Arbela Organization, Churches, Schools

Town Organization

The town of Arbela was organized in 1851, under act of the legislature. The name Arbela was adopted in honor of the wife of one of the oldest settlers of the town.

At the first town meeting, held April 7, 1851, the inspectors were Simeon Newton and James Brophy. There were eleven votes cast. Officers elected were: Supervisor, Simeon Newton; clerk, Edwin E. Brainerd; treasurer, Henry I. Stewart; assessors, Edwin E. Brainerd and Milton Whitney; school inspector, Richard Hooper; commissioner of highways, Jacob Phillips and James Brophy; justices of the peace, Henry I. Stewart, James Brophy, William Robinson, Milton Whitney; overseers of the poor, Milton Whitney, William Robinson; constables, Jacob Phillips, Richard Hooper, Amasa Otto. The meeting also voted for judge of the seventh judicial district, and for regent of the university. It was voted to raise one hundred dollars for town purposes, which the town board afterward reduced to fifty.

The amount of tax in the hands of the treasurer, for 1853, was: State and county, $168.77; town, $86; library, $25; to be appropriated to school purposes, $18.41; highway, $141.98; for school-house District No. 2, $200; District No. 1, $85; fractional District No. 1, $43.53; treasurer’s fees, $25.42.

Religious Services

Religious services under the direction of the Methodist Episcopal Church and classes have been kept up since the first sermon was preached in the town. At present there are two classes, one meeting in the school-house in section 20, and under the pastoral charge of Rev. Mr. Robinson, of Tuscola, the other in the school-house in section 32, and under charge of Rev. Mr. Barnum, of Pine Run.

A church of the Baptist denomination holds services at the Pinkham school-house once in two weeks, Elder Elias M. Butler preaching.

Elder Shearer, of the Methodist Protestant Church preaches at Pine Grove and Gunnel school-houses, where this denomination has classes.

There is no church edifice in the town but one is being constructed by Rev. William H. Harrison upon his own land in section 8, as an individual enterprise.

School Matters

The following facts pertaining to the schools of Arbela are compiled from the annual report of the school inspector for the year ending September 4, 1882. Names of directors for ensuing year: Robert Smith, William M. Rogers, William Allen, Richard Squares, William P. Guthrie, Enard Leach, Selah M. Wilcox. Number of districts, 7, and one school-house in each district. Total number of children in the town, of school age, 368; number that attended school during the year, 284.