USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York > Part 69
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The village has a municipal plant for electric lighting, often referred to by electricians as a most valuable one with standard quality of machinery. It was put into operation in 1893. There are 60 are lights on a circuit 12 miles long and an incandescent dynamo that will furnish 820 of these lights.
The Crowell Clutch and Pulley Company commenced business July 1, 1889, as a stock company with a capital stock of $15,000, (increased to $25,000 in1 1890). It manufactures friction clutch pulleys and cut-off couplings, iron pulleys, couplings, hangers, pedestal boxes, etc., for power transmission. The friction clutch is the specialty. H. C. Crowell is its inventor. He was with the company until August 1891, when he connected himself with the Dunkirk Engineering company at Dunkirk. The company purchased and occupies the plant formerly the mowing machine factory of George P. York. Extensive repairs and additions have been made, and the plant is now a good and roomy machine-shop and foundry equipped with modern machinery. The company has fitted up many electric light and other large plants in the United States. The goods are well known, and the " clutch " is considered one of the best in the market. Forty operatives are employed. T. A. Thomas and B. B. Brown of Erie hold a controlling interest in the company. The officers are T. A. Thomas, president ; B. B. Brown, secretary and treas- urer ; D. W. Jull, superintendent ; E. L. Jones, draughtsman and mechanical engineer ; E. H. Dickerman, book-keeper.
The Westfield Water Works has now (1894) about 15 miles or mains of which about 12 miles are for service. 100 double fire hydrants are in use giving a fire pressure of from 90 to 100 pounds pressure to the square inch . at the hydrants. The gravity system is used, taking the water through a 12-inch pipe from the filters in the rockbed of Chautauqua creek at a point about 250 feet higher than Main street-an intermediate filter and a 40-foot diameter reservoir on the main (12-inch) line from the creekbed to the vil-
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lage are in use. The surplus water over that being used is carried to a res- ervoir, with capacity for several weeks use, through a main 16 inches in diameter beginning at the reservoir, thus giving a 12-inch main from the sinall reservoir and continuous flow-inain from the creek, and a 16-inch main from the large reservoir, thus giving for fire purposes a supply of water for a large number of fire streams at full pressure. The debt incurred to the present is $80,000, with quite an amount in the treasury for extensions. The members of the water board have been : Henry C. Kingsbury, Reuben G. Wright, John Ard, Hon. S. Fred Nixon, Frank R. Mosher, Samuel C. Crandall, A. A. Comstock, A. E. Pierce, George W. Patterson. George W. Patterson has been the president of the board, the engineer of the work, and the acting superintendent since the organization of the board of water com- missioners in 1888.
CHAPTER LV.
W ESTFIELD village was incorporated April 19, 1833. Business was early drawn toward the east side of the creek, and the commercial interests located in the same small district occupied today. The log tavern came first. Thomas Mcclintock built one on the northeast corner of Main and Portage streets in 1807 or 1808. He sold it in 1811 to Jonathan Cass, who later built a store and engaged in trade on or near the stone store. James McClurg was an important factor in the making of the village. Before and after the war of 1812 he was in trade, and built near the " park " the first frame build- ing of the town as his place of business. He erected several business blocks the Westfield House* and dwellings, and bought and laid out in village lots the David Eason farm. Thomas B. Campbell, who developed a beautiful home half a mile south of the village nucleus, united his labors with McClurg in bringing business here. Both were leading men and their influence told largely in the formative stage of the village. The locality first occupied along Main and North Portage streets, is still the commercial portion of the village, although the resident portion stretches over nearly a mile square. Here the bank, the churches, the post, express, telegraph and printing offices, the various stores, shops and business offices are located, while the resident por- tion presents street after street of lovely residences and shady drives, not laid out in geometrical regularity but with picturesque attractiveness, "winding along as old roads will," with turn after turn of beauty. It is acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful villages in Western New York, and with its
*This was built in 1820, and burned with other buildings on the west side of North Portage street, July 2, 1884, as were three stores in the McClurg block on the west side of South Portage street.
