USA > New York > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and family history of New York, Volume IV > Part 6
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He married, July 12, 1883, in Germany, Louise Kachele, daughter of the late Rev. J. Kachele, and they have had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Those now living are: Amanda M., Albert O., Florence L., Lillian M., and Edward M.
FRENCH EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The French Evangelical Presbyterian Church parish was formed in 1848 by Rev. J. F. Astie, of Nevac, France, and serv- ices were first held in Dr. Spring's church in Park Row. In 1853 they moved to a church at the corner of Crosby and Grant streets. November 18, 1866, the church was received into the
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regular Presbyterian body, and for nearly twenty years serv- ices were held in the chapel of the Union Theological Seminary, No. 9 University place. In 1885 the present church property was purchased from the Catholic Apostolic congregation, and after being thoronghily remodeled was opened for worship, November 19, 1886. The building is a quaint structure with a seating capacity of nearly five hundred; they have an average of about three hundred in attendance, the services being at- tractive and entirely in French. The number of communicant members is two hundred and thirty-seven. The church so- cieties are: Christian Endeavor, Young Woman's Christian Association. Sewing School Society and Ladies' Aid Society. Concerning the varions pastors who have served this parish it may be said that Rev. Astie, the founder, ministered until 1853; he was sneceeded by Rev. Julius Bornand, who remained in charge three years; in 1856 he was followed by Rev. M. E. C'harier, who only remained a few months; then came Rev. George Du Bois; then Rev. Charles Piquet and Rev. M. M. Fivas. The last named served until 1864, when his ill health compelled his resignation. In October, 1864, Rev. J. B. C. Beanbean was appointed pastor, remaining not quite one year. From 1866 to 1867 Rev. M. Des Islets was the regular pastor; he was succeeded by Rev. Louis Henriod, who remained for six months and was followed by Rev. M. Gory, who came in 1869 and remained until 1872, when he was followed by the present pastor, Rev. Henri L. Grandlienard, who has been the pastor for twenty-three years.
Rev. Grandlienard was born in Switzerland, 1842, and there received his education. In 1867 he came to America, after having first spent three years in the Upper Nile region of Africa. After coming to this country he spent one year in the Mercersburg Reformed Church of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania,
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and was ordained at Hagerstown, Maryland, 1868. He was pastor of Christ's (German) Reformed Church at Hagerstown for one year, and in 1869 was appointed pastor of Emanuel German Reformed Church at Baltimore, Maryland, at which place he remained three years, coming to New York in 1872.
THE GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF ST. PAUL IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Paul, of the Lutheran Ministerium of state of New York, a flourishing parish, was organized Angust 22, 1841, by Rev. F. W. Geissen- hainer, D. D., in a hall at No. 148 Eighth avenue, and there services were held for some time after the organization. The title taken then was the "German United Evangelical Lutheran Church of the City of New York." Jannary 4, 1842, the con- gregation purchased four lots one hundred by one hundred feet, on the corner of Sixth avenue and Fifteenth street for eight thousand and five hundred dollars and at once commenced to erect a small church. The cornerstone was laid October 17, 1842, and in December of the same year the church was dedi- cated. It was a small brick structure about forty by sixty feet, with a burying ground adjoining. Here the congregation wor- shiped for eighteen years. In 1860 the church was torn down and the erection of a stone church began on the same site, the congregation holding services during its completion in the ad- joining chapel of the Scotch Presbyterian Church.
The cornerstone of the second elmurch was laid July 9, 1860, and the church dedicated March 21, 1861. This edifice was erected at a cost of twenty-six thousand dollars, and was used by the congregation until 1897, when fifty by eighty feet of the property was sold for one hundred and ninety thousand dol- lars, and the site of the present church on Twenty-second street
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purchased. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in May, 1897, and the house dedicated February 13, 1898. The title was then changed to the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Paul in the City of New York. It is an imposing struc- ture of limestone, fireproof, and has a seating capacity of about six hundred and fifty. The communicant membership of the church is three hundred and fifty; services are held in the Ger- man language. Rev. F. W. Geissenhainer ministered to the congregation until 1879, when he was sneceeded by Rev. C. Hennicke, who remained for a few months and for over twenty- five years Rev. Leo Koenig has labored zealously and faith- fully for the spiritual welfare of this congregation.
