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.

424

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Preston, 1903-06; Rev. H. H. Hough, I906-IO; Rev. Walter H. Smith,
I9IO, is the present incumbent.
The organized society is now seventy-five years old, this being one
of the oldest established church organizations in the county. The present membership of the church is one hundred and sixty-five.
THE BAPTISTS
Although the Baptist church was notably among the first to send the
pioneer missionary into Oxford, no effort was made to organize a society
of believers in that faith until 1859. At that time an organization was
effected, and the history of the society was given in detail by Milo Smith,
a minister of the Baptist church. Organization was effected on the 4th
day of September, 1859, with eight members, as follows: William Bettys,
Isaac Brown, Griffin Greene, Squire Tanner, Frederick Wicks and Artemesia Brown. William Bettys and Griffin Greene were elected deacons
and Squire Tanner clerk.
Formal recognition of the church as such was made by a council,
called for that specific purpose on July 2, 1862, consisting of delegates
from the churches at Pontiac, Rochester, Oakland, Brandon and Hadley,
and in August, following, it was received into the fellowship of the Flint
River Baptist Association. Rev. A. S. Taft was the first pastor of the
church, called on November 12, 1859, and he continued as pastor until
April 27, I86i. Monthly covenant meetings were held and some additions made to the church without a pastor, until January I, I862, when
Rev. William M. Fuller was called to the charge. His pastoral relation
was discontinued on January 2, I864. During this time the meetings
were held in the school-house and the Methodist church, but in 1867 the
society felt itself able to build a church home for itself, and accordingly,
on December 9, I868, the society formally dedicated a fine building,
erected at a cost of five thousand dollars. The church was built under the direction and leadership of Rev. S. Gardner, who was succeeded
in March, I869, by Rev. J. J. Gundy, who served until May, I871. Rev.
D. Gostelow succeeded him on December 3, I87I and resigned on May 4,
I873, and in February of 1874, Rev. J. M. Titterington became pastor,
his resignation going into. effect in September, 1876. The place thus
made vacant was filled by Rev. S. Gardner, who had previously served
the little company so faithfully in the days of its early struggles. June of
1877 was marked by the union of the Baptists and Methodists of Oxford
in a series of meetings, which awakened such an abiding interest that they
were continued for several weeks. About the same time a series of
meetings were inaugurated in the Christian church at Rochester, and
these gatherings the Baptists also attended, lending their aid to such
good effect that hundreds were added to the church. In April, 1877,
Rev. Milo Smith was called to the church, and he began his labors
among the people amidst the most encouraging auspices. The Sundayschool was organized in May, I859, and has ever been one of the strongest factors of the church work. Following the close of Rev. Smith's
pastorate in April, I879, the church was successively in charge of the
pastors here named: Rev. W. H. Mills, I879-85; Rev. C. C. Miller,