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
handsome churches, its splendid school building and facilities, its water- works, its gas and electric light systems it possesses many features to make life most enjoyable. Westfield is also to have an elegant free public library, and it is now in process of erection by George W. Patterson, whose sister, Miss Hannalı Patterson, left a magnificent testimonial of her regard for the people of Westfield in the bequest of $100,000 to be expended in the erection and maintenance of a free public library to be known as " Patterson Memo- rial Library " in memory of her honored parents.
The Presbyterian Church .*- We find on record : " In 1808 a church is reported to have been formed in this place by the Rev. John Lindsley under the name of Chautauqua church and attached to the Presbytery of Erie (all the records of which until November 7, 1817, have been lost) and has been but poorly and irregularly supplied with preaching down to the same date when it became worse than extinct. God having lately in a remarkable manner revived his work within its bounds, it was deemed expedient to examine into its state, and, if found to have a real existence, to correct and restore its discipline." However in 1817 efforts were made for its revival. On the 25th of June was formed, in pursuance of a general law of the state, the " First Presbyterian Society in the 4th township, 14th range, in the county of Chautauqua." Eber Stone, Jas. Montgomery, Nathaniel Bird, David Higgins, Win. M. Riddell, and Jonathan Harmon were elected trustees ; Jon- atlan Cass, clerk ; Calvin E. Macomber, treasurer ; Fenn Deming, collector. The members resided in Portland and Ripley." Nov. 7th, 1817, a session was formed of Rev. Johnston Eaton, Rev. Phineas Camp, Jas. Montgomery, and Thomas Robinson, and the following is a copy of their minutes : "Hav- ing endeavored, after much deliberation on the subject, to correct its dis- orders in part, and re-build the Presbyterian church in this place, we resolved to consider as united in church fellowship these original members, they being previously examined : James Montgomery, Sarah Montgomery, Sarah McMahan, Eleanor Bell, Charlotte Parker and Anna Andrews ; also to admit on examination and certificate these persons as additional members to church and communion : Martha Royce, Harriet Peck, Joel Loomis, Jennet Stet- son, Alexander Lowry, Judith Talcott, Eber Stone, Betsey Stone, John Fay, Joli Gibson, Eleanor Gibson, and Hannah Bird. Admitted on examination only: Robert Cochran, Jr., Achsah Nichols, Elizabeth Stephens, Lydia Bandel, Daniel Andrews, Anna Hale, Medad W. Merrill, Ann Riddell, Polly Shipsboy, Nancy Shipsboy, Joseph Foster, Belinda Foster, Hetty Guile, Hugh Cochran, Sarah Perry, Hannah Fowler, Nancy Cochran, Jane Cochran, Bet- sey House, Olive Price, Polly Harris, and Julia Bird. On Sabbath following, Nov. roth, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered by the Rev. Johnston Eaton, and the Rev. Phineas Camp." In Young's History is
* By R. M. Matcer.
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WESTFIELD.
recorded " A meeting-house was built in 1821 or 1822 on South Portage St., near the site of the present residence of Alfred Patterson. It was subse- quently sold for a dwelling and removed to Pearl street, near the residence of the late Geo. W. Holt." The second church edifice was a brick structure on the site of the present one; was erected in 1832 and burned April 13, 1872. The erection of a new church was commenced in June 1873 and com- pleted in October 1874 at a cost of $35,000. The trustees of the society at the time of its erection were Dr. Thomas D. Strong, Hon. Joseph H. Plumb, Henry C. Kingsbury, James Jolinston, Reuben G. Wright, and George W. Patterson. This church was burned Sunday morning January 13, 1878. The present church building, similar in structure to the last one, was com- mienced immediately and completed at a cost of $30,000, and dedicated Feb- ruary 27, 1879. The trustees of the society who had the supervision of the work were J. H. Plumb, R. G. Wright, E. A. Skinner, H. C. Kingsbury, and S. W. Mason, and they with Dr. F. B. Brewer, Alfred Patterson, and L. F. Phelps constituted the building committee.
From the session records we find that : "Ripley, November 7, 1818. The session of this church met and for the first time regularly constituted. Mem- bers present : Jas. Montgomery, Wm. Bandel, elders ; Rev. P. Camp officiat- ing as moderator. The first annual report to presbytery covered the year from April 1, 1832. It showed added on certificate 15; dismissed 12; total communicants 124; infants baptized 23 ; amount raised for foreign missions $73; general assembly tax $8.33.
