The records indicate that T. S. LaDue was the first to carry the standard of Free Methodism into the State of Michigan. In the fall of 1861 he had been transferred from St. Charles, Illinois, to Rochester, New York, but in the summer of 1862, B. T. Roberts thought it best for him to go in response to a call from some people in the southwestern part of Michigan to organize a Free Methodist society there. Finding those who wished the organization unfit to be received into the church he decided not to form a society but labored until conference as the way opened in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. [1]

At the session of the Illinois conference in the fall of 1863, B. T. Roberts wished to send E. P. Hart to Michigan in response to calls he had received from parties in that state requesting the organization of Free Methodist societies. The Illinois conference however was short of preachers and Mr. Hart was appointed to Marengo with the understanding that at some time during the year he should spend three months in Michigan. After some correspondence with Mr. H. L. Jones, Mr. Hart made arrangements to go and hold a series of meetings. The journey was successfully made and he and his wife reached Ida, Monroe county, Michigan, on January 24, 1864. No one being at the station to meet them they made inquiry at a store and were directed to the residence of Mr. Jones. After a walk of a mile or more through the snow and over the hubs, carrying their luggage, they reached the home of Mr. Jones’ father and were warmly welcomed. Mr. Jones, a preacher among the people known as the Methodist Episcopal Conformist church, had arranged for Mr. Hart to hold a quarterly meeting over the following Sabbath. This first meeting was attended by much of the Spirit’s presence. At the close of the service on Sabbath morning, Mr. Hart read from the Discipline and explained the position of the Free Methodist church. They seemed highly pleased and invited him and his wife to remain and hold meetings and if he thought best to organize societies. This meeting was held at East Milan, about twelve miles from Ida. Mr. Jones suggested that while Mr. Hart went to preach at some other points he would go home and begin a meeting at the “Plues’ school-house,” near Ida, Mr. Hart coming later if the interest was good. Mr. Jones had been holding meetings about a week when Mr. Hart returned. He went to the schoolhouse that night feeling that the crisis had come, or, as he expressed it, that it was “make or break” for the work in Michigan. The Spirit of God in convicting power attended the word and when the invitation was given several responded, among whom were the wife and twin daughters of John Plues, of whom Mr. Jones had said a few days before, “If that man should get saved it would stir the whole community.” His wife and daughters were converted. On returning from meeting one night, as she began to get out into the light, Mrs. Pines said, “John, I want to ask your forgiveness for any wrong I have ever done, and I would like to read the Bible and pray before we retire.” Mr. Plues in an angry tone replied, “I’ll never forgive you, and there shall be no reading the Bible and praying in my house.” After retiring his treatment of his wife troubled him and he could not sleep. Before morning he was in such an agony of conviction that he could endure it no longer and humbly asked his wife to bring the “preachers” to pray for him. About daylight Mrs. Plues came to the place where Mr. and Mrs. Hart were lodging. They gladly went as soon as possible and after a struggle he was converted and at once went to work very earnestly to see his neighbors converted. The meeting swept on in power for weeks and many were saved. This meeting may be considered as really. the beginning of our work in Michigan.

Having now been absent from his home and his work in Illinois for several weeks Mr. Hart began to feel that he ought to return. He thought of advising the converts to join some church and to be sure to live religion. He and Mrs. Hart would go back to Illinois and meet them in heaven. When Mr. Hart suggested this in reply to John Plues’ question, “Brother Harts what are you going to do with us people?” Mr. Plues replied, “No, s-i-r; you have got us into this boat and you must see us through.” Mr. Hart responded, “By the grace of God we will, Brother Pines.” He wrote to B. T. Roberts stating the conditions and the demand for him to stay and care for the work which had begun and received the reply, “Stay, by all means.” He accordingly decided to resign his work at Marengo, Illinois, and move to Michigan to give himself wholly to the work there. Going back to Illinois he and his wife made known their determination and amid the tears and protests of friends made preparation to move to Michigan. Turning their backs on a strong society, a pleasant parsonage, relatives and friends, they brushed away their tears and went out to a place the Lord had shown them haying no certain dwelling place.

A society of about fifty members was organized at the Plues’ school-house. This was the first society organized in the state. The following were some of the members: Jonathan Atkinson, Carrie Atkinson, John Pines, Samantha Plues, Agnes Plues, Florence Pines, Thomas Plues, Joseph Plues, James Flues, Henry Jones and wife, Mr. _________ Rivers, wife and daughter, Mrs._____________ Brown, Helen Galloway, Albert Galloway and wife, E. Leonardson, Robert Simpkins and wife. One important fruit of this first meeting was two preachers, A. V. Leonard-son and E. Leonardson, who for many years now have been doing faithful work as ministers.

