollars, but the hand that grasped it was a felon's hand.

The reader shall not be wearied with a recital of the means resorted to for his capture. Suffice it to say that the telegraph was put in requisition, and the various points informed of the robbery and flight. The discounted drafts commenced arriving at the Continental Bank on the 20th, and, so great was the confidence in the People's Bank, although its account was already overdrawn, the bank officers paid the drafts presented to the amount of $7,000 before a dispatch sent the 21st apprised them of the condition of affairs. Five thousand dollars arrived after his departure, but the express agent at once returned it to the banks from which it came. February 11th, 1864, the following dispatch was received at Hudson: Mansfield, 0., Feb. 11, 1864 Thos. Bate, Hudson: I have arrested William Treadwell. What shall I do? Answer immediately. C. C. KEECH. Mr. Keech was on the police force at Mansfield, had formerly known Treadwell, and seeing him in a carriage at Mansfield depot, he at once arrested him. The officers at Adrian were at once notified, and in a little time Sheriff Hough, W. H. Walby, J. M. Osborn, J. J. Hogaboam and some others were on their way to Mansfield. Before leaving Adrian, however, they learned that Treadwell had procured a writ of habeas corpus returnable before the Probate Judge immediately. Keech was instructed to procure counsel and prolong the matter until the arrival of the party. They have a peculiar law in ohio which provides that if while a person is before a court on a writ of habeas corpus, a sheriff of another State, with a proper warrant, demands the prisoner, the court shall make an order for his removal without waiting for a requisition. Keech, as directed, employed counsel, and they (there were two of them) raised and argued objections until ten o'clock at night. One of them was on the floor speaking when the party arrived, and, looking over his shoulder at the party, he continued, "But I see, your Honor, the sheriff of Lenawee county has arrived with a proper warrant for the prisoner's arrest, and he now demands on order for his removal." The Michigan papers were immediate]y examined and an order made for Treadwell's removal. As soon as Keech could be got aside the question was asked "Where's the sachel?" As soon as Keech could collect his thoughts he answered: "When I arrested Treadwell there was a man and a woman in the carriage with him. There was a little black sachel on the seat, but as Treadwell did not claim it I left it, supposing it to belong to the woman." A little more inquiry revealed the fact that the man and woman were Treadwell's father-in-law and wife, and that the man took the sachel into the cars with him. Hester was seen, but he denied any knowledge of sachel or money. Treadwell was brought to Adrian and lodged in jail. After he had been in jail a few days, Treadwell offered to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors, but claimed to have only $32,000. In consideration of his assignment he wanted all prosecutions dropped, his creditors to sign a paper to that effect. This they unanimously declined to do. On the 30th day of March, Treadwell made an assignment to Charles M. Croswell, the assignment to become operative when the creditors should sign the desired agreement. He made a detailed statement of his affairs, from which it appeared his total assets were $31,489.17; his father-in-law was to put in $30,000 more; making in all Page 86 $61,489.17. He also stated his liabilities to be $66,190.61. Believing it to be the best that could be done, many of the creditors signed the agreement; but so many refused the offer went for nothing. On the seventh day of May Hester came to Hudson to talk up Treadwell's matters. It was generally believed he had the money. The boys held an impromptu meeting in front of the hotel and discussed the matter. Warming up, some of the boys expressed their belief in the efficacy of mob-law in such cases. It happened his room was so located he could hear every word that passed. He became so frightened that he dressed himself, went down the back stairs, and walked to Clayton, where he took the morning train home. Treadwell was tried and convicted Friday, July 1st, and remanded for sentence. About five o'clock the same afternoon he escaped from jail in company with John Cowell, a convicted horse thief. On the 14th day of July the body of a man was found in the woods in Wood county, Ohio, one mile from any road, and about thirty-six miles from Adrian. The body was badly decomposed, but the unfortunate victim had received a series of severe blows on the head, for there was a large fracture of the skull on the right side. A club lay near the body, also a part of a lunch tied up in a calico rag. A Mrs. Eastman, living about two miles from the place where the body was found, testified that on the fourth day of July two men called at her house for dinner. The smaller of the two men paid for the dinner and also for a lunch which she gave them tied up in a piece of calico. The larger of the men carried a sort of club. She identified the calico and string found by the body as being those she gave the two men, and the club as that carried by one of the men. A lady living in Hesterls neighborhood, being at Napoleon at the time the body was found, related the matter on her return home. Hester at once suspected the truth, went to Sandusky and caused Cowell's arrest on suspicion. When arrested he had $200 in his possession. It was