The settled ministers of the church since its reorganization in 1817 have been as follows : April 4, 1819, Rev. Phineas Camp commenced his labors. September 2, 1821, he preached his farewell sermon after which the church remained destitute of regular preaching for two years and two months. The last Sabbath of October, 1823, Rev. Isaac Oaks came as a candidate, and, August 11, 1824, he was duly installed. His pastorate closed June, 1831. From this time until 1833, Rev. Samuel G. Orton acted as moderator of the session ; Rev. D. D. Gregory, 1833 to September 3, 1839; Rev. F. M. Hop- kins, February 10, 1840, to August 10, 1845; Rev. Reuben Tinker, October 1, 1845 ; lie died October 26, 1854 ; Rev. Chas. F. Mussey, May 6, 1855, to November 13, 1861 ; Rev. Jas. B. Fisher, January 4, 1862, to March 1864; Rev. Robert S. Van Cleve, October 1866, to June 1869; Rev. E. P. Miner, July 1, 1871, to August 10, 1873; Rev. R. S. Green, September 1, 1873, to June 1877 ; Rev. C. S. Stowits, November 25, 1877, to March 24, 1883 ; Rev. W. F. Faber, November 1, 1883, to November 27, 1892. The present pas -. tor is Rev. G. S. Swezey ; pastorate began April 1, 1893.
The office of ruling elder has been held by Jas. Montgomery, Thos. Robinson, William Bandell, Eber Stone, Medad W. Merrill, Hiram Couch, David Bucher, John Fay, Asahel Woodruff, William W. Cowden, Joel Brad-
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586
HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
ley, Silas Kidder, Chas. J. J. Ingersoll, James Crosgrove, S. H. Hungerford, Asa Hall, Jno. Johnston, Jno. C. Long, Joseph H. Hall, Robert M. Hall, Joseph Northrop, Jasper Harrington, James Johnston, Robert H. Thompson, D. A. A. Nichols, Charles P. Skinner, William H. Cochrane, Lester Stone, J. H. Plumb, F. A. Hall, E. A. Skinner, H. W. Thompson, and R. M. Mateer-the last six named are active members of session. There are six deacons : J. A. Skinner, W. R. Douglas, H. W. Blowers, D. K. Falvay, Grant S. Flagler, and J. M. Mateer. Elders and deacons are divided into three classes each ; the officers of one class cease at the end of each year unless re-appointed. Church membership 365. Sabbath school member- ship 150. F. B. Brewer, superintendent, Miss Clara H. Skinner, assistant superintendent.
Rev. Reuben Tinker was born August 6, 1799, in Chester, Mass. After completing his theological studies he married Mary I., daughter of Nathan and Mary (Tracy) Wood, of Chester, in November, 1830, and in December sailed from New Bedford, Mass., for the Sandwich Islands in a whaling ves- sel ; but encountering disastrous hindrances they did not reach Honolulu until June, 1831. After laboring here for nearly ten years in Christ's cause, Mr. and Mrs. Tinker, with five children, returned to the United States in 1841. They passed four years in Madison, Ohio, and in October, 1845, Mr. Tinker was called to this church and was its faithful and conscientious pastor until his death in October, 1854. Mr. Tinker ranked high as a scholar ; his com- mand of language was unusual, his sermons were eloquent and left a strong impress upon the mind of his hearers. His estimable companion, helpmeet and co-worker yet resides in Westfield, having had her home here for nearly 50 years, and is now (1893) eighty four years of age.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Westfield* was organized in 1831. It was composed of Brainard Spencer and wife, Joseph Clark and wife, Reuben Peck and wife and others. Reuben Peck was class-leader, and the charge embraced what was then called the Chautauqua circuit. Rev. Gleason Fillmore was presiding elder, Rev. M. Hatton, preacher in charge, Rev. Benjamin P. Hill, assistant. The society continued toincrease in numbers until a church building of very respectable proportions was erected in 1830 on Main street on the west side of the creek where it still remains being occupied as a dwelling. This churchwas the scene of many glorious revivals such as were characteristic of the early history of Methodism, and was occupied until 1850, when a second church was erected more modern in style and more favorable as to location and all its appointments. This building was located on Clinton street near North Portage street. It had a basement story for Sunday school and class meetings, and like the former was occupied for a period of 20 years, when the society and congregation having outgrown its capacity began to look
*By P. W. Bemis.