Rev. Koenig was born in Frankford-on-the-Oder, Decem- ber 12, 1843, and acquired his college education in the Frederics gymnasium. He later studied law at the University of Halle and Berlin. He came to America in 1866, returning four years later to his native land, taking up the study of theology in the University of Erlangen. In 1872 he returned to this country and the same year was ordained to the ministry at Mt. Vernon, New York, and at once took charge of St. John's parish, at Yonkers, New York, then only in its infancy. While in charge there he purchased land and erected a handsome church. He remained there until 1877, when he was called to the pastorate of St. John's of Syracuse, New York, where he labored faith- fully for three years, and in 1880 was appointed pastor of St. Panl's.
DUTCH REFORMED EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The Dutch Reformed Evangelical Church, situated in East Houston street, in a neighborhood that is thickly populated by Germans, is one of the old churches of the city. This parish was organized January 3, 1836, by Rev. John Rudy, services
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being held in various places until 1841, when the present church was built. The church edifice is built of brick, and has a seating capacity of one thousand persons. The number of church mem- bers is about one hundred and thirty, and there is a Sunday school connected with the parish. The services are conducted throughont in the German language, as being that most readily understood by the majority of those attending them. Rev. John Rudy officiated as pastor until his death, which occurred in 1841, when Rev. John C. Guldin was called to the pastorate, and had charge until May, 1863, when he was succeeded by the pres- ent minister, Rev. Julius W. Geyer.
Rev. Julius W. Geyer was born in Prussia, Germany, July 7, 1836. He came to America with his parents at the age of ten years. Part of his education was acquired in Germany, and here he attended a preparatory school at New Brunswick, New Jersey; Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey; and studied theology in the seminary of the Dutch Reformed Church. He was ordained July 5, 1863, by the classis of New York, in the church of which he is now the pastor, and has had continuous charge for the past forty-three years. He is one of the oldest pastors still in active service in New York.
He married, June 30, 1868, in New York, Caroline Barth, and had nine children, three of whom are now living: 1. Harold C., a graduate of Columbia College and a practicing physician. 2. Julie, married William G. Houck. 3. Elsa L., wife of Oscar Honek.
BETHESDA SWEDISH EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
Bethesda Swedish Evangelical Church of New York was organized in 1879 by Rev. A. G. Princell, who at that time was the pastor of the Swedish Lutheran Church. The first pastor after the organization was Rev. A. Lidman. Services were held
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in a hall in the University building at Washington Square. He was in charge of the parish, assisted by Rev. Holmblad, until 1885, when he was succeeded by Rev. K. Ericson, of Moline, Illinois, who remained until his death in 1900. During his pas- torate he was assisted by Rev. J. A. Lindholm and J. A. Axel- son. A church was purchased at No. 240 East Forty-fifth street, in which services were held from May, 1891. After the death of Mr. Erieson, Rev. J. A. Axelson became pastor and remained until January, 1903. In 1902 the present edifice, for- merly a Jewish synagogne, was purchased for forty-five thon- sand dollars. It seats between five and six hundred. The membership of this society is about four hundred and thirty. A Young People's Society, organized in 1904 with twenty-five members, has at present date (1906) a membership of one hun- dred and forty. Among other societies is the Aid Society. The church is now supporting two missionaries, one in China and one in Africa. The church is in a very flourishing condition and its membership is steadly increasing. A branch of this church is located at Corow, Long Island, which has been at- tended by the same pastor, Rev. Ohlson, since 1903.
Rev. Karl F. Ohlson was born in Sweden, where he studied and prepared for the ministry. He came to Ameriea in 1888. was ordained the same year by the Congregational denomina- tion, and made pastor of the Swedish Congregational Church of Worcester, Massachusetts, where he remained for three and a half years. He was then appointed to the church at Brockton, Massachusetts, and labored there five years. His next pastorate was Brooklyn, New York, where for over three years he was the pastor of the Pilgrim Swedish Congregational Church. He next went to Chicago, Illinois, remained three years, and on account of ill health he returned to the east and again took up the work here. Bethesda is an entirely independent church, made up althosether of Swedish people.
