Pioneer history of Ingham County, compiled and arranged by Mrs. Franc L. Adams, secretary of the Ingham County pioneer and historical society.

ONONDAGA TOWNSHIP AND ITS HISTORY

701

amounts of intoxicants were sold and drank, and free-for-all
fights and "high old times" were indulged in on election days.
In 1880 the Baptists grew strong enough to build a church
under the leadership of Rev. Smith. I can shut my eyes now and
see some of those old faces as they looked when gathered in this
little church. The older and more reliable ones were Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Cogswell, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Laycock, Mr. and
Mrs. A. J. H. Brewer, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Trefry, Mr. and Mrs.
T. M. Cranson, Mrs. Janet Waggoner, E. B. Trefry. There
were others, but these were the faithful ones always in their places.
In 1904 the Baptists decided that they would do better in
Onondaga and moved their church to this village, but about 1917
the Methodists united with the Baptists in community work.
Though nearly everyone went to church and the old school
house was taxed to its limit, a church was not erected until 1870,
then the Methodists, Rev. Wallace, erected their present building.
I can still see the faces of the worshipers in this church, too.
There were Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, or "Uncle Johnny" as he
was called. He used to pay $75 each year toward the minister's
salary, and was the wealthy man of the community. Mr. and
Mrs. Jonathan Lane, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Conklin, Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Munro, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Losey, Mrs. Drusilla Town,
Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Winters, Mr. and
Mrs. A. A. Doxtader, and Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Partick. Mr.
Patrick always led the singing, and it is safe to say that he taught
singing school in every rural school house in that part of the
country, and if there was a funeral anywhere he went if the preacher
did. These were the reliable attendants, and no matter what the
wind or weather it did not keep them home, and the old church
was well filled every Sunday. For the last twenty-five years this
church faced a rapidly decreasing membership, and a few years
ago the church was closed, its members uniting with the community church at Onondaga. The last knell was struck for
Kinnieville. She is today like Oliver Goldsmith's "Deserted
Village," but a "name and a memory."