USA > New York > Erie County > Our county and its people : a descriptive work on Erie County, New York, Volume I > Part 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101
78
618
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
chial school is connected with the church and in 1866 a parsonage was built.
The United Evangelical St. Trinitatis church was formed in the fall of 1882, and a lot of land purchased on the east side of Gold street, near Ludington. On this a chapel was built. The congregation was incorporated in the summer of 1883. In August of that year Rev. H. A. Kraemer was called from Westfield and has since ministered to the church. To accommodate the growing congregation a new house of worship was built near the same site in 1887, and the old building was converted into a parochial school.
St. Paul's Church of the Evangelical Association was formed in 1874 through the efforts of Rev. M. Lauer, later editor and publisher of the Christliche Botschafter, in Cleveland. The first regular pastor of this congregation was Rev. Adam Bornheimer. The church was incorpo- rated in 1875. The church edifice and parsonage are situated on Grape street, near Virginia. The society is prosperous and active and has several societies connected with it.
The Evangelical Reformed Emmanuel church was organized in 1883, through the efforts of the late Dr. J. B. Kniest. A church site on the corner of Humboldt Parkway and East Utica street was donated by Henry Heinrich and a chapel at once erected; this was occupied until 1896, when the present brick edifice was erected on the same lot. Rev. Jacob Stoerer was the first and is present pastor.
The Evangelical Lutheran Concordia church was organized in the eastern part of the city, as the result of mission work done there in 1891, under direction of Rev. J. Brezing. The first Sunday school was opened in Rochevot's Hall and was well attended. In June of that year a number of men who were ready to form a congregation pur- chased the present church property on Northampton street, near Jef- ferson, and a chapel was at once erected. The first pastor was Rev. Ernst F. Bachmann, who still continues in the office. The congrega- tion was incorporated July 21, 1892. Since March, 1893, an English as well as a German Sunday school has been maintained.
In 1873 Rev. Mr. Schornstein, who was acting as substitute over the St. Paul's congregation during the absence of the regular pastor, with- drew from that church and formed the German United Evangelical St. Marcus church. Services were held at first in a small church on . the corner of Tupper and Ellicott streets. Mr. Schornstein was suc- ceeded in 1875 by Rev. G. A. Zimmerman, under whose administration
619
THE GERMANS OF ERIE COUNTY.
the new edifice was erected at 393 Oak street. The congregation is thoroughly German, and that language is used in the services and the several connected institutions.
The First Evangelical Lutheran Trinity church (Unaltered Augs- burg Confession) was organized by Lutheran immigrant families from Silesia in 1839, and in 1841 Rev. E. M. Buerger was called to the pas- torate. In 1842 a lot on the corner of William and Milnor streets was purchased and a brick edifice erected. In 1867-68 the new church on Michigan street, between Sycamore and Genesee, was built, and the parochial school was taught in the old church until 1873, when a new school house was erected on Michigan, near Genesee street. From this congregation have sprung a number of missions which have greatly prospered. The first, the Emmaus congregation, in 1888, grew rapidly and the valuable church property on Southampton street, near Jefferson, testifies to its success. A second field was in the vicinity of Concordia Cemetery on Walden avenue, where a place of worship was rented and regular services held. The Gethsemane con- gregation was organized, a church and school room built on Goodyear avenue, near Genesee, and Rev. George Bartling installed. On Leroy avenue, near Fillmore, is a prosperous mission (Tabor) of this de- nomination and a handsome chapel has been built. In the Calvary church, on the corner of Dodge and Ellicott streets, the gospel is preached in the English language to the younger members of the mother congregation who do not speak German. On September 1, 1889, the First Lutheran Trinity church celebrated the fiftieth anniver- sary of its organization, on which occasion the venerable Rev. Emer. Buerger, then eighty-three years old, preached a sermon; it was his last; he died March 22, 1890.
The founder of the Lutheran Trinity church was Rev. J. A. Grabau, whose coming to Buffalo in 1839 with a large number of Lutherans from Prussia has been mentioned. No sooner had they reached their destination than they began holding religious services, and a lot was soon purchased on the corner of Goodell and Maple streets. The so- ciety was incorporated in December, 1839, and in June, 1840, the new church was consecrated there and is still in use. In 1845 Rev. Mr. Grabau and others holding his views organized the Synod of Buffalo. In 1858 the German Evangelical Lutheran St. Andrew's congregation organized as a branch from the older society. In December of the same year the late S. V. R. Watson gave this church a lot on the
620
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
corner of Sherman and Peckham streets, where the present edifice was at once erected. The school house connected with the church was built in 1871.
