USA > Maryland > Allegany County > Cumberland > History of Cumberland, (Maryland) from the time of the Indian town, Caiuctucuc, in 1728, up to the present day : embracing an account of Washington's first campaign, and battle of Fort Necessity, together with a history of Braddock's expedition > Part 31
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Gentlemen-At the present day the glory of a people consists in their advance in civilization, and one of the highest evidences of that advance, is their great enterprises for developing their resources, and
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promoting the pursuits of useful and productive industry. In this respect Maryland now occupies a proud position among her sister states of the Union, and, in proportion to her population, may favor- ably compare with any nation or people, upon the face of the earth. Among the great works which have been the objects of her munificent patronage, none has attracted her favor so strongly nor been so uni- formly sustained as the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. In the first instance, she embarked in this noble enterprise cautiously, and not until she had received what was deemed a sufficient pledge or assurance from the general government, that it should be regarded as a national work, and that the national treasury would supply a fair proportional part of the amount that would be required to carry it forward and complete it to its ultimate destination. But when once embarked, so far as the completion of the canal was considered necessary for the development of her own resources, Maryland took no step backwards. In 1834, when the subscriptions to the capital stock were exhausted, and the work was only finished for a distance of one hundred and seven miles, and stood suspended for want of means, the general government, and all the other original parties to the undertaking, save Maryland only, declined to afford further assistance, and, seemingly, abandoned the com- pany to its fate. At that time and at such a crisis, this State, "among the faithless faithful only she," firmly fixed her gaze upon its completion to this place, and, in spite of all difficulties and disappointments, steadily pressed forward to the accomplishment of her object. She freely con- tributed her means so long as her credit would permit, and when it failed and the company was in the darkest midnight of its misfortunes, she did what alone was left her to do-waived her liens on the revenues of the canal, to the extent and for the purpose we have mentioned; and she now has cause to rejoice in the wisdom of the proceeding, for her object is attained.
Gentlemen -- In her liberal appropriations to works of internal im- provements, the State of Maryland has run up, what in this country, and among a people unused to direct taxation for the support of government, is regarded as a very heavy debt. But what does it amount to ? From a statement I have recently seen published, and which I believe to be correct, the whole debt now chargeable on the treasury of Maryland is less than ten millions of dollars. Why, the national debt of France is more than one thousand millions of dollars, and the national debt of England is upwards of four thousand millions of dollars ! And what have England and France now got to show for these immense debts ? Little more than the bloody pages of history which record their bootless victories and barren conquests. Notwithstanding the vast incidental resources of these two mighty nations, neither the Frenchman nor the Englishman can look forward to the day when the debt of their respective governments will be paid off, and his person and property be relieved from onerous taxation. Each bears his burden with resignation during his own life, and hands down the gloomy heritage to his children. The debt of Maryland was contracted for no such destructive or vainglorious purposes. It resulted from the necessities of her condition to enable her to keep pace with the progress of civilization, and grew out of the utilitarian spirit of the age. Under the silent operation of her present financial and revenue system, the entire amount will be discharged in some twelve or fifteen years. And, as an offset to this debt, what can Maryland now exhibit ? Why, several great works of internal improve-
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ment, and among them this magnificent canal, which, with its continuous line of nearly 186 miles of deep navigable water, its costly aqueducts, and stupendous tunnel, will stand as a proud and enduring monument of her glory-be a source of constantly increasing prosperity and happiness to her people, and in due season, after allowing some just provision to be made for the meritorious creditors of the company, (which I hope will be done,) pour into her treasury streams of revenue to be divided among the different counties, and city of Baltimore, in conformity with the 64th section of the act of March session, 1841, chapter 23, or be expended by the Legislature in the further promotion of the arts of civilization, in extending and increasing the facilities of trade, and in diffusing the blessings of education throughout every portion of her limits.
The canal commences its operations under flattering auspices. The circumstances which surround and attend the opening of navigation are of the most favorable character. Unlike other works, constructed with a view principally to the coal trade, it is not required to await the slow process of preliminary preparations. It is true that more boats ought to have been built, but this omission can, and we have reason to believe, soon will be repaired.
