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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02280 2422
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
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THE
HISTORY
Saint Luke's Church, OF
MARIETTA, OHIO.
WILSON WATERS, M. A.
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
HARRY EGGLESTON.
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR EN J. MUELLER & SON. MARIETTA. O.
1822027
Waters, Wilson, 1855-
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D 289256 .88 The history of Saint Luke's church, Marietta, Ohio By Wilson Waters, M. A., with illustrations by Harr Eggleston. Marietta, O., Printed for the author by J Mueller & son, 1884.
4 p. L, (51-282 p. incl. front., illus., ports., plans. 26°".
SHELF CARO
1. Marietta, O. Saint Luke's church.
Library of Congress
BX5980.M3S35 ra23d1;
9-5850
B 10394
.
HISTORY OF ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.
John Boyd.
15
.. .
4
DE50256,88
Ã
TO
THE PRESENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF ST. LUKE'S CHURCH, FOR WHOSE READING THESE FACTS OF ITS HISTORY WERE FIRST COLLECTED, THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED ; WITH THE HOPE THAT A KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAST MAY ADD TO THEIR INTEREST IN THE FUTURE WELFARE OF THE PARISH.
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B10394
Most gracious God, the Giver of all good and perfect gifts, who of thy wise providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we beseech thee, to thy servant, to whom the charge of this Congregation is now committed ; and so replenish him with the truth of thy doctrine, and endne him with innocency of life, that he may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Redeem- er. Amen.
O Holy Jesus, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church, and hast promised to be with the Ministers of Apostolic Succession to the end of the world: Be graciously pleased to bless the ministry and service of him who is now appointed to offer the sacrifices of prayer and praise to thee in this house, which is called by thy Name. May the words of his mouth, and the meditation of his heart, he always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. .
O God, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier of the Faithful. visit, we pray thee, this Congregation with thy love and favour; enlighten their minds more and more with the light of the everlasting Gospel; graft in their hearts a love of the truth: increase in them true religion ; nourish them with all goodness ; and of thy great mercy keep them in the same. O blessed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son together, we worship and glorify as one God, world without end. Amen.
O Almighty God, who has built thy Church upon the foun- dation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone: Grant that, by the operation of. the Holy Ghost, all Christians may be so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace, that they may be an holy temple acceptable unto thee. And especially to this Congrega- tion present, give the abundance of thy grace: that with one heart they may desire the prosperity of thy holy Apostolic Church, and with one month may profess the faith once deliv- ered to the Saints. Defend them from the sins of heresy and schism : let not the foot of pride come nigh to hurt them, nor the hand of the ungodly to cast them down. And grant that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that the Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness: that so they may walk in the ways of fruth and peace, and at last be numbered with thy Saints in glory everlasting : through thy merits, O blessed Jesus, thon gracions Bishop and Shepherd of our sonls, who art with the Father and the Holy Ghost one God, world without end. Amen.
-Collecte in the Office of Institution.
PREFACE.
THE idea of writing a History of the Church in Marietta was sug- . gested at Easter, 1879, when the Guild undertook the publication of the parish paper, St. Luke's Chronicle; though it was then proposed to give only a sketch of the early days.
The work fell to the lot of the author, who became so interested in it, that he has been induced to re-write what was printed in the Chronicle, at the same time adding much to it and continuing the his- tory to the present time. This book is the result of his labor. The greater part of its contents has been gathered from many different sources, though the Vestry-books (giving the minutes of Vestry and Parish meetings) may be said to form the basis of the History. The author would here thank those who have furnished him material for it, make his acknowledgments to the printers for the interest and care taken in the work, and also to the artist who illustrated it. In regard to the wood-cuts, it may be said that they are really amateur work. While Mr. EGGLESTON now intends to make engraving and drawing on wood his profession, yet when he undertook to make the engravings in this book, he had done really no work of the kind and undertook it . partly as a friendly favor to the author.
The final arrangement of material and the proof-reading were of necessity done hastily; indeed the History has been almost entirely night work, done at odd hours and half hours. The Appendix contains some things which came to the author's notice after the book was partly printed.
The names of delegates who have represented the Parish in the Diocesan Conventions are given. In two or three instances, where nothing is said of the Convention. the Parish was not represented, though generally when such was the case, it has been so stated.
