EAGLE EARLY CHURCHES

From "History of  Shiawassee and Clinton counties, Michigan" - 1880

CHURCHES.
In the fall of 1835, Rev. Mr. Munett, a Methodist missionary, as they were then
called, visited the remote settlement in Eagle. He followed his circuit, which
embraced a great extent of country, on foot, carrying a knapsack stored with
a Bible, a hymn-book, a liberal supply of tracts, and a few articles of clothing.
With these he went from one settlement to another, making his rounds about
once in five or six weeks. At the time above stated he came to the log house of
Anthony Niles, and with his permission announced religious exercises for the
next Sabbath. These exercises, the first of the kind in Eagle, passed off well,
and while upon that circuit he visited this settlement as regularly as possible.

In the spring of 1837, Rev. Mr. Bennett came to Eagle and organized the first
church society. It was composed of Anthony Niles, John Benson and wife,
Heman Thomas, and Valentine Cryderman and wife. Mr. Cryderman was
appointed class-leader. The class prospered for a little time, but was at length
discontinued. In 1840, John Thomas, a representative of the Baptist Church, came and held a series of meetings, which resulted in the formation of a Baptist Church. When it was organized several persons who had previously been members of that denomination, reunited with it. The names of the persons composing this class were Anthony Niles, John Benson and wife, Heman Thomas and wife, John B. Shear and wife. Anthony Niles was chosen deacon. About the same time the Methodist Church reorganized, with Oliver Doty as class-leader. The Baptist Church in Eagle was finally disbanded, its members uniting with the society in Grand Ledge.

The Methodist class has not been discontinued, and was really the germ of the
one now in existence. The meetings of this society were held for a number of
years in the Thomas school, and more recently in the Jenison school-house. Its meeting-house was completed in 1876, and cost two thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars. It was dedicated by Rev. George B. Jocelyn. F. J. Freeman is the present pastor. M. R. Hill is class-leader. L. W. Hill is superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

The Free Methodist Church was organized at the schoolhouse in North Eagle in
June, 1876. The church edifice of this society was built in 1879, and dedicated
by C. W. Haines. The present membership is eight.