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A glimpse into Hale’s past

Part three of Indian Mission Church on Dease Lake, Hill Township, Ogemaw County

COURTESY OF THE PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORICAL COMMISSION

First let’s review the previous articles concerning this research project involving the Indian Settlement on North Lake, later North Dease Lake. Thus far, the focus has been on Sodney Mukuckoosh. The other families in the settlement are Sodney’s father Preacher John, Thomas Jacobs and his family, and Joseph Pelkey. They all lived on the south side of North Lake.

It has been established that they owned land or homesteaded and lived there between 1897 and about 1906. Preacher John died in 1904 according to a news article. His widow sold her property in 1906. Sodney received his homestead in 1905 and sells in 1906. Thomas Jacobs sells 5 acres in 1911. By 1912, he has died, and his children sell the N ½ of the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 12, T23N R4E, leaving only part of his south 1/2.

Now the research has narrowed the time frame between 1900 and 1920 or earlier and the focus is now on the Indian Mission Church and the connection to the church on Dease Lake.

On July 9th, 1900, John Mukuckoosh and his wife Susan became members of the Oscoda Indian Mission Church. December 2nd, 1900, Thomas Jacobs, wife Betsey and some of his children became members of the Oscoda Indian Mission Church. Also, looks like a Palky became a member on the same day. His first name is unclear, I couldn’t tell if it was Joseph Pelkey.

They are listed as living at Hale Lake. In this research I have seen Hale Lake, Long Lake and Ellake as their place of residence. I did find a page copied from the Oscoda Indian Mission Church, no date, but it lists Sodney Adams and Thomas Jacobs as church stewards. Sodney frequently went by the surname Adams.

This page has to be fairly early in the 1900’s. Thomas Jacobs was no longer in the Hill Township census in 1910. Finding the membership list does establish this group of people as belonging to the church in Oscoda.

John Curry, a local Long Lake historian, wrote about the Sodney Mukuckoosh. (Reprinted in “Sesquicentennial 150 Years Plainfield Township.”) He states “Preacher John (Sodney’s father) established a Methodist Indian Mission. He supervised the building of a substantial log church at North Dease Lake.”

It is unclear where John Curry learned about the church. Mr. Curry had retired from working at the Archives at the Library of Michigan, and he did extensive local research. He shared a lot of early photos and writings with the Historical Commission.

Checking the 1901 46th Detroit Annual Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church yielded more information about the Indian Church. (http://adrian.edu/…/digitalres…/journals/mecde/1901D.pdf).

In the Elders Report for the Bay City District, page 36 “three churches have been dedicated: the Indian church near Hale Lake (built through the untiring industry of Bro. Simon Greensky, the interpreter) …. The detailed report for the Oscoda Mission Church, Greensky reports having two churches. This report was given on September 4, 1901.

In 1902 he reports having one church, but Hale reports two churches. Perhaps Hale had something to do with the Indian Mission Church during that early period. Greensky never reports two churches again. It appears the actual operation of the church was for a very short time.

Many local people have stories about an Indian Church on Dease Lake. Assuming they would not build a church on property someone did not own; it probably was built on the Jacobs property. No exact location has been found in records. It is also unclear how long Jacobs owned his property. Mukuckoosh and Pelkey were both homesteaders and did not receive the final deed until 1903 and 1904. We can probably assume the church was not built on their property, even through Preacher John Mukuckoosh seems to be connected to it.

This research project leaves a lot of unanswered questions.

Before concluding this series of the research, I want to acknowledge a huge thank you to Mary Hewitt. Mary has spent over twelve years gathering research on the local Native Americans. She has shared her wonderful collection of material with the Historical Commission. Her work not only spans a number of years, but also includes material from other counties. Without Mary’s work this report would not have been possible.

Visit the online virtual museum: https://plainfieldtwpmi.com/ ( The township website has changed. Articles appear on the front page under Recent Posts. The museum link is under the red button Plainfield Township.)

Visit us on Facebook or email us at: historicalcommission@plainfieldtwp.mi.com The PTHC office is located in the west wing at Eagle Pointe Plaza. New winter office and museum hours are Monday from 10:00 a.m. until noon and 1:00 to 3:00.

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