Some of the ladies did not wish to see the record of their mission- ary work in print, thinking it too small a matter. If it so appears to the reader, he may be moved to aid in increasing the amounts shown in future reports.
The Parish Records are slightly defective. Besides the first Vestry- book, the Rev. Mr. WHEAT left a Parish Register, which was thought to be among Judge NYE's papers. It has not been found ; but its loss has been partly supplied from entries in the Vestry-book, from Paro- chial Reports, and from other sources. The Report for 1835 is missing, but even that defect has been partly remedied : so that the records are very nearly complete.
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6
PREFACE.
It is hoped that those who read the Collects on pages 4 and 190, will devoutly use them in the performance of a personal duty too often neg- lected-that of praying in private for the "Clergy and the Congrega- tions committed to their charge", remembering always "our Bishops."
Monthly Communion, with a celebration on some of the great festivals, has always been the custom in St. Luke's, and perhaps this is all that can be expected in a parish of this size ; but may we not look forward to the time when a greater number of our churches shall con- . form more closely to the Apostolie custom of making the Eucharist the central feature of every service, which shall be, if not daily, at least on every day for which a Collect, Epistle and Gospel are appointed ?
A work of this kind is made up almost entirely of simple facts and dates, and, except as embodied in these, little can be said of the spirit- ual history of a parish ; some country Parson, reviewing his Parish Register, might say with CRABBE :
The year revolves, and I again explore The simple annals of my parish poor ;. What infant members in my flock appear, What pairs I bless'd in the departed year, And who, of old or young, or nymphs or swains, Are lost to life, its pleasures and its pains.
How pass'd the youthful, how the old their days; Who sank in sloth, and who aspired to praise :
Their tempers, manners, morals, customs, arts, What parts they had, and how they 'mploved their parts ; By what elated, soothed, seduced, depress'd, Full well I know-these records give the rest.
But probably the spiritual history of a parish could never be truly written .:. it is the secret record of individual lives which is to be read only when all other history is ended.
ST. LUKE'S DAY, 1883.
POSTSCRIPT.
The publication of this History has been interrupted several times, lastly by the flood of February, 1884, which reached a height three feet above that of 1832, and was seven feet six inches on the floor of St. Luke's church. Almost every one was so occupied with his own home or place of business that the church was neglected, and those who might have gone there had no means of getting over the water. Car- pets, cushions, chancel furniture, books, everything was wet. except some Prayer Books which had been placed on the gallery stairs. The Sunday school organ, li- brary. banners, &e., were ruined, as was also a valuable portion of the Rector's library. The Parish received from the Bishop, of funds sent to him for the bene- fit of submerged churches, an amount sufficient to make good the loss occasioned by the flood.
The flood of 1860 was the only one which came onto the floor of the church un- til that of 1884, which was six feet higher than the former. In 1883 the water filled the cellar of the church and came within eighteen inches of the floor.
In 1832 the water was at its highest point on February 17; in 1860 on April 13; in 188 on February 8; in 1844 on February 9.
EASTERTIDE, 1884.
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CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I .- The Organization of the Parish, 9
CHAPTER II .- The First Rectorate and the Building of the Church, 41 The Rev. J. T. Wheat, D. D., . 27-103
CHAPTER III .- The Five Succeeding Rectorates, 109
The Rev. C. L. F. Haensel. 112-127
The Rev. James Bonnar, 129-188
The Rev. D. W. Tolford,
1:32 -- 140
The Rev. Edward. Winthrop,
140-151
The Rev. D. W. Tolford,
. 151-160
CHAPTER IV .- The Present Rectorate and the Building of the New Church.
161
The Rev. John Boyd, D. D.,
163-200
CHAPTER V .- Parish Organizations,
201
The Choir, 203
The Sunday School, .. 207
The Parochial School, 215
The Circle,
2221
The Woman's Auxiliary, 281
The Guild.
233
The Sewing School, 235
APPENDIX .--- . . 237
List of Rectors, Church-Wardens and Vestrymen,
. . 263
THE PARISH REGISTER:
Baptisms, 267
Confirmations, 271
Marriages,
274
Burials,
277
List of Communicants. 279
Addenda, Corrigenda, &c .. 214, 282
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Portrait of the Reverend John Boyd, D. D .. Frontispiece. « From a photograph by Cadwallader in 1883.)
PAGE.
