Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN by Florence McKinnon Gwinn Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922 [page 96] CHAPTER IV TIMBER INDUSTRIES, EARLY AGRICULTURE A BIT OF CHURCH HISTORY The history of the various churches in this county is co-extensive with the history of the county itself. Following the example of the early missionary and with something of the spirit of the heroic age of Methodism the pioneers of that church in the face of the most ob- stinate difficulties penetrated the dense forests, forded rivers, waded swamps and carried the "bread of life" to the cabins of the very first settlements of the Huron Peninsula. As early as the year 1854 the Methodist min- ister followed the trail of the lumbermen and laid the foundations of Methodism. Among those heroic men might be mentioned, VARNUM TUTTLE, CAMPBELL, BIRD, and others to whose zeal the church of the present day owes much of its standing and influence. The first circuit extended from Lexington to Bay City and included White Rock, Rock Falls, (now Harbor Beach), Port Hope, Hur- on City, Port Austin, Port Crescent, Caseville and other early settlements along the shore. No sooner had some Catholic families settled in the county than that church sent them a man to keep alive in their hearts the eternal truths which they were apt to neglect in the wilderness. By their united efforts they were enabled to build the first church at Port Austin to which belonged 50 families. The first Baptist church was built at Sand Beach. This society was organized in 1874. In 1882 it had a [page 97] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY membership of 197. A society was organized at both Port Austin and Verona in 1875. The forest fires de- stroyed many of the houses of worship owned by the Baptists in 1871 and 1881 but with commendable ener- gy and self-sacrifice they rebuilt larger and more com- modious buildings. The first Presbyterian church in the county was organized at Grindstone City under the direction of the Presbytery of Saginaw by Rev. B. B. WOODS, of Indian- apolis, July 30, 1871. On August 6, 1871 the first Pres- byterian church of Port Austin was organized by the same party. This latter church soon after called Rev. E. P. CLARK to its pastorate. During his stay of five years the membership increased to 50 and they built a large and substantial house of worship with the aid of the Presbyterian board of church erection. Rev. W. W. SMYTHE, the Episcopal minister at Port Austin, opened many of the missionary stations of that church in Huron county. The fire of '81 did much to retard the work of this denomination. ===========================================================================