In 1844 a board of health was declared and $25 was given them to purchase a burying ground and fence the same. Three locations were obtained in Sections 10, 5 and 20. They were named West Woodbridge (some records call it JENKINS), Central Woodbridge (some records call it SHELDON) and DEVINE.
The first Memorial service was held in the Woodbridge cemetery in 1877 for the Civil War veterans and the previous wars' veterans. Services in later years were held in the Frontier cemetery. Flags in 1924 were placed on veterans graves and cost the township nine cents each. Since 1960 Memorial services have been in charge of the Extension Club. All veterans from all the township cemeteries are honored. A veterans' monument was erected and paid for by David THOMPSON and Leo GEEDY. It stands in the Frontier Cemetery.
South Woodbridge Pentecostal Church
This church was set in order on January 10, 1950 with Rev. P. E. PATRICK, District Superintendent, and Rev. Harry SUMNER as pastor. The church was built on the corner of Hillsdale and Harmon roads.
Ministers who have served this church are: Rev. Harry L. SUMNER, Rev. Durand PARISH, Rev. Delmar HARRYMAN, Rev. Richard BUHER, Rev. Paul HARVEY, Rev. S. D. VAUGHN and Rev. Donald MOSIER.
Pentecostal Campgrounds
It is located on Camden Road, near Hillsdale Road. It was begun in 1948 under Rev. PATRICK's leadership. The twenty-acre campsite was purchased of Denzil HUKILL.
The first structure was a small red-striped tent which served as a meeting house. In its place now stands a 60 by 120 foot tabernacle that shelters the crowds that come to camp each year. New sleeping quarters and eating facilities have been added.
This unit serves as a place of worship and fellowship for many people of the state and the nation. The church's headquarters is in Missouri and people come from all over the United States to the camp.
Frontier United Brethren Church
The first services were held in a schoolhouse east of Frontier in 1864. Church sheds were built in 1886. The parsonage, the first house east of the United Brethren Church, was built in 1871 on a lot given by Warren ATWOOD.
The deed to the church lot was made in November 1892. The token dollar was paid and the land taken from the Thomas and Dinah MILLS estate. The conference trustees when the church was begun, were George MILLS, William FELIX and Warren ATWOOD. The church bell was bought for $9.00. Dedication of the church was made by Rev. Aaron LILY.
Building of the church was done by conscript. Some of the family names contributing to the building are: Aaron LILLY, Charles SWIFT, W. A. CALKINS, Marion PALMER, Charles PATTERSON, P. E. CRAWFORD, Joseph STURDEVANT, Manford HINKLE, C. L. STAHLER, S. D. HINKLE, Dave FREED, Thomas MILLS, Perry HOPKINS, Adam MARTIN, William FELIX, R. B. MASON, R. C. SCOVILLE, John MARTIN, L. M. NEVINS, Harry HELMICK, J. D. FREED, E. HILTON, Daniel SHELNEY, M. C. MASON M.D., Martin STAHLER, E. H. BOVEE, John WARNER, Hiram HAVEN, Edwin ANDERSON, W. J. CALKINS, C. MANSLEY, J. SLOAN, William DONLEY, ORSON HOPKINS, E. T. AVERY, George BLUNT, James DALEY, Allen AGNEW, George MILLS, H. A. MILLS, Philander HEWITT, S. H. BRIGGS, Walter HULETTE, George TARBELL, Mr. DOUGHTBY, Joel NORRIS, Jason NORRIS, Byron STANLEY, M. Lillie NORRIS, John T. YOUNGS, Mr. WERTNETZ, Peter HEWITT, J. P. WOLFF, W. H. CLAY and C. MARTIN, Jr.
The fifth anniversary was held November 17, 1929.
On October 26, 1969 a celebration was held honoring 105 years of the church being in existence in Frontier. An all day meeting was held. A dedication of three paintings depicting the Crucifixion, Ascension and Invitation "Come unto me", given by Mrs. Lewis THOMPSON, in memory of her husband, Lewis THOMPSON, was held in the morning service. Ann VAN BUSKIRK sang a special number, as did the adult choir. There was a basket dinner at the community hall at noon. The afternoon service was a recognition of former pastors or their families, reflections of past church affairs and special music. The Lynwood Browns and Doctor Browns sang some specials and Merle HUKILL sang a special. A poem written by Rev. WARD was read by Roberta PARNEY. Flowers in memory of present and past church families were presented as beauty for the beholder. The speaker for the afternoon, was a former minister's daughter, Mrs. Faye CONNOR. She is the Huntington College historian. She spoke on "Walking in my Father's Footsteps". Lewis HILL, church superintendent, gave appropriate remarks for the day. Glenn EBAUGH made the frames for Mr. THOMPSON's paintings and Charles DURBIN stained and varnished them. In charge of the guest book was Hazel BOWMAN. Beatrice GEORGE had charge of the dinner. Iva CRAMTON was the flower chairman. Vera VAN BUSKIRK had charge of pictures, periodicals, Bibles and history of the past church. Two gentlemen, Don PARNEY and Chuck KLINCK, took care of the tables and chairs. Kenny VINCENT was usher. Invitations, program, planning and history was done by Idella DURBIN. Rev and Mrs. CLARK were in charge. On October 7, 1973, the last service was held in the Frontier edifice. The church families joined with south and west Woodbridge families and constructed a new church at the corner of Montgomery and Gilmer Roads, and have named it "New Hope". Superintendents of the church were Warren ATWOOD, Elmur OSMUN, Rex FLICKINGER, Thomas FLOWERS, Bertha CROW, Victor BIRDSALL, George OVERLY, Howard WILLIAMS, Don PARNEY, Sid HILL, Robert HINKLE and Louis HILL
South Woodbrige United Brethren
A Protestant Methodist Church at the corner of Woodbridge and Camden roads was called the Prod Church, a nickname because of its beliefs. About 1900 the church was destroyed by fire. The church was rebuilt. Jake KNAPP, a member of the church, head carpenter, placed a five dollar bill in the southwest corner of the structure as a keepsake for the future. When the framework was up a high wind damaged the structure again. The frame stood as it was braced well.