also said he had had larger amounts and a gold watch. This he denied, but he said Treadwell gave him $110 and his gold watch when they parted, at two o'clock on the morning of the fifth of July, Treadwell saying he was going to Omaha. Hester and Mrs. Treadwell went to Napoleon. The remains were so decomposed as to render identification impossible, but they identified some fifteen articles found on the body as Treadwell's property. At the trial of Cowell, which took place in May, 1865, Mrs. Treadwell testified that before Treadwell left the Adrian jail she managed to give him $900 in $100 bills. A portion of them were on the Union Bank, of Rochester, N. Y., and one such bill was found with Cowell at the time of his arrest. Dr. Horace Welch, of Hudson, identified the body by peculiar workmanship on the teeth. Cowell was convicted, and was executed July 7th, 1865. As soon as it was found that Treadwell was dead, the creditors petitioned for probate of his estate, and letters of administration were granted to Chauncey L. Treadwell, of Wheatland. Suits were brought against Hester to recover the money, and after considerable delay a large sum was recovered. The creditors had paid two assessments to carry on the prosecution, and hoped to realize at least a portion of their claims out of the proceeds of the judgment; but so great were the expenses of the trial, and the amount claimed by attorneys so large, that, aside from the return of the amounts paid on assessments, they realized nothing. Page 87 ORGANIZATIONS.--CHURCHES. CONGREGATIONALIST.--In a former section it was stated that early in 1836 a Presbyterian church was organized at the house of Alpheus Pratt, in Pittsford. The Rev. David Pratt became pastor of that church in June following, which relation existed two years. The Rev. D. R. Dixon succeeded to the pastorate soon after. During Mr. Pratt's pastorate the name of the church had been changed from the "Presbyterian Church of Bean Creek" to the "Presbyterian Church of Hudson and Pittsford," and now, on the seventh day of May, 1839, it was resolved that the First Presbyterian Church of Hudson and Pittsford be organized into a Congregational church, to be called the Congregational Church of Hudson and Pittsford. Salmon Trask, Elijah B. Seeley and Nelson R. Rowley were elected deacons. At a church meeting held on the first day of May, 1841, it was ordered that the church of Hudson and Pittsford should thereafter be known as the First Congregational Church of Hudson. Some time in 1841 the Rev. J. W. Pierce became pastor of the church, and that relation existed until the summer of 1844. During that year large accessions were made to the church membership from the arrival of Presbyterians and Congregation- a lists in the community. Samuel Van Fleet, Abram, Mary L., William R. and Ruloff Leonard, Edmund and Eunice Childs, Barbara, Jacob and Mary Robbins, Noble, Susannah, Harriet N. and Sarah B. Squier, Benjamin and Sarah Bevier, and Ezekiel and Sarah Lowe were received by letter. The spring of 1842 was a season of revival influence, and on the l0th day of April Andrew Wade and wife, Oren Whitmore, Warren M. Colgrove, Mrs. A. W. Childs, Miss Mary 0. Loomis and Miss Jane Keith were admitted to church memberships on profession of faith, and Lemuel Squier and Julia Bovee were received by letter. On the 28th day of April Messrs. Trask, Seeley and Rowley were re-elected deacons. At a church meeting held at the school house in Keene, Christopher, Elizabeth and Jane Clement, Barbara and Mary Robbins, Tamar F. Douglas, Louisa Colwell, Margaret Wilcox and Nelson R. Rowley were dismissed and recommended to the church in Wheatland. On the 29th day of June, 1843, the church dissolved its connections with the Presbytery, and soon after united with the Jackson Association of Congregational churches. Early in the spring of 1844 the Rev. Isaac Crabb, a Presbyterian clergyman, became the pastor of the church. At a church meeting held June 22d, a distinguished member was presented for gathering sap on Sunday. The church took no action in that particular case, but adopted the following resolutions: "1. In the opinion of this church it is a violation of the fourth commandment to travel on the Sabbath, and we caution our brethren and sisters against starting on a journey, or arriving at their place of destination, or returning home on the Sabbath. 2. It is a violation of the fourth commandment to work in harvest or haying on the Sabbath, and we caution our members to beware of any temptation that may arise to gather grain or hay on that day. 3. That it is not a work of necessity to gather sap on the Sabbath in any case whatever." The pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Crabb terminated on the first day of April, 1845, and he was succeeded by the Rev. Robert laird. During the winter several members of the Congregational church, without taking letters of dismissal from it, had proceeded to organize a Presbyterian church. On the sixth day of April the Congregational brethren, in church meeting assembled, appointed a committee to Page 88 labor with the offending members, and if they did not return to report them to the Presbytery. At some point of time the church had dissolved its connection with the Jackson Association and united with the Monroe Presbytery, and June lst, 1845, I n Jesse Smith was elected a delegate to the Presbytery to be held at Clinton on the third day of that month. In February, 1846, Messrs. Seeley, Trask and Avery were elected deacons. The winter