Campus Martius, Marietta, description page 249;
11
Farmers' Castle, Belpre, description page 219,
11
The Old Court House.
.
The Marietta Collegiate Institute :- Young Men's Department,
30
-Young Ladies' Department, 31
View on Front Street :- Congregational Meeting House, Residences of Capt.
Greene and James H. Greene, and the Library Hall.
39
A St. Luke's Church and Rectory and Interior View from the Choir Gallery, .
43
Portrait of the Reverend John Thomas Wheat,
49
Dodge Cottage.
68
The Rectory and Parish School,
72
Seal of Bishop Mellvaine.
The Reverend Mr. Wheat and the Germans,
91
Plan of St. Luke's Church,
105
Triangle over the Pulpit in the old Church. 111
Portrait of the Reverend C. L. F: Haensel,
119
Portrait of the Reverend James Bonnar,
131
Portrait of the Reverend Edward Winthrop.
141
Portrait of the Reverend David W. Tolford. 153
St. John's High School.
158
St. Luke's Church and Rectory and the Fout,
163
Seal of Bi-hop Mellvaine.
170
Plan of the Present Church.
177
St. Luke's Church :- Interior View from the Choir Gallery,
189
The First Organ,
203
Seal of Et. Luke- Sunday School.
2
211
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CHAPTER I.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PARISH.
Who hath despised the day of small things?
Zechariah 4, 10.
I love the Church-the holy Church, That o'er our life presides, The birth. the bridal, and the grave. And many an hour besides! Be mine, through life, to live in her, And, when the Lord shall call, To die in her-the spouse of CHRIST, The Mother of us all. -CHRISTIAN BALLADS.
1
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PARISH.
HE Church of England was the first branch of the Holy Catholic Church to establish itself on our shores, which it did in . 1607, at Jamestown, in Vir- ginia : and although most of the carly inhabitants, who came to this country at a later date, were hos- tile to the Church, yet she had many friends and adherents, even among there generally supposed to have been her enemies. While they that from the intolerance of the English Government, they believed the doctrines of the Church and loved her services. Although the first two venituries in the history of the Church in America were long seasons of
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EARLY SERVICES.
trials and struggles for her, particularly during the Revolution, when everything connected with the English Government was almost uni- versally hated, even in those times some of our greatest patriots and statesmen were among her members and adherents, for Washington, Madison, Monroe, Franklin, Jay, Marshall and Patrick Henry gave her their support; and Congress, before and after declaring our Inde- pendence, chose Episcopalians for its chaplains.
The Ohio Company, which came to Marietta in 1788, was composed mostly of Puritan families from New England, yet there were un- doubtedly those among them who loved the services of the Church. In the early days of this country the service of the English Prayer Book was almost the only one used in the Army and Navy, soldiers and sailors have a liking for it and the Prayer Book continues thus to be very extensively used. So when the Ohio Company, whose chief men were army officers, settled here, they brought the Prayer Book with them, naturally using the service to which they were accustomed, and there is a well authenticated tradition that the Prayer Book was used at the first religious service after they landed.
From the published works of the late Dr. S. P. Hildreth are gath- ered these facts: the Company spent the first winter in Campus Martius at Marietta; one of them was 'Col. Ebenezer Battelle, the only son of Ebenezer Battelle, Esq., of Dedham, Mass. He married a Boston lady, and was an agent of the Ohio Company and arrived at Marietta in May, 1788. During the winter an association was formed to make a settle- ment at Belpre, "composed almost entirely of old officers of the Conti- nental line." "Col. Battelle united himself with these enterprising and intelligent men, and in the spring of 1789 proceeded to clear his land and ereet a stout block-house, for the reception of his family." This block-house occupied one corner of the fortification at Belpre, called Farmers' Castle. "Col. Battelle was a graduate of Cambridge Univers- ity, and acted as chaplain to the settlement during the Indian War, (which commenced in January, 1701,) reading the Church service regu- larly each Sabbath to the inmates of Farmers' Castle." He sometimes read also a sermon from some standard divine, and sometimes one of his own discourses. He received at one time, as the accounts show, twenty dollars for these services. "His son Ebenezer, a lad of fourteen years, was drummer to the garrison, and at the hour of service, marched . with his drum the whole length of the Castle, summoning the people to worship."