The coal mines have been opened, the laborers have been gathered, facilities of connection with the canal basin have been constructed, and the coal trade of Allegany is already considerably advanced. Little more is necessary, than for it to turn to its appropriate channel-the canal-and go on increasing. Evidence is afforded that this will be done. The little fleet of boats, freighted with coal, which this morning clustered around the inlet lock like mettled coursers eager for the tap of the drum, and which passed in, so soon as the gates were opened, contain more tons of coal than were carried down by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation com- pany during the first year of their operations.
We still, gentlemen, may hold on to the hope, particularly in view of the contemplated improvement of the Ohio, that the general government will sooner or later redeem its early pledges, and furnish the necessary means to carry on the canal, by a continuous line of communication, to the Ohio river, according to the original plan. We may perhaps with greater confidence expect that the State of Virginia, which has recently exhibited a revived interest in the success of this company, and has generously come forward to its assistance, by guaranteeing its bonds to a limited amount, will contribute efficient aid towards the extension of the work, by a mixed improvement, from this point to the mouth of Savage river, with a view to the development of her rich and abundant coal fields, lying on the southern side of the North Branch. And, I have no doubt, but that the State of Maryland, will cause a connection to be formed with the city of Baltimore, either by an extension of the canal through the District of Columbia, or by a lateral canal from some more northern point, in case it shall be hereafter found practicable.
But, gentlemen, whatever may be the future fate of this great under- taking, and whether these plans be carried out or not, its advantages, so far as your immediate and local interests are concerned, are now secured to you. The guarantees are before you. You have them in that solid structure which stretches across from your town to the Virginia shore and arrests and gathers together the current of the Potomac, to become tributary and subservient to your enterprize-in that broad, beautiful sheet of water upon whose deep bosom a merchantman may float-in that commodious basin which reaches out from the canal to multiply the
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accommodations for business and increase the general facilities of trade -in that deep navigable communication which connects your wharves with the wharves of Georgetown and Alexandria, and upon whose placid surface every man may, at any hour of the day, freely launch his boat, and by merely conforming to regulations established for the general good, and paying a small toll for the use of the improvement, transport the products of your industry, and the "hoarded labor of your moun- tains," from your very doors, to the tide water of the Potomac, from whence they may pass, on "the wings of wind," to the ports of the uttermost parts of the earth.
By the side of these eminent advantages stand high responsibilities. Now that these great benefits are confirmed to you, it is your duty to exert yourselves to turn them to profitable account, as well for those by whose means they have been afforded to you, as for yourselves and your pos- terity. You must work up your spirit to a full appreciation of the high destiny that is before you and within your reach. By the opening of the navigation to Cumberland, and the connecting facilities which exist between this point and the navigable waters of the Ohio, a chain of improvements, such as was contemplated by General Washington, in 1784, to attract and secure the western trade, is thoroughly consummated. But vast and wonderful changes, in every respect, have taken place since his day, and the improvements that were considered sufficient, and would have been all-sufficient, then, can not be expected to answer, fully, the contemplated purpose, now. They will doubtless, however, bring to your town no inconsiderable trade from beyond the mountains. But the main reliance, both for the advancement of your own interests, and for the success of the canal, must be on the labor and on the liberal enterprise of the inhabitants, the proprietors of the coal fields, and the managers of the coal companies of Allegany. It will depend upon them, whether the population and wealth of this county shall be aug- mented in a degree commensurate with its resources. It will depend upon them, whether long lines of boats will soon constantly be seen gliding down that great highway, freighted with the rich treasures of your "Black Indies," which, as an element of national wealth, and the source and foundation of manufacturing and commercial prosperity, are far more important and valuable than the placers of Calfornia, or than mines of gold and silver.
Gentlemen-your State and county pride-your industry and energy of character-your interests, present and future, all combine to give assurance, that you will not be wanting in the due performance, of the part that belongs to you, to render your county prosperous, and this great improvement successful. The canal company, on its part, will cordially co-operate in all proper and just measures, for the attainment of these objects.
