RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN THE TOWNSHIP. (Paw Paw Township): PalmerFamilyWeb

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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN THE TOWNSHIP. (Paw Paw Township)

History of Paw Paw Township, MI. Part 3
FROM History of Berrien and Van Buren Counties, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of Their Men and Pioneers.
D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia 1880
Press of J. B. Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES IN THE TOWNSHIP.

Methodist Wpiscopal Church.-The first sermon (of which there is any present recollection) heard in Paw Paw was delivered by Rev. Junia Warner, Jr., a Methodist Episcopal older of Almena, in April, 1835, in Hinckley's blacksmith shop. From that time until 1839, Mr. Warner preached frequently in the village, as did occasionally traveling preachers from Kalamazoo and Silver Creek.

In the fall of 1835, Rev. J. T. Robe, in charge of the Kalamazoo mission, organized a Methodist Episcopal class in Paw Paw, with the following members : Theophilus and Charlotte Bangs, Junia Warner, Jr., Arminda Warner, W. Newcomb, Clarissa Newcomb, David Thorp, Junia Warner, Sr., Philura Warner, Sellick Longwell, Nancy Longwell, John Lyle, Oliver and Avis Warner, Horace and Susan Bonfoey, John K. and Emeline Bingham. Of the foregoing, two are still members of the church, namely, Arminda Warner, aged seventy five, and Charlotte Bangs, aged eighty one. David Thorp, who was the leader of the first class, offered his log chair shop on the west side of the river as a place of worship. After using it some time the class went into a framed house owned by Myron Hoskins. Afterwards the village school house was used, and in 1844 a church building was erected upon the site of the one now in use. The first church trustees were Theophilus Bangs, Junia Warner, Jr., Oliver Warner, Horace Bonfoey, and John Lyle.

Among the earliest pastors were Revs. T. P. McCool, S. S. Williams, E. Kellogg, and H. B. Beers. The church was at first attached to the Laporte district, Indiana Conference, afterwards to the Michigan district, in the same Conference, and later still to the Kalamazoo and Niles districts. The corner stone of the present handsome house of worship was laid Aug. 9, 1876. The structure, which cost $6600, was dedicated Dec. 17, 1876. Soon afterwards a union meeting was held in it, when 75 persons were received into the Methodist Church, and 70 into the Presbyterian. Rev. J. K. Stark was the Methodist and Rev. T. D. Marsh the Presbyterian pastor.

During the forty four years of its existence the church has received into membership upwards of 2000 persons. The membership on the 1st of January, 1880, was 160, Rev. S. B. Mills being then the pastor in charge. The trustees are James Bale, Thomas Adriance, S. H. Blackman, C. A. Young, A. J.1 Sorter, John Walker, H. H. Hurlbut, and E. M. Snow. The class leaders are C. M. Gilson, James Abrams, and Samuel Qua. The Sundayschool is in charge of C. A. Young, and has an average attendance of about 80.

Date	1980
ID	361
Linked to	Junia WARNER, Jr. Philura Loretta WARNER

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