There are three German Baptist churches in Buffalo. The first was organized by the noted evangelist, Alexander von Puttkammer, in 1849, services being held in a school house at 41 Spruce street, on the site of the present handsome church; this was erected during the pastorate of Rev. I. P. Grimmel. The Second Baptist church was organized in 1859, under Rev. Edward Gruetzner, and in the following year a house of worship was built on Hickory street, near Genesee. A third Baptist society was founded in 1875 and holds meetings in the mission chapel, corner of High and Mulberry streets.
The First German Methodist church was formed in 1846 by John Sauter, and in 1847 a house of worship was erected on the corner of Sycamore and Ash streets. The present edifice at 149 Mortimer street was built in 1871.
The German Episcopal Methodist church was founded in 1852, by Rev. Johann Swahlen. In 1867, under the pastorate of Rev. F. W. Hoppemann, the society built an edifice on East street, between Ham- ilton and Austin, at a cost, including the lot, of $3,580; this building was struck by lightning in August, 1890, and in 1891 the present church was erected on the same site.
There are a number of prosperous German Catholic churches in and near Buffalo, one of the oldest of which is St. Mary's, which celebrated its golden jubilee May 13-15, 1894. In 1833 Rev. Benedict Bayer, superior of the Redemptorists in Rochester, made an effort to collect a few German Catholics who withdrew from St. Louis church for the purpose of forming a new parish. Services were first held in St. Patrick's church, which stood on the corner of Ellicott and Batavia (now Broadway) streets, and in 1843-44 an edifice was dedicated by Rev. M. Alig. In 1845 a parochial school was opened, a residence for the Redemptorist Fathers erected, and Rev. Benedict Bayer appointed first superior. In 1849 the Sisters of Notre Dame took charge of the school and in 1858 a new parsonage was built; on December 18, 1861, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis came from near Philadelphia and opened an asylum for aged and infirm people on Pine street, near Broadway, which is still conducted by them. On October 17, 1847, Bishop Timon laid the corner stone of the present stone church edifice, which was consecrated July 28, 1850, to St. Mary of the Immaculate
621
THE GERMANS OF ERIE COUNTY.
Conception. This parish has always been in charge of the Redemptorist Fathers and is one of the largest in the diocese of Buffalo. The present parochial school house was dedicated November 21, 1875.
St. Boniface German Catholic church was organized by a few Ger- man families living in the vicinity of Mulberry street in 1849. Two lots on that street, near Carlton, were purchased and a frame edifice at once erected. On the 15th of May, 1849, Rev. Father Kunze held the first services in the church. The congregation then included about forty families. A parsonage and a school house were completed in 1850, and in the next year the church was enlarged. In 1856 still larger accom- modations were needed and a commodious brick edifice was built on the old site. In 1861 a large brick school house was erected, which has since been enlarged and improved.
St. Francis Xavier church was founded in 1849, and on the 2d of De- cember of that year the first service was held in a small building on Amherst street, near East, by Rev. Franz Guth. In 1852 a brick edi- fice was erected at 157 East street, to which an addition was soon made. The edifice was still further enlarged in 1877, a handsome tower built and a chime of bells hung. In 1871 the Sisters of St. Joseph estab- lished a school with three teachers in a large and handsome brick build- ing, which is still maintained by them.
St. Joseph's church first worshiped in a little frame edifice which the congregation erected on Main street about 1849; this was used until 1893, when the present handsome structure, near the county almshouse, together with a rectory, was built. The parish comprises sixty-five families and maintains a parochial school, which is in charge of three nuns of the Order of St. Joseph.
St. Michael's church was organized in June, 1851, by about twenty families. The first pastor was Rev. T. L. Caveng, S. J. The corner stone of the first church edifice was laid August 20, 1851. The new and imposing stone church at 651 Washington street was dedicated in June, 1867. A large parochial school is connected with the church. The parish is in charge of the Jesuit Fathers.