1)
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WESTFIELD.
about for a new location, and in 1871 and 1872 a third church was erected on Main street. This was built of brick at a cost of about $30,000, and was in every way creditable to the zeal and devotion of those who were its projec- tors. The building committee were Dr. J. C. Gifford, W. T. Hynes, Oris Persons and J. H. Towle who were also trustees of the church at that time.
The erection of this building cost the society a severe struggle and left them somewhat embarrassed with debt and this burden was increased by the financial crisis of those times, but in the year of 1878, through the herculean labors of Rev. R. W. Scott who was pastor at that time, the last of this bur- den was lifted and the church was well established in its new location which will furnish the society with a pleasant home for years to come and long remain as a monument to the wisdom and benevolence of its founders. The church lot extends from Main to Clinton streets and directly in the rear of the church, fronting Clinton street, is a comfortable parsonage valued at $1,500. During these years among the leading members who were active in the work of the church and contributed largely to its growth, were Reuben Peck, Hoel Beadle, Harvey Peck, Oris Persons, Thomas M. Knight, Elnathan Bristol, J. H. Lucas, Cyrus Woodard, J. C. Gifford, Eber Abell, W. T. Hynes and many others.
The church membership in 1893 was 237. Official list : Presiding Elder, Rev. J. C. Scofield ; Present Pastor, Rev. P. P. Pinney ; Superannu- ated, Rev. L. A. Chapin ; Local Preachers, Cyrus Woodard, Nathaniel Fay ; Class Leaders, J. F. Rickenbrode, P. W. Bemis, J. R. Fay, F. B. Lamb, A. H. Harris, Jerome Burhans, W. B. Barton, Melvin Johnson, Joseph Macer, Andrew Kelsey, John Herron, James La Flamboy. Trustees, J. R. Fay, A. H. Harris, P. W. Bemis, Andrew Kelsey, H. S. Kidder, G. F. Dickson. Stewards, A. H. Harris, J. C. Gifford, J. R. Rogers, Cyrus House, Edwin Hager, J. W. Felton, W. W. Mead, Lillian Chapman, Myrtie Jones, Esther Macomber, Candace Sherman, Harvey Peck. Sunday-school Superintendent, Jolin R. Rogers ; President of Epworth League, John R. Fay; Exhorters, P. W. Bemis, George E. Bailey.
The list of Pastors from 1832 is : '32, 'T. Stowe, A. McCammon ; '33, F. A. Dighton, D. Williams ; '34, C. Brown, S. W. Parks ; '35, D. Preston, J. O. Rich ; '36, W. Todd, M. Crows ; '37, L. Rogers, W. Hunter ; '38, L. Rogers, Moses Hill ; '39-40, D. Smith ; '40-41, J. E. Chapin ; '42, C. R. Chapman ; '43, A. Hall ; '44, J. Prosser, H. W. Beers ; '45, J. Prosser ; '46, T. D. Blinn ; '47-48, A. G. Miller ; '49-50, J. H. Whallon ; '51-52, H. W. Beers ; '53, J. O. Rich ; '54-55, W. P. Bignell ; '56-57, E. A. Johnson ; '58, J. R. Lyon ; '59-60, R. M. Warren ; '61-62, A. D. Morton ; '63-64, E. J. L. Baker ; `65-66-67, G. W. Clark ; '68-69, C. R. Pattee ; '70, J. E. Chapin ; '71-72-73, J. C. Scofield ; '74, W. H. Seeley ; '75-76, J. H. Herron ; '77-78, R. W. Scott ; '79-So, N. HI. Holmes ; 'S1-82-83, J. H. Bates ; '84, J. E. Chapin ; '85-86, P. A. Reno;
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HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
'87-88, W. P. Graham ; '89, H. M. Burns ; '90-91-92, S. H. Brather ; '93, P. P. Pinney.
