RELIGIOUS

The first religious meeting in this township was held at the house of Elijah Clary, on Sunday, in November, 1817. Major Guthrie and family settled in Bronson the same week that Mr. Clary settled in Peru, and in the same vicinity. The two families soon became acquainted, and in the course of the next week after their arrival, they decided to hold a reading service at Mr. Clary's the Sabbath following. The meeting was held, and similar services regularly continued on the Sabbath through the winter, being held at the houses of the settlers in the vicinity. Rev. Alvan Coe, during that winter, preached the first sermon in the township. The next year the present congregational chuich at Macksville was formed. It was organized by Rev. Messrs. Alvan Coe and William Williams, missionaries of the Connecticut Missionary society, at a school house near the widow Fay's, in Ridgefield, April 18, 1818, and was composed of the following members: Ezra Strong, of Ridgefield; Elijah Clary and wife, of Peru; Ezra. Herrick and wife, and Simeon Ammerman, of Bronson. No officers were chosen at this time except a moderator and clerk, Elijah Clary being elected to the former office and Ezra Strong to the latter. At a subsequent meeting, held in pursuance of an act entitled, "An act for the incorporation of religious societies," the following officers of the society were chosen. James Vantine and Harry O. Sheldon, of Peru, and Nathan Sutliff, of Bronson, trustees; Harry 0. Sheldon, clerk. The result of the election, and the name chosen for the society, were certified by the trustees to the county clerk, as follows:.

We, the undersigned, trustees of the first Presbyterian society of Peru and its vicinity, do certify that a meeting of a religious society was held, according to the provisions of an act of legislature, passed February 5, 1819, for the choice of officers of said society, in the township of Peru, on the 20th day of September, ult., and that the name of said society is the First Presbyterian Society of Peru and its vicinity.Given under our hands and seals. Dated this 5th day of November, 1821.
JAMES VANTINE, [L.S.]
NATHAN SUTLIFF, [L.S.]
H.O. SHELDON, [L.S.]
Trustees.

The earliest record of the election of other officers than those mentioned took place March 1, 1828, when Elijah Clary and James Vantine were elected deacons and Elijah Clary, Nathan Sutliff and So1omon Vanguilder a standing committee. The church emp1oyed the Rev. James McIntyre, a local Methodist preacher, to preach for them. He was engaged rather than a preacher of their own denomination because he would take his pay in grain while in the other case half of the salary would be required in cash! The meetings were at first held at the log cabin of Harry 0. Sheldon, who had been chosen clerk of the society-not of the church, of which he was not a member.. He subsequently drew a plan and a subscription for a meeting house to be built of hewed logs. It was erected on the line between Peru and Bronson, where the old cemetery now is. In the fall of 1824, John Beach, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Otsego, New York, began to preach for the church, and July 25, 1827, was ordained and installed, and remained till August 18, 1829. From this time until the close of' 1833 the church had only occasional preaching. During the year 1834 they were supplied by Rev. Samuel Dunton. In 1835 Rev. E. P. Salmon became pastor and cotinued three or four years. Rev. S. Stepbens began to labor July 13, 1839, and continued two years. Rev. E. P. Sperry was installed pastor June 28, 1842, and officiated one half the time for about three years and a half. October 6, 1847, Rev. J. M. Hayes was installed pastor to labor one-half the time, and was dismissed September 3, 1851, to open and take charge of the Norwalk Female Seminary. Mr. Hayes' labors as pastor of the church closed in March preceding his dismissal, at which time Rev. E. Conger began his labors with the church and officiated one-half of the time for a number of years. Since Mr. Conger's pastorate, Rev. John McCutcheon, Rev. John D. McCord, Rev. Hubbard Lawrence, Rev. T. D. Bartholomew, and Rev. Augustus Cone have officiated as pastors of the church.. The last named began his labors in February 1878, and continues pastor up to the present. During Mr. Salmon's pastorate the church was filled with divisions and contentions. A large portion of the church withdrew and united with the Presbyterian Church in Bronson, then under the care of Mr. Salmon. The church building at Macksville was erected in 1835, costing two thousand two hundred dollars. There are now about forty members of the church. Munson Gregory is clerk, and George Lawrence, William J. Derby and John McFarland, deacons.