St. Ann's church was founded in 1858, with Rev. I. B. Huss, S. J., as the first pastor. Work was at once begun on a church edifice, which was dedicated June 20 of that year. A school house was built in connec- tion, which was superseded in 1863 by one of larger dimensions. In 1872 Rev. William Becker, S. J., aroused the congregation to enthusi- asm regarding the erection of a new edifice. Funds were collected and
622
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
in 1873 such progress had been made that the building of the present magnificent structure on the corner of Broadway and Emslie street (where the old building stood) was commenced. The church is 225 feet in length and 122 feet wide and is one of the finest in the State. The school building, 340 feet long and 73 wide, in the rear of the church, was built in 1896.
St. Vincent's church was organized in 1864 at Cold Spring by about forty families. The first pastor was Rev. J. Sorg. A church was built on Main street, near Humboldt Parkway, which has been greatly im- proved to its present condition. A school is maintained by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
The Church of the Seven Dolors was established in 1871 by Rev. Father Gundelach, the first pastor, and in 1872 a house of worship was erected on Genesee street, near Fillmore avenue. To accommodate the growing congregation the present church edifice was built on the corner of Rich and Genesee streets; it is of stone, and is a splendid specimen of church architecture. The parochial school house con- nected with the church was built in 1895.
St. Nicholas church was formed in 1874 with fifty members and Rev. V. Velten, the first pastor. A church edifice was erected on Glen- wood avenue near Jefferson street, which was subsequently superseded by the present fine building on the corner of East Utica and Walker streets. A prosperpous parochial school is maintained.
The Church of the Sacred Heart was organized in 1875, with about thirty families, the first pastor being Rev. Chrysostomus Wagner. The present church edifice on Seneca street, near Emslie, was built the same year. A parochial school has been connected with the parish from the first.
St. Agnes's church, in East Buffalo, has a brick edifice on Benzin- ger street and a school which is in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis.
The Chapel of Our Lady Help of Christians, although within the limits of Cheektowaga, may properly be noticed here. It was founded chiefly through the gift of Joseph Batt, sr., to the bishop, of three acres of land for church and school purposes, in 1851. A frame school house was erected that year, and a chapel in 1853. The new parson- sonage was built in 1891. Through efforts of the present rector, Rev. F. X. Scherer, a spacious school house and a large convent have been erected. The latter is occupied by the order of St. Francis, who are teachers of the parochial school.
623
THE GERMANS OF ERIE COUNTY.
Besides the foregoing, there are several churches in Buffalo which were founded wholly or partly by Germans, or whose congregations are largely composed of these people. The Evangelical Reformed Salem's church was organized August 31, 1873, and erected its present edifice at 413 Sherman street in 1874. Of the German Lutheran churches there are Christ's, corner of Broadway and Fox street ; Grace, corner of Carlton and Rose streets; Immanuel, at 1194 Lovejoy street; Redeemer, on Doat street, near Bailey avenue; and St. Paul's, on Sco- ville avenue, near Clinton street. Of the German Evangelical churches there are Jerusalem's, on Miller avenue; St. Paul's, on Duerstein ave- nue; Bethania, on Eaton street, near Jefferson; Bethlehem, on Genesee street and Parade avenue; Jacobus, at the corner of Jefferson and High; and Salem, on Calumet place, corner of Garfield street.
In the county outside of Buffalo there are also a number of German churches, many of which maintain flourishing parochial schools. Brief notices of these will be found in the respective town chapters.
The devotion of the German people to music is well understood, and among the more than a score of societies for the cultivation and prac- tice of vocal and instrumental music in Buffalo there are several that deserve more than casual mention. The oldest German musical organ- ization in the city is the Liedertafel, which was formed in 1848, with the following first officers: H. Wiser, president; F. Albrecht, secre- tary; C. Huis, treasurer; A. Wunderlin, librarian. John Dossert was the first musical director. In 1853 the Liederkraenzchen was organ- ized as an independent society, and from this society sprang in April, 1855, the Buffalo Saengerbund with fourteen members and C. W. Braun, director. The first home of the first named society was a modest one in the back room of a grocery on the corner of Cherry and Maple streets. When business engagements took Mr. Braun out of the city, he was suceeeded by a Mr. Weitz. The society moved to the old Phoenix Hotel to secure more commodious quarters and changed the title from Liederkraenzchen to Liederkranz; but from various causes a lack of interest was manifested by the members and the organization became substantially extinct. The leaders then organized the German Saengerbund of Buffalo, as before stated, which has had a prosperous existence until the present time; the name was abbreviated in 1875 to the Buffalo Saengerbund. Mr. Braun was chosen director of the new organization. The society made two removals before it occupied its present quarters in 1895 in Music Hall. Friederich Federlein was en-
624
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
gaged as instructor, Mr. Braun retaining the directorship. While the production of opera can scarcely be considered the legitimate aim of a singing society, the Saengerbund has been unusually successful in this direction and between 1862 and 1879 produced ten different operas in a commendable manner. During the last ten years the society has passed through a varied experience with new directors, some of whom were musicians of acknowledged ability. Hy. Jacobson is the present incumbent of the position and under his direction a creditable presenta- tion of Der Freischuetz was given in 1896.