About 1931 the church membership dwindled and the building was sold to three men: William KNAPP, Charley HILTON and Earl HUKILL. The KNAPPs put a new roof on it. These men plus Orlie HAUER and Leon ? Conterence to become a part of their denomination. It became known as the South Woodbridge United Brethren Church and was placed on a circuit with the South Amboy Church.
Some of the ministers remembered are Rev. GEE, Rev. Grace TANNER, Rev. HERSHA, Rev. MAULSIN, Rev. FULLER, Rev. SHULL, Rev. THROOP, and Rev. CLARK.
In 1966 the South Woodbridge church voted to go into a consolidation of churches with West Woodbridge and Frontier and later built a new church. The Consolidation committee sold the furnishings and some of the lumber. All that was usable was utilized and the rest was burned. No trace of the five dollar bill implanted in 1960 was found.
West Woodbridge United Brethren Church
In the winter of 1853, Rev. John MARTIN conducted meetings in homes, barns and in the JOHNSON school a mile south of the church.
The first class was established January 29, 1853 and was named West Woodbridge United Brethren in Christ. Six years later, with eight new members, they decided to build a church.
On January 26, 1851 a parcel of land at the corner of Burt and Carpenter Roads was purchased for $50 from Sylvester FARR. The first church was dedicated on August 23, 1862 with building costs of $1,138.
At this time the minister received a salary of $90 a year.
On December 16, 1914 a gas lighting system caused the church to catch fire and burn. Immediate plans for rebuilding were made. All the timber for rebuilding was contributed and much of the labor volunteered. When it was dedicated on October 12, 1915 there was $500 owing. The offering that day cleared the debt. When the edifice was ten years old it burned, this time from faulty wiring. A third church was built and dedicated on October 11, 1925. It was also declared debt free the day it was dedicated.
Until 1953 when the church celebrated its 100th anniversary, they had had 42 ministers, many of them from the Frontier church circuit. Mr. and Mrs. George TANNER were honored as sixty-year members on the day of the anniversary celebration. In 1968 the congregation voted to join the South Woodbridge Church and Frontier Church in the building of the New Hope Church.
The South Woodbridge Church was sold and is now being made into a house.
Free Methodist Church
The Free Methodist Church that stood in the east end of Frontier was strict in its beliefs. This denomination did not believe in any instruments in the church, only human voices in singing. The men wore no neckties, the ladies no plumes or flowers on their hats and no jewelry. The sermons preached were not fifteen to twenty minutes in length as they are today but usually an hour and a half. It was fire and brimstone preaching. The children were made to be attentive all through the sermon. Many "Amen"'s could be heard throughout the congregation through the service.
The rostrum was at the south end of the church. They heated with a pot-bellied stove. Many times the stove would be left with the draft open and the stove and long pipe would get fire red before someone noticed it and checked the draft.
Some of the ministers remembered were Rev. POST, Rev. LARKIN, Rev. HAUK, and Rev. SICKMILLER. When Rev. POST left the church and moved to California, the membership dwindled. A vote was taken and they voted to join with the church in Hillsdale.
Members remembered here at that time were Henritta PATTERSON, Viola MEEK, Divela MEEK, Susie JONES, Henry HELMICK and wife, and Emma NEVINS.
At the death of Vivian NEVINS, the family requested music for the funeral. They took an organ into the church for the funeral and removed it afterward.
At the consolidation of the churches, this church stood empty a few years. A chapel church was started in the building. Four families: Harry and Loa TEAL, the Harve FISHERS, Mr. and Mrs. DICK and the Paul KOPE family started this church. The church ran until the early 1950's when it was again closed for lack of membership.
One of the ministers remembered here was A. J. BERRY.
When the building was vacated, Paul KOPE bought it. It was moved to the Montgomery and Gilbert Road intersection and the second farm north. There Paul KOPE make the church building into a home for his family.