of 1845-6 was a great revival season in Hudson. The Rev. Mr. Laird conducted the meetings on the part of this church. As a result of the winter's campaign against sin, Samuel and Lucy Day, Myndert Bovee, Bradley Loomis, William and Julia Ann Smith, Julia Ann Kelley, Lorenzo Smith, Henry Goodrich, Susan A. Trask, Mary Sample, James Bevier, and Anna Maria Lane were admitted to membership on probation. In the spring of 1847 a church building was commenced, and it was completed and dedicated early in the spring of 1848. In September, 1848, the labors of the Rev. Mr. Laird terminated, and the pastorate remained vacant until the following May, except occasional services by visiting clergymen, yet the church maintained its services by prayer and conference. The church sent a delegate this year to the Jackson Association and also one to the Presbytery. Mr. Jesse Smith represented the church at the first, and Abiel Coburn at the other. May 21st, 1849, the Rev. John W. Baynes, a Presbyterian clergyman, became pastor of the church. The call was in these words: "That this church and society will give the Rev. J. W. Baynes a call to become our pastor, for the sum of four hundred dollars a year so long as said connection shall exist between him and us, in hopes ere long to afford him a more ample support." Modern clergymen would consider themselves on short allowance with such a salary, but Mr. Baynes preached as often, and in labors was an abundant as any who receive ample salaries. He remained in the pastorate of the church until 1854, and was in all respects a model pastor. At a church meeting held this summer, (1849), the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That for the purpose of meeting the views of those fellow-Christians of the Presbyterian order who may hereafter unite with this church, should any case of discipline arise in which they may be personally concerned, the book of discipline in use by the Presbyterian church in the United States may be taken as the rule and guide, if a majority of the persons interested shall prefer it, the standin committee of this church being in lieu of the session of a Presbyterian church, it being clearly understood, however, that this resolution shall never be construed as affecting, in the least degree, the general order and discipline of this church in its organization as a Congregational church. On the 16th day of October, 1850, the Rev. J. W. Baynes was installed pastor of the First Congregational church, by the Monroe Presbytery. The Rev. J. B. Taylor, Moderator, presided. Rev. W. Cockran read the Scriptures. Rev. W. Watson offered prayer. Rev. H. H. Northup preached from Acts xx:31. The Moderator pro- posed the constitutional questions. Rev. G. C. Curtis offered the installation prayer. Rev. J. Monteith addressed the pastor, and Rev. J. B. Taylor the congregation. Benediction by the pastor. At the meeting for the election of officers, in 1852, pending the election of deacons, the question of the eligibility of females to vote was raised, and Page 89 the pastor, says the record, took occasion to state his views on the subject, showing that such a course wou1d be contrary, not on1y to the usua1 manner of I doing such business in this church heretofore, but a1so at variance with the usage of Congregationa1 churches in both Old England and New England, that it wou1d be subversive of order, and might 1ead to other disorders; and especially that it was directly contrary to the teachings of the Word of God as contained in 1 Cor. xiv:34, 35, and 1 Tim. i i: 11, 12. Notwithstanding the expressed views of the pastor, the church decided, by a vote of eight to five, to allow fema1es to vote,--against which decision the pastor and Mr. Jesse Smith protested. At a meeting of the church he1d on the 16th day of March, 1853, they voted "that this church withdraw from the Monroe Presbytery, and that our pastor be instructed to ask for a 1etter of dismission at the next regu1ar meeting of the Presbytery." At a church meeting he1d March 15th, 1854,--the 1ast at which Rev. Mr. Baynes presided,--delegates were e1ected to the Southern Michigan Association, with instructions to ask the admission of this church into said association. Since the commencement of Mr. Baynes' pastorate, thirty-seven persons had united with the church on profession of faith, and nineteen by letter; seven had been dismissed by letter, and two excommunicated. One of the oldest members had died--Deacon Sa1mon Trask. Among those who united with the church during that period, we discover the names of many of the most prominent and active members of the church at the present time, viz: Augustus Kent, Hon. J. K. Boies, L. P. Whitney, and Deacon S. B. Pease, The church was temporari1y supplied until November, 1854, when the Rev. Atwater became its pastor. At a church meeting held February 20th, 1856, a committee was appointed to ascertain what artic1es of faith have been adopted by this church for their use; also to prepare and recommend for adoption by the church a set of artic1es and covenant; also a set of rules and declaration for the regu1ation of the church, and to prepare a history of the church, all of which, together with a catalogue of the members, to be printed in a manua1 for the use of the church. Moses Hume, Samue1 B. Pease and A. L. Hill were such committee. The committee reported March 19th articles of faith, a covenant, and rules of discipline. The covenant was adopted, it "being the one adopted by the Monroe Presbytery." The articles of faith