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Pastors Who Have Served First Congregational Church of Otsego
| PASTOR |
START OF SERVICE |
YEARS HERE |
|
Rev. Avery S Ware |
8 Jan 1837 |
1 year (died) |
|
Rev. Francis L Fuller* |
1845 |
3 years |
|
Rev. John P Bliss |
1845 |
3 years |
|
Rev. Robert McMath |
May 1850 |
1 year |
|
Rev. S Stevens |
May 1852 |
1 yr, 5 mos |
|
Rev. David S Morse** |
May 1858 |
3 years |
|
Rev. Charles Temple*** |
1862 |
3 years |
|
Rev. John Jackson |
1866 |
2 years (died) |
|
Rev. H H Morgan ("Stated Supply") |
1868 |
1 year? |
|
Rev. Abram B Allen |
April 1869 |
1 yr, 6 mos |
|
Rev. Charles Temple*** |
1871 |
2 years |
|
Rev. Thomas Towler |
Sep 1873 |
2 years |
|
Rev. Addison Mortimer Buck |
Nov 1875 |
2 yrs, 9 mos |
|
Rev. Davillo W Comstock |
May 1879 |
2 years |
|
Rev. J W Horner |
Jan 1882 |
4 months |
|
Rev. Charles Temple*** |
Apr 1882 |
2 years |
|
Rev. Frank A Bissell |
Jan 1885 |
2 years |
|
Rev. J R Chapplin |
Jan 1887 |
2 years |
|
Rev. Albert B Cochran |
Jan 1889 |
1 yr, 1 mo |
|
Rev. Edward A Fredinhagen |
Sep 1890 |
1 year |
|
Rev. L K Long |
Sep 1891 |
4 years |
|
Rev. J W Arney |
Sep 1895 |
2 years |
|
Rev. Edmund J Burgess |
Dec 1897 |
1 yr, 11 mos |
|
Rev. Frederick M Coddington |
Nov 1899 |
2 yrs, 4 mos |
|
Rev. Samuel S Seibert |
May 1902 |
3 years |
|
Rev. Orla B Van Horn |
Apr 1906 |
6 weeks (died) |
|
Rev. Charles M Taylor |
Jul 1906 |
4 yrs, 5 mos |
|
Rev. Frank Davis |
Feb 1911 |
3 yrs, 6 mos |
|
Mr. H C Townley |
Sep 1914 |
8 mos |
|
Rev. G Russell Parker |
Feb 1916 |
2 yrs, 6 mos |
|
Rev. Gordon Speer |
Nov 1918 |
2 yrs, 7 mos |
|
Rev. Henry Rogers |
Oct 1921 |
6 years |
|
Rev. Albert Beard |
Dec 1927 |
5 yrs, 2 mos |
|
Rev. Patrick Webster |
Feb 1933 |
4 yrs, 5 mos |
|
Rev. Anthony A Nelson |
Oct 1937 |
2 yrs, 4 mos |
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Rev. Dr. Percy L Graham |
May 1940 |
8 yrs, 6 mos |
|
Rev. Seth A Clay |
Jan 1949 |
30 yrs, 6 mos |
|
Rev. Scott McMurray |
Jul 1979 |
2 yrs, 6 mos |
|
Rev. Stephen W Tucker |
Jan 1982 |
19 years |
|
Rev. Steven L Erkel (Assoc. Pastor) |
1997 |
5 years |
|
Rev. Bruce J VanDer Kolk (Interim Pastor) |
Aug 2001 |
2 yrs, 2 wks |
|
Rev. Don Ray |
1 Mar 2004 |
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NOTES
*Rev. Francis L Fuller's wife passed on during his pastorate with us.
**It was noted of Rev. Morse: "He and his wife were very nice people. His sermons were good, but his oratory not so much so."
***Rev. Charles Temple served as our pastor three seperate times. He served simultaneously as Otsego Public Schools Superintendent.
For a period of nearly 20 years, we shared ministers with Plainwell Presbyterian Church. A quote from 23 May 1852 reads: "Rev S Stevens commenced preaching for Plainwell each Sabbath afternoon, by an arrangement with the Congregational Church of Otsego, to continue till the close of his engagement in Otsego." The early ministers who were shared between the two congregations included Francis L Fuller, John P Bliss, Robert McMath, S Stevens, David S Morse, John Jackson, H H Morgan.
An 1872 news article reported: "There is no Pastor at the Congregational Church. They want one who cares more about doing good than about money." 1873 Conference records cite: "Otsego has no Pastor, few services, and a cloudy future." An 1873 news article indicated "The Congregational Church is without a minister; it is too poor to raise the $800, plus $150 for (moving) expenses. The working men just can't figure out how they only make $400 or $500 when the preacher asks for $800." September 1873 brought this report: "Otsego, after long destitution, has received a Minister, and though weakened by losses, is encouraged. Through their efforts, all the saloons in the place have been closed."
The above information was compiled primarily by Dorothy Dalrymple, January 1962, as published in her tome:
"History of the First 125 Years of the Otsego Congregational Church." |
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