These ceremonies being concluded, the distin- guished visitors, the officers of the company, and a large number of citizens embarked on the canal packet "Jenny Lind" and the canal boat "C. B. Fisk," which had been fitted up for their reception, and proceeded down the canal, followed by the
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Eckhart Light Artillery, with their pieces, on another boat, the coal boats "Southampton," "Elizabeth," "Ohio," and "Delaware"-belonging to the Mer- chants' Line of Messrs. McKaig and Agnew; and the "Freeman Rawdon"-belonging to the Cumberland Line of Mr. Ward-bringing up the rear. The passage down was agreeably enlivened by the music of the bands and the firing of canon.
Arrived at a large spring ten miles east of Cum- berland, the boats halted, and the company having disembarked, in a short time returned on board to partake of an abundant collation prepared by the committee of the canal company-Messrs. S P. Smith, W. A. Bradley, and John Pickell-to which zest was imparted by a copious supply of the finest and choicest wines. Having spent some time in these agreeable divertisements, the fleet of boats was again put into line, and started on their return to Cumberland, the coal boats proceeding down the canal towards their destined ports. The return was accomplished by night-fall, and everything seemed to have met the most sanguine expectations of those who joined in the festivities.
Upon the return of the company to Barnum's, they were entertained by the citizens of Cumberland at a dinner prepared by J. A. Hefelfinger, Esq., proprietor of that establishment. To say that the viands were all choice and well served, is to say but little of this entertainment. After the cloth was removed a number of toasts were drunk, which, we regret we have not the time to report. The Hon. Wm. Cost Johnson, the tried friend of the canal, and who, as
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chairman of the committee of internal improvements of the House of Delegates, at December session, 1844, reported the act under which it has been completed, arose during the course of the evening, and, after alluding in handsome terms to the recent courtesies extended to the officers of the canal company, by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, offered the following sentiment, which was drunk with applause:
" The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad-The former has happily reached its ebony harvests amid the coal fields of the Alleganies; may the latter journey vigorously on west- ward, until it rejoices amidst the golden plains of the far Californias."
At this point the further festivities of the table were arrested by the necessity of yielding the room for the opening of the ball, to which the fair daughters of Cumberland had been invited by the gentle- men of the town for the purpose of meeting their distinguished guests. In a short time wine and sentiment had yielded to the dominion of music and the dance, and it was not until long after the "wee sma' hours" that the reign of beauty had given place to the quiet slumbers of the morning. We take this occasion to say, the supper prepared by "mine host," of Barnum's, on this occasion, was such, in all its characteristics as to draw forth commendations from every lip.
Thus ended the 10th day of October in Cumber- land-a day which will be held ever memorable in the recollections of the people of this region, being the day on which their much cherished project of canal navigation to tide-water was brought to a glorious and successful consummation.
CHURCHES OF CUMBERLAND.
In procuring data upon which to give even an outline of the history of the various churches, the work has been accompanied with trials and difficul- ties that were unforeseen, and certainly unexpected, when the task was begun. With scarcely an exception, the churches have kept no historic record, and in many instances we have had to rely upon letters, diaries, and individual memories to fill up the gaps that occurred in the annals of the churches.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Without any precise date to govern us we are led to believe that Methodism was first introduced into Allegany county about the year 1782, and the pio- neers in the work were Revs. Bishop Asbury, John Haggerty and Richard Owens, the latter a local preacher, of Baltimore county, Md., but which of them took precedence in the work we have no means of determining. These were succeeded in 1783 by Revs. Francis Paytheres, and Benjamin Roberts; in 1784 by Wilson Lee and Thomas Jackson; in 1785 by Lemuel Green, William Jessup and John Paup. From the year 1785 to 1786 Rev. John J. Jacob, father of Governor Jacob, of West Virginia, assisted by Bishop Asbury, labored in the work, and the accessions to the faith were large. In 1786 Rev. Jacob was succeeded by Rev. Enoch Watson, who