'The organization of the Sunday school must have been as early as 1830. Among the first superintendents was Harvey Peck who held that office nearly 20 years. Among his successors were C. P. Graves, Levi Miller, W. B. Bar- ton, P. W. Bemis, John Herron, William Barden, Jolm R. Fay and John P. Rogers the present (1893) superintendent. Number of officers and teachers are 21 ; scholars, 171.
Young in his history says that a Methodis: class was formed about 1837 or 1838, at a log school house near Isaac Porter's. The members were : Rand Miles, (class leader,) Robert Hill, Alanson Jones, and their wives, Rebecca Wheeler, Deborah Harmon. Nicholas Jones and wife, and Laban Jones joined soon after. The place of meeting was afterwards fixed at How- ard's Corners. A meeting house was built in 1852. The minister present at the formation of the class is believed to have been Darius Smith.
The Baptist Church had its origin in a " Branch," so called, of the Bap- tist church of Portland. September 16, 1825, the members residing at and in the vicinity of the Cross Roads, organized a " Branch of the Church of Portland." Joshua Tinker was chosen a deacon, and Joshua Tinker, Jr., clerk. Among the original members were Joshua, Joshmua Jr., and Henry F. Tinker, Harriet Tinker, Sally Sexton, and soon after, David and Persis Hall. Charles La Hatt, of the church of Portland, was for many years minister of both the branch and the parent church. With a view to the organization of an independent church, members of the branch, April 17, 1831, asked for a dismission from the parent church, and it was granted. May 10, 1831, a council of delegates declared it expedient to receive the new church into fellowship. The organization of the First Baptist Society under the general statute of the state was effected in January, 1855. The first trustees were John Wilson, John R. Walker, and Anstin Smith. 1852, July 24, the First Baptist church of Christ in Westfield convened ; chose Elder Ira C. Stoddard, moderator, Deacon William Sexton and John Wilson delegates to the associa- tion, and voted to call Elder Levant Rathbim to become pastor. He came here in October, 1852. January 1, 1853, there were 38 members. 1855, April 10, Elder Rathbun asked for dismissal which was granted, and it was voted to give Rev. C. B. Keyes a pastoral call ; he became pastor at once. September 1, 1855, three new deacons, Samuel Coddington, David Hall, and Nicholas Kesslar were elected. February 23, 1850, Rev. Emerson Mills was called to become pastor for one year from April 10, with salary of $500 to $550. He accepted, and continued with the church until April, 1858. 1858, July 25, voted " that the church give Elder J. C. Drake a call to become our pastor with a salary of $600 per year and to remain our pastor until in the providence of God it should be evident that such relations should
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cease." He assumed his duties in the fall and remained until August 1861, when his patriotism moved him to arms in the defence of his country. Col- onel Drake was mortally wounded at Cold Harbor. The church prospered during his pastorate, and in 1860 the membership was 113. Rev. Oscar E. Mallory became pastor January 8, 1862 ; he resigned August 5, 1865. Rev. Lyman J. Fisher served the church from October, 1866, until October, 1871 ; many united with the church by baptism and letter during this time. He was succeeded by Rev. Hollis S. Westgate in May, 1872. His successor was Rev. W. Dunbar who came January, 1874. A parsonage was bought at this time. 1876, February 23, Rev. James P. Thoms was installed pastor. 1878, March, the West Portland clinch becomes a branch of the Westfield church. Mr. Thoms resigned December 15, 1878. Rev. C. A. Babcock served one year from October, 1880. Rev. J. H. Marsh was pastor from 1881 to March, 1883. Rev. A. E. Rose was pastor from October 20, 1883, until April 12, 1885. 1884, W. O. Sawin and S. Skinner were chosen deacons. Rev. A. M. Tennant served the church from April, 1885, until June, 1891. February, IS86, the church voted " to use unfermented wine in partaking of the Lord's Supper." 1886, J. S. Fosdick and Horace Hale were re-elected deacons. 1891, J. S. Fosdick and G. M. Rykert were chosen deacons. Mr. Tennant's successor was Rev. C. C. Haskell. Deacon Fosdick died May 19, 1892. 1893, September 10, Rev. B. R. Mallory was settled as pastor for one year. The membership of church in November, 1893, was 101 as given by G. W. Sawin, church clerk.
