Methodist Episcopal Church, Leslie. --
The first Methodist sermon preached in Leslie was delivered by Rev. E. H. Pilcher, probably in a private house, when the population of the place was exceedingly small. Leslie Circuit was organized from Mason Circuit, in 1868, and its pastors since that time have been Revs. B. S. Mills, one year; A. A. Rolfe, three years; H. D. Jordan, one year; J. Gulick, three years, N. L. Brockway, two years; and the present pastor, Rev. William J. Swift, two years; or since September 15, 1878. The present membership of the church is 181, including probationers (Sept. 10, 1880). The Sunday-school has an average attendance of about seventy-five, with a Dr. A. C. Manly as superintendent. The present brick church is the only one ever owned by the society, and was built in 1869. Meetings had previously been held in the Baptist church and a public hall. Other appointments on the circuit are at the Phelps school-house in Bunker Hill, with about thirty in attendance at the Sunday-school; and at the Baird school-house in Rives township, Jackson Co., where no class has yet been formed, but probably soon will be. A class which held meetings from some time in the Housel neighborhood, in Leslie township, has been recently closed.

United Brethern Church. --
The United Brethern have a circuit including North Leslie, the Housel neighborhood, Scovill's Corners, and the Clark school-house in Leslie, and Fitchburg, in Bunker Hill, and during the summer of 1880 they erected a church at the latter place, which is the only one of the circuit.

First Baptist Church, Leslie --
The records of this church contain the following account of its organization: "Leslie, April 12, 1889.
"A number of baptized believers met in the school-house in the village of Leslie for the purpose of organizing themselves into a society to be dominated and known by the name of the First Baptist Church in Leslie. After prayer, Elder David Hendee was chosen moderator, and E.K. Grout clerk pro tem.
"A list of articles of Faith and Practice and Covenant were presented and unanimously adopted as the sentiments of the church. The following brethern and sisters are associated together and presented the letters to the clerk: Mahlon Covert, Sally Covert, Lewis Reynolds, Laura Reynolds, Martha J. Ives, Mariah Hazelton, Harriet Barden, and Elijah K. Grout.
"Br. M. Covert was appointed deacon, and E. K. Grout clerk of the church.
"Voted, Brother E. K. Grout give an expression of his views of a call to the gospel ministry.
Voted, That Brother Grout be licensed to improve his gift in giving exposition of Scripture from time to time, as the Spirit may divert his mind.
Voted, That we try to maintain our church meetings once in four weeks, at one o'clock p.m.
"Closed by prayer.
"Elder D. Hendee, Moderator.
"E. K. Grout, Clerk pro tem.

One of the persons above named who were the constituent members of this church they only ones now living are Mahlon Covert and wife.

Calvin Straight and wife united with the church May 11, 1839, and on the same date it was voted to apply for admission to the River Raisin Baptist Association, and voted also to give Mr. Grout a license to preach. The church was admitted to the association named in the latter part of May, or early June, 1839. Mr. Grout was ordained as a minister Feb. 16, 1841, and became the paster of the church. At an association meeting held at Napoleon, Sept. 10, 1842, Mr. Grout presented resolutions denouncing slavery, and providing for work against it in the church, also against intemperance in the church. In the spring of 1847, Elder Grout was given a letter of dismissal and recommendation, and removed to St. Clair County, in which he resided ten years. June 15, 1847, a call was voted to Elder F. Freemen, and it was sent and accepted. March 24, 1849, it was voted to call Elder David Hendee to serve the church at Leslie one-fourth of his time. He became the paster, and labored with the church until April 20, 1851. His successor was Elder H. B. Fuller, of Bunker Hill, who was secured in May, 1852, and remained until the spring of 1861, when Elder Grout again commenced preaching here one-fourth of the time; he continued until Oct. 20, 1866, when he resigned, and was immediately succeeded by Rev. Mr. Vroman as supply. Elders E. Rumsey and _______ Parmenter also held services. In August, 1867, Elder John Dunham was secured as supply for one year. Elders Putnam, William H. Cox, ______ Hamlin, and John B. Kemp preached in 1868, and the latter was secured as pastor on the 1st of November in that year. He resigned Jan. 1, 1870 on account of ill health, and services were then rendered by Elders Rice, Gunn, Fuller. Elder W. C. Gunn became the pastor, and commenced his work May 1, 1870, continuing until March 26, 1871. Elder H. B. Fuller supplied the pulpit a short time, and in June, 1871, Elder W. C. Archer received and accepted a call, but resigned August 20th following. Rev. U. Gregory commenced his labors as paster of this church Sept. 24, 1871, and was installed November 5th following. He was given leave of absence Aug. 4, 1872, to complete his theological courses at Rochester, N. Y., and Elder H. M. Gallup became pastor in September, 1872, remaining until Oct. 6, 1877, when he resigned. On the 21st of the same month Elder H. L. Bower became the paster, and closed his labors in September, 1879. The present pastor, Elder John Heritage, has been in charge since October, 1879.

