The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-02-26
NO. 48
Pioneers Meet.


the annual meeting of the Shiawassee
County Pioneer Association at Corunna
Monday afternoon. Pre- rtsident Homer
Dunnipg of Coz unna was unable to be
present because vi his wife's illness and
Rev. j. X. Mclean of Durand, presided,
Hon. j. \. Martin acting as secretary.
Rev. Joseph Goss of Flushing offered
prayer and Mrs. F. f. Hover and Miss
Ruth Mitchell rendered a duet His.
torian j. d. Leland read his report
which showed that sixty. five members
OF the association had died during the
year practically all of whom had lived
in the county fifty years and over.
Rev Seth Reed offered prayer and
gave "reminiscences and was made an
honorary member of the association.
The following officers were elected:
President-J. d. Curtis, Vernon.
First Vice-Pres. Archibald Wrigley
Shiawassee township.
Second Vice.Pres. R. Chaplin of Gale
donia township.
Secretary.treasurer- Winfield Carson.
Owosso township.
Historian-J d. Leland, Corunna.
All who were present greatly en-
joyed the address of Rev. Seth Reed of
Flint. who was the principal speaker.
Rev. Reed is picturesque venerable
Christian gentleman, with long flowing
white beard and despite his ninety-one
years, stands tall and erect as a youth.
He is we'll remembered and beloved by
the older residents of the county as
circuit rider of the M. E. conference in
this and surrounding counties some
seventy years ago. His voice is still
strong and clear; he reads his notes
without the aid of glasses and his whole
bearing is one of vigorous activity, as
of old. He expressed his pleasure with
meeting some of his old friends again.
Mr.. Reed was glad to see the pioneer
societies forming in many counties Of
the state and keeping record OF the
old settlers. He spoke of the rapid and
great advancement of the state since
the time he was young man.
Recounting the early days of the
church, Rev. Reed said that the first
Methodist sermon was Z preached in
Michigan in 1904, near Detroit. The
first M. E. church society was organized
by seven members in 1909 The first
sermon was preached in Shiawassee
county in 1887, in barn near Durand.
1t is said that the frame of that barn is
still standing. In 1850, there were just
391 churches in the whole state of
Michigan.
Rev. Reed was first appointed to
q circuit known as the Grand River
circuit. in 1874. comprising Shiawassee
and three other counties. The com.
pensation of circuit riders at that time
was 800 per year for single men and
5000 for married men, with some al
lowance for the keep of their horses.
In ls45, he was appointed to new
circuit. The next year he was married
and went to live in log house in Ben
nington township where he stayed three
years.
Rev. Reed held the attention of the
audience throughout his talk, with his
interesting narration of the trials and
lsbors of pioneer ministry.
Rev. Joel Goss, also of Flint made a
few remarks. Rev. Goss was pastor of
the M. Z. church in Corunna in 1887.
He too is man of years, recalling the
days when all his nearest neighbors
were Indians. who were none too friend.
ly to ministers of the gospel, or to any
other man of Caucasian birth.
Others who spoke briefly were Jas.
Osburn, c. W. Jennings, Washington
Bingham, John Y. Martin, c. A. Van
derhoff and J. G. Curtis
The meeting was the most successful
and largest attended of any in recent
years. The next meeting will be held
February %, 1916.