St Peters Church, (Episcopal,) was organized January 20, 1830. Its first rector was the Rev. Rufus Murray, who resigned on August 13, 1835. A church building of brick was built and consecrated by Bishop Onderdonk August 22, 1833. 2nd Rector, Rev. Nathaniel Huse ; began June 12, 1836 ; ended some time in 1839. 3d Rector, Rev. Charles B. Steret ; began July 27, 1841 ; resigned March 18, 1844. 4th, Rev. Charles Arey ; began Septem- ber 19, 1847 ; resigned April 10, 1849. 5th, Rev. Edmund Roberts, a supply. 6th, Rev. J. B. Pratt ; began August 18, 1850 ; resigned September 2, 1852. 7th, Rev. Charles Haskell ; death called him away after a residence of only two months. 8th, Rev. Albert Wood ; began May 14, 1854 ; resigned Oct- ober 11, 1857. 9th, Rev. Francis Granger ; began June 20, 1858; resigned November 10, 1862. roth, Rev. Sidney Wilbur ; began June, 1863 ; resigned November, 1865. 11th, Rev. Elijah W. Hager ; began March 5, 1866; resigned August 19, 1867. 12th, Rev. J. Wainwright Ray; began Novem- ber 29, 1868; resigned December 1871. 13, Rev. W. Van Gantzhorn ; began February 1872 ; resigned same year. 14th, Rev. Jno. S. Seibold ; began February 1873 ; resigned October 1874. 15th, Rev. Jno. A. Dooris ; began November 21, 1875; resigned July 1880. 16th, Rev. Charles W. Hayes ; began August 1880; resigned March 1893. 17th, Rev. James McKinney ; began April 16th, 1893 ; present incumbent.
590
HISTORY OF CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N. Y.
" The First Universalist Church was organized in 1833 at Haight's Cor- ners, Rev. Linus Payne officiating. Among the constituent members were Larkin Harrington, John Nye, Ebenezer Patterson, Alvah Adams, Ebenezer Poor, Fayette Dickson, with their wives, Hannah Houghton, Lucretia Adams, Mrs. Betsey Bickford. A church edifice was erected in 1842. The first pastor was Nathaniel Stacy."
German Evangelical St. Peter's Church .- The first services were held in a public school house on Union St., in 1861, conducted by Rev. J. Blass of Erie, Pa. May 4, 1862, the following men united in the first German con- gregation : John Schwartz, Ch. Brandt, Aug. Borig, J. Specht, Chr. Nien- kirchen, Dan Kastner, Fred Peters, Fred Arnemann, Fr. Schwartz, Bernh Eberle, Ard Gresler, J. Borniger, H. Arnemann, G. Kastner, Dan Wettlin, Ch. Reinhardt ; Rev. H. Koehler being the minister from 1861 to 1863. Jolin Schwartz is still a member of the congregation. In 1863 a school- house on Chestnut street was bought by the congregation for $660, where services were held by Rev. L. Witt, O. Schroeder, W. Fromm and C. Rumpf. During the pastorate of the latter the schoolhouse was moved away and a church was built in 1878 at a cost of $1,600. In the same year (1878) Rev. C. Rumpf left this place and was succeeded by Rev. A. Finck, who remained here until 1881. His successor was Rev. H. Kraemer. In 1882 an annex to the church for school purposes was built. Rev. Kraemer left in 1883 and his successors were Rev. Val. Crusius 1883-4, W. Wagner 1884-5, V. Crusius 1886-88, Theo. F. John 1888-92. In 1891 the congregation bought a parson- age for $1,600. In 1892 Rev. P. Sperka, the present pastor, took charge of the church. The 25th anniversary of the church was celebrated May 4th, 1877, several ministers of English and German congregations taking part. The Evangelical St. Peter's church is still the only German church in this place; the membership reaches about So families, consisting of people from Mecklenburg, Pommere, West Prussia, and Wurtemberg. In the last twenty years 249 children have been baptized, 127 confirmed, 63 couples married, 71 people buried and nearly 3,000 have partaken of the Holy Communion. The Sunday school is visited by about 90 children, that are instructed by 9 teachers. The S. S. library is used very frequently. A Ladies Society of 35 members is of great help to the church. The St. Peter's church is a member of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, a body that consists of 765 ministers and 978 congregations.
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