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REV. ALBERT C. LEWIS, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, was born in Harbor Creek, Penn., June 26, 1831. His ministerial course of study was taken at Nashotah Theological Seminary, Wisconsin. he was ordained deacon in 1861, and in August of that
year, he accepted a call to Christ's Church, Lockport, N. Y. where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1862. In November, 1863, he became pastor at Dexter, Mi., and also at (St. Stepleis, Himblrg.)

In 1867 he resigned Dexter for St. John's, Lowell. In the fall of 1869, he removed to Elk Rapids, and engaged in pastoral labors there, holding religious services in the courthouse,. he had charge of that parish eleven years, and also held services at Traverse City, where through his effort a commotions chitpel had been elected a pastor put in charge.

In 1880 he was prostrated  by illness, from which hie never fully recovered, and on March 17, 1881, he died of pneumonia at his pleasant home in Elk Rapids.

His marriage was Nov. 12, 1861, to Miss Helen Cooper, of Buffalo, N.. She was born there Aug. 20, 1843. Their children are William C., born at Buffalo, Aug. 28, 1862; Horatio B., born at Dexter, Mich., May 25, 1864: Albert A., born April 26, 1866; Ida L, born (Oct. 23, 1868, deceased Jan. 11, 1878; Helen L. was born March 7, 1871; Kieble 1). was born Jan. 10, 1876, and Hobart P. was born May 28, 1878. Mrs. Lewis and her amiable family still reside in the family home.

CHURCH OF THE COVENANT, LATER ST. PAUL

A meeting of persons in communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and of such as were attached to the worship of God according to its forms and usages, was held in the court house, at Elk Rapids, on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 29, 1867, and an organization effected, under the direction and superintendence of a clergyman duly authorized, as follows, "The name of the parish to be the 'Church of the Covenant.' The Vestry to be composed of the following persons: Wardens, Edwin S. Noble and Elvin L. Sprague; vestrymen, Henry H. Noble, Richard W. Bagot and Charles G. Gray; clerk of vestry, Richard W. Bagot; treasurer, Henry H. Noble."

This parish was organized by Rev. Mr. Brown, who remained a little over a year. In 1869, Rev. Albert C. Lewis, removed to Elk Rapids, and the parish was reorganized and the name changed to St. Paul.. He continued rector of the parish until his death, which occurred March 17, 1881. He was a man greatly beloved.

Author: Schenck, John S.
Title: History of Ionia and Montcalm counties, Michigan.
Publication date: 1881