Okemos in Ingham County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Okemos Methodist Church

Photographed By Kathy Garman, October 20, 2020

1. Okemos Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

About 1839 Joseph H. Kilbourne settled in this vicinity on land previously occupied by Chief Okemos and several hundred Indians. He became the first postmaster of Sanford (present-day Okemos) in 1840 and served in the Michigan legislature from 1847 to 1851. Kilbourne and other settlers were influenced by itinerant Methodist preachers George W. Breckenridge and Washington Jackson. Church services were held in settlers’ homes from 1840 until 1846 when the first school opened. In 1870 a modest church was built on Kilbourne farmland. In 1929 the Okemos Methodist Episcopal and Baptist churches federated to form the Okemos Community Church. In 1957 a new sanctuary was built. The old church was razed in 1967 to make room for a new education unit.

Erected 1993 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1895C.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.

Location.

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42° 43.076′ N, 84° 25.658′ W. Marker is in Okemos, Michigan, in Ingham County. Marker is on Methodist Street east of Okemos Road, on the right when traveling west. The sign is not visible from Okemos Rd. It is located near the rear entrance at the back of the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4734 Okemos Rd, Okemos MI 48864, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Chief Okemos / Okemos Village (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chief Okemos (approx. half a mile away); Travel in the 1800s (approx. one mile away); Star Windmill (approx. one mile away); The Farmstead (approx. one mile away); Education and Faith (approx. one mile away); Commerce (approx. 1.1 miles away); Pioneer Living (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Okemos.

Okemos Methodist Church Marker and the Okemos Community Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Garman, October 20, 2020

2. Okemos Methodist Church Marker and the Okemos Community Church

The marker is located at the rear of the church near the rear entrance. The original church bell can be seen just to the right of the historical marker.

The Okemos Community Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Garman, October 20, 2020

3. The Okemos Community Church

The front of the church as seen from Okemos Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 85 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2021, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.