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officiated until 1787, and was succeeded by Philip Bruce, whose labors in 1788 were blessed with a great revival, by which many were added to the church. From 1788 until 1802-3 the church languished and sank into a lethargic state, until the arrival of Bishop Whatcoat, who inspired and infused new life into the faithful who remained true to their profession. Something over one hundred were added to the church in 1803, through the labors of Bishop Whatcoat, assisted by Rev. L. Martin, a local preacher of Montgomery county, Md. The church relapsed again until 1805, when new life was infused into the society through the efforts and preaching of Revs. James Ward and Louis R. Fechtig. Allegany circuit first appears in the general minutes of the church in 1804, at which time there were three preachers commissioned for the work, J. Paynter, Joseph Stone and James Read, with James Ward as Presiding Elder. As early as 1787 there was occasional preaching by Methodist ministers in Cum- berland, and about that time steps were taken to form a society. The deed for the lot upon which the first Methodist church in Cumberland was erected bears date 1799, and the church edifice was probably erected in 1800. The location was on the west side of Will's Creek, on the corner of Fayette and Small- wood streets. The building was of an unpretending character, a frame structure, 25 by 35 feet, one story in height, and was never plastered. The pulpit was plain and of a primitive style, the benches hard, narrow and without backs. Among the names of those identified with this first house of worship we
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find James Hendrickson, Thomas Leakins, Adam Seigler, Aquilla Brown, (local preachers) and Dick- inson Simkins. The names of Irvin, Wall, Hinkle, and Twigg also appear in this connection. In 1816 a new church was determined upon. The preachers of the circuit for that year were Tobias Reiley and Robert Cadden, with Gerard Morgan as Presiding Elder. In the erection of the second church Mr. Reiley took an active part, never ceasing his labors until its completion. The site selected was on Centre street, north, where the present handsome edifice stands. The house was built of bricks, about 36 by 45, one story and a half high, with gallery in front and on either side. The benches were an improvement on the former church, having a single strip as a back support. The pulpit was in a large half-room recess and placed the preacher far above the heads of the people. Among those identified with the church building were, Peter Shultz, Jas. Hendrickson, John Wright and Jonathan Peterson. The quarterly meet- ings of the circuit were usually held in Cumberland.
In 1829, Cumberland was made a station, and Rev. Charles B. Young was appointed to the charge, who was succeeded in 1831 by Rev. J. H. W. Monroe, and in 1832 by Rev. G. W. Humphreys; in 1833 by Rev. Hezekiah Best; in 1834 by Rev. Bazil Barry; 1835 by Rev. P. D. Lipscomb, who was succeeded in 1837 by Rev. S. C. Parkinson, who was followed by Rev. Jas. Stevens, who ministered to the church until 1840. In 1837, under the pastoral charge of Mr. Stevens, the building was enlarged to meet the demands of the church, fifteen feet being added to
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the rear, and the house altered to show as a two story building. This building answered only eleven years. In 1848, under the ministry of Rev. Thomas B. Myers, the third church was erected, 50 by 80 feet, at a cost of about $6,000. The Baltimore Conference met in this church in 1851. Continuing our list of the pastors who were appointed to this station, we find the following in order named: In 1841-2, Rev. E. E. Allen; 1843-4, Rev. William Prettyman; 1845, Rev. John A. Henning; 1846-7, Rev. James Sewell; 1848-9, Rev. Thomas Myers; 1850-1, Rev. John M. Jones ; 1852-3, Rev. John Lanahan; 1854-5, Rev. W. T. D. Clemm; 1856, Rev Samuel Kepler; 1857-8, Rev. A. E. Gibson; 1859-60, Rev. R. H. Crever; 1861-2, Rev. Thomas Barnhart; 1863-5, Rev. S. W. Sears; 1866-8, Rev. Edward Kinsey; 1869-71, Rev. Asbury Reiley; 1872-3, Rev. Samuel V. Leech; 1874, Rev. James H. Lightbourne; 1875 Rev. G. G. Baker.