The Buffalo Orpheus, in respect to the social standing of its members and the high character of its musical attainments as a body, is the fore- most organization in the city and has attained fame throughout the State. The Orpheus was called into being in 1869 through the action of nineteen singers who withdrew from the old Liedertafel for the pur- pose. At the first meeting held October 1, eight others joined, making the number of founders twenty-seven; of these, nineteen are still living. In 1870 Carl Adams took charge of the musical work which he success- fully continued twelve years. In 1882 Johannes Gelbke became direc. tor of the chorus, in which position he continued until 1885, when Mr. Adam again took the position; he was succeeded by John Lund, the present director, in October, 1887. In 1883 the Orpheus made its headquarters in Music Hall, then just completed; the destruction of the building in March, 1885, compelled a removal and rooms were secured in a building on Main street. When the new Music Hall was finished in 1887, the society returned to it. It now occupies the commodious Orpheus Hall in the Germania building, corner of Main and High streets. During the past twenty-five years this society has taken part in many notable musical events in various parts of the country, and also has given numerous concerts of a high order of merit.
The Buffalo Turnverein was organized March 7, 1853, by the follow- ing persons: Louis Allgewaehr, Gustav and Frederic Duehrfeldt, Herman Weber, Heinrich Nauert, Gustav Spitznagel, Martin Riebling, Karl and Gotthard Krech, Ed. Gerstenhauer, Wilhelm Moeser, A. Liesenhopp, John Haffner, Anton Heilman, George Hirsch, Valentine Friedrich, James Von Arx, G. Bachman, G. Berger, and A. Kalte- negger. This German organization has been very prosperous and owns valuable property, including a large Turn Hall, on Ellicott street. In compliance with the request of a number of the members possessing good singing voices, a meeting of the Turnverein was called in August,
625
THE GERMANS OF ERIE COUNTY.
1894, at which was organized the Vocal Section of the Turnverein. M. Weyland was elected president and Johannes Gelbke, director. Rapid progress was made and four months later a public concert was given. Other vocal and operatic entertainments succeeded in which a good degree of musical excellence was attained. Hermann Hoffmann succeeded to the presidency of the Section, and upon his untimely death Robert Eichel took the office, to be succeeded by Arthur Mann.
Another musical organization of importance is the Harugari1 Froh- sinn, which was organized September 6, 1885. The headquarters of the order are in Ohm's Hall on Howard street, where they have been from the first. The membership is forty-five active and 300 passive, giving the society a sound financial backing. Rehearsals are continued throughout the entire year. The first president was Jacob Rusche, the first director, E. Hodapp. The society has taken active part in various saengerfests in Buffalo and a number of distant cities.
The Germans of Erie county have always manifested deep interest in the education of their children, who are almost without exception kept in schools until they have gained at least a good practical education. Besides the facilities supplied by the public school system, there are other educational institutions which are conspicuously instrumental in giving German Catholic children opportunity for study. The Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart is one of these. It is conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis. These Sisters were noted educators in Prussia in past years in normal and government institutions, and were exiled in 1874 on account of the perfidious May laws. In that year they came over and established a small school in Buffalo, of which this academy is an outgrowth. In 1877 the institution was first opened as a day school, and with the exception of a short intermission in 1888, has been thus continued to the present time. In April, 1895, it was incorporated, and in the next year its course of study was approved by the Regents of the University of the State, making its graduates eligible to the teachers' training class and conferring upon them university diplomas. The chief purpose of the academy is to afford young ladies facilities for
1 The distinctively German order, Harugari, is strongly represented in Buffalo. Its constitu- tion directs the exclusive use of the German language in its proceedings and seeks the preserva- tion of the mother tongue in other ways. The first lodge of the order here was founded in 1848, under the name of Columbia Lodge No. 11; the second was Goethe Lodge No. 36, both of which were soon dissolved. Following them were organized Black Rock Lodge No. 35, in 1853; Cherus- ker, No. 47, in 1854; Robert Blum No. 54 in 1855; Buffalo No. 10 in 1860; Ludwig No. 195, Buffalo Plains No. 111, and German No. 119, all in 1875; Erie County No. 165 in 1868; Goethe No. 222 in 1870; Loche in 1875; Bal Dur in 1876; and others of later date.
