History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

66

HISTORY OF OTTAWA COUNTY.

died July 1st 1871. He was president of the village from its organization to his death, and was actively engaged in agricultural
and lumbering operations. He was the originator of the project
which resulted in the discovery of mineral springs. He was a man
highly respected, and his death was regarded as a loss to the community.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church at Spring Lake was organized by
Rev. H. Lucas, a missionary of the American Home Missionary
Society, and the Rev. W. M. Ferry, of Grand Haven, on February
12th, 1853. There were five members when it was organizedGeorge G. Lovell, L. M. S. Smith, Anna H. Smith, Miss Lydia
Norton and H'~rriet J. Franklin. G. G. Lovell and L. M. S. Smith
were elected ruling elders.
The Rev. H. Lucas supplied the church for a year after its
organization, followed by Rev. Henry Redfield, one year.
The Rev. Joseph Anderson was afterwards minister, he at the
same time serving the church at Grand Haven. He was succeeded
by Dr. A. P. Eddy, who commenced his labors in May, 1858; he
also laboring at Grand Haven. He continued until some time in
1866, and was succeeded, as stated supply, by the Rev. Joseph Lud,
who served the church for three years. He was succeeded by Rev.
I A. G. Bebie, who stayed something less than two years.
The Rev. W. H. Blair commenced inll July, 1872. The Rev.
T. Towler is the present pastor, and is now in his second year. Tile
first church edifice was destroyed by fire. The present building
was dedicated January 26th, 1874. The cost was about $10,000.
From a feeble beginning it has gone onl until it takes respectable
rank among the churches in the valley, and its fine edifice is an
honor to its enterprise. The missionary who first collected the little band went to his rest in 1876. Spring Lake is not the only
place that cherishes his memory.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL,
Before the organization of any class there had been occasional
preaching. In 1862 a small class of twelve or fifteen was gathered
by Elder Wm. Colby, some of the members of which were Daniel
B. Thorpe, Mrs. H. A. Hopkins, Mrs. T. D. Denison, Mrs. Wim.
Flanders, Mrs. Wm. Britton and Loren 0. Perham.
Services were held for two years in the schoolhouse, with a slow
increase of numbers.
The Presbyterian and Methodist societies bought a partly-built
church of the Hollanders; finished and jointly occupied it. That
house was so used five years, when it was burned down. During
this time there was some increase. The Methodists bought the
ground of the Union Church, and directly commenced to rebuild,
and were three or four years in completing it. It was dedicated in
1872. At this time the membership was about sixty. Thle size of
the church is 88x60 feet, with basement; cost, $7,500. The parsonage, built during the same time, cost $1,200.
W. M. Colby, David Engle, James Roberts, Janmes Cowan, J.
R. A. Wrightman, James '. Reid and Levi Master were early pastors. The present pastor is Rev. J. Roberts. The church has been
harmonious and generally prosperous.
The Baptists have no settled pastor, but have Sunday School;
C. M. Kay, Supt.; Catholic, Rev. M. Dalton, of Berlin, officiates;
First Dutch Reformed, J. F. Zwemer, pastor; Childrenll of Zion

have no church edifice, but have service in private houses, Rev. Mr.
Northrop, of Grand Rapids, officiating; Christian Dutch Reformed
have about eighty families, and are about to build.
SOCIETIES.
The societies are Hope Lodge, No. 226, I. O. O. F., with W.

G. Sinclair, N. G.; Robert Shearer, Sec'y, which meets on Wednesday evenings.
Spring Lake Lodge, No. 234, F. and A. M., has the following
officers: Enno J. Pruim, W. AM.; H. C. Taft, S. W.; J. Volmer,
J. W.; F. C. Bury, Sec'y; George Seagrove, Treas.; S. S. Rideout,
S. D.; S. Volnmer, J, D. The Lodge meets Monday onl or before
full moon.
Harmony Council Fraternal Protectors meets last Friday of
each month, and the Chief Protector is J. B. Perham, and C. M.
Kay is Secretary.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union meets every Tuesday afternoon, and the Spring Lake Temperance Union was instituted January 26th, 1882, with James Emory, President and E. D.
Frink as Secretary, to fight against the three saloons in the village.
HOTELS.
SPRING LAKE HOUSE.
To the tralvelingr public and the tourist in searchll of health and
pleasure, a well appointed hotel is a great attraction, and such they
will find in the above excellently appointed hotel, now in charge of
Mr. John McVicar for the fifth year. The popularity of the house
is proved by its being visited by the same people year after year.
A double-page view of the house in this work will give the reader
some idea of its eleganlt appearance. It has sevenlty-four rooms in
the main building and thirty rooms in adjoining cottages, and visitors are attracted from all quarters. From St. Louis last summer
there were over seventy, and also numbers from New Orleans.
The discovery of a spring of magnetic water in 1870 led to the
erection of this large hotel by a company, which ultimately became
the property of the late Hunter Savidge, and is now owned by Mrs.
Savidge, who desires to dispose of the property, which would be an
excellent investment for one "who knows how to run a, hotel."
A comparison of the water with the most favorably known
mineral waters in the United States, such as the Pavilion al- d Excelsior at Saratoga, and the noted spring at Gettysburg, Penna., proves
that it has the greatest total of solid mineral matter of either, and
is most heavily impregnated with valuable substances. It is in
growing demand from all parts of the country. The cures it lhas
effected have given it a national reputation.
The virtues of the water are such as have secured it the highest encomiums of physicians and others who have used it, possessing, as it does, in a marked degree, cathartic, alterative and tonic
qualities.
The hotel erected at this spring, with cottages attached, affords
first-class accommodations for 250 guests. The parlors, dining
room and chambers are all superbly furnished. A bowling alley'
and billiard room afford amusement and healthful exercise. Broad
verandas around two sides of the building afford a cool and pleasant
promenade and resting place from which the view takes in one of
the loveliest lake scenes ever pictured. The lawn surrounding this
palatial hotel is beautified with fountains, flowers and trees, and is
directly upon the lake shore.
The bath house nearly adjoins the hotel, and is erected over
the spring. It is large, elegantly furnished, and complete in all
respects, with every approved adjunct deemed advantageous for invalids. Bathing in this water is a luxury. It is perfectly cleansing

without soap, and remarkably strengthening. The attendants are
faithful and experienced, having been connected with the establishment for the past five years.
SINCLAIR HOUSE.
S. S. RIDEOUT, proprietor of Sinclair House, came to the Haven

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