It is known that at Marietta the Church service was used at least on one occasion, and there is no reason to doubt that it was used oftener. Col. Joseph Barker, son of Ephraim Barker, of New Market, N. H., came to Marietta with the Dana family in 1789, having that year mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Dana. He says that carly in the spring of 1790, by a new arrangement, he was transferred from the Artillery and made
13
EARLY SERVICES.
orderly sergeant of a company of Infantry. It became his duty to keep a roll of all persons amenable to military duty, and on Sunday morning at ten o'clock, at which time the law made it their duty to appear for inspection, to be at the place of Public Worship with his roll, call every man's name, examine his arms and ammunition, see that he was equipped agreeably to law and note down and report delinquencies. A procession was formed, including the citizens who wished to attend Divine Service: at Campus Martius it was headed by Gen. Putnam and Gen. Tupper. with fife and drum: at the Point the clergyman was com- monly preceded by Col. Sproat with his Revolutionary sword and sher- iff's wand. and he. by a drum and fife. In case of an alarm on Sun- day, that part of the congregation who were armed, rushed out to meet any danger or pursue the Indians, which several times happened.
Miss Charlotte Barker, daughter of Col. Joseph Barker, says she has heard her father tell how, one Sunday during the Indian War (1791-5), when he was orderly sergeant. the soldiers all marched with fife and drum to one of the block houses at the stockade, and, stacking their arms outside, went in to hear one of the officers read the Church service. Col. Barker never had heard the service till then. He said it made a great impression on him. The wives of the officers sang the chants and hymns. which were to him the most beautiful music he had ever heard. From that time he took a great interest in the Church, and afterwards became an active worker in St. Luke's.
In 1795 Col. Barker went to "Wiseman's Bottom", on the bank of the Muskingum, about five miles above Marietta, to cultivate a piece of land given him by the Government for military service. He after- wards built a substantial brick house in that locality. While setting out an orchard on his new land. there was such danger from the Indians, that. as he expressed it. he had to hold his scalp on with one hand while he dug holes for the trees with the other. The next year, Capt. J. Devol. John Russel and Israel Putnam moved their families to the same place. Israel Putnam afterwards. in 1816, built a brick school- house on his farm, and put a small pulpit in one end of it, which served -also as a reading-desk.
"Rev. Joseph Willard, an Episcopal clergyman of talent, is rentem- bered to have been the first minister who preached in the school- church." Hist. of Wash. Co.}
His name appears in Bishop Burgess' List of Deacons, No. 148, or- dained in 1795 by Bishop Provoost. The building still stands there, though it is now used as a dwelling. Here various clergyman held ser- vices, among them the Rev. Intrepid Morse, from Steubenville, and Bishop Chas, who was usually entertained at the house of Col. Barker or Mr. Putnam and who baptized most of the latter's children. On one occasion, in the summer of 1821, when visiting Marietta in company
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14
FIRST VISIT OF BISHOP CHASE.
with the Rev. Mr. Morse, the Bishop was seized with a violent illness, and was taken in a boat up the river to Mr. Putnam's house, where he was sick three weeks. He mentions this in his address to the Conven- tion the next year. at the same time thanking the people for their kind- ness to him.
The first Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in. Ohio, was held at Columbus, in January, Is18. At this preliminary Conven- tion arrangements were made for the First Annual Convention, which met at Worthington. in June of the same year. At this Convention the Rev. Philander Chase was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. He was consecrated in St. James' Church. Philadelphia, Thursday, Feb- . ruary 11th. 1:19. No mention is made of Marietta in the Journal of this Convention, but in that of the Second Annual Convention, held at Worthington, in June, 1519. is the report of the Rev. Mr. Morse, then a Deacon, Minister of St. James' Church. Zanesville, (and afterwards also of St. Paul's, Steubenville. in which he states that he has lately visited Portsmouth and Marietta. "in both of which places, parishes might be organized with good prospects of success, could they be fur- nished for a short time with missionary aid. The great object of re- quest, in various parts of the Diocese which he has visited, is for Prayer Books, tracts and missionary services. Is there no means by which they may be supplied ?
In several instances, families have been found, who had resided in this State from seven to fifteen years, and during that period had never enjoyed the ordinances of the Gospel. or been favored with an oppor- tunity to worship God. in what they esteemed the beauty of holiness- the public liturgy : vet. in all this time, they had retained an affection- ate attachment to the Church and professed their determination to live and die in its communion. Surely, such scattered members of the fold of Christ should not be neglected."