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REV. CHARLES J. LAWTON.
Rev. Charles J. Lawton, ex-pastor of Macedonia Methodist Episcopal church, Flushing, Long Island, was born in Charles- ton, South Carolina, September 1, 1858.
He attended the public schools of his native town and Wall- ingford Academy. He removed to Missouri, 1872, and in Sep- tember of that year entered the State Normal School, from the normal department, and gradnated therefrom two years later. He matriculated in the Lincoln University in 1883, and was graduated from that institution in 1886 with the degree of S. T. B. Was ordained to the ministry at Lincoln University, Lin- coln, Pennsylvania, in the same year, and his first appointment as pastor was at Sumter, South Carolina. While he was in charge in that city, a period of one year, he erected a new church. He then ministered in Greensboro, North Carolina, for one year, then returned to Savannah, Missouri, where he taught in the public schools for two years, and served two years as principal of the high school in Independence, Missouri. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1896, and was ap- pointed pastor of the Pierce City and Neosho circuit, Missouri. This was for one year, and in the following year he was trans- ferred to the Kansas Conference and appointed pastor of Quin- daro Church, Quindaro, and at the same time received his ap- pointment as instructor in the Western University in Quindaro, teaching Hebrew and Latin. Here he remained for a period of two years, being then transferred to the Liberian Confer- ence on the west coast of Africa, where he was pastor of the Eliza Turner Memorial Chapel for eighteen months. He then returned to America, joining the New York Conference, and was appointed pastor of Macedonia Methodist Episcopal Church, Flushing, Long Island, where he remained in charge five years, until 1905. During his administration of affairs the
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present church was erected. He was greatly beloved and re- vered by his congregation, for his upright mode of life, his many aets of kindness and devotion to their interests and the excellence of his preaching.
CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE.
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the only Spanish church in New York, located at No. 229 West Fourteenth street, was founded in 1902, and was dedicated by Monsignor Mooney. This parish was established by the fathers without any funds whatever. During the four years they have been on Fourteenth street the building has been purchased and over $5,000 has been paid on it. The first mass was sung by Rev. Father Colton, now bishop of Buffalo, and a sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached by the present rector, Rev. Thomas Darbois. Previons to the establishment of this parish the Spanish Catholics heard mass in the basement of the Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier, on Sixteenth street, at which the Rev. Father Cardella, who died in 1900, assisted. The priests officiating for this congregation belong to the Augustinians of the Assumption Congregation or to the Assumptionist Fathers. Five masses are said on Sun- day, and the attendance is about six hundred persons. The present chapel is in a private residence, but it is their intention to build a church in the near future. During the year 1905-6 an addition of over fifty feet has been made to the building, thereby affording better seating accommodation for the parishioners, and it is the intention of the fathers to make still further im- provements from time to time. There are two Spanish speaking assistants: Rev. Adrian Buisson and Rev. Fulgence Morris. The number of Spanish speaking people in New York is between twenty and thirty thousand.
The present rector, Rev. Thomas Darbois, was born in Bur-
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gundy, France. He was educated principally in Spain, and studied philosophy and theology in Rome. He was ordained in Versailles, France, 1887, and previous to coming to America his life had been spent as a missionary in South America.
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.
Ebenezer Baptist Church, located in South Prince street, Flushing, Long Island, has for its present pastor Rev. James C. Brown, D. D. This congregation was organized in 1876 by Rev. Lamb, and for two years divine services were held in a dwelling house in Prince street, and then for nine years in a building known as "Boardman's Hall." They were able to purchase a little property in 1887, consisting of a lot twenty- eight by one hundred and ninety-seven feet, with a dwelling upon it. This building was remodeled for church purposes, and services were held there until Easter Sunday, April 23. 1905, at which time they took possession of the present church. Rev. Lamb was succeeded by Rev. W. R. Bowman, and he by Rev. Noah Abbott, who had as his successor Rev. M. L. Har- vey, and then the charge passed into the hands of the present pastor September 6, 1902. Since Rev. Brown has taken charge a mortgage of seventeen years' standing has been paid off, a lot twenty-five by one hundred feet, adjoining the land orig- inally purchased, has been bought, the old church building was removed to the rear of the property, and the present church erected. The new edifice is a frame structure, of attractive ex- terior and cheerful interior furnishings, forty by sixty-five feet in size, and with a seating capacity of four hundred and eighty- five persons. The membership now numbers two hundred and ten persons, an increase of one hundred and fifty since Rev. Brown became the incumbent. The average Sunday school at- tendance is about seventy-five, and the following societies are
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connected with the church: Willing Workers, Star of Beth- lehem, of which the wife of the pastor is president ; and Baptist Young People's Union. The parish is in a very flourishing and satisfactory condition. Within three years Rev. Brown raised $12,245, more than was raised in twenty-eight years by the for- mer pastors.
