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

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PIONEER HISTORY OF INGHAM COUNTY

quently, and during one of these visits made a present of the land
for the school buildings to the district.
It is finely situated and the building erected upon it was an
honor to the village and a commentary upon the conditions of
schools in the state where the Colonel resided. But the apparently
generous act of the wealthy Southerner was not without sufficient
cause. Parties on the north side of the river had offered to give a
site and $200 in money if the buildings were erected on that side,
and the prospect of rapid improvement in that direction, and the
loss of a corresponding growth on the south side 'tis thought
touched a sympathetic chord in the Colonel's bosom and resulted
in the gift.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The First Baptist Society, which is the oldest in the village, was
organized in Wheatfield Township June 4, 1841, with ten members.
H. T. Feiro, William Tompkins and Elijah Hammond were appointed to draft articles and covenant. Henry Lee acted as clerk.
In the same month Rev. H. T. Feiro was called to the pastoral
charge. At a council composed of delegates from churches of
Ingham, Mason, Howell, Unadilla and Leslie, held January 26,
1842, the society was received into fellowship, and Rev. H. T.
Feiro was ordained over it as pastor.
The meetings were held half the time at the Martin school
house and half the time at the usual place, and from that time
until January, 1848, there appears to have been no settled pastor.
At that date a resolution was passed to change the name of the
church to First Baptist Church of Williamston; at that time they
began to hold their regular meetings in the village, though there
was no church edifice until 1867-1868. Meetings were held previous to that time in dwellings, school houses and various places,
mostly in school houses.
On the 23d of March, 1848, Elder Alfred B. Kinne was ordained
pastor. Elder Kinne seems to have continued off and on as
pastor until December, 1863, at a very meager salary and donation. Elder William White followed Elder Kinne and in 1867
Elder Kinne was once more engaged as pastor at $200 a year.
In 1868 Rev. J. C. Armstrong was hired and paid $204.00.
The church building, still occupied was erected in 1867-1868 at a
cost of about $3,000, and it was dedicated the 9th of May, 1868.