History of Saginaw county, Michigan; together with ... portraits ... and biographies ... History of Michigan ...

SAGINAW CITY.

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THE CITY OF THE PRESENT.
From what has been written on the progress of this city, it will
appear that its municipal and commercial beginning was made in
1857, and extended il 1865. Since the day of the incorporation
of Saoinaw as a city, its advance, though not so remarkable as its
eastern sister, will-compare very favorably with any of the new
cities of the Union. To-day there are as many business houses
and factories here as there were men, women and children at the
beginning of the year 1857; and still there is no reason whatever
to suppose that the city has reached the limit of its growth.
There are 109 streets within the fire limits, laid off regularly,
many of them great thoroughfares, and the greater number shaded
with a double line of thrifty trees. Although these streets are
well built up, there is yet sufficient room for building purposes.
The business center is metropolitan in the character of its houses
and streets; the stores are at once attractive and extensive; the
Taylor House and 14 other hotels are all well adapted to
meet the requirements of the city in this respect, each fostering a
special trade; the offices of manufacturers, bankers, insurance
companies and professional men are carried on systematically; re-.
ligion, education, fraternity are all well represented, and under
the regime of a well regulated society, the city progresses slowly
but surely, to hold that high place to which its situation and
the intelligence of its people entitle it.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The history of the Presbyterian Church of Saginaw City extends
back to the pioneer days, when Norman Little, Wm. Hartwell,
Thomas Smith, T. L. Howe, Hinds Smith, Mrs. Harvey Williams, Jane A. Little, Elizabeth Rice, Mrs. H. L. Miller,
Mabel Terrill, Mrs. Julia Smith and Mrs. T. L. Howe formed a
Presbyterian society, with Rev. H. L. Miller as director. Two
years later, March 1, 1838, the society was organized, and as Mr.
Miller presided over its beginning, so he continued now to watch
over its growth.
The first sermon delivered in the Valley to an American congregation, was that preached by Mr. Miller in the carpentery, which
then occupied the southeast corner of Washington and Ames; the
next meeting of the society was held in the postoffice, north side
of Court, between Hamilton and Water streets. The subsequent
meetings were held within Norman Little's house, then standing
on the corner of Washington and Madison; again in the "Mechanic's Hall, " Washington street; and in 1837 within that churchschool-court-house, in early days removed by order of the Board
of County Commissioners, from its old location, directly in rear of
the present court-house, to the spot on which the county jail now
stands, lest the good old building would take fire, and in turn
help to destroy the great court-house, then being built. After tl,
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