Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1896-05-01
"REMINISCENCES OF ALMA.

Gratlot county who now enjoy the re-
suits of long years of toll, none are more
widely known and universally loved
than Rev. Lafayette Church and his es-
timable wife who live on the farm two
miles southeast of Alma, on which they
settled more than forty years ago.
Mr.. Church came here. arst i'll April,
1854. He walked from Hillsdale county
TO Ionia, and there secured plot of
Pine River township. He walked from
Ionia to this place and located his land,
then returned TO his family in Lenawee
county. In January, 1855, he started
with his family, his right hand man
being his son Nathan, then sturdy lad
of fourteen years. They brought the
household goods III wagon drawn by
oxen, and two COWS following behind.
Arrived at their new home the house
hold goods We're soon arranged in the
little cabin, which Mr. Church had
erected Oh his first visit, then began the
work of telling the monarchs of the for
est and getting the land ready for cult
vation. Hardships and trials surround
ed them on every side, but with firm
will and undaunted courage they toiled
on. Often the future looked dark and
foreboding, and ut one time when Mr..
Church suggested that they give up and
return TO their old home, Mrs. Church
stood bravely at her post and said: mo!
AS long as | can get turnips to eat, will
not turn back" and strengthened by
her resolute will and brave spirit, they
toiled on, Mr.. Church his hired man
and son coping with difficulties innum-
erable out of doors, while she bravely
kept the home neat and cheerful, not
infrequently aiding them with the
rougher and harder work. She tells,
with no little pride, now that the hard
ships are over, and she is enjoying the
comforts of one of the finest farm
homes III the county, how she celebrated
the sixteenth anniversary of her mar
riage. With the help of her son
Nathan, she spent the entire day hew-
ing the bark from the logs of their hum
bic home, and adding TO its attractive
ness inside and out.
Mr.. Church relates with pleasure un-
dimmed by the passing years his first
meeting with Gen. Ely. Mr.. Church
was following the Maple Rapids and
Pine River Indian trail, and met Gen.
Ely about the center of Newark town
ship on the Pine River trail Gen Ely
had been out here with men and teams
TO build house for his family. From
him Mr.. Church obtained much valuable
information, and was directed by him to
the home of man named Clymer, be-
tween here and st. Louis, where he
spent the night. This was the begin
ming of an acquaintance between Mr..
Church and Gen. Ely which continued
until the latter's death.
The first religious service held in the
county after Mr. Church came, was in
the old Holiday house III this place
The service was conducted by a minister
of the United Brethren church from
Maple Rapids. Mr.. Church organized
the first Sunday school in the county
in May, 1855, in log cabin near where
Mrs. Goodrich now lives This Sunday
school was continued until the Baptist
church was organized in St Louis a
little later. Mr. Church was one of the
first to respond TO the call for volunteers
when the war broke out Soon after
his return from war, he organized the
Baptist church in this place, and from
that time to the present, the welfare
and prosperity of the church he started
have been the object of his labor and
prayer.
During the second winter of his resi-
dence here, the water was very high and
people could not get out to mill and
| were obliged TO grind corn in coffee
mill, the hopper of which held about a
quart. a man named Simeon Adams
went to Saginaw and got larger coffee
in the settlement. They met at Mr.
Churchs to grind the corn, and FIRE
quently worked all night to grind
enough corn TO make barrel of meal.
This was continued until the roads were
better and flour and provisions could be
| obtained.
/ Although many years have passed
| since the incident occurred, Mr.. Church
is sad when he tells how he came near
drowning his wife and several neighbors.
| They started to come to Alma to church.
1t was necessary to ford the river, which
was very high and had overflowed the
banks. The ford was made near Tinker
and Hannah's S mill When about mid
stream the horses fell, the water came
into the wagon, and had it not have
been for Il Mr. Norton who came out of
Mr.. Holidays house near by, the entire
party would have been drowned. He
bui1t a hridUa from tho Lonl 20 .bo