In August of the year 1520. Bishop Chase made his first visit to Ma- rietta, coming from Zanesville. During that year he traveled on horse- back 1279 miles. He says in his address to the Convention of 1821 : "I set off (on Monday, August thi in company with the Rev. Mr. Morse, towards the South and East. We rode together about twelve or fifteen miles, and then separated; he going into Monroe County, to prepare the people for next Sunday's ministrations: and myself towards Mari- etta, a place which I had never before visited. In speaking of the af- fairs of the Church in this place, I feel a difficulty, lest the shortness of the time spent in it, and the want of any previous acquaintance, should cause me to err in judgment. The facts are, my visit seemed well re- ceived, and myself treated with kindness and hospitality. A consider- able number of persons in town and vicinity. of great respectability and worth, expressed themselves sincerely attached to the Church ; also their wishes, that they could have the ministrations of a pious clergyman, de-
15
ANECDOTE OF BISHOP CHASE.
voted to his profession. A gentleman, professing himself a clergyman of the Church, Mr. Joseph Willard, resides in this town ; but as he had not conformed to the Canons, in making himself known as in regular standing, and had evidently no intention of pursuing the design of his ordination, I signified to the friends of the Church in the place, that his orrasional services in the neighborhood would be irregular. I had it not in nry power, consistently with my engagements, to spend a Sunday in Marietta :-- I, however, held divine service, and preached three times on Wednesday, the 9th of August : twice in the meeting-house in Marietta, andl'once on Point Harmar, opposite the town. On Thursday morning I affministered the Apostolic rite of Confirmation to seven persons; and the incipient steps were taken towards forming a parish, by the name of St. Luke's Church. - Nothing under the divine blessing seemed want- ing to complete the fondest expectations of the progress of primitive Christianity.in this place, but- the- labors of a pious, learned and active nif Monary, for a few years. To such an one, the friends of the Church in'the town and vicinity, it is presumed, would afford a part of his sup- port, and, if otherwise aided for a short time, the minister would soon fhid himself agreeably settled in the bosom of an amiable people, able and willing to afford him every assistance in building up the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer: These were my impressions, formed during my very short stay at Marietta."
Bishop Chase, when he visited Marietta, was the guest of the Wood- bridges, at the old family mansion on the south corner of Putnam and Third streets. He usually held-one service in the old Court House, which stood not far from the Woodbridge residence, near where the County Jail now is. It was a very strong building constructed of hewn timber. The ground floor was used as a jail and the upper floor as a court room, and the service was held in the latter. Mr. Woodbridge would then drive with the Bishop up the river to Mr. Putnam's or to Col. Barker's, and there was service in the school-house, in the after- noon, the congregation being composed of people from all the neighbor- ing country. On one occasion, the Bishop held a service and adminis- tered the Sacrament of Baptism in the Methodist meeting-house, on . Second street above Scamnel; this, and that of the Congregationalists, were at that time, the only houses of worship in Marietta. At one time when holding a service in the Congregational meeting-house, the Bishop began discoursing on the excellencies of the Church in its organization and government. He likened it to a noble ship, a gallant Seventy-four, thoroughly equipped, with captain and mates, officers and crew, all ready for duty, and the admiral on board to direct them and guide the course of the ship, which moved grandiy on its way, with all sail set. "The Presbyterians," he said, "are on their vessel moving along, but with ne admiral to-direet their movements and keep them in the proper curse, and as for the Congregationalists"-then suddenly recollecting
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ILLNESS OF BISHOP CHASE.
where he was, but not wishing to spoil the comparison, he finished with "every man gets over on his own log!"
Among the people whom the Bishop found here in 1820 were the Barkers and Putnams, the Woodbridges and the Hobbys, who came from Connecticut, the Todds and Jolines, from New Jersey, and the Misses Stone, very kind and estimable ladies, who with their mother came from Pittsburgh, besides a number of others, not connected with the Church, but fond of the services. There were also a number of English families living in the neighborhood, who were Church people and naturally came to the services. If at that time there could have been obtained the regular ministrations of a clergyman such as the Bishop describes, St. Luke's, as far as we can see, might soon have been a flourishing parish; but there were then few mission- aries in this State, which fact was constantly and deeply lamented by . the Bishop and other clergy in the Convention, and not only by them but by the people generally. The Bishop says to the Convention :
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