Upon their return to Michigan, as it was now summer time, Mr. and Mrs. Hart threw themselves into the work and the summer was spent in journeying to and fro, spying -out the land, answering calls for meetings and holding services in school-houses and groves wherever the way was open. At a grove meeting near Ida in June B. T. Roberts was present a part of the time, his presence proving a blessing and help to the work. Through a peculiar train of circumstances a little later Mr. Hart was brought in contact with John Ellison and at a grove meeting later in the season Mr. Ellison made the decision which resulted in his uniting with the church, giving to the Michigan work a preacher who for many years was one of the pillars of the Michigan conference.

At the session of the Illinois conference held at St. Charles, September 22, 1864, one in full connection and thirty-eight on probation, were reported from Michigan, but this represented only in a very small degree what had been accomplished. The “sound” of this “new religion,” as many called it, had gone abroad and calls for meetings were coming from every direction. Among the appointments of the Illinois conference that year appear the following: “Michigan district, E. P. Hart, Chairman and Evangelist. Raisinville, W. D. Bishop, H. Jones.” The year was a successful one. Mr. Hart and his wife labored extensively in evangelistic work and the next fall the report from Michigan was nearly two hundred members and probationers. At the conference in September, 1865, E. P. Hart was again appointed chairman of the Michigan work. Six circuits are found in the list of appointments: Raisinville, Morenci, Van Buren, Huron, Ransom and Coldwater. Four pastors were appointed and two charges left to be supplied.

On June 22, 1866, in connection with a camp meeting held on the Raisin river in Monroe county, the Michigan conference was organized in a brick school-house near the camp-ground. B. T. Roberts presided. E. P. Hart, C. S. Gitchell, W. D. Bishop and H. L. Jones, in full connection, and John Ellison and L. T. Frink on trial were received from the Illinois conference. Several others were received on trial. E. P. Hart was elected’ chairman and nine circuits were supplied with pastors. The number of members and probationers was not reported.

The conference met again in September following and was held in the first Free Methodist church erected in Michigan. It was built under the labors of John Ellison, at Sherwood, Branch county. Joseph Travis presided and in connection with the conference dedicated the new church, preaching the dedicatory sermon from Hag. 2: 9 with great power. Only those who have heard him preach on such occasions can imagine what a sermon it was. A total membership of four hundred and eighty-two was reported. E. P. Hart was again elected chairman having nine circuits on his district. E. P. Hart and John Plues were elected delegates to the General Conference which met at Buffalo, New York, October 10, 1866.

All this was accomplished in less than three years as the result of the faithful labors of one man and one woman who, without any missionary board or missionary appropriation back of them, went forth trusting God for all and proclaiming the old-fashioned gospel. Surely we of this generation of Free Methodists owe much to these - fathers and mothers of “Early Free Methodism” who “without scrip or purse” went forth and blazed the way for this work which has brought so much of spiritual enlightenment and liberty to us.

Up to the time of the organization of the conference in 1866 the work in Michigan had been confined to that part of the state lying south of what is known as “the base line” running from east to west across the state and forming the northern boundary o~ a tier of two counties lying across the southern part of the state, but as the laborers lengthened their cords and strengthened their stakes the work began to spread to the northward. Isabella county, lying almost in the center of the state, was at that time considered the northern extremity of civilization. In the list of appointments for 1867 we find “Isabella, R. Wilcox.” From “Hart’s Reminiscences” we learn that this meant Isabella county. Mr. Hart tells of holding his first quarterly meeting on this circuit in a log school-house. The Sabbath morning congregation of twenty-five or thirty comprised the population “from miles around.” Other appointments soon appear in Ionia, Clinton, Genesee, Saginaw and other counties to the north, and in 1870 a district of nine charges appears to the north of the base line. The growth in all parts of the conference was healthful and steady.

In the fall of 1876 the North Michigan conference was formed out of the territory in the state of Michigan lying north of the “base line” before referred to. The organization of the conference took place at St. Johns, Michigan, September 27, 1876, B. T. Roberts presiding. The conference roll shows sixteen preachers in full connection and fifteen on trial. The statistical table shows a total membership of about thirteen hundred

Eight years later, 1884, this territory was again divided by a line running due north from the “base line” to Lake Huron from the southern point in the boundary line between Ingham and Eaton counties, the conference east of this line to be known as the East Michigan conference. The organization was effected at Gaines, Genesee county, Michigan, September 18, 1884, E. P. Hart presiding. The names of twenty-six preachers in full connection and four on trial appear upon the roster of the conference. About eleven hundred members and probationers are reported in the statistics.

On January 24, 1864, when E. P. Hart and his wife stepped from the train at Ida, Michigan, they were so far as the writer has any knowledge the only Free Methodists in the state; there was not a church building, parsonage or any other piece of property, real or personal, belonging to the church anywhere in the state. At the time of the organization of the East Michigan conference there were three thousand Free Methodists and property valued at nearly $72,000. Since that time there has been steady growth and to-day in Michigan there are five thousand members of the Free Methodist church, over one hundred preachers actively engaged in the work and church and parsonage property valued at nearly $300,000.

[1] Life of T. S. LaDue, pp. 47-51.