Reading, MI (First Presybyterian Church) (1910s) - contributed by Paul Petosky

The First Presbyterian Church and Society uf Reading was inaugurated by a meeting held at the Methodist church in Reading, on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 5, 1868, of which Rev. F. R. Gallagher, P.D., of Hillsdale, was Moderator, and G. B. Barnes was Clerk. The meeting was well attended, and ten persons presented letters from the Presbyterian Church of Hillsdale, two from the Presbyterian Church of Pleasantville, Ohio, and two from the Christian Church at Salem, Ohio. Their names, in the order mentioned above, were Jasper A. Waterman, Mary Waterman, Hannah Stiles, Sally Van Ellen, James Doudoughue, Laura O'Dououghue, Julia Taylor, Nancy M. Hicks, Cornelia Strong, Olive Abbott, Ezra Ketchum, Phebe Ketchum, Harrison Yates, and Susan R. Yates. These were all received as members, and proceeded to organize a church by electing J. A. Waterman and Ezra Ketchum as Ruling Elders, and G. B. Barnes as Stated Clerk. A meeting of the session was then held, and Ellen Morris, Lois A. St. John, Sarah J. Ketchum, and Lewis B. Ketchum were admitted on profession of faith. After a sermon by Rev. Mr. Gallagher, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered, which completed the services of the day. For the first year the serviced were held in the Methodist Episcopal church, then for a little over two years in the Frew-Will Baptist church, and after that no regular preaching was had until the church was built. The prayer-meetings were, however, continued regularly and were well sustained. Rev. G. B. Barnes was the first minister, and preached two years. He was not ordained to the ministry, however, until after he finished his labors here. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Fleming, who remained some three months. Then, after a brief interval, Rev. James Quick came, and served a year. Since that time Rev. E. M. Lewis, Rev. James Curtiss, and Rev. W. V. Matthews have each served a while as pastor, and at the present time Rev. M. L. Booher is acting in that rapacity. In addition to those already named, Rev. Mr. Fleming, Rev. W. J. Stontenburg, and others have preached occasionally. The question of building a chimb was agitated as early as the year 1870, and a subscription was started for that purpose. A lot containing 56 square rods was bought from Mr. H. B. Chapman for $300, the mod of which sum was paid through the efforts of the ladies of the congregation. They are also entitled to great credit for their indefatigable efforts to secure the extinguishment of the debt incurred in the building of the church. The building was erected in the spring and summer of 1872, but was not finished off inside until the spring of 1873. June 22, 1873, the church was dedicated, the sermon on that occasion being preached by Rev. George B. Barnes, of Three Rivers. Rev. James Quick, of Blissfield, preached in the evening. The church is built of brick, and is 38 feet wide and 55 feet long. It cost about $5000 and the aid received from the Church Erection Fund was $700. At the dedication a sum nearly sufficient to liquidate the $2400 indebtedness was pledged, and $60 was raised towards purchasing an organ. The church is neatly frescoed and well furnished, and has an organ that cost $450. The incorporation of the society was effected on the 24th of January, 1870. by the election of the following officers: Trustees, H. K. Abbott, A. B. Strong, Alfonso Schafer, J. A. Waterman, Ira Mead, Seymour J. Smith, Solomon T. Green, Samuel R. Hicks, Byron T. Seammon. J. A. Waterman, Chairman; Edward P. Wadsworth, Clerk; S. T. Green, Treasurer; S. R. Hicks, Collector. The board is at present composed of five members: William Skinner, Zalmon B. Slillson, Byron T. Seammon, James O'Dououghue, and Samuel Fawkes. Z. B. Stillson is the clerk and treasurer of the board, and J. O'Donoughue is the clerk of the church. Deacons S. R. Hicks and John H. Boydeu and Elders S. R. Hicks and J. O'Donoughue are the present officers of the church. L. E. Judson, E. P. Wadsworth, John C. Bradley, E. J. Mills, and Dr. E. V. N. Hall have also acted as elders during the church's existence The membership has risen from 18 to a present active membership of 74. Source: History of Hillsdale County, Michigan, with illustrations and biographical By Crisfield Johnson, Everts & Abbott, Philadelphia 1879

Hillsdale, MI (Presbyterian Church) (1917) - contributed by Paul Petosky