In 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. Asbury Reiley, the third church was taken down, and the present handsome edifice commenced. It was not completed and dedicated until the ministry of Rev. Lightbourne, 1874-5. The house stands to-day with its towering spire, one of the largest structures in the city ; beneath its pulpit rests all that was mortal of Rev. Tobias Reiley, who labored faithfully for the church and endeared himself to her people. Rev. Baker was succeeded in 1876-7 by Rev. W. S. Edwards, D. D., who was followed in this ministry in 1878, March 1st, by Rev. Joel Brown, who is at this time pastor in charge.
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The annual session of the Baltimore Conference was held in the new church in February, 1878. The number of communicants in this church is about four hundred.
ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The first Lutheran church in Cumberland, Md., was organized on the 11th day of May, 1794. There were at the time twelve men whose names we find enrolled upon the church book, as follows : Nicholas Leyberger, John Rice, George Rizer, Andrew Harry, Christopher Brotemarkle, George Shuck, Christian Kollhoefer, Frederick Loch, Jacob Valentine, Jacob Ganner, and John Cramer. The original constitution upon which this church was based is written in German and Latin, the rules of government being simply and vigorously expressed. The first church building was a log-bodied structure, with no preten- sions to architecture, and was located near the site of the present imposing brick edifice on the northeast corner of Centre and Baltimore streets. The first pastor was Rev. Frederick William Lange, who served the congregation eleven years, and was succeeded by Rev. John George Butler, who accepted the pastorate in 1805, ministering twelve years. Mr. Butler was succeeded by Rev. C. F. Heyer, who, even now, is familiarly remembered by the title of "Father " Heyer. Father Heyer officiated six years, and was followed in the ministry by Rev. Nathan B. Little, who remained in charge until 1830, when he was succeeded by Rev. Henry Haverstick, who ministered to the congregation three years, and was succeeded
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by Rev. John Kehler, who labored eight years, and was followed, in 1841, by Rev. Jesse Winecoff.
Previous to this time the services in this church were conducted in both the English and German languages, but a short time before the ministry of Rev. Jesse Winecoff (1839) a congregation purely German Lutheran was organized, who separated from the body of English Lutherans. This separation was peaceable and by mutual agreement, being solely a matter of convenience.
Continuing the history of the English Lutheran church, we find that Rev. Winecoff served from 1841 to 1844, and during his ministry the present massive brick edifice was erected, the corner stone being laid in 1842. From 1844 to 1846 Rev. Samuel D. Finkle officiated as pastor, and was succeeded by Rev. Joseph A. Seiss, D. D., who served over five years, and was succeeded in 1852 by Rev. John Francis Campbell, who officiated until 1856, having been in charge four and a quarter years. He was followed by Rev. A. J. Weddel, who remained eleven years and nine months, bringing the period down to the 10th of May, 1868, when Rev. H. C. Holloway was called to the pastorate, and is officiating therein at this date,
MISCELLANEOUS .--- On the arrival of the Rev. "Father" Heyer, in Cumberland, he found the church almost destroyed; only a few Lutherans remained, and these were scattered and discouraged; but " Father" Heyer was an energetic man ; he went earnestly to work, and succeeded in gathering the scattered flock and re-establishing church worship.
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After remaining here six years he removed to Som- erset, Pa., from which point he was subsequently commissioned by the General Synod of the Lutheran church as missionary to India, being the first ever sent to that field by the English Lutheran church of this country.
The following incident is related in connection with the building of the present English Lutheran house of worship, and the truth of the story is fully substantiated :
When the present edifice, which stands at the inter- section of Baltimore and Centre streets, was contem- plated, a building committee was appointed by the congregation, and when the location was fully decided upon, this committee was empowered to supervise the erection of the building. A majority of the committee decided that the house should be of certain proportions in length and breadth, while one man stoutly contended that the length they proposed was not proportionate to the height or breadth, and desired that ten feet be added to the proposed length. In this he was overruled ; the ground was staked off, and the minority man went away sorrowing. But he did not cease to think upon the matter, and after he and his compeers had retired that night, he arose from his bed and proceeding to the site of the new church, removed the stakes, placing them ten feet further back upon a direct line. The work of digging for the foundation was completed, and even a large part of the foundation wall was built, before the trick was discovered, but no one who passes the church to-day can fail to see the effect of the taste
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