History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

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she to give a coherent and interesting account of the early struggles of
the once weak and halting but now powerful society represented by the
Pontiac Methodist church.
She says in part: "In I826 I find the names of Curtis Goddard, presiding elder, Detroit City; William T. Snow and Arza Brown preachers,
Oakland. It was fortunate in those days of primitive Methodism to
have classes formed in schoolhouses, or in the homes of the people, as
the roads were bad, the people were poor, and sometimes had only oxteams to convey them about; hence the gospel was taken to the people, not
waiting for the people to come to it. In these early days the itinerant system was in full vogue, and the circuits extended over many miles of country, the preachers riding on horseback through miles of mud and mire over
log "causeways" or perhaps no road at all, finding their way by means of
blazed trees, which some one who had gone on before had marked out for
those who might follow. The preacher carried a leathern saddle bag
thrown across his horse, the bag containing a change of raiment, the Bible,
a hymn-book, a few tracts and a copy of the Methodist discipline. They
bore the burden and heat of the day, and were the true pioneers of
Methodism, strong of heart, poor in purse, and rich in zeal and stalwart
Christian character, ready and willing to deny self that the cause of
Christ might prosper, the church be built up and souls saved unto eternal
life. What a host of these good, earnest, devoted Christian people and
preachers have been transplanted from the church militant to the church
triumphant, 'spotless before the throne of God!'
"Some of the information concerning the very early Methodism of
Oakland county I have taken from the 'History of Methodism in Michigan' by Dr. E. H. Pilcher.
"Of the classes formed in different neighborhoods I make mention
of the following: A class was organized in what was then the village
of Auburn, in the home of Truman Fox, he being appointed leader.
Afterwards a log church was erected near there and this preaching place
was called 'Donation Chapel' after the man of that name who donated it.
"The first Methodist class was formed in Michigan in 1827 and belonged to the Sandusky district, though I find in the record that John
A. Baughman preached in Detroit in I826. A little later Revs. Alfred
Bronson, Samuel Baker, Elias Pattee and Alvil Billings, traveling and
preaching in different parts of Michigan. Still later classes were formed
in Farmington and Piety Hill, now Birmingham. All of the preachers
up to 1842 have more or less preached, taken meals or lodged over night
in the home of my father, Ira Donelson.
"Michigan belonged to the Ohio conference and the different preachers were sent from that state to lay the foundation of Methodism and
Christianity in our new state, then almost a wilderness. At a session
of th'e Ohio conference held at Chillicothe, in 1828, Michigan conference
was organized; we now have two conferences, Michigan and Detroit.
"The nucleus of the Pontiac church was formed in 1828 in the log
home of Ira Donelson (where the home of Arza Dbnelson now stands)
he being appointed class leader; he served the church for thirty years as
leader, as superintendent of the Sunday-school for seven years, and as
trustee and steward of the church. The first members of this class were