The Sabbath school was organized in 1832 or '33, Minor Lawrence being the first superintendent. The school is now in a prosperous condition. It is held in union with the M. E. Sabbath school, M. M. Hester of the latter church being the superintendent.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The church was organized by Rev. James McIntyre at the old academy building in the winter of 1823-24, and consisted of the following members: Brother Tooker and wife, Pardon Wilson and wife, Samuel Parish and wife, Henry Beam and wife. John Corbett and wife, Harry 0. Sheldon, Mrs. Abram Reamer and Mrs. Polly Pierce. The first-named was appointed class leader. They used the academy buildmg as a place of worship until l847, when the lot and store building of Henry Terry, then recently deceased, were purchased and the building fitted up for a house of worship. It was dedicated by Rev. W. L. Harris, now bishop. The present brick church in Macksville was erected, in 1868, at a cost of three thousand eight hundred and ninety-one dollars. It was dedicated Sunday, October 25th of that year, Rev. T. F. Hildreth preaching the dedication sermon. The following are the names of some of the early circuit preachers: True Pattee, James McIntyre, Shadrach Ruark, John Hazard, Cyrus S. Carpenter, Joab Ragan, Ebenezer R. Chase, Adam Minear. The present pastor is Rev. E. J. V. Booth, of Fairfield. The membership is now forty-six.

A Sabbath school was organized by Rev. Thomas Dunn in 1842, William G. Mead being the first superintendent. The school unites with the Presbyterian, M. M. Hester being the superintendent.

A class was organized at the center of town about the same time that the class at Macksville was f'ormed, by Rev. True Pattee, and consisted of the following members: Henry Adams and wife, Thomas Tillson and wife, Chas. Gardner and wife, and Meriam Smith. Henry Adams was the first class leader. Meetings were held in the school house at the center of town. The class was finally absorbed by that at Macksville.

UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

"The First Universalist Society in the county of Huron'.' was organized at the house of Alden Pierce, in Greenfield, on the 27th of September, 1827. Officers of the society were chosen as follows: Elihu Clary, clerk; Alden Pierce, treasurer; Robert S. Southgate, Monson Pond and Benjamin Washburne, trustees. An act of incorporation was passed by the legislature of the State, February 24, 1834. Rev. T. Strong was the first preacher that came among them. On the 20th of January, 1838, a number of the members of the above society, met and organized a church in Peru, called the "First Universalist church of Peru." Reuben Farley was pastor; Comfort Eaton was elected clerk, and Munson Pond and Apollos Fay were chosen deacons.

A church building was erected at Macksville in 1840. The church records show the membership to be about ninety-but death and removals have reduced the number considerably. The present pastor of the church is A. L. Rice, who recently began his labors. H. H. Clark is clerk; Henry D. Williams; treasurer; H. H. Clark, W. H. Smith and Walter Franklin, trustees.

BAPTIST CHURCH

The earliest meeting by the members of this society, was a conference and praise meeting held at the house of Arunah Eaton on the 26th day of August, 1837. Elder Asahel Morse was present, and was their first preacher. The church was organized January 13, 1838, at the school house, near Peru center. Elder Morse acted as moderator of the council, and S. B. Webster, clerk. The following named persons were the constituent members, viz.: Arunah Eaton, John S. Sayre, Mary Sayre, Eliphalet Brooks, Effa Brooks, Edward Eaton, Mary Ann Eaton, L. Hodge, Hepsibah Eaton, Hepsibah Parker, Eleanor McMitchell, Abigail Allison, Thomas Hughson, Daniel Morse, Joannah Morse, Daniel Perry, Eleanor Eaton. The meetings after organization were generally at the school houses. A house of worship was erected in Macksville in 1840, at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. The membership is now-January, 1879-forty-five. The pastor is Rev. J. P. Islip, of Olena. Officers, G. W. Atherton, clerk; J. Kingsbury and wife, Charles Roe, G. W. Morse and William, Mitchell, delegates.

A Sabbath school was. organized in 1841, with Brothers Waters and Terry, superintendents. The school now numbers thirty-two scholars, with J. Kingsbury, superintendent.

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH

situated in the western part of the town, was organized in 1859, by Rev. William Shmogrow, with about thirty members. In 1860, the church buildiug was erected, costing eight hundred dollars. 'The dedication sermon was preached by Mr. Shmogrow. There is now, January, 1879, a membership of thirty-seven. Rev. Charles Ulrich, of Norwalk, is pastor.

A Sabbath school was organized in the summer of 1878, of about forty scholars, of which Louis Hoffman is the superintendent.

The first temperance society in the township was organized in 1833, with Simon Spaulding, president, and Seth C. Parker, secretary. During the first four years of its existence, three hundred and fifty-seven members joined the organization.

THE PERU DIVISION, SONS OF TEMPERANCE

an existing organization, was instituted December 4, 1878, the officers of which are as follows : C. Woodruff, W. P.; Mrs. E. Clark, W,. A..; J. H. Snyder, R. S.; Miss Kate Hester, A. R. S.; G. R. Gregory, F. S.; R. S. Danforth, F.; M. N. Hester, chaplain ; F. J. Hard, C.; Mrs. J. E. Woodruff, A. C.; Mrs. H. Howe, I. S.; W. H. Smith, A. S.; H. L. Derby, P. W. S.; W. H. Smith, D. G. W. P. The membership is, at the present writing, (January, 1879,) forty-three. The meetings of the society are held in the school house in Macksville.

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