Rev. James C. Brown was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, where his early education was acquired in the public schools. His classical studies were pursued in the Virginia Seminary, and his theological courses were followed in Lynchburg Col- lege, Lynchburg, Virginia. The latter institution conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in October, 1905. He was ordained in Bolivar, West Virginia, June 26, 1900, and his first pastorate was in his native city. From thence he was transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained for one year and a half, and was then sent to Rockville, Maryland, to organize a parish in that city. He was there known as the evangelist of Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia. His labors in this district were productive of much good and his faithful work was continued successfully until he was called to his present incumbency. Here his zeal and activity are as usefully employed as they always have been, and he is greatly beloved by all the members of his congregation. He has their spiritual and worldly welfare at heart, and no sacrifice is seem- ingly too great to be made to achieve that end. He is an able and fluent speaker and is possessed of remarkable oratorical powers.
ST. JOACHIM'S ITALIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Joachim's Italian Roman Catholic Church is the center of one of the largest parishes in the city of New York, embrac- ing as it does about twenty thousand parishioners. The church
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has a seating capacity of fifteen hundred but in order to ac- commodate the large number who attend divine service in this edifice, it is necessary to have six masses said every Sunday, and the average attendance at each of these is about eight thou- sand. The average Sunday school attendance is one thousand. This church was formerly owned and used as a place of wor- ship by a Protestant congregation, and was purchased by the Congregation of St. Charles Borromeo, an Italian congrega- tion of missionary priests (founded by Bishop J. B. Scalabrini, of Piacenza, Italy, who have used it as their sanctuary since that time.
The founding of this flourishing parish dates back to 1887. The first resident rector, Father Vicentini, faithfully adminis- tered to the spiritual welfare of the parishioners in his charge im- til 1895. and then returned to his native land. He was succeeded by Rev. Father Strumia, who served in this position for two years, to be in his turn succeeded by Rev. O. Ohuissi, who ex- ereised a beneficial influence in the parish until 1904, and in July of that year was succeeded by the Rev. Giovan Pietro Sinopoli di Giunta, Missionario Apostolico. Rev. Father Sino- poli was a zealous, faithful worker in the cause of religion, and his influence was wide-spread and beneficial, as is attested by the higher moral tone of the community in which he was the guiding spirit.
Following is a list of the societies connected with the church; St. Joseph's, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Agnes, St. Anna, St. Vincenzo Martere, Saint Aloysius. There is also a social club called St. Joachim's Lyceum, which is connected with the church and has a membership of about sixty. There are two assistant rectors, Rev. Daniel D. Normo and Rev. Victor Cangiano.
art. buthowy
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THE ITALIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF POMPEIL.
This church is an excellent example of what earnest, en- thusiastic work in the field of religion can do. The parish was organized in 1891 by Rev. Father Bandini, who was the first rector. At this time mass was offered up in a small chapel in University Place, and this was continued for about four years. They then procured a place at No. 218 Sullivan street, which was the church home for about three years. In 1898 the present church was purchased, the building having been erected in 1836, and since that time it has been occupied as a place of wor- ship by the Italians residing in that section of the city. The church is a very imposing and roomy edifice with a seating capacity of nine hundred. The number of parishioners is about fifteen thousand, and the average Sunday school attendance is over one thousand. The parish is in a very flourishing con- dition. On Sunday there are five masses, and the average at- tendance at these is between seven and eight thousand people. In order to accommodate this exceedingly large number, the base- ment has to be taken into use as well as the main auditorium of the church. Rev. Father Bandini, the first rector of the church, was succeeded by Rev. Francis Zaboglio, who administered to the spiritual welfare of the parishioners for about one year, and was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. Father Demo, in 1899.
