 |
A biography for Rev. James Selkrig Published in Philadelphia in 1880 by D.W. Ensign & Co. Transcribed by William Brackett |
|
REV. JAMES SELKRIG
The biography can be found on page
354 and 355 and reads:
Rev. James Selkrig was born in the town of Claverack, Columbia Co., N. Y. His father, Jeremiah Selkrig, gained distinction during the Revolutionary War as one of Washington's aids. Quite early James sought the dangers and excitement of a seafaring life, and served under both the French and American flags. He finally became a resident of Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., a convert and preacher of the Methodist Episcopal faith, and for some years preached at various places in that region. He then adopted the tenets of the Episcopal Church, and was ordained by Bishop Onderdonk, of New York. In 1836 he moved from Onondaga Co., N. Y., to the village of Niles, Mich. where he soon built the first Episcopal church edifice in that portion of the State. Desirous of having music to aid him in the services, with his own hands he constructed an organ, and presented it to the church. He remained in Niles two years. At about this time the scattered bands of Indians still remaining among the settled districts of Michigan attracted the attention of the general government, and a plan was devised of bringing them together under various religious denominations by appropriating certain sums of money to the churches then in existence here, for mission purposes, in lieu of granting yearly annuities to the Indians themselves. Desiring to improve this opportunity, Bishop McCosky, then the Episcopal head of this diocese, began looking about him for subjects upon which to bestow the blessings of civilization and the protection afforded by his church. His search was rewarded by the discovery of Chief Sagamaw's band of Ottawas and a few Pottawattamies,-about 150 in number, who were dwelling on a peninsula jutting into Gun Lake. These destitute savages, once, with their fellows, the proud and undisputed owners of a large portion of the State, had been gradually forced back from their ancient hunting-grounds, until they knew not where to lay their heads. In 1838, Rev. James Selkrig was deputed by the bishop to visit this Indian encampment and to offer those assembled there benefits of a mission home. Securing the personal aid of Rev. Leonard Slater, an Indian missionary of the Baptist denomination, an audience was had with Sagamaw at his encampment. The chief requested more time for thought upon the matter, and a second meeting was appointed to be held on the north bank of the beautiful sheet of water now known as Selkrig Lake. The bishop was present at this meeting, and at it's close the Indians consented to settle on lands to be located near the lake last mentioned. Thereupon there was purchased for mission purposes, from the government, 160 acres situated on section 20, and from Lawrence Vandewlker, of Kalamazoo, 200 acres situated upon section 28. During the summer of 1839, Mr. Selkrig and family removed from Niles to the mission. His family consisted of himself, his wife, and three children, named James E., Jeremiah, and Charles F. He settled upon the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 28. His first house was of peculiar construction. The walls consisted of hewn timbers tenoned at both ends, which were set upright, and secured to both sills and plates by entering a continuous mortise. The Indians were established upon 40 acres during the summer of 1839, and their first work under the supervision of Mr. Selkrig was building of their wigwams and a larger arbor or bower house, where religious services were held. Mr. Selkrig's sermons were delivered in English and interpreted by Adomiram Judson, or "Mawbese," an educated Ottawa, who, during his time, was considered one of the best interpreters in the State. These meetings were also regularly attended by many of the early pioneers of the township. A few years after his settlement Mr. Selkrig built the dwelling now occupied by his widow and family, and the old building was then used as the chapel. Until his death, which occurred Oct. 5, 1878, he continued active in the discharge of his labors; and if he did not succeed in educating his proteges up to a higher degree of excellence than they have attained elsewhere, most certainly he was afforded the gratification of seeing them become self-supporting as agriculturists, and as a class generally law-abiding. Their first chief on these grounds, Sagamaw, was killed by his son-in-law, in 1845, during a drunken quarrel. Pen-ah-see, or "Bird," then became their chieftain, and upon his death was succeeded by Moses Foster or She-pe-quonk, meaning "Big Thunder, " who is their present chief. There still remain upon the mission-lands 14 families of those people, or about 75 persons all told. They are Indians still, however, and after more than forty years of daily contact and intercourse with their white neighbors, they retain all the prominent characteristics of their race in features and habits, and as a result their cabins are squalid in appearance, while their style of farming cannot be commended. |
| Reverend
James Selkrig is buried in the Selkirk Family Cemetery in Wayland, Michigan next to
his parents, Jeremiah and Olive Ann (Stoddard) Selkrig. |
All rights reserved.
This site may be freely
linked to but not duplicated
in any fashion without my consent.
The information
on these pages is meant for personal genealogical
research only and is not for
commercial use of any type.
| Top of Page |