In 1856 it was voted to make an effort to build a meeting-house, and a frame structure was commenced, which was not completed for several years. It is the one now in use. In 1871 a parsonage was built, at a cost of about $2000. The present membership of the church is about 130, and the Sabbath-school, of which C. E. Pickett is superintendent, has an average attendance of about 90.

Free-Will Baptist Church, Leslie. --
This church was organized about 1873, with some thirty-five members. The first pastor was Rev. William Gray, to whom the credit of organizing the church is principally due. He served as pastor three years, and was succeeded by Rev. J. S. Manning, who continued in charge one year. The third pastor was Rev. Milo Coldron, who stayed a year, and the fourth was Rev. J. F. Boller, also staying a year. The present pastor, Rev. F. R. Randall, is the fifth in charge, and is now serving his second year. He resides in Burlington, Calhoun Co. A frame chapel was built in the summer of 1874, costing a little over $1000. The present membership of the church is about seventy, and the average attendance at the Sunday-school about forty. The Sunday-school is held every Sunday, while church meetings are held but once in two weeks. Richard Huntoon is the superintendent of the Sunday-school. The chapel erected by this society is a very tasty structure, situated near the site of the old school-house.

First Congregational Church, Leslie. --
A congregational Church was organized in the village of Leslie with eight members, Feb. 12, 1843, by Rev. Marcus Harrison, pastor of the church in Jackson. The members were Benjamin Bingham and wife, Kendrick Leach and wife, Henry Fiske and wife, William Huntoon, and Elizabeth Bugbee. Meetings were held once a month, Mr. Harrison coming for three months and Rev. Thomas E. Emmerson for five months, and at the end of the eight months the organization was dissolved. In the summer of 1861, Rev. Edwin W. Shaw, a member of the Southern Michigan Association, visited Leslie, and became interested in the vicinity as a suitable place for organizing a Congregational Church. He moved here with his family in October, 1861, and labored until April 1865. On the 9th of the last-named month -- " the day on which the rebel Gen Lee surrendered to the loyal Gen. Grant, " says the record -- the following persons were constituted the First Congregational Church of Leslie; Mrs Elizabeth Barlow, Mrs. Sarah Tufts, Mrs. Mary H. Wheaton, Rev. Edwin W. Shaw, William F. Huntoon, Mrs. Clarissa Huntoon, Mrs. Amanda B. Shaw, Mrs. Phebe Perrine, Mrs. Mary Woodworth, Nelson B. Slocum, Edward M. Craig, Mrs. Agnes Slocum. Rev. Thomas Jones, of Olivet, and Rev. Marshall Tingley, of Sioux City, Iowa, assisted at the organization. William F. Huntoon was chosen deacon and E. W. Shaw church clerk. The organization was effected in the school-house at Leslie. Rev. Edwin W. Shaw continued services as minister. In October, 1868, the old brick school-house was purchased by the society, and converted into a chapel. It was dedicated Jan. 3, 1869, by Rev. W. B. Williams, of Charlotte, and is still in use. Mr. Shaw resigned the pastorate Feb. 14, 1869, and succeeded by Rev. J. W. Allen, who began his labors March 7, 1869, and resigned April 1, 1875. Rev. William Mulder became pastor in the same month, and continued until the spring of 1878. The next pastor, Rev. John Visscher, came the same season, and remained one year. Rev. A. E. Ross took charge in August, 1879, and remained less than a year. The church at present (September, 1880) is without a pastor. Its membership is seventy-five; the Sunday-school is superintended by W. McMath, and has an average attendance of eighty-five. In June, 1869, a parsonage was purchased for the use of pastors of the church, and a permanent organization was effected in August of the same year. The church is now in a very good condition.

Taken from:
"History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers", by Samuel W. Durant.
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., 1880.
Page 264 - 265