The Village of Westphalia, Michigan is a village in western Clinton County, south of the central Lower Peninsula.
The village is centered on the intersection of Price Road and Grange Road, the only other road leading to or from the village being Hansen Road, which forms a portion of Westphalia's northern border, on the west.
Kloeckner and Fuller Creek flows through the southwestern portion of the village, while Thorne and Weber Drain flows through the northeastern part.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Westphalia include Pewamo, Fowler, Eagle, Portland, Lyons, Muir, Hubbardston, Grand Ledge, St. Johns, Mulliken, Maple Rapids, Ionia, DeWitt, and Carson City.
Prior to its settlement by Europeans or European-Americans, the area of Westphalia was inhabited by the Ojibwa (Chippewa) people, although it is doubtful that there was a Native American village there.
The early settlers of the area came from Bavaria and Sauerland, although later settlers came from all over Germany, as well as Austria, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, and Poland, many of them blacksmiths, masons, carpenters, shoemakers, or other tradesmen. The first wave of emigrants came between 1836 and 1860, escaping a difficult political system after the overthrow of Napoleon. The second wave of emigrants, between 1871 and 1885, came to escape the persecution of Catholics in Germany.
The first settlers arrived at the port in New York in the fall of 1836. From there, they traveled by ship along the Erie Canal, arriving in Detroit about three weeks later. From there, they traveled by foot to the land office in Ionia, where they purchased 560 acres of land on which St. Mary's Parish would later be built.
The first few settlers included Father Anton Kopp, a Catholic priest, as well as the Eberhard Platte family. After meeting with Father Martin Kundig, of St. Mary's Parish in Detroit, Father Kopp, and the Eberhard Platt traveled on foot along the Dexter Trail to Ionia, where they had to wait for six days for the land office to open. Five other men, Anton Cordes, John Hanses, John Salter, and William Tillmann, caught up with them in Ionia, while their families remained behind in Detroit. From there, a trapper led them to the land they had acquired. The small settlement was named Westphalia, for the region in northwest Germany where they were from.
This section of the Grand River Calley was considered worthless by land speculators due to its being swampy and heavily forested, but the German emigrants knew that this was a sign of good soil.
They went to work, transforming the swampy wilderness into agricultural land. By 1923, more than three hundred families had emigrated to Westphalia. It wasn't long before the German Catholic parish was established. Father Anton Kopp traveled back to Detroit, where he visited Bishop Friedrich Reese, who approved and arranged for the new German parish. In September of 1837, Father Kopp began celebrating Masses in the homes of the new parishioners, and a two-room log structure was built to serve as a church. Father Kopp stayed on for five years, after which he was assigned to St. Mary's in Detroit.
Anton Dunnebacker built the first house in 1849, and a post office was established on September 5, 1851, with the Reverand George Godez as postmaster. Joseph Platte built the first store in 1852, and a second store was opened by John A. Fedewa in 1854. Westphalia was incorporated as a village in 1883.
Built between 1867 and 1870, St. Mary's second church building was the largest church in Clinton County, and one of the largest in the state. The brick church had a steeple height of 156 feet, and was able to accommodate up to eight hundred people. However, on April 20, 1959, St. Mary's caught fire while repairs were being made on the eaves. The current church was built across the street from the original brick church. Built between 1959 and 1962, the church was made from Indiana split-face stone, sandstone trim, and slate roofing, with a 98-foot bell tower. Cast in Holland, the church's three bells were chosen for their close resemblance to the original bells. The church includes a parish center, youth center, funeral chapel, elementary school, parish offices, and a rosary garden.
The focus of this portion of our web guide is on Westphalia, Michigan. Governmental facilities, businesses, industries, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, entertainment venues, and recreational opportunities in the village are appropriate topics for this category.
Recommended Resources
Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools
Offering a K-12 public school curriculum, the public school district operates an elementary school and a combined middle/high school, each of which is highlighted here. District office numbers, and contacts for the district superintendent, business manager, and executive administrator are provided. A district calendar, enrollment policies, and a staff directory are posted on the site, which includes information about its academics, arts, athletics, and fine arts programs.
https://www.pwschools.org/
St. Mary Parish Church & School
Established by the founders of Westphalia, Michigan, the Catholic parish includes a K-6th-grade school, accredited by the National Catholic Education Association. Church and school schedules and calendars of programs and events are posted on the site, The parish history is told, and a photo gallery, Mass times, a church bulletin, religious education programs, and an introduction to the pastor, associate pastor, teachers, and staff are included, with addresses, directions, and contacts.
https://stmarychurch.net/
Situated about twenty-five miles northwest of Lansing, Westphalia is a village in Westphalia Township in Clinton County, Michigan. The official municipal website publishes meeting schedules, meeting minutes, ordinances, and finance data, along with access to various forms and publications. The history of the village is included, village councils and commissions are introduced, and departmental and administrative contacts are provided. A guide to local businesses and events is included.
https://www.westphaliami.com/
Established in 1836, the civil township is in western Clinton County, bordered by Ionia County to the west. The village of Westphalia is within the township. The official township website is represented here. It includes a list of township board members, with contacts, meeting schedules and minutes, tax information, and its policies for renting the township hall, along with an application, which may be downloaded. Online forms for contacting the treasurer, clerk, or supervisor are available,
https://www.westphaliatownship.org/
Wirth & Fedora Livestock Equipment/Construction
WF Livestock Equipment is a Michigan agricultural company offering livestock equipment to dairy farmers in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, while WF Construction specializes in agricultural and commercial construction, from basic post-frame pole barns to more complex milking parlor facilities. Details about both of these Westphalia, Michigan businesses are featured, including locations, office hours, and contacts, as well as photographs, and product specifications.
https://www.wirthandfedewa.com/