79
626
OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
acquiring a thorough commercial and scientific education, and to fit them morally and intellectually to grace any position in society. The school has met with marked success, and the attendance, which has yearly increased, now numbers 130. To secure increased accommoda- tions a new structure is now (December, 1897) in process of erection, which will contain all modern facilities for study. It stands on Wash- ington street, near Goodell.
Canisius College, another important educational institution, was founded and opened in September, 1870, and is conducted by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus. It was incorporated in January, 1883, and is under the care of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. Instruction is given in academic and collegiate depart- ments. The use of the German language is obligatory and is taught in a graded course, including the reading of classics and the history of German literature. The college was opened in a small brick building on Ellicott street, with two classes comprising thirty-five scholars. In the year of its silver jubilee, 1895, there were 300 students whose homes were in twelve different States. When the needs of the institu- tion demanded larger accommodations the present great edifice with a frontage of 316 feet at 615 Washington street was erected. In this building is a beautiful chapel, a well equipped gymnasium, a library of 20,000 volumes, class rooms and study halls, and all the best modern conveniences. The faculty numbers twenty-eight.
The German Young Men's Association was founded May 10, 1841, by nine young men, for mutual good. Their names were F. A. Georger, Dr. John Hauenstein, Jacob Beyer, Stephan Bettinger, Karl Neidhardt, George F. Pfeifer, Wilhelm Rudolph and Adam Schlagder. The pur- poses of the association, as stated in the act of incorporation were, " to propagate the knowledge of the treasures of German literature, and to cause the preservation of the German language, and the growth of the German spirit and self-conscience." The title first adopted was, "Ger- man and English Literary Society." Weekly meetings were held in which the proceedings consisted mainly of addresses and debates in both German and English, and the association increased rapidly in numbers and interest. The name was changed to the present one Sep- tember 11, 1841. The foundation of a library was established and a librarian employed. Within the succeeding four years the library gathered 450 volumes, and the membership was 125. The association was incorporated May 12, 1846. From that time forward the use of the
627
THE GERMANS OF ERIE COUNTY.
German language became more general and the number of volumes in the library was rapidly augmented. In 1857 a mistaken policy was inaugurated under which the regular meetings were discontinued and the affairs of the association were placed in the hands of a committee of ten members This caused much dissatisfaction and many members withdrew. In December, 1861, the membership was reduced to fifty- four. This policy was soon abandoned and an era of renewed interest and growth began. In 1866 the library had been increased to 2,273 volumes and the membership to 200. The association celebrated its silver jubilee in an appropriate manner, on which occasion generous members contributed $800 to the library fund, and the number of vol- umes was soon increased to more than 7,000.
In 1883, after the National Saengerfest had closed its session in Buf- falo, J. F. Schoellkopf and Philip Becker conceived the idea of erecting a great music hall. They accordingly purchased a site on the corner of Main and Edward streets, and through the enthusiastic support of the whole association the undertaking was consummated. A subscription list was opened with the names of J. F. Schoellkopf, Philip Becker and Albert Ziegele, sr., who pledged $1,000 each for the work. The sub- scriptions of sums from $50 for a life membership rapidly increased, plans were made by competent architects, and the erection of the first Music Hall, to cost $225,000, was begun. Bonds bearing five per cent. interest were issued to the amount of $150,000 in sums of $25 and up- ward, to run thirty years, with privilege of collection at any time after ten years. The building was completed and opened in 1883 and was burned in 1885. It was immediately replaced by the present handsome and commodious structure. This association has contributed largely to the welfare of the Germans of Buffalo and is in a prosperous condition.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.