reported "were those which were adopted by the Monroe Presbytery in 1856," but action on them, as we11 as on the rules of discipline, was deferred. At an adjourned meeting, he1d March 26th, the rules of discipline were adopted. Pending the consideration of the articles of faith, it was moved to "amend article eighth so as it shall read after the Lord's Supper, 'and that it is the privilege of be1ievers to dedicate their children to God in baptism,' which was passed." But on the adoption of the artic1es as amended, the vote being taken by ballot, the vote was averse. A vote was then taken by ballot on the motion to rescind the vote by which the eighth artic1e was amended, and it was rescinded. The artic1es as reported (those of the Monroe Presbytery) were adopted by a vote of twelve to two. "The committee were continued, after Messrs. E. B. Seeley, Jesse Smith and B. H. Lane had been added, with instructions to prepare a list of members and some historical facts for the new manua1, and have it printed. At the meeting of May 2lst, A. L. Hill was appointed a delegate to the General Association of Michigan; also to a council to convene at Jackson to install the Rev. Mr. Mahan pastor of that church. Mrs. Hannah Van Akin was granted a letter of dismission, for the purpose of uniting with the First Presbyterian Church of Hudson. June 18th, E. B. Seeley was elected a de1egate to a counci1 at Adrian for installation services. September 17th, D. H. Spencer and Augustus Kent were elected delegates to the Southern Michigan Association. Page 90 The annual church meeting for 1857 was not held; but at a monthly meeting, convened April 3d, after preparatory lecture, the manual committee reported that document prepared, and Messrs. Hume, Pease and Hill were appointed to see it properly printed. April 15th, Deacon Seeley and D. H. Spencer were chosen delegates to the Southern Michigan Association, and May 20th J. L. Taylor was elected delegate to the General Association of Michigan. July 5th Mrs. Deline, and Ed. M. Hulburd and his wife Helen were admitted to membership by letter. September l0th the Rev. W. W. Atwater and wife were dismissed by letter, and January 3d, 1858, Mrs. Maggie Adams was received by letter. At the annual meeting of the church, held January 2Oth, 1858, D. H. Spencer was chosen clerk. This brings the history of the church down to comparatively modern times. The history of the church during the succeeding eighteen years ought not yet be written in detail, nor can its doings yet be criticised impartially. Suffice it to say that during that period the church has experienced some of her greatest triumphs and deepest sorrows. During that period the old church property has been sold and a splendid new edifice erected and dedicated to the service of Almighty God, and scores of souls have professed saving faith and been admitted through her doors into the church militant. During the same period many of its most use- ful members have been dismissed to the church triumphant, some of whom participated in the organization of the first church in Hudson. We recall the names of A. L. Hill, Mrs. Simeon Van Akin, Mrs. John K. Boies, Deacon John L. Taylor, Phillip Beasom, Elijah B. Seeley, Francis B. Beasom and wife. METHODIST EPISCOPAL.--On Sunday, the 8th day of November, 1835, the Rev. William E. Warner, from Lewiston, New York, arrived and settled with his family on the farm on the Medina side of the township line, directly opposite the residence of James Gahagan. On the next Sunday, November 15th, he preached in Noah Cressey's log house, and organized a class of sixteen members, with Lorenzo L. Brown for leader, to whom he preached regularly, and also traveled largely through the surrounding country. But as Mr. Warner was only a local preacher, and as yet in no way connected with the work in this State, his action was only temporary and preliminary to a regular organization of the work. Tecumseh circuit was the nearest organized work, and the Adrian appointment was the nearest approach to the Bean Creek Country. Mr. William Rhodes (afterwards the Rev. William Rhodes) then lived on the Stubly farm in Rollin. He and his wife, both Methodists, attended a quarterly meeting somewhere on the Tecumseh circuit, and invited the preachers of that circuit to visit the Bean Creek Country. The Rev. Washington Jackson, then the junior preacher on that circuit, and the Rev. Allen Staples, a local preacher of the Adrian appointment, made such visitation in August, 1836, on their way to the conference at Maumee. They held a two days meeting in Ames' barn in Keene. Mr. Eldad Trumbull, of Pittsford, has on his diary a memorandum of attending quarterly meeting in Ames' barn, August 14th and 15th, 1836. He neglected to mention the preachers' names, but no doubt it was the occasion of the visit of Jackson and Staples. They proceeded down the valley of the Bean, preaching at Brown's, at Foster's (Tiffin), at Alvah Holt's Seneca, and so on down the valley to Maumee. At that conference the Bean Creek mission was formed, and Lorenzo Davis appointed missionary. Its boundaries are not defined, but something of an idea of the field may be formed by looking at its surroundings. Tecumseh was the nearest appointment of the east, Coldwater on the west, Spring Arbor on the north, and on the south it had no boundary--the missionary traveled through Medina to Morenci, and across the border into Ohio. It was a pretty extensive territory for one man to travel over, and that almost an unbroken wilderness.