EARLY CHURCH HISTORY

From "History of Ingham and Eaton counties, Michigan" - 1880

Methodist Episcopal Church
A Methodist class was formed at Grand Ledge in 1851, by John Clayton, a local
preacher, who lived west of the village, and who is said to have preached the first
sermon ever delivered in the place. This was at the house of Abram Smith,the
same which is still occupied by the latter. This is the oldest house in the corporation which is yet occupied. The sermon mentioned was delivered in May, 1851. Two weeks later a meeting was held in the school-house, which had been completed.

The first preachers in charge of the circuit who held services at Grand Ledge were
Revs. Whitmore and Bartlett, the latter being a young man who traveled on foot.
Mr. Whitmore was located at Portland, Ionia Co. Meetings were held in the
school-house until 1864, when they occupied the Congregational building
alternately with the latter church. The present fine brick church owned by the Methodists was built in 1874, and is a credit to- the society and the village. In its tower is a town-clock and bell. The present membership of the church is good; the pastor is Rev. Mr. Freeman.

Free- Will Baptist Church
This church was organized in 1851, at very nearly the same time with
the Methodist. The first Baptist sermon was delivered by Rev. S. A. Currier, and
this is also claimed to have been the first in the place. Meetings were first held in
private houses, and afterwards in the school-house and public hall.

A Free Baptist Church had been organized ten or twelve years before in Eagle
township, Clinton Co., and another was afterwards formed four miles west of
Grand Ledge. These three finally united, and in 1874 built the brick
church they now occupy in the village. Its cost was about $7000.

The pastors of this church, since Mr. Currier, have been Elders A. O. Jenne, H. A. Barker, F. W. Streight, W. M. Jenkins, and G. P. Linderman. The latter's service expired in April, 1880, and the church is at present without a pastor, but expects soon to have the pulpit filled. The membership is in the neighborhood of 120. A Sunday-school is maintained, with an average attendance of about 100.


First Congregational Church
In March, 1854, a number of citizens of Grand Ledge met and organized a
Congregational society, and in March, 1855, the following persons were elected
trustees,.: Lymnan Ford, William W. Simmons, Edmund Lamson, David Taylor,
Daniel Chadwick, and Reuben Wood. It is thought that Mr. Wood was the only religious person of the number. Rev. William P. Esler was made president, and became the first pastor. On the 28th of January, 1864, the following persons met to complete the legal organization of the society,-viz.: Wm. P. Esler, John P. Esler, George Robinson, William C. Gordon, J. A. Wickham, Reuben Wood, Porter Tinkham, Edmund Lamson, B. T. Esler, -Samuel Chadwick, Theodore Wickham, Robert Pointer, M. P. Burtch, Jolin R. Hudson. The following officers were chosen: Rev. William P. Esler, President; Reuben Wood, Clerk; James A. Wickham, Treasurer; William C. Gordon, Edmund Lamson, John P. Esler, James A. Wickham, Milton P. Burtch, and Reuben Wood, Trustees. The organization was finally perfected, and the society incorporated Dec. 6, 1869. The church was organized about Jan. 1, 1864, and is distinct from the society.

The pastors since Rev. William P. Esler have been Revs. J. D. Millard, J. M.
Ashley, N. D. Glidden, Gilbert T. Holcomb, E. T. Branch, T. G. Pierce, and the
present incumbent, Rev. Isaac Goodell.

The present frame house of worship was the first one erected in the village or
township, having been erected in 1864. The bell now hanging in it was the
first one which sounded in the village. The Methodists occupied the church for
some time, alternately with the Congregationalists, but removed to the
Presbyterian chapel while erecting a church for their own use. B. T. Esler,
one of the trustees of the Congregational Society, was appointed one of the
church building committee, and out of his own means contributed more than
one-fourth of the funds used in its construction. The total cost, including
the lot on which it stands, was about $3300. The congregation now numbers about thirty members. The building is a frame structure, located on the north side of the river.

Presbyterian
The Presbyterians also organized a society at one time, and erected a chapel in
which to hold services, but, after several years, discontinued their meetings in
favor of the Congregationalists, who were first in the field.

Emanuel German Lutheran Church
This church was organized about 1872, by Rev. Mr. Wilson, who became its first
pastor. The present frame building used as a house of worship was built about the
same time, on the north side of the river. The membership is in the neighborhood of twenty. Rev. Mr. Adam, of Woodland, Barry Co., holds services once in two or three weeks.

Oneida Presbyterian Church
A Presbyterian Church was organized in the southern part of the township, in the
Preston neighborhood, May 22, 1846, by Rev. William U. Benedict, of
Vermontville, and consisted of seven members.: Samuel Preston and wife, Ephraim Stockwell, John Strange and wife, Emanuel De Groff and wife.

Mr. Benedict became the first pastor. Some years later a frame house of worship
was erected on section 34, and meetings have been continued to the present.
The membership in June, 1880, was thirty-one, and the pastor Rev. Mr. Goodell,
of the Congregational Church at Grand Ledge.