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"The Church J.L. Holtzman Built,"
Grand Rapids, Michigan
trustee, German Zion Evangelical Church
from History of Grand Rapids
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On the occasion of "Old People's Day" (a reunion?), this picture was sent by a former parishioner to Grandpa Holtzman who was then at a new mission in Sherrard, Illinois. Grandma Holtzman wrote on the front of this picture, "The Church J.L.H. Built." The church address is on the back of the picture: 366 1st Street, Grand Rapids. That location is now the Interstate 136 and US Highway 131 interchange!
The following is a note attached to a box containing sermons by J. L. Holtzman:
Rev. J. L. Holtzman, son of Rev. Henry and Christina Holtzman was born near Phillipsburg, Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada on March 7, 1851. In April 1880 he moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan. There he worked at the carpenter trade. He was the founder of our first church. For some time he felt called to preach. In 1884 he was licensed by the Michigan Conference held at Portage Prairie. For a number of years he served as local preacher. From 1890 to 1894 some trials came in my way. I accepted a church in the United Brethren church at Woodland and Lowell [Michigan]. In 1892 I was called to the Central Illinois Conference of the the United Brethren church. I was ordained at the United Brethren Conference held at Decatur, Illinois in September, 1893. While serving a charged at Wing, Illinois I came in contact with Evangelicals at Charlotte and I wanted..
The same note lists his missions as follows:
Grand Rapids, Fisher Station, Woodland (Michigan), Lowell (Michigan), Wing in Custer Park Circuit, Arrowsmith, Lee Rochelle Circut, Perkins Grove, Forreston, Winslow, Perkins Grove, Sterling, Davis, Sherrard, Mt. Pulaski, Sterling one year.
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