Rev. Father Demo, the present rector of the church, is a man of high ideals, and at the same time his ideas are not lack- ing in practical utility. Since he has undertaken to conduct the parish work there has been a remarkable change in the moral tone of that section of the city, and the number of his parishioners has greatly increased. He has a natural aptitude for making others adopt and further his own high-minded
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opinions. He has remodeled the entire interior of the church, erected new altars, put in a new organ, electric lights, steam heat, handsome stained glass windows, new roofing and floors, some beautiful paintings and various other improvements, al- together expending about fifteen thousand dollars to the greatest possible advantage. In October and November, of 1905, the Rev. Father Demo erected a handsome new Vestibule, designed by Mr. Vendrasco and lighted by electricity, thereby adding greatly to the appearance of the church, and to its seating capacity and comfort, at a cost of $900. The assistant rectors are Rev. Father Parolin and Rev. Joseph Quadranti.
The societies connected with the church are: St. Joseph's, Young Men's Catholic Club, Circolo of Our Lady of Pompeii, Holy Rosary, Children of Mary, Sacred Heart, Pia Union, and St. Louis, a club for boys. There is also connected with the church a sewing school for girls, which is under the charge of two Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
ST. ADALBERT'S POLISH ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Adalbert's Polish Roman Catholic Church, on East One Hundred and Fifty-sixth street, New York city, was founded in 1898 by Rev. Joseph Dworzak, D. D. Mass was held in a frame building, formerly used as a Protestant church, on Robins avenue, which was purchased by the parish and in which services were continued for two years. In 1900 the present church was ready for occupancy, when the old building was sold to an Italian congregation. The date of the corner stone laying of the new edifice was early in 1900, and it was dedicated the same year by Archbishop Corrigan. It is a handsome brick building, trimmed in terra cotta; its seating capacity is five hundred and fifty, its style of architecture is Gothic. It was erected under Father S. J. Noovok, who remained until July, 1902, and was
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succeeded by the present rector. The auxiliary societies to this church are: St. Joseph's Holy Name; Holy Rosary Society, Children of Mary; St. Caecilia Cadets; Young Men's Society. St. Adalbert's parochial school, in charge of the Felician Sis- ters, was built by the present pastor and it is the first in the Diocese. It was organized in September, 1904, beginning with an attendance of about eighty. Since he took charge of this parish, Father Kwasniewski has erected three handsome altars and a chime of bells, blessed in February, 1904, by Mgr. Joseph F. Mooney; also put in a new pipe organ, costing $3,000, he- sides many lesser improvements to the church property, in- eluding the purchase of three lots and houses situated in the rear of the church.
Father Kwasniewski was born in the western part of Prus- sia, May 26, 1876. He there received his primary education and college course, in part, and completed his course at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Farley. July 13, 1902, and took charge of the parish he is now serving, the same day. At that time there were but one hundred families, instead of three hundred as the parish now contains. The work he has accomplished for the parish has indeed been greatly blessed.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN MISSION.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission for Emigrants at No. 5 Water street, presided over by Rev. Axel B. Lilja, under the control of the Augustine Synod of the Lutheran Church of America, was first founded in 1873 by the Synod. Rev. P. J. Svard was the first pastor; he remained about three years and was succeeded by Rev. Fagelstrom, who had charge for about the same period of time and he was followed by Rev. A. Rodell, and in 1882 he was succeeded by the present Vol. IV-6
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pastor, Rev. Axel B. Lilja. At first the mission was located at Twenty-sixth street, and there remained until 1892. The building is a four-story brick structure, the first stories de- voted to offices, sitting room and chapel, together with a good dining room. The second floor is for the pastor's office and sleeping rooms; the third and fourth floors for sleeping rooms entirely. The building is modern throughout-heated and light- ed and ventilated after the most approved manner.
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